Do I Need Condo Insurance if I Only Live In My Unit for Part of the Year?

It’s easy to see why people love to stay in the Naples, FL area, especially when it’s too cold elsewhere. Many choose to purchase a second residence for vacationing here over the winter months. Of these snowbirds, a significant amount decides to buy a condo over a traditional house.

If you’re considering buying a condo, you may wonder if you need to insure it. After all, you’ll only be living there for a few months of the year. Pro America Insurance says you need to insure your condo. Here’s why:

Your condo association’s insurance likely will not cover your personal belongings. If your condo catches fire, you’ll lose everything in the unit with no compensation.

A vacant condo is a massive target for vandals and thieves. They can break in, steal your belongings, and vandalize anything they want when you’re not there. Even if you have a trusted neighbor or friend who can watch your condo, you’ll still be at risk unless they are there all the time.

The people you trust to care for your condo may have an accident or outright take advantage of you. It’s a sad reality that people can be dishonest. Imagine the damage that can happen if someone throws a party while you’re away. Even if that person is highly responsible, they can still accidentally damage your property.

Condo insurance can protect you from all of these things. When you have the right policy, it can give you peace of mind while you’re away. Call, email, or stop by our office to find out how Pro America Insurance can help you protect your Naples, FL condo.

What classes of motorhome or trailer require RV insurance?

In Naples, FL, you’ll need to insure your motorhome as you would an automobile. The state requires each driver to carry liability insurance to cover damage inflicted by accidents they cause. This consists of property damage and bodily injury liability. At Pro America Insurance, we want you to understand that not all motorhomes require RV insurance, but most do.

RVs come in classes. Classes A, B, and C all require at least state minimum insurance. Which are these RVs?

  • Class A: The largest of the RV classes, these motor homes resemble a bus but contain expansive living areas, including multiple sleeping berths and a bedroom. The house has at least one bathroom, and you drive the vehicle itself. You don’t need a separate vehicle to tow it. It may offer slide-outs to increase living space when parked. If you’ve watched “Meet the Fockers,” the RV driven by Robert DeNiro’s character qualifies as a Class A RV, as does the one driven by Robin Williams’s character in “RV.”
  • Class B: The smallest RV classes, these motor homes resemble a delivery van but contain a full kitchen, bathroom, and shower. These typically have one small sleeping area. Since they’re entirely self-contained, you don’t need a separate vehicle. These also get referred to as camper vans. If you’ve watched “The A-team,” the RV driven by the team (played by Mr. T, George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz) qualifies as a Class B RV.
  • Class C: A Class C RV combines the look of a pickup truck in front with an RV in the back. It can look like two separate vehicles but typically consists of one fluid design. Most of these contain a queen-sized bedroom and a full bathroom. These include fifth-wheel trailers, so you need insurance. If you’ve watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the RV driven by Randy Quaid’s character qualifies as a Class C RV.

All of these classes of RV require motorhome insurance. If you tow a small travel trailer, such as the type you can pop out or slide out sections parked but with no attached motor, it does not require separate insurance.

Contact Pro America Insurance of Naples, FL for more information on motorhome insurance. Let us help you drive the roads legally.

Is Flood Insurance Mandatory?

No home is safe from floods in America. Yes, your home may be located away from the water, but flash floods can strike if it rains or a massive storm strikes. Unfortunately, home insurance doesn’t cover floods, and that’s why you need flood insurance from Pro America Insurance. But is home insurance mandatory in Florida? Let’s find out.

Is flood insurance mandatory in Florida?

Homeowners aren’t required to have flood insurance. However, if your dwelling is located in areas connotated as flood-prone regions, you may be required to purchase flood insurance from your mortgage lender. And even if your home isn’t located in a high-risk flood area, your lender may still want you to purchase flood insurance. However, whether home insurance is required or not, it’s a must-have investment since it covers:

Building property coverage

Flood insurance shields the physical building itself from flood damage. It safeguards the physical dwelling and its:

  • Electrical and plumbing systems
  • Installed window blinds
  • Available permanent installations of paneling, cabinets, and bookcases
  • Permanent fitting of carpets
  • Detached garages and sheds from your dwelling
  • Fitted furnace and water heater
  • Available refrigerators and dishwashers
  • Solar energy equipment and fuel tank systems

Personal property coverage

It protects your personal property (contents) stored in your building, including:

  • Existing freezers and the contents inside
  • Available portable appliances.
  • Electrical gadgets
  • The furniture you own.
  • Curtains

Given that flood insurance is a lifesaver, every homeowner should consider this investment. Yes, it’s not mandatory, but you will thank goodness when floods damage your home.

Flood insurance in Naples, FL

Would you like to speak with flood insurance experts in Naples, FL? Please call or visit us today at Pro America Insurance and get flood insurance that meets your needs and budget.

 

Who needs to get boat insurance in Florida?

