Whether shopping for insurance for your Austin, TX home or business, you need fire coverage. At Southwest Insurance Center, we want you to understand the diversity of fire insurance. You might think you can just buy a policy, but you need to consult with an agent first because so many different types of fire insurance exist. This blog helps you get started choosing the right one for you.

Adjustable fire insurance policy: Retail businesses use adjustable fire insurance to insure their stock. When the number of stock changes, so does the insured amount. The agency calculates the premium by the amount insured and the change in the insured amount.

Average policy: Essentially, you have a deductible with the average policy. Both you and the insurance company ear part of a loss. If you file a claim, the insurance company uses the following formula to calculate it:

Claim= (insured amount / value of property) * actual loss.

Blanket policy: Insures multiple properties under one policy.

Consequential loss policy: Compensates your business for the loss incidental to the fire, such as renting temporary offices and paying salaries.

Comprehensive policy: This covers other perils, too, such as looting, arson, rioting, civil unrest, wars, strikes, unavoidable accidents, etc.

Declaration policy: This insurance covers stock of a maximum value. You pay three-fourths of the premium when you obtain the policy. At the outset of each month, you declare the value of the business’s current stock and, if a fire occurs, the insurance company makes your compensation on the basis of declared value.

Excess policy: This supplementary policy covers additional risks. If your business’ stock frequently fluctuates this policy covers the amount above that covered in the main policy.

Floating fire insurance policy: This policy type covers your business’ stock and equipment at your main location, other locations, and in storage.

Reinstatement policy: Rather than a reimbursement check, this policy type replaces the insured goods lost in the fire.

Specific fire insurance policy: You only get reimbursed for the actual damages up to the insured amount with this policy.

Valued policy: Regardless of the cost of damages, this policy type pays the full value of property fixed at the purchase of the policy.

Valuable fire insurance policy: Regardless of the cost of damages, this policy type pays the actual current market price of the property insured in the policy.

Contact us at Southwest Insurance Center to find the right fire insurance policy for your Austin, TX business. Let us help you determine which policies would best serve your business needs.

Umbrella insurance is an important type of coverage that comes in handy for many people. More and more people are getting this coverage so that they are well-prepared for a major accident that could happen. If you want to be better covered, call us at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX to find out more about this helpful coverage. 

Your Maximum Payout

When you have a home insurance policy as well as an auto policy, you have two policies that generally come with low amounts for liability coverage. That means that if a serious accident were to occur, your home or auto policy would pay for the resulting bills, but only up to the stated maximum. If this is too low, then you are liable for paying the overage by yourself. However, you can be covered in this situation by getting an umbrella policy.

Umbrella Coverage

When you have an umbrella policy, it works alongside both your auto and home policies. It adds a higher maximum of liability insurance so that you won’t be on the hook for an overage after your auto or home policies payout. It doesn’t add directly to your auto or home policies, it instead works with them so that you are better protected against medical bills and bills for property damage. This is an important coverage in case of a serious accident. Serious accidents do happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry later. 

Protect Your Future Finances

If you don’t want to pay overages after an accident, you could likely use an umbrella policy. Give us a call at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX to find out more. 

RVs are popular in Austin, TX, and across the entire state in general. Many Austin, TX residents are finding that this type of vehicle provides more options when it comes to traveling compared to brick and mortar modes of transportation. Regrettably, there is prevailing confusion over applicable RV insurance coverages. However, for clarity, connect with us at Southwest Insurance Center to learn more about how you can safeguard yourself and your RV before you embark on the next great adventure.

Besides protecting yourself and your RV, acquiring RV insurance can shield your possessions inside your trailer. Additionally, you can incorporate medical payments coverage to pay for medical costs for you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident. 

Common types of RV insurance

The beauty of RV insurance is that it’s offered with various options, enabling customizability and affordability. Most common RV insurance options include: 

• Property damage liability: It covers costs for paying damages to someone else’s property or vehicle if you cause an accident and are at fault.
• Collision coverage: It pays for damage or replacement of your recreational vehicle if it gets damaged after engaging in an accident with another automobile, tree, post, among others, regardless of who is deemed responsible.
• Comprehensive coverage: It’s a non-collision policy covering damages beyond your control emanating from a given accident. These covered uncertainties include weather-related accidents, vandalism, and theft. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: It pays for damages and injuries for you and your passengers when your RV is involved in an accident with another motorist who has no insurance or has inadequate protection. 
• Medical payments: This policy covers medical bills for you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident with your RV, regardless of who is at fault.
• Replacement cost or personal effects: This type of coverage safeguards your items like camera equipment or sporting gear inside your RV.

