Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Fires?

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover a variety of mishaps that can happen to a home such as wind or hail damage and lightning strikes to name a few. But does it cover electrical fires? In some cases, yes, it will while it won’t in others. Electrical fires have multiple causes and they have to be investigated to find out the cause and if it’s covered by the policy. If the cause is something that isn’t covered by the policy, a homeowner winds up paying out of their own pocket to repair the damage, if possible.

The methods used for wiring homes has changed greatly over the decades along with materials. Not every home has been upgraded properly through the years, resulting in a home that has wiring that’s out of code. One type of wiring setup known as knob and tube may or may not be covered by a policy. The risks of an electrical fire from this type of setup are well-known and the wiring should have been replaced at some point. However, because this kind of wiring was in common use up until the 1950’s, many homes still have it in their walls simply because there was never a need to replace it. 

Aluminum wiring rose in popularity as the drawbacks to the knob and tube wiring became apparent. It weighs less than copper while transmitting the same amount of electricity, making it an attractive alternative. However, connections in older aluminum wiring systems are known to corrode and cause a fire if not caught in time. A homeowners policy may exclude this type of wiring from coverage as well.

Contact Stonewall Grace Insurance to find out about getting a policy that covers electrical fires and other unusual situations. The agency serves the Buena Vista, VA, area and can help homeowners who have older wiring systems find a policy to suit their needs. 

3 Tips for Purchasing Renters Insurance in Buena Vista, VA

There’s no question that Buena Vista, VA is a great place to live, work and play. If you are living here and renting a house or property, you need to take steps to protect it. One of the best ways to do this is by purchasing renters insurance with the help of Stonewall Grace Insurance.

Believe it or not, this process doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. Keep reading to find some helpful tips about buying renters insurance.

Compare Quotes

One of the first things you should do when purchasing renters insurance is to compare quotes. Take some time to get quotes from several different insurance companies and then compare them line by line to see which one offers the most value. This will pay off and help you make the most of the money you spend on the policy.

Bundle

Another important tip to help ensure you get the best renters insurance policy is to bundle your other policies. For example, do you already have car insurance or life insurance with another company? If so, see if they can give you a discount by adding your renter’s policy, too. In many cases, this can help you save a significant amount of money on all of your premiums.

Use a Reputable Agent

One of the best things you can do when buying renters insurance is to use the services of a reputable agent. They will be able to review your needs and ensure you get the policy that best suits you. In the long run, this will help you get the coverage you need for a price you can afford.

If you are ready to purchase renter’s insurance in Buena Vista, VA, contact Stonewall Grace Insurance. They can help you get a policy that meets your needs.

Do I Need Comprehensive Coverage?

Your car is a very important asset and may be a necessity in order for you to get to and from work and other places you need to be. When you are looking for insurance on your car, you will likely find that Buena Vista, VA car owners are only required by law to carry liability insurance. While a basic liability insurance policy is all that is required by law, it often does not provide enough coverage. Instead, you may need to get comprehensive coverage. 

Required By Lender or Lessor

If you have purchased the vehicle using a loan, or are leasing the vehicle, you will undoubtedly need to have a full comprehensive insurance policy. Lenders and lessors will want to make sure that their collateral is properly protected. The comprehensive policy will provide you with protection against theft, vandalism, and a variety of other issues. 

Big Investment 

Another reason why you will need to have a fully comprehensive policy is that it is a big investment when you buy a car. Next to the home that you buy, your car is the biggest purchase an investment that you will ever make. Due to this, you will want to make sure that you have it properly protected. Getting a full collision and comprehensive policy will ensure that you have the necessary insurance coverage that you need to protect your vehicle.

When you are looking for an insurance policy in the Buena Vista, VA area, you should speak with the Stonewall Grace Insurance company. When meeting with the team at Stonewall Grace Insurance, you will receive feedback and support to fully understand your insurance needs. This will help to ensure that you are able to pick a policy that will give you enough protection and peace of mind. 

 

Do You Really Need Renters Insurance?

So you have decided that it is time to rent your own place in Buena Vista, VA? Have you thought about how you are going to protect all of your belongings? One big mistake that a lot of renters make is that they think that the home insurance that the owner of the property has will offer them some type of protection. This could not be further from the truth and is exactly why here at Stonewall Grace Insurance, we always recommend that renters get their own insurance. 

