How to avoid an insurance claim on Halloween in Bremerton, WA

How to Avoid a Spooky Insurance Claim on Halloween

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How to avoid an insurance claim on Halloween in Bremerton, WAHalloween can be some people’s favorite holiday. Whether it’s fun sized candy, making your own costume, setting up spooky decorations inside or outside your home or carving pumpkins, Halloween brings many of us joy. However, this holiday can increase your risk for an expensive liability claim if you’re not careful. Follow these five tips to ensure your holiday is fun and safe.

Prep Your Home for Trick-or-Treaters. Even if you don’t decorate the outside of your home, be sure your sidewalks, driveway and the entrance leading up to your front door is clear. You are liable if a child or adult trips on a broken branch, garden house or electrical cord on your property.

Keep Your Pets Indoors. Sometimes animals can be frightened by strangers or unusual noises. To avoid a dog bite claim, keep your animals inside in a separate room. The door bell ringing several times an hour can get your animal too excited or scared. Be sure they get a treat too.

Use LED candles. This can help prevent any trick-or-treater from knocking over lit candles close to your home. For your carved pumpkin, LED candles are much easier to use and can prevent any unwanted burns compared to lighting a candle.

Drive Slowly. If you find yourself driving home in the dark on Halloween night, be extra cautious of children and adults walking around your neighborhood who may not be using proper lighting. Be aware of your speed and don’t be a distracted driver.

Carry the right tools. If you plan to go out for trick-or-treating, be sure you have a flash light and a fully charged cell phone in the case you need to make an emergency call. Stay on the sidewalks and avoid walking through yards.

Happy Halloween!

H&K Agency Inc. is a no-fee independent insurance agent specializing in property and vehicle insurance designed to fit your needs. We represent a variety of top insurance companies in Washington State who offer terrific coverage at the best prices.  Our services are available throughout Port Orchard WA, Bremerton WA, Silverdale WA, and the surrounding areas. For all of your personal insurance needs, give our knowledgeable agents a call at (360) 377-7645.

Why you should keep your boat, RV or motorcycle insured year round in Bremerton, WA

Do I Need to Keep My Insurance During The Off-Season?

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Why you should keep your boat, RV or motorcycle insured year round in Bremerton, WAIt’s now time to enjoy some amazing fall camping excursions, calm boating on the lake or a motorcycle road trip. Each year we’re asked by many of our customers about the possibility to cancel your insurance policies on your summer toys like motorcycles, RVs, boats and ATVs. While you may not be using these alternative vehicles during the fall and winter months, your vehicles may be damaged and insurance claim would need to be opened. If you cancelled your insurance policy, you may be forced to pay for repairs or replacements out-of-pocket. During the cooler months while your toys are parked events can occur that could get expensive without a valid insurance policy.

Types of claims that could occur during the off-season:

Comprehensive insurance claims: Even though your vehicles are secured, theft or vandalism can still occur at any time. Having to pay out-of-pocket to repaint, repair or replace your toy could put a serious strain on your finances. Catastrophic events like floods or fires can occur during the off-season. If your comprehensive insurance policy is not in effect, you may be responsible to pay to replace your toys without assistance from your insurance carrier.

Liability insurance claims: Accidents can happen at any time, even if your toy is secure. During a party at your home someone thinks it would be great to take a picture on your Harley. They hop on and fall over damaging both your bike and themselves. Even if you did not give them permission to do so, you may be legally responsible for their injuries. Without a liability insurance policy in effect, you may be responsible to pay for the injured party’s medical bills and recovery costs.

Additional claims scenarios:

  1. A blustery storm knocks over a tree and it falls on your parked camper. (Comprehensive claim)
  2. A hail storm damages your vehicle (Comprehensive claim)
  3. Your garage catches on fire and burns your motorcycle, boat, or ATV inside (Not home insurance, Comprehensive claim for the vehicle)
  4. Your RV or Boat is parked in an off-season boat/rv storage facility and is damaged when an unknown party backs their vehicle into it. They don’t leave their information.
  5. A thief vandalizes your vehicle looking for valuable items

These are just a few of the many claims that can occur in the off-season. Some carriers understand that these vehicles are not used year-round and the premiums reflect the high and the low season.

Keeping your motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, ATV insurance or boat insurance in effect during the off-season may not only save your from a costly out-of-pocket repairs or medical payments, keeping a year-round policy may also save you money on your policy premium. Ask your insurance agent today about the benefits of keeping a comprehensive and liability insurance policy on your toys all year!

H&K Agency Inc. is a no-fee independent insurance agent specializing in property and vehicle insurance designed to fit your needs. We represent a variety of top insurance companies in Washington State who offer terrific coverage at the best prices.  Our services are available throughout Port Orchard WA, Bremerton WA, Silverdale WA, and the surrounding areas. For all of your personal insurance needs, give our knowledgeable agents a call at (360) 377-7645.

Home Insurance in Bremerton, WA

Named Perils vs. Open Perils Policies for Your Home Insurance. What’s the Difference?

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Home Insurance in Bremerton, WAThere are many coverage options to select from when shopping for your homeowner’s insurance. You need to decide on your level of coverage, whether you want a larger monthly payment and smaller deductible or vice versa. You also can decide to add flood or earthquake coverages if you live in an area prone to these events. Your standard homeowner policy is called an open perils policy and includes many types of events.  But did you know that you can choose to have a “named perils” policy also known as a Broad Form insurance policy?

So, how exactly is Named Perils and Open Perils different when related to your homeowner’s insurance policy in Washington:

  • A peril is an event that results in the loss of property, structure or damage to the structure.
  • Named Perils refers to specific events that you would like covered until your policy. Named peril policies are your traditional home insurance policies. Recently, HO5 policies have come around and they are Open Peril meaning they cover more losses your standard home insurance policy may not cover.
  • A Named Perils policy may save you money, but that is because you’re carrying more risk. Not every situation regarding a loss will be covered. Personal effects are covered under a named perils policy for the type of loss you’re getting coverage for such as wind and hail; however you may still need to have additional coverage scheduled for pieces like heirlooms, art, jewelry and other losses that may occur.
  • Both types of policies may elect to cover events like wildfires or tornado damage, but earthquake and flood insurance will need to be purchased separately.
  • Open Perils policies will clearly list what is excluded, while a Named Perils will clearly list what is included.
  • Open Perils will typically include most of the Name Perils options.

To give an example of how these two differing policies work, let’s use the following example. Sarah came home from work to notice that her necklace had broken and fallen off of her and was now lost. Because her loss was not related to a specific loss of wind, fire or damage to the house, this loss would not be covered under a named perils policy. If Sarah had an Open Perils policy that included the loss of valuable items, her loss would be covered (up to the policy limits for jewelry in the case). It is always important to note the policy limits of an Open Perils policy for jewelry, furs, art or other high-value items.

Homeowner’s insurance can be confusing, but your local, independent agents at H & K Insurance are here to help.

H&K Agency Inc. is a no-fee independent insurance agent specializing in property and vehicle insurance designed to fit your needs. We represent a variety of top insurance companies in Washington State who offer terrific coverage at the best prices.  Our services are available throughout Port Orchard WA, Bremerton WA, Silverdale WA, and the surrounding areas. For all of your personal insurance needs, give our knowledgeable agents a call at (360) 377-7645.