Fuller Insurance Blog

Florida Commercial Property Insurance: It's Complicated

If you own commercial property in Florida, you know how difficult and complicated it is to get Florida commercial property insurance. The difficulty increases the closer you are to the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean.

Most people assume that the only parties involved in the insurance transaction are the insurance company and the customer. However, this is not necessarily the case in Florida, especially when it comes to commercial property insurance. In the most difficult commercial property insurance situations, you have several players involved:

Customer: the person, business, or organization that needs the insurance coverage.

Agent: the person that sells the insurance.

Broker: the person that quotes the insurance and that (usually) binds the coverage.

Insurance Company: the business that underwrites the insurance and pays claims.

Finance Company: the business that finances insurance premiums for the customer.

Inspection Company: the company that inspects the commercial property and reports back to the insurance company.

Adjuster: the company that inspects damages and potential claims, and reports back to the insurance company.

Having so many different people and organizations involved in the insurance transaction not only complicates the process, but also delays processing day-to-day business (like payments, claims, etc). So, when it comes to Florida commercial property insurance, just remember "it's complicated".

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Florida Homeowners and Businesses Fighting Copper Thieves

Copper wire and copper tubing theft continues to be a problem for Florida homeowners and businesses. Thieves can quickly cut copper tubing out of air conditioning units, pull copper wire out of buildings, and cut copper wire from electric utility poles. Thieves are driven to steel copper since the price of copper sells for five times more than it did 10 years ago, and can be sold to metal recycling centers.

Anyone can be a victim of copper theft. A couple of weeks ago my parents discovered that thieves had stolen the copper tubing from an air conditioning unit at a vacant home they own that is for sale. The home is in a rural area of Alabama and has a large propane gas tank that fuels the heating system. The thieves cut the copper tubing off of the propane gas tank too (the tank was empty).

When thieves steel copper wire from electrical switches, utility poles, and electric substations, they can cause a fire that can damage or destroy buildings and property. Our local electric utility, CHELCO, switched from using copper wire to using copper-clad steel wire that looks the same as copper wire, but is worthless for recycling.

Our insurance agency specializes in writing Florida Church Insurance, so I especially took notice of a news report that a Graceville, Florida church was burglarized and the thieves stole 150 feet of copper tubing from a storage building and stole 50 feet of copper wiring from the actual church building.

The communities of Destin, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and Panama City Beach are home to many second and seasonal homes, vacation homes, townhomes, and condos. These properties are regularly occupied during the summer tourist season, but may be unoccupied for several months during the winter. Not only homes, but many local seasonal businesses shut down during the winter months. Copper thieves target vacant and unoccupied homes and buildings, so our area is especially at risk during the winter months.

What can property owners do to protect themselves from becoming a copper theft victim? Montgomery Insurance Company has put together a list of tips to protect your business from copper theft - these tips apply to homeowners as well. Ensure your home and business is well protected so you don't become the next copper theft victim.

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Pizza by the Sea - YUM! - Seagrove Beach, Florida

The family and I stopped by Pizza by the Sea in Seagrove Beach, Florida, for a father's day lunch a couple of weeks ago. Pizza by the Sea is a Fuller restaurant insurance customer. Pizza by the Sea is a great place for family and kids, so I thought I would snap a few photos so you can see for yourself. Take a look at this movie:

 

Pizza by the Sea is located next door to the Watercolor Publix in the Watercolor Crossings Shopping Center on County Highway 393 in Seagrove Beach, Florida.

First, let me tell you about their awesome lunch special (Monday thru Friday): 1/4 large pizza (a big slice), salad, and a fountain drink for $6.99. For visitors and locals that need a great lunch and fast, you can't beat this deal.

When you visit Pizza by the Sea, be sure you pick up a YUM sticker for your car and connect with them on Facebook. If they come across your car with a YUM sticker, you might get a free pizza.

On father's day, the kids and Terisa ordered the baked spaghetti but I was in the mood for some of their thin and crispy pizza. As far as pizza crust, "to each their own." But, if you like a thin and crispy crust, you will find Pizza by the Sea is delicious.

Pizza by the Sea is a fun place for kids, whether outside under the umbrellas or inside under the italian twinkle lights. Checkout their blue locker full of cool YUM t-shirts too.

We at Fuller Insurance love pizza and we love Pizza by the Sea. If you need Florida restaurant insurance or Florida homeowners insurance, give us a call at Fuller Insurance in Santa Rosa Beach. ###

Stop at Wing Stop for Great Wings in Destin, Florida

I enjoy getting out and meeting our customers. I had a chance to stop by and visit with Ortie Messenger at Wing Stop in Destin, Florida last week. Wing Stop has been a Fuller restaurant insurance customer for three years.

    

Last Thursday my kids wanted chicken wings for supper, so we stopped by Wing Stop. I must admit the place is bigger on the inside than it looks outside. But once you step into Wing Stop you see the order counter and kitchen area on the right side and the dining area on the left side.

I was impressed with how clean and tidy everything looked - Ortie runs a tight ship! The menu is clear and easy to read and the servers and staff are very friendly and helpful.

We ordered the 35 Wing Family Pack, half boneless wings and have drumettes, all mild sauce (since we had the kids) with ranch and blue cheese for dipping. The Family Pack also includes french fries, celery, and carrot sticks. I especially like that Wing Stop will let you split your order between drumettes and boneless wings.

Terisa and I kept talking about how good the french fries are. The french fries are natural cut, salted, and delicious!

I should have had the cook split the wings into some with a hot sauce (the Family Pack we ordered comes with 3 flavors of sauce). Now I know how to order and next time it will be done!

The wings were great - not greasy or oily, with plenty of sauce and blue cheese for dipping.

