Why Home Insurance Is Important For Everyone

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.

Why Should I Get a Home Insurance Plan in Wisconsin?

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. 

Home Insurance Tips & Tricks In Milwaukee

Milwaukee WI is one of the oldest cities in the U.S. With its rich history, well-known landmarks, and industrial growth history, it stands as a symbol of what Americans can do if they keep their eyes on a goal. 

The real estate market is also alive and well in Milwaukee and new investors are often building in Milwaukee, to ensure the growth of the future residential and business areas. Rental properties are most on the rise right now.

Protect Your Investment

If you own property or even just your own home, you need to protect it. Finding home insurance at the right cost is important. Dern & Company is a seasoned insurance firm that has Milwaukee residents in mind. 

Tips & Tricks

We offer you these tips and trick when searching for home insurance in the Milwaukee area:

  • Don’t settle for the minimums only. Look for other coverage areas you might need to fully protect your investment.
  • Purchase insurance from a proven leader in insurance who knows the Milwaukee area. They can help you get the most appropriate coverage for what you need.
  • Shop around. Compare different companies and policies to make sure you’re getting the most comprehensive plan available. 
  • Consider carrying flood insurance. You never know when a flood could strike. Housing insurance alone may not cover all of your needs. 

Dern & Company insurance knows the Milwaukee WI area and we are happy to help you find the most complete policy for your housing insurance needs. They are available to help you when you need your questions answered.

Contact them online anytime or call Dern & Company to find out more about what we can do for you and your family. We can offer sound advice and clear up any questions you have. The time is now. 

Can I get a home insurance plan in Milwaukee?

The Milwaukee, WI area can be a great place to buy a home. Those that live in this area of Wisconsin will enjoy all the great amenities that are available in the area including a good local job market and plenty of activities to enjoy all over the city’s area. Along with purchasing your home, you should also get an insurance plan for it. There are a few reasons why you should get this coverage here.

Coverage Protects Your Assets

The primary reason that getting a home insurance plan when you are in the Milwaukee area is to ensure that you can protect your assets. Buying a home is a very major purchase that you will want to protect as well as you can. If you get a proper home insurance plan, you are going to get the coverage needed to repair or replace your home if it is damaged following a situation that results in a loss.

Coverage is Required

You should also get coverage for your home because it will likely be required for you to have it. Those that would like to buy a home here may finance their purchase with a mortgage. If you do, it is important to follow the lender’s insurance requirements that typically expect you to have full coverage. 

If you would like to get a home insurance plan in the Milwaukee, WI area, it would be smart to call the team with Dern & Company. There are a lot of important decisions that need to be made as you are looking for this coverage. The team with Dern & Company can help you decide what type and level of coverage is right for your situation. This can help you pick a plan that protects your home and keeps you in full compliance. 

Does Home Insurance Protect Unattached Structures?

When you have a house in the Milwaukee, WI area, you want to take good care of it. One of the ways you can do that is through a good home insurance policy. Whether you’ve lived there for a long time or it’s a home you’ve just purchased, having it covered the right way matters. There’s no reason to settle for less than a quality policy, and you’ll want to make sure that policy is covering everything that’s on your property and important to you, as well. That includes unattached structures, which can be protected as part of your home insurance. Dern & Company can help you find a policy that meets your needs.

Most coverage for structures that aren’t attached to the home, such as sheds and barns — along with detached garages — is part of a homeowners insurance policy. The coverage limitations are often a percentage of the coverage on the home, and it’s up to you to let your agent know if there are reasons that this should be different. For example, someone who has a large barn on their property may be interested in more coverage for it than someone who has a small storage shed. Having a knowledgeable agent to work with can help you get the proper type and level of coverage.

By reaching out to us at Dern & Company, you can get the home insurance protection you need for your house and any unattached structures that are located on your Milwaukee, WI area property. That way you have good coverage, but you also have peace of mind in knowing that the level of protection on your home is the right one for everything that’s important to you. We’re here to help you choose the policy that fits your life and property.

Tip for getting your home ready for winter

Winters in Wisconsin can be brutal. Since winter cold weather can start quite early, getting your home ready for winter should begin a little sooner in this part of the country. Start with a walk around to see if anything jumps out at you, crumbling masonry, loose or missing shingles, and obvious gaps around windows or doors. In Milwaukee, WI, Dern & Company our 25 years of experience means we have the knowledge to help our clients find the policy they need at a price they can afford. 

Begin at the top of your home. Snuggling in front of a fire on a chilly night is part of winter but before you have your first fire of the season, you should get your chimney cleaned and checked to make sure there are not places where fire can escape and cause damage. Home fires cause great damage and chimney fires can smolder for hours and even days. 

When the leaves are falling from the trees, they also fall into your gutters. They clog the gutters and downspouts and cause water damage. They send water under the roof and rot wood and facia. It can also cause damage to your foundation. They need to be cleaned and if possible hire someone to climb the ladder. 

Caulk and weather striping are a homeowner’s best friend. Check your doors and windows for any leaks and plug them with one or the other. It makes your home airtight and saves on heating costs. 

Twice a year you should change the batteries on the carbon monoxide detector and your smoke detectors. These devices are lifesavers and especially in the winter when the house is closed up tight, carbon monoxide is a scent-free killer. 

Contact Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI to get a free no-obligation home insurance quote. 

What are the benefits of a Wisconsin home insurance policy?

