Four rules to follow when you purchase flood insurance

Choosing flood insurance coverage is a crucial decision you’ll make as a homeowner. If you’re in the market for flood insurance for your home in Marietta, GA, we can provide you with insurance at LG Insurance Group. 

Here are four essential rules to follow when purchasing flood insurance for your Georgia home. 

Get quotes from a few flood insurance providers.

You can contact different insurance providers and request policy quotes as part of doing your flood insurance research. With numerous quotes, you can compare different premium amounts and policy offerings. This will make it easier for you to make the best possible choice regarding your flood insurance coverage. 

Understand what the flood risk is in your area.

You should know your flood zone and how likely flood damage is in your area. This can help you evaluate the different quotes you can get and determine what a competitive flood insurance premium is in your area. 

Consider updates you can make that protect your home from flood damage

Numerous home improvement projects can minimize your home’s risk for flood damage. For example, you can have a sump pump installed or grade your lawn in such a way that water is less likely to flow toward your home. 

Making such updates protects you from flood damage and can bring down your flood insurance premiums costs. 

Try to get enough coverage to cover your home’s total value

You want your flood insurance to fully compensate you for your home’s value if your home is destroyed in a flood. That’s why you should get full coverage for your property if possible.  

Following these rules will give you more confidence in your flood insurance selection. When you’re looking for policy quotes, visit our website or call us at LG Insurance Group. We’re here to provide quality flood insurance to homeowners in Marietta, GA. 

Why do I need boat insurance in Marietta?

Those in the Marietta, GA area will likely know the weather is hot during the long summer months. Fortunately, there are a lot of local lakes and waterways that offer a chance to stay cool and have fun. When you live here and want to enjoy the area as much as possible, getting your own boat is a good idea. Along with this, you need to have insurance for it. A boat policy is necessary for various reasons.

Protect Against Risk of Damage

A primary reason someone will want to have coverage for their boat is that it can protect against the risk of damage. If you buy a boat, you will want to use it for a long time. When you have boat coverage, it will offer the support you need to replace or repair it if the boat is stolen or damaged in an accident. 

Offset Liability Risks

You also should consider insurance for your boat as it can help to offset your liability risks. If you choose to operate a watercraft, there is a chance that you could cause an accident. When this occurs, you will want financial resources to cover the damage. If you are not insured with a boat policy, you must pay for repairs out of your own pocket. 

Having boat insurance is always essential if you own a watercraft in the Marietta, GA area. If you want to start looking for this coverage here, it could be wise to begin your search by calling the LG Insurance Group. The professionals with the LG Insurance Group know the value of this coverage and can help you create a plan that will meet your needs. 

Are repairs covered by your boat insurance policy?

The team at LG Insurance Group is here to help Marietta, GA area boat owners with their insurance needs. If you have questions about what type of policy is right for your needs, we can provide the information you need. Our team is here to answer your questions today. Call or stop by!

A comprehensive boat policy is the way to go.

There can be a lot of questions about boat insurance and what coverage each policy provides. Every policy can be different, so it’s essential to do some research before selecting one. If you want to ensure that items such as repairs are covered, it can make sense to go with a comprehensive policy.

Many basic boat policies provide limited coverage outside of liability. In some cases, there is very little protection when it comes to boat repairs. If you have a comprehensive boat insurance policy, it is much more likely that repairs needed due to a covered event will be included in your policy.

Please don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that you don’t have the coverage you want and need. Take the time to review your policy to see any gaps in coverage carefully. Sitting down with a local agent is a great way to ensure that your policy is what you want.  

Find out more today!

Marietta, GA area boat owners can turn to the LG Insurance Group team for all their boat insurance questions and concerns. If you want to ensure you have the protection you need, we are here to help. Contact our office today and learn more about the comprehensive boat insurance options available in our area. 

Common Flood Insurance Exclusions

Since flood damage isn’t covered by home insurance, most homeowners in Marietta, GA invest in flood insurance to ensure they are protected when the worst strikes. While flood insurance from LG Insurance Group covers your building and its contents, it has exclusions like other coverages. In light of this, typical flood insurance doesn’t cover the below risks:

Sewer backup

When the sewer lines are blocked or malfunctioning, causing flooding in your house, flood insurance won’t cover the damage unless the cause of the sewer backup is flooding. Similarly, flood insurance won’t cover in-house flooding. For instance, if broken pipes cause flooding in your house, the resulting damage will be covered by home insurance.

Earth movement

Any damage caused by earth movement won’t be covered by flood insurance, even if floods cause the movement. For such damage, you have to use your earth movement coverage.

Mold

Typical flood insurance may cover mold damage resulting from floods. However, flood insurance doesn’t cover any moisture-related mold not caused by flooding.

Detached properties

Apart from the garage, any detached structure is usually excluded from your flood insurance policy. So, home insurance doesn’t cover patios, fences, yards, lawns, and other outdoor properties.

Movable properties

A typical flood insurance policy doesn’t cover your vehicle and other movable properties. Check your auto insurance policy to see whether it covers flooding.

Additional living expenses

Should floods make your house unlivable, typical flood insurance won’t cover the additional living expenses you incur as your home is undergoing repairs. Typically, home insurance covers "loss of use" but excludes floods.

Learn more about flood insurance

Need more insights about flood insurance? If you are in Marietta, GA, or the surrounding area, you can never go wrong with LG Insurance Group. Contact us to learn more about flood insurance. We will help you secure affordable coverage, too.

 

Can a boat insurance plan be helpful in Georgia?

In the Marietta, GA area, owning a boat can be a great idea. Those that are boat owners here can have a lot of great times while enjoying all of the local waterways. When you are a boat owner in this state, you need to make sure you get the right insurance coverage for your boat. A proper boat insurance plan is helpful in several ways. 

