Neff & Associates Insurance Services

Will my homeowners insurance cover flooding?

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Homeowner’s insurance covers many different types of water damage. A typical homeowner’s policy covers top-down water damage. Our Neff & Associates Insurance Services team understands that understanding a homeowners’ insurance policy can be confusing. As a result, we are committed to helping Pismo Beach, CA customers understand their homeowner’s policy. 

What Type of Water Damage is Covered by a Homeowner’s Policy?

A standard homeowners’ policy covers top-down water damage. Top-down water damage includes leaks from a roof, burst overhead pipes, sewer backups, drain backups, ground seepage, and more. Sudden and accidental water damage is covered by a homeowner’s policy, whereas gradual water damage isn’t. A burst pipe can cause sudden or accidental water damage. However, a leaky faucet that damages a wall over time is considered gradual damage and not covered under a homeowner’s policy. A standard homeowners policy won’t cover water damage caused by flooding either. 

Flood Damage

A standard homeowner’s policy won’t cover flood damage. You’ll have to purchase a separate flood policy to cover any damage caused by a flood. A flood is an excessive amount of water on land that’s usually dry. Flood insurance covers the damage caused by floods from storms, rivers, ponds, oceans, lakes, and too much rain. Homeowners who live in a flood zone should consider investing in flood insurance because a homeowner’s policy won’t cover flood damage. Our Neff & Associates Insurance Services team can determine if flood insurance would be a good investment for you. Call us if you have questions about what your homeowner’s policy covers. We’d be happy to discuss what kind of water damage is covered by your policy and the benefits of flood insurance.

Common Umbrella Insurance Exclusions

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Umbrella insurance is meant to protect you when the underlying liability coverage has been exhausted. Suppose your pet has bitten someone, and the medical costs exceed your home liability coverage. In such instances, it’s when umbrella insurance can save the day. However, like other insurance policies, your umbrella insurance policy isn’t entirely flawless. It has exclusions and limitations you need to know about. Neff & Associates Insurance Services explains areas not likely to be covered by your umbrella insurance policy:

  • Own injuries and damage: Your umbrella insurance covers others and not damage to your property. For instance, if you cause a car accident, your umbrella insurance will cover property damage and bodily injury you cause to others. However, you will have to rely on your car insurance for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.
  • Coverage to be taken care of by the underlying insurance: Umbrella insurance only takes over after the conventional liability coverage limit has been exhausted. With that in mind, umbrella insurance won’t cover liabilities that can comfortably be handled by your commercial, home, or auto insurance.
  • Intentional/criminal acts: Umbrella insurance won’t cover you if you intentionally injure someone or damage other people’s property. Similarly, umbrella insurance won’t cover you when liability claims arising from your criminal acts.
  • Other exclusions: Umbrella insurance won’t cover you if you cause damage or injury using a recreational vehicle or dog breed excluded in your policy.

Just like knowing what your umbrella insurance covers, it’s equally important to learn about the exclusions. This way, you won’t be met by surprises when filing a claim. Want to learn more about umbrella insurance? Please get in touch with Neff & Associates Insurance Services for more information. Also, you can pass by our Pismo Beach, CA office to chat with one of our agents.

 

Do you need auto insurance if you don’t have a car loan?

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Most vehicle owners either have a car loan or lease a vehicle. If you have either of these, you will be required to have complete coverage for your vehicle. It protects the vehicle which you don’t own at this point. But what about after you have paid off your loan? At Neff & Associates Insurance Services in Pismo Beach, CA, we know the law in California regarding personal vehicles and are happy to share that information with our customers. 

In California, all drivers need to be covered by liability insurance, even if they don’t have a car loan. The required coverage is 15/30/5. That means in practical terms, $15,000 for coverage of medical expenses and other things for one person injured in an accident you are deemed responsible for. If more than one person is injured, the total paid out for injuries in one accident is $30,000. The amount for property damage is $5,000, which is very low no matter how you look at it. 

This is what you must have. Is it what you should have? Only if you have no assets and an old beat-up vehicle that you won’t mind losing. If you are a person who uses their vehicle every day for activities necessary to their survival, you need to protect your vehicle. This means you need to have collision and comprehensive coverage which protects your car when it gets damaged. 

Between these two types of coverage, you will be protected from a vehicle accident, theft, vandalism, and other damage from various weather events. If you need your vehicle, this is vital coverage. 

 Contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services in Pismo Beach, CA, when you need the latest information about automobile insurance. 

