Author Archives: Florida Insurance Quotes LNC

11 Florida Flood Insurance

Based on what Florida Flood Insurance has learned over the years, we know that floods can happen at anytime in the Sunshine State.

In fact, about 25% of all flood claims come from moderate- to low-risk areas, which means you don’t have to live in a high-risk zone to be affected.

Flood insurance in Florida ensures you’re covered if groundwater rises and floods your home or business – something that isn’t usually covered by your general home insurance policy. Just think of what a few inches of floodwater in your home could do. That’s more than enough to destroy flooring, walls, and trigger other damages – costing you thousands if you don’t carry flood insurance

Keep these facts in mind if you own a home or business in Florida:

1) There are currently more than 2.1 million flood insurance policies in force in Florida. Many of the state’s households, however, remain at risk. (Source: National Flood Insurance Program)

2) With 11 million households in Florida, only 13% of the state’s households are covered with flood insurance. That means 8 out of 10 households are not protected by flood insurance. (Source: National Flood Insurance Program)

3) Due to the relatively flat terrain across Florida, it is complicated to drain accumulated water. When rivers rise, water tends to spread out far from riverbanks.

4) Nearly two-thirds of all NFIP required policies nationwide are in Florida.

5) Between 2000 and 2019, there were 81 hurricanes and tropical storms across Florida (many requiring assistance from FEMA).

6) Because of the potential for flooding, Florida has more flood insurance policies required by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) than any other state.

7) Since 1851, the top three states for hurricane landfalls are Florida, Texas, and Louisiana (according to data from the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami).

8) Tropical Storm Fay in 2008 produced a storm surge of around 5 feet, which devastated the historic coastal fishing and tourist town of Everglades City.

9) Over the last few years, Miami has experienced major flooding, not from a hurricane, but from normal patterns of high tides. A steady rise in the ocean level the past several years (created by effects of climate change) is altering life around the coastal edges of south Florida’s metropolis.

10) The Great Okeechobee Flood is one of the most tragic events to strike South Florida, which was detailed in dramatic fashion by classic American author Zora Neale Hurston in her famous novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Between 1,800 and 3,500 rural Floridians who lived around the lake are said to have perished when 150mph hurricane winds sent water out of the lake and into surrounding communities.

11) Florida faces more risk than any other state that private, insurable property could be inundated by high tide, storm surge and sea level rise (Source: Risky Business Project).

12} In Florida, up to $69 billion of coastal properties currently not at risk will likely be at risk of flood at high tide by 2030. By 2050, the value of at-risk property below local high tide levels will rise to roughly $152 billion.

13) Because Florida has the longest seacoast in the continental U.S., the most expensive coastal real estate, and low elevation and high water table, the state is at one of the greatest risks of property damage due to flooding.

14) A report by the Risky Business Project notes Miami Beach is set to build a $300 million storm water project (beginning in 2017 with $100 million used to raise roads, install pumps and water mains and redo sewer connections across a swath of single-family homes Mid-Beach) to protect its $27 billion in coastal real estate.

Consider these nationwide flood facts when considering a flood insurance policy – especially in low-risk areas:

  • Floods are the most common type of natural disaster worldwide – about40% of all natural catastrophes involves flooding.
  • Homeowners Insurance typical does not damage due to flooding.
  • 75% of all Presidential disaster declarations are related to flooding.
  • Only 12% of U.S. homeowners have flood insurance, based on a 2016 poll conducted by the Insurance Information Institute.
  • Flood insurance policies may take up to 30 days to take effect.
  • In a 30-year mortgage, a home or property has a 26% chance of being involved in a flood compared to a 9% chance of being involved in a fire.
  • Heavy afternoon showers, winter storms, and snowmelt are common (yet often overlooked) causes of flooding.
  • New land development can increase flood risk (especially if construction changes natural runoff paths) and possibly affect your flood zone.

11 Florida Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property insurance pays to repair or replace stolen, lost, or damaged business property. It covers your business’s physical location and other assets like equipment.

Does your small business need commercial property insurance?

If you own or rent an office or workspace, you likely need commercial property insurance, also called business hazard insurance.

Landlords often require proof of commercial property coverage from their business tenants. And lenders typically mandate commercial property insurance for the life of the mortgage.

Though landlords carry property insurance for their buildings, they won’t take responsibility for any expensive business property a tenant keeps in the space.

Even when it’s not required, commercial property insurance is important for any small business that owns property. This coverage insures expensive equipment as well as inventory.

How does commercial property insurance protect your business?

