Home Insurance

Homeowners Insurance Covers Liability For Accidents When Guests Visit Your Home

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Understanding Homeowners Insurance and Liability Coverage

Your homeowner’s insurance covers more than hazards like fire, theft, and vandalism. If someone is injured on your property, it can provide liability coverage to prevent loss from lawsuits. At Brokers Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE, we provide the homeowners insurance coverage you need.

Common Types of Home Accidents

Accidents are common in home settings, and any guest may be subject to injury from an incident. Falls are among the most common injuries that occur at home. A guest may fall down interior stairs or trip on an area rug, injuring themselves. Electrical shocks can also occur in the home. Cuts from sharp edges on items in the house are a common injury. A guest may be injured by a cooking injury or from an outdoor barbecue grill. Construction materials or landscaping can fall and injure a guest. These situations can lead to liability against the homeowner.

Liability Coverage Covers Guests While They Are Visiting

The personal liability coverage in your homeowner’s policy covers accidents that might occur to your guests. This feature would cover injuries to overnight guests or individuals invited to your house for a party or other gathering. If a lawsuit claiming negligence occurs, the liability portion of your insurance will be available to defray the cost of the suit.

Make Brokers Insurance Agency Your Agent For Homeowners Insurance

Our experienced agents can answer your questions to help you understand the liability coverage and other features your policy provides. We offer various auto, life, boats, recreational vehicles, and business insurance policies. Contact Brokers Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE, for a no-obligation quote on homeowners insurance that will protect you against liability losses.

Making your home a safer place to live

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Home is the safe place for most people, and ensuring your home is genuinely safe takes a few easy steps. Safety can mean many things. It can be both inside and out. At Brokers Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE, we know that home insurance makes your home safer from many of the things that can damage it. 

Outside

Lighting

Lighting is essential inside and out. Inside, it helps avoid falls. Outside, if you install motion sensor lights, they can alert you to anyone approaching your home. Good lighting outdoors can also allow you to see your way as you enter your home. 

Security system

Home security systems have never been more affordable or more accessible to install. You can watch your home when you are away by using your smartphone. Depending on your system type, the authorities may be automatically alerted to an intruder.

Inside

Smoke detectors

No home should be without smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, depending on the heating system you have. Check the batteries regularly to make sure your backup is working. 

Clear clutter

Clutter is a danger for falls, especially on stairs and in hallways. Falls are one of the biggest dangers in the home. 

Store medication and poison out of reach

Children and pets are inquisitive and often ingest things they shouldn’t. Keep any medication out of reach and, if necessary, under lock and key. Poisons in the basement or garage should be in locked cabinets. Cleaning solutions in the bathroom and kitchen need to be safely stored. 

When you need home insurance in Lincoln, NE, you can count on our Brokers Insurance Agency team to offer a wide range of insurance products. Give us a call today to get the information you need. 

Prepping Your Home for Winter: What Homeowners Need to Know

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Freezing temperatures are just around the corner. As a homeowner, your home must be prepared for the ice and snow ahead. At Brokers Insurance Agency, we’re proud to service Lincoln, NE residents with all their home insurance needs. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to get your home ready for winter. 

Call in the Furnace Professionals

It’s a good idea to have your furnace serviced at least once every year. If you haven’t had your furnace serviced yet this year, you’ll want to check it before relying on your HVAC unit to keep you warm.

Turn Off Outdoor Faucets

Walk around your home and ensure all exterior faucets are turned off, and bring in your hoses until spring. Doing so can prevent freezing water that can equal a major leak when turning your water on in the spring.

Reverse Ceiling Fans

It’s time to flip the little switch on your ceiling fans when the winter chill begins to set in. This sends the heat back down to your living area instead of back up to the ceiling. This simple trick can save you serious cash when it comes to heating your home in the winter. 

Take a Look at Your Roof

Ice, snow, and wind can all do a number on your roof in the winter. If there’s a problem with your roof, it’s best to find out now rather than pay to have it fixed once the cold rolls around. 

Brokers Insurance Agency: Proudly Serving Lincoln, NE

At Brokers Insurance Agency, we’re proud to serve our Lincoln, NE customers with all of their insurance product needs. Reach out to us or stop by the office today to learn more. 

