Author: agentinsure

3 Ways to Protect Your Home During the Winter Months

Posted on by agentinsure

The winter months can get extremely cold in Overland Park, KS, especially in January. With the potential for severe weather, it’s important that homeowners take measures to protect their home so that they avoid home insurance claims. At High Point Insurance Services, we’ve put together a list that includes three ways you can protect your home during the winter months.  

Take Measures to Protect Your Pipes  

One of the most common problems for owners during the winter is frozen water pipes. Many homeowners fail to take measure to ensure their pipes don’t freeze. A frozen pipe can be expensive to contend with in Overland Park, KS, so it’s best to avoid them. While the temperatures are still mild, you should have your pipes insulated so that they can stave off cold weather. Additionally, when temperatures drop below freezing in January, leave one or two faucets dripping to continue the flow of water.  

Winterize Your Home  

Winterizing your home is another measure you can take to protect your home from winter problems. The process of winterizing your home includes weatherstripping your windows and doors, cleaning gutters and spouts, and insulating your water heater from the cold. Although this list is a good start, it doesn’t cover every aspect of winterizing. If you need more tips, don’t hesitate to ask one of our staff members at High Point Insurance Services.  

Prevent Ice Dam Damage to Your Roof  

Another common problem many homeowners face during the winter months is ice dams. Ice dams can lead to significant roof damage, which may result in an insurance claim. To prevent ice dams, make sure your roof is in tip-top shape before the winter weather begins. You should also ensure that your gutters don’t interfere with ice, snow, or sleet running off your roof.  

The winter months are just around the corner, and our team at High Point Insurance Services wants to make sure you are protected. You can protect your home by purchasing home insurance and by taking steps to protect your home from severe winter weather. If you are in the market for home insurance, give us a call today.  

 

5 Ways to Prepare Your Home this Fall

Posted on by agentinsure

As the air transitions from summer days to fall nights here in HighPointe Insurance Services LLC, it’s easy to think about corn mazes, caramel apples, and hay rides. But did you know that autumn is the opportunity to prevent damage in your home? Prepare for winter now to make the most of your home insurance coverage. We’ll show you five ways you can take care of your home in Overland Park, KS during the fall.

1. How’s the roof looking? Check the roof for any worn-out shingles and flashing. Replace them now before the snow settles on your roof since home insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear. If you’re afraid of heights, call a professional.

2. Unclog your home. Cleaning out your home’s gutters and furnace filters is like unclogging your arteries and prevents future problems. Have a professional examine your furnace since you’ll want it ship-shape for the winter.

3. Get your ‘winter coat’ on. Seal up any cracks and gaps in the house with caulk and weather stripping. It not only lowers your electric bill, it helps protect your home from moisture damage.

4. Pay attention to the hot stuff. If you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, have a professional come inspect it and clean it out. Fire damage is covered by home insurance, but you’ll want to stay diligent with the residue. 

5. Go for a stroll. Inspect your steps, driveway and sidewalks to ensure the prevention of guest injuries. Home insurance does cover personal liability, but who needs the headache this year?

Want to learn about other things home insurance covers? We’re happy to answer your questions at HighPointe Insurance Services LLC in Overland Park, KS. We look forward to hearing from you!

Getting the Specialty Commercial Insurance You Need

Posted on by agentinsure

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all commercial insurance policy. If you want to get the most out of your HighPointe Insurance Services LLC package, then you need to take the time to talk with an agent and work out precisely what it is that you need from your insurance plan before you’ll have peace of mind.

If you’re buying car insurance, you can walk into the agency and say "Give me whatever policy will ensure that I don’t get in trouble if I’m pulled over by the cops." You have to be a little more hands on than that when it comes to building a commercial policy that works for you. An insurance company will tend to keep experts on hand who understand the industries with which they’re dealing, but nobody knows your field better than you do. If you need to make sure that you have a robust workers compensation policy, if you want to insure a fleet of delivery vehicles, then you need to talk with the agent about that in order to get a policy that is specially built to your needs. Put simply: If you know the risks you’re taking, then your insurance provider will know which policies will cover them.

Here are three key points to getting the insurance policy that you need:

  1. The most important question you can ask is "Do you have something to cover that?"
  2. Make sure that your provider knows what kind of equipment you’re using and what kind of work you’re doing, down to the fine details.
  3. If there’s something that you’re worried might bump your rates up, then that’s something that you’d much rather have covered by your insurance provider than out of your own pocket.

As long as you’re thorough in making your needs clear to your insurance provider, then they should be able to walk you through the process of building the package that you need.

Uninsured Motorists and RV Insurance

Posted on by agentinsure

RV insurance for accidents works very much like regular vehicle insurance. There are different types of policies available, and the coverage an RV owner chooses to put in place will often dictate the amount of recovery and type of help that will be provided.

