Emergencies come in a lot of forms. It can be a fire, strong summer storms, heavy winter snows, or the flooding rains of spring and fall. No matter what the emergency, it is important that your home is prepared to survive and provide the protection you and your family need. In Wayzata, MN, Pizano Insurance is here to provide the choices you need when it comes to home insurance. We will work to make sure you get the perfect coverage for your needs. 

When an emergency hits, it is important to have an emergency plan in place. Every member of the family should be aware of the plan and if it includes evacuating your home, you should have rehearsals so that even the youngest members know where they should be and the route they should take. 

Your home should be equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If your escape route is from a second-story window, you need to have an approved ladder for a safe escape from your home. 

Your home should have a supply of food and water that can keep you for a few days in the event of a weather emergency. When a weather emergency hits, it is not uncommon for the power to be out. In order to keep things running in your home, having a generator is a good way to prepare for an emergency. Be sure to have fuel to keep it running for at least a few days. 

Make sure any important papers you have are stored in a container that is both fire and flood proof, including your home inventory and home insurance policy. This will make any insurance claim much easier. 

Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN is your one-stop insurance agency for all your home insurance needs. Stop into the office or give us a call for a no-obligation quote. 

When you buy home insurance from Pizano Insurance, you expect it to protect you against all perils lurking in your home. Unfortunately, home insurance has limitations. However, the good news for Wayzata, MN homeowners is that there are riders (add-ons) you can consider boosting your home insurance policy. Let’s look at a few.

Flood insurance

While home insurance covers water damage resulting from leaky pipes and faulty appliances, it doesn’t cover water damage from overland flooding. As such, you need a stand-alone food insurance policy to protect your home from floods. Even if you don’t live in a flood plain area, it’s recommended you purchase flood insurance since floods can strike anywhere.

Umbrella insurance

Umbrella insurance is extra liability coverage that comes into play when your liability coverage runs out. For instance, if someone slips in your home and suffers severe head injuries, home insurance can only stretch as far. It will cover medical expenses and possible lawsuits but may run out. Fortunately, umbrella insurance picks from what your home insurance leaves off. 

Sewer and drain backup

Water damage from a sewer backup is a constant pain for homeowners. These problems occur when your sewer lines are clogged, become old and weak, or when tree roots seep into the lines, causing damage. Unfortunately, this risk isn’t covered by your typical home insurance. For this reason, you should invest in a sewer and drain backup endorsement to avoid you counting losses when water damage strikes. 

Scheduled personal property

While home insurance protects high-value items like art and jewelry, the protection is limited. If loss or damage were to occur, you would incur out-of-pocket expenses to replace your property. Thankfully, valued possession coverage can help protect your valuables from breakage and theft. 

Boost your home insurance today!

Would you like to get more out of your home insurance? Contact Pizano Insurance of Wayzata, MN to help you boost your home insurance coverage with appropriate riders/endorsements.

The weather is heating up, and it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for summer. Summer involves a lot more time outside and entertaining. It involves lots of sunshine and the need to stay cool and protected. Owning a home involves lots of upkeep and the summer is no exception. At Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN we are here to lower your stress level with one-stop insurance shopping. As an independent agency, we provide our customers with access to multiple carriers which allows them more choices. 

Service your AC

When the temperature rises, it’s time to turn on the air conditioning. If you have a central ac unit, it’s time to get your yearly check-up. Nothing is worse than having your system stop working in the steamy heat. Yearly maintenance can keep your system operating at peak performance and extend the life of your unit. 

Trees

If you have trees on your property winter can be tough on them. Look for damage, if you find some it is time to get an Arborist in to check the health of your trees. You may need some limbs trimmed or removed. Falling branches pose a safety hazard to you, your guest, and your property.

Make sure gutters are clear

Summer can bring heavy rain, and it is important that your gutters and downspouts are running freely. Check to make sure that the water is being directed away from your home to avoid foundation issues. 

Service your lawn moving equipment 

If you maintain your own lawn, preparing for summer means getting out the mower and the weed whacker and making sure they are working well and that you have enough line for the whacked. 

Summer is a time to relax and enjoy the outdoors, if you need to discuss your home insurance give us a call at us at Pizano Insurance in Wayzata, MN. 

If you own a home in Wayzata, MN, it’s a smart choice to understand home insurance to ensure that your hard-earned investment is protected against perils like theft, fire, vandalism, lightning, and so forth. While homeowners’ needs are different, home insurance from Pizano Insurance is likely to cover you in the below areas.