Renters insurance FAQs

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Renters’ insurance is one of the most misunderstood types of insurance. Knowing that more than half of renters don’t have renters insurance says a lot about how its value is not recognized. At Neff & Associates Insurance Services in Pismo Beach, CA, our experienced team knows the value of renters insurance and how it can make your future more secure. We are happy to share our knowledge and find an insurance product that is a perfect fit. 

If you have any questions about renters insurance, you are not the only one. We hope we will answer some of them for you here. 

Do I have to have renters insurance in California? 

No, renters insurance is not mandated by the state. However, it may be required by your landlord. You need to read your lease carefully to know precisely what is required of you. 

Doesn’t the management company have insurance coverage? 

Yes, undoubtedly they do, but that is not going to help you. It covers their building and what belongs to them. It doesn’t cover any of your property, nor does it give you personal liability protection. 

Does renters insurance have personal property coverage?

Yes, it does. It comes in two varieties; either the current value or the replacement value. The current value is less expensive since it allows for depreciation. This coverage will cover your stuff after a deductible, whether in your rental or with you away from home. 

Does renters insurance include liability coverage?

Yes, it does. If someone is injured while visiting your rental or by a member of your family, this insurance will help cover any medical bills and offer protection if you are sued. It can pay a judgment as well as legal expenses. 

Contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services in Pismo Beach, CA  when you are ready to discuss renters insurance. 

Benefits of Trimming Away Dead Growth in the Autumn Months

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During the summer months, it is easy to let your landscaping go. It is so hot that you may not want to get out and prune shrubs or trim trees. However, when it begins to cool, it is time to get caught up again. There are also many benefits to trimming away dead growth in the autumn months. Here are a couple of those benefits.

Can Prevent Water Obstructions

One of the big benefits to trimming away dead growth is that you can prevent water obstructions. You can ensure dead leaves don’t clog your home’s gutters or the channels in the street that guides water to the sewer. Gutter clogs can damage the gutters, your roof and your siding. Street obstructions can cause street flooding. Trimming away dead growth prevents both.

Prevent Hazards From Falling Limbs

The other benefit to trimming away dead growth is that it can prevent hazards due to falling limbs. Falling tree branches or limbs can damage your home or any property underneath. This can be costly to replace or can even total a car parked underneath. Getting rid of dead or damaged branches prevents this issue from happening.

Trimming away dead growth in the autumn months can keep your home safe, minimizing the chance that you will have to file a homeowner’s insurance claim because of it. And speaking of homeowner’s insurance, autumn is a great time to take a look at your policy and ensure it covers everything you need it to. If your policy doesn’t meet your needs, it may be time to start pricing out a new one. If you need help with your homeowners policy, contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc, serving the Pismo Beach, CA area. Get help with your policy limits or get a quote today.

Understanding Home Insurance in Pismo Beach

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Home insurance normally comes with a lot of papers full of words people never read. While this is perfectly normal, it can also make people feel confused about what they’re getting, and shocked when they do file a claim. Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc serves Pismo Beach, CA and wants you to learn more about it all. 

More Coverage Is Better Coverage 

Your home is likely the single most expensive purchase you’ve made, so losing it to a pile of property damage bills is not the relationships you want to the place where you live. While more coverage is certainly more expensive, that price you pay comes with the benefit of knowing you have somewhere to go (both literally and figuratively) in even the worst situations. Most people don’t have the money to pay for a catastrophe, and it just makes more sense to exercise precaution than hope everything will work out. 

Smaller Companies Can Do More 

Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc sees customers for who they are, not as a policy number or premium bill. When you have the chance to know the person on the other end of the phone, it can make you more likely to be more proactive because you have someone to talk to. When you want straightforward advice and tips, calling our agents can ensure that you get the information you’re looking for and not a sales pitch. It can also be a priceless feeling to know that someone else can take over during what will most certainly be a difficult time trying to get a home back in order. Call us today to find out more about how we do it, and what we can do for the people of Pismo Beach, CA. 

Your Top Umbrella Insurance Questions Answered

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Homeowner’s insurance and a comprehensive auto policy should be all you need to completely protect your family in the Pismo Beach, CA area, right? Well, not exactly. While standard insurance is an important first step, what would happen if you should incur a catastrophic loss such as a personal lawsuit or an extensive automobile accident? Homeowners and auto policies will cover you for most cases, but it’s always safest to have an umbrella policy in place to cover you in case of extraordinary loss or damage. 

Here’s answers to your top questions about umbrella insurance. 

What is Umbrella Insurance?

Any policy above and beyond your traditional coverage is considered an umbrella policy–because it extends the coverage cap on specific types of claims such as personal injury, home or property damage that occurs in or around your home. While existing policies may have what feels like an extensive cap, there can be a significant impact to your family should a claim exceed those maximums. 