Commercial property insurance covers your business’s real estate and its contents. It helps pay for repair or replacement when business property is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

Your business assets aren’t just expensive – they keep your business running. With commercial property insurance, you’ll be able to afford repairs for necessary equipment after an unexpected event like a fire or a break-in.

Businesses that purchase a policy typically:

  • Own or rent a building, store, or office
  • Own or rent expensive equipment or tools
  • Have products or inventory
  • Depend on other valuable business assets

How to get business insurance coverage today

Easily apply online, compare quotes from top carriers in seconds, and get your certificate of insurance the same day.

 

11 Details that you may need for a homeowners insurance quote

Getting a homeowners quote can only take a few minutes when you have all of your information at hand. Knowing the details of your house, including what kind of safety features you have installed, may help you qualify for money-saving discounts and help ensure that you choose the coverage that meets your needs.

There can be more questions involved in getting a homeowners quote than a car insurance quote, so it can be helpful to gather your paperwork and be ready to answer specific questions about your home in advance. Here’s a checklist to help you get started.

1. Who lives at your house?

You may be asked for contact information about you and anyone else who lives at your house, how long you’ve lived there, your marital status, whether you run a business from the home and whether you own a dog or any pets.

2. What’s your insurance history?

It’s good to be ready with details about your existing coverage, if your home is already covered by homeowners insurance. Do you have a mortgage on the home? Are there any prior insurance claims? How much would it cost you to rebuild your home?

3. What’s your house like?

You’ll likely be asked a series of questions, including the year your house was built, the type and age of the roof, the style of the home, its exterior finish and whether or not you have a garage. You’ll also probably want to know the square footage of your home and may be asked for details on the number of bathrooms or fireplaces. This information helps determine the cost to rebuild your home and may help with determining the amount of coverage that fits your needs.

4. What improvements have you made?

If you have made upgrades to your home since you bought it, such as replacing the roof, installing a central air system, finishing your basement, remodeling a kitchen or other updates that increase the value of your home, your existing homeowners policy may not reflect the current value and replacement cost of your home.

5. What kind of safety devices do you have?

If you have certain safety devices, including smart or connected home technology, a security system or fire sprinklers, you may qualify for a discount on your insurance.

Having all of this information ready to go can make it easier for you to get a quote and can help you get coverage to protect you and your family that fits your needs.

 

11 Commercial Property Insurance

What Is Commercial Property Insurance?

Commercial property insurance is an essential coverage for business owners, especially when running a home-based business. It helps protect the owned or rented property that you use to operate your business, such as your:

  • Building
  • Equipment
  • Tools
  • Inventory
  • Furniture
  • Personal property

For home-based business owners, this type of commercial insurance provides more coverage than homeowners insurance. You may have heard other names for this type of insurance, including:

  • Commercial building insurance
  • Business personal property insurance
  • Commercial real estate insurance
  • Non-residential building insurance

What Does Commercial Building Insurance Cover?

Commercial building insurance helps protect your business’ physical assets, like your owned or rented building and the equipment you use to operate your company. It can help your business if:

  • A fire damages or destroys your computers
  • Lightning strikes the building that you have business renters insurance on
  • Someone breaks into your building and steals your inventory

It can also help protect business assets, like income, because it includes business interruption coverage. If you can’t open because of covered property damage, this coverage can help replace lost income.

We know every business has unique needs. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to customize your commercial property insurance policy. You can add more protection for things like valuable papers and records, which can help cover your costs to:

  • Reproduce important documents
  • Provide temporary storage
  • Move records to avoid a loss

What Doesn’t Commercial Property Insurance Cover?

Be aware that your commercial property insurance policy doesn’t cover every type of property damage. This coverage can’t help your business if:

  • Your customer drops their laptop when they trip over a box in your office
  • One of your employees puts a hole in your client’s wall
  • You get into an accident while making a delivery to a customer and damage your vehicle
  • A nearby brook overflows after a heavy rainfall causes flooding near your building and damages your inventory
  • You or your employees intentionally damage property
  • You can get other types of commercial insurance to give your business comprehensive coverage that can help cover these kinds of claims.

Bundle Commercial Property Insurance With Essential Coverage Through a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

You can get commercial property coverage as a standalone policy. But many small businesses choose to get a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which combines three essential coverages into one:

  • Commercial property insurance, explained throughout this page.
  • General liability insurance to help cover claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
  • Business income insurance, or business interruption insurance, to help replace your lost income if you can’t open because of covered property damage.
  • Get a commercial property insurance quote to find out how this coverage or a BOP can help your business.

