Category Archives: Education

Water Damage

Preventing Water Damage

Water damage can devastate a home. Even a small amount of water can cause issues. And with Spring Showers in full effect, preventing water damage is on the top of many minds. Water damage can occur in many ways. Let’s review the most common scenarios and tips for prevention.
  1. Pipe Burst – Typically this occurs during the winter when a pipe freezes, then bursts due to expanding ice in the pipe. Be sure to keep pipes insulated or wrapped with heating coils if exposed to cold air.
  2. Valve failure – Sometimes plumbing valves fail. And when they do, a lot of water can enter your home. While this isn’t something you can prevent, you can limit damage by knowing where the main water shut off is. If it isn’t easy to access, then see if a plumber can relocate it to an easy-to-access location for quick shut off.
  3. Water heater leaks – Water heaters will fail. The typical lifespan of a glass-lined water heater is 8-12 years. And if you have hard water, it may be even less. As a water heater ages, the glass liner will crack and develop a slow leak. The leak will intensify over time, eventually spilling all the water. If your water heater is over 8 years old, have it inspected annually and consider replacement.
  4. Sump pump failure – Life expectancy for a sump pump is about 10 years. If your pump is approaching 10 years of service or older, just replace it. It’s good insurance.
  5. Rain penetration – Leaking roof, windows or siding can allow rain into your home. Be sure to have the exterior of your home inspected every couple of years. If the roof is over 20 years, have it inspected and then determine how often to follow up based on the condition. Look for cracks and gaps and caulk and seal them if needed. Keep gutters clean and free of blockages.
  6. Leaking shower or tub – Inspect your tub and shower for missing grout or caulk. Any gaps could allow water to seep into the walls and cause damage. Older tiled showers need to be regrouted and sealed, so have yours inspected if the grout appears to be missing or cracking.
Insurance claims for water damage are among the most common home insurance issues. To prevent your insurance rates from climbing, take precautions with inexpensive maintenance and inspections to prevent water from causing problems in your home. To learn more about preventing water damage, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

4 Ways To Avoid Getting Your Car Stolen

Most of us don’t think about car theft prevention until it’s too late. But the fact is, learning how to prevent a car theft is knowledge you need. Consider this: a vehicle is stolen every 44 second in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While 50 percent are recovered, that somewhat encouraging figure doesn’t tell the whole story. Also, most car thefts are not random. They are intentional and financially driven. Most cars are stolen to be sold for parts. They are stripped in a matter of minutes and left abonded, unmarked and unidentifiable. But car thieves are mostly opportunistic. They will not steal a car that takes much effort to steal. They want easy thefts, so let’s not make it easy on them, shall we?

1. Secure your vehicle

Whenever you park your car, even in your own driveway, close and lock the windows/doors to help prevent car theft. This seems like a basic security tactic, but we all know how easy it is to become complacent. Although it makes the first moments you enter your car a tad uncomfortable, resist the temptation to leave windows cracked during the summer. Just make it a habit to lock your doors all the time.

2. Park intelligently

Again, car thieves are opportunistic. They are hoping you make it easy on them. Parking in dark, private areas does just that. So don’t do it. Park in well-lit, public areas. The more people the better. And if there are security cameras around, park close. Thieves don’t like an audience, so the more people the better.

3. Valuables don’t belong in your vehicle

Valuables offer even more incentive for thieves. Not only will they take your car, but they’ll take your possessions too. So keep valuables out of sight if you must leave them in your car. Secure items in your trunk or cover them to keep them from plain view.

4. Use a physical anti-theft device

Roughly 40 percent of insurance companies offer a premium discount for vehicles that have an antitheft device. That’s because these devices go a long way toward car theft prevention. Thieves are looking for an easy target, one they can conquer quickly without drawing attention to themselves. Physical anti-theft devices include vehicle immobilizer systems that prevent thieves from hotwiring your car. California, Florida and Texas are the nation’s leading car theft states, according to NHTSA data. If you live in one of them, researching anti-theft devices could save you some money on car insurance and spare you the aggravation of a car theft. To learn more about protecting your car, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

How to avoid unnecessary insurance claims

Unnecessary claims are those associated with acts that could have been avoided. For example, there is a large tree limb that hangs over the roof of your home. The limb appears to be dead. During a thunderstorm the limb falls and punctures your roof. Now while the thunderstorm was unavoidable, considered an act of God by most insurance companies, the fact that you knew about the dead limb was completely avoidable.
Here are some other areas to avoid unnecessary claims.

