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Spring cleaning? Be sure to review your homeowner’s policy too!

Spring is the perfect time to give your home a vigorous cleaning, get organized, and discard or donate unused items. Once you have your home in great shape, it’s time to take a look at your insurance policy. We recommend that clients of the Phil Klein Insurance Group in the greater West Bloomfield MI area review their homeowner’s policies on a regular basis.

Your Insurance Needs Change – It’s Important that Your Insurance Policy Keeps Up

  • Changes in the value of your home – as the value of your home changes, so do does your coverage requirements. If there is a catastrophic event that makes your home uninhabitable, you will need the proper coverage to rebuild or relocate your family. Make sure that your policy levels are sufficient to cover the needs of your family.
  • The purchase of high ticket items and electronics – personal belongings can add up to a significant amount, especially when you consider all of the devices that every member of the family has. Be sure that these items are covered in the event of loss or damage. 
  • Updates and remodels to your home – when you have a major overhaul to your home, such as updating the kitchen and bathrooms or putting on an addition, your current policy will need to be updated to reflect this work. 

Our homes are an important part of our lives, and likely the largest investment that we will make in our lifetimes. Be sure that yours has the protection that is necessary to protect your family!

Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that your homeowner’s insurance policy is no longer adequate for your needs. Call the Phil Klein Insurance Group today and make sure that your West Bloomfield, MI home has the protection it needs!

Things home insurance doesn’t cover

When you own a home it comes with a lot of risks. Things happen and some of them are not good. Home insurance gives you peace of mind that if bad things happen you will be able to repair or replace what was lost. But, and this is a big but, not all things are covered by home insurance. In West Bloomfield, MI, the Phil Klein Insurance Group is there to help give you the information you need. 

Wear and tear

Things wear out, your home insurance does not cover or replace things like your appliances, furnace or air conditioner when they wear out. It also doesn’t cover your 25-year-old roof that needs to be replaced.  

Moving earth

Earthquakes and mudslides caused by earthquakes are not covered. Sinkholes are also not covered. You can buy a separate policy or an endorsement on your basic home policy to cover these. 

Floods

According to FEMA, floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. They can be caused by so many different things, including hurricanes, tornados, Nor’easters, spring thaw, and storms. 26% of homeowners will experience some sort of flooding during a 30 year mortgage period compared to only 4% with fire damage. Home insurance does not cover flooding. You need to purchase National Flood Insurance. 

Expensive jewelry and electronics

Homeowner’s insurance has set limits on the amount it will pay for jewelry and electronics. If you have items above the coverage limit the insurance will not give you the value of your items. You need to add a special rider. 

If you think your coverage may be inadequate or you are a new homeowner, Phil Klein Insurance Group in West Bloomfield, MI is happy to talk to you about your coverage and what you may need to add to it. Give them a call or stop by their office for a no-obligation quote. 

 

 

3 Best Ways to Compare Home Insurance Policies

A typical homeowners insurance will cover damage to your property or it can also cover damages that occur on your property. Sorting through all the differences in what is covered can feel overwhelming and complicated. There are some ways to narrow down choices when you are shopping for insurance. Comparing things like costs, premiums, and what is covered is a good way to compare policies.

If you are looking for insurance for your home, Phil Klein Insurance Group in West Bloomfield, MI can help.

Premium vs deductible

Deductibles are simply the amount of money that is deducted from your insured losses. The premium is paid each month or year to maintain coverage. These are usually balanced in a way that if one is higher in cost, the other is lower. It is important to discuss how these two factors are calculated and affected by large natural disaster events.
Coverage

Based on where you live and specific policies available in your area, there are many options for types of coverage. Standard homeowners insurance may not cover certain events and separate policies may be required to make sure you are covered. Natural disasters, vandalism, and home plumbing emergencies are just a few typical occurrences that may or may not be covered.

Liability limit

Liability is part of homeowners insurance that covers damages or injuries to others on your property. This can vary between policies based on the exclusion of certain scenarios and events. This is one of the fine print details that can be good to look at when comparing policies.

