How Home Insurance Protects Your Outdoor Structures

Most homeowners find the need to purchase an outdoor building or shop. Some also find the need for unattached garages. These buildings house outdoor equipment, hobbies, and vehicles. They are often the keepers of high-value purchases being stored securely. No matter if you have purchased a building or plan to do so, make sure that your home insurance policy is aware of the structure so that it, too, can be covered on your policy. For residents living in or around the Pembroke Pines, FL area, McCormick Insurance Inc. has your next policy.

What is considered an outdoor structure?

The traditional shop, shed, or storage building automatically qualifies as an outdoor structure. However, other structures found on private properties also qualify for coverage. If you have a property fence or a pool in your backyard, these structures are also considered outdoor structures and qualify for coverage. Whether you have an in-ground or above-ground pool, all of these items are covered just like your home structure and are subject to equal coverage in the event of a disaster.

Disaster Strikes

Often times our outdoor structures fall victim to disaster damages. From wind breaking a rotting tree and letting it fall on these buildings to an accidental fire destroying them, disaster can strike your outdoor structures in a similar manner as your home. With other structures listed on your policy, coverage is available. Under these circumstances, the structures and the contents found within them can be covered. 

Liability

Like your home coverage, liability is also included in these outdoor structures. If a guest should suffer bodily injury in one of the outdoor structures, your home insurance policy will cover the medical expenses or fees associated with the incident.

If you are in the Pembroke Pines, FL area and looking to update your home insurance policy, look no further than McCormick Insurance Inc.  One of our agents would be happy to assist you with a new or updated policy today. 

 

I’m Rebuilding a Car. When Does it Need Insurance?

Pembroke Pines, FL, is in the heart of car country. If your garage has a pet project, you might have a few questions about the state requirements for the vehicle you’re restoring. It can get a little complicated, but these three situations can help demystify how insurance works with your work of art.

You Change the Title

When a car is deemed totaled by an insurer, the state actually issues a salvage title. This means the car can be used for parts or potentially rebuilt, but while the vehicle has this title, it cannot legally drive on the roads. When your rebuild is getting close to roadworthy, you’ll have to make sure it has a valid title. The process varies, and you’ll have to go through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department to change it. You’ll also need an insurance plan to get the title changed. Talking to your McCormick Insurance Inc. representative can help you with any hurdles that might appear during the process.

You’re Driving It

Not all rebuilds require a title change. If the car you’re restoring was never declared totaled, there’s a good chance it still has the original title. That’s fine. While you might want to avoid paying insurance for a car on blocks, as soon as the vehicle is roadworthy, it needs an insurance plan. This is extra true if you want to take her for a spin.

You’re Not the Only One Working on It

Sure, driven cars need insurance. That’s easy enough. Even if your project hasn’t reached that point, you may still need some extra liability coverage. As satisfying as it can be to work on the car, you might need help at some point. Since mechanic work is inherently dangerous, it’s important to protect yourself and your help with liability coverage. That may not come in the form of auto insurance, so this is another good time to talk to your McCormick Insurance Inc. agent.

Now that you know the insurance rules, you can focus on finishing the car and enjoying the roads of Pembroke Pines, FL.

 

What Is Excess Insurance And Its Significance In Pembroke Pines, FL?

As explained by McCormick Insurance Inc., whose serving city is Pembroke Pines, FL, excess insurance is the amount the policyholder is expected to pay against a claim before the insurance provider pays the rest. If the excess of your insurance is $800 and you are making a claim of $2,500, you will pay the $800 and your insurance company will pay the remaining $1,700.

Excess insurance benefits both the policyholder and the insurance provider. If not for excess insurance, you and other policyholders will make claim for every little amount of money you spend on your car. 

If you fix a simple scratch, you will file a claim. In fact, you will strive to make the best of your policy at the expense of your insurance company. Here is how the policyholders benefit from it. As a response to policyholders making claims all the time, the cost of auto insurance will be jerked up so high and car owners will struggle to pay for it. 

It is also necessary to add that the amount differs from company to company and it also depends on several factors like the age of drivers. A driver whose age is lower than 25 years will have little driving experience and may likely encounter more damages so the excess amount for such drivers will be high.

Most importantly, you can raise your excess higher or lower to reduce or increase your premium amount since it varies transversely with your premium. If the excess amount is higher, your premium will be lower. 

A lot of car owners focus on policies with lower premiums and higher excesses because they feel premium is certain, excess is a possibility but it is better to strike a good balance between the two of them because the payment of an excess could erode all what you saved from the lower premium.

For more information contact McCormick Insurance Inc. 

Why You Need Builders Risk Insurance

Being an independent contractor or construction service provider can be a great career. While there is plenty of potential for those that are in this field, there are also important choices that need to be made. For Pembroke Pines, FL area businesses, one important decision is to choose quality builders risk insurance. There are several reasons why a contractor needs to have builders risk insurance.

