Is Flood Damage and Water Damage the Same Thing in Inlet Beach, FL?

Posted on by agentinsure

No matter how it occurs, water damage can become a stressful and even expensive problem in Inlet Beach, FL. However, insurance companies don’t typically consider flood damage and water damage the same. Dune Lakes Insurance offers flood insurance, but we also want people to understand how insurance works regarding water damage.

The Fine Distinction Between Flood and Water Damage

Generally, flood damage requires water from an external source. In contrast, water damage that isn’t flood damage will typically come from an internal situation. Consider the difference between burst pipes and faulty appliances and contrast that with hurricanes and flash floods.

The National Flood Insurance Program also has a specific definition of what constitutes flood damage. Nevertheless, the fine distinction is only that. Water damage can occur from external sources such as rain, snow, and more general storms. Most homeowners’ policies will have provisions for more mundane damage that comes from water.

Why You Need Flood Insurance as Well as Home Insurance

There’s a reason flood insurance works as a separate coverage option. Whether you’re required to have flood insurance or not, it’s essential to consider where you live and the likelihood of flood events occurring.

It’s possible for a flood event to trigger other water damage situations in or around your home. If you have the right home insurance policy and flood insurance, you’ll have the most protection you can from such events. If you only have one type of insurance, you may have to deal with many out-of-pocket costs.

Devastating financial and personal losses can come from any flood event, so it’s a good idea to look at what a flood insurance policy can help protect against on your behalf. If you have questions about flood insurance in Inlet Beach, FL, or want to know what types of water damage a home insurance policy can help, contact us at Dune Lakes Insurance today.

What could happen if my Florida home insurance plan lapses?

Posted on by agentinsure

Anyone in the Inlet Beach, FL area will want to ensure they are insured. While there are many important forms of coverage to obtain, maintaining the right insurance coverage on your home is very important. This includes ensuring you do not have a coverage lapse at the end of a policy term. Various adverse outcomes could occur if you do not have a home insurance plan in place due to a coverage lapse.

No Insurance Support

One of the largest challenges with having a coverage lapse is that you will no longer have insurance support. Once your policy is over, your insurance provider will no longer be obligated to cover any claims, which can lead to a serious financial burden if an accident occurs. Because of this, you always need to ensure that you remain protected and covered with a new plan. This could mean having a policy read to renew or entering into a new plan entirely. 

Lack of Compliance

Allowing your coverage to lapse can also lead to non-compliance with various agreements. If you have taken out a loan when buying a home or live in a home association, you likely are required to carry insurance. If you do not, you will be out of compliance and can be penalized. 

It is important that you prevent a lapse in coverage when you have a home in the Inlet Beach, FL area. When you are ready to start shopping for your next home insurance plan in this area, you can call our team with Dune Lakes Insurance. Our professionals with Dune Lakes Insurance will help ensure you build a plan that is right for your situation and appropriately protects your Florida property. 

Commercial Insurance Plans Built Around Your Company’s Needs

Posted on by agentinsure

There are more types, industries, and classifications of businesses than most of us could imagine. That also means that for business owners, finding the correct type of commercial insurance is essential for many reasons. The good news is for companies in and around Inlet Beach, FL, there are experienced and professional agencies like Dune Lakes Insurance to help.

From small service-oriented businesses to mid-sized and large companies that operate in manufacturing or distribution, commercial insurance is anything but a one-size-fits-all solution. It is, however, the solution businesses need to protect themselves from liabilities, risks, and catastrophes.

Commercial Insurance that Fits

From the range of products, services, or operations included to the amount of coverage required to protect companies and their assets, getting the right commercial insurance equates to getting adequate coverage for your business. With the help of experienced and knowledgeable agencies like Dune Lakes Insurance, companies of every size and industry can find the insurance their businesses need.

Inlet Beach, FL, is like many other places across the Sunshine State: sunny, warm, and great for business. Also, like many businesses, the right commercial insurance plan can make a difference when companies need it most. That is why working with proven and trusted agents like Dunes Lakes Insurance is essential to protect you and your business.

Commercial Insurance Solutions to Protect Your Business

Do you own a business in or around the Inlet Beach, FL area? Are you looking for coverage options to help protect your business? Then look no further than Dune Lakes Insurance for all the commercial insurance solutions. 

Thank you for visiting Dunes Lake Insurance, where we strive to offer commercial insurance plans built around your company’s needs. Contact us to learn more and protect yourself and your business today with the friendly and professional team at Dunes Lake Insurance.

How Umbrella Insurance Protects Your Future

Posted on by agentinsure

Just like an umbrella offers a shield of protection from a rainy day, an umbrella insurance policy adds another layer of protection over your other insurance policies. If you’re in the Inlet Beach, FL area and looking for more coverage and protection, Dune Lakes Insurance can help you find the right coverage for your needs. There’s no reason to settle for less when you can have additional peace of mind and the protection you need and deserve.

