How to assess your home insurance needs

Whether you’re buying home insurance for the first time or the fifth time in Pinecrest, FL, assessing your needs is a top priority. You want to make sure that your valuable investment and family are covered if a disaster strikes.  At Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. we recommend learning about your policy, limits, terms and coverage before buying a home insurance policy.

So, how do you assess your needs to know how much home insurance to buy? This article explains ways you can check your home insurance needs.

Determine the cost of rebuilding your home

The value of your home keeps changing, which makes it unreliable when determining the actual cost of your home. To know the real value of your home, check the cost of materials, size and labor in your area. A Pinecrest, FL contractor can help you get the estimate.

Calculate the value of your personal belongings

Your home is made up of your personal belongings–the furniture, electronics, appliances, clothes, shoes, curtains and other items. Calculate the value of all items and come up with a figure that you will use when buying a personal belonging coverage.

Do you have costly items?

If you have pricey items in your home, you may want to budget for a separate policy as home insurance does not cover expensive artwork, jewelry, and fur. Be sure to enquire about the items when buying your policy.

Check how much additional living expenses(ALE) you will need

When your home is destroyed and becomes inhabitable, your additional living expenses coverage will pay for your temporary living arrangement. The policy primarily covers hotel stays, meals and other living expenses. If you have a big family, you may want to make sure that your coverage is adequate to meet all their needs.

Your home insurance is the only investment that can protect your home in the event of a disaster. Make sure you are adequately covered. If you need help assessing your needs, feel free to contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. for guidance.

Flood Insurance FAQs

Did you know that your home insurance doesn’t cover your Pinecrest, FL home against flood damage? For this reason, you need flood insurance from Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. for optimal protection. But what is flood insurance? What does it cover? If you need answers to these questions, read through our FAQs section below. 

What does flood insurance cover?

When you buy flood insurance Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. covers the below: 

Structure of your home: Did you know that a one-inch rise in water level can cause damage to up to $25,000? Floods can cause unspeakable damage to your structure. As such, you need flood insurance to cover your structure’s walls, floor, roof, and other fixed appliances.

Contents: Flood insurance covers not only the physical structure of your property but also its contents. Assets such as the following are protected: 

  • Cabinets
  • Applies
  • Carpet and flooring
  • Heating and air conditioning unit
  • Electrical and plumbing system

 Is flood insurance mandatory?

No law in Florida requires flood insurance. However, private and government-backed mortgage lenders will deny you a mortgage when you fail to obtain flood insurance if you live in high-risk flood areas. 

What are flood insurance exclusions?

Your flood insurance coverage will not cover the following:

  • Additional living expenses that you may incur as your home is undergoing repairs. These are covered under home insurance. 
  • Damage caused by earth movement, even where floods are the cause.
  • Moisture, mold, or mildew damages that the homeowner could have prevented.
  • Loss of income in case of a business.

Since floods can strike anywhere, whether you live in low-risk or high-risk flood areas, you need flood insurance for protection and peace of mind. Please don’t wait to face the consequences when it’s too late. Instead, connect with Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL for an affordable flood insurance quote.  

How Much Home Insurance Do I Need?

Buying your piece of the American dream can be very stressful. You need to have the right home insurance to protect your dream. But how much home insurance do you need?  If you have an insurance agent you trust you will be able to get the correct amount to be confident of your security. At Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL, we are committed to providing our clients with personalized service and insurance that is just what they need. 

Home insurance isn’t just one element; it is made up of several elements. Each one needs to be rated separately when deciding how much you need. Start by deciding what your liability comfort level is. You need enough liability insurance to protect your assets in the event you are sued. You may think it is unlikely you will be sued, but that is not the case, it is quite common. If you need extra liability coverage, it may be a good idea to get an umbrella policy that will cover you across all your insurance policies.

When it comes to the value of your home, remember the figure is not the sales value of your home but the amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it was destroyed. If the figure you are given seems low or inappropriate for your neighborhood, don’t be afraid to question the amount with your agent. 

Content is the tricky part. Take a good look at the limits for different types of personal items. Jewelry is one to take note of as are electronics. If the figures don’t make sense with what you have you may need to add a rider to give you the amount of coverage you need. 

Contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL for all your home insurance needs. 

Should Florida Business Owners Add Workers Compensation Insurance For Their Remote Employees?

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. serves the Pinecrest, FL community, as well as the surrounding areas. We offer our clients custom insurance policies to help them prepare for any situation. Accidents can happen when you least expect them. That’s why we are committed to helping you find the coverage you need.

Is Workers Compensation Essential For Remote Employees?

