Homeowner’s Insurance for Outdoor Structures

A homeowner’s insurance policy bundle should include coverage for outdoor structures, such as a detached garage, shed, pool, fence, or gazebo. However, such coverage has its limits. Milwaukee, WI, homeowners will want to read the terms and conditions to ensure that expensive outdoor features can be repaired or replaced easily during a natural disaster. As the area is susceptible to tornadoes, flooding, and heavy snowfall, it’s a good idea to ensure your policy covers these perils.

Regular Maintenance: A Must for Receiving Compensation

Homeowner’s insurance will not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear. It also won’t cover mold or damage caused by pests. To increase your odds of receiving compensation after a disaster, it’s wise to maintain your outdoor structures regularly. Pest infestation should be dealt with immediately before it causes irreversible harm. Broken or damaged fencing should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. If an outdoor structure is damaged in a disaster covered under your policy, but the insurer finds that part of the damage was caused by disrepair, you could lose out on needed compensation. 

Make a note of Changes.

Did you replace the fence around your property, build a pool, put in a new shed, or remove an old shed? You’ll want to tell your insurance agency about any changes you made to your outdoor property. This ensures your coverage is up-to-date at all times.

Contact Dern & Company for More Information

Dern & Company specializes in offering great home insurance options to Milwaukee, WI, homeowners. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you protect your property’s outdoor structures. 

Comparing Business Interruption Insurance to Business Income Insurance

Navigating the world of commercial insurance can be bewildering for a business owner. Two terms you will often encounter are business interruption insurance and business income insurance. It’s essential to know the differences between these policies so you can determine which best suits your business. Making the correct choice ensures robust protection, enabling your business to thrive, even in challenging situations.

Property vs. Income

These two policy types are occasionally used interchangeably, although they are distinct. Business interruption insurance focuses on property-related losses, such as those concerning equipment, inventory, and the commercial building itself. Conversely, business income insurance pertains to lost income when a business shuts down temporarily. To ensure comprehensive protection, you may want to consider including both policies in your commercial insurance package.

Business Assets

In the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as a crime, natural disaster, or any other incident beyond your control, maintaining payments on your commercial property and protecting your business assets is crucial. This scenario underscores the importance of business interruption insurance. It ensures you can continue meeting your business obligations and restart operations promptly.

Salaries

Employees’ salaries can suffer a significant blow in the face of the unexpected. Thanks to business income insurance, you can continue remunerating your employees and prevent them from seeking employment elsewhere. This coverage protects more than wages; it allows you to retain quality staff who contribute immensely to your business’s success.

If you’re based in the Milwaukee, WI, area and need guidance about commercial insurance, our team at Dern & Company is ready to assist.

Differences Between Renter’s Insurance and Landlord Insurance

For landlords and their tenants in Milwaukee, WI, our team of insurance professionals at Dern & Company ensures that we recommend the right type of insurance for their situation. Although some folks may get confused about whether they should have renter’s or landlord’s insurance, determining which you want to have can be simple once you figure out the differences between them. Additionally, knowing what each policy might cover can make it easier to tell whether it makes sense for you to file a claim with your insurance or for your landlord or tenant to file a claim for a specific circumstance.

What Is Renter’s Insurance?

Renter’s insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers valuable belongings, liability, and more on behalf of a renter. The person who holds this policy will be a tenant in a rental property like an apartment or rented home. Sometimes, all renters in a home or apartment unit will share a policy, while individual renters in a property who live as roommates may prefer holding separate policies.

What Is Landlord Insurance?

Landlord insurance covers property that a person owns and rents out. As a result, a person must be a landlord to hold it. While every policy is unique, some examples of things that landlord insurance may cover include the structure of the dwelling, liability for which the landlord is legally responsible, and personal property for rentals that include items you own, like furniture or household items in short-term rentals.

How to Tell Which One You Need

As you can imagine, it’s easy to tell what you need when you know what they are. Tenants need renter’s insurance. Landlords, on the other hand, need landlord insurance.

For more information, call Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI!

Types of Coverage You Need in Your Boat Insurance

When you own a boat, it’s essential that you have boat insurance to cover it. There are a number of types of coverage that you need to have to protect yourself against a wide range of incidents that can happen both on and off the water. The types of coverage offered by boat policies are very much like the coverage you get in an auto policy. Call us today at Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI if you need boat insurance.

