Boat Insurance

I'm Sailing Away

   School is out in a few weeks. That means it is time for Summer vacation! The boats have already starting showing up in driveways around my neighborhood. So as you pack up your family for that first trip to go sailing on the lake, do you know if you are ready? Are you covered?
   Watercraft insurance coverage goes beyond the scope of a standard home or auto policy to include Roadside Assistance, which covers towing of your boat or personal watercraft for free, as long as your trailer is covered; On-Water Towing, in case you're stranded on the water; and Uninsured Boaters coverage. Many carriers have additional coverage like Fuel Spill Liability and Wreckage Removal, even Pet injury. Without watercraft insurance coverage, you may end up getting stuck with the bill for cleanups and removals. Personal Effects and Fishing Equipment coverage are also available. They do not come as basic coverage on all watercraft policies, so make sure you talk to your agent about your coverage. When you file a claim is NOT the best time to find out you were not covered when you thought you were!
   Most carriers have several available discounts also, similar to auto policies. If you are a homeowner, have good driving history (no tickets/accidents), if you are the original owner, if you pay in full, if you have taken a safety course. Each carrier is different so be sure to talk with your agent about what you may qualify for.

   Summer is a great time to have fun out on the lake. Make sure you are protected through your insurance policy. But also make sure you are following boating safety processes also. Did you know someone is injured or killed in a boating accident every 2 1/2 hours? The chance of drowning while wearing a life jacket is 1 in 66. The chance of drowning while not wearing a life jacket is 1 in 11.  These statistics, along with great boating safety advice can be found through the US Coast Guard's Boating Safety Resource Center.

Have a great, but safe summer!
If you need answers or a quote on your insurance, please contact Brockman Premier Insurance.
We love to Keep You Insured!

RV coverage

Have RV, Will Travel

   It is that time of year- summer travel time! The kids are out of school and the weather is just right. (until the triple degrees hit!) Many people travel by RV so they can see the countryside while they travel. You want to make sure you have the coverage you need for that trip!

* Your RV policy will have the same basics as your auto policy. Liability, Collision, Comprehensive, Uninsured Motorist are all included on an RV policy.

* Make sure you have Roadside Assistance. Breakdowns happen! Many carriers include added coverage for temporary living expenses and transportation costs if needed.  

* Not all policies cover personal property so be sure to ask your agent. One of the big benefits of traveling by RV is that you have all of your belongings right there with you. Not much of a benefit if you are not covered to replace them in case of damage or theft!

* There are other optional coverages you should look at such as Electronic lock and key replacement, Pet coverage, loan or lease protection. 

* At the end of the season, you can reduce your RV coverage to Comprehensive only if you don't travel during the winter months. This will save you money!

Traveling by RV can be a fantastic way to take a trip. Just please make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your family and your belongings on that trip!

If you have any questions or need a quote, 

please call 214-592-0859 or 877-987-8683. 

You can also email us at Brockman Premier Insurance

We would love to keep you insured!

Spring Maintenance - sticky doors and windows

April showers bring... Sticky Doors?

So the cold is finally moving out. Spring is moving in. What is that old saying? "April showers bring May flowers." Those showers can also cause doors and windows to stick. The cold winter has more than likely caused damage to the wood. Then spring rains come along and the wood swells, causing doors and windows to stick because they are no longer the right size.This can be irritating and cause further damage.

What can you do for a sticky door or window?
*Many times, they are easy fixes. Start by marking where the door or window is sticking. Start with some sand paper and sand down the area a bit. Often, this is all you will need to do. If this doesn't help, you will need to take the door or window off. You will want to prop it securely on a flat surface. Use a hand plane (which can be bought at any hardware store) and remove any excess material. Start small- you don't want to remove too much. The door will shrink during the summer dry times and then the gap will be too wide. That won't help you much- and it will be much harder to fix! Some of you DIY lifers may want to go for that Power Plane- I would rethink that option. Usually a hand plane will be all the power you will need. (So stow your pride on this one!)
* You can often avoid the sticking in the first place by making sure you doors and windows are sealed with a good coat of paint- don't forget the top and the bottom. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't need protection!
   Keeping your home in good condition is a great way to keep your insurance costs down. Damage can lead to claims, which can lead to higher premiums, both with your current carrier and with other carriers when you decide to shop and possibly switch carriers. It makes no sense to pay higher premiums if you can avoid it!

If you have any questions or need a quote, please call 214-592-0859 or 1-877-987-8683
or  email us: Brockman Premier Insurance.
We would love to keep you insured!

Springtime maintenance -Gutters and Roofs

The Damage Drainage Leaves Behind

   It's the first day of spring. (Although the 40 degree weather this morning didn't feel very springy.)
I don't know about you, but around my part of Texas, we have had more ice, snow and freezing temperatures than I ever remember having before. Now that we are beginning to thaw (and hopefully will NOT have any more freezes until next winter), there is some home maintenance to consider. Freezing rain, snow and ice can cause quite a bit of damage to your home. This is the first in a 4 part series on Spring time home maintenance.

