Flood Mitigation – How Coverage Comes into Play

Your home’s flood coverage may cover many of the needed flood mitigation steps. Learn about some services that your policy may cover.

Inspection Processes

Your home may require one or more inspections after flooding. An inspection will determine the severity of the flood and which mitigation steps will be needed to rehabilitate your property.

New Materials Needed To Rebuild

Your flood insurance policy may cover the materials needed to rebuild your home. One mitigation step is to determine which structural materials have been compromised by floodwaters.

If a contractor has been assigned to inspect your property, they will prepare a list of all the materials that cannot be salvaged. Before the flood mitigation efforts are conducted, you will receive feedback that will allow you to learn about the project’s complexity.

Your flood insurance policy may absorb some of the costs you face. The coverage may handle the cost of replacing flooring, wall materials, and other essentials.

Drying and Cleaning Processes

All the items in your home may not need to be replaced. Some mitigation steps that may be needed could include drying and cleaning items. Your flood insurance policy may cover these steps.

Drying and cleaning processes may be conducted on your property or at a remote location. The contractor who oversees these mitigation steps will consult with you about how they will be conducted.

Contact An Agent Who Serves St. Augustine, FL

Set up an appointment with one of our Tim Huber Insurance agents. An insurance agent will consult with you and discuss your flood insurance policy.

Should You Cancel Watercraft Insurance During the Off-Season?

Boat owners may sometimes be tempted to cancel their boat insurance during the off-season. However, discontinuing your coverage during these months can lead to significant risks and gaps in protection. At Tim Huber Insurance, we generally recommend that boaters adjust coverages rather than cancel their policy altogether. Here’s why.

Risks of Canceling Insurance

Canceling your watercraft insurance during the winter could leave you unprotected against risks such as theft, fire, or other damage. Your boat and trailer could be stolen, a building’s roof could collapse on the boat during bad weather, or any number of other incidents can occur. Without boat insurance, you would be unprotected in these situations.

Specifically, comprehensive coverage may protect against theft and damage during the off-season. This is one of the primary coverages that we recommend St. Augustine, FL boaters keep, even if they have not used the boat for a while.

Adjusting Coverage Instead of Canceling

Instead of canceling your watercraft insurance during the winter months, you might want to adjust your policy for the off-season.

Many policies allow you to keep coverages like comprehensive coverage while suspending ones like protection for salvaging a sunken vessel. You might also want to maintain coverage for safety equipment, sports gear on your boat, and possibly other protections.

You can then reinstate any suspended coverages when you take your boat out of storage. This approach can ensure you’re adequately protected throughout the year while saving a little on premiums during the off-season.

Get Help Adjusting Your Boat Insurance Policy

If your boat is going into storage somewhere around St. Augustine, FL, contact us for help adjusting your boat insurance coverages. We at Tim Huber Insurance can assist with this and any other boat insurance matters you might need help with.

Does My Condo Insurance Cover My Work-From-Home Business?

Depending on your homeowners’ association, your HOA may cover your condo’s cabinets, flooring, and similar elements, or you may be responsible for those features. Either way, your condo insurance policy covers only your personal belongings and liabilities. It will not cover business-related tools and equipment, including office electronics and furniture. If you live in a condo and have a work-from-home business, verify your coverage with your insurance provider. The Tim Huber Insurance team, serving St. Augustine, FL, will happily find condo and business insurance coverage that works for you.

Condo Insurance and Working from Home

Condo and home policies offer limited protection for "side-hustle" businesses operating from home. Typically, the coverage limit is only $2,500 in business assets, so you will likely need commercial insurance if you run a business from your condo and any of the following apply:

  • Customers or suppliers sometimes visit your condo
  • You keep inventory or supplies at your condo
  • Your business could be interrupted or lose revenue due to damage to your condo
  • Your employees need Worker’s Compensation coverage
  • You maintain computerized client, supplier, or employee records subject to commercial cybercrime.

Each person’s situation is unique, but meeting one of those conditions suggests you should explore commercial insurance options such as:

  • Adding a business property rider to your condo policy ($5,000 limits are common)
  • In-home business insurance covering property coverage, liability, and other elements for businesses with revenue under $250,000
  • Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) offers broad commercial insurance coverage for businesses exceeding $250,000 in revenue.

Working with Tim Huber Insurance

The Tim Huber Insurance team proudly serves business owners with condos in the St. Augustine, FL, area. Call us at (904) 824-2555 or stop in today to discuss how to protect your personal and business assets adequately.

Should You Carry Life Insurance on Your Children?

Life insurance for your child offers you and your family a financial safety net in the tragic event your child passes away. At Tim Huber Insurance, we advise customers in St. Augustine, FL, and beyond to consider life insurance for their children for their own peace of mind and their children’s financial security.