Structural coverage

If your home is destroyed by fire, hurricane, lightning, hail, or any other covered peril, home insurance pays for damages or the cost of rebuilding your home. Detached structures like gazebos and sheds are also covered in case of damage.

However, typical home insurance may not protect your home against flood and earthquake damage. As a result, talk to your agent to purchase separate covers. 

Personal belongings coverage

If stolen or destroyed, home insurance pays for the loss or damage to personal assets like electronics, clothing, and furniture. In light of this, conducting a home inventory is vital to ensure that all your valuables are included in the home insurance coverage plan. 

However, home insurance offers limited coverage to high-value items like jewelry, fur, and silverware. That said, talk to your agent to acquire extra protection.

Liability protection

Suppose your dog bites a neighbor? Or perhaps your son causes bodily injury to your neighbor’s child? Without home insurance, you could be facing expensive financial liabilities. The liability coverage in your home insurance pays for legal costs, medical costs, and property damage for losses caused to other people. 

Pro-tip: If you want more liability coverage than what is offered in your home insurance, consider umbrella insurance for broader coverage.

Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage

If a covered peril destroys your home and becomes inhabitable, home insurance ALE coverage pays for costs above your average living expenses. These expenses include hotel meals and accommodation. 

Next steps: Are you about to own a home in Wayzata, MN? Don’t forget to purchase home insurance from Pizano Insurance. Contact us today for an affordable home insurance plan.

The importance of keeping a home inventory 

While buying home insurance seems to be one of the best ways to protect your home and valuables, creating an inventory makes filing a claim much easier and efficient. For instance, if thieves broke into your Wayzata, MN home and made away with several items. How will you convince your insurance provider that you owned them? It can be tedious and time-consuming, which is why Pizano Insurance recommends creating and updating your inventory.

It makes filing a claim faster and easier

The last thing you want is a back and forth game with your home insurance company after a disaster strikes your home. What you need and deserve is a smooth transition that will help you get back to your normal life as soon as possible. Without an inventory, your insurance company may have a difficult time believing your word of mouth.

It helps you buy the right amount of insurance

 How will you buy the correct amount of home insurance if you don’t know what you have? When you shop around for a home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN, very few companies can accurately estimate your home insurance value without calculating the value of your belongings. Therefore, you may end up over-insuring or underinsuring your home. Some companies can also take advantage of that fact and add coverages that you don’t need. However, when you have a correctly updated inventory, you can have a more productive conversation with your insurance company.

An inventory helps when applying for financial assistance

Following a catastrophic event, there is only one way to determine whether you qualify for disaster assistance or tax break—substantiating your financial losses. An updated inventory can be quite helpful in such a process.

Not sure where to start? Pizano Insurance can help you analyze your insurance needs and help you determine how to protect your possessions effectively. Call us today!

Buying your first home in Wayzata, MN? Before you call Pizano Insurance, there are a few things that you might not know about home insurance, but you should. Let’s get started.

1. Home insurance protects your valuables even when they’re not in your home. This means that if you have something stolen from your car or truck, for example, then it would be your home insurance that covers the losses, not your auto insurance. So even if you’re visiting a friend and have your items stolen when their home is broken into, your home insurance policy has you covered.
2. Home insurance typically does not cover flooding. For this, you will need to look into flood insurance. Long story short: Flood insurance is intertwined with other factors like FEMA and government disaster relief, so most home insurers don’t cover it.
3. Foundation repair is covered by home insurance, but it depends on the cause. Collapse due to the weight of snow and ice on your roof would be covered, as would windstorms, explosions, and falling objects. Earthquakes, floods, poor construction, or pressure from tree roots would typically not be covered. This is basically the rule in home insurance: It’s not so much which parts of your home are or are not covered, it’s the specific hazards that may or may not be covered. Read your policy o that you know what is covered and isn’t covered.

There’s plenty more to learn about home insurance in Wayzata, MN, so if you have any questions, or if you’re looking to get protected, get in touch with Pizano Insurance and see what they can do for you.

For anyone who’s a homeowner, having a proper level of coverage is very important. If you’re in the Wayzata, MN area and need home insurance, Pizano Insurance can help. Our knowledgeable agents understand that everyone is different, and one policy doesn’t fit all situations. Because of that, we have a number of different types and levels of coverage you can explore. With a dedicated staff that wants to ensure that you have the right policy for your needs, you can get the help and support you’re looking for from us. There’s no reason to settle for less than full protection for your biggest asset.

