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Foley, AL 36535

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Hurricane Season in Foley: What Flood Insurance Doesn’t Cover

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Hurricane season in Foley, AL, can be a stressful time, especially if you’re not fully prepared. Between strong winds and significant flooding, storms can cause extensive damage to your home. While flood insurance is an excellent addition to your home policy, it doesn’t cover everything. At Southern Risk Associates, our agents can help you secure a policy that provides comprehensive protection for your property.

The Components of a Flood Policy

A flood insurance policy typically covers damage caused by floodwaters entering your home and may also replace furniture and personal belongings. However, the fine print of these policies can vary, and exclusions are standard.

For example, personal items stored in a basement may not be covered by the policy. Additionally, if flooding leads to earth movement or the formation of a sinkhole, your policy may not provide coverage. Understanding what is excluded from your flood policy is crucial for ensuring you’re adequately protected.

Covering Your Entire Home

Once you know what isn’t covered by your flood insurance or home policy, you can take steps to address those gaps. Consider coverage for all belongings, regardless of where they are stored, and explore add-on options to protect against additional scenarios.

Conducting a home inventory is a helpful way to identify what needs coverage. Then, work with an agent to customize a policy that ensures every aspect of your home is protected.

Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

Preparation is key before hurricane season begins. In Foley, AL, this means not only reading your home to withstand the storm but also reviewing your flood insurance policy in detail.

At Southern Risk Associates, our agents can help you review your policy and ensure every aspect of your home is covered. Contact us today to see how we can help you prepare for hurricane season!

Reasons for Policy Cancellation

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If you’re a driver in Alabama, you’re required by law to have car insurance. Some drivers may have questions or concerns about their auto insurance. If you’re located near Foley, AL, our team at Southern Risk Associates can provide answers. We’ve been offering insurance solutions to drivers like you since 2021.

Common Reasons for Policy Cancellation

Once you’ve chosen an insurance policy, it’s your responsibility to pay your premiums on time to maintain your coverage. According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, there are several reasons why your insurance company may cancel your auto insurance policy. For instance, consistent nonpayment of your premiums is one of the most common reasons for policy cancellation. Another reason is misrepresentation of facts on your application, so it’s crucial to be truthful when filling out insurance documentation.

Your insurance agent calculates your premium based on the information you provide on your application. If you fail to disclose information about car accidents in the last 36 months, or if you’ve been involved in fraudulent insurance claims, the insurance company can cancel your policy. Clients whose driver’s license was suspended within 36 months of the cancellation date can also face policy cancellation.

Contact Us Today for Your Insurance Needs

Don’t risk driving without insurance. Our team at Southern Risk Associates will work with you to find the right insurance at a price you can afford. Drivers in the Foley, AL area have learned they can trust our team with their insurance decisions. Contact us today for an appointment, and we will work with you to find the right insurance policies.

What to Know About Loss Assessment Coverage in Condos

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Living in a condo offers several benefits, including lower maintenance, shared amenities, and a sense of community. However, it also means you’re part of a collective when it comes to repairs and liability. At Southern Risk Associates, proudly serving the community of Foley, AL, we often find condo owners surprised to learn they could be personally responsible for costs beyond their unit.

When the HOA Comes Knocking

Imagine a major storm damages the community pool area. The homeowners association (HOA) may have a master insurance policy, but what if it doesn’t cover the full repair bill? Or what if the HOA decides to sue someone over injuries on the property, and legal costs exceed their policy coverage? In such situations, the HOA can issue a special assessment—a bill split among all unit owners.

A Smart Safety Net

This is where loss assessment coverage becomes incredibly valuable. It’s a feature you can add to your condo insurance that specifically protects you from having to pay out of pocket when the HOA’s coverage isn’t enough. Whether it’s repairing shared spaces or covering liability claims, this coverage helps shield you against unexpected costs tied to the building or property as a whole.

Better to Have It and Not Need It

The cost of adding loss assessment coverage is usually minimal, especially compared to what you could be asked to pay without it. At Southern Risk Associates, serving the area in and around Foley, AL, we’ll help you understand your condo policy from top to bottom. Let’s ensure you’re covered where it really counts—inside your unit and out.

Is Your Home Insurance Coverage Ready for Spring Storm Season?

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Spring storms are a common occurrence in and around Foley, AL. Lightning, hail, flooding, and high winds can occur from early March up until the hot, sultry summer months. These weather events can dent your roof, cause water to flood your basement, and blow shingles and siding from your structure. Most homeowners rely on their homeowner’s insurance to ensure they don’t incur significant repair costs if weather events damage their homes. However, if you haven’t reviewed your homeowner’s coverage for a while, it’s wise to sit down with your agent and review your coverage before storm season hits.

