Five Assets That Add Risk to Your Home

While many homeowners aim to add to their assets, certain belongings can increase your personal liability or the likelihood that a guest will be injured on your property or bring a lawsuit. Here, the Busick Insurance Agency LLC team in Orleans, IN shares the most common assets that add risk to your home so you can steer clear. 

A Trampoline

Trampolines add risk for three reasons: they attract neighborhood children to your yard, give the appearance you have money, and sometimes cause injuries. Trampolines often lead to personal injury lawsuits against the homeowners who own them and let neighborhood children jump on them. 

A Swimming Pool

The trifecta of risk that applies to trampolines applies to swimming pools, too: they attract children, they give the appearance of wealth, and they come with inherent risk, all of which increase your risk of loss. 

Your Dog

Okay, maybe he’s not a personal belonging – but your dog comes with some serious liability. If they bite a guest, mail carrier, or passerby (even if they provoked the dog), you might be held liable for your dog’s behavior. 

A Deck

If you often host get-togethers on your deck, you might be at risk of deck failure. Decks are designed to bear a certain amount of weight depending on their size and construction, and deck parties that exceed that weight limit can put attendees at risk of injury. 

To learn more about limiting your risk as a homeowner, visit us at Busick Insurance Agency LLC in Orleans, IN today. We’re passionate about helping homeowners protect their assets!

Ways to Cover a Home-based Business on Your Home Insurance

At Busick Insurance Agency LLC, serving Orleans, IN, we want your home-based business to receive the excellent coverage that your home does from its home insurance. You might think you need a separate policy, but you don’t.

Rider or Endorsement

Home-based business owners can add a rider to their home policy that covers their business’s equipment, inventory, and business liability. Doing this makes purchasing insurance easy.

You will need a separate policy if you eventually move your business outside of your home to an office. Still, until then, you can add an endorsement or a rider to your policy for your business.

 A rider protects your business for up to $5,000. It typically covers the business equipment and may also extend to the inventory.

An endorsement provides more comprehensive coverage than a rider. With an endorsement, you customize the coverage provided to cover business inventory or equipment fully.

Which do you need?

Meeting with an insurance agent can answer this question for your specific business, but typically, small companies with less than $5,000 in income annually can use the rider. Already established businesses that earn a business income of a normal annual salary in the US or greater would require an endorsement. So, if your business pulls in $18,000 per year or more, you’d need the endorsement.

Other factors also influence the choice, such as what other insurance you already own. Whether your business carries physical inventory also influences whether you obtain a rider or an endorsement.

Contact Us

Contact Busick Insurance Agency LLC, serving Orleans, IN, today to learn about covering your home business under your home insurance policy. Call or email us today.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Insurance

Home insurance is a must.  It is one of the most important types of insurance for homeowners that protect the property itself, personal belongings, and provides liability coverage. If you are a homeowner, or you are only thinking of getting a home, Busick Insurance Agency LLC serving clients in Orleans, IN prepared a list of the most popular questions and answers about this type of insurance:

What Does Standard Home Insurance Cover? 

A typical homeowners’ policy covers the following things:

  • The structure of a home
  • Personal belongings of homeowners
  • Additional living expenses if a home becomes unsafe to stay in 
  • Personal liability and legal fees
  • Other structures related to the property (garage, shed, etc.)
  • Valuable items (additional coverage may be needed)

Is Home Business Covered By Standard Home Insurance?

In most cases, standard home insurance policies do not cover home business. If you run a business at home, you should get separate commercial insurance. 

What Does Affect The Cost of Home Insurance?

There are certain factors affecting the cost of home insurance. These factors include the location of your home, your credit score, claims history, and others. A home insurance rate may also change based on renovations to your property. 

Busick Insurance Agency LLC – We Help You Find An Insurance Policy You Need

Are you a homeowner living in Orleans, IN or any other nearby town and looking for home insurance to protect your property and belongings? Our insurance agency is here for you. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable insurance agents is ready to help you find a policy based on your needs, requirements, and budget. Feel free to visit our website or give us a call if you have any questions. 

Three things to know about evaluating home insurance quotes

Getting numerous quotes to compare is one of the most important things you can do when you’re selecting a home insurance policy. At Busick Insurance Agency LLC, we offer home insurance policies for homeowners in Orleans, IN.

The following are three things to know about evaluating home insurance quotes.

The cost

Of course, the premium cost is an important consideration for any home insurance quote. However, homeowners should not simply purchase the policy with the lowest quote amount.

The average home insurance premium in Indiana is $983 annually. The more valuable your home is, the more expensive its insurance costs will be. You should consider the premium cost you’re quoted in combination with other policy factors when making a decision. 

The types of coverage included

Read the fine print when you receive a quote on a home insurance policy. Understand the ins and outs of the coverage that’s being offered to you.

Understand how much coverage is offered and what the policy maximums are for coverage types like liability coverage and property damage coverage. Also, find out if outbuildings or home-based businesses are covered under policies you’re quoted for.

The add-on options

You also need to evaluate the add-on policy choices for individual policies you’re considering after receiving quotes. One of the primary types of add-on coverage you may want to look into is flood damage coverage.

Flood damage coverage is not automatically included in most home insurance policies. However, it’s an important type of add-on coverage to have. Other types of add-on coverage to consider are earthquakes, sewage backup, and underground service line coverage. 

We’re here to help you explore your insurance options in Orleans, IN. If you have a question about our policy offerings, get in touch with us for assistance at Busick Insurance Agency LLC. 