It can feel a bit challenging when comparing home insurance policies. There is a lot of fine print, but researching what policies are available in your area can help you make good decisions. Phil Klein Insurance Group in West Bloomfield, MI can help with your home insurance needs. Agents will be happy to discuss the details of what is most important to you as far as coverage and cost.
 

Why You Need Home Insurance

Your home is likely your most valued asset. Even if you are renting, all your valuables are stored within your residence. Still, you may wonder why you actually need a Home insurance policy. Here are a few reasons why you need a home insurance policy.

Lenders Require Home Insurance

If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will probably require you to have home insurance. This is to protect their investment as well as yours. Phil Klein Insurance Group can help homeowners in West Bloomfield, Michigan determine the homeowner’s coverage that is required by their lender.

Financial Protection

Homes can become damaged due to a myriad of things, from natural disasters to leaky roofs. These damages may well exceed what you can cover out of pocket, even if your home isn’t a total loss. Without homeowners insurance, you would be faced with getting a loan to repair or replace your home. Then there’s the cost of replacing your things, which most loans won’t cover.

Your Possessions are Valuable

If you are renting, you may not see a need for home insurance. However, your possessions are valuable too. Even if your home doesn’t contain priceless valuables, it would require a good deal of money to replace your possessions. Most of us accumulate possessions throughout our lives and don’t really consider how expensive it would be to purchase everything we need for our home at one time.

Protection From Liability

In many cases, if someone is hurt or injured on your property, they can hold you responsible for their medical bills. In some cases, you may be responsible for lost wages or damages as well. Homeowners insurance can protect you from these risks, and pay associated costs in the case of an incident.

Phil Klein Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency in West Bloomfield, MI. This allows us to find the right home policy for your needs.

 

Extended Family Moving in With You? Does Home Insurance Cover Their Property?

It is becoming more and more common for many members of the same family to live under one roof. Children are living with their parents longer than they ever have before, or are coming back after leaving the nest. And the elderly are starting to live with their children or other members of their family, such as nieces and nephews. You likely know that your home insurance policies cover your personal property in the event of a fire or against theft. Here at Phil Klein Insurance Group, serving the greater West Bloomingfield, MI area, we have noticed that people are asking whether their extended family’s property is covered as well. Here is the answer to that question. 

Every home insurance policy is different. As such, the wording from one policy may vary from that of another policy. However, as a general rule of thumb, if the people moving in with you are actually relatives and related to you, their property is typically covered under your home insurance policy. But, you will want to carefully review your policy and the wording to ensure their property is covered. You should never assume it is. If it is not covered, you may be able to add them to your policy or they may be able to purchase a renters policy to cover their belongings. 

If you have extended family moving in with you, now is the perfect time to review your home insurance policy. If your policy no longer fits your needs, contact Phil Klein Insurance Group, serving the greater West Bloomingfield, MI area today. We can help you find the right policy for your needs. 

Does home insurance cover accidents that occur on my property?

At Phil Klein Insurance Group, we help our clients protect their homes and property so that they and their loved ones can live their lives knowing that if something were to happen, they would be protected. Anyone owning a home in West Bloomfield, MI can purchase a policy that protects against losses caused by events like fire or theft. But many people worry about what would happen if an accident were to occur on their property, and what the consequences to them would be. 

Fortunately, most home insurance policies also protect against basic liability. For instance, someone could come to your home and slip on ice that you had failed to remove from the front walk. They could sue you for the injuries, including the medical bills they had to pay because of the accident. If you didn’t have insurance, you would have to pay for the medical bills, any property that was damaged, and the court costs associated with the lawsuit.

The general liability policy that is a part of your homeowner’s insurance policy will pay those damages as part of a claim. The policy even covers the court costs, including possible attorney costs. The main problem is that if the expenses are significant, they will probably not be covered because your policy will have a general liability limit. If you are worried about the limit, you can discuss it with your agent. You may want to raise your policy limits or get an umbrella policy that covers more significant losses.

If you have a home in West Bloomfield, MI, make sure you’re protected. Contact Phil Klein Insurance Group today so we can discuss your options.

What Does Home Insurance Cover and Not Cover?

