SWFL Insurance

Well that depends…..Most insurance companies writing in Florida either exclude “Screen Enclosures” for loss due to a Hurricane; exclude “screen enclosures” and carports for all perils; or provide a minimal coverage limit. Typically, “Hurricane Coverage” for screen enclosures can be added by endorsement up to a maximum limit of between $50,000 and $75,000, dependent on the company. Screen enclosures or pool cages are typically structures that have an aluminum frame structure with screen walls and screen roof or aluminum pan roof. Screen wall porches or lanais where the roof is constructed of the same material as the primary residence are typically included in the Dwelling Coverage A of the Homeowners Policy. Discuss fully with your agent. Make no assumptions. Note that many policies totally exclude any type of loss to structures that have screen walls on more than one side, are open to the weather and the roof construction is not like that of the primary dwelling. So…. this is the screen room and carport with aluminum “pan” roofs and screen walls whether attached to dwelling or not. There is typically no ability to add these structures by endorsement other than the Hurricane coverage. The catch here is that the “Hurricane Coverage ” for screen enclosures and carports permanently attached to the dwelling is typically provided for the “aluminum framing only”. This would mean that no coverage is provided for the screen material, nor for the cost to remove and replace the screen material. IMPORTANT: If you have screens or a screen enclosure, you should discuss the details with your insurance agent to determine what is insured. Coverage language varies greatly from company to company. The “hurricane coverage” for screen enclosures can be “pricey”, so request a quote. Call SWFL Insurance Agency, Inc. at 239-265-9577 for all of your Personal and Business Insurance Needs.

In Florida, many times homes and condos are sold with a boat dock deeded with the property purchase. Many times the boat dock is not directly connected to the “residence premises. In these cases, the owner should be concerned about the “property exposure” and the “liability insurance”. Typically, docks are covered for property damage under Coverage B of the Homeowners and Condo Owners Policy. Coverage B is for “other structures on the residence premises”. When the dock is attached to the residence premises, it is covered under Coverage B. When the dock is not attached, it should be added by endorsement, Coverage B-Off premises or Specific Structures Away From the Premises. “The dock will not be covered for Hurricane or Flood damage” But it would be covered for Other Perils stated in policy for Coverage B-Other Premises Structures. In any case, be careful of values for docks. Coverage B has a limit of 10% of the home insured value. In some cases, this may not be adequate.. For a home insured for $300,000. , the dock and other structures would be insured for $ 30,000. Discuss boathouses, davits, and values with your insurance agent. Your Homeowner or Condo Owner Liability Coverage should extend to your deeded dock, however, in the case of the “off premises dock”, we recommend that you include the following wording in the declarations page of your policy. Wording such as “1234 Main Street, Anytown, Florida including boat dock deeded to insured” . Again discuss with your agent. Be very careful if you rent your dock to others. There is no way to cover this liability exposure under the Homeowners or Condo Owners Policy, it becomes a Commercial insurance exposure that is very difficult to insure. You will probably be self insuring the exposure…Not a good idea. Questions…Call SWFL Insurance Agency, Inc., “Your Insurance Answer People” 800.829.5270 info@swflagency.com

The 56-year-old insured pulled forward out of her driveway, making a left turn into the path of a motorcycle, which was coming out of a curve. The operator of the motorcycle applied his brakes and “laid it down,” but struck the quarter panel of the insured’s vehicle. The insured was cited for traffic violations. The motorcycle passenger (wife of the motorcycle operator), died at the scene. She is survived by her husband, four children (ages 7 to 15), her parents, grandparents and several siblings. The motorcycle operator suffered a fractured finger and abrasions and had a valid “bystander’s claim” under state law. The Personal Umbrella Policy contributed $640,000, above the primary policies. This is areal life claim situation. Remember Liability Insurance is really about Wealth Protection. Do not let something like this happen to you. Call SWFL Insurance Agency at 239-265-9577 for an Umbrella proposal.

Realtors…Excellent talking point with your clients! Mechanical Breakdown Coverage is an endorsement to the Homeowner’s Policy that will repair or replace property for costly losses due to mechanical or electrical breakdown. Your standard Homeowners policy will not typically cover these losses. Not every Homeowners Insurance company offers this endorsement. Typical coverage…… Coverage up to $50,000. per occurrence and up to $100,000. per year Covers up to $10,000. for the cost of expenses to expedite repairs Covers up to $10,000. To replace damaged refrigerated food and prescriptions Provides additional living expenses if home is uninhabitable Allows up to $10,000. for pollutant clean up. Items covered, but not limited to….. HVAC Systems, compressors Television / Media Systems Computers Fans Deep well pumps Home Security Systems Garage Door Openers Electrical Panels Washers / Driers Refrigerators / Freezers Ranges / Ovens Sound Sytems Pool and Spa Equipment Hot Water Heaters Lawn Tractors Deductible per occurrence: $500. Exclusions: rust, corrosion, deterioration, wear and tear Pays for like kind and quality, no depreciation Annual Premium: $50. Realtors.….This is an excellent subject to discuss with new Homeowners. Let us review your policy and provide a competitive Homeowners Insurance Proposal that includes this valuable Mechanical Breakdown Coverage. Call SWFL Insurance Agency at 239-265-9577 or visit www.SWFLAgency.com.