Learn How To Reduce Your Risk Exposure

There are steps you can take to help reduce your company’s risk exposures. For example, you can create a plan to regularly examine and test your company’s alarm and sprinkler systems in your building or home office. This gives you an opportunity to fix any issues and make sure you’re prepared for a disaster.

Bigger companies that need large business property insurance can work with our risk engineering consultants to:

  • Create a safe work environment
  • Help reduce loss
  • Improve operations

 

11 Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business

Business and Commercial Property Insurance

Creating a comprehensive plan is important when it comes to small business insurance. We make it our business to figure out the best way to have your back. It’s why we offer a wide range of insurance to help protect your company. You can combine different types of coverage into cost-effective endorsements to add to your policy.

Get a quote today and learn how we can help protect your company with commercial property insurance.

Common Questions About Commercial Real Estate Insurance

 

Do I Need Commercial Property Insurance?

If you own, rent or lease commercial property of any kind, then you should have commercial property insurance. Although it’s not required by law, it’s something you may want to consider. Without it, you’re responsible for paying the costs to fix or replace your damaged business property. This can be expensive and the out-of-pocket costs can put your company at financial risk.

What Is Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance?

Evidence of commercial property insurance is also known as proof of insurance or a certificate of insurance (COI). Your company may need a COI to prove you have commercial property coverage to help protect your business property. We know your time is valuable, so we make it quick and easy to get a certificate of insurance online.

What Are the Different Types of Commercial Insurance?

There are many different types of commercial insurance. Each coverage can help protect your company from various claims. Other types of commercial insurance include:

  • Commercial auto insurance
  • Commercial flood insurance
  • Commercial umbrella insurance
  • Errors and omission insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance

What Is the Standard Deductible in a Commercial Property Insurance Policy?

Deductible amounts can vary by state and between insurers. They can range from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars. You’ll choose a deductible amount when you get your commercial property insurance policy. Generally, if you pick a higher deductible, it’ll lower your commercial property insurance cost.

You can check your policy if you’re unsure how much your commercial property insurance deductible is.

Business insurance coverage is critical to protecting your company from risks, including property loss and repairing or replacing property, such as after a fire, storm or theft. Business insurance can help cover the costs of legal claims made against your business and can help cover an injured worker’s lost wages. Without insurance, a significant loss could be devastating to the livelihood of your business. Some states also require businesses hold certain types of insurance coverages in order to legally operate there.

Workers compensation insurance can help protect both you and your employees after a work-related injury. General liability insurance can help protect your company in the event that someone makes a claim against it. Management and professional liability insurance can help protect you from a range of risks, from Errors & Omissions to Cyber Risk.

For small businesses, a Business Owner’s Policy, also known as BOP insurance, combines three critical coverages – Commercial General Liability, Commercial Property, and Business Income and Extra Expense coverage – into one convenient policy.

11 Choosing the Right Florida Homeowners Insurance

Choosing the Right Florida Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is very important. It protects your home, what’s inside, and your other assets in the event of disasters, accidents, theft and more.  Insurance varies from standard coverage to additional coverage that includes floods, earthquakes, etc. However, not everyone wants the same coverage for their home, apartment or condo.

Everyone has different needs and talking about the precautions and evaluations of those needs can help protect your family and make the most of your insurance coverage. Meet with your insurance agent every year to review your policy. They can help you find the best policy and coverage for your particular needs.

Here are some questions to keep in mind when looking for the right coverage for you:

  • Has your home recently suffered damage due to storms, accidents or anything of the sort?
  • Has your home been remodeled or expanded?
  • Do you have money set aside to cover the deductible if you have a loss? (For most homes in Florida, the insurance deductible is 2 percent of the policy limits.)
  • Do you have an inventory of your possessions?
  • Do you have flood insurance?

It’s also important to know what windstorm mitigation features the home has. This will impact the Florida Homeowners policy that you will buy and how much will it costs.

Features such as hurricane shutters, new roof will impact the type of policy you should have.

At L and C insurance providers we provide 10 different Homeowners insurance policies that can help provide the best coverage at the best possible rate.

 

11 Carefree Boating Insurance Coverage

Carefree Boating Insurance Coverage – For Less

Get a quote today. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes when you protect your vessel with boat and yacht insurance. There are several ways you can save on boat insurance while enjoying broad protection for your family, yourself and your investment.

