Renters insurance FAQs

Posted on October 15, 2021October 11, 2021 by admin

Renters in Wisconsin are lucky to be living in one of the most affordable states for renters in the United States. With an average rent of $954, 39 states are more expensive. There is no requirement under the law to have renters insurance and 60% of people don’t have it. That is surprising considering what good value it is. At Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, as an independent insurance agency, we work for our customers to make sure they understand the value they are getting for their insurance dollars.

Renters insurance is not well understood and most people have a lot of questions about it.

Doesn’t my landlord have insurance?

Undoubtedly they do but their insurance covers their building. It does not cover your personal property or protects you if someone visiting you is injured in your rental.

What kind of content coverage does renters insurance offer?

With renters insurance, you have two choices of content coverage. You can choose actual value or replacement cost. It depends on how much of your property you want to replace. Replacement cost is what it would cost to buy your possessions today, no matter how old they are. Actual value takes depreciation into account.

Will renters insurance give me money for a place to stay if my rental is damaged?

Loss of use is typically included in renters insurance. As always, be sure to read your policy to make sure you understand what it provides.

Will my renter’s insurance cover me if my dog bites someone?

As long as your dog is not a breed that is excluded from coverage, it should be considered a member of your family and covered under your liability coverage.

At Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, we have the information you need to decide if renters insurance is something you could benefit from.

Do You Need Wisconsin Boat Insurance for Small Vessels?

Posted on September 30, 2021October 11, 2021 by admin

When you are boating in Wisconsin, you may not be required to have boat insurance unless there is a loan on your boat. Some boat owners also don’t think it’s necessary to purchase boat insurance if their boat is small.

It’s never a bad idea to have boat insurance though. This is a purchase that you have saved and dreamed for. At Bronson Insurance Services, we know that a little boat insurance goes a long way towards peace of mind when Oak Creek, WI residents are taking care of that dream.

All Risk Boat Insurance for Small Vessels

A small vessel for boat insurance is considered to be small when it is 29 feet or less. The most common coverage for small vessels is called an “All Risk” policy. This means that you have coverage for every kind of loss, but for those that are not included in the policy.

That will be up to your insurance company to determine what risks would be excluded. The most common exclusions include items such as animal problems, denting or scratching, design defects, normal wear and tear, and freezing.

Standard Small Vessel Boat Insurance

The most common kind of small vessel boat insurance is that which includes medical payments in the event of an injury, contents coverage, and uninsured boat motorist liability.

Get a Quote

When you are thinking about boat insurance in Oak Creek, WI, know that you can still get good coverage for small vessel boat insurance. You will never feel bad about getting it unless there is an accident or you need it for your boat. Call Bronson Insurance Services for a quote today.

Can Umbrella Insurance Be Used in the Place of Personal Injury Protection Insurance?

Posted on August 16, 2021August 8, 2021 by admin

Bronson Insurance Services reminds you, if you live in Oak Creek, WI, you may be searching for insurance that will cover you for those things you don’t expect. Sure, your normal insurance covers the basics, but what about those little things you don’t think about like someone falling on your lawn or your commercial space? What do you do if you have someone complain that they were injured as a result of your negligence?

Gap insurance (sometimes called umbrella insurance) steps in where your normal insurance policies leave off. It can address auto insurance gaps, as well as other gaps in coverage areas that could cost you out-of-pocket money or legal expenses.

What does it cover?

Umbrella insurance is insurance that can cover the following areas:

Liability insurance for homeowners, auto, and other policies like watercraft, RV insurance, and sometimes, commercial or business insurance
Injury to others or property damage that occurs as a result of mistakes or negligence by the policyholder
Covers family members, as well as the policyholder
Serves as gap insurance for the gaps in other policies that don’t cover you completely

Umbrella Insurance vs. PIP Insurance

Some people carry PIP (personal injury protection) insurance to cover events that are not covered with their normal auto policy. The problem is that PIP insurance only covers your damages and injuries in case your normal insurance is not enough. It does not cover your liability to others. And this is often far more expensive.

In Oak Creek, WI, you can contact the friendly professionals at Bronson Insurance Services for more information on umbrella insurance. Don’t wait until something happens and you have to pay out-of-pocket for an incident that is ruled your fault. Act now and put your fears to rest.