Covers Building Damage

During any form of the construction phase, there is always a risk that an accident could happen that could cause damage to a building. If the contractor is at fault, this could come with a lot of liability. When you have builders risk insurance coverage in place, you will receive protection in the event a building is damaged during construction. 

Protects Contractor Equipment and Assets

A contractor will need to invest a lot of money in order to complete certain jobs. This includes buying equipment, tools, and materials. When you have builders risk insurance in place, you will receive protection in the event these items are damaged, lost, or stolen. 

Required to do Business

For a contractor, having builders risk insurance in place is also often a requirement in order to do business. Many customers today will require that you have builders risk insurance in place in order to accept your bid. Further, certain communities have laws in place that will require you to have builders risk insurance in order to do work in that community. 

If you are a contractor and want to learn more about your builders risk insurance needs and options, you should speak to the team at McCormick Insurance Inc. The professionals at McCormick Insurance Inc. can help any Pembroke Pines FL contractor get the builders risk insurance that they need to properly protect their business. 

Is Inland Marine Insurance Really A Necessity?

You may be looking for various ways to save money for your business. As you look at things that you spend money on, you may start to wonder whether certain insurance premiums are necessary. Inland marine insurance may or may not be required. However, it’s always a good idea to have a policy so that your business is protected. Our agents at McCormick Insurance Inc. can go over why you should get the coverage.

Cover a Wide Range of Specialty Equipment

If your business ships products or equipment via shipping containers in Pembroke Pines, FL, it’s a good idea to explore inland marine insurance. You can get the coverage you need for computers, networking equipment, medical and scientific equipment, photography equipment, and more.

Whether you ship things back and forth for your own company regularly or you are a merchant, it could be beneficial to add this to your standard business insurance. This way, when the shipments are sitting inland and not being transported across the water, you have recourse if there is any kind of damage.

Special Coverage Levels

You can choose to add all sorts of coverage options based on who you are and what situation you’re dealing with. Consider:

  • Builder’s risk
  • Exhibition/fine art coverage
  • Installation floater
  • Bailee’s customer coverage

This way, if you have something in transit or on loan, it can be protected so that you’re not left on the hook for property that doesn’t even belong to your business.

You can be better protected by having this kind of insurance policy in Pembroke Pines, FL. This way, if there is damage, you have the ability to file a claim and get the money needed to replace the equipment or other property that has been affected.

Contact us at McCormick Insurance Inc. today to learn more about inland marine insurance premiums. We can customize a policy to meet your individual needs so that you have peace of mind all year long.

 

Does Boat Insurance Cover Boat Trailers and Haulers?

If you own a boat that you haul from one location to another, you need equipment to transport the boat. When transporting the boat, you need either a boat hauler or a boat trailer. At McCormick Insurance Inc. serving the greater Pembroke Pines, FL area, we are often asked if the boat trailer or hauler is covered by boat insurance. Here is what you need to know about this topic. 

Does Boat Insurance Cover Boat Trailers and Haulers? 

Boat insurance does not typically cover boat trailers and boat haulers. Boat insurance typically only covers floating vessels that have an engine, such as boats and jet skis. 

How Can You Cover Boat Trailers and Haulers?

If you are looking to insure your boat trailer or hauler, you generally have two options. Some companies offer an add-on policy to your boat insurance that will cover trailers or haulers. These are policies or addendums that are added on to your current insurance policy to cover the items you use to haul the boat or trailer. Most of the add-on policies only cover the trailer or hauler when it is being used to transport the boat. 

The other option is to purchase a completely separate boat trailer or hauler policy. This type of policy will cover your boat trailer or hauler even when it is not transporting the boat or when it is transporting other items, such as toys. This type of policy is generally more expensive than an add-on policy, but it offers more coverage and protection, so may be right in the right situation. 

Are you looking to insure both your boat and your boat trailer or hauler in the greater Pembroke Pines, FL area? Then contact McCormick Insurance Inc. today. We will help you find the right insurance policies to meet your needs. 

 

What You Need to Know About RV Insurance

You might be thinking that RV insurance and auto insurance are pretty much the same things. They are not. If you own an RV or are considering purchasing one, there are a few things you need to know about RV insurance. 

A Must in Some Situations

In some situations, RV insurance is going to be a legal requirement. For instance, if you have financed your RV, you will likely be required to keep RV insurance on the vehicle while you are making payments. It is also often required that you have RV insurance if your RV qualifies as a motorhome. It is important to research the specific insurance laws for your state to make sure you are in compliance with your RV. 

What Does RV Insurance Cover?

