Category: Home Insurance

Ohio Storm Season: What Gahanna Homeowners Should Know

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When storm season approaches your home in Gahanna, OH, it’s essential to be prepared. Protecting your home involves not only storm-proofing but also ensuring your home insurance policy is ready to handle any claims you may need to file.

At Schneider Insurance Agency, we’re here to help you review and optimize your policy.

Storm-Proofing Your Home

There are several steps you can take to storm-proof your home. Once you’re notified of an approaching storm, act quickly to minimize potential damage:

  • Board up your windows.
  • Bring in any loose items from outside.
  • Place sandbags by all doors to prevent flooding.
  • Trim low-hanging branches near your home.

By taking these precautions, you can reduce the impact of a storm on your property.

Adding Storm Coverage

Many standard home insurance policies lack sufficient storm coverage. For example, wind damage and flooding are often considered add-ons rather than included in the base policy.

If your policy doesn’t include these coverages, your claim could be denied, or you may face higher out-of-pocket costs than expected. Understanding your coverage and deductible allows you to make informed decisions as a homeowner. With the right coverage in place, you can face storm season with confidence.

Get a Policy You Can Depend On

Storm season will arrive whether you’re ready or not. The good news is that you can take steps now to prepare yourself in Gahanna, OH better.

At Schneider Insurance Agency, our knowledgeable agents can review your policy to identify gaps in storm coverage. Updating your policy is often easier than you think—and it may not even increase your costs. To ensure you’re ready for storm season, contact us today!

Will My Home Insurance Cover My College Student’s Housing?

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Many college students head to school with valuables that include electronics, clothing, bicycles, and jewelry, so it is comforting to know that home insurance policies generally cover the assets of children 26 or younger, assuming they are claimed as dependents. However, coverage can vary, and there are limitations for college students, so speak with your agent to confirm your coverage. If you live in or near Gahanna, OH, contact our Schneider Insurance Agency team regarding your home and other insurance needs.

Home Insurance Coverage Limits for College Students

Home insurance covers your belongings and those of your college students against covered perils, including theft and fire. It also handles their liability for some injuries or damages to others. However, some insurers do not cover those living in non-university housing, including off-campus apartments, sorority, and fraternity housing. Many insurers cover only full-time students or stop covering students who reach 24 or 25 years of age.

Besides issues of which students receive coverage, home insurance policies generally have low limits for jewelry and electronics unless you add a rider enhancing your coverage. Also, college housing that is outside your primary residence is "off-premises," which often tops out at 10% of the policy’s limit for losses that occur at home. In addition, claims on your student’s property are subject to your policy’s standard deductible.

These factors may affect whether and how much your policy will cover your college student, so speak with your agent about your specific situation. Buying renters’ insurance for your student can be an effective solution.

Insuring with the Schneider Insurance Agency

The Schneider Insurance Agency, serving Gahanna, OH, creates insurance plans to protect your family and its assets. Visit our office or call (614) 471-8444 today to begin the process.

Insurance Coverage for Your Refinished Residential Attic

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Refinishing your residential attic can enhance its utility, potentially requiring changes to your home insurance policy. Consider the following guidelines and update your current policy as needed.

Assessing Use Value

Consider the intended use of the attic. Whether you plan to convert it into a bedroom, game room, office, or simply storage space, the type of insurance needed to protect its contents will depend on this.

Insurance designed to protect the attic’s contents can provide coverage against inclement weather and criminal activities. You can decide which possessions to include in your home insurance policy.

Considering Building Materials

Examine the building materials used to refinish the attic. A refinishing project can significantly increase the space’s value.

If you’ve invested heavily in the refinishing project, you may want to enhance your home insurance policy. The policy can cover insulation, windows, floor coverings, paint, trim, and other materials used in the upgrade.

If an uncontrollable event damages any of the covered materials, your insurance coverage may cover the cost of repair or replacement.

Contact an Insurance Agent in Gahanna, OH

Once you’ve evaluated possible insurance upgrades, please connect with one of our agents. To update your insurance policy, contact a representative from the Schneider Insurance Agency. An agent will assess the upgrades you’ve implemented and offer suitable guidance.

Home Insurance Coverage for Pools and Hot Tubs

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Liability and damage coverage are essential insurance considerations to adequately protect your swimming pool and hot tub. Given the inherent risks of owning such water features, it’s wise to secure appropriate protection for both.

Liability

Accidents such as slips and falls are common risks associated with water features. Any misstep could potentially result in injuries. Adequate liability insurance will provide you coverage against a wide range of potential injuries.