Liability Coverage Types

The bare minimum that you should have in your boat policy is two types of liability coverage. These are property damage liability and bodily injury liability. Both types protect you against costs you can incur when you’re judged to be at fault for a boating accident. Many boaters don’t think much about boating accidents, but they are a common problem that can leave financial devastation in their wake. They each protect you against different types of costs, but both work similarly. If there are injuries, your bodily injury liability coverage will handle those charges. If someone else’s property is damaged, your property damage coverage will cover those costs. 

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is what you need to pay for your own property damage after an accident or other incident. Because liability doesn’t pay for your damages, you need this coverage for your repair or replacement bills. You also need comprehensive coverage to pay for incidents that happen when the boat is on land. There are a lot of things that can happen there, and you should be covered just in case of a problem. 

Get Boat Insurance 

If your boat isn’t covered, you aren’t protected. To get your boat policy, call Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI.

What Level of Perils Coverage Do You Need?

Your home insurance covers you from financial loss when specific perils affect your home. Perils typically include events such as hurricanes or earthquakes. Home insurance offers five different levels of peril coverage – HO-1, HO-2, HO-3, HO-5, and HO-8. Read this blog from Dern & Company to determine which level of perils coverage you need for your Milwaukee, WI, home.

Why Have So Many Levels of Coverage?

The insurance industry designed homeowner’s insurance to serve the U.S. population as a whole, hence the five levels of perils coverage. The level of coverage a person needs for their home depends on the location of the house and the typical natural hazards affecting the area. Let’s consider how the five levels differ.

Differences Between Levels of Perils Coverage

The bare bones coverage provided by HO-1 protects from financial loss due to 10 specific perils named in the policy. In the insurance industry, we call this named peril coverage. HO-2 policies also contain named peril coverage but cover 15 perils. HO-8 policies cover the same perils as an HO-1 policy, but only owners of historical homes or architecturally significant homes can purchase them.

Most financial lenders require HO-3 policies before they extend a mortgage to an individual. An HO-3 policy covers most perils and doesn’t limit which homeowners can purchase it.

Insurance companies offer HO-5 policies for homeowners who want comprehensive perils coverage. In the industry, we refer to this as all-perils coverage. If you purchase an HO-5 policy, your home insurance covers anything that could happen to your house.

Upgrade Your Home Policy Today

Do you have less than all-perils coverage? Don’t put your home at risk! Contact Dern & Company today to upgrade your Milwaukee, WI, home coverage.

Why your home-based business needs commercial insurance?

Why Home-based Businesses Need Robust Insurance Coverage

More and more people are setting up businesses from the comfort of their homes. One critical fact to keep in mind is that home insurance does not provide adequate coverage for such ventures. Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, brings over 25 years of insurance expertise to help you make informed choices about commercial insurance for your home-based business.

Key Protections Your Business Requires

  • Property Coverage: Commercial property insurance offers comprehensive coverage for the property and the items you need for your business operations. Regular household insurance won’t cover the necessary equipment, materials, and supplies your business might need.
  • Liability Coverage: Regular home insurance covers your family and guests, but it doesn’t extend to include business-related visitors. If a client or supplier gets hurt on your property, you need commercial insurance to cover potential legal expenses.
  • Workers Compensation: If your home-based business employs three or more people, you are obliged to provide them with workers’ compensation insurance. This protection is crucial for both you and your employees.
  • Business Interruption Insurance: Occasionally, a business might have to cease operations due to uncontrollable circumstances, such as a fire or theft. In such cases, business interruption insurance can help you meet expenses and payroll obligations.

Engage Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, for reliable commercial insurance solutions. Don’t hesitate to call us for a no-obligation quote.

Does Your College Student Need Renters Insurance?

As a parent, several important considerations come into play when your child moves out to attend college. Depending on whether your child commutes to class from home or shifts to a dorm, apartment, or shared living space, you may need to think about renters insurance. Here’s an overview of why renters insurance is crucial and how ‘Dern & Company Insurance’ of Milwaukee, WI, can help.

Landlords Don’t Cover Student’s Personal Possessions

While a landlord may have insurance to shield their own property, they don’t insure the personal belongings of their tenants. It’s the tenant’s responsibility to secure their personal assets.

Renters Insurance Can Be a Lease Obligation

A growing number of property management firms and landlords are mandating tenants to carry renters’ insurance as part of the rental agreement. However, where to buy renters insurance lies within the tenant’s discretion.

Liability Claims Get Covered Under Renters Insurance

Renters insurance is not just about personal property; it also includes liability protection. The tenant (listed on the lease) could be held accountable if anyone gets hurt in a rental property.

