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August Vincent Insurance Agency

1145 Mitchell Ct, Suite 216
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

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Tag: crystal lake

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Property Damage?

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If you’re a business owner, you may have questions about commercial insurance, including whether commercial insurance covers property damage. Commercial insurance can help your business avoid big expenses when covered events occur. The professionals at August Vincent Insurance Agency, servicing Crystal Lake, IL, can help answer your questions. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance is a type of insurance that can pay for expenses relating to covered events that impact your business. There are many types of commercial insurance. Every business is different, so choosing the right type of insurance can make a big difference.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Property Damage?

Commercial property insurance, or business property insurance, covers your building’s structure and the physical assets or business personal property inside. Business personal property includes computers, business machinery and equipment, inventory, furniture, artwork, window treatments and other items that are used as part of your business. If your business operates out of a physical structure, you may benefit from the protection that a commercial property insurance policy provides.

Should You Get Commercial Insurance For Your Business?

Most businesses operating from a physical location can benefit from commercial property insurance. There are many types of commercial insurance for businesses of all sizes. The type of commercial insurance your business needs depends on its operations and structure.

Call Us for a Quote

August Vincent Insurance Agency serves businesses in and around Crystal Lake, IL. As an independent insurance agency, we work with several insurance carriers, not just one. That makes shopping and comparing commercial insurance easy. We can get you multiple quotes to compare and help you find the right insurance company for your business. Our insurance professionals are here to answer your questions and serve your interests. Call us to get started.

Umbrella Insurance for Ordinary but Risky Everyday Stuff

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When we think about risks, we often consider the extreme stuff and may overlook the ordinary, everyday risks that we don’t pay any attention to. At August Vincent Insurance Agency in Crystal Lake, IL, we work with our clients to advise them on insurance for managing extreme risks, as well as everyday needs.

Some examples are having pets (especially dogs), owning a pool or a trampoline, renting out part of your home, or sharing your property with guests. These can trigger liability events that may exceed the standard coverage for homeowners or renters, and that’s where umbrella insurance helps.

What Is Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is a special kind of coverage that has very high policy limits ($1 milion to $5 million is not uncommon). There are two facets to umbrella insurance, which are:

  1. It provides additional coverage after a covered claim exceeds the policy limits of your other insurance policies, including your home and auto.
  2. It often provides specialized coverage for risks that are not offered under other policies you may have.

Depending on your needs, umbrella insurance may help manage risks associated with defamation lawsuits for social media use and other liability-related risks. However, specialized coverage related to cyberattacks typically requires a separate policy, such as cyber liability insurance.

Crazy things can happen. Your big dog jumps on the trampoline, throwing a drunk guest into your pool. It’s your dog, trampoline, and pool, and if you served alcohol at the party, you may have a significant liability if someone is seriously hurt. We are not saying your umbrella insurance will cover such a thing, but it is just an exaggerated example of the types of circumstances you will want to discuss with your agent.

August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL, can help you find an umbrella policy to extend your liability coverage across your home and auto policies. Contact us to review your existing insurance and get recommendations for umbrella insurance.

How Home Insurance Works During Home Renovation

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Renovating your home can be exciting, but it also changes your insurance risks in ways many homeowners don’t realize. Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen or adding an entire wing, your standard home insurance might not automatically cover everything that happens during the process. Understanding how coverage shifts during renovation helps prevent costly gaps if something goes wrong. For details, contact your insurance representative at August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL. In the meantime, here’s what you should know.

Coverage Before Construction Begins

Before work starts, contact your insurer to explain the scope and cost of your project. Most home policies protect against fire, theft, and certain kinds of accidental damage, but those rules can change once construction begins. If contractors are involved, their liability coverage should also be verified. This ensures their insurance pays for injuries or damage they cause, not yours.

When You Need Extra Protection

Major renovations often require temporary policy adjustments or endorsements. A builder’s risk policy, for example, covers the structure and materials during construction, including losses from fire, vandalism, or weather damage. If you’re adding square footage, you may also need to increase your dwelling coverage so your home’s full replacement value reflects the new improvements.

During renovation, your personal belongings might be at greater risk too. Tools, appliances, or new fixtures stored on-site could be stolen or damaged. Reviewing your personal property limits and adding short-term coverage can help safeguard those items.

After the Work Is Done

Once renovations are complete, notify your insurer again so they can update your home’s value and coverage details. Ignoring that step can leave new upgrades underinsured.

Renovation brings progress but it also brings risk. Taking time to review your coverage before, during, and after a home renovation project ensures that your investment stays protected from the first nail to the final coat of paint. Contact your insurance representative at August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL to learn more!

Can You Add ATVs to An Auto Insurance Policy?

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There’s nothing like spending the day enjoying your four-wheeler or riding with your friends. You can make so many upgrades that all-terrain vehicles never get boring. Most people want to make sure their ATVs are properly insured, but it’s important to get the right policy. One of our agents at August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL, can help. 

Will Your Auto Insurance Policy Cover Your ATV?

While cars and ATVs are four-wheeled vehicles, they usually don’t qualify for the same insurance policy. Standard car insurance policies will not cover an ATV. These policies, and their coverage limits, are designed for cars and trucks, such as your daily vehicle. Many companies will not cover ATVs, but may let you bundle an ATV and auto policy. 

Insurance Poliies for ATVs

That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when it comes to getting a policy for your ATV. A separate ATV policy can cover liability, bodily injury, theft, damage from natural disasters, and other related risks. Speak with a professional at August Vincent Insurance Agency to learn more about specialized policies. 

Will Your Home Insurance Cover Your ATV?

Your homeowner’s policy may provide limited coverage. These policies can cover damage for covered perils, such as wind damage or theft. On the other hand, they do have stricter coverage limits for things like ATVs, and may not provide the coverage you need to replace yours if it’s damaged. Home insurance policies also typically do not cover liability or bodily injury. 

We know that you love spending the day with your ATVs, and how devastating it would be if something were to happen to it. An insurance agent at August Vincent Insurance Agency can help you learn more about your options. Contact us. We’re currently serving the Crystal Lake, IL, area. 

Creating and Maintaining an Effective Home Inventory

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An effective inventory is a tremendous benefit for those suffering a fire or other significant loss. Creating and maintaining a home inventory involves planning and execution. The planning component involves deciding how to build the initial inventory. The execution consists of updating your inventory monthly or quarterly. If you need home or other insurance, consider the August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL.

Creating Your Home Inventory

Those who suffer a loss and have a current home inventory receive faster, more accurate settlements. Having detailed documentation of losses that occurred eliminates guesswork and helps the insurer determine the value of your loss, allowing you to recover its full value.

The best way to create a home inventory is to use a spreadsheet or app that allows you to upload receipts and take photos and videos. Whichever tool you prefer, you should store the information in the cloud or in a location other than your home so your inventory remains safe from damage.

The key steps in creating and managing your inventory include the following:

Create a Plan

Organize your inventory room-by-room or another method. A room-by-room inventory makes video recording easy, and your valuables are often organized by room anyway.

Big-Ticket Items First

Inventory more expensive items first and group lower-value items, such as "four pairs of running shoes."

Regular Updates

On an ongoing basis, immediately inventory purchases over a specific dollar amount and update your video and inventory annually.

The August Vincent Insurance Agency Difference

Maintaining a home inventory takes discipline but is highly valuable if you suffer a loss. The August Vincent Insurance Agency, serving Crystal Lake, IL, will help you develop your insurance plan, so call (847) 217-2184 or stop by to make an appointment.

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