Do you need RV insurance for your motorhome or camp trailer in Austin, TX? Please call or visit our Southwest Insurance Center offices to start your insurance journey with us.

When you live in the Austin, TX area, having a reliable mode of transportation is important. One form of transportation that is fun and efficient is a motorcycle. The weather in this city is ideal for motorcycle owners as it is warm and sunny most days of the year. Along with a purchase of a motorcycle, you will also need to carefully assess your needs in terms of motorcycle insurance. There are a lot of scenarios when motorcycle insurance will be needed.

When Riding on Public Road

A common situation that will require you to have motorcycle insurance will come when you take it out on a public road. In Texas, all motorists need to have a proper liability insurance plan. If you are a motorcycle owner, this will require that you get a full motorcycle insurance policy that will have a liability insurance component. Those that are caught without this coverage could be penalized.

When Taking out a Loan

You will also need to get a motorcycle insurance plan when you take out a loan. Anyone that is taking out a loan will find there are a variety of requirements in the agreement. One agreement will be to have full motorcycle insurance coverage at all times. This will require that you get a plan with collision and comprehensive protection, which ultimately protects the lender’s interest in the motorcycle.

As you are looking for motorcycle insurance in the Austin, TX area you may find there are a lot of options to consider. The team with the Southwest Insurance Center can make the process easier for you. The Southwest Insurance Center will take an active approach to fully understand all of your insurance needs. They can then offer the support needed for you to build an ideal plan. 

The Austin, TX area can be a great place to live. Those that are in this area of Texas may find that a great investment to make would be to purchase a boat. While you can use your boat all summer long, it does come with some responsibilities. One of these includes getting boat insurance. There are several situations when you need to have this coverage. 

Those that Have a Loan

One situation in which having boat insurance will be necessary for you is when you have taken out a loan. Getting a boat will always be a big purchase that may need to be done through financing. If you have received a boat loan your lender will want to know that their collateral is protected. In many cases, the boat loan provider will have specific insurance guidelines that need to be met until the loan is repaid.

Those that Want to Use Boat in Private Marinas

In the Austin area, there are a variety of local waterways and private marinas that have specific insurance rules for all boaters. These waterways and marinas require you to have insurance as it ultimately protects both you and all other boat owners in the area. You may be required to provide evidence of coverage from time to time. 

Those that are in the Austin, TX area should make sure that they choose a quality boat insurance plan. When you are looking for a new boat insurance policy, it would be a good idea to call the Southwest Insurance Center. The insurance professionals with the Southwest Insurance Center know how valuable this coverage and protection is. They can then offer a personalized assessment of your situation to help you understand your needs and build a policy that provides proper overage. 

If questioned, few people would be able to answer how much life insurance is enough. Most people don’t think much about it. They allow their employer to determine the amount they have and just hope it is enough. That is where a trusted independent insurance agent comes in. They get to know you and your needs and can help you to come up with a figure that makes sense. In Austin, TX, that is Southwest Insurance Center. Our philosophy is to help our customers to find exactly what they need at a price they can afford. 

When you think about how much life insurance is enough, you may feel overwhelmed. How can you possibly know how much life insurance will be enough? Certainly, the amount of life insurance you need today may not be the amount you need in 10, 20, or 30 years. Like many parts of your life, it will ebb and flow and you need to grow and change along with it. 

Something to consider is what you want to get from your life insurance. If it is just the death benefit, term life insurance is affordable and can offer all the protection you will need at an affordable price. But at some future date, it will no longer cover you when the term ends. If you want to have coverage for your entire life, whole life insurance will stay with you and offer some other benefits beyond just the death benefit. 

Life insurance is designed to protect your loved ones when you no longer can. If you look at the coverage you have and can feel confident they will be able to live comfortably if you were taken from them, then you have enough life insurance. If you are concerned, talk to your insurance agent about options you should consider. 

Contact Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX for all your insurance needs. We are a one-stop agency with an experienced team to help you. 

So your Austin, TX business has finally gained some footing in the local business community, and now you’re ready to call Southwest Insurance Center to get protected. This may be completely new territory for you. You’ve bought car insurance before, you’ve bought home insurance, but this is your first time insuring a business. So let’s take a moment to dispel some common myths:

1. Very Small Businesses Don’t Need Insurance

Whether or not you need insurance isn’t really about how much money you’re taking in or the square footage of your shop, it’s about risk. Your main concern is a liability. If you could potentially be held liable for injury or damages, you need insurance, whether you’re a mom & pop or a Fortune 500.

2. My Home Insurance Will Cover My Home-Based Business

Actually, your home insurance might cancel your policy if they find out you’ve been running a business out of the garage without telling them. Your home insurer may provide some basic coverage for items like laptops and home printers, but they’re not going to cover inventory or most business equipment.