What does flood insurance cover

Posted on July 30, 2021August 8, 2021 by admin

Floods have become a way of life for many people all over the United States. Places that have never experienced flooding before now are in danger of rising seas and changing weather patterns. Home insurance, condo insurance, and renters insurance won’t cover floods. If you live in a community that is part of the national flood plan, you may want to consider adding flood insurance to your portfolio. At Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, we represent some of the best carriers in the business, and we will make sure you get the insurance you need at a price you can afford.

Flood insurance is issued through FEMA by the National Flood Insurance Program. About 60 carriers have been authorized to offer this government-supported flood insurance, or you can get it through NFIP Direct. In order to purchase it, you must live in one of the participating communities. You can also purchase flood insurance that is not from NFIP and if your needs go beyond the limits allowed with the federal program, you may need to.

Flood insurance is sold in two parts, property and contents. You can purchase either one of them alone or both, it’s your choice.

Property coverage is for the physical building including walls, floors, and roof. It also includes permanent fixtures like the major systems in the home, electric, HVAC, and plumbing. The limit of this policy is $250,000.

Contents coverage is all the moveable things, your personal possessions, window AC unit, washer, and dryer, electronics, and furniture. The limit of this coverage is $100,000. This may not be enough for some people to cover their personal property which would make using another flood insurance type a viable option.

Contact Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI with all your questions and concerns about flood insurance.

Why Condo Insurance is an Asset

Posted on June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 by admin

To a condo owner, the importance of obtaining a condo insurance policy can’t be stressed enough. First thing first, the policy keeps you, your condo unit, and your personal belongings secure and safe. According to Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, insuring your condo unit offers you numerous benefits, including:

Personal liability coverage

By signing up for condo insurance, you will have peace of mind knowing that your family, friends, and tenants are well protected. You will not be held responsible in case any of them sustain injuries while at you’re your space.

Without liability coverage, you would be the person responsible for the damages or injuries sustained by other people in your space.

Personal belonging protection

Natural disasters and other unforeseen perils like fire accidents can occur when you least expect them. When this is the case, there’s the likelihood that you will lose your valuables and incur substantial repair costs after that.

Fortunately, you can avoid all these inconveniences by signing up for a condo insurance cover. When a mischance happens, it will be a burden to the insurer and not you.

Loss of use /Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage

In some unfortunate situations, you might encounter losses that would cause you to relocate as you prepare to repair your condo. Under such circumstances, you need funding to facilitate the relocation process.

Assuming your accounts have no enough cash, what would you do? Where would you go? It would be hectic. However, with ALE coverage, managing relocations, and paying for temporal living expenses will be a walk in the park.

Protection of the interior of your condo

With a condo insurance policy, you will never have to bother about unfortunate things happening inside your unit’s interior. Your insurer will pay for interior damages such as ceilings damages, flooring damages, wall damages, and so forth.

Buy condo insurance today!

When it comes to insuring your condo unit, it’s wise to ensure you have coverage that suits your needs. We at Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI are ready to help you get the right condo insurance policy that will work for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us when you need a helping hand.

When is the best time to buy life insurance

Posted on May 24, 2021May 23, 2021 by admin

Life insurance is a gift you give to the ones you love. It shows them just how important they are to you. It is not mandated in any state in the union, but it is one of the most important insurance types. It not only protects your assets if you are no longer there to provide support, but it can make the difference between your family having to give up the life they are used to and being able to remain in the life they are accustomed to. At Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, we provide a better level of service for our current customers and future ones.

When you are young

One of the best times to buy life insurance is when you are young. It may seem an unlikely time to buy insurance when you need it the least, but because you are likely healthy and rates are determined by age and health, being young is the best time to buy it. If you buy whole life insurance, you will be locking in at a very reasonable rate for the rest of your life.

When you add dependents

The insurance that protects you when you’re young and single may not be the right insurance once you get married and have children. This is a good time to sit down with your insurance agent and discuss the options available to add the amount of protection you need.

When you change jobs

If you have been counting on employer-provided life insurance, and you are changing employers, it is time to take a good look at what coverage you actually have and make sure you have enough to provide the long-term benefits you need.

