Does Home Insurance Cover Flooding?

Are floods covered under home insurance in the state of Minnesota? You might be surprised to learn that flooding is not included in a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. There are companies that offer this as an additional policy and it’s definitely a good idea to discuss if you live in or near a flood zone. Even if this isn’t the case, you’d benefit from talking to an independent insurance agent from Pizano Insurance, which serves the Wayzata, MN area.

Don’t Rely on Disaster Assistance

In many cases, you won’t be able to use disaster assistance. This isn’t a possibility if the President hasn’t declared that the flood that damaged your home or other property to be a disaster. Of course, it is a catastrophe and there definitely is help out there. It’s important to be prepared for this type of emergency because it can be costly to repair your home or replace your property.

National Flood Insurance Program

There is a National Flood Insurance Program for which you may qualify. A local insurance agency may be able to assist you with signing up for this, and if not, an agent will help you find just the right flood insurance for your needs. They’ll explain the costs as well as what’s covered and let you know if there are any strict limitations.

Flood Insurance from Pizano Insurance

Not every insurance agency is the same. You can depend on Pizano Insurance of the greater Wayzata, MN region to listen to your needs and come up with a solution that should give you strong protection for your investment. The last thing you want to do is worry about how you’ll manage if you have serious flood damage and we’ll make sure to put your mind at ease.

Three things to know before you choose a home insurance policy in Minnesota

Insuring your home is an important thing to do. Your home is a valuable asset that you put a lot of time and effort into. At Pizano Insurance, we can provide you with a home insurance policy that will protect the investments you’ve made in your home. 

The following are three things to know before you choose a home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN. 

How to escrow insurance payments

Escrowing insurance payments is the most convenient way to make sure that your insurance payments are being made.

When payments are escrowed, your mortgage lender handles them for you. This way, you don’t have to handle them yourself and you don’t have to worry about missing them. 

Discuss escrowing your mortgage payments with your mortgage lender to make home insurance more convenient for you. 

The amount of coverage you need

A home insurance policy has certain maximum coverage limits on it. It’s important that your coverage maximums are not too low.

You want your policy to cover the full value of your home when it comes to damages. This means that you should know the actual market value of your home when you purchase your policy. 

The cost of your monthly premium

The cost of your monthly premiums is an essential consideration. You need to make your home insurance payment month after month. Otherwise, your home insurance policy could be canceled. 

You need to budget carefully to make sure you can afford your home insurance costs. Over time, home insurance is a considerable expense. You need to make sure you can afford the insurance costs of owning a home before you buy it. 

If you need help finding a home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN, let us know at Pizano Insurance. We’ll answer your questions and respond to your inquiries regarding your home insurance needs. 

How do I choose a home insurance policy in Wayzata?

The Wayzata, MN area continues to offer a lot of local amenities to people that live in the area. When you are here and intend to make this area of Minnesota a permanent home, buying your property instead of renting is almost always a great option. If you would like to purchase a property here, you should spend thinking about your insurance needs. There are several tips to follow that can help you to choose a home insurance policy. 

Consider Requirements

The first factor to think about when you want to get a new home insurance policy is what your requirements will be. Most people in Wayzata that buy a home will also take out a mortgage. Anyone that has taken out a mortgage will also need to have the right insurance in place to satisfy their lender’s requirements. If you are going to get home insurance, you should check to make sure the policy complies with these required levels.

Personal Asset Coverage

Beyond providing coverage for your home, you will also receive coverage for your personal assets. When you do receive this coverage, it will give you a certain allotment to replace your personal items if they are damaged in a fire, bad weather, or stolen. If you have valuables that exceed this coverage, you should consider getting a policy rider to specifically cover these items.

As you are looking for home insurance in the Wayzata, MN area, you may find that there are a lot of decisions to make. The team at Pizano Insurance can make this easier for you. If you do call Pizano Insurance, you will get the support that is needed to build and choose a quality policy. This will give you great coverage and peace of mind. 

Home insurance mistakes to avoid when you move into a new home

Choosing your home insurance coverage is a big step in buying your home. You need to choose carefully to avoid costly mistakes. At Pizano Insurance, we can help you find the right home insurance option in Wayzata, MN.

The following are three home insurance mistakes it’s important to avoid when you buy a new home.

Failing to purchase enough coverage

Your home is going to be among your most valuable assets. Therefore, you need to make sure you protect it. Don’t try to save money by limiting the amount of coverage you buy for your home.

