Common Gaps in Homeowners Insurance

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Home insurance is easy to ignore, neglect, or even completely forget about. Many homeowners have had the same policy since they purchased their homes. They may pay premiums through escrow with house payments and taxes. If they haven’t had a claim, the policy may have stayed tucked away for years.

In the meantime, there may be gaps that develop in coverage or unsecured areas that need attention. Commerce Insurance Agency in Commerce, GA would like to remind you of potential gaps or neglected areas in your home insurance coverage.

Common Gaps in Homeowners Insurance

Dwelling Costs

Coverage can be lacking due to inflation, major home improvements, and rising values in your neighborhood. Check to make sure your coverage will cover the current replacement costs of your dwelling.

Flood Damage

Flood insurance is not generally included in most base homeowners’ insurance policies. Climate change, construction, and rising waters may make flood coverage prudent now.

Pets

Have you recently acquired a dog? Dogs can be a liability issue that may not be covered under the terms of your current policy.

Contents and Collectible Limits

The contents of your home are usually covered for a certain percentage of your dwelling value. Through the years, these contents or valuable collections may exceed those limits. It may be time for an insurance review.

Update Your Home’s Inventory

It may be time to video the contents of your home, including drawers, closets, and cabinets. Keeping an updated inventory is a good way to ensure there are no gaps in any filed claims for losses.

Get a Home Insurance Review

If you don’t recall the last time you reviewed your home insurance, it is time for a review. We can even provide a no-obligation price quote.

Contact Commerce Insurance Agency Today

Our team can not only review your present coverage but provide a price quote for updated coverage. Make sure the gaps are closed and neglected areas in your home insurance are addressed. Reach out to us at Commerce Insurance Agency in Commerce, GA. Get the coverage you deserve today.

Does auto insurance cover theft from my vehicle?

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If you drive in Commerce, GA, you are required to be able to prove financial responsibility by showing insurance if you are in an accident.  With minimum coverage, you only have liability insurance.

Liability insurance is only for the other drivers’ and passengers’ injuries and damages and will not provide any coverage for you. You will need to add additional coverage if you want protection for yourself. Commerce Insurance Agency can help you explore different kinds of coverage, so you can decide what is right for you.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is the only kind of auto insurance that covers theft from your vehicle. This coverage is optional and protects your car parts and your car itself. Personal items like cell phones and laptops are probably covered under your homeowners or renters insurance. 

Comprehensive coverage also protects you from other kinds of non-collision damage, such as vandalism, fire, encounters with animals, and acts of nature. If a tree falls on your car, it’s your comprehensive coverage that will cover the damages.

Collision Insurance

If you are worried about the fact that liability insurance doesn’t protect you, you may want to look into carrying collision insurance. Collision coverage will pay for the damages to your vehicle, no matter who was at fault. 

If you drive an expensive vehicle, you may benefit from collision coverage even if the other driver caused the accident. If the other driver only had the minimum coverage, your collision coverage can help to pay the difference.

Call Today To Discuss Your Coverage

If you still owe money on your vehicle, your lender probably requires full coverage, which will include comprehensive and collision coverage. If you would like to discuss your Commerce, GA auto insurance, feel free to call Commerce Insurance Agency today.

Life Insurance for Non-Traditional Families: Protecting Diverse Family Structures

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In the mosaic of modern families, life insurance plays a vital role in offering personalized financial protection for non-traditional structures. From blended families to same-sex couples and chosen families, the initial step involves acknowledging and embracing the unique dynamics that define these relationships. Here’s more information from Commerce Insurance Agency, serving Commerce, GA. 

Inclusive Beneficiaries: Redefining Family Ties

Life insurance for non-traditional families transcends traditional boundaries by allowing inclusive beneficiary designations. Whether it’s a life partner, close friend, or a non-biological parent, policies can be crafted to reflect the chosen family relationships that extend beyond conventional norms.

Tailoring Coverage: Meeting Distinctive Financial Needs

Non-traditional families come with unique financial responsibilities. Customizing life insurance coverage is imperative to address specific needs, such as supporting stepchildren or cohabiting partners. Tailoring coverage ensures a seamless alignment with the distinctive dynamics at play.

Navigating Legal Frameworks: Seeking Expert Counsel

The legal landscape surrounding non-traditional families can be intricate. Seeking expert advice ensures that your life insurance policy aligns seamlessly with legal frameworks, providing protection and peace of mind for the varied interests within your unique family.

Adapting to Change: Regular Policy Reviews for Family Evolution

Non-traditional families are dynamic, often evolving over time. Regular policy reviews are essential to adapting to life’s changes, ensuring that your coverage remains current and aligns with the shifting circumstances of your ever-evolving family.

Life insurance for non-traditional families is about recognizing, embracing, and securing the diversity of modern relationships. By tailoring coverage, understanding legal considerations, and fostering open communication, you can navigate the unique landscape of non-traditional families with confidence. If you’re looking for a new life insurance policy in the greater Commerce, GA area, reach out to Commerce Insurance Agency today. 

