Are You Adequately Insured for Water Damage and Mold?

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People living in the ocean community of Naples, FL are all too familiar with rising tides and intense storms. The threat of flooding and water damage from severe weather poses an imminent threat to your property, particularly during hurricane season. But many homeowners lack the strong coverage necessary to protect their property after losses. That may be because policy types and coverage needs can be confusing. Our Pro America Insurance professionals are here to help people in the Naples community. We’re available to answer questions and will work with you to create or update a policy to reflect your unique coverage needs.

Flood Insurance

It may come as a surprise that flood insurance is generally not a standard aspect of a homeowners policy. Another surprising fact is people that suffer losses due a natural disaster will not receive aid from the federal government. You could qualify for a disaster loan. But you will need to pay that money back with interest. Given Naples is a seaside community, it may be wise to update your policy to include flood insurance.

Water Damage and Mold

Many standard homeowners policies do not cover sudden water damage problems. These can range from flooding to a hole in the roof to a sewer pipe backing up into your home. Once this moisture gets in, it could start dangerous mold growths. Mold requires warmth, moisture and a good source. Construction materials meet the bill. Because mold growths are a water-related issue, be sure that you have adequate coverage. Remediation can be tremendously expensive.

Pro America Insurance proudly serves the people of Naples, FL. Our insurance professionals are available to review and update your homeowners policy to ensure it provides you with secure coverage.

How Age Impacts How Much You Pay for Auto Insurance

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Does your age matter when it comes to auto insurance? Most people who are drivers will need an auto insurance policy that matches their risk level. But, how much risk are you? Many factors go into play to decide this and age is one of them. When you need auto insurance from Pro America Insurance, we’ll help you determine the right policy for your needs based on multiple factors.

How Age Matters

At a young age, teen drivers can expect to pay more for auto insurance. The reason for this is quite simply because these drivers are inexperienced. That inexperience means they are at a higher risk for being involved in an accident. As you get older, usually in your early 20’s, you may notice your auto insurance rates begin to fall. You’ll pay less, in some cases if you remain accident-free for some time throughout most of your life. In some situations, seniors can start to see rates increase as well. This may be due to the higher risks present when faculties begin to fail. However, most seniors qualify for more affordable plans due to limited driving needs.

What’s Right for You?

When it comes down to it, age is only one factor that plays a role in what you will pay for auto insurance. When you come in to see our experienced agents at Pro America Insurance, we’ll help you find a policy that meets your needs and properly addresses the risks you present to your insurer. We serve clients of all ages that live in the Naples, FL area. We can help you as well. Give our team a call today for a consultation and a quote on the auto insurance plan you need.

 

Why You Need Home Insurance

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People in Naples, FL get home insurance from Pro America Insurance for the same reasons that they get car insurance.  If the home gets damaged or if someone gets injured on the property, the insurance will assist with the financial consequences.  Home insurance is typically two different kinds of protection – liability insurance and hazard insurance.

Liability

This type of insurance will cover any personal liability for accidents that occur on the property.  If your neighbor happens to trip on a water hose in your yard and breaks a hip, the liability insurance will pay for the medical expenses incurred, up to the limit of the policy.

Hazard

Hazard insurance will protect you against unintentional destruction or damage to your home and its contents.  This can include damage from things like:

•             Fire

•             Theft

•             Storms

•             Vandalism

•             And more.

It can be used to cover the replacement value or the cash value.  The replacement value will pay enough to replace what has been lost while cash value will pay as much as the property is worth.  For example, the cash value for a $1,000 TV that is 5 years old will not be $1,000, because of the fact that things tend to depreciate with age, and this makes it worth less to the eyes of the insurer.

Mortgage

If you have taken out a mortgage on your home, you will need to have home insurance as a requirement for the mortgage.  This is because the house will be used as collateral.  Because of this, the lender will require you to purchase a minimum of hazard insurance, although you can buy more than that if you like.

If you are a home owner in the Naples, FL area and looking to either get home insurance or lower your rates, check out Pro America Insurance today.

 

How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

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No one ever thinks they will get water damage in their home in Naples, FL but it can happen in a variety of ways. While you may not be able to prevent it completely, you can take steps to prevent it from happening to you in some occurrences. Use these tips from Pro America Insurance to better protect your home.