Boat and Yacht Insurance Discounts

Multi-Policy Discounts

Save money on boat insurance. If you already hold an auto insurance and/or home or other boat/yacht policies, you may be eligible for multi-policy discounts. Multipolicy discounts can range from 15% to 33%

Boat Equipment Credits

Equipment credits are available when you have certain equipment onboard, such as GPS, radar, CO2 detectors and alarm systems. These can help save you money on boat insurance.

Boat Education Discounts

You may be eligible to save up to 5% per boat for passing certain safe boating courses, including those offered by the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard; and up to 10% per boat for advanced courses, such as a Captain’s license.

Large Yacht Lay-Up Discounts

Receive yacht insurance discounts for your large yacht* for times when your vessel is laid-up (decommissioned).

Featured Boat Insurance Discounts

Save When You Bundle

There are benefits to bundling. You could save up to 13% on your car insurance when you also purchase your home/condo insurance and other insurance policies including boat insurance, from Travelers.

 

11 Car Insurance in Miami

Car Insurance in Miami

All consumers are required to carry auto insurance in Miami, as well as in the state of Florida. L and C Insurance sells a variety of insurance products through 16 Miami auto insurance companies.

Consumers in the market need to know that the bare minimum car insurance requirement for Florida drivers is:

  • $10,000 bodily injury per person per accident
  • $20,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability
  • $10,000 personal injury protection

Drivers in Miami, FL are required by law to have proof of insurance in the car and present it upon request to law enforcement. Failure to provide that proof can result in fines up to $500 and a license suspension of up to three years. If a driver is involved in an accident without insurance and found to be at fault, they can be held liable for all costs associated with the other driver’s bodily and property injuries and driving privileges can be suspended until those damages are paid.

L and C Insurance providers enjoys a unique position in the Miami marketplace, providing customers with some of Florida’s most affordable and personalized agent-driven service. L and C insurance providers sells a variety of insurance products through 16 Miami auto insurance companies

Miami Automobile Insurance Discounts and Benefits

L and C Insurance providers already offers some of the lowest insurance rates available. You could save even more with the many discounts available, too!

About Miami, Florida

Florida is a driver’s haven…with its year-round sunny skies (interrupted by the occasional summer squall) and through amazing places to see like ocean-side drives and the wetlands of Everglades National Park, from the winding roads of the panhandle to the span of the overseas highway and 7-Mile Bridge to the Keys.

The city of Miami is the heart of Florida’s diverse population, from an amazing nightlife to beautiful architecture, it is the most popular tourist destination not called Orlando. Miami is the fourth largest urban area in the United States and an international center for finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, media and international trade.

By day, the city beckons visitors to enjoy its beaches and world renowned cuisine. Once the sun goes down, the South Beach area becomes a non-stop party with loud and colorful night spots and restaurants that appeal to a wide array of tourists and locals alike. Miami is especially well-known for its Cuban cuisine, owing to the large population of Cuban emigres. Miami is one of the 10 cities with a team in each of the major leagues, including the Dolphins (NFL), Marlins (MLB), Heat (NBA and Panthers (NHL). The city also boasts the nationally known University of Miami as well as a number of other universities, colleges and other institutes of higher learning.

What is the average cost of car insurance in Miami?

The average cost of car insurance in Miami is $2,428 per year per year according to thezebra.com.2 That’s 56.5% higher than the national average. Of course, your auto insurance cost will depend on many different factors including your age, where you live, and your driving history.

Some people get the bare minimum coverage, while others prefer the comfort and security of more protection. L and C Insurance providers customizes your Miami auto insurance, so you only pay for what you need.

11 Business Property Insurance That Protects Against Exposures Today and Tomorrow

Business Property Insurance That Protects Against Exposures Today and Tomorrow

Having the right commercial property coverage could mean the difference between a minor disruption to operations and a major financial loss. As one of the largest commercial property writers in Florida you can trust L and C Insurance to have a deep understanding of your everyday challenges, as well as the expertise, resources and strength to help keep your operations running smoothly and your business resilient.

We offer commercial property protection for a wide variety of industries and businesses ranging from small to large to highly complex. We understand the evolving risks our customers face and offer solutions to address them. Our property insurance policies can be tailored to meet customers’ coverage needs by providing:

  • Coverage confidence
  • Built-in flexibility
  • Services that matter
  • National scale with local presence

What Is Business Property Insurance?

Business property insurance is coverage that can protect your company’s physical assets from unexpected events, including fires, windstorms, theft and vandalism. Physical assets covered by commercial property coverage could include the business property you own or rent, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, inventory and other items you count on to support your daily operations.