Will your homeowners insurance cover you when… Your business equipment is stolen out of your vehicle?……………….NO! You accidentally knock over the display next to you at an exhibition or show?…………NO! Your groceries spill onto your inventory in your trunk? …………………NO! A power surge damages your computer and fax machine? ……………NO! Someone steals your cash box?…………………………………………….NO! Most homeowners and renters policies do not cover liability or damage to property from business activities. Our Home Business Insurance Policy provides coverage for as little as $150 per year! Protect your home-based business! You’re not home free with most homeowners policies. Imagine having your inventory or equipment stolen or damaged. Typical homeowners insurance does not cover this type of loss for people who run a small, side business out of their home. We are pleased to offer the perfect coverage for your in-home business: Home Business Insurance Policy. Features Include: Liability limits up to $1 million Satisfies most event or show liability requirements Business property protection up to $100,000 (with $250 deductible) Electronic data processing coverage Loss of income coverage Premiums starting as low as $150 annually* Call or email SWFL Insurance Agency today for a quote. 239-265-9577 info@swflagency.com

Moving to a new apartment is a bit exhausting. However, once everything is unpacked and put away, the fun part begins. Most apartments have rather drab kitchens, intentionally made in a neutral style, with muted tones. This is so as not to offend anyone’s tastes and make the apartments as rentable as possible. The problem is that these kitchens are boring. The way to remedy this situation is do a kitchen makeover in a creative style that shows some flair and good taste. Here are some low cost ways to do a kitchen makeover: Add metal shelving to display nice-looking items and have them close at hand for use Line interior drawers and shelves with attractive liners Use drawer organizers Use a hanging rack or wall-mounted rack for pots and pans Change drawer pulls and cabinets handles (save the old ones to re-install when moving) Use removable stick-on tiles to cover ugly floors or use a decorative throw rug Removable stick-on tiles make a good temporary backsplash and can be used on walls as well Add a bowl of fresh fruit and some flowers in a beautiful vase Bake some bread or a cake, sit back, have some soothing tea, and enjoy the new look and smells achieved by your kitchen makeover. Connect America Insurance Agency advises renters to protect their personal property from loss or damage by getting renters insurance coverage. Property owners have insurance that covers the building, but rarely does it cover the contents of the apartments. That insurance coverage is the responsibility of the tenants. It is easy to get renters insurance. There is a convenient online system to compare quotes, which takes only a few minutes. If you prefer, talk to one of the nice people at our agency. We will be delighted to help you. Welcome to the neighborhood!

The beginning of the year is a great time to make sure that your home is as safe as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure that your home is ready for any potential disasters. There are some great ways to prepare your home for potential emergencies. Follow these tips to make sure your home is as safe as possible. Ensure access to emergency lighting in every room. In the case of an emergency, you want to make sure that you have access to a light source. In every room in your home, you should have battery operated flashlights or lanterns. This is a safe way to add light to a room in the case of a power outage. Be sure to put some extra batteries in a safe place in case you need them as well. Install a fire extinguisher on every floor and in the kitchen. You never know when you will need to use a fire extinguisher so it is smart to have one on every floor of your home so it can be reached quickly. Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarm on every floor. It is best to have these near the bedrooms so that no matter the time, everyone will hear the alarms and will be able to get out in time. Keep an emergency first aid kit in the home. This can come in handy in a multitude of emergencies. Keep this well stocked and easy to access. Keep extra food and water available. You will want at least 3 days worth of supplies and food that you can eat without the use of electricity. Be sure that you have an adequate home insurance policy. If you do not, contact Connect America Insurance Agency for a home insurance quote.

