Why You Should Buy from an Independent Insurance Agent

When it comes to buying insurance, you have a few options. You can buy insurance directly from an insurance company or you can work with an independent insurance agent. While buying insurance directly from an insurance company may seem like the easiest option, there are many benefits to working with an independent insurance agency. Here are a few reasons why you should buy insurance from an independent insurance agent:

  • Choice

When you work with an independent insurance agency, you have access to a wide range of insurance products from multiple insurance companies. This means that you can compare coverage and pricing options from different insurance companies and choose the policy that best meets your needs and budget.

  • Expertise

Independent insurance agents are licensed professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to help you navigate the complex world of insurance. They can answer your questions, explain your coverage options, and help you understand the terms and conditions of your policy. They can also provide guidance on how to reduce your insurance costs and avoid common insurance mistakes.

  • Personalized Service

When you work with an independent insurance agent, you get personalized service. Your agent will take the time to get to know you, understand your unique insurance needs, and help you find the right coverage. They will also be there to help you through the claims process and provide ongoing support as your insurance needs change over time.

  • Advocacy

If you ever need to file an insurance claim, your independent insurance agent will be there to advocate for you. They will work with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that your claim is handled fairly and efficiently. They can also help you understand your rights as an insurance policyholder and provide guidance if you need to dispute a claim decision.

  • Cost Savings

Working with an independent insurance agency can actually save you money in the long run. Independent agents have access to a wide range of insurance products from multiple insurance companies, which means that they can help you find the most cost-effective policy that meets your needs. They can also help you identify discounts and other cost-saving opportunities that you may not be aware of.

In conclusion, working with an independent insurance agency can provide you with a range of benefits, including choice, expertise, personalized service, advocacy, and cost savings. So if you’re in the market for insurance, consider working with an independent insurance agent, like Advantage Insurance Network, to get the best coverage at the best price. Visit www.myadvantageinsurance.com.

What Type of Water Damage Does Flood Insurance Cover?

Do you know what flood insurance covers in Cincinnati, OH?

Living in a high-risk area for flooding makes it all the more important to have the right insurance coverage. In this blog, we’ll look at how Advantage Insurance Network can help keep your home safe from surface water, groundwater, and sewer backup damage.

Surface Water Damage

Storms and heavy rains can lead to surface water damage, typically covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies. But if your area has a higher risk of flooding, investing in a separate flood insurance policy for comprehensive protection is essential. This coverage includes protection from water that enters your home or business due to heavy rains, snow melts, and overflowing rivers and streams.

Groundwater Damage

Groundwater can also be damaging to homes. This type of water damage occurs when moisture seeps through the ground into your property – even if there hasn’t been any rain or standing water present. Unfortunately, most standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover this kind of damage, so opt for a separate flood insurance policy to ensure you’re safe.

Sewer Backup Damage

Even if your house isn’t flooded with surface water or groundwater, sewer systems can still back into homes due to clogged lines or torrential rains. Regular homeowners’ policies rarely cover sewer backup damage, so investing in flood insurance is essential to stay protected in a high-risk area. With the right coverage, you’ll be financially secure in case of a sewer backup.

If you live in Cincinnati, OH, or any other high-risk area for flooding, don’t leave yourself exposed! Contact Advantage Insurance Network today and learn more about getting the right coverage for your home with flood insurance.

Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value For Your Boat Insurance

Regarding shopping around for boat insurance, there are two significant distinctions to consider in potential policies. Loss settlement is the amount paid to you for a loss claim. The loss settlement types between different policies include agreed and actual cash values. There are pros and cons to each type of loss settlement, and talking to one of our agents at Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH will help you determine which is best for your boat ownership lifestyle.

Agreed Value

Pros:

  • These policies pay a set amount named in your policy for a total loss claim.
  • Partial loss claims may be paid out based on replacement cost – a depreciation of lost or damaged items is usually not factored in the settlement.

Cons:

  • Generally, this policy comes at a higher premium cost.
  • Your deductible applies to loss settlement payout.
  • Some items that experience higher wear and tear may be subject to depreciation consideration when determining a payout for loss.

Actual Cash Value

Pros:

  • Generally, these policies come with more affordable premiums.

Cons:

  • Your deductible applies to the loss settlement payout amount.
  • The current market value of your vessel determines the maximum claim payout.

Our agents at Advantage Insurance Network are experts in boat insurance. They can answer any questions about boat insurance, including the difference between agreed value and actual cash value loss settlement. As a boat owner in Cincinnati, OH, you owe it to yourself to give us a call today. If you already have a boat insurance policy, we can help you evaluate your current coverage and vessel usage and help you determine whether your coverage matches your needs.

Four key factors to consider when you choose boat insurance coverage

When you purchase a boat, you make a significant investment. When you use your boat, you also make yourself susceptible to liability expenses. That’s why you need to purchase boat insurance.

