Home renovations can breathe new life into a house, becoming a personalized haven in and around Milwaukee, WI. However, these transformative changes can significantly impact your home insurance coverage. As you embark on home renovations, it’s crucial to understand how alterations can affect your policy and take proactive steps to ensure that your coverage aligns with your home’s updated value and risks.

The Impact of Renovations on Insurance Coverage

Home renovations can impact insurance coverage in various ways:

1. Change in Home Value: Renovations often increase the value of your home. The added square footage, upgraded features, or new additions can significantly raise your home’s worth, which calls for more coverage. 
2. Alteration of Risk Factors: Renovations can introduce new risk factors. For example, adding a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, or wood-burning fireplace could increase the risk of accidents or property damage. 

Updating Your Home Insurance Policy

To ensure your home insurance adequately covers your renovated property, consider the following steps:

1. Notify Your Insurer: Discuss the scope of the renovation project and any changes that might affect your coverage needs.
2. Reassess Your Coverage Limits: Work with your insurer to reevaluate your coverage limits based on the increased value of your home.
3. Consider Additional Coverage: Depending on the nature of the renovations, you might need additional coverage, such as liability coverage for new structures or specialized coverage for valuable renovations.
4. Review Deductibles: Discuss potential adjustments to deductibles to ensure they align with your new coverage needs.
5. Document Changes: Keep detailed records of the renovation process, including receipts, invoices, and photographs, which are invaluable to claims.

Dern & Company Can Help You

At Dern & Company, we can answer all your questions concerning home insurance. We assist the Milwaukee, WI region. Contact us today.

When you rent and operate an online business, you need to protect your business interests with a home-based business rider added to your renter’s insurance. The rider provides financial protection to your computers, business inventory, office furniture, tools, etc.

Insuring Home-Based Businesses in Milwaukee, WI

At Dern & Company, we want your business to thrive, so we offer a full range of insurance options. That includes a rider for your home insurance that lets you insure a home-based business without purchasing a separate policy.

These riders protect your business in the same manner that a separate commercial policy does. Adding this type of coverage to your home insurance affords your home-based business liability coverage and property damage coverage. It doesn’t go as far as a business owner’s policy would, but most home businesses don’t need BOPs.

Coverage Needs Examples

Each person’s home business needs different levels of coverage. Here are a few quick examples of what we mean.

• We suggest you increase your liability coverage if you host meetings at your home.
• If you own a lot of expensive business equipment, such as a photographer, we suggest upping your property damage coverage.
• If you store your inventory at home or craft the items you sell, such as a woodworker or many Etsy business owners do, we’ll suggest increasing the property damage component, too.
• You’ll need commercial auto-added to your policy bundle if you drive your vehicle primarily for your home-based business, such as a baker or florist who delivers their creations.

We can help you determine which coverages your home-based business needs.

Contact Dern & Company Today

You can protect your Milwaukee, WI, home business under your home insurance. Ask your Dern & Company agent about adding business liability to your home insurance.

Navigating homeowners insurance coverage can be tricky. The good news is that the insurance professionals at Dern & Company can help homeowners in and around Milwaukee, WI find the insurance solutions to meet their needs.  

One of the essential aspects of understanding an insurance policy is knowing what will NOT be covered. While homeowners insurance policy requirements vary by jurisdiction (or endorsements or add-ons), most policies designed to protect homeowners typically exclude:

• Flood Damage — the damage that a flood may cause is typically covered by specific insurance issued by FEMA – through the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program – which is available through Dern & Company.
• Sewer/Drainage Back-ups — certain insurance policies offer coverage if the drain was located on the property; however, it would likely not cover an issue that occurred down the road and off the property.
• Repeated/Consistent Water Leakage — any slow and consistent leaks are usually only covered by an add-on endorsement, not a standard homeowners policy.
• Mold/Microbes — mold is typically a covered event if it occurs and is sourced (to an unexpected/accidental water discharge) to the property covered by the policy. Many policies have time restrictions that require policyholders to report the event in a certain timeframe.
• A Frozen Plumbing or Heating System — while most quality policies will cover an event like this, a policyholder must proactively take steps to avoid the event. For example, if you leave the property for a two-week vacation and turn the heat off, the loss would likely not be covered if the pipes freeze.

Do you have questions regarding a homeowners insurance policy for a home or condo in the greater Milwaukee, WI area? Contact the licensed professionals at Dern & Company at 414-935-5700.