In many respects, RV insurance is like auto insurance. Your policy will include collision coverage, comprehensive, bodily injury and damage liability. These are essential to have in the event that your RV is involved in an accident. Where RV insurance and auto insurance differ is in respect to personal property. The RV will house personal property which an automobile would not house. Personal items such as furniture, electronics and more will be protected under your RV policy should the RV get stolen or damaged somehow. It can even protect in the event of a burglary. This is especially important for people who use their RV as their residence. Many people do consider their RV their home. In these situations, you will want to protect your RV in the same way you would protect your home. 

An RV can be a wonderful investment as well as a fun addition to your life and family. Make sure your RV is properly protected. To learn more contact McCormick Insurance Inc. serving Pembroke Pines, FL.

Debunking Myths about Personal Umbrella Insurance

Misunderstandings about umbrella insurance have resulted in people believing all kinds of myths concerning this coverage. At McCormick Insurance Inc. our goal is to debunk myths concerning personal umbrella insurance so you can have a clear picture of the protection it provides. The following are some of the most common myths about this coverage.

Myth: Umbrella insurance covers expensive personal property such as jewelry, furs, works of arts, etc.

Umbrella insurance does not provide coverage for personal property. It gives you extra liability protection against accidents that may occur in your home in Pembroke Pines, FL, on the road or sailing in your boat. It also protects you against lawsuits that may arise as a result of liability claims. 

Myth: Umbrella insurance takes the place of home, auto or boat liability coverage.

Umbrella insurance coverage does not stand alone. It can only be obtained if you already have liability coverage from a home, auto or boat insurance policy. The purpose of umbrella insurance is to increase the limits of your current liability coverage.

Myth: Personal umbrella insurance is extremely expensive. Only wealthy people can afford a policy.

The cost of umbrella policies varies depending on the amount of coverage you desire. A $1,000,000 umbrella policy, for example, could cost anywhere from $150 to $300 annually. Compared to the coverage it provides, umbrella insurance is quite reasonably priced. It helps cover the costs of accidents where injuries or damages exceed the limits of your home, auto or boat liability coverage. Without this extra protection, you could be held liable for these extra expenses on your own. 

If the value of your personal assets exceeds the liability limits of your home, auto or boat insurance policies, you can benefit from what umbrella coverage has to offer. To obtain personal umbrella insurance protection, contact McCormick Insurance Inc. in Pembroke Pines, FL.

What To Do After Your Home Is Flooded

It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Your home and your house have become a swimming pool. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a burst pipe or a natural disaster, a flooded home is a nightmare. Florida is known for getting hit by hurricanes, and if you live in Pembroke Pines, FL, you know this all too well. McCormick Insurance Inc. is here to help with some tips on what to do after your home is flooded.

When you first return to your home, safety should be your number one priority. Turn off the main power to your house, but call a professional if you can’t do so without standing in water. This is important even if your home has lost power in the flood; you never know when it will get turned back on. Also, as you assess the damage, open windows and doors to let the house air out. It is very likely there is mold growing in your home, and there could also be sewage that has leaked into the water. Before you walk all over the house, check for shifts or cracks in the foundation. If you find that you cannot deal with any aspect of your flooded home safely, be sure to call a professional.

Once you have determined that it is safe to be in the home, you can begin to clean up. Slowly remove any standing water and get rid of mud while it is still wet. Once the water is gone, clean and disinfects all surfaces; you never know what the water was contaminated with. While you can salvage some items in your home, there are probably many, such as mattresses and couches, that you will need to throw out and replace.

Once you re-enter your home, it’s important to contact your insurance agency if you haven’t already. Serving Pembroke Pines, FL, and the surrounding area, McCormick Insurance Inc. can help you navigate the next steps.

When to consider life insurance for your child

Getting life insurance for your children is not something fun to think about, but there could be benefits in various situations. The insurance agents at McCormick Insurance Inc. in Pembroke Pines, FL have all the insurance you need and can help you find the best policies for your situation. Often it is grandparents that are buying insurance on their grandchildren as they may be more attuned to the benefits of insurance.

When children are prodigies in music or some other artistic area, or a popular musician or actor, parents may think of having some insurance on them. If a child is famous for some reason, insurance might seem like a sensible option.  Most children do not fit this situation, but there are some other situations where insurance can be a good idea. There are whole life policies that will grow in cash value and could be considered an investment in the child’s future. This could be used to pay college expenses or other big events in the child’s future life once the policy matures, or reaches the end of the time period.

If there is a tragedy, expenses will be paid for, and that is a reason to have life insurance in itself.  Another advantage though, is that in most cases the child will always be able to get insurance no matter what their health in the future. People with certain conditions or situations have a hard time getting insurance, but if they already have insurance, they can more easily continue to have coverage.  If they have coverage they cannot be turned down at a later date.

Call or visit McCormick Insurance Inc. in Pembroke Pines, FL to learn more about ensuring your children and for all your insurance needs. Let us make sure your policy is up to date, or start a new policy.