The Insurance Family Blog

Does Your Hobby or Home Business Require Extra Insurance? – Part Two

Posted by Susie Scherff on November 23, 2011 at 2:37 PM

(Please also see Hobby or Business – Part One.)

Most individuals use their homeowner or residential insurance policy to handle their hobby activities as a collector or enthusiast. A homeowner (HO) policy usually includes a definition of “business” and some are so broad that nearly any activity qualifies as a business. In such instances, a hobbyist or enthusiast should consider whether separate business insurance is necessary.

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Topics: Business Owners Insurance, Business Personal Property, Business Insurance, Home Insurance, Homeowners Insurance

Which Homeowners Policy is Right for Me?

Posted by Susie Scherff on October 31, 2011 at 11:05 AM

If you own a home, you’ll want to think about the best way to insure it. One goal is to match your needs to the right company. Some companies like new, high-valued homes while some companies do well with older or historic preservation homes. Others are comfortable with country homes or old farm homes. It pays to shop around, both for the best coverage and for a company that likes your type of home.

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Topics: Home Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Personal Property Insurance, Condominium Insurance, Fire Insurance, dwelling fire policy, Personal Liability, Insurance Policy Types, Homeowners Coverages

Some Sobering Facts and Enlightening Advice About Home Values in California

Posted by Susie Scherff on August 22, 2011 at 1:12 PM

It’s a depressing prospect: the housing market still hasn’t recovered from the monumental setbacks we experienced a few years back.  Meanwhile, the recent slew of storms we experienced over the spring coupled with the prediction of very active hurricane season means insurance rates are on the rise.  In high-risk locations, some homeowners are paying as much as a 20% increase in their home insurance rates.

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Topics: Building Insurance, Home Insurance

California Homeowners, are you protected from brushfires?

Posted by Susie Scherff on August 8, 2011 at 9:26 AM

No one knows the devastation a brush fire can cause more than a California homeowner.  With some of the most active brush fire districts in the world coupled with some especially dry summers, it makes sense that California homeowners would be especially keen on protecting their homes. Obvious signs are a warm summer afternoon with low humidity - a perfect atmosphere to cultivate a brush fire.

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Topics: Home Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, General Liability Insurance

Ensure Your Home Insurance Protects You First

Posted by Susie Scherff on August 5, 2011 at 8:39 AM

During the summer months, it is essential that you have a home insurance policy that protects your home from the risk of fire.

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Topics: Building Insurance, Home Insurance

California Homeowners Should Wise Up To Insurance Coverage

Posted by Susie Scherff on July 29, 2011 at 10:15 AM

Natural disasters seem to be striking with regularity recently not only around the world, but also within the U.S., and even inside the state of California. This is prompting many homeowners to reexamine their homeowners’ insurance coverage, which we at Sutherland-Scherff fully recommend. For many Californians, the idea of earthquake insurance coverage will spring to mind. But just because this is an obvious coverage to consider, homeowners shouldn’t overlook other aspects that may not be addressed in their existing insurance coverage.

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Topics: Home Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, General Liability Insurance, Pet Insurance

California Homeowners Are At Risk Due To Unseasonable Rains, Commissioner Warns

Posted by Susie Scherff on July 15, 2011 at 11:44 AM

 This year in California, the rainy season went on longer than expected, and as a result, California homeowners are at risk, says the Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Because the extra rain encouraged increased brush growth and the severe weather loosened branches and falling trees, homeowners should expect an increase in foliage for fires to burn its way through various counties. This means that homeowners in California are more at risk than ever before when it comes to wildfires.

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Topics: Building Insurance, Home Insurance

California Insurance Boosts Economy

Posted by Susie Scherff on October 28, 2010 at 5:09 PM

According to Insurance Journal, California has just under a $2 trillion thanks in part to a multi-billion dollar boost from the property/casualty insurance industry.

The California insurance report, written by the Insurance Information Institute and available on the Insurance Information Network of California Web site, found that:
  • California employs more insurance professionals than any other state. Property and casualty insurers provided 297,431 California jobs in 2008, or more than 10 percent of the nation's insurance workforce. California insurance jobs accounted for $20.7 billion in compensation. In the previous year's report of 2007 data, P/C insurers provided approximately 300,000 jobs in the state, accounting for $21.4 billion in compensation.
  • In 2009, property and casualty insurance claims payments totaled $28.7 billion in California, while life insurance claims and benefits payouts in California totaled almost $41.8 billion. P/C claims payments totaled $30.7 in 2007.
  • California collected $2.05 billion in premium taxes from insurers in 2009, nearly double that of the next leading state. In 2007, California collected $2.2 billion in premium taxes, nearly 15 percent of the national total.
  • There are more Auto Insurance Policies in California than in any other part of the country.
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Topics: Auto Insurance, Home Insurance

CA Wildfire Risk Map Hidden for Fear of Insurance Rate Hikes

Posted by Susie Scherff on October 21, 2010 at 5:02 PM

Officials in the city of San Marcos, California have been keeping a color-coded map showing the risk of wildfire danger a secret. Why? The officials believe showing the areas that are at the greatest risk will give reason for insurance companies to drop policies and raise rates.

City leaders told the North County times that a copy of the map which was circulated left out the shadings of “high-risk” and “extreme wildfire hazard” areas. Instead of differentiating sections based on risk, the circulated map just had green shading over any area that was at risk, not categorizing the risk from low to high.

Fire Chief Todd Newman, City Manager Paul Malone and other city officials said that the color-coded map was intended for internal planning use. It was never made public out of concerns that insurance companies would raise rates or cancel policies for Coronado Hills and Attebury residents, the two areas said to be at the highest risk.

The color-coded fire-risk ratings went from "low" and "moderate" to "high," "very high" and "extreme."

Coronado Hills and Attebury were rated "extreme." The communities of Solar, Esplendido, Rockoff, Via Allondra and Stone Canyon/Discovery Hills were rated "very high."

Nordahl, La Cienega, Tamara/Sunshine Mountain, Calle Marie, Rancho de Oro, Santa Fe Hills and La Plaza ranked "high." The city's five other communities ranked "low" or "moderate."

Be sure to check if your home is in a high risk area for a wildfire. If you find yourself at risk check fire insurance quotes at a San Marcos or Los Angeles Insurance Agency so your home and belongings will be covered in the event of a blaze.
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Topics: Home Insurance, Property Insurance, dwelling fire policy

California Budget Proposal to Effect Insurance Premiums

Posted by Susie Scherff on October 18, 2010 at 8:16 AM

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to inflict a 4.8 percent statewide surcharge on all CA Home Insurance and commercial property insurance premiums for fire suppression efforts was not fulfilled.

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Topics: Home Insurance, Commercial Property Insurance