The Naples, FL area continues to be a popular place for people to move to or visit on vacation. If you are going to come to Naples, you will find that owning a boat is a great way to have fun and experience the area. Once you have found a boat, you then need to consider your insurance needs. You will need to have a boat insurance plan for various reasons. 

Protect Boat

A key reason that you will want to have boat insurance is so you can cover your boat. A boat is a long-term asset that you can enjoy for years if you treat it well. One way to help ensure its longevity is by getting boat insurance. With the right coverage, you will have support if your boat is damaged or stolen. This will give you the financial capacity to replace or repair your boat. 

Reduce Liability Risk

You also should consider getting boat insurance as it can help reduce your liability risk. While you should always be safe and cautious when using a boat, there will always be a chance that you could make a mistake that results in an accident. Due to this, you should get a boat insurance plan that offers full liability insurance protection to mitigate this concern. 

If you do decide to become a boat owner in the Naples, FL area, you will clearly want to have a proper insurance policy for your prized asset. Once you start looking for your next boat, it would be helpful to call Pro America Insurance. The professionals with Pro America Insurance know the value that comes with boat insurance and they will offer the guidance that you need to choose a new plan that will adequately cover your boat. 

Why You Should Have Motorcycle Insurance At All Time

Motorcycles provide numerous benefits to residents within Naples, FL, with owners citing flexibility as one of the advantages. Whether you prefer taking your bike to work or cruising around the state during your expeditions, getting the proper protection for your motorcycle will be essential in ensuring you enjoy your adventures without posing any risks to yourself or other motorists. Below, Pro America Insurance discusses the benefits of motorcycle insurance.

Covers Damage Costs

Accident costs can often accrue to significant amounts, with repair and replacement costs for damaged property likely to lead to financial turmoil. Motorcycle insurance will help you cover these expenses, allowing you to repair your motorcycle while compensating third parties for their destroyed property.

Provides Compensation For Your Hospital Bills

If you or your passenger gets injured during an accident, motorcycle insurance will also come in handy in covering your hospital bills. It allows you to cover expenses such as consultation fees, prescription costs and X-ray expenses when injuries sustained are serious. Third-party treatment costs are also taken care of when you are found liable for the accident.

Provides Roadside Assistance

Your motorcycle may occasionally get mechanical problems, leaving you stranded on the road. If this happens, additional coverage will ensure you get the help you need. This can cover your towing fees and repair costs, allowing you to limit any out-of-pocket expenses.

Provides Liability Protection

Motorcycle insurance will also be your go-to during your legal proceedings if you are sued for injuries caused or damages sustained to property. It helps you cover damages awarded and legal fees, expenses that could often cause financial setbacks. With this, you also get peace of mind knowing that you are covered during your biking adventures.

If you need motorcycle insurance within Naples, FL, make it a point to reach out to Pro America Insurance today. Our policies will help you get ideal coverage with the above benefits in mind.

What is Accident Insurance?

If you have been shopping for health insurance, you may have come across accident insurance. You may be wondering about it, and whether you should consider getting it. 

So, what is accident insurance? 

Accident insurance is used to help pay for your medical bills, as well as any other bills that may occur after an accident. You may use this to pay for your hospital stay, medical bills, and even transportation costs. 

This insurance works like other insurance plans where you have to pay a monthly fee. You will have to pay your premium every month to continue to get the benefits that you want when you need them. 

However, it is considered supplemental insurance. It doesn’t take the place of having health insurance. Your health insurance will pay a percentage of your medical bills. You can then use your accident insurance to help cover the rest! 

You can also use this money to cover any of your other bills. If you are off work, you can use it for your mortgage, utilities, or even when you go to the grocery store.

Instead of paying your insurance company, you get the money directly, so that you can determine where you need it most. Unlike your health insurance money, you will actually get your accident insurance benefits so that you can choose where to spend it. You may use it to pay your co-pays and the percentage of the bill that your health insurance doesn’t pay. However, you can also use it to pay your bills, in case you have to miss some work.  

If you are considering accident insurance (or would just like more information), don’t hesitate to contact us today at Pro America Insurance in Naples, FL. 

The Effect of a Winter Lay-Up Clause on Your Boat Insurance

Opting for winter lay-up in Naples, FL can result in a temporary decrease in insurance costs since you promise to store your boat for the winter months and not use it at all. This provides a much better choice than canceling your insurance policy. Pro America Insurance wants you to understand the difference between the two and how winter lay-up still saves you money.

Some individuals think that they can save money by canceling their insurance for winter. This does eliminate their premiums for a few months while they store their boat, but it also leaves it in peril because of other issues such as theft or damage from a natural hazard or fire in the storage facility or while moored.

You could also purchase a boat insurance policy that includes a winter lay-up clause. That means you would agree to winterize your boat and store it in an interior storage facility – drydock. When you do this, the insurance company reduces your premium for the winter months when the boat remains unused. You still benefit from all of the coverage though.