Replace Lost Items Through Renters Insurance

Students may possess personal property worth thousands of dollars, from furniture to electronics to clothing. Renters’ insurance safeguards these items from losses stemming from vandalism, theft, fire, or other unexpected events.

Enjoy Added Perks

Renters insurance protects a tenant’s possessions at the rented property and while they are on the road – a hidden benefit worth considering.

Contact Dern & Company

At Dern & Company, our goal is to help families in the Milwaukee, WI area protect their interests through a diverse array of insurance products – including renters’ insurance. To learn more, give us a call at Dern & Company Insurance. We look forward to assisting you.

Does my boat insurance cover vandalism and theft in Milwaukee, WI?

Only commercial fishing boats are legally required to carry insurance in Milwaukee, WI. However, you may still want to consider adding this protection seriously. If you do not have boat insurance, you will not have protection from any boat-related incidents, including vandalism and theft. Dern & Company can help you explore policies to find one that best suits your needs.

Basic Boat Insurance

Most people who are considering boat insurance look at liability insurance first because that is where they have the highest risks. When you are out enjoying your boat, it can be challenging to remember that accidents happen and that people can get hurt. If your boat accidentally runs into someone else’s, liability insurance could protect you by covering the victim’s property damage and medical bills.

Coverage for Theft and Vandalism

There are several other kinds of protection you can get for your boat. One of the most important kinds of protection you can get is coverage if your boat is the victim of theft or vandalism. If you have an old boat with little value, you may not care, but if your boat is valuable, you should have this protection. Otherwise, you will have to repair or replace your boat on your own.

Contact Dern & Company for All Your Insurance Needs

Protecting your property is important. If you are involved in an accident with your boat, your other assets are at risk, too. If your boat is stolen and you have no insurance, you will need to pay out of pocket for a replacement. If you want to discuss different kinds of protection or compare policies, please contact Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, today.

Does my boat insurance cover vandalism and theft in Milwaukee, WI?

Only commercial fishing boats are legally required to carry insurance in Milwaukee, WI. However, you may still want to consider adding this protection seriously. If you do not have boat insurance, you will not have protection from any boat-related incidents, including vandalism and theft. Dern & Company can help you explore policies to find one that best suits your needs.

Basic Boat Insurance

Most people who are considering boat insurance look at liability insurance first because that is where they have the highest risks. When you are out enjoying your boat, it can be challenging to remember that accidents happen and that people can get hurt. If your boat accidentally runs into someone else’s, liability insurance could protect you by covering the victim’s property damage and medical bills.

Coverage for Theft and Vandalism

There are several other kinds of protection you can get for your boat. One of the most important kinds of protection you can get is coverage if your boat is the victim of theft or vandalism. If you have an old boat with little value, you may not care, but if your boat is valuable, you should have this protection. Otherwise, you will have to repair or replace your boat on your own.

Contact Dern & Company for All Your Insurance Needs

Protecting your property is important. If you are involved in an accident with your boat, your other assets are at risk, too. If your boat is stolen and you have no insurance, you will need to pay out of pocket for a replacement. If you want to discuss different kinds of protection or compare policies, please contact Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, today.

What Are The Risks Of Not Having Home Insurance?

Have you got a property and are now a homeowner? Congratulations, you are a lucky one! However, becoming a homeowner is also stressful and full of responsibility. Your home is probably your most valuable investment. That is why you want to protect it, and home insurance is one of the protection tools. Since home insurance is not mandatory in Milwaukee, WI, you may think skipping it is a good idea. But it is associated with numerous risks you should know about: 

  • You may face serious financial consequences. If you do not have home insurance, you are responsible for all the repairs and other costs related to your home. For instance, if your home is damaged in a hurricane, you will cover all the expenses out of pocket.
  • Facing liability is also a risk. Home insurance also aims to protect homeowners, not just their property and personal belongings. If you have home insurance, you can be safe that all the liability fees and medical expenses will be covered if, for example, your guest or visited jets injured on your property. However, if you do not have home insurance, you are on your own and will have to pay yourself. 
  • Not having peace of mind. You never know what tomorrow brings. With home insurance, you get peace of mind that you need to enjoy your life in your house. However, without home insurance, you will constantly worried that something might happen.

Home insurance is something that every homeowner should consider. Regardless of the home type you own, it would be best if you bought home insurance. If you are looking for home insurance and need help finding the perfect policy, Dern & Company is here to assist you. We at Dern & Company serve clients in Milwaukee, WI, and other towns. Please give us a call or visit our company website to learn more about home insurance.