Keep gutters clean – Full gutters can redirect water into your home. Have your gutters inspected and cleaned at least twice a year if you live in an area with over-hanging trees.

Inspect sump pumps – For homeowners with a basement, a operational sump pump may be the only thing between you and a large insurance claim. Flooded basements are commonplace and most are caused by the lack of or a faulty sump pump. Plumbing experts suggest replacing your sump pump every 7-10 years. There are few warning signs for a failing pump. They typically work until they don’t, and that’s the problem. You won’t know it’s not working until it stops working and water starts to rise.

Install backup sump pump – A backup pump can help prevent major headaches. If the primary fails a backup can kick in and eject the water safely.

Keep overhanging trees pruned – Just as we mentioned in the first paragraph, trimming dead limbs over your home or where cars are parked can reduce the likelihood of a claim.

Remove dead trees – Large dead trees will fall. It’s just a matter of time. And the last thing you want is for a tree to fall on your home or car. Removing them safely before the cause a problem is best course of action.

Secure your home – a secure home is one that is less likely to be burglarized.

Inspect your chimney – chimney fires are common for older homes with a fireplace. If you haven’t had your chimney inspected, it’s time.

Generally, regular inspection and maintenance of your home is the best practice to reduce insurance claims. Homeowners that take an active role in the upkeep of their home typically find they have less claims. Yes, there will be unavoidable situations and that’s what insurance was designed for. But insurance wasn’t designed to make up for poor home maintenance practices.

To learn more about reducing claims, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

How keeping your home secure can reduce insurance costs

As we have discussed in other articles on this blog, insurance costs are calculated using probability. In other words, how likely something is to occur. So it goes without saying that homes in high-crime areas are more expensive to insure because the probability of a break-in is higher. Regardless where you live though, securing your home can help reduce your insurance costs. Here are some areas where you can help improve your safety and cut costs.

Install a burglar alarm – Many insurance companies give 10%-20% discounts for installing a burglar alarm. Statistics show that a burglar alarm can considerably reduce break-ins, thereby reducing claims from theft.

Add exterior lighting – Burglars love the dark. So, by adding motion-sensitive lighting to your property, you can prevent would-be thieves from making your home a target.

Update door locks – Adding locks or updating older locks can make doors more difficult to penetrate.

Hold mail while away – Don’t let mail stack up in your mailbox if you are away from your home for several days or more. Have the USPS hold your mail until your return. Stacks of mail, newspapers, or packages are a clear signal that you are not home.

Use light timers – Again, if away from the home overnight or longer, use timers to turn lights off and on to create the illusion of occupancy. If a burglar thinks someone is home, odds are they will avoid your house.

While many of these suggestions won’t proactively reduce your insurance costs, the best method to shrink your insurance bill is to reduce or eliminate claims. The more claims you have, the more your costs will increase. So, if you have experienced a home break in, you don’t want to repeat it. And while insurance is there to cover these unexpected costs, it isn’t good to repeat claims within a short time span.

To learn more about securing your home, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

Driving Record Matter

Do insurance companies check driving records?

While insurance companies don’t have access to complete driving records, they can access basic information such as traffic tickets and suspended license information. Here’s how they use that information.

How insurance companies use your driving record
When you apply for automobile insurance, the insurance company needs to assess your risk. They can measure your risk based on the information in your driving record. A lot of speeding tickets may mean higher insurance costs. Why? If you have had many accidents or traffic tickets, you are more likely than other drivers to get them again. Subsequently, you are more likely to have more claims than a driver with no (or fewer) infractions, so the insurance company may decide you are too risky to insure or simply charge you higher premiums.

What is included on your driving record?
In addition to any accidents or traffic violations that occurred within the past three years, your driving record also includes information about any criminal convictions associated with your driving record, such as DUIs, and any incidents in which you failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing related to a driving infraction.

Your driving record also supplies your insurance company with information about any license restrictions, such as not being allowed to drive at night due to poor eyesight. Any prior license suspensions or revocations within the look-back period are also included.

What if I have a bad driving record?
Luckily, even if your insurances rates go up due to poor driving record, it may not be permanent. Eventually your infractions will drop off the insurance summary and are no longer considered when determining your premium. If your insurance company has a review period of three years, for example, an accident you had in 2012 drops off your record in 2015 and, if you have no new collisions, your insurance rates decrease at your next policy renewal. If they don’t it’s worth asking about.