Wing Stop does not waste time with napkins and paper towels: If you need something to wipe your hands on, you get up and go to the big roll of brown paper towels mounted on the corner of the counter, and tear off what you need. You will also find ketchup and other condiments at that same corner.

Since Wing Stop always cooks to order, you might ask the staff if you can borrow their Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots for a few minutes while you wait, or enjoy sports events on one of the televisions.

For great wings and a family-friendly atmosphere, you have to try Wing Stop. Wing Stop is located in the Walmart Shopping Center in Destin, Florida.

Workers' Compensation Essentials for the Business Owner

 
Do you need to better understand workers compensation insurance? The Hartford put together a webinar that will answer these questions for you:

• Who is an Employee?
• Which Employees are "Exempt"?
• When is an injury work related?
• How are injuries outside of the state handled?

If you have additional questions about workers compensation insurance, feel free to call us at Fuller Insurance.

Morgan Fairchild Stars In "Workers Comp" - A New Television Sitcom

Who would have thought workers comp insurance would be entertainment? Morgan Fairchild stars in a new television sitcom pilot that is being shot on location in Bradenton, Florida.

Fairchild plays an overbearing mother who can't let go of Pinnacle Insurance Company to her sassy daughter. The show centers around the wacky injuries and workers comp claims the employees of Pinnacle Insurance Company encounter.

If the show gets picked up by a network, future shows will be shot in Southwest Florida requiring the actors to move there.

What kind of wacky workers comp claims have you heard about?

Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant Serves Happiness in Miramar Beach, Florida

Prepare to be happy when you enter Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant in Miramar Beach, Florida. Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant is a Fuller restaurant insurance client. Terisa and I stopped by for lunch today, so I thought I would give you a tour.

   

The lunch specials at Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant are terrific. I selected the "sauteed fresh vegetables with chicken in Thai herbs sauce", while Terisa chose the "sauteed fresh chicken in homemade garlic sauce".

To start your lunch Royal Orchid serves you a small cabbage and carrot salad with peanut dressing. Terisa and I dove right into the salad and forgot to take a picture, but it was great.

For an appetizer, we ordered fried won-tons. The fried won-tons came out hot and crispy. If you ask, Royal Orchid will serve you two sauces for dipping, one spicy and one mild.

 

Next came our entrees. Just look how much wonderful food you get for $8.99! The sauteed chicken and vegetables are served over a bed of crispy noodles with Jasmine rice on the side. Plus you get a crispy, tightly wrapped egg roll (I love these egg rolls).

 

 

 

Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant serves many other dishes too, like salads, seafood, soups, noodles, vegetarian, and curry dishes. You will definitely find a dish to your liking. Plus all meals are prepared fresh to order using authentic thai herbs and NO MSG.

So, the next time your are having lunch or dinner in Destin, Miramar Beach, or Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, remember to stop by Royal Orchid Thai Restaurant - you will experience a great Thai meal.

 

 
 

Small Business Owners: Start Thinking About Hurricane Planning With PrepareMyBusiness.org

Hurricane season starts June 1. Now is a great time for small business owners to start planning for the possibility of a hurricane this year. A great disaster planning resource is the PrepareMyBusiness.org website sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Agility Recovery.

 

PrepareMyBusiness.org contains lots of great information on planning for different kinds of disasters as well as what assistance you may be able to receive from the Small Business Administration (SBA) should a disaster occur. You will also find information about the services offered by Agility Recovery, which is a reputable disaster planning company in insurance circles.

I especially like the Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Take a few minutes to review PrepareMyBusiness.org. I am sure you will pick up a couple of good ideas so your small business will be ready for the next hurricane.

Johnny O'Quigley's Restaurant & Sports Bar: Awesome Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Great food, great drinks, and great sports is always a winning combination. If you visit Destin, Florida be sure to stop by Johnny O'Quigley's Restaurant & Sports Bar for lunch, dinner, or just hang out with friends. Johnny O'Quigley's is a Fuller restaurant insurance customer and one of my favorite places to eat and watch a game.

Owner Johnny O'Quigley spared no expense when he built the inside of Johnny O'Quigley's. If you sit in a booth you have your own personal tv to watch the game. If you sit at the bar or in the main dining room, you have multiple large screen tv's to choose from. Rest assured your game will be on one of these giant tv's.

Since today is MLK day and a holiday for schools, I took the family out to lunch at Johnny O'Quigley's. Here is what we had:

 

O'Quigley's Spinach Artichoke Dip N' Chips. You get a festive plate full of chips and a creamy spinach and artichoke dip. I especially like that O'Quigley's dip is creamy and not chunky, it goes great with the chips and we knocked it out.

 

  

Terisa had the Paddy Melt with house fries. The Paddy Melt comes with sauteed onions and mushrooms, and is served on marble rye bread. This is a lot of food! She had to share it with one of our daughters.

 

 

 

Buffalo-O'Ed Chicken Wrap. Habits are hard to break, so I usually order this terrific buffalo chicken wrap for lunch. The kicker is it is served on a cheddar cheese wrap which gives it a great flavor. Today I ordered O'Quigley's tangy pasta salad instead of fries.

 

  

 

Johnny O'Quigley's does not forget about the kids either. My other daughter ordered the kids chicken strips and happy face/smiley french fries. The kids love these french fries and the cool frisbee plate they get to keep.

 

So if you are in Destin, Florida and want a great bite to eat, or just want to hang out with friends and watch the game, Johnny O'Quigley's is where you want to be.

Trusted Choice Brand Launches New Website

Trusted Choice, the brand of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, recently launched a new consumer website. This new website is much better than the old one and includes great information on auto insurance, homeowners insurance, life/health insurance, and business insurance.

Check it out at http://www.trustedchoice.com.