Insurance Concerns to Consider Before Storm Season

One aspect to review regarding your homeowner’s policy is the amount of coverage you have. While most policies factor inflation into their coverage, this won’t necessarily cover any additions or upgrades you’ve made to your home since you purchased your policy.

Additionally, flood damage is often not included in standard homeowner’s policies. This is especially true if your home lies within a flood zone. You don’t have to live on the coast to worry about floodwaters. Rivers and even creeks can become hazardous when waters rise. Wind and hail coverage may also be additional, depending on your address. You certainly don’t want to do without this coverage, as a single hail storm can wreak havoc with even the most sturdy metal roof.

Contact Southern Risk Associates to learn more about ensuring you have the homeowner’s insurance you need for the Alabama storm season. We’ve been helping Foley, AL residents with their insurance needs since 2021.

Protect Your Powered Toys with Recreational Insurance

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We all grow up and get older, and many of us even start families of our own. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a little kid inside each of you. Look at all the grown-up power toys we use for fun and play today. From off-road motorcycles to four-wheelers, jet skis, and more. Unfortunately, most of these grown-up toys also come with adult price tags. The good news is that we can protect those toys and invest in our recreational machines with the right insurance. That’s why so many people who live in the Foley, AL area rely on the professional and proven team at Southern Risk Associates for all their recreational insurance needs.

Protect Your Powered Toys with Recreational Insurance

There’s a reason why those aforementioned recreational machines are made for adults and, at the very least, require adult supervision. That’s because playing with many of those high-powered toys involves some risk and inherent dangers. From accidents and rollovers to even burns or damage to property, our recreational toys aren’t made for kids and require careful operation. That’s why owners of these different types of recreational machines turn to the friendly and experienced agents at Southern Risk Associates to help them protect their recreational toys and their good times.

Recreational Insurance for Foley, AL Area Residents

If you live in or near the Foley, AL area and would like to learn more about recreational insurance or need coverage for your recreational big-people toys, we can help. Contact us to find out more and schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable and reputable team for the protection your recreational toys need and deserve at Southern Risk Associates today.

Here’s Why College Students Need Rental Insurance

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Many college students have spent their entire lives covered by their parents’ rental insurance. In some cases, a parent’s homeowner or rental insurance may provide coverage while the child is away at college. However, the extent of coverage may be limited. Ultimately, college students should have rental insurance. If you live in or near Foley, AL, come speak with the insurance agents at Southern Risk Associates to learn more.

Ensure Complete Protection

A landlord’s property insurance may provide some coverage. However, what’s covered may not be as much as renters expect. Personal property may not be covered at all, for example. If someone breaks into a student’s apartment and steals their personal property, it’s quite possible that the landlord’s insurance won’t provide any assistance.

Sadly, thieves often target college students. Security around college apartments may be more lax than in buildings with older tenants, and college students may also forget to lock their doors.

College students are often tight on cash. Replacing a laptop that could cost several hundred dollars may prove difficult, if not impossible, for many students. Completing schoolwork and studying for exams suddenly becomes much more challenging without a laptop.

Meanwhile, natural disasters can strike pretty much anyone, anywhere. While a landlord’s insurance may cover storm damage to the building, it may not cover the renter’s personal items.

Renter’s insurance can provide protection against theft, fires, weather damage, and more. That said, what’s covered by a specific policy will vary, so make sure you study the policy closely to determine what is and is not covered. Should you live near Foley, AL, come work with the insurance experts at Southern Risk Associates to learn more.

How Umbrella Insurance Helps Protect Personal Assets in Foley, AL

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Protecting your assets while living in Foley, AL, is crucial to avoid devastating financial losses after an unexpected event or lawsuit. With umbrella insurance, safeguarding your assets and investments is possible with additional liability protection. At Southern Risk Associates, we can help you create an umbrella insurance policy that covers your needs and protects you from significant lawsuits and/or claims.

An Overview of Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance is classified as a specific type of liability insurance that is useful when standard policy coverage limits are reached. Umbrella insurance policies can help cover legal judgments and settlements and legal fees most commonly associated with lawsuits.

Benefits of Umbrella Insurance for Residents Near Foley, AL

Some of the most notable benefits of umbrella insurance for those living near Foley include:

  • Extended Coverage: Extended liability protection can help with defamation claims, property damage, and even personal injury suits. Those invested in high-risk hobbies, rental properties, or those with larger assets can benefit from additional security through umbrella insurance.
  • Lawsuit Protection: Umbrella insurance protects you from unforeseen incidents that result in lawsuits or potential financial losses.
  • Affordability: Investing in umbrella insurance is often more affordable than many believe. Choosing the right umbrella insurance policy makes it possible to secure millions in additional coverage while protecting your peace of mind.