Why Do I Need Umbrella Insurance?

You might wonder why you need this kind of insurance if you already have policies that protect your assets. But the bottom line is that those policies have claim limits. If there’s ever a claim that exceeds the limits of your policy, you want to ensure you have an additional source of coverage that will handle that claim and protect what’s yours. That’s what an umbrella policy is for. It’s designed to be used when the limit of another policy is reached for more protection.

Working with an agent makes finding the proper umbrella coverage easier since you can get your questions answered and compare options from different insurers all in one place. It’s easier and more convenient to find the right policy when you have a trusted agent on your side. There’s no reason to settle for less than you deserve regarding having security and insuring your future.

Contact us today at Dune Lakes Insurance if you’re in the Inlet Beach, FL, area and looking for an umbrella insurance policy to meet your needs. We understand the value of being protected and the peace of mind that comes with solid coverage levels. Our agents can give you options to compare and help you find the policy that will be the right fit for you.

Protecting Your Home Against Flood Damage

Posted on by agentinsure

Floods are becoming increasingly common, particularly in areas of Florida. Dune Lakes Insurance, serving Inlet Beach, FL wants you to know that there are proactive steps that homeowners can take to protect their homes against flood damage.

Implement Flood-Resistant Landscaping

Grading your yard away from your property can help prevent rainwater from accumulating near your foundation or permeating the foundation walls. Rain barrels placed beneath your gutters to catch runoff will also keep rainwater away from your home and enable you to reuse the water for gardening, washing, etc.

Seal Concrete

You can hire a company to water seal your foundation walls, which will help to minimize water infiltration. This is a simple but effective step.

Take Out Flood Insurance

If you haven’t already, you should take out a flood insurance policy with Dune Lakes Insurance, serving Inlet Beach, FL. We offer attractive coverage for homes in the area. If something does happen, and you get water damage, at least you’ll be able to recover a portion or all of your losses.

Keep Trees Intact

Avoid cutting down too many trees around your property. Trees and their roots can help divert rushing waters away from your home, unlike when your home is just sitting in the middle of an unprotected plot of land.

Have an Emergency Plan

In the event of heavy rainfall or flooding, you should have an emergency plan in place that protects your belongings. It goes without saying that your family’s lives are most important, but there’s a lot you can do to prevent your property from being damaged. Place more expensive items higher up on the walls. Store valuables in containers that can easily be packed up when you evacuate the premises.

Get in touch with Dune Lakes Insurance for more information about flood zones in Florida and ways to protect your home against flood damage.

Essential Coverage Options in Home Insurance: What You Need to Know

Posted on by agentinsure

Insurance coverage for your home in Inlet Beach, FL is essential to protecting your valuable assets and investments. Dune Lakes Insurance explains the basic coverage options in home insurance that you need to know.

1. Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling coverage is the most basic and essential coverage option in home insurance. It covers repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged or destroyed by covered perils such as fire, storms, or theft.

2. Personal Property Coverage

Personal property coverage protects your belongings, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, and clothing, from covered perils such as theft, fire, or storms. This coverage option offers reimbursement for replacing or repairing personal belongings minus any deductible.

3. Liability Coverage

Liability coverage protects you from legal liability if someone is injured on your property or you damage someone else’s property accidentally. This option can also cover the legal fees and medical expenses if you are sued due to an accident on your property.

4. Additional Living Expenses Coverage

Additional living expenses coverage covers the costs you may incur if you cannot live in your home temporarily due to damage from a covered peril. This coverage option can reimburse you for hotel bills, restaurant meals, and moving costs while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

5. Flood Insurance

Flood insurance is a separate option to add to your home insurance policy. Flood damage is not covered under standard home insurance policies, and flood insurance can cover damage caused by floods, hurricanes, and heavy rains.

Home insurance is essential to protect your valuable assets near Inlet Beach, FL. Contact Dune Lakes Insurance today so you can have peace of mind knowing that you are protected from unexpected events that can cause financial loss.

What Does Commercial Insurance Cover?

Posted on by agentinsure

The agents at Dune Lakes Insurance serving the Inlet Beach, FL area are stressing the importance of having a commercial insurance policy in place if you are a business owner in Florida. Commercial insurance is an essential type of insurance designed for businesses to help them avoid financial loss or liabilities.

Commercial Auto Insurance

A minimum amount of liability auto insurance is required in Florida as it is in the other 50 states across the country. This law applies to business owners as well. This means if you own a vehicle for your business or you use a vehicle for business purposes, you must ensure that you maintain at least a minimum amount of liability auto insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance is extremely important for business owners since it will help safeguard your business against any losses or damages from theft, natural disasters, vandalism, or fires. If you lose inventory or equipment or your building burns down, this type of insurance will help you rebuild your business quickly.

