Should everyone get home insurance in Minnesota?

Anyone that owns a home in the Edina, MN area will want to know that they are adequately covered by insurance. This can be a great way to protect your dwelling and receive other benefits. There are various reasons why everyone here should get this coverage for their home.

Protect Dwelling and Personal Assets

All people in this part of Minnesota should get home coverage to protect their dwelling and personal assets adequately. When you buy a home, you will likely make the most significant personal investment. Along with this, it will be vital that you remain appropriately insured. You will get coverage to protect your home and personal belongings with home insurance.

Liability Coverage

You will also want to have home coverage to receive liability insurance. If you choose to purchase a home, you will take on additional personal liability risks. A great way to mitigate this risk is by getting home insurance. With this coverage, you will receive liability coverage that can ensure you are covered in some situations. 

Insurance is Required

It can also be a good idea to get insurance to meet any set requirements or standards. A lender likely requires you to carry insurance if you have taken out a loan when buying a home. Further, many home associations require insurance from all owners.

When buying a home in the Edina, MN area, you should call our Central Lakes Insurance Brokers team. When you call our professionals at Central Lakes Insurance Brokers, you can learn much more about your coverage options. This is a significant first step towards getting the right plan that meets your needs. 

Top ten tips to prepare a home for a storm

It’s important to be prepared for a storm before it hits. Here are ten tips on how to do just that.

  1. Make a list of the supplies you will need ahead of time, such as flashlights, batteries, emergency candles, first aid supplies, and extra blankets and clothing.
  2. Fill your bathtub with water before the storm hits so that you have a source of fresh water to drink or use for cleaning if necessary.
  3. Also, fill up jugs and bottles with clean water to have a backup supply if tap water becomes unavailable.
  4. Gather food and snacks that do not require refrigeration, such as canned goods, dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and crackers.
  5. Charge all your electronic devices, like your phone and laptop, so that you can stay connected to the outside world during the storm.
  6. Put important papers and documents in a safe place to protect them from damage or theft. This might include insurance policies, birth certificates, credit card statements, and tax forms.
  7. If possible, park your car in the garage to avoid damage from flying debris or falling trees.
  8. Bring any outdoor furniture or decorations that could be blown around by high winds, such as patio umbrellas, garden gnomes, and bird feeders.
  9. Lock your windows and doors before the storm hits to keep out wind and rain.
  10. Monitor the weather forecast constantly and make any necessary changes to your storm preparedness plan, such as preparing additional supplies or moving to a safer location.

If you have questions about your home’s insurance coverage, give Central Lakes Insurance Brokers a call today. We proudly serve the Edina, MN area.

Five Common Mistakes Homeowners Make With Their Insurance

There are so many important decisions that need to be made when you own a house. From mortgage payments to home repairs, it can be easy to let some things fall through the cracks. However, one thing you can’t afford to neglect is your home insurance policy. Homeowners insurance protects your biggest investment, so it’s important to make sure you have the right coverage. Central Lakes Insurance Brokers can help residents in Edina, MN avoid common mistakes. Here are a few of them.

Mistake 1: Not having enough coverage

Your home is likely your most valuable asset, so you’ll want to make sure it’s properly protected in the event of a fire, theft, or other disasters. Central Lakes Insurance Brokers will work with you to make sure you have adequate coverage for your home and belongings.

Mistake 2: Not reviewing your policy regularly

Your needs as a homeowner will change over time, so it’s important to review your insurance policy on a regular basis. At a minimum, you should review your policy once a year when coverage renews.

Mistake 3: Not considering the value of your belongings

Over time, you are likely going to add more expensive items to your home. Be sure to keep your insurance policy up-to-date so that it reflects the value of your belongings.

Mistake 4: Not asking questions

Your home is a big investment, so you want to be sure that you understand your insurance policy. It’s important to know what coverages you have to review and change as necessary.

Mistake 5: Not using an independent insurance agent

An independent insurance agent can give you the personalized attention you deserve. They will take the time to get to know you and your needs in order to find the best policy for you.

Central Lakes Insurance Brokers is an independent insurance agent serving Edina, MN. Contact us today for all your insurance needs or if you would like to request a free estimate.

How Much Home Insurance do I Need?

You faithfully pay your home insurance premiums every year, but have you ever asked whether you carry a sufficient amount of home insurance? There is nothing more frustrating than filing a claim only to find that you are underinsured. Reviewing your home insurance to see whether it’s sufficient is crucial in eliminating heartaches when disasters strike.

But because navigating home insurance alone can be daunting. Central Lakes Insurance Brokers won’t let you walk the journey alone. Please contact us to become your go-to insurance agent for all your home insurance needs. We also educate our clients in matters concerning insurance. Today, we guide you on carrying enough home insurance in Edina, MN. Let’s dive in.