Tips to prepare your home for a storm

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It is essential to take precautions before a storm to protect your home and its contents, especially in the Lincoln, NE area. Here are some tips on how to prepare from us at the Brokers Insurance Agency:

  1. Inspect your roof for loose shingles, cracks, or holes that can be easily damaged by heavy winds and water during a storm. Make sure to repair or replace any damage before the storm arrives.
  2. Store all outdoor furniture and decor indoors, or tie them down securely. Store anything that cannot fit indoors in an enclosed shed or garage strong enough to withstand extreme weather conditions.
  3. Trim trees and shrubs around the home to ensure there are no branches near windows or roofs that could break off in high winds and cause damage to your house.
  4. Clear gutters of leaves, twigs, and other debris so water can flow freely away from your home.
  5. Ensure an emergency supply kit is ready in case of a power outage or if you need to evacuate quickly. This should include flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food items, bottled water, and essential documents.
  6. Prepare your home’s plumbing system by disconnecting all hoses from the outside faucets, draining excess water out of pipes, and shutting off the main valve if instructed to do so by authorities.

Following these tips can help protect your home and its contents when a storm looms on the horizon. If you have any additional questions, give us at Brokers Insurance Agency a call today! We proudly serve the Lincoln, NE area. Stay safe!

What every new homeowner needs to know about home insurance

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All new homeowners need to learn the basics of homeownership and home insurance. It is not always obvious when this is your first home. With years of experience, Brokers Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE serves both Nebraska and Iowa. We personalize every customer’s insurance policy to meet their particular needs and wallet. 

Read your policy carefully.

Read your home insurance policy carefully. Start by reading the declaration page, which will tell you the amount of coverage you have on your home, outbuildings, and content. Look at your deductible amount, which you will need to pay out of pocket for every claim. It is not a yearly amount. 

You need to know what isn’t covered.

Home policies do have exclusions, things that aren’t covered. One of the most important things is that floods are not covered. Floods are a major cause of damage in the country, and if you are in danger, you need to buy a separate flood insurance policy. Earth movement is also not covered, including earthquakes, sinkholes, mudslides, and landslides. 

Owner neglect isn’t covered.

It would be best if you kept your home well-maintained. If you don’t, the insurance company may not pay a claim you have. You have to treat your home for termites and other bugs, repair or replace your roof and keep your home in good shape inside and out.

Not all dogs are covered.

If you have a dog, make sure you let your insurance agent know what breed it is. Some breeds are so dangerous that your home insurance won’t cover them. You may want to check which ones are excluded before you choose your best friend. 

Contact Brokers Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE when you are in the market for home insurance. 

Preparing for Disasters and Protecting Your Home

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The truth of the matter is that a natural disaster, from significant storms to wildfires, can occur at any given time with the potential to destroy your home and its belongings. The best way to protect yourself and your property is to invest in home insurance from a company like Brokers Insurance Agency. Here are a few ways your home insurance policy in Lincoln, NE protects you from a variety of unexpected events.

Home Repairs

A home insurance policy will pay to replace your home in the event it suffers damage by a covered peril. Usually, you will be protected against fire, high winds, and tornadoes, but there will be some specific events that are excluded. This may include food damage, which would require an additional rider for protection.

Damaged Property

When a significant storm or disaster comes through, there is a chance that you will need to replace everything, from the home itself to clothing and furniture. The typical policy will include personal property coverage, which will pay for the replacement of personal items ruined in the covered peril.

Stolen Property

Even in the event that your items are saved to “live” another day following a calamity, they are likely to be vulnerable to theft in the event your home is exposed. The good news is that a home insurance policy will reimburse you for any items that are stolen.

There are many benefits to securing a home insurance policy. If you are ready to invest in the protection of your Lincoln, NE home and belongings, contact our team at Brokers Insurance Agency. We are happy to sit down with you and go over different policies to determine what type of coverage is best suited for your needs and personal budget.

Home Insurance & Water Damage: What You Need to Know

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Water damage is one of the most difficult types of damage to contend with in the home. When your home experiences water damage, you want to know if your insurance can be helpful.

Brokers Insurance Agency, which series Lincoln, NE, knows that water damage is tricky. Here’s what you need to know.

Home Insurance Covers Water Damage to Dwellings

Even if your home insurance policy does not cover flooding, it may cover your dwelling if it faces water damage in another form. For example, a pipe might have busted in the wall, leading to severe damage to your home’s structure.

Keep in mind that not everything is covered by your policy. If your home does not have proper maintenance over the years, you may not be able to recover some expenses. It is important to stay up to date with your policy documents.

Home Insurance Provides Personal Property Coverage

Water damage can also impact your belongings. If your personal items, like electronics or books, are damaged, you may be able to get some help thanks to your home insurance.

Deductible Needs Differ

Each home insurance policy has different types of deductibles. If you are unsure when your policy kicks in to help with water damage, you should speak with an insurance agent who understands your needs and your contract.

