Looking to Moonlight? Call Your Insurance Agent First

 By Catherine Powell

Whether you’re fully invested in the gig economy or are just looking to pick up a little folding green by moonlighting, there are a few things you need to know before you get started.  That’s because whether you are thinking of getting into ridesharing, becoming a delivery driver, or even using Airbnb to rent out your home or just a room, there are some liabilities that aren’t covered by your auto or homeowner’s policy.  Even if you’re thinking about making and selling jewelry or some other craft online, don’t assume that your existing insurance is going to cover your endeavors.  Should someone be injured by one of your products or your wares get stolen or burned up in a fire, you’ll soon come to find that all your hard work has gone up in smoke.  Below are some words to the wise about what you need to know to protect you and your sideline business.

Looking to Add a Pet to Your Household?

 By Catherine Powell

If you love animals like I do, then you probably have a pet or two.  If you suddenly feel the urge to add another pet to your household, or if you’re considering getting your first one, there are a few things you need to consider in advance.  Just like children, having pets means you not only need to make space for them in your heart and in your home, you also need to make sure their needs are met.  Below are some pointers that will not only help you choose the pet that best fits your lifestyle, but it will help you integrate it with any other pets that you may already have.

10 Ways for Millennials to Get a Deal on Auto Insurance

 By Catherine Powell

If you were born at or around the turn of the century, you’re aware of several things.  You were born into the Information Age and are hopelessly hooked on everything that’s web-enabled. You prefer social media to social events.  You’d be lost without your smartphone. You’re fed up with paying high auto insurance rates.  While my generation can do little to help you resolve your Internet addiction, we can tell you a thing or two about what you need to do to take a bite out of auto insurance costs if you’re less than 25-years-old.

Can Your Mobile Home Deal with Mother Nature at Her Worst?

 By Catherine Powell

Mobile homes have been around for a long time and with good reason.  When it comes to affordable housing, a mobile home is hard to beat.  In north Florida, the average price of a single-family home is currently $240,000.  The average price of a manufactured (aka mobile) home is right around $81,000, which is 1/3 the price.  If you live in a mobile home, you know it was manufactured in a factory only to be trucked to your lot after the fact.  What you may not know is that when it comes to securing a mobile home against storm damage, you need to weigh the variables that differentiate manufactured homes from typical single-family dwellings.

Can Motorcycle Insurance Make You an Easy Rider in Florida?

 By Catherine Powell

One of the reasons so many people move to Florida is due to the warm weather.  You’ll never have to shovel snow in the Sunshine State.  Because the weather is so pleasant, motorcycles can be ridden year-round.  Whether you bring your bike here or are considering purchasing a motorcycle, you should be aware of the laws and insurance coverage that pertains to them.

Can BOP Keep Your Business from Getting Bopped?

 By Catherine Powell

Running a business isn’t for sissies.  That’s because there’s precious little that’s free in a free-market economy.  Everything from rent and payroll to advertising and inventory add up.  Then there are unforeseen situations that can stop a business in its tracks, like distribution bottlenecks and a little thing called COVID-19.  If all that wasn’t enough, there are dozens of ways that you and/or your business can be held liable.  Slip and fall accidents, worker’s comp issues, and errors & omissions can land you in court.  While general business liability insurance can protect you against these situations, it’s not all-encompassing.  Typically, this means you’ll also need to purchase a commercial property policy to cover your building and its contents from fire, theft, or acts of God.  The alternative is to purchase a policy that combines both.  It’s known as a Business Owner’s Policy, or BOP.

Is Basic Homeowner's Insurance Basically Inadequate?

 By Catherine Powell

Owning a home is for many of us the single biggest investment we’re likely to make.  Even if you only own a 1-bedroom condo or starter home, you probably want to make sure that it and everything contained therein is protected against any unforeseen calamity.  Should a fire, storm, flood, or other act of God damage or destroy your home, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your policy will be sufficient to repair or rebuild it to the current building codes?  You bet it would.  Wouldn’t it also be a blessing if you were able to replace all the furnishings as well as your possessions if you were the target of thieves or a pipe broke only to cause major damage inside your dwelling?  You better believe it.  If all you currently carry is basic homeowner’s insurance, you could find that you have less protection than you really need.