Choosing the right dwelling coverage?

Dwelling coverage compensates you when your home is damaged or vandalized by a covered peril. So, when choosing the right amount of coverage, you should get an amount sufficient to rebuild your dwelling from scratch.

How much would it cost to rebuild your house today? That would be the amount of dwelling insurance you need to purchase. Having adequate dwelling insurance ensures you receive full compensation in the worst-case scenario.

Choosing the right content coverage

Contents insurance pays for the damages and losses occurring to your assets, including electronics, furniture, and clothing, among others. An excellent way to keep track of everything you own is by keeping a home inventory.

Ultimately, you should purchase content insurance sufficient to replace all your personal assets.

Choosing the right liability coverage

Most homeowners pay attention to dwelling coverage without realizing that liability coverage is equally important. Most liability coverage options for home insurance cover up to $100,000, but this amount is never enough when you face significant liability claims.

Consider liability coverage of at least $300,000 or $500,000 if you don’t have budgetary restrictions. If you need higher liability coverage, umbrella insurance is an excellent option.

Home insurance in Edina, MN

Still not sure about how much home insurance you need? Please get in touch with Central Lakes Insurance Brokers for further clarification.

3 Things to Consider Before Purchasing Home Insurance

Whether you have just bought your home or moved to a rented one, getting home insurance is crucial. It offers protection for your home and your possessions as well. Central Lakes Insurance Brokers offers insurance policies for homes to ensure that your valuable possessions are covered against various calamities. If you are a resident of Edina, MN, you can talk to our experts and choose the most suitable cover for your home.

Here are some of the things you should consider before buying home insurance.

Damages Caused by Natural Disasters

Check which damages caused by natural disasters are covered by a policy before buying it. Some policies don’t cover some specified disasters. Some cover these disasters, but upon paying additional amounts to the premium cover.

Coverage Provided

Policies differ when it comes to the kind of coverage. To choose a suitable coverage for your home, determine what you need to be covered and select an insurance cover that provides it. For example, you can choose a policy that only covers the building or include furniture and inbuilt appliances.

Building a home and furnishing it is very expensive. Don’t risk losing everything one day and getting back to zero in case of damages. Let Central Lakes Insurance Brokers serving Edina MN cover your home and the valuable possessions you have.

Deductibles

Deductibles are the expenses you pay for from the pocket when you make a claim against damages. When choosing your insurance cover, make sure you know the deductibles. This avoids paying a huge amount of cash to fix damages.

Getting insurance for your home is one of the best decisions you can ever make since unforeseen events may happen in the future. Contact Central Lakes Insurance Brokers serving Edina, MN to learn more about home insurance and check out various home insurance plans we have.

How to keep your home safe while you are away

Your home is the center of so much of your life. Keeping it safe and protected makes perfect sense. Having the right insurance agent and the right policy make that possible. At Central Lakes Insurance Brokers in Edina, MN, we are committed to providing quality insurance products and helping our current and future customers manage potential risks. Our team of knowledgeable professionals has the tools they need as independent agents to provide what you want and need.

Getting away is perfect for relaxing, but in order to relax, you have to have confidence that your home is safe while you are away. By taking some simple steps, you can be more confident that everything will be well while you are away. 

Arm your security system

If you have a home security system, it can only help protect your home if it is armed and ready. Making sure it is operational and will do its job is important. 

Stop your mail

You can go to the postal service website and set up a temporary stop. Always start it a day or two early to make sure that it is actually working. 

Talk to your neighbors

If you are friendly with your neighbors at all, let them know you will be away and ask that they keep their eyes open for anything unusual. If you are not friendly with your neighbors, have a friend or family stop by while you are away to make sure things are okay. 

Don’t announce your plans

Don’t announce your plans on social media. You never know who might see your plans and take advantage of your absence. Share your pictures when you return, but not while you are away. 

Contact Central Lakes Insurance Brokers in Edina, MN when you are ready to discuss your home insurance needs.

Creating and storing your home inventory

Almost six percent of homeowners will file a claim in any given year. Thinking about filing a claim is not something homeowners like to dwell on but the reality is, things happen and you need to be prepared. A home inventory is one way to prepare for a home claim. Another is making sure you have a good home insurance policy and a trusted insurance agent. In Edina, MN, Central Lakes Insurance Brokers is locally owned and operated and committed to providing quality insurance products to our customers. As independent agents, we can offer more choices in carriers and policies. 

Creating a home inventory is time-consuming but the benefit makes it worthwhile. It can be done digitally or with a pad and pen. The idea of the inventory is to list all of your possessions, room by room. Don’t move on to the next room until you have identified everything in the room. Open closets and cupboards, don’t just list what you see out in the room. Be very specific in your description giving brand names and models and serial numbers if applicable. Provide any back-up you may have in the form of receipts or sales slips. Attach it to the inventory. 

