Minnesota Home Insurance: How to Avoid Costly Water Damage Claims

Water damage is more than just a bad day, it could ruin some of life’s most precious moments and memories. When you want to avoid expensive water damage claims or repairs, there are a number of things you can do for preventive measures. 

At Pizano Insurance, we want Wayzata, MN home and business owners to get the most out of their home insurance policies, without expensive claims. Start outside the home when you are trying to prevent water damage.

Take these steps to prevent water from coming into the home.

Disconnect Hoses

When you have hoses outside, there is always the potential for standing water. If those hoses are connected to a pipe, that water can move back into the building and even freeze in the pipes. That will lead to burst pipes and water explosions everywhere. 

In your home, that will lead to floor and wall damage, and could even lead to damage to the foundation. Disconnect all of your hoses outside, and put the hoses away when you know you won’t be needing them again that season.

Clean Downspouts and Gutters

You should be doing this job at least twice a year, as this will help to avoid ice dams and blockages from ice or plugged sewers.  If you have unmanaged water flow this could lead to puddles that cause problems with the foundation. You’ll see leaks, water damage, and even flooding. 

Clean the gutters and downspouts to make sure that when water or weather flows, it flows seamlessly. Make sure your downspouts are pointed away from the house.

Maintain Outside Trees and Shrubs

You don’t need to do too much maintenance here but to check the vegetation around your pipes. When you have branches, vines, and leaves wrapping around your pipes or growing in that direction, you want to maintain those branches in the opposite direction. Remove them entirely if you can. 

Update Your Insurance

In the worst-case scenario, water damage is going to lead to a home insurance claim. At Pizano Insurance, we want Wayzata, MN residents to take preventive measures there to protect the contents they’ve grown their whole life. Update your home insurance policy to make sure you are protected from water damage. Call us for a quote today.

How to Choose the Right Vehicle for Your Teen Driver

When your teenager starts to drive, it can be great since you don’t have to drive them everywhere any longer. However, at the same time, you are worried about their safety. Apart from ensuring they have the proper insurance, which we can help you with here at Pizano Insurance, you also want to ensure they get in the right vehicle. Here are a few tips.

Opt for Certified Pre-Owned

To go easy on your pocketbook, you should look for a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in Wayzata MN, which is a low-mileage car that has undergone a thorough inspection. Make sure to take into consideration the size of the automobile as well. If involved in a collision, a larger, heavier vehicle will offer more protection than a smaller car. However, a teen driver may find it harder to park and drive a big, bulky SUV. A compromise may be a mid-size or compact SUV.

Do Your Homework

Each year, there is a list of the top safety vehicles from the Auto Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This may be a list that you want to take a look at, as it will examine the safety and performance features of a variety of auto models. Some of the most common features that will improve safety include side-curtain airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and electronic stability control. Consumer Reports can also help you make an informed decision. Don’t forget to get a CarFax report.

When you’re ready to get auto insurance for your teen driver, you may have some questions. For instance, you may not be sure whether you should get your teen their own policy or add them to your own. Serving Wayzata, MN, Pizano Insurance can help answer those questions and ensure your teen is properly insured. Contact us today and we’ll help you determine the best auto insurance coverage options.

How to Protect Your Home In Minnesota

If you own a home in Wayzata, MN, homeowner’s insurance is essential to protecting your most valuable investment. The experts at Pizano Insurance highly recommend finding a quality, reliable insurance plan that will cover you and your possessions in the event of any damage or danger to your home. 

Oftentimes, home insurance will cover weather-related damage, such as severe storms, lightning, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and more. 

Structural coverage is important, particularly when you live in an area with unpredictable weather patterns, heavy rain, and natural disasters. 

Home insurance can also cover your personal property inside the home. Your possessions, including clothing, furniture, electronics, and more can be covered in the event they are stolen or damaged. 

There are many additional coverage add-ons you can obtain, like earthquake or flooding damage and liability protection. 

While some of these insurance options may not seem necessary for you to protect your home, we can assure you that in the event of a storm or if your home gets broken into, you will want to be fully covered. 

We can’t predict what could happen to our homes, so it’s best to be fully covered just in case. Your home is likely going to be the biggest investment you ever make, and you want to protect it accordingly. 

Homeowners in the Wayzata, MN area that are looking for a high-quality, full coverage insurance plan should reach out to the team at Pizano Insurance. Our team of experts have years of experience and can help find the best insurance plan for you and your biggest investment. We are happy to help you and your family protect your assets and set yourself up for financial success.  

Is it Time to Update My Auto Insurance Policy?