If something happens to your boat while in drydock, it still receives protection from insurance. This choice provides a much better outcome since if a fire or other hazard occurs, your boat still has coverage.

When you cancel a policy, it also makes it tougher for you to get new insurance. You’ll increase your premiums if you can get back on insurance at all. The only way for you to get new coverage is to buy a new boat.

Contact Pro America Insurance serving Naples, FL, today for more information on winter lay-up and boat insurance. We can help you insure your boat or yacht in an affordable yet comprehensive manner.

How Motorcycle Insurance Works

Riding a motorcycle is great, but it also comes with many risks. To help protect yourself against many of these risks, there is motorcycle insurance. If you have a motorcycle and no motorcycle policy on it, please call us at Pro America Insurance in Naples, FL to find out more about it. 

Coverage for Liability

There are two types of liability coverage that every motorcycle policy needs to have. These are property damage and bodily injury liability. Neither of these types of coverage pays for your medical bills or for damage to your bike. Instead, they are focused on third parties that suffer damage from an accident that was caused by you. Property damage liability pays to repair other vehicles as well as other property that may be damaged, such as landscaping, that happens in an accident. Bodily injury liability pays for the medical bills of third parties who become injured in an accident. Both of these insurance types are highly important to have to save you from financial ruin if there is an accident. 

Additional Insurance Types

There are other forms of motorcycle insurance that can be helpful on a policy. These include comprehensive insurance, which covers your bike for incidents that happen when the motorcycle is not in use. There is also collision insurance coverage. This is for the damage that gets done to your bike in an accident. Both of these coverages are highly recommended to keep you and your finances safer after an accident or another incident occurs. Without these coverage types, you would have to repair or replace your bike on your own dime after something happens to your bike. 

Get Motorcycle Insurance

Make sure that your bike is always protected, even when it isn’t being ridden. Contact us at Pro America Insurance in Naples, FL. 

Understanding the Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance

Overall, life insurance is one of the wisest investments Naples, FL residents can make. With life insurance, the people you leave behind upon your passing will be financially taken care of. However, before you invest in this type of insurance, it is important to determine the type of insurance you need. Many people get confused with term and whole life insurance, so here at Pro America Insurance, we have decided to explain the two briefly.

What to Know About Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance policies are designed to provide individuals with coverage for a pre-determined time period, such as 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, etc. In the event that you pass away during this timeframe, your named beneficiaries will receive the death benefit per the terms of your insurance policy.

When compared to whole life insurance policies, term life policies tend to be more affordable. In addition, the coverage period is more flexible. The primary downfall to these policies is that there are no benefits once the plan expires. Luckily, once your term life policy expires, it is possible to convert it to a whole life insurance plan.

A term life insurance plan should ultimately be chosen if you want to invest in life insurance but have a low budget. Another instance is if you believe your coverage needs will fluctuate over time. For example, it is common for young parents with a strict budget to opt for a term life policy.

What to Know About Whole Life Insurance

Unlike term insurance plans, whole life insurance policies will never expire—unless you stop paying your premiums. Eventually, these insurance policies could begin to accrue a cash value. Once this happens, you can actually borrow against your policy to help supplement your retirement income or for an emergency.

The main disadvantage to whole life insurance policies is that they are more expensive. However, if you enroll in a plan when you are younger and healthier, then you will be able to lock in lower rates that will remain the same for the life of the policy.

Whole life insurance plans make the most sense when you are a high-income earner and want to ensure that your family is able to maintain the same quality of life upon your passing.

Even with the aforementioned information under your belt, term life and whole life insurance can still be confusing. As a Naples, FL resident, you want to ensure that you choose the best life insurance policy for you and your family. If you have any questions and need help, reach out to us at Pro America Insurance.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Vandalism?

Every business benefits from commercial insurance. When you have an insurance policy to protect your business, you may wonder if vandalism is covered by your policy. It’s normal to have a lot of questions about your policy and what may or may not be covered.

Pro America Insurance understands your questions about the vandalism of your Naples, FL business. Here’s what you need to know about vandalism and your commercial insurance policy.

Commercial Insurance Sometimes Covers Serious Damage

When your business is vandalized or becomes the subject of damage caused by civil disruption or rioting, your policy may kick in. Each policy is different, which is why it is so important to understand exactly what your plan covers and when you can expect insurance to kick in. Not all types of vandalism or theft may be covered.

Limits Apply

There are limits to your commercial insurance policy. For example, even if your policy covers malicious mischief and vandalism, it may not cover situations that occur after you have abandoned your building. The same applies if the damage was committed by a fellow property owner, for instance.

Check Out Different Insurance Policies

Commercial insurance policies come in many forms, and each one is different. There are many things that can happen in the aftermath of vandalism, including damage to your store’s inventory or damage to the building you rent or own. When you do not know what your policy covers, you could be caught off guard when something happens.

Do you still have questions about protecting your Naples, FL business from vandalism? Pro America Insurance can answer some of your questions about protecting your property and your inventory.