How much umbrella insurance should you buy if you are a property owner

While it is always better to be over-insured than underinsured, carrying too much umbrella insurance is not a wise financial decision. Umbrella insurance typically covers the standard things that other basic policies cover, which means that it cannot be used independently as a coverage. If you are looking to buy extra liability or umbrella insurance in Dadeville, AL, it is essential to understand how much coverage you need. At Highpoint Insurance Group, we are here to take you through the insurance journey and help you make smart insurance choices.

Assess your level of liability risk

Today’s complex society is quite litigious. That means that you are exposed to a wide array of lawsuits as a property owner. Since umbrella insurance focuses on providing extra liability coverage, you need to determine your level of need for liability. Lawsuits can be expensive in Dadeville, AL. They can quickly wipe out your savings and monthly earnings, leaving you bankrupt. So, which other factors should you consider when assessing your liability risk as a property owner?

  • if you drive a fast car
  • you have employees
  • you are involved in extreme sports or highly risky sports
  • you have a working spouse 
  • you have children below the age of 16
  • you are a homeowner
  • you have teenagers in your home
  • you have other businesses 

Your need for umbrella insurance may go down if you have higher premiums on other policies

Note that if you have bought enough coverage on other policies, the chances of ever using umbrella insurance becomes minimal. Remember, you can only use this coverage if the underlying home or boat insurance policy is used and depleted. Additionally, if you own rental properties, you are at a higher risk of getting sued. 

Umbrella insurance is an all-round kind of coverage that can protect you from a wide range of lawsuits, whether at your property, home, or on the roads. If you are still not sure how much insurance you need to buy, feel free to talk to us at Highpoint Insurance Group today!

Protecting Your Car From Rain and Pollen Damage

As the Summer season approaches in Alabama, layers of yellow pollen can be found everywhere, including your car. At High Point Insurance Group, we want to make sure that you know how to protect your vehicle from rain and pollen damage.

Wash Your Car First

Despite the pollen and rain coming down, it is critical to wash and wax your car. A good wash will remove the pollen that has fallen into corners on your car. When you wash your car, make sure to use soap and water, so that any debris and pollen are removed from the exterior of your car. Attempting to remove pollen without soap will cause scratches on your car and can diminish the overall value.

Wax Your Car

After you have washed your car, a protective coat of wax is critical during the pollen season. If there are any cracks in your paint, the pollen can get into it and become a permanent fixture. With wax, your exterior coat is protected from damage. Also, it protects the rain from leaving stains on your car and breaking down the paint.

Replace Cabin Air Filter

At the beginning of the season, you will want to have your cabin air filter replaced. This filter keeps the pollen and any debris carried by rain from coming into the cabin of your car. This keeps you driving safe and protects the interior.

Get Ultimate Coverage With Auto Insurance

If you live in or around Alabama, our team is here to speak with you about any questions you have regarding auto insurance. Feel free to use our online rating tool or give our agents at High Point Insurance Group a call today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Commercial Insurance for Small Tourist Businesses in Alabama

Dadeville is in a beautiful part of Alabama, near Lake Martin and the Wind Creek State Park. However, with a population of around 3,200, it is not what one might call a booming metropolis. Nevertheless, it situated in an area that provides a strong attraction for tourists.

Small businesses that work in the tourism industry, such as those that offer guided tours of the nearby area, hunting and fishing trips to Lake Martin, and campouts in the Wind Creek State Park, benefit from having adequate commercial insurance to protect the business and their customers.

Work with an agent at High Point Insurance Group, serving Dadeville, AL, and the surrounding area, to be sure to have adequate protection for workers, vehicles used for the business, equipment, and real property that is owned or leased by the company.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

In the state of Alabama, a business owner must have workers’ compensation insurance if they hire more than four employees. Businesses who hire part-time or seasonal employees are not required to carry workers’ compensation.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If you use a vehicle for a business purpose, even if only occasionally, then you need to have commercial vehicle insurance coverage. Be sure to tell your agent who is authorized to drive the vehicle. Do not allow unauthorized persons to use it.

General Liability

Every small business needs general liability insurance to protect the business and the owner from claims for injuries, death, or damage to property caused by the business.

Business Interruption Insurance

A good type of insurance to protect a small business is business interruption insurance. This helps pay the ongoing bills if the company cannot operate normally due to no fault of its owner, such as a temporary stoppage due to a natural disaster.

Other Commercial Insurance

There are many other types of commercial insurance to consider, so talk with your agent at High Point Insurance Group in Dadeville, AL to get a commercial insurance review and a quote for the protection you need.

What First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know About Home Insurance

If you are considering buying a home, or if you just bought one, congratulations. For most people, homeownership will be the biggest investment in their lives. Naturally, you will want to protect your investment in ways that are effective and make sense. Work with your agent at High Point Insurance Group, serving Dadeville, AL, and the surrounding area. Your agent will explain the details about home insurance and other things that you need to consider.

Here are the basics you need to know:

  • Deductible: Home insurance may have a deductible, which is the amount of money that will have to be paid by you before the insurance will pay on a valid claim. Having a higher deductible usually reduces the monthly premium, but you will need to have more cash available to pay for things if something goes wrong.
  • Premiums: Premiums are usually paid monthly and should be set up on an automatic payment system to make sure they are always paid on time, and there is never a lapse in insurance coverage.
  • Flood Insurance: Flood insurance is usually not included in a home insurance policy and needs to be considered as a separate policy.
  • Replacement Cost: Replacement cost insurance provides for the payment of valid claim up to the policy limit to replace all or part of a home. If the limit is adequate, it should cover all the costs to rebuild a home that is destroyed.
  • Actual Cost: Actual cost is what the home is worth. This is usually lower than the replacement cost, meaning replacement cost coverage is better.
  • Commercial Activity: Home insurance usually does not cover any commercial activity, including renting out a room or having a home office. If you plan to do any business in your home, then talk to your agent about also getting commercial insurance.
  • Life and Disability Insurance: It is a wise strategy to also carry life insurance for the amount needed to pay off the mortgage on the home if the earning member(s) of the family is permanently disabled or dies. This allows the rest of the family to be protected.

Contact your agent at High Point Insurance Group in Dadeville, AL to discuss your specific needs and get a quote for home insurance and any other insurance that you need for protection.