  • Water your water bill. You likely already know what your normal usage is for your water and the amount you should pay every month. Unless there is a reason for your bill to be higher, you should get suspicious if the bill is higher than normal. It could mean there is a leak somewhere and you will want to investigate it before it becomes and even bigger problem.
  • Never pour grease down your sink. While this may be the easiest thing to do when you are cooking, you could be doing more harm than good. Even if you pour it down with hot or cold water, it can cause buildup or a blockage that can lead to bigger issues later.
  • Be careful where you plan trees. Trees are gorgeous and you likely want to have them in your yard but before you plant anything, make sure the tree is out of the way of pipes both now and in the future.

There is never a 100 percent guarantee that you will not get water damage in your home but by taking these steps, you can lessen the percentage of it happening. To even better protect yourself, you need a great home insurance policy that incorporates a water damage clause. Contact Pro America Insurance serving Naples, FL for more information and to get a free quote. Taking this step can help save you money, hassle, and more.

I’m Planning a Wedding In My Backyard: Is This A Good Time To Review My Homeowners Insurance Policy?

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Are We Going With a Disc Jockey or Live Band?

Before you make your guest list give us a call.

You agreed, albeit reluctantly, to let your cherished niece have her wedding ceremony and reception in your extensive and meticulously groomed backyard. Should you give a call to your insurance agent at Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. a call? We are so glad you asked and the answer is a a resounding yes! Let’s face it we enjoy a good life of sun and fun in Naples, FL where almost anytime of the year is a great time to have an outdoor wedding. Before you send out the invitations, however, give us a call.

Many people are going with the option of having their wedding and other special occasion events right in their own backyard. For all of the pros of this decision: the biggest one is saving MONEY. You want to make sure that a little money saved on the outset is not a lot of money spent on the back end of this decision. There is a lot to think about. 

Consider What You Are Undertaking

Did you know that many wedding venues today ask the bride and groom or whoever is financing the wedding to take out a special arm of insurance for the event? This is an added protection for the venue owner in case one of your guests injure themselves at your event. In other words the financial backer of the wedding is then liable for any injury that may occur. 

We understand the liability involved in the joyous occasion at Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. in Naples, FL. Please contact us directly to discuss the details before the "I Do’s"

Tips for Moving Into a New Home

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If you are moving into a new home, you undoubtedly know how time-consuming it can be, especially if you have a large amount of personal belongings. From clothing to furniture to electronics like TVs, getting moved in and settled in sometimes takes more than a few days. Fortunately, though, there are several tips you can follow to make your transition and moving process into a new home much simpler and as stress-free as possible. 

1) Label ALL boxes

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of labeling all boxes when moving. If you don’t, this will lead to much confusion when moving into the new home. If the boxes are labeled, this not only helps keep track of what is stored in each of them, but it also simplifies putting the boxes in the right rooms as soon as you are moving in; this decreases the amount of time you have to go from room to room looking for certain items. 

2) Give items away

That’s right. If you come across items that you don’t use or need, give them away before storing them in your new home; this will help cut down on clutter and it will make the moving in process much simpler. Ideally, you will want to give these items away while packing them up instead of when unpacking them. 

3) Get professional help

Another great tip to follow when moving into a new home is to pay for professional help if you don’t have the time to move yourself. Professional movers know the ins-and-outs of moving, including how to pack and unpack in the most time-efficient manner possible.

To learn more about moving into a new home and protecting it with the right insurance policy, contact Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. serving the Naples, FL area. 

 

3 Benefits of Homeowners Insurance

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Naples, FL has some truly beautiful homes, and its beautiful weather and proximity to the ocean means that those homes are likely to increase in value. While home insurance may seem like just another bill you have to pay, it’s worth remembering that there are far more reasons to appreciate it rather than resent it. 

1. Keeping Your Investment 

Home insurance is what saves you from having to make all of the repairs after harsh winds or rains come tearing through your neighborhood, or having to replace your possessions should you be targeted by thieves or vandals. Naples, FL is a very attractive town to criminals, and having the right protection can be crucial to keeping the value of your property alive. 

2. Giving You a Light in the Storm

Quite literally, insurance gives you someone to talk to when you feel as though you’re not quite sure who to turn to. Insurance is only needed during the difficult moments of life, so it’s necessary to have a support system that can work for you. Insurance may not provide you a shoulder to cry on, but it will give you some sense of direction when you need it most. There are a lot of details to consider, and the emotional factors if it all often cause people to make mistakes.