Coverage Protects your Boat

A reason you need to have boat coverage is to protect your boat. Those that invest in a boat are going to want to enjoy it for a long time. The best way to ensure this happens is by getting proper insurance for it. If you invest in a boat insurance plan, your coverage will include a provision that will provide protection if the boat is stolen, vandalized, or damaged in some type of accident.

Liability Risk Protection

You will also find that a boat insurance plan is helpful as it will give you liability risk support. When operating any type of boat, there is a chance you will cause an accident. If this happens, it will be up to you to cover damages. With a boat insurance plan, you are going to have the support needed to cover the damages that you caused. 

It continues to be important for any boat owner in the Marietta, GA area to get the right insurance for their watercraft. If you are evaluating all of your options here, calling LG Insurance Group to discuss your needs is always a good idea. There are plenty of decisions to make when picking insurance and LG Insurance Group can make it easier. The team here is able to do this by carefully assessing your needs and options and helping you build a customized plan. 

Do Jet Ski Owners Need Boat Insurance?

If you are planning to enjoy water activities on a jet ski, you will need to learn more about the available insurance options to protect you and the others who may be out on the water too. Jet skis pose a higher risk of accidents, which is why having insurance in place is crucial.

Jet Ski Insurance

If you currently own or plan to own a jet ski, you will need to obtain special recreational insurance. Regular boat insurance isn’t designed for jet skis. Recreational insurance covers several different types of craft ranging from four-wheelers to wave runners and jet skis. Before settling on a policy, you should work with an insurance agent to find a policy that is reliable and fits your needs. You want to make sure that you have adequate coverage to help prevent losses as a result of a covered event so you can enjoy your time on the water without having to worry.

Finding A Policy

Start your search for the right insurance with the assistance of a skilled insurance agent. If you are living near the Marietta, GA area, you can turn to LG Insurance Group to help you make sense of which types of insurance you need, and what level of coverage is necessary to protect you. They can work closely with customers to help find the right policy, submit documentation, and even help with a claim. 

There are risks when you are on a jet ski, which is why having the right protection is important. Those who live around the Marietta, GA area should call or stop by LG Insurance Group to speak with an agent today. 

Tips for Avoiding Water Loss in your Home

Did you know that water damage is the second most frequently filed loss experienced by homeowners and renters each year? (according to the Insurance Information Institute)  The infographic below, provided by Safeco, can help you understand the risks, offer prevention tips and share the resources you may need if a water loss occurs. 

Does a small fishing boat need insurance?

If you just bought a small fishing boat to take around the lakes and rivers surrounding Marietta, GA, you’re probably wondering if you need to call LG Insurance Group and get a policy on your new ride.

The short answer is: You might not. It depends on how small of a boat we’re talking here, of course. Essentially the question you need to consider is whether or not it could do any damage in an accident, and what you stand to lose if something happens to it. If you’re just rowing a little two hundred dollar inflatable raft, then there’s not much reason to worry about getting it insured. You’re not hitting any speeds that will hurt other boats in an accident or damage a pier or anything.

You may want to think about liability coverage if you’re taking other people out in your boat, but standard boat insurance is there to cover a boat in the same way auto insurance covers your car. If you can afford to repair or fix your boat out of pocket and it doesn’t have a motor in it, then there’s not much that can go wrong that will demand insurance.

But, you need to be honest with yourself here. If you spent a pretty penny on your boat, if it’s motorized, then you need to do yourself a favor and call LG Insurance Group and get covered. No matter how safe you are at piloting your boat, you never know what can happen on your next voyage, so be prepared for whatever may come your way as you explore the waters of Marietta, GA.

How to Get a Boating License in Georgia

In Georgia, you are not actually required to get a boating license, but you will need what’s known as a Boater Education Card. If you own a boat, you’ll need to have it registered as well. The LG Insurance Group in Marietta, GA has details regarding information about your boat, so you can be safe when you go out on the water this summer.

Qualifications for a Boat

If you were born after January 1998, you will need to take the boater safety course in order to operate a watercraft in Georgia. There are a few exemptions.

  • Licensed U.S. Coast Guard
  • Boating on a private lake
  • Non-residents with a completed education course form from the National Association of State Boating Law Administration (NASBLA)

Rules and Regulations for Boaters

Everyone over the age of 12 who wants to operate a water vessel in Georgia must have a Boater Education Card from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

There are a few restrictions for those under the age of 12:

  • Cannot operate boats larger than 16 feet
  • Must have adult supervision if the boat is less than 16 feet without a motor or is less than 30 horsepower

For those boaters who are between the ages of 12 and 15:

  • You are authorized to operate boats that are less than 16 feet if:
    • You completed the boater safety course.
    • You are supervised by an adult.

If you are 16 or older:

  • You can operate any watercraft if you have proper identification, AND
  • You have completed the boater safety course

Getting a Boater Education Card

To receive a Boater Education Card, you must participate and pass an approved boater’s safety course. You can take courses with the:

  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • U.S. Power Squadrons
  • An approved online course

In Marietta, GA, the LG Insurance Group has professional agents that can help you navigate your responsibilities as a boater, including maintaining insurance for your boat.

Is Water Backup covered by my Homeowner’s Policy?

Water and Sewer Backup coverage is one of the more important optional coverages that you should consider adding to your homeowner’s insurance policy.  The infographic below shows how some common water losses are handled by Safeco Insurance.  It details how certain water (backup) losses are handled by their base homeowner’s policy, an optional endorsement for Water/Sewer Backup, or excluded entirely.  While you always need to check your specific policy and insurer, these examples are common across many carriers.