Author Archives: AgentInsure

Preparing the House For Fall in Minnesota /preparing-house-fall-minnesota

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As fall begins in Minnesota, temperatures drop and chances of snow begin to appear in the forecast. The days become shorter as well. It’s important to take steps aimed at preparing your Wayzata, MN home for the months ahead:

1. Switch your ceiling fans so that they turn clockwise. This will help you keep heat in the room rather than letting it rise through the ceiling.

2. If your house has central heat, schedule a yearly furnace inspection and cleaning. These services reduce the risk of system failures and boost the efficiency of your heating equipment.

3. The risk of a fire increases in the autumn because you need to generate heat and spend more time indoors. Remember to test all smoke detectors and replace the batteries when needed.

4. If you use timers or a home automation system, make any necessary adjustments to accommodate changing sunrise and sunset times. For instance, you might set outdoor lights to turn on earlier.

5. Clogged rain gutters may trigger indoor leaks after ice dams form. To prevent this harmful situation, remember to clean your gutters during the autumn. Pour water into the troughs and make sure it drains properly.

6. Seal and insulate your house to cut energy bills and prevent frozen pipes. Consider adding insulation to walls, pipes or the attic. Use caulk to eliminate chilly drafts.

7. The North Star State’s first snow showers often materialize in October. Remember to stock up on sand and ice melter so that you can treat slippery decks, sidewalks and driveways.

While these tips may help safeguard your Wayzata, MN residence during the fall, they can’t prevent every disaster. Consider signing up for affordable home coverage from Pizano Insurance to obtain greater financial protection. Pizano Insurance helps customers compare quotes from multiple insurers. Please dial 763-244-3320 today.
 

Is your home ready for the new year?

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At the start of a new year, there is a sense of fresh beginnings that takes over. It is a chance to get all of your affairs in order to have a productive year. This includes making sure that your Wayzata, MN home is ready to enter the new year with you. When it comes to your home, there is no way to predict what could happen to put your home in jeopardy. From break ins to weather mishaps and roofing issues, your home can go into the new year and take a true beating. It is imperative that you have the right home insurance to ensure a prosperous new year.

Here at Pizano Insurance, our independent agents want to make sure your home insurance fits you and your family needs as well as your budget. From choosing between liability and property insurance to creating a plan that suits your financial needs, our agents know what insurance and will make the process simple and easy. We understand that the process of purchasing home insurance can be confusing, difficult, and nerve wrecking. Our agents will take their time to go over your options and help you make the best choice to protect your home and peace of min in the new year.

The new year is around the corner so don’t waste any time protecting your home, family, and the place that is the foundation of your life. Call us today to speak to one of our knowledgeable agents or walk into our office to speak to one of our agents about your needs and how we can protect your home.

Common Auto Insurance Questions and Answers

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Auto insurance can be difficult to understand. There are however some commonly asked questions that span most agencies and that have fairly basic answers. For those that live in the Wayzata, MN area, Pizano Insurance can help answer these common questions.

What Coverage Do I Need?

This is one of the most common questions. The answer is it depends on the actual vehicle. Basic requirements are liability insurance or the least amount that is required by both state and federal law. These amounts may vary depending on what state you live in but for the most part these policies require coverage between $10,000 and $25,000. This is to cover the basic fees and bills associated with an accident. If you have a loan out on your vehicle or you are paying for it through a third party lender you are required to hold full coverage insurance.

How Do I File A Claim?

This is another common question. The first step is to make sure you thoroughly document the accident. This is going to insure a speedy claim and an accurate claim to boot. You can then go through your insurance agent to help file your claim and provide your insurance company with the needed material to complete the claim. It is far simpler to talk with your agent about how to file your claim and what information is needed.

How Do I Change My Policy?

You can change your policy at any time by contacting your insurance agent or by contacting your insurance company directly or online. If you have questions, an insurance agent is the fastest and most accurate way to get the answers you need.

If you live in the Wayzata, MN area and have insurance questions or needs, contact Pizano Insurance today.  

Steps to Take to Prep Your Home for Winter

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It seems as though everyone loves fall and the weather it brings. While fall is great, winter is closely following. With the fall season so jam packed with events, it is easy to let the season slip by. If you are a home owner, you should take some time to prep your home for winter before it gets too cold. Use these tips from Pizano Insurance to get started today.

