First Insurance Services

Employment Practices Liability

2012-01-27T15:45:00.004-05:00

If you are a business owner, and you have employees, you should consider purchasing Employment Practices Liability coverage.

Employment Practices Liability responds to claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination by your employees. The insurance policy provides coverage for defense costs and judgements against you. If you have a General Liability policy, this coverage is not included and it must be purchased separately.

For an Employment Practices Liability quote, the insurance carrier will ask you to complete an application. The application will ask basic information about your company, for the number of employees, your turnover, and your human resource practices. Typically, the cost for $1,000,000 in coverage runs between $1,000 and $5,000 per year. The premium cost depends on the size of your company.

We strongly recommend this coverage for all of our business owners. Please give us a call or visit us at http://www.1stins.com/ to request a quote.

Rain, Rain Go Away

2011-03-10T14:27:00.001-05:00

With all of the rain that we’re getting in the Maryland, DC, Virginia area today, you might be stuck inside wondering what to do with yourself. On rainy days like today, what could be more fun than reviewing your insurance policy?

Grab yourself a cup of coffee, find a comfortable seat on the couch, and take a few minutes to look for this very important rainy day coverage: Backup of Sewer or Drain.

If you have a basement, that’s below ground level, chances are you have a sump pump to help keep the water out. Sump pump failures often occur during power outages or periods of heavy rain. When the sump pump fails, water can back up into your home. If you have a finished basement, the damage can be extensive as water can seep into your furniture, floors, walls, and damage your electronic appliances.

On most Homeowners insurance policies, coverage for this type of loss is EXCLUDED unless you purchase Backup of Sewer and Drain coverage. It’s important to check your policy to see if it’s on there. If you cannot find it, call your insurance agent and ask them to add it. The additional coverage is relatively inexpensive and ranges from $25 to $100 per year, depending on the limit you choose. It is an invaluable coverage.

In the event of a sump pump failure, you’ll want to do everything you can to get the water cleaned up, and the space dried out, as quickly as possible. If there is a lot of water you should consider calling a restoration company, such as ServPro or Purofirst, to assist you. Damp conditions can cause mold problems which can be very costly to remediate.

After you have started the clean up, give your insurance agent a call to discuss your situation and extent of the damage. If you carry Backup of Sewer and Drain coverage, and the damage is extensive, they can assist you with getting an insurance claim started.

If you have any questions about this coverage, or would like to have it added to your existing Homeowners insurance policy, please give us a call at 301-989-9200 or visit us at First Insurance Services. If you are not a current client, we’ll be happy to review your existing insurance policy, make coverage recommendations, and provide you with quotes.

Stay dry!

Home Inventory - What's in Your Home?

2011-02-18T10:11:00.002-05:00

Take a minute to look around your living room and make a mental note of what's in there. Now, go into the kitchen and jot down a list of all of your living room items. Most likely, you remembered to write down the television, sofa, and coffee table. How about the lamps, decorations on the wall, and video game system? Blanket, pillows, books?

Imagine you lost the entire contents of your home in a fire. Would you be able to recall all of your household items from memory? Probably not.

This is why it's important to do a home inventory. Having a list of items will make an insurance claim process smoother and less stressful. There are several ways to create a home inventory and you can pick the method that works the best for you. Some people prefer to keep a written list, some take pictures, and others use a video camera. Remember to keep the inventory in a safe place, outside of the home, so it's easily accessible if your home is destroyed.

For more information on home inventories, please visit The Hartford's Create A Home Inventory webpage. The site also gives you access to software that allows you to create a home inventory and store it online. If you have any questions, or need assistance with creating your home inventory, please give us a call at First Insurance Services and we will be happy to help.

Tree limb down!

2011-01-27T14:08:00.002-05:00

After the recent snowstorm, which dropped heavy, wet snow on the region, you may have some downed tree limbs and branches around your home. If the damage is significant, or the limb removal will require the assistance of a tree company, you may be wondering whether tree losses are covered by your insurance policy.

While it’s always best to call your insurance agent, as coverage may differ depending on your insurance policy, here are some scenarios and information on how your insurance policy is likely to respond:

1. A large limb, from your neighbor’s healthy oak tree, fell and damaged your fence. While you may think that the neighbor is responsible for their tree, and the subsequent damage to your fence, it is actually your responsibility since the fallen tree is on your property. In general, your homeowners policy will pay for the removal of the tree and the damage to your fence, minus your deductible.

2. A limb, from your neighbor’s rotting, unhealthy oak tree, falls and damages your fence. In this case, if your neighbor’s tree was an old, aging tree and, in the past, you expressed concern about the tree to your neighbor, your insurance carrier may hold them liable for the damage it caused and for the removal expenses. If you have concerns about your neighbor’s rotting tree, it is wise to talk with them, or send a letter, suggesting pruning or getting the tree removed before a loss occurs.

3. A tree falls on your property, but doesn’t damage anything. In this scenario, coverage will depend on your particular insurance policy. Some carriers will provide a limited amount of tree removal coverage, minus your deductible, even if the tree does not cause any damage. Other carriers require property damage (to your house, fence, etc) before they will provide tree removal coverage.

4. A tree limb falls on you car. In this case, your automobile policy will respond if you carry comprehensive insurance coverage. If possible, avoid parking your car under trees if heavy snow, or ice, is expected.

While snow can be pretty while falling, accumulations of snow and ice can put significant weight on your trees, making them dangerous. Use caution when walking under snow covered limbs and try and to prevent losses by keeping your trees regularly pruned.

First Annual Food Drive - A Success!

2010-12-27T11:01:00.002-05:00

This year, our agency hosted a Holiday Food Drive. It was our first year and we collected for the Manna Food Center located in Gaithersburg, MD.

We wound up with 160 pounds of food!! Thank you to all who donated and we'll do it again next year.

'Tis the Season

2010-12-16T12:39:00.001-05:00

‘Tis the season for jewelry! With all of the jewelry commercials, your loved one may be enticed to buy a new diamond necklace, gold watch, or sapphire ring for that perfect holiday present. That piece of jewelry may be one of the more expensive items you have in your home. Do you know if your jewelry is properly insured?

Homeowners insurance policies often have a limit on how much coverage they provide for jewelry. Talk with your insurance agent to see what your policy provides. There is likely a maximum limit (i.e. $3,000) and possibly a per item limit (i.e. $500). If you have items that are worth more than the provided limits, you’ll want to make sure each item, and their value, is specifically listed on your policy.

You’ll also want to review, with your agent, the types of losses that are covered under your Homeowners policy. Some policies limit theft coverage to inside the home. What if your item is stolen from a hotel room? Also, some policies require that there is physical evidence of a break in for theft coverage to apply. What if the thief enters through an unlocked window? What if you lose your engagement ring? Depending on your needs, your insurance agent may recommend a separate policy for your jewelry that will provide broader coverage than your Homeowners policy.

How do you know how much your jewelry is worth? For valuable items, it’s recommended that you get them appraised by a reputable jeweler, every few years, as the value of gold and diamonds change. Keep the appraisals in a safe spot in your home, or better yet, in a lock box at the bank. If you have an insurance claim, you can produce an appraisal showing how much the item is worth, plus documentation with a specific description of the item.

Losing a valuable piece of jewelry, especially one with sentimental value, is very difficult. You don’t want to find out your item isn’t covered by your insurance policy, after a loss occurs. Talk with your insurance agent to properly insure your jewelry collection. Insurance may not be able to help with the sentimental loss, but it’s comforting to know that you can insure its value.