Ideally, you should invest in enough coverage to completely replace your home’s value in the event of a severe accident. You should also purchase enough home insurance coverage to protect your assets in the event of a liability lawsuit. 

Being unaware of coverage limitations

Make sure you read the fine print so that you are aware of the limitations of your home insurance policy. There are certain things that a standard home insurance policy is not likely to cover. One example is flood damage. You need to purchase separate flood damage coverage for damage caused by floods to be covered.

Buying the cheapest available policy

You make a big investment in owning a home. You’ll put your investment at risk if you purchase cut-rate home insurance coverage.

Make sure that the home insurance policy you purchase is dependable. Purchasing the cheapest available policy could compromise your investment in your home and lead to huge financial loss in the event of an accident. 

Are you on the market for home insurance in Wayzata, MN? Let us assist you with finding coverage for your home at Pizano Insurance. Contact us with your home insurance inquiries. 

Factors That Minnesota Residents Should Be Aware Of Heading Into The Winter Season

Pizano Insurance assists the Wayzata, MN community, as well as the surrounding communities by offering residents multiple types of insurance policies. As an independent insurance agency, we are able to use our relationships with multiple companies to help our clients. We strive to help our clients find the insurance coverage that they need to protect their assets and secure their futures.

Adapting Your Home Insurance To Deal With Winter

Your home is one of your most valuable possessions. That’s why it is important that you protect it. Home insurance gives you peace of mind that regardless of the challenges that arise in the future, you will be covered. Home insurance allows you to protect your physical property, as well as the possessions inside your home. As a Minnesota resident, you are aware of how difficult the winter season can be. The inclement weather has the ability to cause serious damage to your home. That’s why it is important that you pay attention to some of these factors.

Cold Snaps

One of the most serious threats to your home during the winter is cold snaps. Cold snaps have the ability to damage pipes and cause them to burst. The result is potentially serious water damage throughout your home.

Snow Buildup On Your Roof

Another issue during the winter is the accumulation of snow on your roof. Snow buildup can cause water to start leaking throughout your home. The buildup may also clog your gutters, which can cause damage to the ceiling and wall. During extreme cases, the show buildup on your roof may cause your roof to cave in. Make sure that you have your roof inspected before the winter season starts to make sure that everything is secure.

Pizano Insurance Will Assist You

Navigating the harsh winters in Wayzata, MN can be difficult. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can help protect your investment.

What’s Involved in a Home Insurance Claim?

Many people never want to have to deal with a disaster and the insurance of their home. It is something that can be unpleasant, to say the least. Hurricanes, floods, vandalism, among other events, can be unpredictable and unpreventable so having quality insurance is very important for such a big investment as your home.

Having an insurance provider you can trust is crucial if something major happens. That is why choosing a company that will look out for you. Pizano Insurance of Wayzata, MN has reliable agents who will take the time to get to know what your insurance needs are.

Beginning Stages of a Claim

If your home is damaged by an accident that was unforeseen, you are eligible to file a claim to cover expenses to repair your home. There is not a guarantee the claim will be approved, but the process must be started and your information collected. General repairs from age are not considered under a claim as they are not accidental in nature. You will need to contact your provider for more information during this process.

The Claim Process

Your insurance company might refer you to a damage repair company as a temporary measure to prevent further problems. Investigations must be made and an adjuster will be involved in the process. The insurance company will determine if a claim is to be paid. This payment can happen in different ways depending on your provider and conditions. It is good to have a trusted insurance company you can rely on during this whole procedure.

If you need help selecting the best home insurance policy, Pizano Insurance of Wayzata, MN can help. We have experienced agents who can answer your questions about policies and claims processes. Give us a call to schedule an appointment to speak to one of our representatives today.

Will Home Insurance Cover Something I Forgot To Add To My Inventory?

Losing items in a fire or a burglary can be frustrating, and especially frustrating when you have not yet added those items to your home insurance inventory. Fortunately, Wayzata, MN can be somewhat flexible in these matters, but you need to exercise some caution and common sense here.

If you can prove that you owned the items in question and simply hadn’t added them to your inventory yet, you may be able to file a claim for them. If you have photographic or video evidence, your adjuster may be willing to take that into account even if you never sent receipts directly to your insurer. Home insurance companies understand that it’s hard to fully plan for an emergency, and a fire isn’t always going to happen right after your most recent inventory.

But there is no guarantee that your insurance company will cover these items, and claiming items that you cannot prove you owned may even have your insurer suspecting fraud.