Commercial Liability Insurance

Commercial liability insurance is also critical for business owners to have in place. This is because it can protect your business from lawsuits and other legal claims. It’ll help you pay for any bodily injury or property damage that occurs because of your business operations. It can even help if someone claims you committed professional negligence or did not give them proper services.

Contact Dune Lakes Insurance

Call the commercial insurance specialists at Dune Lakes Insurance serving the Inlet Beach, FL area today to get your commercial insurance policy started.

What are the main reasons for getting umbrella insurance in Florida?

Posted on by agentinsure

Anyone in the Inlet Beach, FL area will want to ensure they have proper personal insurance. Umbrella insurance is an excellent form of insurance to consider getting in this part of Florida because of its liability benefits. This is a type of personal liability insurance that offers various benefits that are unmatched by other plans.

Increased Liability Coverage

One advantage of an umbrella plan is that it provides additional personal liability coverage. If you have a home or auto plan, you already have some liability coverage for accidents that pertain to those policies. However, these plans will always have a cap on them. This means that you may still need to cover damages if they exceed the policy. If you have an umbrella plan, it will give you the additional liability protection that you need as it comes into effect when other procedures are exhausted. 

More Scenarios are Covered

An umbrella insurance plan is also helpful as it covers more scenarios. While home or auto plans will give some practical support, they are somewhat limited. If you carry a full umbrella plan, it will offer liability protection for far more scenarios. This coverage can help ensure you are supported for risks that are harder to prepare for. 

Getting the right umbrella insurance policy is crucial for anyone in the Inlet Beach, FL region. If you’re ready to begin your search for coverage, our team at Dune Lakes Insurance can provide you with the information you need. Our experts at Dune Lakes Insurance understand the importance of this type of coverage and are equipped to assist you in developing an insurance policy right for your situation. 

What is the benefit of having home insurance in Inlet Beach?

Posted on by agentinsure

The Inlet Beach, FL area can be a great place to own a home. The strong local economy, good tourist demand, and other factors have helped property values here continue to rise. If you purchase a home in this part of Florida, it will be very important that you also get insurance for it. There are a lot of benefits that will come with getting home insurance. 

Protection for Assets

A great reason to have a home insurance policy in the Inlet Beach area is to protect your assets. If you intend to buy a home, you will want to know that it is appropriately covered with insurance. You also will want your personal items to be covered. If you have the right insurance, you will get the support you need in these cases. 

Manage Insurance Requirements

You should also get this coverage to help manage your requirements. Most property owners must carry some form or level of home insurance. If you get an insurance plan, it can keep you in good standing with your mortgage requirements, home association, or other requirements that you have. This can help you avoid various forms of penalization that can come with a lack of coverage. 

If you are going to buy a home in the Inlet Beach, FL area, it is essential that you get proper insurance for it. When you are ready to start looking for coverage, calling our professionals with Dune Lakes Insurance would be a great idea. Our insurance team with Dune Lakes Insurance can help you properly assess all of your options and needs and give you the support you need to get into a new plan. 

What does home insurance cover?

Posted on by agentinsure

There are a variety of things to think about when buying a home. You have to have enough money for a down payment and closing costs. You need to have good credit for a decent loan. You have to pack up everything to move into your house. One crucial thing many people don’t consider when buying their home is insurance.

What is home insurance?

Home insurance protects you from paying out of pocket for damage and liability. You find a policy that is right for you, then pay a monthly premium. When something happens, you file an insurance claim with the insurance company to receive compensation for your losses.

What things does home insurance cover?

That’s all fine and dandy, but what does home insurance cover? That’s a great question. There are a few different categories that home insurance covers. Keep reading to find out what all home insurance covers.

Dwelling coverage

Dwelling coverage includes the inner and outer structure of your house.

Other structures

Other structures coverage refers to structures other than your house on your property. The other structures include a fence, a detached garage, barns, sheds, and other things that may be on your property.

Living expenses

If something happens and you are not able to live in your house, your insurance will take care of some of the costs. These costs include hotel rooms, meals, and any other necessities that you might need.

Liability

Unfortunately, accidents happen. This is where liability insurance comes in. If someone gets injured on your property, you are liable. Instead of paying out of your pocket, liability insurance pays for the damage or injuries.

Personal property

Dwelling coverage covers the structure of your home, but you still have your personal items to worry about. Personal property coverage can take care of your personal effects if they get damaged in a fire.

Contact Dune Lakes Insurance

Contact us at Dune Lakes Insurance in Inlet Beach, FL for more information.