The mountains of northern Georgia are becoming a popular place for people to have a secondary home or a vacation home. Coastal areas have those as well, and if you have one, you will need insurance just as you do for your primary residence. The Insurance Mart of Blue Ridge, GA can help you get the coverage you need for that vacation home.

Generally speaking, insurance is very similar to the protection you have on your primary residence. You can easily add another policy to cover your second home. That is the easy part, getting into the details is more complicated.

The cost for the policy itself is not much more expensive, but there is usually an added charge of between 10 and 20 percent for the secondary home policy.  Whether you use that property as a rental when you are not vacationing there also makes a difference as to the type of policy you will need. Renting it out just a few times a year, however, is different.

The biggest drawback and the biggest risk is the fact that vacation homes are usually not inhabited for long periods of time. There is no one there to notice a broken window, for instance, or no one there to call the fire department if needed, so that makes the risk greater for insurance companies. Rural isolation, as you might find in North Georgia, can also increase the risk. 

Call, visit online, or stop by  The Insurance Mart in Blue Ridge, GA to find the insurance coverage you need. Consider an umbrella policy to make sure you have your assets protected.  Fair rental income protection is also an option if you rent your property. This policy would replace lost income from tenting if your property is destroyed or damaged severely.

You know that you need recreational insurance but there are a few questions that require answers. Read on to get the FAQs about RV insurance!

1. What happens if I want to switch my policy after renewing my old one?

Refunds are rare with insurance premiums. It is best to shop around for potential plans weeks before your old policy expires if you are planning to change providers. Still, if you have found a better plan before your old recreational insurance policy expires in Blue Ridge GA, you may want to do the following:

• Wait until the time runs out on your freshly renewed plan before signing up for the new policy. Some assurance companies do not increase rates by much and would still be viable options even if you need to get a new quote;

• Obtain the new policy while keeping your old one. There is no special rule in Blue Ridge GA that prohibits you from having multiple RV insurance policies;

• Tell your old insurance company that you are thinking of leaving because of the high premiums. Sometimes, in efforts to keep your business, your old indemnity provider will offer you a lower rate.

2. Is the premium a solid amount all year long?

The good thing about recreational insurance is that you can reduce the amount that you pay per month when the vessel is parked. An agent from The Insurance Mart can tell you more about this possibility.

3. How much recreational insurance do I need?

The amount of recreational insurance you need depends on the following:

• State Minimums;

• Finance Company Requirements;

The state of Georgia requires all vehicle owners to obtain assurance policies that provide a minimum of $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person as well as $25,000 for property damage coverage per incident. Georgia also requires vehicle owners to have uninsured motorist coverage.

The agents at The Insurance Mart can help you find the recreational insurance plan that best fits your lifestyle. Call them today to get started with a quote!

You are probably familiar with many types of insurance, such as auto insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. But there are many other types of insurance that are just as valuable yet not as many people are familiar with them. Commercial insurance is one of those types of insurance, and here are some key facts about it, brought to you by The Insurance Mart serving the Blue Ridge, GA area.

Definition of commercial insurance

Commercial insurance is a type of auto insurance policy. It covers vehicles that are being used for business purposes rather than for personal driving.

Who needs commercial insurance

Many types of people need commercial insurance. For example, a business with vehicles being used for business purposes, whether that amounts to one vehicle or many, needs commercial insurance. There is some gray area these days when it comes to services like car sharing and ride services like Uber, as far as what commercial insurance is needed for vehicles like that. So it is wise for people using vehicles like that to stay informed and consult a qualified local insurance company.

What commercial insurance covers

As is true for personal auto insurance, commercial insurance covers numerous things. For example, if a person is using a vehicle covered by commercial insurance and that vehicle is in an accident, the commercial insurance policy can cover that, depending of course on the specifics of that accident. Commercial insurance can also cover issues like towing and loss of use. What it covers though depends on the specifics of the individual policy.

There are many more ins and outs of commercial insurance. If you would like to get more information, please feel free to contact The Insurance Mart serving the Blue Ridge, GA area.

Do you wonder if it is a good idea for you to secure lightning insurance for your home? In most instances, this is ideal and necessary. Read on for important details about Blue Ridge, GA area lightning protection.

Unplug Those Devices

If you know that a storm is coming, you will want to unplug your appliances or devices. This will prevent any damage from an electrical surge, which can go beyond damage to your electronics themselves. Avoid fires and more issues by taking this proactive measure.

Install Surge Protectors

You may not be at home to unplug your electronics every day in the instance of an impending storm. In such a scenario, it would be beneficial to have transient voltage surge protectors installed. They greatly limit the amount of voltage going to the electronics, keeping them relatively safe.

View Your Home Insurance Policy

If you live in a region in which there are many storms, there is some sort of risk of damage from lightning to your house and surrounding property. You will want to be prepared by having adequate insurance coverage.

You can take various precautionary measures to protect your home in the first place, from a threat such as lightning. However, when a natural disaster strikes on your property, you should have insurance coverage. Take a look at your current insurance policy, if you have one. There should be specific language detailing that the coverage is for that purpose. Not only will it pay out for damages to your house, but also you can arrange for your policy to cover any that occur to your electronics.

Do your research to determine if Blue Ridge, GA is at high risk of frequent lightning storms. Put your trust in a reliable insurance company like The Insurance Mart to assist you with any questions and concerns you may have about policies and what various terms mean.

 

Boat owners who live in the Blue Ridge, GA are can rely on the agents of The Insurance Mart if they need help deciding on the right boat insurance policy. It’s important to know what type of coverage works best for your boat according to its age, condition, and how you use it. Talking to a licensed agent will give you the information you need to make an informed choice.

