Author Archives: AgentInsure

Tips for Drivers during Minnesota’s Winters

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For those who live in Wayzata, it’s a longer drive into the heart of the big city of Minneapolis for work on a regular basis, especially when it’s cold and icy outside. The combination of distance and inclement weather can lead to a real gas expenditure, which can be hurtful to the pocketbook. Below are some tips on how to reduce using as much gas on that drive, or any long drive for that matter, despite the rough winter driving conditions.

DRIVE A VEHICLE GOOD ON SNOW AND ICE

Since a good portion of the year will be spent driving in snow and ice in Minnesota, especially on the commute between Wayzata and Minneapolis, a vehicle that is good on snow and ice is critical. This is primarily important because it will reduce the time you have to put chains on your tires and drive at a slow speed, lowering your gas mileage tremendously.

TRY NOT TO USE THE HEAT OR THE A/C

If you really want to save money on gas, put on a few extra layers in the winter and don’t use the heat in the car. Heaters in automobiles use a lot of gas to run, especially at full blast. So cut the heat expenditure, add another couple of layers when you get dressed in the morning and save on the gas.

BUY A FUEL EFFICIENT CAR

While they may not be best for driving in snow and ice throughout the year, a fuel efficient car like a hybrid will double your gas mileage instantaneously, meaning you’re saving money every time you drive, no matter what season it is. Of course, you’ll have other expenditures like insuring this car with at least the minimum insurance in Minnesota, which includes no-fault insurance, liability insurance and uninsured motorist insurance. Check with a company like Pizano Insurance, who serves the greater Wayzata area for the very best rates.

 

The Basics of Small Business Insurance

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It’s difficult enough to have the have the energy and skill to construct a successful small business- and learning how the right insurance policy can protect your investments and capital can seem like a whole other project on top of it. We will explain in simple terms, the basics of insuring your small business against all the risks that may challenge it.

1. Liability Insurance

Any type of business can be sued, sometimes for unpredictable reasons. Customers can file a claim for damages they say resulted from the use of your products. Employees or customers may claim that your business is a hazardous environment. Whether or not you win in such disputes, wages lost and court costs can be excessive. Liability insurance can cover such losses and pay for the damages should the claim hold up in court.

2. Property Insurance

The right property insurance policy can compensate your business should property become lost or damaged due to various common perils. Fire, theft and flood are common examples. Property insurance not only covers a building, it can also cover personal property such as office furnishings, raw materials, inventory, equipment, and other mission-critical items. Property insurance can also include coverage for equipment breakdowns, debris removal after a fire, some types of water damage and other losses.

3. Workers Compensation Insurance

In most states, an employer is required to have workers comp insurance whenever there are over a given number of employees. Workers compensation insurance pays for medical care and can replace some wages lost by the employee- regardless of who is at fault. Should a worker die as the result of a work-related injury, the Workers Compensation insurance will provide an award to the family of the victim. Extremely small businesses, (one operated by no more than one or two people from their home, may not need this kind of insurance. But such a business will often need more liability and property coverage than a typical homeowners policy would provide.

Pizano Insurance
The professionals at Pizano Insurance, are dedicated to providing you with the most comprehensive insurance plan available. Our mission is to make your insurance purchase simple, and productive.

Call or click today and let the experts at Pizano Insurance help to protect your small business.

 

Car Crashes: What You Can Do To Help

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When you live in Minnesota, car crashes are inevitable. Whether it happens in the winter or another time of year, there is much that you can do in order to help. While 911 is one of the obvious things to do, there’s actually quite a bit more that you can do as well.

Secure your car

It’s great that you want to help others, but you have to look out for yourself, first. Park your car away from the accident and then walk over.

Check on the victims

When you’re on the phone with 911, check on the victims. This can help the operator know how much help needs to be sent. They may also give you some guidance as to how you can help everyone a little further.

Turn their cars off

If the cars involved in the crash are still on, turn them off. This can be done by the driver or by you.

Wait for help to arrive

Depending on where you are and what the road conditions are, it can take a while for help to arrive. Sit patiently and keep the victims occupied so they can stay calm. Sometimes all it takes is knowing that there is someone there looking after them.

Leave a statement

Leave a statement with the police as to what you saw. Don’t admit to any kind of fault if you were on the roads with the other cars. Also, your contact information may be shared with an insurance company and potentially even a lawyer so that they can follow up as to what you witnessed.

Call and talk to us at Pizano Insurance now. We look forward to helping you with an affordable policy and our agents can get quotes to help with the comparison process, too.

 

 

Do You Need Auto Insurance When Buying a Car as a Present?

