If you decide to buy a condo instead of renting an apartment or buying a house, you will need to consider condo insurance. Condo insurance is a safety net to protect you and your new property. The Cincinnati, OH agents at Advantage Insurance Network are here to offer you support in your search for the appropriate amount of condo insurance.

Why Condo Insurance

In Ohio, the condos have homeowners associations that maintain insurance for their property. Because you own the unit and not the property, their insurance usually does not cover you. If there were a fire to the exterior of the building, the association would be able to repair the damage with their coverage. If your property inside becomes damaged, you may not be covered.

What You Get from Condo Insurance

Having a condo means you’ll need insurance, just as you would if you owned a house.

• Personal Liability – if there’s an accident inside of your home, you may be liable for their injuries. You could have to pay the cost of medical bills, equipment, and lawyers’ fees if their injuries are a result of your negligence.
• Personal Property – if your property is stolen, vandalized, or destroyed, the only way to recover the cost is to have insurance. For example, your condo is burglarized, but you don’t have condo insurance. You would have to replace all of those items out of your own pocket.
• Building Property – associations may cover the cost of the exterior of your unit, but they don’t generally cover the cost of walls that hold fixtures and built-in bookcases. Condo insurance can help with that.

Buying a condo is a great way to start your life. Make sure to keep your home protected by contacting the agents at Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH.

While a standard home owner’s insurance policy covers the structure and its contents against numerous hazards, a dwelling fire insurance policy covers against a much more narrow set of hazards. It costs less than a home owner’s policy and it’s customizable nature lets you pick what is covered.

What Dwelling Fire Insurance Covers
Don’t let its name mislead you. Depending on the insurer, a dwelling fire policy may cover: 

• fire damage
• smoke-related damage
• explosions
• wind damage
• vandalism

The policy lists only the specific hazards covered. You can choose to cover only the structure or its contents, too. You can customize a dwelling fire policy to cover exactly what you need, including liability. 

Who Benefits from a Dwelling Fire Policy?
Many home owners don’t need a full home owner’s policy. Dwelling fire insurance makes the ideal choice for the following:

• Landlords who need to insure the building, but not its contents.
• Property owners whose home is under construction or renovation.
• Owners of a second home or a vacation home.
• Home owners of properties with a very low cash value like mobile homes or manufactured homes.
• Home owners of historic properties whose structural features make a homeowner’s policy cost prohibitive.
• Owners of significantly older structures in disrepair.

Visit Advantage Insurance Network of Cincinnati, OH to discuss whether a dwelling fire insurance policy works for you. Your Advantage agent can help you design a policy that exactly fits your needs. Remember that only a flood insurance policy covers flood, so if your home resides in a flood zone that requires coverage, you’ll need a separate flood policy. Let us help you design the perfect dwelling fire policy for you.

Motorcycle accidents can be catastrophic. Even a small bump from a car can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of their bike and fall off. This can cause a lot of bodily damage. As such, you may be unable to work for weeks or months if you were injured in a motorcycle accident. Advantage Insurance Network, serving the greater Cincinnati, OH area, is often asked if motorcycle insurance will cover lost wages if you are unable to work because of a motorcycle accident. Here is the answer to this question.

If you are unable to work because you were involved in a motorcycle accident, your motorcycle accident coverage will typically cover your lost wages as long as a doctor states that you are unable to work for this period of time. Additionally, the lost wages fall under bodily injury. This means that you have to have enough coverage under your policy for these wages to be covered if you are at fault. For example, if your policy only covers $50,000 in bodily injury and your hospital bills amount to this amount, there will be nothing left over for your lost wages. If you were not at fault for the accident, the other driver’s insurance should kick in and help you, up to their maximum. You may also be able to sue them if you go over what their insurance covers.

As a general rule of thumb, lost wages are covered if a doctor states you are unable to work after a motorcycle accident. However, there needs to be enough coverage to cover this expense. Advantage Insurance Network, serving the greater Cincinnati, OH area can ensure you have enough coverage for catastrophic events. Call us today and let us put together the right motorcycle insurance policy for you.

A home inventory can be extremely useful when it comes to making an insurance claim. Having complete documentation of all your valuables makes it easier to make an accurate claim if your property sustains damage or loss due to an event covered by your insurance policy. Making a home inventory enables you to keep better track of your goods and their value. Here are a few reasons why this information is to your advantage.

Ensures Proper Insurance Coverage

Through a home inventory, you gain a better perspective of the value of your personal goods. This makes it easier to select the insurance coverage to protect your interests. After reviewing your home inventory, your Advantage Insurance Network agent in Cincinnati, OH can provide you with insurance options suitable for your situation. Having adequate insurance coverage ensures your goods are well protected against any eventuality.

Facilitates Insurance Claims

A written or digital home inventory provides documented proof of ownership of personal goods covered under your insurance policy. If your goods suffer damage or loss, you can refer to your home inventory to make a claim. Your inventory should include a list of personal effects, date of purchase, receipts (if any), a detailed description of each item and photos of costly goods such as antiques, heirlooms, jewelry, etc. Having this information on hand can help you avoid delays in making a claim. It also serves to verify the value of the item you lost so you can receive its replacement cost under your insurance coverage.

A home inventory is a valuable tool that homeowners can use to their advantage. With a home inventory, there’s less chance of forgetting to claim valuable items lost or damaged in a flood, fire, or other catastrophes. For greater insight into making and maintaining a home inventory, contact Advantage Insurance Network, Cincinnati, OH.

 

While no one wants something to happen to their home, we all know that things occur. That’s why many homeowners get an insurance policy to cover that risk. Home repairs can get expensive, and the damage can result in higher costs than you might be able to afford. However, a home insurance policy won’t cover everything, so you need to be aware of any possible exclusions.

