The unofficial start of summer began with Memorial Day over the weekend.  What will the summer of 2020 look like? I don't think anyone knows. What I do know is that more people will be staying home for the summer. Most people I have talked with have cancelled their summer trips and are planning on staying near or at home.
I read that pool contractors are building pools at brisk rates. This makes sense to me as public pools are limiting access and restricting how many people can be in the pool at one time. If you are in the market for a pool it is best to remember that you will need to notify your home insurance company after construction is completed. Most home insurance companies charge more when you have a pool due to the higher liability risk involved with having a pool in the yard. 
Once the pool is installed you will also want to review with your home insurance carrier to make sure your detached structure coverage is appropriate. On your declaration page it will list how much coverage you have under Coverage B (other structures). Standard coverage is usually 10 % of your dwelling coverage. For example if you have 500,000 for your dwelling coverage most policies will cover up to 50,000 for those detached structures including the pool. If you are putting a much more expensive pool in you will want to make sure you have the extra coverage to protect your pool. Now, your home policy will still only cover the type of losses that protect your home. So, if a fire burns your home and buckles the pools concrete that would be covered under your home insurance. If a storm blows a tree into the pool and damages the equipment or pool deck that would also be covered. 
Things that wouldn't be covered under your standard home insurance would be earth movement, landslides, earthquakes and subsidence.  
If you plan on building an amusement park at home since you can't get out to one make sure you talk to your insurance agent. Any time you add structures to your property it is a good time to review your limits and make sure you are covered properly. 
Beyond the addition to your Coverage B limits you will definitely want review your home liability limits. On average most people have 300,000 in liability coverage. That protects you if a guest slips and falls while visiting your home. With the addition of a pool you would want to increase your limits beyond 500,000. Beyond that you might want to consider an umbrella policy.
Insurance agents are still working. So, when you start construction give your agent a call or call us to review your limits. 951-395-0754

As the country begins to open up auto insurance companies are bringing to an end the discounts they have been either been refunding or crediting their customers. It has been an unusual time for everyone and that includes auto insurance companies.  Most are still assessing the overall impact of the stay at home orders and the impact they had on their bottom lines. This is new territory for everyone. 
​The next step for many insurance companies will be working with existing customers to make sure they are able to keep their policies in force. As stimulus money dries up and unemployment benefits get stretched paying for insurance has become more of a challenge.
The insurance commissioner in California is recommending insurance companies extend out grace periods for their customers from 30 days to 60 days. It is important to note that doesn't mean the policy holders won't be responsible for those premiums. They will still be charged for the time their policy is in effect. It just means that the insurance companies can't cancel the policies for a longer period of time. 
The current extension of premium due dates will go through July 14, 2020. If you have questions about making a premium payment the best thing to do is call your carrier and see what types of adjustments they can make. Maybe a smaller premium due one month is a better option than skipping a payment altogether. 
Auto insurance companies are still working hard to help out their customers during these difficult times. Many people have been unaffected but many more have had significant income losses. If you have questions about your coverage or you need to get a policy started give us a call at 951-395-0754
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Buying a house during the coronavirus period is a different experience. But, even during a pandemic people are moving and buying homes. The good news is that home insurance companies are adjusting their operations so that they can still bind insurance policies.
Over the last few years electronic paperwork signing has become a more regular part of the process.  Now all my insurance companies allow for electronic signing. It makes the process easier and with physical distancing being a concern you don't have to step foot in an office.
The important thing to remember when signing your paperwork electronically is to make sure you review your documents. Yes it is very easy to just click, click and be done. But, you always want to review your limits. Make sure the address is correct on the paperwork. Make sure your names are spelled properly. Review your deductibles, the price and all the coverage's. If it's what you agreed to then sign the paperwork. If you have questions now is a great time to ask them. 
Recently most home insurance carriers have been inspecting almost all the homes they insure. Over the last few months many of those inspections have been rolled back. If the inspections are still happening most are exterior only. Now, if you don't have an inspection completed this year many home insurance companies may in the future ask for an inspection. 
If you are in the market for buying a home give your insurance agent a call and get some quotes. If you are looking for some of the best home insurance rates on the market give us a call at 951-395-0754