If you own valuable items like jewelry, artwork, or antiques, it’s essential to ensure they’re covered for theft or damage. While homeowner’s insurance typically covers the cost of your home and belongings, high-cost valuables may need additional coverage. At Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, we offer a range of insurance options to keep your valuables safe. 

Insuring Your Valuables 

Homeowner’s insurance may provide protection for some of your items, but coverage limits can be low, and certain items may not be covered at all. For example, if you own an expensive piece of jewelry or a work of art, you’ll want to ensure it’s adequately insured. 

We understand how vital these belongings are to you and offer personalized coverage plans that fit your needs and budget. We specialize in insuring high-value items, so you don’t have to worry about costly repairs or replacement costs should something happen. 

Choosing the Right Coverage Plan 

When considering insurance for your valuables, there are several factors to consider. What type of item do you need to insure? How much does it cost? Will the policy cover repairs as well as replacement? Our team can help answer these important questions so that you get the protection you need for your treasured possessions. 

At Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI, we understand how important it is to protect your valuable items with the right coverage plan. We specialize in insuring high-cost valuables to protect them against theft or damage no matter what life throws at them. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help provide peace of mind with comprehensive insurance plans made just for you!

Your renter’s insurance policy from Dern & Company doesn’t just cover the items you own inside your apartment, condo, or rented home in Milwaukee, WI. It also covers them when you travel, whether for business or vacation.

The personal property coverage in your renter’s policy applies to all of the items you own, whether you keep them inside your domicile or in a storage unit. Packaging up your laptop or iPhone to go on vacation still enjoys the same great coverage, even in Bora Bora.

The same policy continues to protect what you have in your home. If a burglar breaks in while you’re gone and makes off with your wide-screen TV and stereo system, the renter’s policy covers that, too.

This hardworking policy covers both situations at the same time. It also covers all the items you own while you travel around town.

Let’s say you go to the gym in Milwaukee, WI, and someone steals your iPhone from your locker. Your renter’s policy also covers that situation.

A renter’s insurance policy covers you, the renter, not the domicile itself. (That’s your landlord’s home policy that covers the structure.)

Wherever you go, your renter’s insurance goes, too. It covers your property wherever you use it. If you rent a hotel room or vacation home, your renter’s policy covers your belongings.

You also still enjoy liability coverage from your renter’s insurance. It travels with you, too. That means if you rented the vacation cottage at the beach where your mother-in-law broke her arm, the liability coverage from your renter’s policy protects you financially.

Contact Dern & Company Today

If you don’t have a renter’s policy from Dern & Company yet, contact us today to start this vital protection. Protect yourself wherever you rent.

If you notice any of the following signs, your roof likely needs to be replaced. Remember that these are only indicators, not necessarily conclusive proof, that you need a new roof. Be sure to consult with an experienced roofing contractor before making any major decisions regarding your roof.

Leaks: If you notice leaks anywhere on your house, this is likely a sign of an issue with your roofing system. Leaks can be caused by missing or damaged shingles, worn-out flashing around chimneys and vents, or water damage due to improper drainage of gutters and downspouts. You should always have a leak professionally inspected as soon as possible. If left unaddressed for too long, even small leaks can cause significant damage to the roof structure, walls, and ceilings of your home.

Moss: Moss can begin growing on roofs if they are not regularly maintained. If you notice moss or algae on your roof, it’s important to have it removed as soon as possible – moss tends to hold moisture against the shingles and is also abrasive enough to damage them. Having a professional remove the moss can prevent further damage from occurring in the future.

Missing shingles: A missing or damaged shingle here and there may seem like no big deal – but when left unattended for too long, it can put your entire roof at risk of water damage and other issues over time. Missing shingles can be caused by several things, such as high winds, improper installation or fastening, or being worn out over time.

If you have any additional questions about home maintenance, give Dern & Company a call today. We proudly serve the Milwaukee, WI area.

Accidents happen around the home. Unfortunately, some result in medium to excessive damage that a homeowner may have difficulty paying. Typically, home insurance covers these issues. However, does it handle issues related to water damage in a Milwaukee, WI property?

Sudden and Accidental

According to Dern & Company, home policies cover water damage if it’s sudden and accidental. For instance, your water heater ruptures and drenches the basement drywall or a leaking upstairs water pipe could cause the ceiling to collapse. As a result, it damages the lower floor’s surfaces. 

The coverage amount depends on a few factors. One is the liability amounts selected when you purchased the home policy. Another is the estimated cost provided by the insurance adjuster. 

Flood Damage

On the one hand, flood damage is covered by your home policy if it’s the result of the aforementioned broken pipes or water heater. On the other hand, flooding due to natural disasters isn’t covered. Thus, you wouldn’t be protected if a nearby stream or river overflowed its banks. 