  • Get your Heater Examined. One of the biggest issues that people run into during the winter months is a heating system that will not work. When it gets cold, that is one of the things you need to work. Before running the risk of not having heat, get your heater looked at now before you need it. You probably haven’t used the system in many months and you should ensure it is ready to go. Another thing to do at this time is replace your filters around the home for increased efficiency.
  • Clean out Your Gutters. During the fall, many leaves will likely get stuck in your gutters which will not be good once it starts raining and snowing in the area. You should clean these out once all the leaves have fallen so they will continue to work well through the remainder of the year. Another thing that can happen is your gutters may become infested with bugs if they are not cleaned out.
  • Get a Home Insurance Policy. One of the best things you can do to protect your home no matter the season is get a home insurance policy. This is a great way to prepare for the unexpected. Even with prepping your home for the season, you will not be properly prepared without having a home insurance policy.

If you are interested in getting a quote for a home insurance policy, be sure to contact us at Pizano Insurance, serving Wayzata, MN.

How Your State Department of Insurance Can Help You

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Got questions about Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, Minnesota? Tap into a resource that you help fund as a taxpayer, it’s right at your fingertips. Each state has a department of insurance that may have just the answers that you are looking for.

What is a Department of Insurance?

Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, Minnesota-along with all insurance companies-is regulated at the state level for the protection of consumers. The department of insurance handles many different areas of service, inclusive of, but not limited to: information on licensing and filing for insurance companies, consumer assistance for many different types of insurance, energy data and reports, education, tips and tools about your money, and complaint resolution.

Your Home

With so many options to choose from for insurance coverage-it’s comforting to know that there are experts available with the information that consumers need to protect their home and what to do in case of damage or loss. Depending on a homeowner or renter’s needs- Commerce guides you to explore your policy annually offering a checklist to bring more comfort.  

Your Vehicle

Auto insurance is required by law, but do you understand how auto insurance in MN works? Commerce is there to help you understand the insurance basics and what you need to do to file a claim. Sign up for consumer protection e-mail updates.

Your Health

Get questions answered about health insurance, life & annuities, and long-term care insurance that will help you choose your insurance company.

Your Money

“Protecting and informing consumers is an important part of the work we do every day at the Minnesota Department of Commerce.”

Minnesotans are provided information and assistance through the Consumer Services Center which will help you choose the insurance company that would best meet your needs of protection. Got a question? Can’t resolve a dispute? Contact Commerce by phone or email.

Essentials of a Home Insurance Policy

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There are many different kinds of home insurance policies on the market. Most of the time, it is difficult to find one that is the same as another. That is why it is so important to know what basic things you should have covered in your home insurance policy. This can help you determine if the policy has a good base and whether or not you should continue looking at the details of it. Knowing the essentials can help your sort through all of the bad policies. These are the essentials according to Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN.

  • Make sure it will cover the structure of the home. You want to have a policy that at least covers the structure of the home in case you ever have to rebuild. This includes the walls, the frame, and even the roof that should be covered by the home policy that you purchase.
  • Make sure it covers the value of the home. Whether you got a great deal on your home or you paid too much, you want to make sure that the value of the home is covered by the home insurance policy, not the price you paid for it. You do not want to end up paying for too little or too much coverage.
  • Make sure it protects your belongings. Not only should your policy protect your home itself, but it should also protect anything that is located within the home. In most cases, if the home becomes damaged, the belongings inside will be damaged as well.

If you would like more information or would like to take a look at your options and some quotes, be sure to contact Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN. They can even take a look at your current policy to make sure you are covered.

3 times when you need umbrella insurance

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Umbrella insurance isn’t a commonly talked about type of insurance, but it is one of the most important investments a business owner can make.  Umbrella insurance covers businesses when other types of coverage just won’t pay for damages.  In fact umbrella insurance comes in handy for these type of situations.

  1. Sale losses from a natural disaster.  While your building, equipment, and vehicles are protected by other insurance policies, there is nothing that can reimburse you for lost sales that happen during a natural disaster.  Umbrella insurance policies can be written to provide you some funds to make up for the lack of business.
  2. Product recalls. It can be next to impossible to predict when a bad shipment of a raw material or a minor design flaw could cause major problems with a product. If a product has to be recalled, your business has to absorb the cost.  Umbrella insurance will reimburse you for these expenses.
  3. Customer lawsuits. Getting sued by a former customer or client can be one of the most stressful things that your business has to go through. Fortunately, an umbrella insurance policy can help in a number of ways. The policy can provide funds for legal counsel or in some cases provide a lawyer to you.  Once the case is resolved, an umbrella policy can provide funds to pay the settlement.