We offer boat insurance at Advantage Insurance Network. The following are four key factors to consider when you choose boat insurance coverage in Cincinnati, OH. 

The type(s) of coverage you want and need

You should know about and be aware of numerous types of boat insurance coverage. These include liability, collision, comprehensive, and contents coverage. 

The value of your boat

The value of your boat impacts how much coverage you need. You should have enough coverage to pay for the full value of your boat. This protects you financially if you file a claim that leads to a total loss of your boat. 

The activities for which you use your boat

It would be best if you considered what your boat is used for. If you use your boat for day-long fishing trips, your insurance requirements will be different than if you use your boat for overnight trips. 

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the boat insurance requirements for various boating activities. 

The places where you’ll use your boat and require coverage

Boat policies typically limit coverage to boat use in certain areas. That’s why you need to discuss where you’ll be using your boat with your insurance provider to ensure you have the coverage you need. 

If you need to find the perfect insurance policy for your boat, we’re here for you at Advantage Insurance Network. You can find the information you need on boat insurance in Cincinnati, OH by contacting our office. 

How Much Flood Insurance Do I Need?

If you live in America, you know this country is not a stranger to floods. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the US, causing billions of property damage yearly. Since typical home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, many Cincinnati, OH homeowners have invested in flood insurance to protect their homes against flooding.

Suppose you have flood insurance, congratulations! But do you have sufficient coverage? Underinsuring your home against floods may catch you off-guard when you least expect it. And because at Advantage Insurance Network, we don’t like to see our clients caught by surprise when filing claims, the post below is a guide on the amount of flood insurance you should purchase.

Satisfy your mortgage requirements

If your home is in a flood zone, your lender requires you to purchase flood insurance to protect your home. Your lender probably requires you to purchase flood insurance equivalent to or higher than the outstanding loan or the cost of rebuilding your home.

Remember that your lender’s requirements may differ from what you need. For instance, if the outstanding loan balance is way below the value of your house, you need to reconsider your flood insurance amount.

How much flood insurance do I need?

Assuming you don’t have a mortgage or want optimal protection for your home, here is the guide to help you purchase sufficient flood insurance.

  • The amount should be enough to rebuild your home: Purchase flood insurance equivalent to your home’s replacement value. This ensures your flood insurance can rebuild your home from the ground up in the worst-case scenario.
  • Your flood insurance should replace all your assets: Set up a home inventory count and value everything in your possession. Buy flood insurance coverage that can replace all your assets if swept by floods.

Still not sure how much flood insurance you need in Cincinnati, OH? No problem. Please get in touch with Advantage Insurance Network for tailor-made advice.

Condo Insurance in Ohio: What Coverage do I Need?

When you have a condo in Ohio, you want to be protected from every liability or financial risk. You may not be required to get condo insurance in Ohio, unless your lender or mortgage broker requires it. 

At Advantage Insurance Network, we help Cincinnati, OH condo owners get the coverage they need for their condo living. We can help you build the right policy for your needs.

Learn more about what coverage you could need in a condo in Ohio.

Your Condo Association Policy

When you have a condo, the condo association or condo board will have a master policy that covers the areas of the grounds for which they are responsible. Those are typically the most common areas, areas that many people would share.

That could include a common room or lounge, elevators, front foyer, hallways, and common storage areas where shared belongings are kept. Personal storage units that contain only your belongings would be your insurance responsibility.

Your Personal Condo Insurance Policy

For your own personal condo insurance policy, you will want to have at minimum, liability coverage. This will cover you financially in the event that an accident occurs in your home for which you are held liable. 

That could be a dog bite, a slip and fall, or another problem that you are responsible for. This liability coverage will follow you when you travel.

You may also be interested in contents coverage, that will cover you in the event that you experience damage, loss, or theft, of any of your personal belongings.

Improvements and betterments coverage is also a traditional component of condo insurance and can be used to make renovations or improvements to your unit.

Get a Quote

Condo insurance is like renter’s insurance, where the primary land workers or managers assume a lot of risks. That is what their insurance will cover. Yours will cover the risks in your own home. At Advantage Insurance Network, we help Cincinnati, OH condo owners get the most thorough coverage for their needs. Call us for a quote today.

What Damage Can a Flood Do to Your Home?

Floods can cause serious damage to your home. Even if you do not live in a high-risk flood zone, your home could experience serious flooding. This is why flood insurance is so important, no matter where you live.

Advantage Insurance Network, which serves Cincinnati, OH, understands the importance of flood insurance. These are some of the common ways homes are impacted by floods.

Structural Damage

Structural damage to a home is extremely common after a flood. The bones of your home could become damaged, perhaps causing the home to fall down in some places due to rotting.

Electrical Damage

Electrical concerns are among the most dangerous after a flood, but they are also some of the most devastating. Depending on many factors associated with your home, the electrical damage could require extensive repairs.

Appliance Damage

Appliances like stoves, washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators can all become damaged in a flood. Appliances are expensive, but insurance may be able to help you replace them.