Clogged Gutters
   Who would think this could be such a problem? But once a clog starts in a gutter, there isn't much chance of it dissolving all on it's own. And who wants to climb up a ladder and check gutters in the ice and snow? I don't even like do it in the sunshine and 70 degrees!
But the longer you wait after the thaw, the more it will cost you to repair the damage. The best way to clean out gutters and check for damage is to climb up that ladder and get to work. You will need to go foot by foot and make sure you pull out any clogs. Tip: use barbeque tongs to get into downspouts and hard to reach areas. (You may want to buy new ones before you barbeque this summer!) You should also use a hose and flush out any left over debris. Check for loose nails/screws, especially at the joints. If you need to replace any nails/screws, take a look at long "lag" screws. There are several types so you can choose the heads that fit your tools. And they tend to be strong and hold up against weather. 

Roofing Repairs

   Ice and snow can rip up a roof. This can cause leaks which can lead to even further damage to interior ceilings, walls and even floors. Possible leaks are most easily spotted in the attic. Look for water stains. Hopefully you can find leaks before you see them in your ceiling or walls. By then, it can be costly to fix the damage. You should also look at the siding under your roof eaves and in the ceilings of rooms next to or below them. Look for discoloration, indicating leaks caused by ice dams. (This is when a block of ice traps water that is trying to drain off. The water can back up into your home and cause damage, leading to leaks.  While you are up there inspecting those eaves, take a look at your shingles. Asphalt shingles (the most commonly used roofing material) can last up to 20 years. But weather can shorten that life span. Roof repair is not always a do it yourself type of situation. Prevention is the best course, but if the damage is already done, it is a good idea to call a licensed roofing contractor.   

   Weather damage is usually covered by your homeowner' insurance policy. But remember- you have a deductible and claims can raise your rates. So if you are thinking about filing a claim, I would advise you to get an estimate first. It makes no sense at all to file a claim if it is below your deductible. You will not get any payment from your carrier and you will have a claim on your history that will follow you for 5 years, even if you change carriers. Even if you move. 
Early detection and prevention is the best way to avoid costly damage to your home. So put on those maintenance gloves, grab your barbeque tongs, your ladder and get to detecting and preventing!

If you have any questions or need a quote, please call 214-592-0859 or 1-877-987-8683
or  email us: Brockman Premier Insurance.
We would love to keep you insured!


   

Home Inventory

A Picture is Worth Thousands

"Jade elephant with ivory tusks. 
  Bought in Africa in 1953." 
The description doesn't do justice to the item as well as the picture, does it?  My grandmother brought back a pair of these solid Jade elephants from one of my grandfather's business trips. He worked for Ford Motor Co for almost 50 years. And trips to places like Africa were a part of his job. The elephants are unusual items. And a picture to supplement a time/place of purchase  and market value can make a difference.  

   No one thinks their house will burn down. Or get ripped to shreds in a tornado. And let's be honest- the odds are against it. But not everyone will beat the odds. What if it is you?  Do you have the tools in place to make sure your insurance does everything it is supposed to do for you? 
   Insurance is in place to make you whole in the event of a loss. Insurance cannot replace the sentimentality of Mom's ring or Grandma's china. But it can make sure the things that can be replace are replaced. But contrary to what many people think, your insurance carrier will not just take your word for what you had and cut you a check for the amount listed as your Personal Property coverage on your policy.
How can you make sure what you own is covered/replaced in the case of a loss?
  1. Make sure you have an insurance policy in place with an A-rated carrier that is legally certified through the Texas Department of Insurance (or whichever state you live in). 
  2. Make sure you have enough insurance to cover your home, plus your personal property. Talk to your agent about this. Discuss any special items you may have. Things like expensive electronics or specialty collections like guns, coins or art, are good things to discuss with your agent.
  3. Make a Home inventory list. This is very important. Put together as much information as possible for the list. Date of purchase and current market value are the minimum. I definitely encourage you to take pictures or even video.  Unusual items, like my elephants, can be questioned. Just because you have receipts, doesn't mean you still had the items when the loss occurred. A picture (especially a dated one!) will prove possession. This is just an added protection. 

   Insurance carriers are in the business of protecting your home, car, possessions, etc. But as much as we wish they were, they are not in it out of the goodness of their hearts. It is big business. This is just the way it is. So make sure you have documentation upon documentation of what you are insuring. Protect yourself! You are paying a pretty penny for insurance these days. Make sure you get those pennies back if you suffer a loss. 