Why do I need to have home insurance in Georgia?

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Real estate has continued to be a great investment for people in and around the Commerce, GA area. If you are looking to buy a home, you do need to make sure you are securing and protecting this investment. A great way that this can be done is by getting insurance for your home. You will actually need to have this coverage for various reasons when here. 

Protect Your Dwelling and Assets

A reason why you need to have a home insurance policy when you are in this area is so you can protect your dwelling and assets. Home insurance is a great tool to use when it comes to securing your assets. Not only will home insurance offer support if your home is damaged, but it can also provide you with coverage for personal assets and other forms of support that can save you time and stress.

Insurance is Often Required

You also should consider home insurance a necessity as insurance is often required. If you are going to finance the purchase of a home with a loan, you will need home insurance to meet the requirements set by your mortgage lender. Further, many home associations will require that you have insurance. Ultimately, having coverage will keep you in good standing with such requirements. 

We Are Here To Help

If you happen to own a home in the Commerce, GA area, you definitely need to have a proper home insurance plan. If you are looking for a new policy when you are in this part of Georgia, you can call our team with the Commerce Insurance Agency. Our professionals at the Commerce Insurance Agency always know the value of this coverage and will give you the support you need to build a home that can protect your property. 

Auto Insurance for Ride-Sharing Drivers: What You Need to Know

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As the gig economy grows, ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft have become ubiquitous. While this offers a flexible way to earn, it also introduces complexities in auto insurance coverage. If you’re a ride-sharing driver or considering becoming one, understanding the ins and outs of your insurance is vital. At Commerce Insurance Agency, serving the greater Commerce, GA community, we want to ensure you understand your auto insurance policy and how it pertains to you if you’re a ride-share driver.

The Gap in Personal Auto Policies

Most personal auto insurance policies exclude coverage for "commercial use" of your vehicle. This means that if you’re involved in an accident while on a ride-sharing job, your personal insurance might not cover it.

Ride-Sharing Companies’ Insurance

Major ride-sharing platforms do offer insurance coverage, but it’s layered. When the app is on but no ride is accepted, there’s limited liability coverage. When a ride is accepted, or a passenger is in the vehicle, higher liability coverage kicks in. However, there can be gaps, especially concerning collision coverage.

Consider Ride-Share Specific Coverage

Recognizing the unique needs of ride-sharing drivers, many insurance companies now offer rideshare-specific policies. These plans fill in the gaps left by personal policies and the insurance provided by ride-sharing platforms.

Consult With Us

The world of auto insurance for ride-sharing drivers can be a complex landscape to navigate. By understanding where potential coverage gaps lie and taking steps to bridge them, you can drive with confidence, knowing you’re adequately protected. If you’re looking to find the right auto insurance policy for your needs in Commerce, GA, regardless of whether you’re a ride-share driver or not, reach out to the insurance agents at Commerce Insurance Agency to get started.

Employer-Provided Life Insurance: Is it Enough?

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If you live or work in the greater Commerce, GA area, you can count on the team at Commerce Insurance Agency. We’re proud to serve our friends and neighbors’ insurance needs. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Take a Closer Look at Your Employer-Provided Life Insurance

Many corporations offer life insurance policies to their employees as part of an overall benefits package. If you have such a policy, you might wonder if it’s sufficient for your needs. To answer this question, you’ll need to check to see if the policy is transferrable. This means that if you leave the company, will your life insurance policy still be valid? If the answer is no, then you definitely need to consider a stand-alone policy.

When your life insurance policy will still be in force, even after you’ve left the company, the answer isn’t as clear-cut. If your policy level is tied to your salary or a percentage thereof, it’s likely enough to cover all of your needs. The best way to move forward is to sit down with a local agent. They’ll be able to discuss your overall needs with you, take a look at your employer-provided policy, and answer any questions you might have. Taking these steps will help you determine the overall amount of life insurance that you require and how much, if any, can be covered by your work policy. This will help you avoid a situation where you don’t have the appropriate protection in place.

Contact us today for help with all of your insurance needs!

The team here at Commerce Insurance Agency is pleased to provide insurance services to the Commerce, GA community. Let us help you find the right policy for your needs. Give us a call or stop by today.

Major Events That Could Destroy Your Home

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Owning a home is a dream come true for many, but without homeowner’s insurance, dreams can quickly turn into nightmares. Many different events, from electrical fires to hurricanes and earthquakes, can destroy homes and even entire communities. Contact the Commerce Insurance Agency, serving the Commerce, GA metroplex, to explore home insurance options.

Keep in mind that standard homeowner’s insurance may not cover every event. For example, you may need to take out flood damage to cover damage caused by flooding. It’s crucial to read the fine print of any homeowner’s insurance plan or to speak with knowledgeable insurance agents who can break down the details and gaps in home insurance coverage.