Investing in car insurance in Minnesota isn’t only compulsory but also cushions you when accidents happen. Unfortunately, many motorists renew their auto insurance without considering whether it suits their current needs. By doing so, motorists overpay their premiums or end up frustrated when they realize they won’t be covered against a risk they thought they had coverage.

So, when should you review your auto insurance? Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN, recommends you update your auto insurance at least every year. However, when the below situations happen, you should update your auto insurance immediately.

If you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes

Whether you are partly or wholly using your car to carry out business operations, you should change your personal auto insurance to commercial insurance as required by Minnesota law.

When you want a teenager to drive your car

If you want your teenage daughter or son to drive your vehicle, you must talk to your insurance agent as soon as possible. Teenagers are considered risky drivers, and as such, you need to inform your insurer to update your premiums.

If your details have changed

Are you changing your location? Or maybe your names have changed (perhaps after marriage)? If the answer is yes to any of the questions, then it’s time to update your auto insurance policy.

When buying a new car

Do you know that you can transfer your old insurance policy to your new car? All you need to do is to give the details of your current vehicle to the insurer.

Update your car insurance today in Wayzata, MN!

Would you like to know whether it’s time to update your auto insurance? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Pizano Insurance. We will advise on when you should review your auto insurance. And if your current auto insurance is up for review, we will happily execute this on your behalf.

How does home insurance protect a Minnesota property owner?

Those that are in the Wayzata, MN area and are property owners will always want to know that they are fully covered by insurance. Your home in Minnesota is a very major investment that you should protect to ensure you can enjoy it for years to come. The best way to ensure you are able to do this is by getting home insurance. This coverage can protect a property owner here in several ways. 

Coverage Will Protect Assets

A reason that you will want to have a home insurance plan is that it is an effective way to protect your assets. Your home insurance plan is going to give the coverage needed to repair your home if it is damaged by a fire, bad weather, or other challenging situations. The policy also offers coverage and support for personal items that can be lost, damaged, or stolen.

Liability Support

Property owners should always make sure they recognize their liability risk and protect against it. Some liability risks that property owners take on can include if someone is injured while in their home or if an issue with their property causes damage to another home or someone’s personal assets. A liability insurance plan offers great support against any liability claims that could arise, which can be quite helpful in some situations. 

Property owners in the Wayzata, MN area should always have proper insurance coverage in place. As you are assessing your insurance options in this part of Minnesota, calling Pizano Insurance will be helpful. There are a lot of choices that need to be made and Pizano Insurance can help you properly evaluate your needs and options. This assessment and support can help ensure that you will remain properly covered and insured at all times. 

Who needs to have auto insurance in Minnesota?

If you are in the Wayzata, MN area, you will quickly find that owning a car is a good idea. If you are a vehicle owner, you are going to consistently have a quick way to get around the community. If you do purchase a new car, you also need to pick a good insurance plan. You will need to have a quality auto insurance plan in this area for a few reasons. 

Coverage is Required

You should get this insurance to you are in compliance with various requirements. Auto coverage is a very valuable form of insurance and it is also required to drive your car in the state. To drive in Minnesota, you need to maintain liability auto insurance coverage at all times. You also need to get coverage that will help to repair or replace your vehicle if you lease the vehicle or have taken out a loan. 

Coverage Protects Your Vehicle

Another reason that you should get this insurance is so you can properly cover and protect your vehicle. The purchase of a vehicle is one of the largest you will ever make. Due to this, you will want to ensure you are protecting the asset as well as you can. A great way this can be done is by getting a full auto insurance plan that includes both collision and comprehensive coverage, which will protect against many scenarios that can result in a loss. 

In Wayzata, MN, owning a car is almost always a good idea. If you are looking to get a car in this area, you should speak with Pizano Insurance. The team with Pizano Insurance understands the value of this coverage and can help anyone choose a new plan that will help meet their needs. 

Is Home Insurance Required in Minnesota?

If you own a home in Minnesota, you are not required to have home insurance in place under the law of the state. If you have taken out a loan through a mortgage lender or bank, girl ender well more than likely requires you to have homeowners insurance in place. Even if you do not owe on your home and paid cash for it or ended up with it through inheritance and do not owe money for it, you should still consider having a home insurance policy in place for the Peace of Mind and protection it will provide to you and your family. The home insurance agents at Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN understand the importance of having your home insured.

