Is It Difficult to Get Home Insurance?

For a lot of people, the first thing they do when shopping for a home is to look into home insurance. Knowing what kind of insurance you can get and what it is going to cost you will play an important role in how much you can afford to spend on the actual mortgage payment itself. If you have never shopped for a home before, then you’ve probably never looked into getting home insurance. Fortunately, getting home insurance in Wayzata, MN is a lot easier than a lot of people think. Here at Pizano Insurance, we have put together a go-to guide for getting home insurance. 

Speak With a Qualified Insurance Agent

The easiest way to get a home policy is to speak with a qualified insurance agent who has much experience in customizing policies to meet the exact needs of the homeowners. No two homes are exactly the same and neither are the homeowners, so customizing the policy is extremely important in ensuring you get a policy that meets all of your needs. 

Shop for Policies

Buying home insurance isn’t something you want to take lightly. You want to make sure you are doing all that you can to get a policy that not only meets your needs but is affordable as well. To do this, you will need to compare policies and see which one is the most suitable. 

Speak With Friends and Family

Your friends and family are valuable resources for helping you find an insurance company you can trust. Use their recommendations to help you get started on finding a policy that meets all of your needs. 

Want to learn more about getting home insurance. Contact Pizano Insurance serving the Wayzata, MN area. 

Is Home Insurance Mandatory In Wayzata, MN?

The moment you buy a home in Wayzata, MN, you may be inundated with various expenses. Home insurance is certainly an expense that needs to be taken into consideration. It is only mandatory in certain situations, though it is important to have no matter what.

When It’s Mandatory

The only time that home insurance is mandatory in Wayzata, MN is if you still have a mortgage loan. Mortgage lenders require homeowners to maintain a home insurance policy in order to provide financial protection over the investment. Further, lenders may require additional coverage, such as if you are in a FEMA-identified flood zone. Pizano Insurance can help you to determine what coverage is necessary for you to have.

Why It’s Important

If you are still paying your home loan, you don’t have a choice as to whether or not to have home insurance. However, if your home is already paid for, it is not mandatory for you to have a policy. Either way, you will want to have a policy because of the financial protection that it provides.

A standard policy will provide you protection against damage, loss, as well as liability. You never know what could happen on or around your property. If someone gets hurt on your property, they could sue for injuries. If a storm hits, you could experience significant roof damage. If there is a fire, you could lose everything. If there is a break-in, significant valuables could be stolen. When any of these things happen, you can file a claim with the insurance company – if you have a policy.

At Pizano Insurance, we are dedicated to helping you understand the importance of having a home insurance policy. Specialized agents can help you to find a policy that works for you and your home in Minnesota. It will allow you to have the coverage knowing that if something happens, you can file a claim.

 

If Someone Gets Hurt on My Property Am I Liable?

As a property owner in Albertville, MN, you have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment so that people who come on the property don’t suffer any type of injury. This responsibility has an official name – premises liability. This essentially means that residents of a property or property owners are liable for any accident or injury that occurs on their property.

This is why it is so important for you to purchase a property insurance policy from Pizano Insurance, to protect yourself.

How is Liability Determined

It is important to understand that liability will also be dependent on several factors. Some of the factors that determine liability include:

  • The visitor’s legal status (i.e. an invitee, social guest, licensee, trespasser, etc.)

  • The property’s condition and the actions of the visitor and the owner

  • If the person who suffered the injury was a child or trespasser

  • If the owner or the visitor had any fault in the action that resulted in the injury

  • The special rules that apply to landlords

What to Do to Prevent Accidents on Your Property

To help reduce the risk of an accident occurring on your property, you need to take steps to ensure everything is in good repair. The fact is, if someone trips, slips, falls or is injured in some other way, you are legally responsible. If you have the proper insurance policy in place, then you don’t have to worry about paying for the injuries or damages that occur out of your own pocket.

