Fuller Insurance Blog

Florida Vacation Rental Home Insurance

The Emerald Coast needed 2011. After the collapse of the housing market in 2008 and 2009, and the BP oil spill in 2010, we needed a great year - 2011 has been a come back year.

Just ask our long-time customer Dr. Michael O'Donnell ... in this Destin Log article, he says his Emerald Waters Village vacation rental home "stays booked from March till November and despite the down economy he enjoyed his busiest year ever in 2011."

Do you own a Florida vacation rental home? Are you thinking about taking the vacation rental approach? Dr. O'Donnell said "it has actually worked out really well for us."

If you are getting ready to purchase a Florida vacation rental home, you generally need to purchase a dwelling-fire insurance policy instead of a homeowners policy. A dwelling-fire policy is written on homes that are rented out to other people, as opposed to a homeowners policy, which is written on owner-occupied homes.

Depending on the location of your vacation rental home and the distance from tidal water, you may need a separate windstorm policy and possibly a separate flood insurance policy. If you have an umbrella policy, you will need to ensure your vacation rental home insurance satisfies the liability requirements on your umbrella policy.

Would you like some professional guidance on Florida vacation rental home insurance? Call Shelley Carmichael at our office. She will be more than happy to answer your questions.

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October is Fire Prevention Month: Test Your Fire Safety Skills

Most Florida residents and visitors know that hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30, after all, hurricanes have been in the news quite a bit over the last few years. But did you know that after hurricane season ends, the Florida brush fire season begins?

The drier and colder winter months increase the potential for brush fire, and lead us to use space heaters and outdoor fireplaces. This is why October is National Fire Prevention Month.

How much do you know about fire safety around your house? Take this 5-Question Fire Safety Quiz and find out!

Dog Bite Claims Are No Joke

The Insurance Information Institute released a report that shows dog bite claims have grown by 37 percent in recent years.

About one-third of all homeowners liability insurance claims are dog-bite claims.

In 2010, the average amount paid by insurance companies on a dog bite claim was $26,000 and the total paid for all dog bite claims was $413 million.

Many Florida homeowners insurance companies either exclude or limit the liability coverage from dog bites. If you own a dog (or any pet) you need to check your homeowners insurance policy so you know exactly how much coverage you have in case a dog bite claim bites you!

To reduce the chances of a dog biting someone, the following steps are recommended:

• Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household and neighborhood.



• Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler. Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.



• Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful of or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog. Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.



• Have your dog spayed or neutered. Studies show that dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are NOT neutered.



• Socialize your dog so it knows how to act with other people and animals.



• Discourage children from disturbing a dog that is eating or sleeping.



• Play non-aggressive games with your dog, such as “go fetch.” Playing aggressive games like “tug-of-war” can encourage inappropriate behavior.



• Avoid exposing your dog to new situations in which you are unsure of its response.



• Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening.



• Immediately seek professional advice from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.

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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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TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards: Destin, Florida Ranks #21

Here is some good news for the Florida Emerald Coast: the 2011 TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards ranked Destin, Florida at #21. Even more interesting, Destin ranked higher than Gatlinburg, Miami Beach, and Myrtle Beach. Destin is the 3rd most popular vacation destination in the South, after New Orleans and Orlando. Wow!

Florida Renters Need Insurance Too

With the collapse of the housing market in Florida, more people are renting their home now than ever before. If you rent your home, whether it is a single family home, an apartment, a townhouse, or a condominium unit, you need a renters insurance policy.

Renters insurance does 3 big things for you:

1. covers your contents or personal property
2. provides additional living expense if your home is severely damaged
3. includes liability coverage in case someone is injured in your home

Fuller Insurance offers Florida renters insurance that will cover you for fire, theft, burglary, vandalism, and windstorm (hurricane or tornado). If you are in a high risk flood zone, you may also need a flood insurance policy to cover your contents from flood waters.

If you need renters insurance, give us a call. Remember we cannot issue new insurance policies when a tropical storm or hurricane is approaching, so call us today while the Gulf is still quiet!

 

It's Hurricane Season - Are You Ready?

This year National Hurricane Preparedness Week runs from May 22 through May 28. Take some time now before the official start of hurricane season to make repairs to your property, make an action plan should a hurricane approach, and review your Florida homeowners insurance policy.

A hurricane brings many different hazards: storm surge on the coast, high winds, tornadoes, and inland flooding.

First, make necessary repairs to your property, such as repairing loose shingles, trimming overgrown trees, and sealing any cracks in stucco or exterior coverings. It is common for beach-front homes and condominiums to suffer wind driven water damage, so inspect and repair any broken seals around windows and doors.

Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach Florida are difficult areas to evacuate when a Hurricane Watch or Warning is issued. You need to plan on where you would evacuate to and how you will get there. A few years ago my family and I had to evacuate due to a hurricane and because the traffic was so bad on Highway 331 North, we decided to drive all the way to Panama City Beach and head north on Highway 79 - it took hours! 

Your Florida homeowners insurance policy does not cover you for flooding and it may not cover you for wind damage, so its important that you review your homeowners insurance policy now. Questions to ask yourself include:

1. Do I have enough coverage on my home and contents?
2. What is my hurricane or windstorm deductible?
3. What phone number do I call to file a claim?
4. Do I have Loss of Use coverage?

Still have questions about your Florida homeowners insurance policy? Call Fuller Insurance in Santa Rosa Beach for a personal insurance review. ###

 

 

Spring Cleaning The Exterior Of Your Home from the Insurance Information Institute

I came across this video clip in a recent email and thought I would share it. The video shows you how to spring clean the exterior of your home. This is a great time of year to get outside and check your roof for broken or missing shingles, clean the gutters, and make any necessary repairs to the exterior of your home. Don't wait for the first tropical storm or hurricane to develop - spring clean your exterior today!

 

Bankers Insurance (First Community) Seeks 23% Florida Homeowners Rate Increase

I found out today that Bankers Insurance (First Community) is requesting a statewide average 23% rate increase on homeowners insurance from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

The amount of the increase will vary from county to county. As soon as we receive additional information from Bankers, I will post it to our blog.

The good news is you are insured with a Trusted Choice insurance agent - we represent multiple homeowners insurance companies and follow the Trusted Choice Pledge of Performance. 

 

 

 

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.