Get Home Insurance to Protect Your Property

Whether you want to protect your home or your personal property, you need home insurance. If you do not know what kind of policy you need, consult with Brokers Insurance Agency serving Lincoln, NE to learn more about your options.

How Does Home Insurance Help a Person with a Home Business?

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When you first open your home business in Lincoln, NE, your home insurance probably covers your new home business’ equipment. You probably do not own much yet.

The standard home policy covers about $1,500 to $2,500 of business equipment or property at your home. That’s all it covers, though.

As your business grows, you need to enhance your coverage from Richards Insurance Agency. The liability coverage of a home owner’s policy provides coverage for occasional meetings for a home business. Still, to cover regular meetings or client visits, you need to add a policy endorsement.

You need to add to the policy if you plan to have regular meetings or order pickups from your home. That endorsement increases your liability coverage so you can safely hold meetings without worrying that an accident would put you out of business. This endorsement also adds up to $4,999 of business property coverage and up to $750 for personal business property.

When your business grows beyond that, you need a home business policy for your home owner’s insurance. This represents more than an endorsement; it adds a type of coverage to your existing policy, like adding collision coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Adding a home-based business coverage component to your home insurance protects your business fully. It also protects your insurance policy. If you begin using your home to run a business and do not tell your insurer, you can lose your insurance policy altogether. Anything besides intended use invalidates your policy. If you started any business from home, including selling Avon, Mary Kay, etc., you need to inform your insurance company.

Contact Richards Insurance Agency, serving Lincoln, NE, for more information on home insurance and your home-based business. We want to help you remain covered.

What riders can I add to my basic home insurance policy?

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As a homeowner, you have a lot of things to think about. Having the right home insurance is one of them. Most people don’t take the time to read their home insurance policy to see all the limits on the coverage. They just assume that they have the coverage that they need. This can be very dangerous, and it is too late to find out when you file a claim that you don’t have enough or the right kind of coverage. At the Richards Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE, we treat our customers like family, and we ask the right questions to get to know them and their needs. 

Jewelry rider

The typical home insurance policy has fundamental limits for jewelry. You don’t want to wait until you lose your engagement ring to find out that your coverage is not going to be nearly enough to replace it. If you have more than just costume jewelry, you should take a good look at your insurance policy and determine if it will cover what you have. With a jewelry rider, you can get the coverage you need, but it helps if you have appraisals for your important pieces. 

Sewer backup

Yuck, what could be worse than having a sewer back up into your home?  Not having the coverage you need to get it cleaned up!  Most policies need to have a rider in order to cover you for this type of water event. 

Identity Theft

Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence and is not covered under your basic home policy. The rider will help help you get your life back together after your ID has been stolen.  

At Richards Insurance Agency in Lincoln, NE, we want to help you make sure that your home insurance gives you all the coverage you need. Give us a call or stop by our office to discuss your home insurance needs. 

Benefits of a Home Insurance Policy

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Home Insurance Benefits

You’ve worked hard to have a home of your own. Now you need to protect it from threats like fire, severe weather, and other known perils. 

Your lender may require you to carry a certain amount of insurance while you have a mortgage. Whether required or not, home insurance offers you many benefits. Consider the policy to be financially protected should the unthinkable occur. Damage from fires and other perils are very costly to repair or replace if the home should be effected. Our team at Richards Insurance Group are ready to work with homeowners in the Lincoln, NE area to help them understand their insurance options. 

What can Home Insurance Do?

Home insurance not only protects the physical house, but it also covers the home’s contents. It will also include any buildings or structures on the property, such as pergolas, fencing, or sheds. For valuable collections, such as firearms or artwork, additional coverage may be needed. The liability portion of the policy will protect you if someone is injured in an accident on the property and you are deemed responsible. Should they decide to take you to court, the legal expenses and medical bills can be challenging to handle. Our agents will help you have a clear understanding of everything that is covered by the policy and, more importantly, what isn’t.

What does Home Insurance not Include?

Most home insurance policies will not cover flooding or earthquakes. These situations need to be handled by a separate policy which you can obtain in a flood or earthquake policy.

Should a disaster occur, personal belongings and the contents of the home will be covered. If your house is not habitable or has been destroyed, the home insurance policy will cover your expenses on hotels and restaurants until you can return. Our team at Richards Insurance Group knows you want to protect the investment in your home in the Lincoln, NE area. Visit our website to use our online rating tool for quotes on home and auto insurance. Reach out to our agents to have your questions answered.