A home is more than just a place to put your things. It’s where family and friends get together for food and fun. It’s a place to relax and be peaceful after a long day at work. There are so many things that go into making a house truly a home, and one of them is the peace of mind that comes with proper insurance protection. Whether it’s your first house or you’ve owned a lot of them over the years, feeling safe and secure their matters. That’s easier to do with a good insurance policy.

Reach out to us today at Pizano Insurance, and let us help you find the home insurance policy that works for your needs. If you’re in the Wayzata MN area, we can work with you on a quality policy to give your house good protection for the long term. We’re also happy to answer any questions you have about your home’s insurance needs and to update an existing policy if there are changes that need to be made. Having options is important, and we’re dedicated to making sure our customers have the opportunity to choose policies that truly work for them.

Are floods covered under home insurance in the state of Minnesota? You might be surprised to learn that flooding is not included in a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. There are companies that offer this as an additional policy and it’s definitely a good idea to discuss if you live in or near a flood zone. Even if this isn’t the case, you’d benefit from talking to an independent insurance agent from Pizano Insurance, which serves the Wayzata, MN area.

Don’t Rely on Disaster Assistance

In many cases, you won’t be able to use disaster assistance. This isn’t a possibility if the President hasn’t declared that the flood that damaged your home or other property to be a disaster. Of course, it is a catastrophe and there definitely is help out there. It’s important to be prepared for this type of emergency because it can be costly to repair your home or replace your property.

National Flood Insurance Program

There is a National Flood Insurance Program for which you may qualify. A local insurance agency may be able to assist you with signing up for this, and if not, an agent will help you find just the right flood insurance for your needs. They’ll explain the costs as well as what’s covered and let you know if there are any strict limitations.

Flood Insurance from Pizano Insurance

Not every insurance agency is the same. You can depend on Pizano Insurance of the greater Wayzata, MN region to listen to your needs and come up with a solution that should give you strong protection for your investment. The last thing you want to do is worry about how you’ll manage if you have serious flood damage and we’ll make sure to put your mind at ease.

Insuring your home is an important thing to do. Your home is a valuable asset that you put a lot of time and effort into. At Pizano Insurance, we can provide you with a home insurance policy that will protect the investments you’ve made in your home. 

The following are three things to know before you choose a home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN. 

How to escrow insurance payments

Escrowing insurance payments is the most convenient way to make sure that your insurance payments are being made.

When payments are escrowed, your mortgage lender handles them for you. This way, you don’t have to handle them yourself and you don’t have to worry about missing them. 

Discuss escrowing your mortgage payments with your mortgage lender to make home insurance more convenient for you. 

The amount of coverage you need

A home insurance policy has certain maximum coverage limits on it. It’s important that your coverage maximums are not too low.

You want your policy to cover the full value of your home when it comes to damages. This means that you should know the actual market value of your home when you purchase your policy. 

The cost of your monthly premium

The cost of your monthly premiums is an essential consideration. You need to make your home insurance payment month after month. Otherwise, your home insurance policy could be canceled. 

You need to budget carefully to make sure you can afford your home insurance costs. Over time, home insurance is a considerable expense. You need to make sure you can afford the insurance costs of owning a home before you buy it. 

If you need help finding a home insurance policy in Wayzata, MN, let us know at Pizano Insurance. We’ll answer your questions and respond to your inquiries regarding your home insurance needs. 

The Wayzata, MN area continues to offer a lot of local amenities to people that live in the area. When you are here and intend to make this area of Minnesota a permanent home, buying your property instead of renting is almost always a great option. If you would like to purchase a property here, you should spend thinking about your insurance needs. There are several tips to follow that can help you to choose a home insurance policy. 

Consider Requirements

The first factor to think about when you want to get a new home insurance policy is what your requirements will be. Most people in Wayzata that buy a home will also take out a mortgage. Anyone that has taken out a mortgage will also need to have the right insurance in place to satisfy their lender’s requirements. If you are going to get home insurance, you should check to make sure the policy complies with these required levels.

Personal Asset Coverage

Beyond providing coverage for your home, you will also receive coverage for your personal assets. When you do receive this coverage, it will give you a certain allotment to replace your personal items if they are damaged in a fire, bad weather, or stolen. If you have valuables that exceed this coverage, you should consider getting a policy rider to specifically cover these items.

As you are looking for home insurance in the Wayzata, MN area, you may find that there are a lot of decisions to make. The team at Pizano Insurance can make this easier for you. If you do call Pizano Insurance, you will get the support that is needed to build and choose a quality policy. This will give you great coverage and peace of mind.