You can do this by getting renters insurance. This type of insurance is designed to actually protect the renter and everything that is kept in the property by the renter. The insurance that the owner has will not offer any coverage except for the structure so it is up to you to get coverage for your personal items. The great thing about this type of insurance is that it is relatively inexpensive so if you can afford to rent a property then you can afford to get renters insurance. The last thing you want to do is not have protection for everything that you own as well as no protection if there is any damage to the property. 

If you are renting a home or even an apartment, you need to have renters insurance. Some property owners will even make it a requirement for living there. Be sure to reach out to us here at Stonewall Grace Insurance, serving Buena Vista, VA, to get started on your quote today. We will make sure you have the proper amount of coverage based on the items that you own that will be in the property and will even work to make sure you get the lowest possible price. 

A typical home insurance claims process.

Home insurance claim process can be one cumbersome process especially if you do not have the knowledge about it. Understanding the established procedures that insurance companies follow during the claim process gives you a better chance to recover your money in a practical time frame.

A typical home insurance claims process includes:

Report of claim
After assessing the cost of damage to your home and property and getting an estimate of the cost of repairs and replacements, then it’s time to submit your claim either online or directly to your agent to claim for the services.

Assignment
On receipt of your claim, the insurance company assigns a claims professional to your claim. The assigned agent will be responsible for navigating the required processes.

Initial contact
Tasked with the responsibility of assisting you with the claim process, the claims professional will get in touch with you to get to know about your loss and discuss your insurance coverage. He’ll then outline how the company plans to handle your claim. At this point, it is important to take note of the advice that the agent will offer you on ways to prevent more damage.

Evaluation
After getting to know your loss and discussing your insurance coverage, the claims professional will investigate your claim, assembling facts, reviewing and estimating the damage. If need be, he/she can also consult witnesses.

Resolution
When the claims officer is done with the evaluation, the insurance company will make a verdict concerning your claim. For simpler claims, you can get paid the estimated amount of repairs after the first inspection but in more complicated claims the payment process may take longer.

Closing the claim
This is the last process of a typical claim process after the claim is resolved by the insurance company.
At Stonewall Grace Insurance in Buena Vista, VA, our professional claims officers will endeavor to expedite any insurance claims filed by our clients. Feel free to contact us for a smooth process.

Commercial Auto Insurance for Pickup and Transportation Businesses in Buena Vista, VA

If your business is a pickup service, cab or truck driving service, you should consider commercial auto insurance. Whether you work alone or have employees, you’re in a high-risk transportation business, so using your personal auto insurance for coverage probably doesn’t provide sufficient protection. Consult your Stonewall Grace Insurance professionals regarding the types of commercial auto insurance that might be right for your company. In the meantime, here are some of the basics.

Who Needs Commercial Auto Insurance?

Commercial car insurance coverage isn’t just about big trucks. If you use your own vehicle for your job or business in Buena Vista, VA, you need commercial auto insurance. A single accident can cost thousands of dollars in damages, so don’t leave your business unprotected.

Commercial vehicles that are covered by business auto insurance include cars, pickup trucks, and sports utility vehicles. Of course, it also protects more traditional commercial vehicles like big rigs, dump trucks, bucket trucks, catering trucks and more. Utility vans, limousines, and taxis and flatbeds are some of the diverse vehicles that may require commercial auto insurance. You can get a policy whether you lease or auto your work vehicles, and your Stonewall Grace Insurance agent can provide more information on specific options.

Types of Coverage

Typically, commercial car insurance gives you the same protection as personnel policies, but there are a lot of additional options unique to business driving. Choose a broadened or blanket policy to cover employees or people who work with you. Buy equipment insurance for loading and unloading goods or business insurance that protects your assets in case of a lawsuit. Your Stonewall Grace Insurance specialist can explain each type of coverage that might help your business.

Contact Us

Contact your Stonewall Grace Insurance agent in Buena Vista, VA to schedule an appointment for a quote or for more information.

Facts about senior health insurance plans

Senior health insurance policies are specifically tailored to meet an individual’s current and future health needs. It is therefore important to review your current health plan so that in the later years of your life, all your health needs will be taken care of without any financial burden. Taking a senior cover that best suits you is thus a beneficial aspect.

Choosing an affordable and reliable health insurance for seniors can be overwhelming; nevertheless, there are a number of factors to consider before you make an informed decision as elaborated by Buena Vista, VA, Stonewall grace insurance:

  • The cover offers private health insurance

When a person grows old, he/she becomes prone to a wider range of health problems which means you are more likely to be in need of medical treatment. Having a private health insurance saves you the cost and hustle of traveling in search of treatment.