Can Umbrella Insurance Replace Auto or Homeowner’s Insurance?

No, it cannot. Umbrella insurance is a supplemental insurance. With the number of lawsuits growing on an annual basis and the sums that juries award to individuals and groups continuing to skyrocket, umbrella insurance can help pick up where your existing policies stop–but they do not replace your original liability insurance. Professionals from Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc can help individuals in the Pismo Beach, CA area figure out what the right mix of insurance services are for your particular needs.

Where Can I Get Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella Insurance can be most effective when you work with the same insurance company for both your initial auto and home insurance as your umbrella insurance. Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc can work closely with you to ensure that you have the right amount of insurance. The amount of insurance that you need depends on your personal financial situation. 

Contact the friendly professionals at Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc in the Pismo Beach, CA area to learn more about umbrella insurance and how you can ensure you’re covered for all of life’s emergencies.

Reasons Why Flood Insurance Is Something to Consider

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Unless you live in a designated flooding area, you probably think that you will not ever have a flood in your home and that it is something that you do not have to worry about. However, that could not be further from the truth. Just because you do not live in an area that is prone to flooding does not mean you are not at risk. In fact, about 20 percent of all flooding occurs in areas that are not designated flooding areas. When you look at that, you may want to think about the possibility of getting flood insurance. 

Another big reason to consider it is that your homeowners insurance policy likely does not cover any flooding, as most do not. Do not live in the dark and think that you will be covered by your current homeowners insurance policy because more often than not, you will not be protected by it in the case of a flood. 

Floods can also happen anywhere, even if you live in a relatively dry place. It does not always take a lot of rain to flood a nearly river or stream. Sometimes, it happens in overdeveloped areas where water can no longer absorb into the soil. It can happen if your neighbor has an above ground pool that collapses. It can even happen if you have a water main break inside your home. There are many different scenarios that can lead to flooding in your home. Instead of living in denial, you should consider flood insurance to protect yourself and your home.

If you would like more information, please contact us at Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc. We will be happy to find you the perfect flood insurance policy for your needs. 

4 Reasons That You Should Insure Your Business

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There is a great deal of responsibility that goes along with owning your own business. Also, there is a lot at stake. If you are like most business owners, your business is your livelihood. Because of this, you should purchase a business insurance policy. There are several benefits of doing so.

You Cannot Prevent Lawsuits

You may think that you have the best clients in the world, and that they would never file a lawsuit. It is this mindset that can cause your business to go bankrupt. Lawsuits have many causes and effects, therefore, you need to be protected if something should happen.

Expensive Equipment and Inventory On-Site

If you have expensive equipment in your building or if you store your inventory on the property, you would want to have a business insurance policy. A business insurance policy offers protection that a personal insurance policy won’t. It can also protect against damage, theft, and other disasters.

You Have Contracts With Your Clients

Most business owners believe that their contracts with their clients are iron clad, and there is nothing that the client can do to break the contract. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If something were to happen with the contract and there is a lawsuit filed, you will want to have business insurance to protect you.

You Have Employees Who Depend on You

Your business is not only your livelihood, it is also your employees’ livelihood. If another business or if an individual sues your business and you don’t have insurance, your business could go under. This means that your employees would be out of a job. Business insurance protects everyone.

More more information on the benefits of having a business insurance policy and to get a business insurance quote in the Pismo Beach, CA area, contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc.

 

Safety Tips for Driving with Kids in Pismo Beach CA

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Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc wants to make sure that you and your family have a fabulous summer and stay safe during these warm weather months. In order to do that, it is important that you remember basic safety tips when you travel from home to the beach or to camp. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as you are driving with children.

1. Make sure children are wearing their seat belts.

Children may not like wearing seat belts during the hottest part of the year, but it is not only the law, but crucial to their safety that they do. Children are the most vulnerable to injury in the case of an accident because they are smaller than most adults. To keep seat belts cooler in the sun, cover them with a sleeve made from an old blanket or towel. The sleeve will keep the seat belt from getting burning hot in direct sun.

2. Carry water with you.

It is easy to carry a small cooler of water when you and your children are in the car. With this simple tip, you will never run out of water if you get stuck somewhere due to a flat tire or issue with traffic. Just fill your cooler in the morning when you leave your home, and bring it inside at the end of the day to refill.

3. Carry a first aid kit in your car.

Children pick up cuts and bruises easily when playing outdoors on the beach or at a park. If you keep a small first aid kit stocked and in your vehicle, you will have supplies on hand to take care of a small injury.