Your Pinecrest, FL business is one of your most significant investments. In order for your business to thrive, you need great employees. Worker’s compensation insurance allows you to take care of your employees. The policy covers your employees if they are injured in the workplace. You are also protecting your business by making sure that your employees will not pursue legal action against you. Worker’s compensation insurance protects your employees by covering their medical treatment and rehabilitation. Having a strong workers’ compensation insurance policy can help you attract top talent.

If your employees perform remote work on a regular basis, you should add worker’s compensation insurance. Regardless of where your employee is working, if they are injured performing tasks related to the job, they are covered. If your employees are working from home or outside the traditional work environment, make sure that they are in a safe space. If your employees are working in an unfit remote environment, you may still be held liable. Worker’s compensation insurance is important because it reduces potential risks against your business while also helping you take care of your workforce.

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about workers comp insurance.

Why should I get workers comp insurance in Florida?

The Pinecrest, FL area has continued to be a great place to own a business. When you are going to start a business in this area of the state, you need to ensure that you get the right insurance for it. A type of insurance that all businesses should consider getting is workers comp insurance. There are several reasons why you should get this coverage here.

Protection for Employees

A key reason that you need to get a workers comp insurance plan is that it can provide protection for your employees. If someone is injured while they are at work you will want to ensure that they have the protection needed. With a workers comp insurance plan, they can get the coverage that can offset all related expenses including missed wages and medical bills. This coverage offers great protection for both the employees and the business.

Legal Requirement

For a business in Florida, having a workers comp insurance plan is also often a requirement. It is well known how much value a worker’s comp insurance plan can provide to someone. To ensure that employees all over the state are properly protected, businesses that have a certain amount of employees are required to carry this coverage at all times. 

A company that operates in the Pinecrest, FL area needs to make sure that they get proper insurance protection. When you are going to purchase a workers comp plan here, it is important that you speak with someone that understands this type of coverage. The team at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. can help you build and choose a plan that is ideal for your situation. Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. is able to do this by assessing your business risks and building a plan accordingly. 

Does my Pinecrest business need workers comp insurance?

Owning a business in the Pinecrest, FL area is a great option. If you are going to start a business here, there are a lot of important decisions that need to be made. One important choice will come when you need to pick a business insurance plan. One type of coverage that you need to get is workers comp insurance. There are a few reasons why you need this coverage. 

Coverage Protects Employees

The main reason that you should obtain workers comp insurance for your business is that it can protect your employees. A good employee is the most valuable resource a company can have. Due to this, it is important that you protect them as well as you can. With a workers comp insurance plan, your team members will receive appropriate compensation if they are injured while working. 

Coverage is Required by Law

You will also want to get a workers comp insurance plan for your business here because it is required by state law. Similar to other states, Florida makes it required for many businesses to get a workers comp insurance plan as it provides protection for employees. The specific requirements vary based on your industry and the number of employees that you employ. It is important to know your specific requirements and to follow them. Those that do not comply could be penalized.

When you want to start a business in the Pinecrest, FL area, it is important to get proper insurance. One type of coverage you may need is workers comp insurance. The team at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. can explain to you the benefits of this coverage and determine if it is needed in your situation. Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. can then help you build a policy that is right for your business. 

Who Needs Boat Insurance in Pinecrest, FL?

If you live in the city of Pinecrest, FL, you might be wondering about different types of insurance, such as boat insurance. If you want to know more about boat insurance, you should consider the expertise of an insurance agency such as Hamilton Fox & Company Inc.

It might be somewhat confusing to think about whether or not you should get boat insurance. The truth is that boat insurance is not a requirement in Florida, but this does not mean that you should forget all about it. If you end up having a mishap that results in damages to your boat and does not have boat insurance, you will likely have to incur great costs to replace it. Most of the time, homeowners insurance is not going to cover your boat or any medical bills that could need to be paid if anyone happens to be injured by your boat while it is operating or in storage.

Essentially, if you know that you would have to struggle to repair or replace your boat with out-of-pocket costs, you are in need of boat insurance. Boat insurance can cover a variety of events, such as damage that is caused by a collision, property damage to another watercraft or bodily harm to another person for which you are at fault, stolen or damaged equipment on your boat, towing of disabled watercraft, and other types of damage that could occur (in storage, in transit, or in the water).

If you reside in Pinecrest, FL, you should feel free to contact the professionals at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. for information about boat insurance. They will be able to answer any questions that you might have and tell you what type of policy you should look for when you are in need of boat insurance.