Whether these mishaps occur on the surrounding decking material or within the water feature itself, a comprehensive liability insurance plan will cover you. It is advisable to inspect the water feature thoroughly before selecting an insurance policy. Keep records of any damaged areas that require repair. By promptly addressing these issues, you can reduce the risk of injuries.

Design Elements

The specific design elements of your pool or hot tub can help determine the extent of damage protection needed. High-end elements that are prone to potential damage should be well covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. Researching various insurance coverages that would cover repairing or replacing any damaged materials is well worth your time and money.

Accessories

Pay attention to the accessories you have purchased for your pool and hot tub. Any valuable accessories you frequently use can be included in your existing home insurance policy. This will protect these additions against loss due to damage or theft.

Ohio Insurance Support

For an optimal insurance plan for your pool and hot tub in Gahanna, OH, please get in touch with our insurance agents at Schneider Insurance Agency. Our team is ready and willing to assist you with the most suitable protection for your water features.

Does a Home-Based Business Need Commercial Insurance?

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If you are running a home-based business in and around Gahanna, OH, bear in mind that even though state law does not mandate business insurance, it remains an invaluable asset. This coverage can help your business recover in case it is affected by any unfortunate incident. Moreover, certain types of commercial policies are required depending on the nature of your business.

Mandatory Commercial Insurance Policies in Ohio

Ohio law makes it compulsory for business owners to invest in commercial auto insurance for vehicles serving business purposes. This might include travel to client meetings or business partner discussions, transporting goods to local markets, or even allowing an employee to use the vehicle.

Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory if your business employs one or more individuals. This policy provides compensation for medical bills and lost wages for workers who are injured while performing their job duties.

Successful Amazon vendors who generate more than $10,000 a month in gross profits are required to have commercial liability insurance. This covers compensation if someone claims against your products, sustains property damage during product usage, or accuses you of copyright infringement.

Contact Schneider Insurance Agency for Additional Commercial Insurance Options

The policies above are just a few of the commercial insurance options available. Exploring other alternatives is advisable to ensure that your business has adequate coverage to withstand potential challenges. Contact the Schneider Insurance Agency’s Gahanna, OH, office to learn more or receive a policy or policy bundle quote.

Does My Homeowners Policy Protect My Home Addition?

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When you purchased the policy, your home insurance from Schneider Insurance Agency safeguarded your Gahanna, OH, home in its original state. If you build an addition to your home, this needs to be included in your home insurance package, as the initial policy only covers the house in its original condition.

Home Construction Projects

During the construction of a home addition, you need construction coverage. This ensures that your addition and the materials used are insured while the construction crew is working. It also means you have extra liability insurance to protect against any potential risks associated with having more people on the property and conducting dangerous activities.

Updating Your Homeowner’s Policy

Once construction is complete, you need to update your homeowner’s insurance policy to include the additional square footage. This usually means a new policy for your house in Gahanna, OH. Such a policy not only increases the covered square footage but also ensures any internal renovations are done, like built-in fireplaces and bookshelves or custom woodwork.

In some cases, your Schneider Insurance Agency agent may advise you to add more liability coverage, depending on the intended use of the home addition. This could apply if you are planning to have people staying in the addition full time, such as in a mother-in-law’s apartment or a bed and breakfast unit. In these instances, additional liability coverage is highly recommended.

Contact Us Today

Contact Schneider Insurance Agency and allow one of our helpful insurance agents to guide you through a home insurance review. They can help update your coverage to include new construction or renovations, thereby adequately covering the increased value of your home.

How Home Insurance Helps You Protect What Matters

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Protecting what matters most to you is very important, and the right home insurance can help. Schneider Insurance Agency is here for you if you’re in the Gahanna, OH area. Our agents understand the value of taking great care of your house and making sure it has the proper protection against loss or damage. Contacting us can make finding the best type and level of protection easier for you. Then, you’ll have great coverage along with increased peace of mind.

There are a lot of specifics to consider when you’re looking for an insurance policy to cover your home. That’s why you want to work with an agent, so you can get your questions answered. You may want to get quotes from multiple insurers, ask about specific types of coverage, and look carefully at the options for limits. The best way to protect your home with insurance is to make sure you understand the coverage you’re getting and why it’s right for your needs. We can help with that.

If your home is damaged, you want to make sure you can get it repaired and go on with your life. With good insurance, that’s much more likely. Whether you just bought a house or you haven’t updated your policy for a while, working with an agent can give you information and insight. With the right knowledge, you can make a good decision about your coverage and feel more confident in your home’s level of protection.