Accidents are why people have homeowners and auto insurance, but often claims can exceed the coverage limits of these policies. So if you aren’t protected by a Personal Umbrella Policy, you could be putting your house and financial assets at risk. One of the best ways to understand the need for a personal umbrella is to review actual claims examples. It is very clear that an incident arising from just normal daily activities can expose all of us to the potential for a large claims law suit. Boating fun quickly turns serious** The claim arises out of a boating accident. The policyholders are the owners of a speedboat, which is considered a “family” boat and made available to other members of the family for recreational use. Several family members were camping at a lake near the policyholders’ residence. One of the policyholders allowed them to use the boat during their stay. The policyholders’ 15-year-old grandson was allowed to take three other family members (all minors) out on the lake to go tubing. The 10-year-old claimant had just finished tubing. The tube and tow rope were placed in the stern of the boat and the claimant was sitting next to them. The conditions on the lake suddenly became very choppy and windy. The claimant was ejected from the rear of the boat along with the tube and the tow rope. The tow rope wrapped around the claimant’s neck, causing a significant injury. The occupants of the boat recovered the claimant and headed for the dock, flagging down the sheriff’s patrol boat on the way. The claimant lost consciousness and the deputy had to administer CPR several times. She was airlifted to the hospital. The claimant suffered an injury to her neck, trachea, esophagus as well as a fracture of the second cervical vertebrae. She was on a ventilator for 96 hours and in ICU for almost one month. Later, she developed serious complications to her pancreas, colon and gall bladder and suffers from ongoing extreme hoarseness with continued troubles with her breathing. The RLI Personal Umbrella Policy contributed $700,000 on top of the primary coverage limits of $300,000. A real life claim as related by RLI Insurance on their website www.rlicorp.com.** Call SWFL Insurance Agency at 239-265-9577 for a premium proposal for an Umbrella Liability Policy.

If you have a Florida Corporation or LLC, you need to read the following article very closely. This is a true story of an insurance agency owner that discovered that someone went to the Florida Corporation website, changed the names of officers and proceeded to open accounts in the company name. Your Corporate information is not safe. “Insurance agencies should be aware of recent criminal activity involving individuals hijacking corporate identities for the purpose of obtaining credit. Just last week, I received the following email from an FAIA member: “The innovation and effort of criminals never ceases to amaze me. Today we were contacted by a technology vendor to confirm a new account that had been opened in the name of our agency. Apparently someone went to the website www.sunbiz.org and changed the officers and the address of one of my corporate entities to show their name and address as a corporate officer. They were polite enough to leave me as the registered agent, as I can only guess that they didn’t want to be served with the litigation that will surely come! They then went on to open accounts in the name of my company, and anyone verifying the application could simply go to www.sunbiz.org and see that yes, this person is in fact the president of the company. We contacted the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations and we were told that ANYONE can access the website and make these changes by simply paying a fee. To add insult to injury we were required to pay a fee to change it back to reflect the correct officers! The State says they can’t do anything about it. Apparently any corporation can be hijacked. This is corporate identity theft. Can it really be this easy to steal our most valuable business asset, our good name?” I too was shocked that this type of corporate identity theft is so simple. I personally visited www.sunbiz.org and verified that anyone can file an amended annual report as long as a corporate document number is entered (which is readily available on that website by initiating a corporate entity name search) and the appropriate fee is paid. After a further inquiry with the Department of State, Division of Corporations, the FAIA member agency received the following response: The Division of Corporations acts in a ministerial filing capacity only. We do not have statutory authority to regulate individual businesses nor do we have investigative capability. As such, all documents submitted and filed by our office are accepted at face value. Section 817.155, F.S., states “a person may not, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of State, knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact, make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or make or use any false document, knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry. A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084”. Any disputes or fraudulent filings must be resolved between the affected parties or in the courts. Documents may be filed to correct our records. Forms may be downloaded from our web site. You should file a police report in your county. If this individual has your Social Security number (our office does not require or request SS#’s) I would suggest asking your financial institution for assistance in issuing a “Fraud Alert” with the credit bureaus. You can also submit a “Statement of Fact” that we will make public record with this filing stating that the changes on (insert date) were made without your knowledge or consent. In the statement please also include your case number. There is no filing fee associated with the Statement of Fact. Keep in mind whatever you send will be a public record so please ask to redact any information you do not want posted such as your email address or phone number. Law enforcement will need the following information: The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations uses a third party vendor (FIS PayDirect Solutions) to process credit card payments made to this office. They capture and collect the card/payment information, verify it, process it, and then send us payment 24 to 48 hours later. You’ll need to contact them directly for assistance; I do know that they will require a subpoena from the courts to release any credit card data they have collected. The subpoena will need to be sent here: Link2Gov Corp c/o CT Corporation System1200 South Pine Island Road Plantation FL 33324 In the subpoena provide them with the following receipt number: xxxxxxx Unbelievable! Moral of the story: you may want to occasionally check your agency’s corporate information on www.sunbiz.org to ensure you have not become a victim of corporate identity theft!” Posted by Laura Pearce on Feb 15th, 2016 FAIA Community blog Laura’s Legal Brief of the Week: Corporate Identity Theft – Beware, Your Agency Could be a Target!

Sooo….the worst has happened. The hurricane has taken your roof off and the interior of your home is a mess. Furniture, flooring, window treatments, clothes , electronics……all gone. When your mind calms down, you call your insurance agent. After discussing your damage, he asks if you have a detailed inventory of the personal property that was damaged or lost and do you have photos by chance. Opps…so you never got around to doing this. Well, Homezada.com has a very cool Free app that makes documenting your property room by room with photos a snap. Check it out. We can answer any questions you may have about what is needed to document a claim made under your Homeowners or Condominium policy. Call SWFL Agency at 239-265-9577.