Mold & Mildew

Mold and mildew are more than a nuisance. They can both cause serious health issues later, which makes them important to take care of immediately. Insurance can help with this step.

Septic & Well Water System Damage

Water can become contaminated after a flood, which is why you need insurance if you have a well water or septic system. You may need to do a lot of work to make sure that you can use the water safely, and this can be expensive.

Get Flood Insurance

If you live in Cincinnati, OH, Advantage Insurance Network can help you. Contact an insurance professional to discuss flood insurance before your home faces serious damage.

Dwelling Fire Insurance Overview

Advantage Insurance Network offers coverage to Cincinnati, OH residents. We strive to make sure that our clients are protected in every situation. We proudly serve the community as an independent agency. This allows us to offer our clients a wide variety of options. We look forward to helping you find the coverage you need.

Dwelling Fire Insurance Overview

Your Cincinnati, OH property is your sanctuary. It’s the place where you can relax after a long day. The Midwest is known for rough winter conditions, so perhaps you have a seasonal residence that you also spend time at during the cold winters in Cincinnati. If something happens to your seasonal residence, you may not be protected unless you have dwelling fire insurance.

Dwelling fire insurance covers any property that you have that is not your primary residence. Dwelling fire insurance covers any damage to your seasonal home, as well as your personal items. You are covered if your property is damaged due to severe weather or an accidental fire. You can amend your coverage to protect yourself if your property is damaged by a windstorm or explosion.

You can choose a broad form of coverage that protects your property if someone vandalizes it or there is electrical damage. You are also covered if your residence starts to erode due to insect damage. Consider taking inventory of any personal items that you have at your seasonal residence. This way, you’ll have an estimate of their value if something happens. Depending on the area that your property is in, you can add extra coverage to cover you if a riot occurs or an earthquake.

Advantage Insurance Network Will Help You Protect Your Investment

Visit our website to learn more information on dwelling fire insurance.  

What Does Boat Insurance Cover?

You have survived a long winter in Ohio and are looking forward to putting your new boat in a lake and heading out for some fun in the sun but you may want to consider insuring your boat before using it. The staff at the Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH understand all of the different types of boat insurance coverage you can obtain in Ohio and will help you choose the correct ones for you and your boat so you can simply enjoy being out on the water.

In Ohio, it is not required that you have boat insurance but it is highly recommended since accidents can still happen out on the water just like they do on the highways.

Main Boat Insurance Options

Liability insurance will cover any bodily damage to a person that has been caused by your boat as well as property damage to someone’s boat or a dock.

You can also get a boat insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage which means if damage occurs to your boat from a storm, vandalism, a fire, or it is stolen, you can have your boat replaced or repaired without a large cost to you and your family.

Extra Boat Insurance Options

You can also opt to have insurance in place for your boat that covers other items, including your beloved fishing equipment. This includes if your equipment is damaged or stolen.

You can also receive roadside assistance which means if you are stranded out on a waterway due to your boat breaking down or becoming damaged, you can get a tow or other assistance.

Having good insurance coverage in place for your boat will provide you with more peace of mind and relaxation while you are out on the water in your boat. To choose the best options for you and your boat, contact an experienced Ohio boat insurance agent at the Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH to get your policy started today.

4 Benefits of Motorcycle Insurance

Just like you never forget about your safety gear and motorcycle maintenance, you should never ride your bike without motorcycle insurance. This coverage could save the day when you least expect it. 

Are you having second thoughts about motorcycle insurance? Here are the advantages you accrue when buying motorcycle insurance from Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH.

Liability coverage

If you are accused of property damage or bodily injury to other people, motorcycle insurance helps you pay for the liability claims. While most states have minimum liability coverages you should purchase, you should go for higher limits to increase your coverage. 

Medical payments

Unlike vehicles with a protective body, even a minor accident on a bike can result in severe injuries for you and your passenger. Thankfully, if you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, it covers the resulting medical expenses, lessening your financial burden. Better yet, PIP coverage may cover partial loss of income and funeral expenses.

Asset protection

While liability coverages cover losses you sustain to other people, comprehensive and collision coverages cover your bike. In the event of an accident or when perils like fire, theft, and vandalism occur, motorcycle insurance covers replacement or repair bills of your bike. 

It’s the law

Ohio requires all riders to carry motorcycle insurance whenever riding on public roads. Failure to comply with motorcycle insurance exposes you to fines and penalties, including license suspension. Besides, if you are uninsured, you will have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for the damages you cause. 

Buy motorcycle insurance today

If you are about to purchase a bike, it comes with many benefits. From cheaper gas, ease of commuting to limitless fun on the highways, there are a million reasons to buy a motorbike. However, amidst the fun, you should never forget about motorcycle insurance.

Are you shopping or renewing motorcycle insurance in Cincinnati, OH? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Advantage Insurance Network for a personalized quote.