Learn more about insurance for your property and to protect yourself and your assets in Albertville, MN by contacting the helpful staff at Pizano Insurance. 

 

The Importance of Reassessing Your Home Insurance Needs

When it comes to taking care of your home, one of the first things you will want to do is make sure you have insurance coverage on it. And not only will you need to invest in insurance, but you will want to review your policy every now and again to make sure it is still meeting your needs. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of reassessing your home insurance needs and making appropriate changes to your policy when necessary. 

Living in Wayzata, MN

Owning a home in Wayzata, MN is most certainly something to be proud of. This part of the state features breathtaking scenery and lots of fun activities for the family to enjoy. And while it does tend to stay cold up near Wayzata for many months throughout the year, it actually provides residents with a few months as well. In fact, it is not uncommon for some homeowners in Wayzata to have swimming pools in their backyards. Adding a swimming pool to your property is a great example of why you need to reassess your home insurance needs every so often. 

When you add a swimming to your property, this boosts the overall value of your home; this is why you need to let your insurance company know that you are in need of additional coverage. Also, swimming pools come with certain risks. Your insurance policy will need to make sure you are protected against these risks, so reassessing it will help ensure you have the right coverage. 

To learn more about home insurance in Wayzata, please contact the Pizano Insurance company today. We can even help you with your auto insurance too. 

What You Need in a Home Insurance Policy

The most valuable asset that you will ever own will likely be your home. Since it is such a big part of your life and financial net worth making sure it is very well and it is extremely important. For those that are in the Wayzata, MN area, picking the right home insurance policy is very important.  There are a variety of different types of coverage that should be included in your policy.  

Property Coverage

The first item that should be included in your home insurance policy is an adequate amount of property coverage. Property coverage will provide you with insurance coverage in the event your home is damaged or destroyed by storm, fire, vandalism, or other significant loss. This part of your home insurance policy should ideally also include and amount of money to cover temporary housing in the event you have to move out of your home.

Liability Coverage

Another type of coverage to include in your policy is liability insurance. Whenever you have somebody visit your home, you are taking on some responsibility for them. If they happen to get hurt on your property, even if it is not your fault, you could end up being sued for liability. Your liability insurance part of the homeowner’s policy will provide you with coverage for this.

Additional Personal Property

If you have available personal items, such as jewelry or collectibles, they may not be covered under your base policy. If this is your situation, you must make sure that you kept an additional policy to cover these items specifically.

For those that own property in the Wayzata, MN area, being properly covered by a home insurance policy is very important.  To ensure you are adequately covered, it would be a good idea to reach out to Pizano Insurance. Pizano Insurance is well experienced in helping people determine their insurance needs and get into a policy that provides the right level of coverage.  

What is Home Depreciation and How Can it Impact You?

Home depreciation is something that happens as a home ages. What this means is that over time, your home will start to lose some value if you do not make any upgrades or changes to the home. If it is left as is with no changes, there will be newer homes available on the market that have better features and will be worth more money as well. Your home starts to lose value when things break, are outdated, and more. This is an important factor in your home insurance policy and Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN can help. 

Over time, your home will start to depreciate and it does not happen overnight. There are some other factors that can play a small role as well including the economy but it may not play as big of a role as many claim. You will want to make sure that your home insurance policy reflects depreciation and that you are not overpaying if your home as lost value. To ensure you are not paying too much, you will want to get your home assessed for depreciation. 

You do not want to get your home assessed simply for the purpose of potentially lowering your insurance premiums because this can lead to other problems for you later on. However, if you do want to have your home evaluated, you can do so through an easy process. You will need to get in touch with an appraiser or home assessor to come perform the task for you. It is best to have one come through your insurance agency. This process will help you determine the current value of your home and how much it will cost you to rebuild. They will then give this information to your insurance company.  Contact Pizano Insurance serving Wayzata, MN today to learn more.  

