Protecting Your Home from Loss Due to Theft

Your home is filled with memories, personal mementos, and most importantly, your family; the risk of losing your valued possessions to theft is a situation you never want to encounter. Ensuring that damages and loss due to theft are covered by your home insurance is important. Here are the questions you should ask yourself and your insurance agent about protecting your home in case of a break-in, and things you can do to protect your home and reduce your insurance rates.

 

Look Over Your Existing Policy

 

The first step in protecting your home is to see if your existing policy covers both your property and the contents of your property in case of a break-in. Most basic homeowner’s policies do not cover these, and so you’ll want to get a clear picture of what you need before proceeding.

 

Asking Your Agent

 

There may be a number of things you can do to reduce the amount you will pay for theft protection, including combining existing policies and making changes to your home’s security. If you already have homeowner’s insurance, adding theft protection may be cheaper than buying a separate policy, especially if you were to go with a different company or broker. Installing an alarm system, adding locks to windows, and other types of home security protection may qualify you for a discounted rate on your insurance.

 

Creating Peace Of Mind

 

Regardless of the insurance issues, protecting your home and family in case of a break-in is important to your peace of mind. Things such as simply hanging a security sign in your window, leaving lights on when you are not home at night, and changing your routine can deter theft. They may not qualify you for a reduced insurance rate, but may protect your home nonetheless.

 

Free to Our Customers

We highly recommend that you take a look at the Digital Locker and use it to its fullest advantage. It is a way that you can keep a personal inventory of everything you own.

The Digital Locker is free and you can use it online or you can download the app and use it on your phone (both iPhone and Android). This first link will take you to an Allstate web page where you can learn a bit more about it and the second link will take you right to the Digital Locker website.

 

http://www.allstate.com/digital-locker.aspx?cid=OTC-SOC-T-131201:Innovation

 

https://www.digitallocker.com/Home/Dashboard/View

Do You Need Insurance As A Renter?

Do you think home insurance is just for homeowners?  Protecting your personal property and ensuring costs are covered should fire or flood destroy your rental property is not only smart, but in some cases you could be legal responsibility.  So what kind of insurance do you need as a tenant and what should you be sure you have covered to protect your belongings?

 

What Does Renter’s Insurance Cover?

 

Depending on where you purchase your renter’s insurance, the types of claims that will be covered can vary.  In general, renter’s Insurance coverage is similar to that of homeowner’s insurance in that it covers vandalism, theft, and fire.  In most cases this also includes personal liability, meaning that you are covered even if you are the cause of the damage, and it usually includes not only the property itself, but the contents as well.  The extent of the coverage can vary from minimum legal coverage to comprehensive coverage, depending on your personal situation and needs.  Since the minimum coverage required in apartment building or apartment complex (and state) can vary, you will need be sure how much liability coverage you need.  We can help you find a policy that is right for your situation and budget.

 

Renter’s insurance will also cover your personal property in the event of a theft (some limits under the policy may apply).  If you come home from work or a weekend away and find that your apartment has been broken into and your personal property has been vandalized and/or stolen your renter’s policy is there for you.  Renter’s insurance will also be there for you if your car is broken into and your personal property (computer, gym bag, wallet…) is stolen from your car.

 

What Does Renter’s Insurance Cost?

 

Like most insurance policies, the more comprehensive the policy, the most costly it will be, but overall, renter’s insurance is usually a very affordable type of insurance.  In most cases we can help you purchase a renter’s policy for less than $145 a year.  One option that will always make renter’s insurance more affordable is to combine it with another type of insurance, usually car insurance.  We have these types of combined policies available, and since these are two types of insurance that you are required to have anyway, combining them to save money is a great idea for making insurance more affordable.

 

Give us a call to get more information, 401-433-1111!

 

Do You Need An Insurance Agent?

It seems that many insurance companies today no longer sell their policies through agents anymore, they sell insurance directly thru the company either online or over the phone.  It might seem that having an agent to help you purchase auto insurance is a thing of the past, but don’t discount the insurance agent just yet.  There are some very good reasons to consider using an insurance agent to buy care, home, renter’s, condo and motorcycle insurance.

 

Agents Know Their Products

 

Many of the customer service representatives who handle the phones at large insurance company call centers know the basics of the insurance policies, enough to help you select and purchase one.  But insurance agents, especially those who have been around for a while, understand a lot more about coverage and policy limits.  They can share with you a wealth of knowledge that will ensure you not only get the right policy, but the best rate and a good understanding of what you are paying for.  An agent will help you select the best possible coverage limits to fit your needs and what you need to protect.

 

Agents Are On Your Side

 

If the day comes when you need to file a claim, it’s always good to have someone who is truly on your side.  Especially in a complicated claim, your agent can walk you through the process and be there to answer all your questions.  An agent is also there to step in when there are disagreements with the adjuster or other involved parties at the insurance company.  Because your agent knows all about the policy and how the claims process works – and knows you, they will be able to go over any claims issues with you and your adjuster.

 

At this day and age I am sure almost everyone has had a bad experience with an automated phone system.  When you are calling to report an insurance claim one of the last things you want to deal with is getting lost in an automated phone system.  When you have an agent you can call your agent directly to report the claim and the agent can handle things for you from there.  You will talk to someone who you’re familiar with to report the claim and you won’t have to press a bunch of numbers on your phone before you can speak to an actual person.  

 

Agents Keep Your Policy Accurate

 

A good agent will take the time to review your policy with you and make sure that everything is accurate and you are still carrying the coverage you need.  An agent knows when changes in your life might affect your insurance coverage needs, such as a marriage, change in job or a child getting their driver’s license.  Large insurance company call centers can’t always provide that level of personal attention and if you have to call back there is a good chance you will end up talking with someone else and have to go over everything all over again.

 

Are Agents More Expensive?

 

There is a general view that an insurance policy purchased through an agent will cost more than one purchased directly.  That isn’t necessarily true.  The best rate for you may well be one from an agency, so don’t discount quotes from agents when you are shopping for car insurance.  You might get the best rate along with the service only an agent can provide.  And for some people paying a little more to receive personal service is more than worth having to pay a little extra, especially when there is a claim that needs to be filed or when you have important changes to make to your coverage. 

 

 

You might not feel that you need an agent for your insurance, but there are certainly some very good reasons to take the time to meet with a one and see if it turns out to be right for you. 

 

Here at the Daigneau Insurance Agency we are always willing to make time for our customers and potential customers whether it’s to make a payment over the phone, add a car to their policy, file a claim, change an address or they just have some questions (even the “what if”) questions.