What does a life insurance policy on your child cover?

When parents are listed as beneficiaries on a child’s life insurance policy, they can choose how to spend any death benefit. Life insurance policies can cover funeral and burial expenses or give parents time away from work to grieve.

Many policies can be continued and transferred to the child after adulthood. Since children’s life insurance premiums are lower than those for adults, your child can have lifetime coverage at lower rates without taking a medical exam. And if you buy a whole life policy, at some point, it can be converted to paid-up life insurance, borrowed against without regard to credit history, or surrendered for cash.

Types of life insurance for children

We have already mentioned whole life insurance, which accumulates value as long as the premiums are paid. At Tim Huber Insurance, we also write term life policies, which don’t accumulate cash value but have lower premiums, and permanent life insurance that can insure your child as an adult. 

With most companies, even newborns can be insured. But if you have not taken out life insurance on your child, even 17 is not too late.

Wherever you live in St. Augustine, FL, or anywhere else, Tim Huber Insurance can give you the assurance you deserve. Call us today!

Floods are Costly – Flood Insurance can Help

Floods come in various types and categories. While some floods pose an immediate threat, the good news is most are not life-threatening. However, all floods are expensive. Safety is always the top priority during a flood, but what happens once the immediate danger of the floodwaters has passed? That’s where the assistance of insurance can make a difference. That’s why people in and around St. Augustine, FL, rely on the friendly and professional agents at Tim Huber Insurance for their insurance needs.

Insurance Protection for the Expense of Flooding

Although we may have advanced warnings of a flood, sometimes we can do little or nothing to protect our valuables. During a flood, the safety of our loved ones is always the top priority. However, once the waters recede and the storm passes, the cost of dealing with the aftermath is often more than anticipated.

The cost of a flood can range from issues with the flooring and structural stability to replacing lost items and repairing damaged property. Cleaning up after a flood can be expensive. Fortunately, flood insurance protection can assist with replacing lost items, repairs, clean-up costs, and more, making the recovery process more manageable.

Flood Insurance Solutions in St. Augustine

We can assist if you’re seeking flood insurance in or around St. Augustine, FL, or have queries about flood insurance protection. Floods can be expensive, and so can the clean-up, but flood insurance can provide some relief. Contact Tim Huber Insurance to learn more and schedule an appointment today. We’re here to help once the floodwaters recede.

Three Things You Need to Know About Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance and regular car insurance aren’t the same. For one, getting classic car insurance is impossible unless your car is at least 20 years old. There are also storage requirements and usage limitations to abide by. For instance, it’s important the vehicle gets stored somewhere safe and secure. Secondly, owners cannot use their classic cars to drive anywhere. That’s why you typically see these types of cars only at car shows and other special occasions. Some other significant differences include:

  • Cost: Classic car insurance is usually cheaper than regular car insurance. One reason behind this is that classic cars aren’t usually driven as much as new models.
  • Coverage: Many classic car insurance policies offer specialized coverage options customized for classic cars, such as coverage for expert repair services or vintage parts. 
  • Actual value vs. agreed value: Classic car insurance uses an agreed value to assess the amount of the payout to give you if your car gets stolen or lost. The agreed value is the amount you and your insurer agreed as the value of the car at the start of the policy. Regular car insurance goes by the actual cash value system. In other words, your payout is based on your car’s depreciated value at the time of the claim.

Classic car insurance has a lot of benefits for owners in St. Augustine, FL, but it’s still important to shop around and compare quotes from different insurers to ensure you’re getting the best coverage for your specific classic car at the best price. Our agents at Tim Huber Insurance will walk you through the terms and conditions of your policy so you get a comprehensive understanding of what’s covered and what’s not. 

Who needs to have motorhome insurance in Florida?

Owning a motorhome can be a great idea for many people in St. Augustine, FL. With a motorhome, you will not only have a mode of transportation but also a place to live when on the road or as a permanent residence. If you are going to purchase one in Florida, having insurance is important. There are many situations when someone will need this coverage. 

Those with a Loan

A situation when you will need to have a motorhome insurance plan is when you take out financing. When you are looking to purchase a motorhome, you will find the costs can be significant. While you can finance the purchase with a loan, there are rules that you need to follow. One requirement will be to carry a motorhome insurance plan at all times. Lenders will want you to have this to ensure their collateral is protected. 

Those Looking for Coverage

Even if you are not obligated to carry a motorhome insurance plan, you should still consider getting one. When you have full motorhome insurance, it will provide you with coverage for your asset and liability support. This can prove to be very helpful if you are found at fault for an accident that leads to a liability claim or a covered claim damages your property. 