A strict liability coverage will only address the require minimum liability coverage an RV owner has for others harmed or whose property is damaged by the RV. It usually does nothing for the RV owner in terms of repair or replacement. While these polices tend to be cheaper, they pose a real problem when the accident involves an uninsured motorist. Generally, the uninsured motorist has no coverage or personal funds to claim against, which means the RV owner is up a creek for his own recovery.

A comprehensive policy, on the other hand, will include provisions that address injury to others as well as personal injury and property damage to the policy holder. While a comprehensive policy tends to be more expensive, it is a real blessing when the accident involves an uninsured motorist. Instead of having to worry about trying to get some semblance of coverage out of the other party, the RV owner can look to his own coverage for recovery up to the limits stated in the agreement. In most cases, that tends to be sufficient to repair and RV as well as take care of most injury costs the RV owner and his guest or family might receive in the accident. The insurance provider then determines whether to go after the uninsured motorist or not for its recovery.

To get a detailed look on how an Overland, KS area policy would work, connect with HighPointe Insurance Services LLC. They can walk a customer through all the options and point out the best coverage for one’s needs and budget with an RV.

Safety First With Summer Boating

Posted on by agentinsure

The days are getting longer and it is warming up outside! If you live near water, then you probably cannot wait until you can get your boat out for some lazy and fun-filled days. Before you get out there on the water, though, be sure to put safety first and make sure your boat is ready to go. You can do that by following some easy steps. Use our tips to get started.

  • Check your fire extinguishers and life jackets on board. You want to make sure you have plenty of life jackets on board and that they are in good condition. Replace or buy any that you need. Also, be sure to check your fire extinguisher. This should be done once per year so summer is the perfect time. Hopefully you never need to use these but these are needed on any boat for safety precautions.
  • Get a tune up and de-winterize your boat. Get your boat ready for the summer with a proper tune up as well as de-winterizing the boat for warmer weather. Both of these actions can prepare your boat for summer and also help you identify any potential safety issues that you may need to address before taking the boat out. Get these two things done at the beginning of the season every year so you always know that your boat is ready to go for all of the summer activities.

Being safe is more than just prepping your boat for summer fun. It is also important to have a great boat policy on your boat. If you want to take a look at your current policy or want to look at a new one, please feel free to contact us at HighPointe Insurance Services LLC today. We will be happy to help you.

Why Motorcycle Insurance is Important

Posted on by agentinsure

As a motorcycle rider, you should take care and show caution every time you are on the road. You should think about your life, your bike, and the lives of others. Motorcycle insurance is a great way to protect you against loss if you are in an accident. There are several reasons it is important for bike riders to secure and maintain motorcycle insurance.

Medical Bills Can Pile Up

If you are involved in a collision, motorcycle insurance may cover most, if not all, of your medical bills. You may even need additional treatment beyond an initial hospital visit. Having coverage could give you piece of mind in an unfortunate event.

Injury to Others

If others are injured in an accident that is your fault, you will have to compensate those involved. With a qualified policy, your insurance may be able to pay the cost.

Total Loss Policies

If your motorcycle is damaged due to an accident, it may cost more to fix it than it is worth. Total loss coverage could get you the cost of a replacement or the actual cash value of your bike.

Property Damage

Your bike is precious to you and you are going to want to get right back out on the open road after an accident. If you don’t have the means to fix it, it may be months before you can ride your motorcycle again. Being covered may get your bike repaired quickly and efficiently.

Collision Coverage

You could add collision coverage as part of your policy. Collision insurance can help you if you are in an accident and have to cover the cost of another persons’ property or their vehicle. This comes in handy if the accident is determined to be your fault.

HighPointe Insurance Services LLC are independent insurance agents serving Overland Park, Kansas. You can visit them and get more information about motorcycle insurance as well as auto, home, and commercial insurance policies.

Packing Tips in Overland Park, Kansas

Posted on by agentinsure

Not only is moving painstaking and tiring, the packing and unpacking part may be the worst of it. Items must be individually put into boxes and sometimes even wrapped so they are protected for the move itself. All of this can be very time-consuming and stressful. So here are a few tips to alleviate the packing process and allow you to get into your new place sooner and begin to enjoy it.

GET RID OF IT OR SELL IT

Look around your place and make that final decision on whether you really need this or that thing anymore. This move may be a great opportunity to purge some of those items you have been holding on to for a while for whatever reason. You can give them away or even sell them and use to profits to pay for the move, or buy yourself something brand new and nice.

INSURE YOUR ITEMS

Get a renters or home insurance policy to insure your items you are moving so you don’t have to worry about losing or breaking them during the move itself. Check in with HighPointe Insurance Services LLC who is known to serve the greater Overland Park, Kansas area with these types of insurance policies.

