Why Renters Insurance is So Important, Especially for New College Grads

Many college grads can become overwhelmed by their expenses and look for ways to cut costs. Even if you may think it’s an optional expense, renters insurance should not be cut from anyone’s budget, especially recent college grads. The team at The Owens Agency LLC is here to help the young people in the greater Waldron, AR area make sure that their possessions are protected. It’s important to remember that landlord insurance typically only covers the building itself and any common areas. There are a variety of different options available and there is likely an appropriate renter’s insurance policy for everyone.

Don’t Leave Yourself Unprotected

Many young people misunderstand how insurance works and think that their landlord’s policy will cover their unit. Unfortunately, this is typically not the case, as each unit must have its own policy in place. If you are living in an apartment or other rented space, it’s important to have an insurance policy in place to protect your possessions. A fully comprehensive policy can provide other benefits such as alternative living arrangements in the event that your home is uninhabitable. There is also coverage for theft and vandalism that can protect you from criminal mischief. If you are interested in obtaining a renters policy it makes sense to sit down with an experienced local agent to learn more about the available options and determine which policy and coverage levels are right for you. Don’t think that renters insurance is something that you can do without!

Don’t leave the protection of your belongings up to chance. Contact the team at The Owens Agency LLC today and find out more about all the renter’s insurance policies that are available to residents in the greater Waldron, AR area.

How To Choose A Health Insurance Plan

Choosing a health insurance plan is of utmost importance. Particularly for your business, you want to make sure you’re able to offer your employees health plans that work for them and their families around Waldron, AR. At The Owens Agency LLC, we can help you to choose a plan that works best for your business.

First, you have to think about how much you want to contribute to the plans. Some companies help to reduce the premiums their employees pay drastically. Whether you want to contribute a little or a lot, it will make it easier to explore the best plans.

From there, consider whether you want to offer an HMO, a PPO, or a health spending account. In order to figure out what’s best, it might be helpful for you to conduct a survey with your employees. Get a focus group together to find out whether employees want their doctors within a certain network, what the desired monthly fees are for premiums, and more. By obtaining all of this information, it will be easier to narrow down the options.

You may also want to look at the add-on possibilities that are available. For example, dental and vision can be added to some health insurance plans, offering more comprehensive coverage for your employees. Your employees can choose to opt into these plans for added money or skip them entirely. However, offering them can make it easier to keep up employee morale.

The benefits package that you offer is important. Many employees choose where they want to work based on what is offered to them. As such, you need to take a close look at the plan that you’re offering.

Don’t hesitate to offer health insurance plans. Call to talk to one of our insurance agents at The Owens Agency LLC today. We’ll be sure to help you compare policies effectively around Waldron, AR.

 

What is business interruption insurance?

You may have a business plan that is sound. What would happen, though, if an emergency occurs in Waldron, AR that caused your company to close for days or even weeks? Do you have enough savings to cover the closure? If the answer to the last question was in the negative, then you may want to consider business interruption insurance.

What is business interruption insurance?

Put simply, business interruption insurance is an indemnity plan that serves as a sort of umbrella for your company. The policy kicks in when your business has to temporarily close due to an unforeseen event such as a fire or flood. You will not lose the income that your company would have garnered during the closure thanks to business interruption insurance that covers the loss of revenue.

How does business interruption insurance work?

Business interruption insurance works like a standard assurance policy. You are covered up to your policy limits, which are based on the monthly premium you are willing to pay for assurance in Waldron, AR. Whereas a higher premium pays out more, the lower end of the bar does not provide as much of a financial cushion.

The amount of coverage that you choose depends on several factors, which are not limited to:

  • The type of business you operate;

  • How much revenue the company brings in on a daily basis;

  • How much saving you have in the bank to cover emergencies;

  • The number of years you have been in business.

Call The Owens Agency LLC

The Owens Agency LLC has been in the business of insurance for many years and understands the importance of financial security. Our team of experts can explain the ins and outs of business interruption insurance so that you fully understand what you are buying before making your purchase. Contact our office today to get started with a quote!

Home Insurance and Tree Damage, What You Should Know

Tree damage is a constant concern for homeowners in and around Waldron, AR. It doesn’t help that different home insurance agencies deal with tree damage in different ways. However, The Owens Agency LLC wants people to know how tree damage and home insurance typically work.

Not All Tree Damage is the Same

Tree damage can occur in several different ways:

  • Falling branches that damage structures
  • Falling trees that damage structures
  • Leaning trees that damage utility lines
  • Trees growing into structures

In addition, many problems with trees can stem from other issues beyond your control. For example, if lightning strikes a tree, it can send branches falling onto your home. All of these can represent different types of incidents that an insurance company may or may not cover.