Contact us today at Schneider Insurance Agency if you’re in the Gahanna, OH, area and looking for home insurance you can rely on from trusted agents who want to help. We’re dedicated to making it easy and convenient for you to find the best policy for your home.

Preparing your Ohio home for an emergency

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When it comes to preparing your Ohio home for an emergency, there are some simple tips that can work for almost any emergency that might arise. In Gahanna, OH the Schneider Insurance Agency can prepare you for a home emergency by making sure that you have the correct home insurance coverage. Nothing is worse than finding out after an emergency that your coverage is woefully lacking. 

Preparing your Ohio home for an emergency

Buy a generator

Generators come in many types, sizes, and prices. You can have a full-house generator that will turn on automatically if your electricity turns off. You can get a much smaller unit that will keep your food from spoiling and give you heat, water, and air conditioning in an emergency. Whatever you choose, if you ever lose power, it can be a lifesaver. 

Have a plan

Every homeowner needs to have an escape plan. You need a plan that can get every member of the family out of the house but also a plan to get all of you to a safe location. Map out several different routes so that you are sure that one of them will be available. Roads may become blocked, flooded, or impassable. 

Stock up

It is important to have bottled water, food that doesn’t require cooking, extra batteries, candles, flashlights, and things that can help you get by if you are not able to get out of your home. Having a grill with a burner will allow you to cook or have a camp stove to make coffee or tea. If you have a generator, you will need to have extra gasoline to keep it running. 

Consult With Us

In Gahanna, OH, reach out to Schneider Insurance Agency when you are in need of an independent insurance agency to provide the home insurance information and coverage you require. 

Do I need to keep homeowners insurance even after I pay off my house?

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Paying off your house is a dream come true for many. Your home is usually your biggest investment and your most valuable asset. When your mortgage is new, you may even have to pay special mortgage insurance until you pay off a certain percentage. Homeowners and mortgage insurance may be requirements of your lender or government programs that finance your loan.

But do you need to continue to pay for homeowners insurance on your Gahanna, OH after your mortgage is paid off? We at Schneider Insurance Agency want to help you understand your risks so you are comfortable with your level of protection.

Here are the main reasons you should continue to protect your home with homeowners insurance:

  1. Your home is still vulnerable to the same risks you were vulnerable to before. The difference is that you no longer share an interest with your mortgage holder. If something happens, you are 100% responsible.
  2. Your homeowners’ policy provides protection against lawsuits. Liability insurance is included so if someone comes onto your property and gets injured, your insurance will pay. Homeowners insurance typically pays for your legal representation in these cases too.
  3. If your home is destroyed or temporarily unlivable, you might not have a place to stay while waiting for repairs or rebuilding. Homeowners insurance can pay for temporary housing and will even cover additional expenses, such as the added cost of eating out. 
  4. Maintaining homeowners insurance gives you the peace of mind you need to live comfortably.

Reach Out To Us

Protecting your Gahanna, OH home is probably one of your top priorities. You need a safe home for yourself and your family. If you have any questions or if you want to make sure you are comfortable with your current level of protection, please call Schneider Insurance Agency today.

Does Home Insurance Protect My Home from Water Damage?

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No one relishes the thought of waking up to a flood in their home due to broken water pipes. But it can happen. Fortunately, standard home insurance from Schneider Insurance Agency in Gahanna, OH will generally cover this type of disaster so you can recuperate your losses. Not all water damage, however, is covered under standard home policies. By reviewing your policy, you’ll gain a better understanding of the protection you have so you can be prepared for any eventuality.

Understanding Water Damage Coverage

Generally, home insurance will protect you from water damage that occurs accidentally and abruptly from sources within your home such as a burst water pipe or appliance overflow. 

Water damage caused by outside flood waters, however, is not covered by home insurance. If you live in an area where flooding is a risk due to water surges or extensive rainfall, you can obtain flood coverage by purchasing flood insurance. Adding flood insurance to your home policy provides you with an extra layer of protection against water damage disasters. 

Exceptions to Water Damage Coverage

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of your property. If water damage occurs in your home due to improper maintenance or carelessness on your part, your claim may be denied.

By addressing issues that can lead to water damage in a timely manner, you can protect your home and property from water damage disasters. This includes dealing with leaky faucets, replacing worn pipes, fixing broken hoses on washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators, and replacing old, worn roof tiles to keep water from leaking into your home.

Insure Your Home Against Water Damage!

To learn more about insurance options to safeguard your home from water damage, contact Schneider Insurance Agency in Gahanna, OH today!

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