3. Someone to Trust 

Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. has the staff who understand the city, and what you need to do to make yourself safe from all that could lie in store for you. Not only will you have a resource when things go wrong, but you’ll also have someone to give you the facts before anything happens. If you want to learn more about our services, or are just price shopping right now, we’re ready to chat with you about the many ways home insurance can work for you. Give Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. a call for more information today! 

How To Prepare Your Home For The Fall

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Preparing your home in Santa Monica is easier than you think. The fall months can involve different weather patterns, as well as use of different things in your home. A simple checklist can ensure you don’t forget anything and even provide you with a few chores you wouldn’t have thought about.

Schedule an HVAC Inspection

You have probably been using your air-conditioning a lot throughout the summer. Whether you plan on turning the air-conditioning off and allowing the cool weather to blow through your windows or you plan on turning on the heat, you want to schedule an HVAC inspection. This way, a technician can ensure that your system is running at peak performance.

Clean Gutters

The gutter should be clean, whether you do it on your own or hire a professional. This way leaves and other debris can be cleared out. Without doing this, additional leaves could fall in, and you could run into issues where rust and corrosion forms.

Have Gas Inspected

If you have a gas furnace or anything else powered by gas, be sure you have the gas lines inspected. This way, as you begin using them on the cooler nights, you can be confident that all is working properly.

Check Your Home

Now is the perfect time to check your home for possible fire hazards. You should also change out the batteries on smoke detectors and ensure that you have fire extinguishers throughout the home.

A little bit of preparation can go a long way. When you take the time to go through your home, you will have less to worry about. You can also enjoy peace of mind throughout the fall and into the winter.

Learn more about how to protect your Naples home by contacting Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. today.

 

 

Commercial Insurance: Who Provides Insurance For A Pizza Delivery Driver?

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Here’s a question you might not have considered before: When you call up the local pizza parlor and order a large pepperoni for delivery, who’s picking up the insurance payments for the delivery? Does the restaurant cover it, or does the delivery driver provide his own insurance?

The short answer is: More often than not, the driver provides their own auto insurance, while their employers provide the commercial insurance that will cover the driver and the company if, for instance, somebody steals from the driver, if they’re injured on the job and need to collect workers compensation and so on. Most pizza places do not provide company cars, the driver typically provides their own vehicle, so they typically provide their own insurance.

That being said, there are some exceptions. Domino’s, for instance, recently debuted their converted Sparks cars, complete with warming ovens that can hold up to 80 pizzas at a time. These cars are, of course, covered under the corporation’s commercial policy.

Some insurance providers do not cover delivery drivers at all because of the extra mileage put on the car and the risks involved with the job. In some scenarios, the provider may offer delivery driver insurance, but may withhold the offer based on the driver’s record. 

The options that are available from a provider like, for instance, Progressive Insurance Agency Inc. will vary from driver to driver and from area to area. If you’re looking into becoming a delivery driver, you will want to talk to an agent about getting covered for delivery work and talk to your prospective employers about their own minimum insurance requirements for drivers.

What is Life Insurance?

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If you are new to buying any type of life insurance, you will need to know how it works and have a good understanding of the types in order to choose the coverage that will be best for you and your family.  If you are in Naples, FL, the team at Progressive Insurance Agency, Inc. is standing by to help you.

 In essence a life insurance policy is basically a contract between you and the insurance company.  You make payments on the premium and in exchange for that, the insurance company will make a lump sum payment – aka a “death benefit” – to your beneficiaries when you, or the insured party, dies.

In a typical situation, the life insurance type will be determined by the goals and needs of the policy owner.  The type known as term life insurance will provide the protection only for a specific amount of time.  The more permanent type, like whole or universal life insurance, provides coverage for a lifetime.  One more thing that is important to know is that the death benefits from life insurance policies are typically tax free. 

Term Life Insurance

This type is typically less expensive than the permanent types of life insurance.  It is designed to offer financial protection for a set period of time – usually 10 or 20 years.  The premium will remain the same for the length of the coverage period.  Once the coverage period is up, you can generally renew the policy at higher premiums.

Whole Life Insurance

This is one of the permanent types and has been designed to provide coverage for a lifetime.  Because of this, the premiums are typically higher.  The premium payments are usually fixed and the policy actually has a cash value – which means that it can actually function as a savings component.