Take pictures of each room from several different angles. The idea is to show as much as possible. Take your time and do every room, Don’t forget to go into your attic and basement. You may even need to go to the garage and shed. You will be glad for the detail if you ever need to file a claim. 

When you are finished store your inventory and photos in a safe place. Away from the home is best. A safety deposit box is ideal but at the very least have a free and waterproof container. You may also store your inventory digitally in the cloud. 

Contact Central Lakes Insurance Brokers in Edina, MN for all your insurance needs. 

Should I get home insurance in Edina?

The Edina, MN area can be a great place to call home. When you are a property owner in this area, you will enjoy having a stable place to live while also benefiting from price appreciation and tax deductions. When you do purchase a home here, you also need to carefully consider all of your insurance needs. There are several reasons that you should get a home insurance policy when you are here. 

Insurance Gives Important Coverage

The main reason that you should get home insurance when you are in Edina is that it can give you very valuable coverage and protection. When you get home insurance, it will include coverage to protect your dwelling as well as all of your personal assets. It can also include coverage that will give you protection if you are found liable for an injury to a guest or if you or your property cause damage to another person’s assets.

Insurance is a Requirement

For a lot of people in this area of Minnesota, having insurance is also a requirement. Due to the value that the insurance coverage provides, many mortgage lenders require that their borrowers carry the proper insurance. Also, if you live in a home association, you may also have insurance requirements that need to be met. 

As you are looking for home insurance in the Edina, MN area, you should get guidance and support from someone that you can trust. If you do call the team at Central Lakes Insurance Brokers for your insurance needs, you will be in good hands. The insurance professionals at Central Lakes Insurance Brokers can help you to better understand all of your options and give you the support needed to choose a policy that is ideal for your situation. 

How do you insure multiple homes?

When you buy a second home, whether it serves as your vacation home or a rental property, you need to insure it. In some cases, you can have one policy that covers everything, but in many cases, you need multiple policies for multiple properties because different building types need a different type of coverage.

Phone or email your insurance agent at Central Lakes Insurance Brokers to talk about your purchase. Each insurance agency handles these matters differently. Some companies require separate policies while others let you combine policies in a master policy. Here are the major types of home insurance you will need to consider:

  • Contents only/renter’s: If you purchase a flat or apartment, you can typically skip the building insurance, but you do need to buy coverage for the contents.
  • Rental property: When you lease the property you own to another person, you need insurance that protects the structure, but not typically the contents. You do need liability insurance.
  • Historical building/Listed building: A home of historical significance that appears on the state or national historical registry requires its own insurance type. This applies whether it is a Grade I, II, or III property. 
  • Non-standard home: Any type of home beyond the typical single-family dwelling requires a special type of insurance. This includes the housing types growing in popularity in Edina MN including tiny homes, hay bale homes, thatched-roof homes, timber frame houses, log cabins, etc.
  • Holiday/Vacation home: Insurance on this home type may cost a bit more because it exhibits a higher risk since it remains empty for long spurts. 
  • Host insurance: Consider a host policy if you only lease the home during one season, but live there or vacation there the other seasons. Host insurance provides coverage for 90 days during which your property gets rented to paying guests.

You have many choices when purchasing home insurance for multiple properties. We serve the Edina, MN area and its surrounding communities. Call Central Lakes Insurance Brokers for more information on covering more than one home with homeowner’s insurance.

How Often Should I Have My Homeowner’s Policy Reviewed?

Your home is one of the most expensive investments you will make throughout your lifetime. Having it properly insured should be one of your highest priorities.

The agents at Central Lakes Insurance Brokers provide residents who live in Edina, MN with homeowners’ policies they can use to increase their financial security and protect their investment. Once you have a policy in place, it’s important to have it reviewed every few years to ensure you have the right amount of coverage. 

Renovations or New Construction

Any time you renovate a portion of your home or build additional rooms, you will need to have your insurance agent review your policy and include the new upgrades. This ensures that your policy will reflect your home’s adjusted value and provide you with the additional coverage you need. 

New Purchases

Any time you make a new purchase that is substantial in terms of cost or value, you need to report it to your insurance agent. This includes installing new solar panels, paving sidewalks or driveways, buying new electronics, or having a professional home security system installed. 

General Review

Even if you have no new upgrades or purchases to report, having your homeowners’ policy reviewed is still a great idea. You can do a personal review of your policy once a year, but it’s important to have your agent review your policy as well. In most cases, every couple of years is sufficient.

At Central Lake Insurance Brokers, homeowners who live around Edina, MN can call the office and talk to an agent to schedule a review. Sitting down with an agent and going over your policy is a great way to determine if you are eligible for discounts or a possible upgrade/downgrade to your policy.