USE LUGGAGE AS BOXES

One way to efficiently pack items simple for the move is to use all of the bags you own to move items for you from point A to point B. This will save you money on boxes or time gathering free boxes and sort of move two things that you own at once.

GARBAGE BAGS

Even though it looks cheap and they aren’t as sturdy as a box, there are plenty of items you can transport with garbage bags. Utilize them as they are easy to acquire in bulk for very cheap!

Why Drivers Experience Road Rage and What to Do About It

Posted on by agentinsure

Although most people won’t admit to it, they’ve experienced road rage at some point in their lives. While it may not be something that you feel every single day or that you see day in and day out, it’s a serious threat. In fact, the National Safety Council says that this is the single most threat to safety on the highway today. So, why do people experience road rage in the first place? Is there anything that can be done? Read on to learn more.

Reasons Why People Experience Road Rage

How do you feel when someone flips you off – you know, gives you the middle finger, or the bird? Probably not great, right? In fact, it could really anger you. How do you feel when you’ve been driving around the mall parking lot forever and finally set your sights on a parking space only to have someone else swoop in at the last minute and take it from you? You’re really angry because who knows how much longer you have to continue driving around with your screaming kids now. Things like this are what cause people to experience road rage.

How You Can Avoid Road Rage

One of the most unfortunate things about road rage is that it can result in aggressive driving, which can then lead to traffic injuries and deaths. Therefore, it is important to learn a few tactics that will help you avoid experiencing such aggression toward someone else. For example, with the above scenarios, try to wave instead of flipping someone off. In some cases, this can actually help to defuse a situation. When someone steals your parking spot, stay calm, don’t blare your horn at them and avoid eye contact with them. While you may still be angry on the inside, these steps will do wonders in helping you calm your emotions and bring your levels of anger down so that you can relax, avoid unnecessary confrontation and injury, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Because road rage is so common and can cause accidents, it is important that you make sure you are always covered with an adequate amount of insurance. Contact us at HighPointe Insurance Services LLC to get a quote for a new policy or to ensure your coverage is still current and meeting your needs. 

ATV Tips For First Timers

Posted on by agentinsure

Owning an ATV for the first time can bring a lot of joy. When you live in Overland Park, there are things that you should know and tips that you should keep in mind to ensure your safety and keep your ATV safe at the same time.

Learn How to Ride

Be sure you know how to ride your ATV so that you are safe on it as can be. Depending upon where you live and how old you are, there may be various safety courses that you can take that will teach you more about the fundamentals of driving so that you can exercise more caution.

File the Necessary Paperwork

Some paperwork needs to be filed with the state, and this includes a permit. You will also want to consider ATV insurance so that you have some kind of recourse in the event that there is damage to the vehicle or even theft.

Be Safe

Be safe at all times. You want to make sure that you are wearing a quality motorcycle helmet, and that you have gloves and goggles on each time you ride. Until you have mastered level services, avoid mountains, mud flats, and anywhere else. It may also be wise to invest in additional protection, including a chest protector and knee guards.

Lock it Up

ATVs are commonly stolen, and you want to make sure that yours isn’t. Whenever possible, you should lock it up inside of a garage or shed. If you have to leave it outdoors, purchase a heavy-duty metal chain and tied to something sturdy on your property.

Call and talk to our independent insurance agent at HighPointe Insurance Services LLC where we can talk to you more about ATVs and how to get the necessary insurance so that you are safe, trails and everywhere else.

 

What Auto Insurance Do You Need When Traveling Abroad?

Posted on by agentinsure

Auto insurance is an important legal aspect of driving safely in the United States. Driving overseas, it is also just as important. While driving overseas, car insurance is more for your own benefit than anything else. Considering that driving laws can be very different overseas from those in the U.S. it is imperative to have auto insurance for your own safety and protection.

Temporary auto insurance is often offered through the car rental company you will be using. However, if you are planning to stay overseas for a longer period of time then purchasing international car insurance is a good plan.

Remember that each country will have different laws governing auto insurance coverage. You will need to do your homework beforehand to make sure you are properly covered with the correct type of insurance.

Types of Auto Insurance

Collision- This covers you when you have an accident involving another car that was not your fault. This type insurance will cover the repairs to your car and often medical bills resulting from any injuring.

Liability- This covers you when you have an accident that was your fault. This pays the victim for damage and injuries, but does not pay for damage to your car or injuries you withstand.

Comprehensive- Comprehensive car insurance covers a variety of incidents which might occur to you or your vehicle. Although collision and liability are two of the most common types of coverage under comprehensive, there are a host of other types of accidents which can occur to damage your car or injury you while driving abroad. Comprehensive insurance is good because it can cover all of these other things which are also real threats. Some of these threats include hail damage, vandalism, striking an animal and many others.

If you would like to learn more about auto insurance please contact us at HighPointe Insurance Services LLC now serving Overland Park, KS.