Category: Home Insurance

Do you work from home?

If you do, you may need to review your policy with your agent at Magic City Insurance Group LLC, serving Birmingham, AL, and all of Alabama, to get the additional coverage you need. Here are three important facts about insuring your home office every at-home entrepreneur needs to know.

Your Homeowner’s Policy Doesn’t Cover Everything

Every homeowner’s policy offers coverage against:

• Fire
• Theft
• Storm damage
• Vandalism

…and other common perils of owning a home.

If you are using your own computer, server, and office equipment in your home office, your policy will cover them, too. (If you use your employer’s equipment, your employer’s policy will cover them.) However, most homeowners’ policies have a $2500 limit.

Additionally, some policies exclude "damage from business pursuit." If your employer or your clients sued you for their losses from a casualty event, your homeowner’s policy would not help.

Additional Insurance If You Work from Home

Three easy ways to get the additional insurance you need if you work from home.

One option is to get a business property endorsement on your existing homeowner’s policy. This will increase the dollar amount of personal property coverage for your home office. Typically, this will increase a $2500 limit to $5000.

Another option is to get a separate in-home business insurance policy. This policy increases the coverage of your business equipment, typically to $10,000, but it also covers data replacement and liability after cyberattacks and income replacement when some insured event causes your home office to become inoperable.

You may even want to get a business owner’s policy. This is your best option if you need more than $10,000 in personal property coverage or if you have employees.

Whether you live in Birmingham, AL, or anywhere else, Magic City Insurance Group LLC can help you find the coverage you need. Call us for a policy review today!

Owning a home necessitates extensive planning, including acquiring and maintaining a comprehensive home insurance policy. Beyond offering financial security, home insurance is often legally mandated. Many entities enforce these requirements, and flouting them could result in significant fines or even eviction. However, the absence of such legal requirements does not exempt homeowners from the need for robust insurance coverage. At Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL, we can guide you in initiating this process.

Mortgage Lenders and Insurance

Mortgage lenders invariably stipulate proof of insurance coverage from homeowners. The lender’s investment is tied to your property, so they seek to protect their interest through insurance. An active insurance policy ensures that the necessary funds will be accessible to cover any required repairs following a significant incident. Failing to provide proof of insurance can prevent you from closing the deal on your home.

Homeowner Associations (HOA) and Insurance

If a homeowners’ association governs your community, home insurance is mandatory. These associations aim to preserve overall property values by ensuring each homeowner can afford to repair any damage that might degrade the neighborhood’s general aesthetic. Without insurance, homeowners may abandon a home requiring expensive repairs, which can lead to property decay.

Mandatory Insurance Under Covenants

Regardless of whether an HOA oversees your neighborhood, if covenants are in place, those agreements will necessitate home insurance coverage. The absence of such a policy exposes homeowners to substantial fines until they comply with the coverage rules.

Securing Home Insurance with Magic City Insurance Group LLC

A comprehensive home insurance policy protects both your home and your financial position. Contact Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL, and let our team help you find a suitable policy for your needs.

You probably know that special coverage for high-value items in your home can be wise, along with carefully documenting these items in case of a claim. At Magic City Insurance Group LLC, we know that many homeowners in Birmingham, AL, and elsewhere in our service area have installed home theater rooms that can be a combination of high-end audiovisual equipment, special seating, and renovations to the room, such as electrical wiring, lighting, and elevated floors.

When it comes to home insurance, you face several questions, including whether you need additional coverage for the value of the equipment, how to cover renovations, and whether any other special approaches to insuring your home may arise.

Thinking About Home Theater from a Risk Perspective

Many home theater installations are in basement spaces that have been repurposed for this use. As with other finished basement projects, it’s important to think about the risks that apply to spaces like these. In particular, flooding from the water table or water heater can be a concern, and some homeowners add a second sump pump as backup protection. For insurance, it’s important to make sure you’re covered for water problems as well as equipment damage and theft, and other risks identified by our helpful team at Magic City Insurance Group LLC. After all, your Birmingham, AL home theater room is part of your home, even increasing its value. Proper coverage is a wise choice!

Professional or DIY Installation?

If your home theater is professionally installed, you probably have the documentation you need for coverage and claims, which you should retain in a safe place and possibly share with our insurance professionals as well. If it’s more of a DIY project, don’t forget permits. Also, proper coverage of its value requires documentation, let’s talk!

We go on vacations to have fun, to experience new things, and to let our daily anxieties fade away. Unfortunately, accidents can happen even when we take the right precautions and hire trusted individuals to house-sit our homes while we’re away.

Here at Magic City Insurance Group LLC, we get a lot of questions about the specifics of home insurance policies, including what happens when something goes wrong when the homeowner is away, and we’re always happy to help our Birmingham, AL clients get the answers they need!

Will My Home Insurance Cover Damages by a House Sitter When I’m On Vacation?

The most important thing that your insurer will look at when determining whose fault damages is will be whether the sitter was significantly negligent or purposeful in causing the damage. 

In cases where the sitter isn’t directly responsible for damages, you are likely going to be on the hook for them. For example, if you hired a house sitter to watch your dog and property and your dog caused water or structural damage to the home, then so long as your pet sitter went through a best-effort approach to mitigate the damage, you will be held responsible for the damages just as though you were at home.

