It is common for individuals to think about umbrella insurance. Do you believe that you need umbrella insurance? Will it provide you with a benefit, or are you throwing money away by paying for the premium? These are all fair questions that residents of Temecula, CA routinely ask. You need to understand umbrella insurance, its purpose, and its intent for yourself. The team at Friant Insurance Agency is in a position to educate you to help you make such a call.

What is Umbrella Insurance?

The concept of umbrella insurance is that it is a level of insurance above and beyond what underlying liability policies will cover. For example, if you have liability insurance with a $100,000 limit and a covered loss that amounts to $200,000 in losses, you are only going to recover the first $100,000. With an umbrella insurance policy, the policy will kick in above $100,000 so that the entire loss is covered. Umbrella is a layer of insurance on top of what you already have.

Who Should Get It?

Umbrella insurance can benefit anyone living in Temecula, CA, or the state. That additional layer of insurance will provide ultimate protection in unforeseen circumstances. You never know what will creep up and result in an immense loss. Umbrella insurance plays a critical role in not having your life turned upside down.

The cost of umbrella insurance is typically below what individuals expect. Work with the Friant Insurance Agency team to make the best decision possible for yourself and your family. Umbrella insurance can be for everyone when you shop with a solid foundational knowledge base.

If you live in a low-lying area, near a river or creek, or in any other area prone to flooding, you are likely already aware that you need to purchase flood insurance. But what about if you don’t live in a high-risk area? Is flood insurance still something you need to consider? While it’s true that flood insurance isn’t required in all parts of the country, there are still many good reasons to consider purchasing a policy. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the factors you should consider when deciding.

1. Flooding Can Happen Anywhere

While it’s true that some areas are more prone to flooding than others, the fact is that flooding can happen anywhere. All it takes is a heavy rainstorm or a broken dam to cause widespread flooding. Even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, your home could still be damaged by floodwaters.

2. Flooding is Costly

The damage can be extensive and expensive to repair if your home is flooded. Even if you have homeowner’s insurance, it’s unlikely that your policy will cover flood damage. This means you’ll be stuck with the repair bill, which could easily cost thousands of dollars.

3. Flood Insurance is Relatively Inexpensive

When compared to the cost of repairing flood damage, flood insurance is relatively inexpensive. A typical policy will cost a few hundred dollars per year and will give you peace of mind in knowing that your home is protected in the event of a flood.

4. You May Be Required to Purchase Flood Insurance

If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender may require you to purchase flood insurance. This is because lenders want to protect their investment in case of a flood. Even if your lender doesn’t require flood insurance, purchasing a policy is still a good idea.

While you may not be required to purchase flood insurance if you don’t live in a high-risk area, there are still many good reasons to consider it. Friant Insurance Agency can help you find the right flood insurance policy to protect your home in Temecula, CA. Contact us today for a free quote.

What do you do when you’re leaving a condo that you own and aren’t going to be around for an extended period? You could rent it out, but that means dealing with the hassle of finding and screening tenants and the risk that they’ll do damage to the place. You could leave everything as is and hope for the best, but that can be risky, too. If the pipes freeze and burst, the roof springs a leak, or the tenant throws a wild party and the police come, you’ll have to deal with the aftermath.

Friant Insurance Agency is here to help all Temecula, CA condo owners understand how to protect your property when you’re out of town for an extended period of time.

How To Protect A Vacant Condo

Keep up appearances. If the property appears to be vacant, it’s more enticing to criminals. Keep your security system running if you have one; even if you don’t, keep a security sign prominently displayed as a deterrent. Keep the blinds closed to prevent others from looking inside.

Reach out to your neighbors or friends. See if you can get someone you trust to occasionally check in on your condo to ensure everything is okay. Better yet, ask a member of your condo association to do this.

Consider insurance. Your condo association may have insurance covering vacant property for your unit’s structures and utilities. However, this is not a guarantee. If you’re leaving belongings inside your condo, you’re responsible for insuring them. Some insurance policies can even offer special "vacant property" coverage.

If you own a condo in Temecula, CA, reach out to Friant Insurance Agency for more information on protecting your property when you’re out of town with the condo insurance you need.

When you think about renters insurance, what comes to mind? Probably not a lot. Many people view it as an unnecessary expense. However, there are several excellent reasons why everyone who rents should have renters insurance. Here are the top five.

1. It Protects Your Belongings

Your landlord’s insurance policy covers the building itself but not your personal belongings. If there is a fire or theft, you will be responsible for replacing your stuff. Renters insurance can help you replace your belongings if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.

2. It Provides Liability Protection

If you are held liable for an accident in your rental unit, renters insurance can help cover the costs. For example, if someone is injured on your property or your pet bites someone, renters insurance will help pay for the damages.

3. It Pays for Additional Living Expenses

If your rental unit is damaged by a covered event, such as a fire, you will need to find somewhere else to stay while it is being repaired. Renters insurance can help pay for your additional living expenses, such as the cost of a hotel room.

4. It’s Affordable

Renters’ insurance is typically very affordable, especially when compared to the cost of replacing your belongings or paying for damages out of pocket.

5. Your Landlord May Require It

In some cases, your landlord may require that you have renters insurance. Even if it’s not required, it’s still a good idea to have coverage in case of an accident or disaster.

As you can see, there are many good reasons to have renters insurance. It’s not just for protection against fire or theft – it can also help you with liability issues and additional living expenses. Friant Insurance Agency can help you find the right renter’s insurance policy to protect your belongings and provide liability coverage if you are a renter in Temecula, CA. Contact us today for more information.