A separate flood policy is required to cover these damages to a Milwaukee, WI home. It isn’t mandatory if your property doesn’t reside near a flood plain. Conversely, mortgage companies won’t finance a flood-prone home if the buyer doesn’t purchase a related insurance policy.

There’s a lot to decipher to determine your needs. So, it’s best to reach out to a subject matter expert in the insurance field to get the correct answers. Not only can they tell you if you have the needed insurance, but they will also check if you require a flood policy.

If you need assistance, contact the representatives at Dern & Company to get started. 

Homeownership can be expensive, but there are many costs that you won’t have to handle if you have a home insurance policy. These policies protect you financially against paying for expensive issues that may happen to your home. It’s essential to keep home insurance as long as you own your house. Call us now at Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI if you need this insurance.

Coverage for Your Home

Home insurance offers coverage that protects your home against damage caused by a covered incident. These may be certain disasters and calamities as well as other incidents. When something happens that destroys the house or causes it damage, the policy will pay for the repairs that are needed for rebuilding if that is necessary. Without this coverage, the money for those repairs would come from your pocket. 

Possessions Protection

Another way that home insurance protects you is by protecting your possessions against damage and ruin. When something happens to or in your home that ruins your belongings, the policy can pay to replace them. If you think about the value of everything located in just one room, you soon see how much all of your belongings throughout the house are worth. This amount would be challenging for most people to come up with after a damaging incident, so having this insurance coverage is vital. 

Financial Protection for Liability

If someone outside your household were to get injured in an accident while on your property, you are likely to be held liable. This would mean that the medical bills were yours to pay. Home insurance protects you by paying those bills for you. 

Cover Your Home

If you need home insurance, call us today at Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI.

Owning a home is an ideal achievement for residents residing within Milwaukee, WI, with numerous aspiring to retire in their properties during the later stages of their lives. Getting the benefits of this will, however, require you to get the ideal insurance, with a homeowner’s policy being an ideal place to start. Below, Dern & Company discusses some of the benefits that come with signing up for home insurance.

Protect Your Home

Hazards can occur at any time, with risks such as fire and hail damage likely to damage your property when they arise. Home insurance ensures that your home is protected from such incidences, with the right policy helping you fix your home to its previous state. Other perils that you can get protection from include vandalism and electrical faults.

Keeps Your Belongings Secure

One of the features that home insurance provides is content coverage for keeping your possessions safe. If perils such as hail damage your clothing, electronics or furniture, you can expect compensation for repairing or replacing these items. Take note that expensive possessions such as jewelry will not be covered and will often require additional coverage.

Covers Detached Structures

Home insurance will also protect detached structures such as garages or sheds when hazards occur, allowing you to keep various assets secure. Homeowners’ policies will also enable policy seekers to get customized coverage for additional structures purchased or built later on. With this, you get significant protection from numerous assets such as dog shelters and fences where possible.

Provides Liability Coverage

Liability coverage will be essential to have in your home insurance, with this feature allowing you to avoid any financial and legal problems. If, for instance, your guests get injured or their property gets damaged during a visit to your home, your policy will help you pay for the ensuing medical and property damage costs.

If you are looking for a way to enjoy any of the above benefits of home insurance, consider reaching out to Dern & Company today. Our Milwaukee, WI agents will help you figure out the ideal coverage to get for your property.

The Milwaukee, WI area continues to be a fast-growing part of the country as it offers a lot of amenities and advantages to local residents. As you are looking to move to this area, picking a housing option is important. For many, a great option is to own their own home. If you are going to buy a property in this part of the country, you will enjoy the amenities that come with it. When choosing a home, you also need to pick a quality insurance plan. You should get home insurance for a few reasons.

Coverage Will Protect Your Assets

Those that are in this area of Wisconsin will want to have this protection to insure against risks that could lead to a loss of their assets. If you have the right home insurance, you are going to get the support needed to offset the risk of damage or theft of your important assets. 

Coverage Provides Liability Support

You should always recognize that you are at risk of liability. When you have a home insurance plan, it is going to give you the support you need to help mitigate this risk. This form of insurance can provide you with liability protection for accidents that you could be found liable for, including those in and outside your home. 

People that are going to buy a home in the Milwaukee, WI area need to make sure that they get quality insurance. If you are looking for a new insurance plan here, calling Dern & Company is a great way to start. If you do speak with Dern & Company, you can learn a lot about your various insurance options and will be able to build an ideal plan that meets your needs.