Protecting your home, vehicles, boats, and other assets is vital year-round, whether you’ve always lived in Foley, AL, or you’re a new resident. If you’re interested in boosting your protection when it comes to accidents, lawsuits, settlements, and legal judgments, consider finding an umbrella insurance policy that’s right for you and your household. To learn more about umbrella insurance and protecting your assets in Foley, AL, contact Southern Risk Associates for your quote and consultation today.

When Should I Consider Full-Time RV Insurance?

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Many RV owners think you need full-time RV insurance if you spend 365 days per year in the RV. The insurance standard is 150 days, not 365, so if you spend five months each year in your RV and do not have full-time RV insurance, you need different coverage than you have today. If you live in or near Foley, AL, contact our team at Southern Risk Associates. We’re here to help and ensure you have the RV coverage you need.

What Is Full-Time RV Insurance?

Traditional or short-term RV insurance functions like auto insurance. Full-time RV insurance has an auto component and adds coverage similar to a homeowner’s policy. For example, traditional RV insurance will cover components that can include:

  • Bodily injury and property liability
  • Comprehensive and collision for your RV
  • Medical coverage for you and injured passengers
  • Underinsured motorist coverage

Short-term RV insurance covers you while driving but does not cover losses when your RV is parked if you exceed the 150-day limit. If you exceed 150 days, a full-time RV policy will cover:

  • Bodily injury and property damage in and around your parked RV
  • Your possessions in your RV
  • RV HOA assessments for common area losses
  • Temporary lodging during RV repairs
  • Damage to adjacent structures, like carports and decks

As always, check with your insurance agent to confirm you have the proper insurance coverage before you need it. If you think you should have full-time RV insurance, talk to your agent to confirm you have the right coverage for your RV and other risks.

Working With Southern Risk Associates

Our friendly team at Southern Risk Associates serves Foley, AL, and can address your insurance needs. Stop in or call today to ensure you have the correct coverage for your RV.

Questions to Ask Before Getting Motorcycle Insurance

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If you’re considering motorcycle insurance in the Foley, AL, area, you might have some questions before investing in a policy. Here are the most common questions you should ask when obtaining your insurance policy.

1. Is Motorcycle Insurance Required?

In Alabama, your registered motorcycle must have minimum coverage. This means you must carry at least liability coverage in case you cause an accident. The lender will likely require you to carry full coverage until the loan is fully repaid for motorcycles that are still being paid off.

2. What Type of Coverage is Available?

When looking to get motorcycle insurance, it’s beneficial to know what types of coverage are available. Most policies include liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance components. While it’s best practice to get full coverage, as long as you have the minimum required, you can choose the rest of the policy.

3. Are There Additional Options?

You can add other types of coverage to your policy, such as roadside assistance and personal injury coverage. You can also adjust the amount of coverage you want on your bike, insuring it for more than the standard amount and thus having a more comprehensive policy.

4. Minimum and Maximum Limits

Before finalizing an insurance contract, make sure you understand your policy’s minimum and maximum coverage options. You need to know if you want to adjust them higher or lower. You should also understand how adding drivers to the policy or making other adjustments affects these limits.

If you’re seeking a personal motorcycle insurance quote today, contact us at Southern Risk Associates. We proudly serve those in and around the Foley, AL area.

Protection Against Cosmetic Damage to Your Watercraft

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Various factors like weather, accidents, or improper storage and towing practices can cause cosmetic damage to your watercraft. Ensuring protection against such damages is essential. Enhancing your boat insurance policy with added coverage could reap significant benefits.

Learning from Past Incidents

Past incidents involving your watercraft can provide valuable insights. Dealing with such instances personally often clarifies what coverage is missing in your current policy. For example, if your boat suffered severe body damage, you might be worried about future damage. Keep a record of all incidents that led to out-of-pocket costs and use this information as a guideline when choosing boat insurance coverage.

Addressing Current Watercraft Concerns

Before using your watercraft, you might want to address some concerns. If there are marks or scratches on your boat’s body, you might wish to have them repaired. After removing the damages, sealing your boat’s body could prevent additional cosmetic imperfections, reducing the chance of complex repairs in the future.

Proper Storage for Your Watercraft

Proper boat storage can maintain its condition and prevent potential cosmetic inconsistencies. Ideally, your boat should be placed inside a covered storage area. If this is not feasible, consider using a fitted cover designed to protect against rain and sun. Such a cover can offer substantial protection from the elements, prolonging the life of your boat.

Insurance Agent Services

Please schedule a consultation with one of our representatives at Southern Risk Associates. Our insurance agents serving Foley, AL can assist you with all your boat insurance questions and concerns, providing peace of mind.

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