5 Factors to Consider Before Getting Home Insurance in Florida

Getting homeowner insurance in Fort Lauderdale, FL is similar to other states. However, there are factors to consider that are unique to Florida.

Hurricane Damage

Florida is prone to hurricanes. After a major hurricane, building resources can surge in cost due to the heavy demand for these materials. It is important to make sure your insurance company has the fiscal resources to cover extensive damage after a hurricane. 

Speed of Responding to Claims

Your insurance company should be able to rapidly respond to your needs after a major event. A good insurance provider will have the physical and fiscal resources to provide the help you need after a flood or hurricane. Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC is one such company that goes above and beyond for clients.

Quick Response to Questions

An unresponsive insurance company is unacceptable, especially after a disaster. It’s imperative your insurance provider is easy to get a hold of when you have important questions that need answers. If they are consistently unavailable, this may be a sign of a sub-par insurance company.

Flexible Options

Having an insurance company that offers flexible options for individual coverage can help those who have very specific insurance needs. This can be an important factor when choosing your insurance company.

Financially Stable Insurance Company

When choosing your homeowner’s insurance, finding out how financially stable they are can be a wise move. A quality insurance company will be able to handle big claims if they are financially stable. Check out their Demotech rating to get an idea of how stable they are and how quickly they can pay out claims.

Give us a call at Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC of Fort Lauderdale, FL to discuss your insurance needs. Our agents are here to help you understand the ins and outs of homeowner’s insurance. Your home is a big investment and it is a good idea to protect that investment with quality insurance. Stop in or give us a call today.

Should We Combine Auto Insurance Policies?

When your life circumstances change, it’s likely that your auto insurance may need to change as well. Getting married, finding a roommate, or welcoming a teen driver into the household are common events that cause people to question their existing coverage. When these things happen, many Fort Lauderdale, FL residents wonder if they should combine auto insurance policies or maintain separate contracts. While each situation is unique, these key points from Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC may help you decide the right move for you.

  • Consider the risk. Insurance companies use risk measurements to decide how much your premiums should be. Young drivers, those with less experience, or drivers with a history of accidents or violations can raise your risk, which negatively impacts your premiums.
  • Think about credit. Your credit score is just one of the many pieces of information considered when calculating your auto insurance premiums. If the person you’re thinking about combining your policy with has a history of poor financial decisions, adding them to your policy could raise your risk and your rates.
  • Are they in your household? You can’t add someone to your policy who doesn’t live at the same address. However, your college student may still qualify. talk to your insurance agent to find out more.
  • Look at the vehicles. High-value vehicles cost more to insure because they cost more to replace. If your potential contract partner drives a super fancy sports car, it may not be worthwhile to add them to the coverage on your minivan.

Adding additional members to your auto insurance policy is a great way to simplify your life and possibly receive multiple driver discounts. Call Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC to find out more about sharing insurance policies in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area.

Top 3 Reasons You Need Commercial Insurance

As a business owner, it is important to protect yourself and your investment. After putting your hard work and money into a dream venture, it would be a shame to lose everything. By purchasing an insurance policy, you can feel confident knowing that you and your business will be safe if disaster suddenly strikes.

For businesses in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC would be able to help you figure out which policies are absolutely necessary. One type of insurance you may need is a commercial auto policy. 

Here are the Top 3 reasons you might need commercial auto insurance:

  1. You are transporting goods or people in your automobile in exchange for money.
  2. You are conducting a service with your automobile
  3. Your employees are operating an automobile for business purposes

You also may need commercial auto insurance if the ownership of the vehicle is in the name of a corporation or partnership. Another reason you might need commercial auto insurance is if you need higher limits of liability. This could be due to the nature of your work, especially if there is a considerable amount of risk associated with your business.

In addition, you may also need a commercial auto policy if you haul a good amount of weight in tools or equipment. Likewise, if you will be towing a trailer that will be used to conduct business, then you will need commercial auto insurance.

By making sure your business is covered with the right types of insurance, you will be giving yourself peace of mind and the freedom to focus on the business itself.

Contact Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you are not sure whether or not you need commercial auto insurance, feel free to contact Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The team will be able to give you more details on the type of policy that is right for you based on the specifics of your business.

Home Insurance Needed for Renovations

Homeowners who are interested in making sure their home insurance is sufficient when doing a renovation project should work with their agent at Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC serving Fort Lauderdale, FL and the surrounding communities. Here are some tips about things to do and check when renovating your home.

Conduct Due Diligence on the Building Contractor

Check to see if the building contractor you intend to use for the construction work is licensed and carries the proper levels of insurance. At a minimum, check for worker’s comp insurance, general liability insurance, and commercial vehicle insurance. 