Improving Your Home Insurance Policy: Add Ons and Extra Considerations

Home insurance is based on you, so it helps to know everything that’s available. While each company differs in terms of exactly what’s offered, you can make your own requests if you have specific fears. For example, if your beloved Golden Retriever is prone to knocking your things to the ground with the sweep of their tail, you don’t want to be responsible for replacing everything he destroys out of pocket. Keep these tips in mind from Pizano Insurance if you live in Wayzata, MN. 

Start Asking Questions 

The best way to improve your home insurance is not necessarily to start combing through the pages of your policy. The best way is to start addressing different scenarios with a critical mind. What happens if your home is flooded, what happens if a vandal destroys your mailbox, who will pay if your cash is stolen from your safe? Once you get these exact answers, you can start seeing where the gaps are so they can be filled with additional language that covers further destruction. You can also decide if an event is likely enough to happen to you to justify spending the extra money. 

Help for Wayzata, MN Residents 

If you’re looking for help when it comes to your policy, we’re here to make it easier to navigate. Our job is to address your home and the possessions that make it special and start giving you concrete ways to protect it. The key is to remember that insurance policies can be built to you. For example, you may not have a dog, but what if you have a relative who might bring theirs over? Pizano Insurance makes it simpler to see how insurance really works in the real world, so call today! 

The Best Ways to Save On Your Home Insurance

You are not locked into the amount of money you pay currently for home insurance. There are different ways to reduce what you pay while living in Wayzata, MN, all without dropping coverage or increasing your deductible. At Pizano Insurance, we want to make sure you not only receive excellent home insurance but at a desirable price. 

Security System

A home security system is one of the very best services out there. It will keep your home safe and yet can also reduce your home insurance costs. With a connection to the local police and fire departments, you’ll reduce any chance of extensive damages in the event of a fire. It will also prevent break-ins, which in turn also cuts down on insurance costs. 

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It is a good idea to have these in every room of the house. These will keep you safe and also reduce insurance costs as fire damage is limited. Some smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can work in unison with the security system as well. 

Improve Utilities

If you have money for a home upgrade, consider having work down to the electrical or plumbing. In a dated house, these are often the most problem filled areas. By making these corrections and having the system updated you can see a drop in insurance costs. 

No matter the kind of home you live in or where in Wayzata, MN you call home, at Pizano Insurance we are here to assist in finding the right coverage at a price you can afford. So, if you have any questions regarding your home insurance or want to know if our company can help you save money, feel free to reach out and contact us at your earliest convenience. 

How to Take Inventory of the Contents of Your Home

Have you ever wondered how the insurance company would reimburse you after your Wayzata, MN house burned down or a tree fell on the roof? You might be surprised to learn that you can’t just tell them, "Well, I guess the total value of everything we owned was $20,000," and expect a check. You have to be able to prove it in order to get the most out of your Pizano Insurance homeowner’s policy.

That’s why you need to inventory your home. If your Wayzata, MN home has never burned down, that’s great. But you need to be prepared. Follow these tips to make sure you get reimbursed for everything—not just the house, but its contents too.

Get an Inventory App

That’s right, there’s an app for that. In fact, there are quite a few available for any type of device. These apps make taking inventory of your house fast, all in one place, even fun. Some allow you to take pictures, some have space for a receipt. They all look a bit different. But the bottom line is they make taking inventory easy. For most of these apps, you can walk into a room and start snapping pictures of your stuff.

Keep Your Receipts

It’s likely that you never thought about taking inventory of your home before, and that’s ok. But from here on out, you’ve got to be savvy. Every time you purchase an item for your home, keep the receipt, or at least take a picture of it. Remember that the more proof you have of an item’s expense, the better your chances of being fully reimbursed for it in the event of a catastrophe.

It’s not hard to keep an inventory of your home. Make it simple by keeping receipts and taking picture of your items, as well as building a list of them, for your Pizano Insurance homeowner’s company. You’ll get your home’s worth, inside and out, when you file a claim.

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

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.