When you are going to purchase a motorhome in the St. Augustine, FL, area, you need to ensure that you are appropriately insured. As you are ready to start looking for a motorhome insurance plan here, calling our team with Tim Huber Insurance would be smart. Our professionals with Tim Huber Insurance will offer all the guidance you need to build your following policy and protect your motorhome. 

Why businesses need commercial insurance

Insulate Your Business with Commercial Insurance

Running a successful business requires foresight to weather both foreseeable and unpredictable challenges. Commercial insurance emerges as a crucial fortress to safeguard businesses from such obstacles. Here’s a closer look at why businesses in St. Augustine, FL, need commercial insurance, curated by Tim Huber Insurance.

Secure Against Legal Woes

Every business involves inherent risks with employees, customers, and products in play. Commercial insurance shields against losses from wounded customers, defective products, or employee-related issues. Should these problems translate into a lawsuit, your commercial insurance policy steps in to minimize potential costs.

Insurance with Compliance

Based on the specific nature of the business, the law may demand certain insurance liabilities. Commercial insurance helps you comply with these legal mandates specific to your industry. Experts at Tim Huber Insurance can guide you on whether your business needs enhanced protection to adhere to these regulations.

Future-proof your Business

Unforeseen damages can significantly curtail a business’s growth. Commercial insurance, however, ensures that such losses do not hinder your expansion plans. By favoring regular insurance costs over random, significant losses, you keep your company’s future secure.

For more detailed insights and assistance concerning commercial insurance, get in touch with our agents at Tim Huber Insurance today.

If My Classic Car is in an Accident, Can I Repair it Myself?

Many owners of classic cars enjoy driving, showing, and discussing their vehicles with others, knowing they restored and maintained the car. Bragging rights come from the craftsmanship and care that brought the vehicle back to its glory days, and this is why some classic car insurance policies allow owners to repair their vehicles following accidents. If you need a classic car or other insurance and live in or near St. Augustine, FL, contact the Tim Huber Insurance team for assistance.

Approved Repair Practices for Classic Car Insurance

Classic cars are different animals than everyday drivers, and the same is often true of their owners, so classic car owners whose vehicles are involved in an accident have different needs than owners of everyday vehicles.

Insurance companies often have preferred repair providers for everyday vehicles but have more liberal policies for classic cars. Usually, the owner can take their classic car to a specialist shop that charges several times more than a mainstream shop for a similar repair. Classic car policies are also more forgiving with the cost of replacement parts due to the need for authenticity.

In addition, some, but not all, classic car insurance providers allow the owner to repair the car and may help locate the parts needed for the repairs. If repairing your vehicle yourself is critical, raise the issue with your agent when you first discuss acquiring classic car insurance so they can search for the right provider.

Working with Tim Huber Insurance

The team at Tim Huber Insurance wants to provide the classic car insurance that best fits your needs. If you live in the St. Augustine, FL, area, call or stop by today and allow us to care for all your insurance needs.

Expanding Coverage: The Role of Umbrella Insurance in St. Augustine

For those in St. Augustine, FL, figuring out if umbrella insurance is a wise decision can be daunting. Still, Tim Huber Insurance wants to use our knowledge to help Floridians better understand the role of umbrella insurance and how they can choose a policy that works well for them. Umbrella insurance is not the most well-known type, so many people are surprised by its usefulness.

Weather the Storm with Umbrella Insurance

In life, unexpected incidents can cause lots of chaos, stress, and financial burden. It can feel like you’re forced to stand in a storm that leaves you soaking wet and unsteady on your feet. It’s in those types of situations that umbrella insurance can come in handy. Umbrella insurance is a lot like an extension of your other insurance because when you reach limits on different policies, like home or car insurance, your umbrella insurance can then pay for costs you owe beyond what your other policies will cover.

Different umbrella insurance policies will cover different things, but these plans often cover situations such as injuring someone, damaging someone’s property, defamation, or other similar liabilities. It doesn’t cover expenses related to business liability (unless you get a specific business policy), injury to yourself, or property damage. In Florida, you aren’t required to have umbrella insurance, but it can be good to have if you think you are likely to be sued or have many assets.

People who own property, for instance, often choose this type of policy, or families with a new or inexperienced driver may also opt for this type of policy. Certain types of equipment or items may be associated with higher potential liability, such as dogs, guns, pools, or trampolines, which can all cause harm in worst-case scenarios. You’ll want to ensure your policy covers your assets or potential liabilities. Some insurers, for instance, do not cover certain breeds of dogs.

Get Yourself Covered

At Tim Huber Insurance, we love to help people in and around St. Augustine, FL, get the coverage they need to feel confident, no matter what obstacles are ahead of them. If you’re ready to call a policy your own, our agency will gladly help you through the process and share our experience and knowledge with you. Contact us to learn more and ready yourself for unexpected accidents.