Why Florida Restaurant Owners Should Consider Umbrella Insurance

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. serves the Pinecrest, FL community, as well as the surrounding areas, through offering residents insurance coverage. For over 50 years, we have established long-lasting relationships with our clients. We proudly serve the community as an independent agency.

How Umbrella Insurance Covers Restaurants

Umbrella insurance is supplemental coverage that offers another layer of protection besides your traditional insurance policies. As a restaurant owner in the Pinecrest, FL community, you face multiple challenges involving the day to day operations of your business. Umbrella insurance can assist your business in multiple ways.

The primary cause for concern as a restaurant owner is a potential liability dispute. Liability coverage protects you if someone gets injured while visiting your restaurant. However, you have to plan for worst-case scenarios such as someone breaking a bone in a slip and fall accident or spoiled food causing one of your customers to get sick. These are potentially serious liability disputes. Umbrella insurance adds another layer of protection as you deal with the dispute.

Umbrella insurance also protects you if you are involved in a dispute with one of your employees. You may find yourself in a serious liability dispute due to one of your employees suffering a serious injury in the workplace. Perhaps you have to deal with allegations of wrongful termination or discrimination. These are serious issues that could potentially derail the long term future of your business. However, umbrella insurance will cover you during the process.

If you serve liquor at your restaurant, umbrella insurance is especially important. Your business may be held liable for any damages caused by a customer who was intoxicated due to you serving them alcohol. Umbrella insurance will help you cover your business from possibly suffering huge losses.

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. Will Help You Prepare For The Unexpected

Visit our website today to learn more information about umbrella insurance.

Why Umbrella Insurance is a Must

When you are likely already purchasing a number of insurance policies to help protect your family and assets such as homeowners and auto insurance it may seem like overkill to purchase an umbrella policy, but the reality is it’s not. Otherwise known as excess liability insurance, an umbrella policy helps to supplement your existing liability coverage for everything from your auto to a homeowners policy. In short, your umbrella policy kicks in when you’ve exhausted your existing liability coverage and helps ensure your assets are safeguarded. 

For example, if you are in an automobile accident that involves multiple third parties being injured and are deemed to be at fault, then you can anticipate being on the hook for thousands and thousands of dollars in damages which can quickly surpass your existing liability coverage. In these situations, your umbrella policy kicks into gear to ensure that you don’t have to cover any excess damages that could leave you in financial ruin. When deciding how much umbrella coverage you need, it’s important to factor in the totality of your assets which could include homes, retirement accounts, investments, and savings. The higher your total assets the more umbrella coverage that you need. Additionally, take risk into account by factoring in your environment such as whether you have a dog that is prone to barking aggressively at strangers or have a pool that all the neighborhood kids use. Similar to your assets, the higher your risk the more umbrella coverage that you may need.

When it comes time to find the right umbrella insurance policy, let the professionals at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL help. Not only will we take the time to learn about your needs, but also we’ll customize a policy that makes the right sense for you and your family. 

5 ways your employees will benefit from workers comp insurance

Depending on the nature of your business, employees are likely to experience work-related injuries. In the construction or manufacturing industries, these injuries could frequently be resulting in substantial financial obligations for your business. The workers’ compensation insurance is a program that covers your employees against work-related injuries or illness arising from work-related activities. The state mandates this program, and you must speak to one of our agents at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL on how your company can benefit from worker’s compensation insurance.

Benefits of workers comp insurance

  • Medical expenses

The workers’ comp insurance covers your employees’ medical expenses related to a work-related injury or illness. This may include emergency room visits, surgeries, and doctor’s prescriptions. Some work injuries may be repetitive or occur over a long period of time. Exposure to some work environments may result in long term illnesses which are covered by the workers’ comp insurance.

  • Missed wages

Some work-related injuries may require your employees to stay away from work until they are completely healed. This can be a substantial cost to the company to pay salaries to employees who are not working continually. The workers’ compensation insurance pays your employees wages that miss while recovering from their injuries or illnesses.

  • Disability

Where workers become temporary or permanently disabled, the workers’ comp insurance provides your disabled employees with benefits that help pay their medical bills as well as replace their lost income.

  • Ongoing medical cost

Injuries to the back may require constant physical therapy. This could be expensive for your organization to maintain. The workers’ comp insurance will cover such ongoing costs, including providing the right workplace equipment such as an ergonomic seat the employee may require.

  • Funeral expenses

Sadly, your employee may lose life as a result of a work-related accident. This policy will cover the funeral expenses and provide death benefits to the employee’s beneficiaries.

Please visit our offices or speak to one of our agents at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL on the many benefits your employees will gain from worker’s comp insurance.