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Buying a car as a holiday present can be a great way to really give someone an amazing gift. When you go to buy a car, though, there’s more to the purchase than just the actual purchase. There’s also the title, the registration, and the insurance. You can’t just buy the car from a dealership and take it home. They’re going to do the registration and title paperwork there for you, and then you’ll need to insure it before you drive away.

With a personal auto policy through Pizano Insurance you can cover the car you’re buying as a present before you leave that Wayzata, MN dealership. There are a couple of ways you can buy and insure the car and also give it as a present. You can either bring your gift recipient to the dealership with you, or you can buy the car in your name and then transfer the title at a later date. Both are acceptable ways to buy a car as a present, and which choice you make depends on how you want to give the gift to your recipient.

If you want to do the big reveal, where the car’s in the driveway with a giant bow on it, you’ll need to buy and insure the car in your name before you drive it off the dealer’s lot. The title can be transferred to your gift recipient later, and then they can insure it under their name. If you don’t want the car in your name at all, and you don’t want to worry about the need to insure it, you can take your gift recipient to the dealership with you. That way, the title and insurance will be in their name from the very first day.

 

Why Independent Insurance Agents Matter with Car Insurance

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Whether you are getting a new car insurance policy or renewing your existing policy, you want to get coverage that will suit your needs. What do you gain by purchasing inadequate car insurance coverage?

By working with an independent insurance agent at Pizano Insurance, you get a customized experience that helps you determine the best car insurance for you.

Agents are knowledgeable experts. Our independent insurance agents continually remain abreast of changes affecting the insurance industry. As a result, they can offer you advice and strategies that will help you achieve your insurance goals.

Agents are customer-focused. One of the leading differences among independent insurance agents, compared to other agents, is that they are customer-focused. With every business transaction, we have your best interest in mind. We are constantly thinking and considering new ways to improve your experience in our office.

When it comes to you making a claim on your insurance, you will find that their ability to focus exclusively on your needs helps you work through the process quickly. They will educate you on the process, and work with you to get your car repaired or replaced if necessary.

Pizano agents offer competitively priced products. With the ability to compare prices and services from multiple companies, you can rest assured that our agents will suggest an insurance product that aligns with your needs. You don’t have to worry about purchasing a product you don’t need from Pizano Insurance.

They are problem solvers. Our Wayzata, MN office offers a host of insurance products from many branded insurance companies. With your goals in mind, they effectively act as problem solvers to ensure that you retain your ability to drive. Additionally, they help you remain financially protected on the highways.

Our website has a wealth of information concerning our insurance products. You can research what options we have available on our site, and then speak with one of our independent insurance agents to get a quote.

 

 

3 Ways to Light Jack-O-Lanterns That Don’t Create Fire Hazards

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Carving pumpkins and lighting them up on Halloween night is a longstanding tradition. If you go around Wayzata, MN on the night of October 31, you’ll see illuminated pumpkins in front of many homes. A number of these will be lit with candles, but some will likely be illuminated by a safer option. There are several flame-free alternatives for lighting jack-o-lanterns that don’t create a fire hazard.

Illuminating Pumpkins Safely

Any time there is an open flame, there is a fire risk. If that open flame is put inside a small sphere that can catch fire, the risk increases. In other words, illuminating jack-o-lanterns with candles creates a fire hazard. Your local fire marshall probably doesn’t like it, and we at Pizano Insurance recommend against doing it.

There are several safer ways to light up pumpkins at night. Instead of tea lights, you can use:

  • glow sticks
  • LED lights that are battery-powered
  • small flashlights

None of these items have an open flame, and they’ll all light up a pumpkin just as well as a candle.

Check Your Home Insurance

Regardless of whether you use candles or one of these safer alternatives to light up pumpkins this Halloween, you should take a few minutes to check your home insurance policy for fire protection. Candles can cause house fires, but they’re hardly the only potential cause. Your policy should cover you if your home catches on fire.

If your home insurance doesn’t include enough fire protection, contact us at Pizano Insurance. We’ll help you find a new policy that is affordable but provides better protection. To get in touch with one of our agents, send our agency an email.

 

Discover The Life Insurance Myths In Wayzata, MN

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When you live in Wayzata, Minnesota, having a life insurance policy is important. You don’t want to believe all of the myths that you hear because it can lead you into purchasing a policy that has insufficient coverage.

There are plenty of myths out there, and no one is quite sure as to where they got started. Sometimes it is because people purchase a policy without truly knowing anything about what it is that they are buying. Not all agents are honest and therefore they will say anything in order to sell someone a policy.

For example, there is the myth about 95% of life insurance policies never paying out. This is only true of term life and that is because people need to “guess” at how long they are going to live. Coverage options range from 5 to 30 years.