If you hire a building contractor who does not have the proper insurance, then, as the homeowner you may be liable if something goes wrong. Be wary, if the quote for the work is significantly less than all the other bids you get. This may be a sign that the contractor cuts corners, does not carry adequate insurance, or may hire undocumented workers.

It is better to pay a fair price for the work and not have the risk of liability exposure or end up with inferior construction work.

Upgrade Home Insurance

As the project moves forward, you will want to increase home insurance for the value of the additions. It is a mistake to wait until the end of the project to make sure your insurance is adequate.

Replacement cost coverage is the preferred type of home insurance to have because insuring only the actual value does not give the homeowner enough protection if the home is destroyed and needs to be completely rebuilt.

If you can, add things to the home that will lower your risks such as an alarm system or hurricane-proofing. Also, flood insurance is separate from home insurance. Be sure to get flood insurance coverage too. Pretty much every home in Florida should have flood insurance now.

Summary

If you are making plans for a home renovation contact your agent at Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL to get a home insurance review. Get a quote for an upgrade to make sure that your coverage is adequate.

Policy changes to look at when you add a teen driver

Are you the parent of a new teenage driver? If you are in the greater Fort Lauderdale, FL area and have questions about your policy now that you are ready to add them to your policy, the team at Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC is here to help. Getting their driver’s license is an exciting time for your child, and perhaps a worrying time for you! Even though you can’t always be with them when they are out driving, knowing that your family has the right auto policy in place can help to ease your mind. 

Is it time to update your policy when a new teen driver is added?

Unfortunately, teen drivers are often involved in accidents and fender benders than their adult counterparts. Because of their lack of maturity, their driving skills may take a bit more time to develop. When you have a new teen driver in your family, it makes sense to sit down with your local insurance agent to review your current policy. While your auto policy may be a good fit for the adult drivers in your family, now that you have a younger driver you may want to make some changes. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to insurance, and while it’s something that we never want to have to use, it’s always good to have it!

New teenage drivers don’t yet have the experience and skill to navigate the roads safely all the time. If your teenager is getting ready to drive in the greater Fort Lauderdale, FL area, make sure you have the coverage you need. Call or stop by Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC today to find out more about available policy options for teen drivers.

Is Commercial Insurance in Florida Needed for Home Based Business?

If you have a home-based business in Fort Lauderdale, FL, you may want to look into an insurance policy regarding your business. Several options exist for business owners depending on the type of business that they are running from their home. Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC can help guide you to the appropriate insurance for the business that you own. 

It is not unusual for businesses to be based from home. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that 50% of small businesses are located from the business owner’s home. 

Things to Consider if You Operate Your Business from Home

If you provide any type of services directly to customers in your home, you may require liability coverage. Good examples of this would be tax preparations, hair services, or counseling. 

If you have over $5,000 worth of business property located in your home, you may want to consider a home-based business. 

These are just a few examples. The main point is that understanding your business liabilities is important. During hours of operation, you cannot simply depend on your homeowner’s insurance to cover business-related incidents. 

Types of Insurance to Consider for a Home Based Business

  • Workers Compensation Coverage – If you have employees, the state requires workers compensation coverage. You are responsible for the safety of your employees while on the job. This policy will limit your company’s exposure to potential financial devastation. 

  • General Liability Insurance – If you have a guest in your home during business hours, your homeowner’s policy won’t cover any injuries that may occur. This type of policy will cover visitors during business hours. 

  • Commercial Property Insurance – This will protect your business property inside of your home if you are burglarized or have damage to business property. Homeowner’s insurance will not cover these damages. 

  • Professional Liability – This type of insurance will protect you from individuals working in your industry. Known risks exist for every business, but this will ensure that errors or omissions are protected. 

Call Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL Today

Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL has extensive business policies for home-based businesses. It’s important to know what is the right protection for you. Give us a call  at 800.320.4180, and we will guide you through the process.

 

What Sort of Disasters Are Covered Under Renters Insurance?

Fort Lauderdale, FL residents are not required by law to purchase a renters insurance policy, but many are compelled to do so by their landlords. It is commonly thought that landlords are responsible for property damage, but this only extends to the walls and permanent fixtures in the structure. Their insurance likely does not apply to your items, and this is where renters insurance comes in. 

What Disasters are Covered?

Policies can vary, but overall, they will tend to cover broken items from hailstorms, and they will provide indemnification if your unit should be affected due to a fire. Smoke can also create staining on carpets and curtains and can ruin clothing, all of which should be safeguarded through your insurance. 

Damages due to rain and subsequent leaking are generally included, though issues pertaining to flooding is usually excluded. Renters would need to purchase a flood insurance plan from FEMA as provided through your insurance provider. Overflowing water, for example, from a washing machine that destroys your possessions is often covered, though it does have to be accidental. 