Through built-in loss prevention services, business property insurance can also deliver a competitive advantage by helping you identify and manage property-related risks specific to your company, allowing you to remain focused on your business. L and C insurance providers has expertise across many industries, helping companies identify and reduce property risks.

When an unexpected loss causes disruption or even temporarily shuts down your business, your ability to recover quickly is critical. L and C Insurance providers has access to commercial property insurance markets that can provide the support and financial assistance needed to get your business back up and running.

Who Is Commercial Property Insurance Coverage Right For?

Commercial property insurance is for all businesses, especially those that have buildings, critical equipment and assets, or access to customers and suppliers.

Read on to understand how our commercial property insurance can help your business stay resilient in times of loss and catastrophic events in our ever-changing world.

  • Small Business
  • Midsized Business
  • Large Business

What Is Small Business Commercial Property Insurance?

L and C Insurance providers small business commercial property insurance can help protect the business property you own, lease or rent, including assets like your buildings, equipment, furniture, fixtures and inventory. It can also help cover the costs to repair or replace stolen, damaged or destroyed property, including property and equipment that isn’t yours but is in the care or custody of your small business.

Who Is Small Business  Commercial Property Insurance Right For?

  • Commercial real estate
  • Contractors
  • Financial services
  • Garages
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturers
  • Personal care services
  • Pet care services
  • Printers and publishers
  • Professional services
  • Religious and cultural organizations
  • Restaurant and food service
  • Retail
  • Service businesses
  • Technology services
  • Wholesalers and distributors

 

11 5 Tips to Protect Your Possessions with Valuable Items Insurance Coverage

5 Tips to Protect Your Possessions with Valuable Items Insurance Coverage

You may think that a homeowners insurance policy provides adequate coverage for all your valuables, but policies may provide limited or no coverage for certain items — including generally expensive items — that are damaged or stolen.

For example, many homeowners policies generally have a $1,000 or $1,500 coverage amount for jewelry if the loss is due to theft. Such limits are in place to help keep homeowners policies affordable. However, if jewelry valued at $2,000 is stolen from your home and you have a $1,000 policy limit, you can only receive $1,000 from your insurer to replace the missing items.

That is when an insurance endorsement (sometimes called a rider) can provide increased coverage for your possessions. For an additional premium, this coverage can help protect you from the loss of high-end valuables such as jewelry, furs, antiques, artwork and collectibles.

Here are five tips that may help you decide whether you need valuable items coverage.

1. Read Your Insurance Policy

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your carrier. This document includes the limits of how much you will be compensated when certain valuable items are damaged or stolen. Note that certain items may not be covered, so be sure to carefully review your policy to determine whether you have insurance that meets your needs. If you have questions, contact your insurance agent.

2. Have Your Valuables Appraised

You may have possessions that are worth more than you think. To help you decide whether you need additional coverage, it may be helpful to have them appraised. An appraisal can help you determine if your homeowners insurance policy covers the full value of your property, as some items may not be covered.

The value of some items, such as collectibles or jewelry, may be difficult to determine without professional assistance. It may be necessary to have your valuables periodically. If they increase in value, you may need additional coverage.

3. Create a Home Inventory

You may not be able to make a decision about whether to buy additional coverage until you know exactly what you own. You may want to take stock of your possessions by creating an inventory. Do not forget to check your garage, basement or attic for stored valuables, such as antiques and coin collections.

Be sure to list all items of value and include copies of receipts or appraisals when possible. This may help you if you ever need to file a claim with your insurance carrier.

4. Check Your Neighborhood’s Crime Rate

If you live in a community where the crime rate is high, you may have a greater need for additional coverage to protect your valuables. Police departments may track crime statistics and share this information with the public. You can consider asking your police department about home burglary trends in your neighborhood. Also consider installing a security alarm system. An alarm system may qualify you for a homeowners insurance discount.

5. Take Stock of Your Electronic Equipment

In our increasingly high-tech world, people use their electronic equipment to perform their jobs and maintain social connections. In recent years, many new gadgets and devices have been developed that may enhance our lives. If you keep high-end computers and other electronics in your home, you may want to make sure your homeowners policy will cover their loss.

Safeguard Your Personal Valuables

Your need to insure valuable items is something you may want to discuss with your agent whenever you buy a homeowners policy. If you purchase additional coverage for high-cost items, it is a good idea to understand its limits and exclusions.

Protect your home the way it protects you by choosing the property insurance coverage that meets your needs.