Not All Tree Damage Has the Same Coverage

Don’t guess or assume anything about tree damage and insurance. Make sure you go over your homeowner’s policy carefully. If in doubt, ask the insurance company directly what type of tree damage it will cover, and what it won’t cover.

Sometimes, you may have coverage but only if the damage comes about in a highly specific way. You don’t want to wait until the damage occurs to find out.

Not All Tree Damage is Unavoidable

Don’t wait for damage to occur before you try to make a claim with your insurance company. Do what you can to mitigate the possibility of damage from trees. Take care of trees on your property. Keep them trimmed and pruned. If they represent a clear hazard, have them removed.

Don’t let dead or diseased trees linger on the property. You can tell your insurance company about the trees on your property and what you need to do to mitigate their potential damage. In some cases, the insurance company may even help.

When looking for home insurance in Waldron, AR, make sure you ask about tree damage specifically. Contact the Owens Agency LLC today to discuss your options.

Six Tips to Reduce Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the biggest factors in auto accidents in the Waldron, AR area. Use these tips from the Owens Agency, LLC to reduce the chances of hurting yourself or someone else while you’re on the road.

  • Put your phone in the glove box or another location that you physically cannot access while driving. This is the best way to avoid the temptation to peak every time you receive a notification. If this isn’t possible, turn your device off or put it on silent.
  • Before putting the vehicle into drive, make sure all children are properly secured in car seats or safety restraints. Place pets in car carriers to keep them from moving about the vehicle while you’re driving.
  • Set up your navigation before you start the car. Use a hands-free mount to attach your navigation device to the dashboard where you can see it without taking your eyes off of the road for too long.
  • Don’t eat while you’re behind the wheel. The time it takes to reach for a french fry is enough time to avoid a collision. Eat before you leave your location, or simply wait until you get where you’re going.
  • Talk to your teen driver about cellphone use behind the wheel. Create a written contract in which they promise not to succumb to the pressures of texting and driving. Establish clear and appropriately severe consequences if they’re caught disobeying the rules.
  • Avoid grooming while your vehicle is in motion. If you need to apply makeup, shave, or arrange your hair, wait until you’ve arrived at your destination. You’ll do a better job when you don’t have to divide your attention.

The Owens Agency, LLC offers automobile insurance for residents in the Waldron, AR area. Contact us for more information on the dangers of distracted driving.

What does trucking insurance cover?

The trucking and transportation industry continues to be a very important one as it ensures that all products get to their ultimate destination. For those that own a commercial truck, being adequately insured is very important. Having a full trucking insurance policy will provide you with a variety of different types of coverage.

Traditional Types of Insurance Coverage

When you get a trucking insurance policy, you will first get a traditional type of insurance policy. This type of insurance policy will include your standard commercial liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance coverage. This will provide coverage to you and your truck for a wide variety of losses including car accidents, theft, vandalism, or damage by a storm. The commercial liability components are required to be carried at all times, and most owners would benefit greatly from also having the collision and comprehensive coverage on their truck at all times. 

Specialty Insurance

When you have a truck, there are many other types of insurance that you will need to have on your truck as well. A kind of insurance that you will need to have is cargo insurance. This type of insurance will provide you with insurance for the cargo you are transporting. This will give you financial coverage in the event it is damaged or stolen. Many owners will also benefit from having bobtail insurance, which will provide you with insurance coverage if you are driving without cargo or are using the truck for personal reasons. 

If you are a Waldron, AR area truck owner or operator, you should contact The Owens Agency, LLC. Our agency is well known for providing truck owners with a reliable consultation on their trucking insurance needs. The Owens Agency, LLC can also help you get into the right policy for your situation. Contact our offices in Waldron, AR to get a quote.

Does my home insurance cover jewelry?

We love our jewelry, and that’s why we spend a lot of money to acquire it. But what happens when you lose a pricey diamond ring at home? What if someone breaks in and steals your gold necklace when you are out on an errand? Your homeowners’ insurance protects your personal belongings in your house from some risks that are usually specified in the policy. Jewelry constitutes personal items and is, therefore, covered in the policy but only to a certain extent. 

Generally, homeowners’ policies do not pay for jewelry pieces or gems that are simply lost. The coverage for these items on your policy is limited in that way. If you want to know whether your diamond ring or any other valuables are adequately covered in your homeowners’ policy, read through the policy carefully or better still, ask a knowledgeable agent. You may want to get additional coverage for your jewelry. The Owens Agency, LLC in Waldron, AR provides additional coverage options for your jewelry to minimize financial loss.

