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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

Home insurance isn’t something you can buy once and then forget about it. It needs to be reviewed periodically to ensure you’re getting the protection you need. Changes in your family, lifestyle or home structure can affect your coverage. At Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN, we recommend you review your policy annually to see if you need to increase your coverage to optimize your protection. Here are a few reasons why you may need more home insurance coverage.

Renovations

If you’ve recently renovated your home, you’ll need to add these renovations to your dwelling coverage to protect them against unforeseen disasters. Costly renovations such as a kitchen remodel or the addition of a new bathroom will increase the value of your home. You may need to increase your dwelling coverage to cover your renovations and the increased value of your property. Inadequate coverage could result in your paying for thousands of dollars worth of home repairs out of pocket in the event of a disaster.

Costly Belongings

Standard homeowner’s insurance comes with limits in protecting your belongings. If you inherited costly heirlooms, purchased high-end electronics or were gifted posh jewelry over the last year, your current coverage may be insufficient to cover their full value if they were stolen or damaged in a disaster. To protect these goods, you’ll have to increase your property coverage or obtain a rider that gives you extra protection for your costly valuables.

Retirement

Maybe you retired and plan to entertain at home more often. The more visitors you have, the greater the risk of someone having an accident on your property. Increasing your liability coverage protects you against accidental injuries that may occur during a special event on your property.

For more information about home insurance coverage and costs, contact Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably collected a lot of “stuff” over the years, some of which could be quite valuable. When insuring your high-end possessions, it’s important you get the right coverage so you don’t lose out if these items are stolen or lost in a disaster. At Pizano Insurance, Wayzata, MN, we can customize your home insurance policy to provide the property protection you need. Here’s what you should know about protecting valuables with home insurance.  

Standard Property Coverage

Standard home insurance policies have limits on the personal property protection they provide. For most people, these limits are enough to protect their goods against theft or loss in the event of a disaster. The value of high-end goods, however, may exceed the limits of your policy, leaving you to cover the remaining cost of your loss out-of-pocket. By getting additional coverage for your valuables, you can avoid financial loss.

Additional Insurance Coverage

To fully protect high-end goods, consider getting additional insurance protection in the form of a floater policy or endorsement. A floater policy extends coverage on specific items you own to help reimburse you for their full value. An endorsement allows you to increase coverage on a category of items.

By making a home inventory of your goods and documenting their worth, you’ll have a better idea of the insurance coverage you need to protect valuable items. Before insuring antiques, heirlooms or collectibles, have them appraised to determine their value. If any of your costly goods are stolen or damaged in a covered peril, having a record of their value will make it much easier for you to file a claim.

To learn more about home insurance personal property coverage and costs, call or visit Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN today.

If you plan to host festivities in your Wayzata, MN home this holiday season, there’s no time like the present to prep your abode. The following ideas from Pizano Insurance can be helpful in getting your home ready to receive family and friends for the holidays.

Declutter

Decluttering will improve the appearance of your home and make it more spacious for holiday events. Start with your foyer and proceed to the living room, stairs, kitchen, and dining room to remove clutter from bookshelves, ottomans, coffee table and counters. Get rid of unwanted items and store away what you want to keep for future use.  

Ready Your Kitchen

Deep clean your kitchen to make it a pleasant environment for guests to congregate during the holidays. Clean counters, cabinets, appliances, and floor. Stock up on foods and snacks you’ll need for the holidays as well as party supplies (napkins, paper plates, paper towels.) Check your dinnerware, glasses, and utensils to ensure they’re in top shape for holiday service.   

Prepare Guest Room

Wash guest sheets, blankets, comforters and towels well before house guests arrive so you won’t be caught unprepared. Clear out closet space for guests to hang up holiday clothing and empty a drawer for personal belongings. Scented candles and a bowl of holiday snacks add a finishing touch to welcome those you love.

Stock up Bathrooms

Stock up on toiletries, toilet paper, and paper towels and put them well within visitor reach. Purchase new bath mats and rugs, if needed, to enhance your décor. Tidy bathrooms right before guests arrive, so they will appear fresh and clean. 

Updating your home insurance is an important part of preparing your home for the holidays. Dwelling, liability and contents coverage will protect you against the risk of holiday accidents. For comprehensive coverage at an affordable cost, call or visit Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN today.

You may have received a letter from your home insurance carrier telling you that they want you to do a particular repair. Are you required to do this repair just because they want you to? The simple answer to this question is yes since they can cancel your policy if you don’t comply. For the most part, if your insurance company tells you a repair is necessary it is best to do it as soon as possible. Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN will be happy to discuss this issue with you if you have questions. 

Some repairs that insurance companies request may be the result of an inspection that was made of your home and others may be the result of a claim that you recently had. An issue may have come to light and they are within their rights to ask that this issue be corrected. However, sometimes the insurance companies can be a little too aggressive in their requests and it may be possible to delay if not totally avoid the repairs that they are demanding. 

If they tell you that they will cancel your insurance if you don’t replace your roof, you may be able to get a contractor to do an inspection that can give you at least a little time. If you have a contract to have a repair done within a reasonable amount of time, say 6-8 months, the insurance company may be willing to work with you. 

When it comes to home insurance companies, basically they hold all the cards. They have the insurance and you need it so that places you at a serious disadvantage when it comes to fighting them. 

Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN is happy to discuss this and any other questions you may have about home insurance. Give their office a call by the office. 

Home security systems offer homeowners peace of mind and the assurance that they have done everything they could to protect their home and family. The agents at Pizano Insurance encourage local homeowners in Wayzata, MN to do everything they can to protect their families and possessions. It’s up to you to decide whether you want a professionally monitored system or one you monitor on your own.

Self Monitoring Home Security Systems

Self-monitoring of home security systems are quite effective and are reasonably priced. While some do it yourself systems give you the option for professional monitoring, they are designed so that you can easily monitor them yourself from an app for your smartphone or through the system itself.

Professional Systems

Professional systems tend to be more expensive and often require a contract. Most security companies offer 24-hour, professional monitoring that will notify local authorities in case of an emergency. They also offer professional installation and 24-hour customer service.

Your Choice

It’s up to you to decide how much time you want to spend monitoring your home security system or whether you want to pay for a professional monitoring system. Some home security companies allow you to pay for your service by the month and can turn it on and off at will.

In Wayzata, MN, you can discuss your home security options with an agent at Pizano Insurance. They have the knowledge an experience to help you make an informed decision when it comes to the right home security system for your home. Schedule an appointment by calling their office or visiting them online. They have the answers to your questions!