The best way to make sure that this doesn’t happen:

  • Keep your receipts somewhere safe.
  • Update your inventory often. Every six to twelve months, and after every major purchase.
  • Keep documentation. Keep your receipts together, take photos, capture videos, and make sure that you can prove it.

And remember that an insurance adjustment isn’t a negotiation. Many homeowners assume that their adjuster will lowball them, so they claim a higher number than the actual value of the damaged or lost goods. Don’t do this. Just tell them what you lost and what it was worth.

If you are still shopping around for an insurer for your Wayzata, MN home, get in touch with Pizano Insurance by phone or through the Pizano Insurance website.

Do I Need To Tell My Home Insurance Provider About Renovations?

Have you recently undertaken a home improvement upgrade? Maybe you decided to add onto the house, or perhaps you’re updating the kitchen. All of these will have an impact on the overall value of your home. This is fantastic, but it also leaves you with a bit of a dilemma. Do you tell your home insurance provider about the renovations? Here at Pizano Insurance, we are here to address those concerns when you call Wayzata, MN home. 

Should You Tell Your Home Insurance Provider About Renovations?

First of all, you are not obligated to say anything about renovations to your home insurance provider. So, if you don’t want it to it is not required. However, that doesn’t mean it is the best idea. Why? Because what happens if your home is damaged? You will be compensated based on the original value of your property. This means all the money you put into the new renovations will be completely out of the window. Does shaving a few dollars off your insurance rates compared to paying for the renovations all over again should something happen to your home? That decision is up to you, but in general, it is always a good idea to let your provider know. 

All of Your Home Insurance Needs

If your considering new home insurance, are looking at performing home upgrades, or you have other basic questions regarding home owner’s insurance, you need to contact the professionals to find out what is the best course of action and what you should avoid. Here at Pizano Insurance, we are here to address these exact concerns. So, if you have any questions or you want to know more about insuring renovations on your property our staff here is just a phone call away. 

Should I get home insurance for my Minnesota property?

If you are in the Wayzata, MN area, it could be a very good idea to own your own home. When you are a homeowner, there are many long and short-term benefits and advantages. If you are going to purchase a home in this area, it is very important that you carefully consider all of your insurance needs. There are several reasons why you need to get insurance for your Minnesota home and property. 

Gives Valuable Coverage

One reason why you should get home insurance for your Minnesota property is that it can provide you with very valuable coverage. A quality home insurance policy is going to protect your assets and provide you with liability insurance coverage. Both of these forms of coverage can prove to be very valuable in a situation where you incur any type of loss.

Requirements for Property Owners

Depending on your situation in Minnesota, you may also be required by a variety of different parties to carry property insurance. When most people purchase a home, they end up taking out a mortgage. If this is what you did, your mortgage lender will require that you carry coverage at all times. Also, if your home is located in an association, the home association documents will likely require you to carry both liability and property insurance at all times. 

Ultimately, whenever you are going to purchase any type of property in the Wayzata, MN area, you need to get proper insurance in place. A good home insurance policy can protect you and your home in several different ways. When you are in the market for a new home insurance policy, you should contact us at Pizano Insurance. The team at Pizano Insurance can help you to understand all of your options and get you into a quality policy. 

Will Home Insurance Cover Pet Damage in Wayzata MN?

Unless you’ve read all of your home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN, it’s unlikely you know very much about the exact terms of every event. There are a couple of problems with this though: one is that you’ll file a claim for something that isn’t covered, and two is that you won’t file a claim when something is covered. Because pets can cause a lot of damage, Pizano Insurance wants to clear at least a few things up for you. If your best friend knocks over your TV, destroys the fence, or bites someone, here’s what you need to know. 

All Policies Are Different 

Your coverage is determined by the policy you choose and the company you choose as your carrier. For the most part, pets aren’t covered unless they damage someone else’s property or injure them. These events would fall under your liability, although again, every policy will have different terms. 

Getting a Provision 

The problem with pets is that they’re far from predictable. There are plenty of cats, dogs, hamsters, lizards, etc. that are entirely harmless and will be for their whole lives. But there are some who seem well trained, only to react poorly in times of high-stress. This unknown element is why insurance carriers often stray away from coverage in the first place. However, you can get a provision in your home insurance if you live in Wayzata, MN, and you want to take as many precautions as possible. 

Pizano Insurance is here to help you get all your ducks in a row when it comes to your home insurance policy. Give us a call today to learn more about our company and how we can help you find insurance that fits the bill.