When you live in the Milwaukee, WI area, there are many different housing options available. Those that live in this area of the state should consider purchasing their home as it will offer a variety of long-term benefits and give you a stable and consistent place to live. If you are going to purchase a home in this area of Wisconsin, you should also make sure that you properly insure it. There are several benefits that come when you get home insurance.

Covers Assets

One of the main benefits that come when you get a quality home insurance policy is that it can cover your assets. Anyone that purchases a home in Milwaukee will want to make sure that their investment in the property is protected. A full home insurance policy can offer you protection for the dwelling as well as any of your personal belongings. 

Gives Liability Protection

You should also offer a home insurance policy because it will give you valuable liability protection. Anyone that wants to own property will take on risk if they have a guest in their home. Since you could be found liable for a guest’s injuries, you will want to ensure that you are properly covered by insurance. A home insurance policy will give you the coverage you need. 

There are a lot of advantages that come when you get proper insurance for your Milwaukee, WI area property. When you are shopping for insurance here, you should call the team at Dern & Company. The insurance professionals at Dern & Company can help you to pick a policy that will properly protect your home and offer liability protection. This will ensure you continue to receive the coverage and protection that you need. 

Why Is The Roof So Important To Home Insurance?

We don’t need to tell someone from Milwaukee, WI how important the roof is, do we? That’s your first line of defense against harsh weather, it’s what’s going to keep the heat in and the snow out during the winter. To an insurance company like Dern & Company, it may be the very most important part of your home.

All other things being equal, a home with a roof that’s past its prime is going to cost more to insure than a home with a new roof, if it can be insured at all. Many insurers won’t touch home with a roof more than twenty years old. 

Building material is important too. Cedar roofs, for instance, are more likely to catch fire than many other types of roofs. Natural materials, in general, can have a harsh effect on the life expectancy of a roof, being more likely to rot and mold should moisture be trapped underneath after a rainy summer.

A well-maintained, quality roof can also be indicative of how well a homeowner takes care of their house. A roof that is missing some shingles and has a few unpatched leaks may be seen to signify a homeowner who has a "When I get around to it" attitude about other things, like leaky pipes and cracked windows. A quality roof suggests a homeowner who treasures and cares for their domicile.

If you’re looking for a home insurance company to protect you and your home in Milwaukee, WI, get in touch with Dern & Company by phone or online. They’ll help you to get set up with a home insurance policy that you can count on.

Neighbor Slipped On Your Icy Driveway? What to Know About Milwaukee, WI Home Insurance

In Milwaukee, WI, snow and ice are a natural part of life. In fact, the inevitability of snow is so understood that there are several key ordinances on the city’s books when it comes to how residents should approach snow and ice that gathers on the sidewalks and hydrants in front of their home. To understand the answer to whether a Dern & Company home insurance policy will reimburse your neighbor if they slip and fall on your property, it’s first important to understand these ordinances.

Keeping Your Property Snow-free

Milwaukee Wi ordinances dictate that all homeowners must clear the sidewalks abutting their property, including any corner crosswalk areas, of snow and ice within 24 hours of when snow stopped falling. Getting caught with a driveway full of snow and ice can result in fins.

But it can also go much further than fines! When it comes to injuries to others like slip and fall injuries, your home insurance policy will likely be separated into two types of injury coverage:

  • Medical pay coverage which will cover all medical bills up to a certain limit but no extraneous costs like pain and suffering and
  • Liability coverage which protects you from a lawsuit that might arise from the injury.

Most policies will pay for guests’ direct medical payments (up to coverage limits) in any type of slip and fall accident. But in order to be approved for liability coverage, you must have shown that you did everything reasonably you could to protect others from injury on your property. In terms of slipping on snow and ice, you must have followed the ordinance and cleared driveway, sidewalks, and other pavement within 24 hours.

Contact Dern & Company to Learn More

To update your home insurance policy, contact our team today. 

Traveling for the Holidays? Prevent Break Ins With These Homeowner’s Tips

While homeowners insurance will pay to repair your home and replace your belongings if there is a break-in while you’re traveling, there’s never a good time to have to deal with a burglary. These tips from Dern & Company will help keep your Milwaukee, WI home safe while you’re out of town over the winter holidays.

1. Hire a house sitter.

The surest way to avoid a burglary while you’re traveling is to hire someone to come stay at your home during your absence.  Be sure to hire someone trustworthy and reputable by asking friends, relatives, and neighbors for recommendations.

2. Don’t post on social media.

While it’s fun to share photos on social media right away, these pictures are a tip-off that you are not at home. You never know who will come across your social media posts, so wait until you are back at home to share photos to your Facebook or Instagram profiles.

3. Stop the mail or have someone pick it up.

Mail piling up in the mailbox is a dead giveaway that you’re traveling. Stopping your mail is easy using the postal service’s online tools. Alternately, you can arrange with a neighbor to pick up your mail for you while you are traveling this winter.

4. Have your lights on a timer.

To create the illusion of occupancy in your home, you can set up your television, radio, and lights with timers. Timers are fairly inexpensive ways to fool would-be burglars into thinking that you are at home. Use several timers, set to turn on your lights at various times of the day. For instance, have the living room lights come on from dusk to 8 p.m. and have the bedroom lights set to come on from 8 to 10 p.m.

5. Let a trusted neighbor know you’re going out of town, so they can look out for your home.

If you have a neighbor that is trustworthy, ask them to keep an eye on your place. They can call the police if they notice anything suspicious happening while you are out of town. 

If you need information about homeowner’s insurance in the Milwaukee, WI area, contact Dern & Company.