If you have reached a certain point in life, owning a boat represents an exciting lifestyle. But like investing in a vehicle, you need to protect your boat with robust insurance — overlooking boat insurance will just put you and your boat in jeopardy. But because you are wise, failing to invest in boat insurance isn’t an option for you. So, if you are in Temecula, CA and its environs, your first thought after purchasing a boat is to invest in watercraft insurance from Friant Insurance Agency. In the process, here are the benefits you get:

Property damage coverage

Suppose you hit another boat or a stationary object — wouldn’t it be heartbreaking to watch your prized investment go down the drain? For this reason, we insist you purchase boat insurance to cover your boat from such accidents.

And that’s not all. Boat insurance protects your asset even when outside the waters. Depending on your coverage, boat insurance can protect your boat when towed and parked.

Liability coverage

Even the best boaters can have an awful day. Maybe you know the nitty-gritty about boating, but that 50-knot wind blew you into the direction of another boater. Despite the circumstances, you could be held responsible for the damages and injuries you cause.

Peace of mind

A time in the water is supposed to be fun and relaxing. You don’t have to think about all the wrong things that can happen. Boat insurance lets you enjoy a worry-free time in the water, knowing that you are protected despite what happens.

Uninsured boater coverage

Like on the road, the waters are full of boaters sailing without insurance. Buy uninsured boater coverage to avoid being inconvenienced by uninsured boaters that crash on you.

If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is a no-brainer. It’s the surest way to enjoy a relaxed time on the water. Ready for coverage in Temecula, CA? Please contact Friant Insurance Agency for a personalized boat insurance policy.

Condo insurance is a type of residential property insurance. The folks at Friant Insurance Agency serving Temecula, CA would like you to know about the condo insurance and add-ons available to you.

 When considering condo insurance, know that your Homeowners Association (HOA) is required to maintain some insurance for the outside of the building and windows. It is worth knowing the details of those policies. If you know the details, you can purchase any condo insurance add-ons that you may need to provide financial protection against loss, damage, or liability at your residence, whether you own the condo or rent it.

When it comes to purchasing add-ons, you should consider it the same way you would buy any insurance for your residential property. What do you need financial cover for, what is the value of what you are trying to insure, and do you have liability insurance if someone is hurt on your property?

Importantly, standard condo insurance policies do not cover earthquakes and all the damage that may be associated with an earthquake. Earthquake policies are further broken down into optional coverage sections that may include:

• Building property – for damage inside your home such as fixtures and interior walls
• Personal property – for damage to your belongings, like TVs and appliances
• Loss of use – very nice to have; this is a financial cover for the expenses if you have to live elsewhere due to damage to your condo due to an earthquake.
• Loss assessment – assists with payment for damage assessments to exterior portions of the building.
• Emergency repairs – cover for emergency repairs to prevent further damage.

Earthquakes are a reality in CA. If you need help considering which condo insurance add-ons to purchase, then speak to Friant Insurance Agency serving Temecula, CA, today!

When you’re looking to hit the water with your boat to enjoy the great outdoors, you should consider adding boat insurance or PWC (Personal WaterCraft) insurance to your vessel.  This is advisable even if you have a simple boat with the intentions of just fishing, the point of boat insurance is that you never know what will happen out there in the water.  It’s always good to be prepared and to have protection against any possible outcome.  Friant Insurance Agency in Temecula, CA specializes in boat insurance and can explain further what is legally required in the state of California.

Legalities

You’re not required by state law to carry boat insurance, but it’s highly advisable to do so to protect yourself and your loved ones financially.  California state law requires that all occupants of a boat must wear life jackets while over the open waters.  The law also requires safe boating practices including similar drinking laws that govern motor vehicle use and BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) levels.

What Does Boat Insurance Cover?

Boat Insurance covers events that damage your boat and other boats (if damaged) in the case of an accident over the water, this type of coverage is aptly called collision coverage.  Liability coverage covers damages and injuries to other parties in the case of an accident.  For instance, if your boat collides with another boat and causes damage to that boat, your liability coverage will cover the damages to fix that boat and make it seaworthy again.

Another facet of boat coverage is medical coverage and this kicks in when other parties are injured and have to seek medical attention to treat their injuries.  Their medical bills will be covered under your medical coverage in your boat insurance policy.  There are other facets as well including Comprehensive, Emergencies, On-Water Towing, Labor Charges, and others.

To Learn More

For more information about boat insurance, please contact Friant Insurance Agency in Temecula, CA today!

Motorhomes give you a fun way to travel as well as a place to live as you travel. Motorhome insurance works differently from vehicle insurance and home insurance. Essentially, it covers both a vehicle and a home all in one policy. The motorhome has a living space and a transportation section, and motorhome insurance covers each of these. If you need coverage for your motorhome, give us a call at Friant Insurance Agency in Temecula, CA.

Your Class of Motorhome

Motorhomes come in three classes, and the class that yours belongings in will largely determine the rate you pay. Class A includes the largest of these, which are often converted busses. Class B motorhomes are the smallest of them. Class C has a specific body type with a living section that fits over the cab of the vehicle portion. You will need to know the class of motorhome that you have before you get the right motorhome insurance for it. Your insurance agent can help you to figure out your class. 

Insurance for Time Used

Whether you live in the motorhome just every once in a while or all of the time, your insurance policy will need to record which of those it is. It may go out on weekends only, a few times a year or you may live in it full time. Insurance for full-timers will be higher priced than policies for those who use it every once in a while. The make of the motorhome and how old it also figures into the end price of the policy. 

Get Your Motorhome Insurance Policy

If you have a motorhome and it isn’t yet insured, please call us at Friant Insurance Agency in Temecula, CA to find out more about these policies and to get started with one of your own.