3. All I Need Is General Liability

General liability is perhaps the most important part of your policy, but it only covers you against claims made by others. It doesn’t protect your store, inventory or equipment.

There’s a lot to learn when insuring your business in Austin, TX, but the good news is that Southwest Insurance Center is here to show you the ropes. If you’re ready to invest in a policy or if you just have some questions you’d like answered, get in touch and find a policy that works for your business.

Southwest Insurance Center offers multiple types of insurance coverage. We assist our clients throughout Austin, TX, as well as the surrounding areas. We are committed to making sure that our clients find the coverage they need to protect their assets. We have relationships with several different carriers throughout Texas.

Dwelling Fire Insurance Overview

Sometimes, the South is known for its intense weather. During severe cases of weather, some areas are prone to fire. Whether it is caused by severe weather or just accidentally, a fire has the potential to cause serious damage to your property. While traditional coverage may cover fire damage due to a natural disaster, consider the benefits of dwelling fire insurance. Dwelling fire insurance covers any fire damage that occurs as a result of an accidental fire where you are responsible. The policy also covers any damage to your personal belongings. However, if you have luxury items that suffer fire damage, you may need to amend your policy in order to cover those items.  Dwelling fire insurance also covers you if your home suffers damage due to faulty wiring. You can add liability coverage to this policy so that you will be protected if the fire causes damage to someone else or their property.

Temporary Lodging Coverage

If the fire causes enough damage that your property becomes uninhabitable, you can add temporary lodging coverage to give you a safety net as you find temporary housing in Austin, TX until your property is repaired.

Additional Structures

You can add extra coverage to protect other structures on your property if they suffer damage. This protects you if your garage or trailer suffers fire damage.

Southwest Insurance Center Will Assist You

Visit our website today to learn more information about dwelling fire insurance.

Wondering if you need umbrella insurance? First, let’s define umbrella insurance and why it is usually recommended. Most people are familiar with auto or home insurance and their own coverage limits. Umbrella insurance goes a step further with its coverage. In the event of a lawsuit or accident, umbrella insurance can offer more coverage once regular limits have been reached.

Umbrella insurance may be used to cover legal fees, for example, if they exceed your insurance liabilities. If you are not covered by an umbrella policy, you would have to pay out of pocket for any amount over your limits. Lawsuits and accidents are pricey, so umbrella insurance is typically recommended if you have assets like a vehicle or home. 

While umbrella insurance is not required in Texas, it is highly recommended. Essentially, the more potential risk of your assets, the more likely you are to need umbrella insurance. Make sure to verify your claim and coverage with an agent in your area. If you are in the Austin, TX area, contact the knowledgeable team at Southwest Insurance Center. They can provide the most up to date information and umbrella insurance coverage options.

Landlord liabilities, serious bodily injury liabilities, and even libel or slander may potentially be covered with umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance is one of the answers to life’s unexpected events. This personal insurance can absolve many worries with its extra coverage.

Depending on the amount of coverage and your assets, you may have to raise your insurance liability limits. Get in touch with the Southwest Insurance Center, serving the Austin, TX area to confirm your current coverage and get specifics on umbrella insurance policies.

Southwest Insurance Center serves the Austin, TX community by offering insurance coverage. We are committed to helping our clients find the policies they need regardless of their situation. We embrace our role as an independent insurance agency and we work hard to provide a valuable experience.

Clarifying Some Common RV Insurance Statements

Many residents in the Austin, TX community enjoy riding their RV to get away from the stress of everyday life. However, it’s important that you have protection while you are traveling around. RV insurance covers your vehicle if you are involved in an accident or if the vehicle is damaged due to inclement weather. The policy also covers any of the personal items that you have in the RV if they are stolen and vandalized. While you are researching different policies, here is the truth regarding some aspects of RV insurance.

What About Extra Coverage?

Perhaps you’ve heard that adding extra coverage isn’t necessary if you don’t have valuable items. The truth is that you should consider adding extra coverage regardless if you have valuable possessions on your RV or not. If you add any accessories to your RV, adding extra coverage is important because it allows you to protect them if severe weather causes damages.

Am I Covered During An Emergency?

Yes, you are covered if your RV is damaged and you have to find a temporary place to stay. You can also amend your policy to include emergency assistance if your RV has engine troubles.  

Storage Coverage Is Important

If you plan to place your RV in storage when you aren’t using it, make sure that you have coverage. Accidents can happen at any moment. Storage coverage will protect your RV if someone tries to steal or vandalize it while you aren’t using it.

Consult With Southwest Insurance Center

Visit our website today to learn more information about RV insurance policies.