Possible Coverage Limitations

Home insurance is broken down into four different parts:

•    Dwelling
•    Other Structures
•    Personal Property
•    Loss of Use

While they will cover most of the possible occurrences, there may be some limitations on the following items:

•    Computers, laptops, and other business equipment.
•    Antique furniture and art.
•    Theft of jewelry, watches, precious stones, and furs.
•    Theft of fine silverware and china.
•    Theft of guns.
•    Theft of sports cards and other collectible items.
•    Theft of hand tools.

There may be other items for which there may be coverage limitations, so be sure to reach out to the Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH. We have agents who will gladly help you, so feel free to contact our office today!

What May Not be Covered

While there are several items that may have limitations in coverage, there are some things that won’t be covered under a home insurance policy. Some of these may include:

•    Earthquakes
•    Landslides
•    Vandalism
•    Damage caused by neglect
•    Damage caused by normal wear and tear

If you want to know more about what a home insurance policy won’t cover, the Advantage Insurance Network has a team of agents that can answer any questions you may have. If you live in Cincinnati, OH, be sure to get in touch with us today!

In many cases, the needs of each homeowner as they apply to home insurance are going to stay relatively the same through the course of your living in your home. There are some events however and some instances in which you might need to adjust or change your coverage to help better cover your home. If you are thinking of changing coverage and you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, the agents with Advantage Insurance Network can help.

In most cases, your insurance needs are going to stay the same from year to year unless you do some improvements to your home or unless your specific geographic location dictates a change of some sort. What we mean by geographic area is that if you live in an area where twenty inches of snow is the average before the 30^th of December each year, you may want more coverage in the winter and less in the summer to save money.

Similarly, if you do a great deal of home improvement to your home like adding an all new addition or upgrading your home, you are going to need more coverage to build back your house if it is damaged or destroyed. In these cases, you might need to adjust your home insurance coverage so that you have more or less dependent on the situation. If you are unsure if you need to change your coverage, it is always helpful to talk with an agent about insurance policies and what might work for you.

If you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, the agents with Advantage Insurance Network can help you find the policy that is going to work best for you and for your home so that you are covered no matter the situation.  

In many cases, the needs of each homeowner as they apply to home insurance are going to stay relatively the same through the course of your living in your home. There are some events however and some instances in which you might need to adjust or change your coverage to help better cover your home. If you are thinking of changing coverage and you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, the agents with Advantage Insurance Network can help.

In most cases, your insurance needs are going to stay the same from year to year unless you do some improvements to your home or unless your specific geographic location dictates a change of some sort. What we mean by geographic area is that if you live in an area where twenty inches of snow is the average before the 30^th of December each year, you may want more coverage in the winter and less in the summer to save money.

Similarly, if you do a great deal of home improvement to your home like adding an all new addition or upgrading your home, you are going to need more coverage to build back your house if it is damaged or destroyed. In these cases, you might need to adjust your home insurance coverage so that you have more or less dependent on the situation. If you are unsure if you need to change your coverage, it is always helpful to talk with an agent about insurance policies and what might work for you.

If you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, the agents with Advantage Insurance Network can help you find the policy that is going to work best for you and for your home so that you are covered no matter the situation.  

If you live on a tight budget, it can be tempting to ignore home maintenance jobs that need to be done on your property in order to save money. While some home repairs can be put off temporarily without serious repercussions, others need to be taken care of right away. By putting off essential home repairs, you increase the risk of causing even worse damage to your property. The following repairs fall under the "essential" category:

Roof Repair

An old roof with damaged shingles won’t hold up against stormy weather. If you delay making roof repairs, you increase the risk of structural and/or interior water damage to your property. Water damage caused by lack of roof maintenance and repair may not be covered by your insurance carrier. By discussing water damage coverage with an Advantage Insurance Network agent in Cincinnati, OH, you can get a better idea of the protection your insurance policy offers.    

Plumbing/Electrical System

Problems with your home’s plumbing and/or electrical system should also be taken care of as soon as possible. Worn pipes or faulty wiring increase the risk of flooding or fire, both of which could utterly destroy your home. If you own an older home, you may need to upgrade your plumbing or electrical system to avoid serious problems.

Cracks in Foundation

Although some cracks in your home’s foundation may be harmless, others could present a problem. When it doubt, it’s best to have cracks checked by a professional, especially if they cause buckling or bulging in the home’s structure. Taking care of the problem early on could save you the expense of costly repairs later down the line.

A comprehensive home insurance policy from Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH, will protect your home and personal belongings from unforeseen events that could cause damage to your property.  

 

The last thing that you want to deal with is finding the money to rebuild after your home is damaged or destroyed. Though it is possible, the burden of finding enough money to rebuild or to buy a new home is very trying and can be avoided with the right home insurance policy. The agents with Advantage Insurance Network in the Cincinnati, OH area can help.

There are a few different ways that a home insurance policy can make a positive difference in your overall experience. For starters, having a home insurance policy in place is going to make it far easier to rebuild if your home is destroyed, to repair if your home is damaged, and to recover if your home is burglarized. Also, home policies can help pay the cost of medical bills if someone is injured while on your property.

Overall, home insurance is going to help make a huge difference in how quickly you can get back to your life after something terrible happens. Though it might not seem like a possibility, a home can be destroyed in a matter of moments and when you have home insurance, you can be sure that you are going to be able to get the money to rebuild your home and get back to living. A great home insurance policy is going to be a safety net that keeps you covered no matter what even when it might seem like you do not need it.

It does cost a premium each month but that does not mean that the premiums are going to outweigh the benefit of keeping a home insurance policy up. If you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, contact the agents with Advantage Insurance Network today to get the right policy for your home and for your individual circumstance.