In addition, most basic health insurance covers do not provide the option of choosing a specific specialist or the comprehensive level of unique cover you may need as a senior like spinal or cardiac procedures.

With private health cover for seniors, you are also able to skip the long waiting lists and with the option of preventative treatment, you can maintain your quality of life through making use of the available preventative therapies which are helpful to keep you in good shape for a longer period of time.

  • Coverage options

A senior health insurance policy has more value than the basic health insurance since it covers all the common health conditions that affect seniors plus extra covers depending on your specific needs for example; occupational therapy to help you cope with daily tasks.

As an affordable provider with a wide range of plans to compare, choose and buy from, Buena Vista, VA, Stonewall grace insurance guarantees a great policy for you.

Do You Need to Make Changes to Your Life Insurance in 2018?

If 2018 is going to bring in changes for you, big or small, it may be a good idea to evaluate your life insurance policy to see if it should reflect them. Obvious changes like buying a home or having a child may change your needs, but many people do not realize other situations that warrant the need to assess your life insurance policy often.  At Stonewall Grace Insurance we can help you asses which situations call for a change so your life insurance policy serves you best at all times. Serving Buena Vista, VA and the surrounding areas. 

Situations that may call for a change to your policy.

  • Improvement in health can improve your life insurance situation. Did you lose weight this year? Did you quit smoking? There are factors may be able to reduce your premiums or increase your policy. 
  • Reduction of income. Did you lose a job or take a pay cut? You may want to reduce your life insurance policy accordingly until things improve. 
  • Increase in income or assets. If your income increases you may want to also increase your life insurance policy. It may be more difficult for your family to keep up expenses at the previous amount. 
  • Marriage or an additional family member usually warrants a change in your policy. After all, more dependents typically mean a variation in your financial situation. 

Contact us at Stonewall Grace Insurance serving Buena Vista, VA and the surrounding areas for a quote on a new life insurance policy in 2018, or to review your current policy to make sure you are getting the best for your money. 

How to Choose a Deductible for Your Health Insurance

Deductibles are one of the toughest things a person in Buena Vista, VA will have to face when it comes to their policy. It has a huge effect on how much someone will pay for any medical costs they may have throughout the year. The deductible is how much you’ll pay per year before your health insurance will take over, and the numbers can be extremely high — as much as $6,000 or more. Most people don’t have that kind of money sitting around in their bank account!

But of course, the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums are. When you’re up against a budget, it can be difficult to balance the two out. Learn more from Stonewall Grace Insurance about how to choose a deductible so you don’t end up in hot water.

Young and Healthy

While young and healthy people aren’t immune to getting hurt or sick, most people agree that major medical expenses are a perfectly acceptable choice for them. Essentially, this means that you’re covered if something major happens to you, but that most standard services and prescriptions will be paid for out-of-pocket. It’s still a risk that you’re taking if you do happen to hit your deductible maximum though, so only you can decide if you’re comfortable playing the odds.

A Safer Choice

The better the coverage, the less likely it is that you’ll face many outside costs for your health. The pregnant, elderly, and ill all need lower deductibles so they can be assured they can get the care they need without winding up in debt. If you live in Buena Vista, VA and have more questions about how to pick the right plan for you, give Stonewall Grace Insurance a call for more information.

What Happens If A Lawsuit Exceeds The Amount of Your Commercial Insurance Coverage?

Business owners in Buena Vista, VA need to fully protect themselves from financial loss if an accident occurs. A liability lawsuit can be devastating to a business causing traumatic financial loss. The agents at Stonewall Grace Insurance can help business owners understand the importance of having the right type of commercial coverage for their business.

What Happens If A Lawsuit Exceeds the Limits of My Commercial Coverage?

If a person is injured and they are awarded a settlement that exceeds the amount of your current commercial policy, you may have to think about selling off assets, or even the business itself, to cover the additional cost. While the ruling may be appealed, it can spell disaster for a small business that has limited financial resources. Even if you have an ample amount of coverage, the fact is, there are times when it’s just not enough.

The Benefits Of An Umbrella Policy

If you are unsure of whether or not your coverage will be enough to cover a person’s injuries, you may want to consider adding an umbrella policy. An umbrella policy adds an additional layer of coverage to protect you from financial loss if your current commercial coverage isn’t enough.

The agents of Stonewall Grace Insurance can offer sound advice to their customers who own businesses in the Buena Vista, VA area. If you have questions about the amount of liability coverage you have for your business, contact the office today for a complete evaluation of all of your policies. They will help you determine if you are adequately covered or need to increase the amount of your policy.