Homeowners insurance will cover your house if it is destroyed or damaged by a fire, some type of storm such as a hail storm, and will protect it if a burglary of your house occurs. You can also obtain homeowners insurance that will cover flooding, although that is usually an extra policy that’s tacked on to your home insurance policy. If you live in a flood-prone area, you will definitely want to have that in place. Home insurance will also protect your house if it is damaged or destroyed by a tornado or a hurricane or some other devastating weather event. With climate change happening all around us, it is a good idea to have home insurance in place to protect your property in case any of these incidents occur.

Home insurance will also cover your belongings, including furniture, appliances, and personal belongings. This is important in the case of a fire or theft incident occurring at your home.

To decide upon which coverage options you want and need to protect your very valuable home and property, call the agents at Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN to get your home insurance policy started today.

What you need to know about liability coverage in your auto insurance

If you own a car, you probably must have heard from your insurance company or other people that you need to get the minimum liability coverage for your car. In fact, not having this coverage in Wayzata, MN can get you into serious trouble with the law. If you’re wondering why it’s so crucial for all drivers, you are in the right place. This post discusses liability; why you need it and how it can help you after an accident.

It is mandatory in most states 

Liability insurance is required by most states except New Hampshire and Virginia. Minnesota and 11 other states are among the no-fault insurance states. That means the fault is not relevant in the event of an accident. Your injuries will be covered by your insurance company regardless of whether you or the other driver was at fault. However, it’s critical to note that you can be sued or file a lawsuit against another driver depending on the nature of an accident.

The minimum is never enough

At Pizano Insurance, we recommend calculating your insurance needs as the minimum liability coverage is never enough to cover injuries and property damage. You may want to increase this coverage to a reasonable limit based on how you use the vehicle and how often you drive it. 

It helps you stay financially responsible on the roads

Most insurance companies in Wayzata MN believe that most road accidents are caused by human error. The cost of repairing a damaged vehicle and paying medical bills can take a toll on your wallet if you don’t have liability coverage. The situation is even worse if there is a lawsuit involved, as it can be costly. Liability helps ensure that all drivers are financially responsible for anything that might happen on the roads.

Don’t buy auto insurance blindly. Learn everything you need to know from the experts at Pizano Insurance. Our dedicated insurance team is always ready to help you stay comfortable on the roads. Call us today!

Making sure your home is prepared for an emergency

Emergencies come in a lot of forms. It can be a fire, strong summer storms, heavy winter snows, or the flooding rains of spring and fall. No matter what the emergency, it is important that your home is prepared to survive and provide the protection you and your family need. In Wayzata, MN, Pizano Insurance is here to provide the choices you need when it comes to home insurance. We will work to make sure you get the perfect coverage for your needs. 

When an emergency hits, it is important to have an emergency plan in place. Every member of the family should be aware of the plan and if it includes evacuating your home, you should have rehearsals so that even the youngest members know where they should be and the route they should take. 

Your home should be equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If your escape route is from a second-story window, you need to have an approved ladder for a safe escape from your home. 

Your home should have a supply of food and water that can keep you for a few days in the event of a weather emergency. When a weather emergency hits, it is not uncommon for the power to be out. In order to keep things running in your home, having a generator is a good way to prepare for an emergency. Be sure to have fuel to keep it running for at least a few days. 

Make sure any important papers you have are stored in a container that is both fire and flood proof, including your home inventory and home insurance policy. This will make any insurance claim much easier. 

Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN is your one-stop insurance agency for all your home insurance needs. Stop into the office or give us a call for a no-obligation quote. 

Is getting an auto insurance plan in Minnesota necessary?

When you are in the Wayzata, MN area, having a consistent way to get around the community is very important. A way you can ensure that you will be able to get to and from work and complete other tasks is by owning a vehicle. Along with a car purchase decision, another important choice to make is to get a proper insurance plan. An auto insurance plan should be considered a necessity for several reasons. 

Legal Requirement

A key reason to have an auto insurance plan in this area of Minnesota is so you can stay in compliance with your legal obligations. A motorist in this state is required to carry liability insurance at all times, which ensures a driver is able to cover any damages that they could cause in an accident. If you are not covered, you could face various penalties. 

Auto Lender Requirement

You may also be required to carry this coverage if you have an auto loan outstanding. Taking out a car loan is a good idea to ensure you can purchase a vehicle that you want to drive. If you have taken out a loan, your lender will want you to maintain a full insurance plan. They may require you to provide evidence of coverage from time to time. 

Choosing an auto insurance plan in the Wayzata, MN area is always very important. If you are looking for a policy in this part of the state, it would be a good idea to call Pizano Insurance. There are a lot of choices to make when you are looking for this coverage and Pizano Insurance can make the process easier for you. They are able to help you carefully assess your needs and options to choose a plan that is right for your situation.