Major Events That Could Destroy Your Home

Home Fires

House fires cause roughly $7 billion in damage per year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Issues with heating, cooking, and electrical systems are the leading cause of house fires and over 350,000 homes will be affected by a fire in any given year. This makes it crucial to take out a home insurance policy that provides protection from home fires.

Weather Disasters Cause Immense Damage

The Washington Post reported that roughly 1 in 10 homes were affected by a weather event in 2021. Hurricanes and tornadoes may be the most famous and intimidating events, but simple storms can cause a lot of damage. High winds, hail, and heavy rain, among other factors, can all damage buildings.

Don’t Forget Crime

Break-ins, vandalism, and other property crimes cause a lot of damage per year. Indeed, more than a million home burglaries occur per year. In many cases, homes aren’t destroyed outright, but the damage can be immense, as can the costs of replacing stolen property. Fortunately, the right homeowner’s insurance policies can provide protection from property crimes.

Reach out to the Commerce Insurance Agency in Commerce, GA to learn about home insurance options.

Safe driving tips for new drivers

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Driving safely is essential for anyone who takes the wheel, but it can be especially important for new drivers to practice safe driving habits here in the Commerce, GA area.

Here are some tips from us at Commerce Insurance Agency to help make sure you’re driving as safely as possible: 

1. Always Wear Your Seatbelt

This is a must for everyone in the car. Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t just keep you safe; it also prevents you from being fined by law enforcement if you’re pulled over or involved in an accident. 

2. Obey Traffic Laws

It can be easy to forget about traffic laws when you’re just starting out, but following them is essential for keeping everyone on the road safe. Make sure to obey speed limits and pay attention to traffic signals and signs. 

3. Avoid Distractions

Take your eyes off your phone while driving and focus on the road ahead. Don’t try multitasking and don’t let passengers distract you either. By avoiding distractions, you reduce your risk of getting into an accident or causing one yourself. 

4. Drive Defensively

Be aware of other drivers around you and anticipate their moves so that if something unexpected happens, you have time to react appropriately and safely. 

5. Check Your Blind Spots

Making sure all lanes are clear when turning or changing lanes is important at any time, but especially when you’re just starting out with less experience behind the wheel than more experienced drivers have had time to develop over years of driving experience.  

Keep Your Auto Insurance Updated

For more tips and for your insurance coverage, give us at Commerce Insurance Agency a call today. We are proud to serve the Commerce, GA area and would be happy to help you find the right policy for you.

What Types of Life Insurance are Available?

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Life insurance can help you protect loved ones or even business partners in the event of your untimely passing. This type of insurance is an essential financial planning tool for almost anyone. If you want to learn more about life insurance coverage options, contact the experts at Commerce Insurance Agency, proudly serving the residents of Commerce, GA. 

Life Insurance Options

Individuals who want to secure a life insurance policy should know they have a few options. The most popular and beneficial is whole life insurance. Over time, it builds value you can borrow against after a specified time frame. This can be handy for retirement or unexpected emergencies in the future. 

Term life insurance is a policy with a flat rate payment plan for a specified time rather than a lifetime. You collect the designated amount on the policy if a death falls into the outlined incident scenarios. This policy expires after the specified term with no further borrowing options. 

Universal life insurance protects your policy for your entire lifetime. You need to ensure the payments are made up to date, and you are covered if your death falls within the terms and conditions of the policy. 

Other life insurance policies include senior, variable, and group life insurance. If you would like to know about these life insurance options, one of our professional team can assist you and get you covered. 

Reach Out To Us Today

We can assist you if you want to secure life insurance coverage for your family or business partner. Call or stop by Commerce Insurance Agency today and let us help you get access to a policy that works for your needs. The residents of Commerce, GA know they can count on us to protect the things that matter most. 

Why You Need Home Insurance

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Owning a home means that you have a lot of different responsibilities. Many of these have to do with protecting your home. Getting home insurance is one of these responsibilities. Your lender and HOA will both require that you have this type of insurance. Even if you don’t have a lender or an HOA, you need this insurance to protect yourself and your home. When you need to get a home insurance policy, give us a call today at Commerce Insurance Agency in Commerce, GA to get started. 

Dwelling Protection

One of the types of coverage that is included in home insurance is dwelling protection. It protects the building from a host of risks that can cause it to be damaged. When you have home insurance, it protects against things like calamities, accidents, and specific disasters. These are risks that every home faces, and you need to be prepared for them by having home insurance.

When an event happens that damages your home, the home policy will pay for the necessary repairs. It can even pay for your home to be rebuilt if it’s destroyed.

Item Protection

When you have home insurance, it also protects the items that are inside it. You get coverage for all of your possessions in the home if they are ever damaged or destroyed by a covered event. This is a lot of coverage when you consider the cost of replacing everything. Without a home policy, you’d have to pay for everything that was ruined by yourself. Make sure that you have this coverage to protect your possessions as well as your home against expensive damage. 

Get Home Insurance 

To make sure that your home and everything in it is protected, call us at Commerce Insurance Agency in Commerce, GA to get started with a home policy.