To learn more about how your driving record impacts your insurance costs, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

Insurance Education

Why was my claim denied?

On occasion, insurance claims do get denied. Sometimes it is a clerical mistake. Humans make mistakes. Sometimes it is a misunderstanding. Perhaps the claim is confusing, or phrased poorly. And sometimes claims are denied for legitimate reasons. So just because your claim is denied, doesn’t mean that’s the end of the road. All denied claims should be followed up. Understanding why your insurance claim was denied will enable you to determine if you have reason to dispute the decision. There are several reasons why an insurance company may deny a claim, and the following are some common examples:

  • The claim falls under coverage that you do not have. For example, you only have liability insurance and no collision coverage. But you submit a collision claim.
  • You made an Uninsured Motorist Claim under your policy and it turns out the other party to the accident was insured.
  • Your coverage has lapsed because you didn’t pay your premiums in time.
  • The amount of damage exceeds the limits of your policy. For example, you are claiming $15,000 in damages, but your policy only allows for $10,000.
  • You bought a new car, but didn’t contact the insurance company to add it to the policy within the specified time given in the policy.

If you still think your insurance claim was denied incorrectly after reviewing your policy, there are some steps you may take to try to appeal a denied insurance claim. You have certain rights under your policy and under state law. Most insurance companies have a legal obligation to respond to appeals, so if you think your claim has been wrongfully denied it is worth appealing.

If you have a question about a claim contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

Why did my insurance rates change?

Insurance rates will fluctuate from time to time. Typically most polices are locked in for a year at time. That means your rates can’t change during that annual policy contract. But at the end of the policy, rates can change. Here’s why.

  • Driving record. Each year your insurance company reviews your driving record. If you are a reckless driver your rates may go up.
  • Previous claims. If you have submitted many claims within a 12-month period, then your rates may go up. So yes, that is what insurance is for. But sometimes people abuse insurance and submit many claims for things that may not be necessary. Remember, insurance is designed to protect you from large financial losses. If you are using insurance for minor repairs (to home or auto), then you’re probably going to see rate increase.
  • No fault of your own. Sometimes insurance companies have a bad year. That means they paid a lot of claims and lost a bunch of money. Typically this happens due to large weather-related events like tornados, floods, etc. In this case, the cost increases are typically industry-wide and all companies are raising prices.

To learn more, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

Compare Car Insurance Rates

How do I know if I’m getting a good deal on insurance?

That is the age-old question for any product or service. Am I getting the best price? And like any product or service, the only way to be somewhat sure about your insurance premiums is to shop around.

Annual comparison-shopping.

Experts suggest price-comparison shopping on a yearly basis. Take your exact policy and see what other insurance companies offer. That said, experts don’t suggest switching companies each year. If you can, take the information you learned during your price-comparison exercise and present it to your current insurance provider. Make them aware that other companies are charging less for the same coverage and ask them to match the price. Most insurance companies will do as you request. But you have to ask.

Things to think about.

When doing your price comparison there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Use your existing coverage as a baseline and get pricing for the exact same thing. Other companies may offer alternative coverage and that is fine, but at least get pricing on what you currently have. Second, consider customer service. Do an Internet search for customer service reviews for the companies you shop. A lower price may come with lower quality service.

Asking for a price reduction.

Once you have shopped other insurance companies and you have found lower costs. Take the information to your insurance provider. Call the customer service line and politely ask to speak to someone about your account. Don’t be demanding, angry or rude. This is business; it’s not personal. Tell them you have price quotes and would like them to adjust your premiums to match the best price. They may ask to see your pricing information so make sure you get it in writing from the other companies you shop. IF they won’t adjust your premiums, then be prepared to switch companies.

To learn more, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.

Is it smart or cost-effective to put all insurance needs with same company?

One of the easiest and most significant discounts you can receive is the multi-policy discount. By simply putting all your insurance needs with a single company, you can generally save much more than shopping for the best price for each insurance plan.

For example, if you own 2 cars and a home, combining those policies can typically yield a better price than having a single policy with three different companies. The more policies you add, the cheaper your rates.

Having all your policies with a single provider also makes things easier on you. Your payments are simplified and if you have a claim, there is only one company to contact.

There are a number of other discounts available, but the multi-policy is the easiest to get. But if you’re looking for other ways to reduce insurance costs, contact your independent Provident Insurance agent. We serve Plainfield, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville and the entire central Indiana area. Stop in one of our convenient locations to discuss your insurance needs today.