Should I Get Additional Coverage for My Jewelry?

Coverage varies from one insurance provider to the next, but companies usually limit their coverage for jewelry and other items of value. If your jewelry is lost or damaged due to a listed peril like theft or fire, the loss will be covered. If someone breaks into your home while you are on vacation and makes away with your jewelry collection, the loss will be covered up to a limit.

If a fire in your home causes damage to a necklace that has been with your family for generations, the loss will be covered but only to a limit. Mysterious disappearance, or in other words, if the item is lost, no coverage is provided. You need additional coverage to cover such a loss. The Owens Agency, LLC provides the coverage you need for your jewelry in Waldron, AZ. Give us a call if you need more information on our jewelry insurance policies.  

 

Does Your State Have any Auto Insurance Laws That Effect You While You Travel?

Whether it is the call of the open road, business travel, or an emergency road trip, it is prudent to check if your state’s laws differ from the state you are traveling to and through before your trip. At The Owens Agency, LLC, we can help make sure you are fully protected, no matter where you roam. We serve Waldron, AR, and the surrounding areas.

How Can Crossing State Lines Effect My Auto Insurance? 

As a general rule, crossing state lines will have little effect on your auto insurance and most states laws are very similar when it comes to driving that there are no emergent risks. However, some situations merit discussion if you plan on traveling out of state because you can be left unprotected in some circumstances. 

One way insurance can be effected in another state is if you break the law while driving. You may end up being more liable for an accident than if you got in the same accident in a state without the same law. An example is in Iowa. Drivers are required to give utility trucks the right of way if their lights are on. This law is not common across the nation, but if an accident occurs while not following that law, even if breaking the law did not cause it, you can be held accountable (liable) in some cases. This can affect your claim for that accident. 

Contact us at The Owens Agency, LLC if you want to purchase a new auto policy, upgrade your current policy before a trip, or if you have any questions. We serve the drivers in and around Waldron, AR with all of their insurance needs. 

Does Trucking Insurance Cover Any Truck Driver or Only the Truck Owner?

If you have just purchased your first big rig or semi truck, you may be looking to purchase truck insurance. One of the questions that we at The Owens Agency, LLC, serving the greater Waldron, AR area, are asked is whether trucking insurance covers only the owner of the truck or whether it covers any person the owner allows to drive and operate the truck. This is important if you plan on letting others drive your truck. Here is what you need to know about this question. 

Who is Covered By a Truck Insurance Policy?

When you are looking to purchase a truck insurance policy, it is essential to understand that not every policy is the same. As such, who is covered or not covered can vary. Some coverage options will only include those named on the insurance policy. This means that you have to list everyone you think may drive the truck, such as your family members or employees. Other insurance policies will cover anyone who drives your truck, as long as the policy does not specifically preclude them. A policy may preclude a driver who has had a DUI in the past or has been involved in a truck accident recently. 

When you are looking to purchase a truck policy, you need to carefully read the policy to find out whether all drivers are included or whether you have to list specific drivers. This will help you determine who is and who is not covered under the particular policy you are looking at. 

If you have purchased a big rig or a semi truck, you are required to purchase truck insurance in the Waldron, AR area. The Owens Agency, LLC can help you find the policy that best fits your needs. Contact us today to get started. 

Can You Drop Home Insurance if You Have a Mortgage?

Mortgages are a difficult thing to understand, as is the insurance that you need to have on your home to protect it. Insurance is something that is required in cases in which the homeowner still holds a mortgage on the home or has a lien against the cost of the home. If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will likely require home insurance for at least the value of the loan. For those in the Waldron, AR area, the agents with The Owens Agency, LLC can help.

If you own a home on which you have a loan, mortgage, lien, or other money borrowed against, odd are your lender is going to require some sort of home insurance for at least the amount of the loan. This means that you cannot drop your home insurance if you have a loan or mortgage against your house. It is essential that a lender requires you to hold home insurance for the simple fact that if the home is destroyed, your lender needs to be able to get the money they have lent to you back. Without home insurance, most people are not going to be able to come up with the money to pay back a mortgage after the home has been destroyed.

Having the right policy on hand is going to help protect both you and the lender to avoid having to pay off a large sum if your home is destroyed. This is a fail-safe in some ways for the lender because it will help them to keep your loan in good standing. For those that live in the Waldron, AR area, you can ask the agents at The Owens Agency, LLC to answer your questions and find out what type of home policy is going to work best for you. We can walk you through the insurance process and get you a quote through our online rating tool.

Reach out to our offices for more information.