Contact Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI, when it is time for you to buy life insurance.

Documents you should have in your car at all times

Posted on April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 by admin

Driving should take all of your attention when you get behind the wheel. With all the aggressive drivers out there, you need to be on the defensive at all times. There may be times, despite your best efforts, you have an accident, or you get pulled over by the local or state police. When that happens, they are going to ask to see some documents from you. It is important you have them in the vehicle with you.

When it comes to carrying the necessary documents in your car, just throwing them into your glove box is probably not the best idea. Putting them in an envelope or a special folder in the glove box where you can find them easily even if your heart is pounding is a better idea. Best of all is a document holder that attaches to your visor. This way, you can easily flip down your visor and take out your documents if you need to.

Vehicle registration

Most information about your vehicle registration is online, so the police have access to the information even if you don’t have your registration in the vehicle. They can look it up with the numbers on your license plate. However, you will likely get a ticket if you don’t carry the registration with you, so do the right thing.

Proof of insurance

Almost every state in the union requires you have at least the minimum required auto insurance. Your insurance company will provide you with proof of insurance you should always have with you in your vehicle. Serious fines are levied for not having the mandated insurance, and you need to prove you have it.

Driver’s license

This should be in your wallet and is required in every state.

Contact Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI when you are looking for auto insurance. Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI has been in business for 18 years and provides our clients with great service and lots of choices.

Why is commercial insurance needed in Oak Creek?

Posted on March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 by admin

When you are in the Oak Creek, WI area, you may find that starting a small business is a great career path. Those that own a company here can do very well if they properly protect their company. A great way that you can do this is with commercial insurance protection. This type of insurance is needed by a business for a few different reasons.

Insurance Protects Business

A common reason that people need commercial insurance in this area of the state is that it will help to protect their business. A business owner in this area of Wisconsin will always want to ensure that their company and business investment is properly protected. When you invest in a full commercial insurance plan, it will provide you with the coverage needed to protect your business investments and mitigate liability risk.

Insurance is Required

You will also want to get a commercial insurance plan because it could be a requirement for your business. Many companies today are required by some agreement to get commercial insurance coverage. When you take out a business loan or raise outside capital, the parties you are under contract with will likely require that you carry commercial insurance. If you do not have this coverage, you could be in default of your agreements.

Anyone that would like a commercial insurance plan should speak with the team at Bronson Insurance Services. Those who are all over the Oak Creek, WI area have found that Bronson Insurance Services can offer the guidance and support needed to build and choose an ideal policy. This will help ensure that your business’s future is protected and that you are in compliance with any insurance obligations that you have.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance cover building a new home?

Posted on February 12, 2021February 11, 2021 by admin

Most of the time, people buy their homeowner’s insurance for a house that is already built. Since you are building your house from scratch, how can you ensure a home that physically does not exist yet? After all, you have already paid for the land and perhaps paid a deposit to your contractor or purchased building materials, so if anything goes wrong now, you may suffer significant financial loss.

Luckily in Oak Creek, WI, folks at Bronson Insurance Services can help protect your most significant investment right from the start while it is still being built. A Builder’s Risk policy was designed for this specific need. It covers any loss incurred while the house is under construction. It protects everything from the time construction starts and remains in place until a predetermined date after the construction is finished. The policy provides reimbursement for when things go wrong with building materials, machinery used, equipment used on the building site, permanent fixtures, construction debris removal, pollutant cleanup, blueprints cost, landscaping, etc. Some policies may also include liability coverage in case anyone gets injured during the building process.

The best part about taking out a Builder’s Insurance Policy is that you may choose not to have to pay the premiums yourself. When you draw up your construction contract, it may include a clause that the contractor must take out a builder’s risk policy as part of that contract. Of course, you may want to take a policy out yourself to ensure sufficient coverage when calamity strikes.

Contact us

Life is unpredictable, and a lot can go wrong when building a house from scratch. A builder’s Insurance policy guarantees that you or your contractor will obtain funds to repair or rebuild in case of a loss. To discuss your exact needs, contact Bronson Insurance Services in Oak Creek, WI for details.

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