Umbrella insurance is one of the most useful coverage that a small business can have.  If you’re interested in buying a policy, contact the insurance agents at Pizano Insurance.  They have years of experience helping business owners write umbrella policies that meet their specific needs.

Wayzata, MN: How Much Insurance Should You Carry on Your Boat?

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A boat can be a valuable investment. Protecting it with adequate insurance coverage is the key to protecting that investment and preventing financial loss. The amount of boat insurance you will need depends on several different factors. If you have purchased the boat with the help of a lender, you must insure the boat to cover the cost of the loan. It is also important to know what requirements each state demands when purchasing insurance. Most states have minimum liability amounts that must be covered with by an insurance policy.

If you own the boat outright, the amount of insurance you purchase may only be to cover the minimum liability amounts required for the state. This type of insurance is similar to the PL/PD policies that many people carry on their cars once they have been paid off. These policies do not pay for the damage to the boat, but will cover damage caused to other boats and property if their is an accident. Talking to a licensed insurance agent about how much insurance is usually needed and will help you make a choice as to how much insurance should be purchased.

In Wayzata, MN, residents can turn to the agents of Pizano Insurance if they have questions about boat insurance and how much is needed to fully protect your interests. They will be able to help you find the right policy to adequately insure your boat, against damage, theft, and vandalism. The agents are can help you evaluate the type of insurance you need and may be able to offer discounts if other types of policies are purchased.

Why you Need Motorcycle Insurance in Wayzata, MN

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There are few things better than riding a motorcycle on the open road in America, but it’s a dangerous proposition both personally and financially without the right amount of insurance for your bike. So if you live in a place like Wayzata, Minnesota, where there is plenty of scenery with roads that are perfect for riding a motorcycle, setting up the correct insurance policy for your bike with a local agency like Pizano Insurance—who serves the greater Wayzata, MN area—can be the difference between a smooth recovery from an accident or a financial hardship and a lot of medical bills. Below are some tips for what type of motorcycle insurance coverage you should definitely have when riding in this region of the country.

FULL MEDICAL COVERAGE

As motorcycle riders are much more prone to being in an accident percentage-wise and that these accidents often cause serious injuries or worse, having a robust policy on your motorcycle insurance to cover all your possible future medical bills is key. The last thing you want to have happen is to get out of the hospital after an intense and miraculous recovery only to be faced with a medical bill that will destroy your future earning potential for years to come.

COVERAGE FOR WEATHER

Minnesota is known for having relatively increment weather, so it’s important there is something on your motorcycle insurance policy that cover something like that. Be it damage to the bike itself from the weather or something that will cover you in the event of an accident in the icy or rainy conditions you will face in Minnesota, just make sure you have something.

COVERAGE FOR THE BIKE ITSELF

You will want to make sure your bike can be paid for and repaired as well in the event of an accident. Make sure the value of the bike is insured completely before taking out a motorcycle insurance policy.

Three Factors to Consider When Purchasing Umbrella Insurance

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Being underinsured puts your financial future in jeopardy. In the event of an accident at your home, if your liability exceeds your policy’s limits, you risk losing your assets in a civil suit. The right level of umbrella insurance may fill this gap and keep you protected.

Current Coverage

It’s hard to assess your need without knowing what you have. Evaluate your policy with a focus on coverage limits. Take a homeowner with a $100,000 personal liability limit, for instance. During a typical Minnesota winter their sidewalk is covered with ice, resulting in a friend slipping and falling. If their injuries require extensive medical treatment, liability could easily exceed this maximum.  Use current coverage amounts as a baseline to build from.

Assets

What’s the value of your assets, including retirement and stock accounts? The more you’re worth, the more coverage necessary. Secure umbrella coverage that closely compares to your assets and your future projections. For instance, if your retirement account will increase by 15% in two years, in a lawsuit, this increase could be targeted. The purpose of an umbrella policy is to safeguard your financial future. Choose a policy suited to meet this need.

Risks

The type of risks a homeowner faces offers an idea of how much coverage is necessary. Homes with pools, trampolines or owners of aggressive dog breeds are thought to be at an elevated accident risk. An increased accident risk can inherently elevate your chances of a liability suit. In some instances, the basic liability coverage extended in polices may not be enough to cover losses. The greater the risks, the more coverage necessary.

Choosing a coverage amount can be a challenge, but an experienced agent can help. Visit the Pizano Insurance website to be connected with an agent who can assist you.