Home insurance, also known as homeowners’ insurance, is a type of coverage purchased by anyone who owns a home, whether that is a single-family residence, townhouse, condominium, or any other home ownership situation. A home insurance policy typically has certain things it covers and others that it doesn’t cover. Here is some basic information you need to know about that, courtesy of Phil Klein Insurance Group in the West Bloomfield, MI area.

Covered

Home insurance is a necessity for any homeowner, and it covers issues affecting housing structures, such as the house itself, garage, and other structures. It covers damage to belongings resulting from natural disasters like hail and wildfires as well as catastrophic events like house fires. It also covers issues like theft. It includes various belongings like furniture, lighting fixtures, appliances, electronics, and more. 

Not Covered

There are many things that home insurance covers, but there are also some things it doesn’t cover. This includes disasters like floods and hurricanes, which many home insurance policies require special insurance to cover. Many policies also do not cover mold. It is possible that your insurance offers the option to add coverage for those types of problems, so ask when you are setting up your policy. Home insurance does not cover damage caused by the owner or a guest, such as a window or a garage door that is damaged through carelessness. Although a home insurance policy provides coverage for belongings, it might not provide enough benefits for high-dollar valuables, such as fur coats and jewelry. In that type of scenario, it’s wise to consider purchasing extra coverage.

What home insurance will cover and doesn’t cover varies from policy to policy. Do you have questions or need help with getting home insurance? We’re only a phone call away. Feel free to contact Phil Klein Insurance Group, serving the West Bloomfield, MI area, when you’re ready to explore options.

Is Your Home Ready for the Cold Weather?

Cold weather will be here before you know it in West Bloomfield, MI. You do not want it to take you by surprise and allow it to cost you money for repairs and other losses along the way. Before it gets too cold, consider implementing some of these tips from Phil Klein Insurance Group.

  • Get your heater checked. The last thing you are going to want to deal with this winter is a heater that does not work with freezing temperatures outside. You can avoid this from occurring in your home by getting your heater checked now. Have a professional come out to give it a tune-up and ensure that it is working properly before it gets cold outside. 
  • Prep your pipes. There is no doubt that the temperature will get below freezing at some point this winter. You should make sure that all of your exposed pipes, both inside and outside of your home, have some protective covering to help prevent them from freezing. You can get some good covers from your local hardware store and install these yourself. 
  • Check your windows and doors for leaks. Unless you want to help heat up the outside, you should check for any places your heat can leak out. You should consider caulking your windows as well as checking your doors for any gaps. If you find any, get them fixed so you can save on your heating bills.

Winters in West Bloomfield, MI can be brutal, but you can keep your home safe and protected with these tips and more. Another thing to do is get a great home insurance policy to help protect you from the things that you cannot predict. Contact Phil Klein Insurance Group to get started on your quote today or try our online rating tool.

Consumer Home Insurance Tips in Birmingham, Michigan

Phil Klein Insurance Group in Birmingham, Michigan was created for you – the customer. Phil and his team not only want to offer you affordable home insurance coverage; they want to make sure that you understand your policy; enabling you to sleep in complete confidence.

Consumer Tips in Birmingham MI

Home Insurance is not required by law in Michigan; nor is owning an umbrella. But when you are caught in a downpour-the coverage sure is comforting. Homeowners Insurance is designed to protect you and your family when the unexpected happens.

Insuring your home through the Phil Klein Insurance Group is comforting and provides that needed coverage for unexpected downpours in your life. Invest in your home wisely with these tips.

  • Shop around. Companies in Birmingham, Michigan are competing for your business. Stop by and meet the agents. Get quotes online or by phone. Quotes are free and help you categorize your options according to your budget.
  • The economic rules of Insurance can cause higher priced companies to lower their rating due to pressure brought on by consumer choice.
  • Shopping for insurance will never be as exciting as shopping for shoes, but by becoming knowledgeable about which questions to ask – you will find the best fit.

Top Questions to Ask

By asking questions, you can chart the answers and have a comparable resource to help you choose the best home insurance coverage.

  • What losses does your policy cover? What loses are not covered by your policy?
  • The Michigan state law allows all companies to offer discounts on insurance coverage. Ask which discounts are available to you. Each one will save you some money.

Be sure and add Phil Klein Insurance Group in Birmingham, Michigan to your shopping list-we have you covered.

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