While term is the most affordable option for life insurance, you can also look at whole and universal life. These can provide cash values that can be used later in life, such as being able to afford your retirement years.

Some life insurance facts that you need to be aware of that surfaced as a result of myths include:

  • You can be any age to get a life insurance policy
  • Poor health does not exclude you from getting a policy
  • Multiple quotes should be obtained in order to compare pricing

Knowing more about life insurance as a whole will make it easier for you to get a policy that you can rely on.

Call us at Pizano Insurance today to learn more about your life insurance options. We are here to help you however we can, including answering questions that you may have about coverage and obtaining quotes from some of the best insurance companies that write policies in Minnesota.

 

 

Business Insurance and How It Can Be Customized to Your Business in Wayzata, MN

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Do you have insurance for your small business in Wayzata, MN? You have no way of knowing what is going to come your way, but you can be prepared for everything with the right coverage. Two types of coverage most businesses should consider – at minimum – are:

  1. Property Damage – With the right insurance, you can protect the equipment, furniture and other items within your business. After all, you never know when a burglar is going to target your business or when a fire is going to occur at your storefront. By taking the time to obtain the most appropriate insurance, you can be fully prepared to weather the storm that comes with a fire, flood or other event that causes business property damage.
  2. Liability – Whether you work with clients in your own office or their place of business, it is crucial that you have coverage to protect you in the event that your client is hurt in one way or another, such as tripping and falling over your briefcase. Liability insurance for your business in Wayzata will help protect your business from various legal claims, including bodily injury, medical costs and property damage.

Business Insurance Policies Can Be Customized

Depending on the type of business that you operate, you may need additional coverage. A larger company with employees may need to be protected in the event of employee misconduct while a smaller business that focuses on IT may need a policy that will cover electronic data loss. You can get quotes on a variety of coverages so that you can create a business policy that meets your needs as well as your budget.

Business Insurance Is Complex – Get Help!

The options for business insurance are endless, which can make it difficult to choose the right policy for you and your business. Luckily, that's where the independent agents of our business insurance agency in Minnesota come in. We can discuss with you what options are available and help you determine the types and levels of coverage that are necessary to limit your risk and protect your business.

5 Tips To Follow For Pet Summertime Safety

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When you live in Wayzata, Minnesota, you want to look out for your pets, especially during the summertime. There are several safety tips that you can keep in mind to ensure that they are safe and healthy not only during the summer months, but through the entire year.

  1. Exercise Hours
    The exercise hours that you keep with your pet should be outside of the middle of the day. Don’t go out when it is the hottest. Try to exercise during the early morning hours or later in the evening. Whenever you are outside, be sure to take breaks in the shade as well.
  2. Hydration 
    Keep your pets hydrated at all times, and this includes when they are indoors. Instead of giving them dry food alone, mix some wet food in as well. When you do go outside, bring a bottle of water specifically for your pet.
  3. Avoid Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car
    Never leave your pet inside of a parked car. It gets very hot and they can overheat quickly.
  4. Cover the Paws
    The concrete can get very hot and you want to make sure to cover your pet’s paws so their pads don’t burn. You can go into a pet store and buy booties or pad protectors for this very purpose.
  5. Be Bug Conscious
    There are more bugs out during the summer then at any other time. Fleas, ticks, and heartworms can be detrimental to your pet’s health and even cause death. There are various forms of protection, and you can talk to your vet about proper medication for your pet.

Call us at Pizano Insurance today to learn more about home insurance and how to keep everyone in your home safe, including your four-legged family members.

 

Making the Roads Safer for Teen Drivers in Wayzata

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When it comes to making the roads safer for teen drivers, it all starts with parents instructing their teaching how to drive in a safe manner. It also starts with parents setting good examples. After all, how can we expect teen drivers to drive safely when they see their parents going over the speed limit and not using proper signals? If you’re a parent looking for a way to make the roads safer for your teen, make sure you share these tips with your child before they get behind the wheel.

Don’t drink and drive

No teen should be drinking, let alone drinking and driving. However, there are teens each year who die because they choose to drink and drive at the same time. Fortunately, it becomes much more difficult for teens to drink and drive when their parents are aware of where they are and who they are with. You should always know who your kids are hanging out with, and always implement a no drinking and driving rule. If your teen is caught drinking and driving and the police determine you knew about it, you can be held accountable. 

No breaking the law

If a speed limit sign says 35 mph, this is because many tests have been performed to determine the safest speed at which the road can be traveled. Speed limit signs are not merely a recommendation, they are the law. You must stress to your teen driver the importance of going the speed limit. 

To learn more about making the roads safer for your teen driver, please contact Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN today.