Are Video Doorbells Effective as a Theft Deterrent?

Video doorbells are one of the best ways to deter thieves from trying to gain access to your home. Most are easy to install and can be up and running in as little as 30 minutes. In Orleans, IN, the agents at Busick Insurance Agency can show you many different tips, tricks, and devices to keep your home safe and give you peace of mind.

Two-Way Communication

Video doorbells are equipped with two-way communication software that allows you to not only see, but speak to whoever is standing at your door. If someone tries to sneak up to your door, you can easily start a conversation with the person without anyone touching the door or the doorbell.

Remote Access

Video doorbells are also able to connect to your home’s WiFi. This allows you to access the doorbell from an app that is downloaded to your phone. You can turn on the video camera any time you like and, if an alert is triggered, you can immediately turn on the camera and speak to the visitor.

Works With Most Home Security Systems

Most video doorbells are easily compatible with either professional or DIY home security systems. They can connect with other smart devices so that your entire home security system can be managed with one convenient app. You can choose whether to control the doorbell separately or as part of the entire system.

The agents of Busick Insurance Agency are dedicated to helping the residents of Orleans, IN keep their home and family safe. If you are interested in learning more, call and talk to an agent today! Keeping your home secure is a top priority and our agents are always willing to help!

Don’t forget to increase your home policy after your kitchen renovation

A kitchen renovation is an exciting improvement to any family’s home, and when you have invested in the kitchen of your dreams, it is essential to make sure that it is protected. Your current home insurance policy may not be sufficient to provide the necessary coverage of your home’s new value. If you have recently completed a kitchen renovation or similar update to your home, makes sure that your policy reflects the increased value of your home. Not sure if you have the coverage that you need for your Orleans, IN home? Contact the team at Busick Insurance Agency LLC today to schedule a comprehensive policy review. 

Your kitchen is not just the heart of your home

After a full-on kitchen remodel, your kitchen is probably the most expensive room in your house. Additionally, an improved kitchen adds a lot to the resale value of your home. While all of these are great features, your kitchen is also one of the likeliest places in your home for an accident or damage to occur. Make sure that your new appliances, countertops, cabinets, and flooring are covered by your home policy. As your home increases in value, whether you make improvements or not, it is always a good idea to review your policy levels with your local agent. We recommend that our clients have an annual review of their entire insurance portfolios for this reason. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that you do not have adequate coverage for your family home.

Don’t forget to increase your home insurance policy to reflect the value of the improvements made on your home. Call or stop by the Busick Insurance Agency LLC office today and make sure that your Orleans, IN area home is protected!

Does Home Insurance Cover Wind Damage From Storms?

Regardless of where you live, most people are prone to severe storms throughout the year. Some areas are more likely than others to receive damage as a result. The Mid-West is primarily known for having storms that can cause extensive damage to homes. When selecting your home insurance coverage, it is essential to know if you are covered in the event your home receives damage from winds associated with storms.

Is My Home Covered From Wind Damage?

In most cases, the homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damage that is a result of a storm. This is something that people who are shopping for home insurance should be looking for in a policy. The likelihood that there will be a claim for people living in or near Orleans, IN is relatively high as opposed to other areas of the country. Having that type of protection can help prevent financial losses in the future, especially if the home is destroyed. When inquiring about the policy, ask the insurance agent specifically what the terms and exclusions of the policy are to protect from gaps in coverage.

Protecting Your Home From Storm Damage

A damaging storm can occur at any time during the year, which is why homeowners need to be prepared at all times. Find an insurance company that cares about your home being protected, and can help you get the coverage you need to have peace of mind. Busick Insurance Agency LLC gladly serves residents in and around the Orleans, IN area, and is happy to offer guidance and answers to your questions. 

Don’t leave your home vulnerable to damage without the protection of a homeowner’s insurance policy that covers wind damage from storms. For more information call Busick Insurance Agency LLC, or stop by the office and speak with a knowledgeable representative on how to get started.

How a Home Remodel Could Help Save on Home Insurance

Protecting your home, and everything inside is a matter of utmost importance. We keep our entire lives in our house. Our homes keep a roof over our loved ones and protect our memories and things that make life more enjoyable day to day. It makes sense then that we would want the best home insurance available but would also like to save money if possible. The home insurance experts at Busick Insurance Agency LLC, serving the residents of Orleans, IN, understand and want to help. Below, we take a closer look at how a home remodel could help to save on home insurance.

Remodeling Your Home

Home insurance policies and premiums are based on how much it would cost to replace or repair broken or damaged items within your home. If your home is in good condition or is newer, then the chances of having something break are much less than on an older home that is in disrepair. There are several specific updates to your home that can significantly alter the premium cost. The biggest factor is updating your roof. Having a newly installed roof can save a great deal on your premium. The roof protects your entire house, so it makes sense that you want this part of your home to be in tip-top shape. The same can be said for windows too, which helps to protect your home and minimize the risk of damage. The last upgrade that can make a big dent in your home insurance premium is updating the plumbing and wiring if you have an older home. Having updated wiring can minimize the chance of an electrical fire, and up to date plumbing means there is less of a chance for a flood if pipes break.

Knowing the ins and outs of home insurance can result in having a better-protected home for a lower premium. If you have specific questions or are looking to add a new insurance policy look to the experts at Busick Insurance Agency LLC, serving Orleans, IN. Feel free to visit our website homepage to learn more about how we can help you with home insurance.