Questions on your Home, Auto, or Commercial Insurance?
Contact Brockman Premier Insurance  or call toll free at 877-987-8683 today
and let us Keep You Insured!
Visit our website as well! www.wekeepuinsured.com

Insuring your jewelry

Protect those Valentine's Day Sparklies! 

  Picture it. Valentine's Day. Dinner at her favorite restaurant with wine or maybe even Champagne. You ask her if she wants to take a walk after dinner. You walk down to the bridge. And with the moon overhead, you get down on one knee and bring out that velvet box with the ring. She says "Yes!". Life is grand.
   Flash forward a few years. You have the house with the white picket fence, great neighbors and Junior is playing in the back yard with Fido. You surprise your lovely wife with an anniversary cruise (and your in-laws are taking Junior and Fido for the week!)  Life is grand.
   While you are on your trip, your house is broken into. Your big screen TV. Your computer. Your printer. Gone. Then your wife remembers - "I didn't take my wedding rings with me. I was afraid I might lose them on the ship!" She runs to the bedroom and sure enough, her jewelry is gone. Most of it is costume, but that wedding set- you had that custom made. You begin to worry. The police give you a copy of the police report and tell you your insurance company will want that for the claim. Insurance! Of course! You have a solid homeowner's policy. Your stolen items can be replaced. Life is grand!
   You call your insurance agent. You explain about the break in. He asks you for an itemized list of what was stolen.You fill out the home inventory list he sends you. He calls back to let you know everything is covered, except the wedding rings. Your policy only covers up to $2500 for jewelry. The wedding set was custom made. That $2500 won't even come close! You give your agent a piece of your mind. He tries to tell you he asked if you needed any special items scheduled out when he wrote the policy. You don't remember that 5 year old conversation. And what does "schedule out" mean anyway? Arrgghhh. Your wife is crying over her now irreplaceable rings. Life just lost a little of its grandeur!

   What can you do to avoid that last part of the story? 

You can call your agent today and tell him you want to add scheduled personal property protection for your wedding rings! This coverage will replace specific items listed on your policy. It can be wedding rings, pendants, bracelets. You can also add SPP for pieces of art, coins, furs, books or guns. What will you need? Appraisals for each piece. You should have your item appraised every 3-5 years. Most carriers will have a guideline for how recent the appraisal must be. Policies will insure each piece, down to the penny. Appraisals should include a picture, serial numbers, descriptions and replacement value. This coverage will add to your premium, but if the unthinkable happens, it will be worth it!

Questions on your Home, Auto, or Commercial Insurance?
Contact Brockman Premier Insurance  or call toll free at 877-987-8683 today
and let us Keep You Insured!

Home Insurance FAQs

Navigating the Home Insurance               Mix-master- Arrgghh!

   Have you ever tried to navigate the mix-master in an unfamiliar city? I have lived in and around the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex most of my life and I still haven't mastered them. There was only one or two when I first started driving. Now it seems every suburb has it's own version of the Mix-master. 
   Have you tried to navigate shopping for Homeowner's Insurance lately? Same story. There used to be a few carriers- we all grew up with Allstate, State Farm and Farmers. Now, there are dozens and dozens. Talk about navigating confusing roads!
   It is easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out your policy. So I thought I would share a few of the questions we hear the most often:
* Why is my dwelling insured for so much more than I paid for the home?
Because your insurance covers the cost to REBUILD your home, not move into it. Most carriers have their own dwelling amount estimator. Agents plug in the specifics of a home- square ft, roof type, age, updates, etc and the estimator computes the cost that carrier is willing to pay to rebuild the home from foundation to roofing. 
* Are my wedding rings covered?
Most policies will have some type of jewelry coverage. Most of them will be basic, $2500-$5000 in coverage. But if you want your precious jewelry covered, you will want to consider a scheduled personal property endorsement. It will cover specific pieces without a deductible. It will also cover theft and mysterious disappearance. The basic jewelry coverage in the policy will not.  The same goes for your coin collection, art collection, gun collection (Hey - we are in Texas!)
*If my dog bites a neighbor, will my insurance cover it?
Yes. Your personal liability will cover this.  As long as it is not a ineligible dog breed and there isn't an animal exclusion on the policy. Most carriers will have an ineligible dog breed list. Some will not write the home at all, while others will exclude liability in the case of a dog attack. Most of the dogs on the forbidden list are aggressive breeds; Pitbulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, etc...
  Believe me- not all insurance policies are the same! As independent agents, my husband and I see many different types of policies. I feel for people calling in with questions- the ones who are truly trying to understand what their coverage is. I know the time and effort it took us to learn the carriers and coverage. And it is what we do everyday, all day. We realize most of our clients don't have that kind of time. And you shouldn't have to. That is what we agents are for! 


Got questions? Call or visit it our website: 
Brockman Premier Insurance
local: 214-592-0859
toll free: 1-877-987-8683