Mid-State Insurance Blog

Over the years we all tend to fill our homes with stuff.  Most of it is the normal, everyday trappings that fill our lives.  But some of it is valuable - like your engagement ring, or your grandmother's pearls that you inherited, or the coin collection you've had since you were 10 years old.

With a typical renter's or homeowner's insurance policy, your personal property (furniture, clothing, jewelry, money, electronics, etc.) is covered under Coverage C while it is anywhere in the world.  That sounds great, but as with most things, there are limits.  For example, loss to personal property may be only covered if the loss is caused by certain perils.  And if it is covered, there may be limits such as $1,000 for jewelry, $200 for money and coins, $1,000 for watercraft or $2,000 for firearms.  Here are 3 reasons why it makes sense to schedule your valuable items:

Our heroine, Pauline, is always in a fix.  This time Pauline’s great, great grandfather’s violin is ruined by water damage so she files a claim.

Anyone will tell you one of the easiest ways to save money on insurance is to bundle your policies. Usually after you search around and do countless hours of research, you'll bundle policies with the company that offers you the best price and coverage. With all of the money you save, it would seem that everyone would be bundling their policies. Surprisingly, only 58% of Americans choose to bundle their insurance policies (National Auto Insurance Policy). This method of bundling is not just for auto and home- you can bundle plenty of other policies including renter's, boat and motorcycle! More people are starting to realize that this route is the right direction to take.

As the days get colder and snow falls get heavier, make sure you stay prepared during the winter storm. It is important to have an emergency kit prepared and stay inside and off the roads during a storm. That way plow workers can do their job efficiently and quickly as possible.

'Tis the season to go out and purchase something from your favorite shop or order that perfect gift online.  Were you one of the many people who took advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals?  If you were, did you wonder if the new set of golf clubs in your car trunk or the recently shipped TV which is sitting on your doorstep is covered?  The answer is; it depends.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Columbia, Charleston and all the communities affected by this weekend's torrential rains associated with hurricane Joaquin.  Looking at the images of the devastating flood waters in South Carolina one can not help but question when such damaging weather will once again be heading our way.

How much is your home insured for anyway?

If you are a homeowner, where did the coverage limit on your home insurance policy come from?  A homeowner's insurance policy protects a home against loss and damage.  There are all kinds of methodologies for putting a value on your home and thus, determining your home insurance limits...market, replacement, actual cash, tax, construction cost...so which one is the right one and what does it mean?