Agreed Value and Actual Value Coverage

An "Agreed Value" policy pays the value you agreed on when you took out the policy. Partial loss claims can be filed if repairs are needed. An "Actual Value" policy will pay you the actual value of the boat based on resale value at the time. With an Actual Value policy, the amount will change as the boat gets older and depreciation begins to affect its resale price. 

Other Types of Coverage

There are other types of coverage you can include in a boat policy. They include liability, medical, environmental, hull and tow insurance among others. Liability and medical are essential forms of coverage if you carry passengers on your watercraft at any time. These types of coverage protect you from financial loss if anyone is ever injured while riding in your boat.

The agents at The Insurance Mart serve residents who live in or near Blue Ridge, GA and many of the surrounding communities. If you own a boat or are thinking about buying one, it’s important that you understand the types of insurance you will need to have in place before you put it in the water for the first time. Call and schedule an appointment with your insurance agent today so you have the answers you need!

Recreation insurance covers a variety of recreational vehicles from ATVs to RVs. Boats are also covered with a recreational insurance policy. However, the types of policies used to cover personal RVs or boats will be different than those used to cover a commercial boating operation. That is why it is important to get to know the knowledgeable agents at The Insurance Mart. They work with clients throughout the Blue Ridge, GA area and will be able to assist you will the best coverage available.

With a commercial recreation insurance policy, your company will be protected should the boats be damaged during a weather event, fire or other accident. They will also be covered if the boats are vandalized. A good policy will also provide liability coverage. This will protect you if a customer is injured and sues for medical expenses due to your company’s negligence. It will also provide coverage if you or an employee damages someone’s personal property while the boating company is operating. Any of these situations where the company is deemed liable for the accident can be significantly detrimental to the corporation. As a business owner, you have a lot of issues to deal with every day but the perils of operating a boating company can be significant. This is why it is important to carve out a little time to get the coverage you need.

The team at The Insurance Mart provides the best information that they can to their clients in the Blue Ridge, GA area so that they can make the best decisions for their companies. Visit their website to get started then come by their offices. They will answer any questions that you may have so that you have the best coverage for your business.

Commercial insurance comes in many varieties depending on the needs of a particular business. Business owners of restaurants are well-advised to work closely with their insurance agent at The Insurance Mart, serving Blue Ridge, GA and the surrounding area, in order to make sure there is adequate insurance coverage to protect the business and the owner’s interests.

The categories of commercial insurance that restaurant owners should consider include:

• Worker’s Compensation
• General Liability
• Commercial Vehicle Insurance
• Property and Casualty Insurance
• Product Liability
• Business Interruption Insurance
• Umbrella Insurance
• Key Person Insurance

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

This insurance is mandated by state law. Every employer in the state of Georgia must maintain worker’s compensation insurance. This insurance protects both the employees and the employers. The employees are guaranteed a certain level of insurance coverage and payments for medical expenses, injuries, or payment to the next of kin for an employee’s loss of life while on the job. The employers have limited liability in the amount of the coverage offered by worker’s compensation insurance.

General Liability

This type of insurance provides protection for customers if there is an accident.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If any vehicle is used for the business, such as making food deliveries or picking up stuff for the restaurant to use, it needs to have commercial vehicle insurance.

Property and Casualty Insurance

This insurance protects the company’s assets that include the building, equipment, inventory, and furniture.

Product Liability

This type of insurance covers any products sold.

Business Interruption Insurance

This insurance helps pay the bills if the business has to temporarily close due to unforeseen circumstances such as a natural disaster.

Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance covers things that are not covered by other policies and extends the policy limits of other policies. Because of the risk of high settlement amounts or litigation awards, most businesses benefit from having umbrella coverage.

Key Person Insurance

If the business is heavily dependent on the efforts of a specific person or persons, they should have insurance so that their heirs can be able to withstand a sudden death or permanent disability of the key person, which negatively impacts the running of the business.

Conclusion

As a restaurant owner, it is best to have an insurance review with your agent at The Insurance Mart serving Blue Ridge, GA to make sure all your insurance coverage is adequate for your needs. Contact them today.

In today’s rush and hurry world, we often try to do things online or by a phone message that really needs an actual conversation. At The Insurance Mart, we want everyone in Blue Ridge, GA to get exactly the insurance they need, one reason we encourage people to come by and talk about your insurance needs before you buy.

If you try to go the do-it-yourself route, you could end up with not enough, too much or the wrong coverage altogether. For example, there are two different kinds of recreational insurance – outdoor/recreational insurance and recreational vehicle insurance. They’re both known as recreational insurance, for short.

If you want to insure your boat, Seadoo, RV, fifth wheel, snowmobile, dirt bike, dune buggy, golf cart, or ATV, you need recreational vehicle insurance. You’ll obtain a comprehensive policy to protect both rider and ride.

On the other hand, outdoor/recreational insurance offers businesses such as outfitters & guides, rope courses and ATV, bicycle or snowmobile tours either general liability insurance to cover bodily injury and property damage claims or comprehensive protection. It also covers amateur sports events. Although some items covered under it do involve a vehicle, others don’t. A ropes course or 5K race involves only the entrant and their physical capabilities.

The Insurance Mart wants to talk with you to know if you need insurance for your weekend ride or your weekend business. If you buy online, the similarities in name and some coverages might seem the same. You won’t have what you need though.

Come visit us in Blue Ridge, GA. We’ll help to determine what insurance really serves your needs and your budget.