However, if your house sitter caused damage to your home directly such as with burn damages from smoking inside or water damage from allowing the bathtub to overflow, then your insurance company will step in to provide legal and financial assistance to pursue damages from your house sitter under clauses similar to vandalism. 

Learn More About Home Insurance

For more information about Birmingham, AL home insurance policies and to get the best policy for your household, give our team at Magic City Insurance Group LLC a call today!

If you’re like most homeowners, you may simply renew your home insurance annually without giving it much thought. Although it’s good to keep up with this coverage, there may be times when an upgrade is necessary due to changes in your home or lifestyle.

At Magic City Insurance Group LLC, serving the greater Birmingham, AL metroplex, we recommend that you review your policy annually to ensure your coverage is accurate and up to date. If there are discrepancies in your coverage, we can help you update your policy so you can continue to receive the full protection you need.

When to Upgrade Home Insurance Coverage  

Major changes to your home structure, household, or lifestyle could impact your home coverage, requiring an upgrade to your home insurance policy. By discussing these changes with your insurer, we can update your policy accordingly to retain the coverage you need:    

• Home renovations that add footage to your property, i.e., a new bedroom, bathroom, or back patio, can increase your home’s value. To protect these interests, you may need to raise your dwelling coverage to reflect the increase in home value.  
• If you’ve purchased high-end furniture, appliances, or electronics, you may need to increase your property coverage to ensure these items are fully protected against theft or damage in a disaster.
• The addition of new members to your household, such as elderly parents or a new baby, may require an increase in liability coverage to ensure they’re protected against accidents on your property.
• On the flip side, home improvements that increase your home’s safety and security, such as a new roof, new windows, or new electrical or plumbing system, could qualify you for a discount on your policy. 

Need to Upgrade Your Home Policy?

To upgrade your home insurance to retain the full protection your family needs, contact Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL.

A house is one of the most expensive investments you can make. You invest time, energy, and memories in addition to money. Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL understands the value of your home. We want to help you protect it. The following are the five most common home losses, as well as the steps you can take to protect your home.

5 Most Common Home Losses

1. Wind and Hail Damage

When the weather forecast calls for high winds, take the time to secure or store any outdoor furniture or lawn ornaments. Keep cars in the garage to avoid hail damage, and have your roof inspected on a regular basis.

2. Water Damage and Freezing

Have you noticed a leak? Turn off the water to your home until the source is identified and corrected. Winterize your home to ensure that your pipes are in good working order.

3. Liability

Keep an eye out for anything that could endanger guests on your property. If you can’t fix them, tell your guests about them and try to work around them.

4. Fire and Lightning

Make sure your fire alarm batteries are changed on a regular basis. Avoid leaving unattended candles, plugins, or wax warmers.

5. Theft

Invest in a high-quality home security system. To deter curious eyes, leave your porch light on at night. Maintain regular contact with your neighborhood watch.

Give Us a Call

The truth is that we have no control over the weather, and accidents do occur. Aside from these precautions, the best way to protect your home is to obtain adequate insurance coverage.  Magic City Insurance Group LLC can assist you with this. Call us today and let one of our highly trained agents help you find the policy that works for you. We are well-versed in the needs of homeowners in Birmingham, AL and can help you safeguard your home investment.

Owning a home is a good idea for a lot of people in the Birmingham, AL area. When you are a property owner in this part of Alabama, you will enjoy having a consistent place to call home and can benefit from long-term price appreciation. If you are going to purchase a home here, you also need insurance for it.

There continue to be great reasons why someone here should have coverage for their home:

Protect Dwelling and Assets

A reason that all people in Birmingham should have this insurance is so they can protect their dwellings and assets. If you are going to buy a home, you will want to know that you have the ability to repair it when necessary. If you have a full plan, it will give you the support you need to protect your dwelling and any personal belongings. 

Offset Liability Risks

You also should have home insurance to offset your liability risks. There are always liability risks that come when you are a property owner. As the cost to cover damages or injuries can be significant, finding a way to offset and mitigate this risk is always important. A great way this can be done is by getting a home insurance plan as it will also include a provision for liability insurance. 

Contact Us Today

If you are a property owner in the Birmingham, AL area, it is clearly very important that you get the insurance that you need. If you are looking for this type of insurance here, the team with Magic City Insurance Group LLC is a good group to call. Many people will enjoy working with Magic City Insurance Group LLC as we offer personalized support that will help you build a plan that can meet your needs. 

Protecting your home is a crucial part of your financial plan. The experts at Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL can help you make the best possible insurance choices for you and your family. 

An Investment For The Future

Most people do not think of their insurance policies as investments, but the truth is that protecting yourself from devastating expenses is definitely an investment. Should your home be severely damaged or lost, you and your family would be placed in a vulnerable position both physically and financially. A solid home insurance policy will protect you from these types of risks. 

Protection You Can Count On

Not only does a solid insurance policy pay for repairs or replacement of your home should it be damaged, but the liability coverage on your policy can also protect you from liability expenses. If someone is injured in your home or on your property, you could be held liable for medical bills and legal fees if they choose to take legal action against you. Home insurance will protect you from these types of expenses by paying part or all of them. 

Peace of Mind

The most important way that a home insurance policy benefits you is by giving you peace of mind. Life is full of unexpected surprises, some good, some not so good. When unexpected damage or expenses pop up, you can rest assured that you have someone in your corner to support you financially. 

Get Home Insurance Today

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, please contact us at Magic City Insurance Group LLC in Birmingham, AL. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you today.