Windstorms can also fall under your policy plan, however, issues pertaining to earthquakes will generally be covered separately under their own plan. Your policy may protect against broken windows and vandalism, and renters personal liability protection can pay for expenses related to falls or other injuries inflicted accidentally on guests in your home. This can extend to lost wages while recovering and to costs incurred if your pet should bite someone. 

Let Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC Be of Assistance to You

Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC serves the Fort Lauderdale FL area and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about renters insurance. We encourage you to reach out to us today. 

Let’s Get Hitched: Does My Motor Home Insurance Cover The Vehicles That Are Hitched To My Motor Home?

To answer the titular question accurately it is imperative that you speak with an insurance agent. Your motor vehicle is not automatically insured while it is hitched to your motor home. An agent can add certain circumstances of liability to your recreational vehicle policy as it concerns your motor vehicle. Your concerns about what may happen to your car as you travel with it hitched to your motor home comes into play. Consider the value of the motor vehicle, what level of auto insurance is currently on the motor vehicle through your separate auto insurance policy and to what extent will be you be hitching your vehicle to your motor home (is this a cross-country trip, are you planning to travel locally with your vehicle attached to your motor home on a frequent basis?). Think your plans through thoroughly with your family.    

Enjoying the beautiful weather of Fort Lauderdale FL is always more scenic in a motor home. Our name – Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC is our statement of pride in the region we serve. Fort Lauderdale, FL is a treasure trove of beauty for everyone and especially those who love the outdoors. We are wealthy indeed with the lushness of this area and also with knowledge about the products we serve our customers with. Come in today to further explore what your insurance needs are and how we can best meet them satisfactorily. Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC is located at 2400 E. Commercial Blvd. 11th Floor Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Our telephone number for direct contact is 954-331-5046. We also provide insurance products for the following parts of your life:

  • auto
  • home
  • commercial
  • flood
  • condo
  • umbrella
  • classic car
  • renters
  • boat / watercraft 

  

How many commercial insurance policies does a small business need?

You need to start protecting your small business before the first time you open your doors. But it is important to have enough protection without getting unnecessary coverage that will cost your company extra money.

At Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC, we regularly assist small business owners in Fort Lauderdale, FL who want to be able to spend their days on important work. They know that if there is an accident or another unfortunate event, they don’t need to worry.

Minimal Coverage

Every business needs at least General Liability and Property Insurance. The property insurance will cover the physical building and the items contained within and may be either for a property owner or renter, depending on the situation. Liability insurance will protect your business in case of an accident, like if someone falls while on the premises.

This basic coverage can usually be combined to save money, in a Business Owner’s Policy. You may be able to save money by having all your insurance through one provider, too.

Other Kinds of Coverage You May Need

Professional Liability insurance will cover mistakes caused by errors or omissions in your services or products. A Commercial Auto Insurance policy may be necessary if you use vehicles for work purposes.

You may need Workers’ Compensation Insurance if you have employees so that they will be taken care of if they become ill or injured while in your employ. To ensure that you have protection if your business is ever temporarily shut down, you can obtain a Business Income Insurance policy.

If you are unsure about how much insurance you need, call Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC and let us know what your Fort Lauderdale, FL needs. We can help find the coverage that best meets your needs.

Auto Insurance for Multiple Vehicles

You can’t drive legally in the state of Florida without car insurance. The no-fault auto insurance law in the state requires all registrants or owners of automobiles with four wheels or more to carry a minimum property damage liability as well as Personal Injury Protection to operate a motor vehicle in the state. Therefore, make sure that you’ve met auto insurance requirements before you hit the road in the Sunshine State.

Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL can help you stay insured as you drive around the state. But, what if you have more than one vehicle to insure? Well, you know how you can just add a driver to your auto insurance policy to ensure that he/she is covered every time he/she gets behind the wheel of your car? You can add a car or multiple cars to an existing auto insurance policy in a similar manner. It’s pretty easy to add a vehicle to an existing auto insurance policy as long as it is registered under the same name.

Adding a New Vehicle to your Policy

Adding a new vehicle to your existing car insurance policy is a simple process. All you have to do is notify the insurance provider and they’ll add the vehicle or vehicles to your policy. Therefore, you don’t have to ensure your new car separately every time you purchase a new one – you can keep using the same policy as long as you notify the insurance company in good time so that they can do the necessary adjustments.

It similar to bundling your policies, but just for your vehicles. You can get all the coverage you need for your cars. You can even drop some coverages on the older cars, such as collision and comprehensive coverage, and add them for your new car. If you are looking to ensure multiple vehicles in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Coastal Wealth Insurance LLC can help you out. Call us for more information.