LET'S TALK WATER...Did you know that floods are the Nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and that your standard property coverage does not cover it?

Flood insurance must be purchased separately and the most recent poll done by the Insurance Information Institute showed only about 12% of US homeowners actually have it. We don’t want this percentage to be so low simply because of the assumption most people have that it’s automatically covered. So let’s focus on the ins and outs of water damage and coverage.

Do I Need Flood Insurance?
As you know the weather can be very unpredictable and according to FEMA all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods in the past 5 years. Flooding can occur from storms, over saturated ground, overflowing or surging bodies of water like rivers, ponds, and, lakes. A flood could very well happen to anyone. A flood with no insurance could leave you financially devastated. The damage from just one inch of water can cost more than $20,000. More than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties NOT located in high risk flood zones.   If you own, or are looking to purchase a personal or commercial property in a high flood zone your lender will actually require you to carry it. Flood insurance for homes in non-flood zones is surprisingly very affordable with a few different coverage and deductible options.
 
Is my Car covered if there’s a flood?
Streets flooding are more common than you think and can easily total a car. Unless you carry Comprehensive coverage your car is not covered for it. Comprehensive coverage comes with a deductible and covers not only flooding but things like fire, hail damage, if you hit a deer, and broken glass. You can have comprehensive coverage without collision. If you just carry liability only it’s a good idea to call your agent and ask how much more it would cost to add comprehensive coverage to it. It is a very low cost coverage!
 
How do I get a Quote for Flood Insurance?
Anyone with a residential or commercial policy with a property located in a NFIP- participating community can purchase flood insurance. Purchasing flood insurance is easy. You can contact agents who offer it, like us! All we need to get started on a quote is your name and property address. We will be able to recommend different coverage options and deductibles. It is important to know that unless it is a new purchase and required for a loan closing, you will typically have a 30 day wait period for coverage. So call now! Do not wait until it’s too late!! All flood insurance is written through FEMA through the National Flood Insurance Program so it is not something you can shop for different rates. All agents authorized to sell flood insurance will have the exact same price.

The Exception…
It is correct that flooding is not covered by homeowners, condo, and renters insurance. The exception to that is one of our companies Auto Owners Insurance, does in fact offer what is called “Inland Flood Coverage”.  This can be added to homeowner’s policies as an endorsement. These properties must not be located in high risk flood zones and the limit must match the policies water backup limit. It would then give a small amount of coverage for flooding.
 
What is Water Backup of Sewers and Drains?
A residential and commercial property policy will cover what’s called “Water Backup of sewers and drains” if endorsed to be added to the policy. It is not an automatic coverage. This is different water scenario than flooding we discussed earlier. What this covers is repairing water damage from overflowing drains and sewers, broken sump pumps, and more. Typically, when a sump pump fails it causes water to backup into your home, sometimes bringing all kinds of water-borne materials with it. A water backup can create costly damage. This leaves you to have to quickly arrange for cleanup and repairs to avoid further damage. Water backups can happen to anyone! It is a good idea to call your agent and make sure you have the coverage and find out your limit. We recommend in most cases a very minimum of $10,000 -$25,000 coverage.
 
Are the pipes in my front yard covered if they bust?
Not unless you have the specific coverage added and not all companies have it available. Several of our companies will offer what is called “Service Line Coverage”. This will actually cover the pipes in your front yard leading from the street in the event the bust for any reason. This is a very common claim and another great misconception of something most believe to be automatically covered by their homeowners insurance.
 
All of these things are just additional reasons why it is a great idea to review your policies with your agent every year at renewal. Things change and you don’t want to find out after the fact that you weren’t covered. We will review your policy even if you are not our current client and give you suggestions.
 
Buckner insurance is an authorized flood insurance agency and we are here to help! Please contact us if you have any questions: 937-434-6800

Shopping for insurance can be overwhelming but it really doesn’t have to be. Buckner Insurance is here to help!! Below are some Frequently Asked Questions and answers about personal and commercial insurance.

There are so many insurance companies, where do I start?
When it comes to insurance there are Captive Agents and Independent Agents. Captive Agents are companies like AllState, State Farm, & Nationwide, to name a few. They only have the option to place your insurance with their company. Some captive companies have no agents at all, just an 800 number for example Geico. Independent Agents represent multiple companies and are able to get you more comparative prices with one single phone call. They also have the resources to keep all of your family and insurance with one Agent, in the unique case bundling is not your best option. One example would be a youthful driver with a bad driving record who may need to be on a separate policy. Regardless of what you choose remember there is so much value to having an experienced agent working for you every step of the way.
Some other tips would be to research the company itself. Check out Facebook and Google reviews and ask for some recommendations from your friends and family. You can also further research the insurance by checking out their A.M Best rating. This will show the company’s financial strength.
 
What information should I have available when calling for a quote?
It is important when getting prices from new companies that you are comparing Apples to Apples. If someone is quoting you a much better price, be sure it is not at the expense of your coverage. It is always a good idea to contact your current agent before shopping and ask them to send you a copy of your current “Declarations Pages”. This will list all of your current coverages along with almost all of the other prudent information needed to properly quote you. This is something they can quickly and easily fax or email to you.

If you choose not go that route,  all companies will always need the first and last name of every driver in the household along with birthdates and driver’s license numbers. We will also need your address and vehicle information. VIN numbers are helpful but are not necessary for a quote.
**It is always a good idea to shop everything at once. Bundle discounts are a huge savings and it’s easier to just do it all at once. This goes for home, auto, life, & Business Insurance.
 
How Often Should I shop?
That is a great question!! Everyone is different; typically we would say every 2 to 3 years for those who are just rate shopping. Some companies offer “Welcome” Discounts, which you will sometimes see fall off or decrease after about a year. Sometimes there are certain life events can be a good time to shop. Things like buying a new home, youthful drivers being added to the policy, or the passing of a spouse or named insured.
** You do not have to wait until your renewal date to shop.
 
What things affect my rate?
There are so many factors built into insurance rates. A few things are: Your age, marital status, the area in which you live, claims and violations, your vehicle ages & types, home characteristics, multi-policy discounts, having a company car, your annual mileage, your credit, the age of your roof, your coverages and deductibles, youthful drivers in the household, and continuous prior insurance. Those are some of the main factors but not all.
 
How do I know what coverage I should get?
Knowing what coverage to have starts with knowing what your coverage means. Here are a few common insurance coverage terms and what they mean.

Collision- Pays for damage to the vehicle from impact with other vehicles or objects. (This is subject to a deductible)
Comprehensive- Sometimes called “Other than Collision” protects the vehicle against loss from fire, theft, animal collision, vandalism, breakage of glass, and windstorm/hail. (This is subject to a deductible)
Deductible- a specified amount of money that you must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim. The higher your deductible the lower the premium.

As far as understanding how much coverage you need, that is another great example of the value of having an agent. Your agent will ask questions when talking to you to understand your specific situation and be able to recommend proper coverages. Generally, the more money you have and assets you own the more liability insurance you should have to protect them. In some cases you may even need an umbrella policy. Umbrellas extend liability coverage and are a last line of defense against lawsuits. You would be surprised how affordable a million dollar umbrella policy is. You should also have enough life insurance to cover your mortgage and protect your family in the event of your death.
 
Why are you insuring my home for more than what it is appraised at?
Companies use different computer programs called “Replacement Cost Estimators”. In this program we enter all of your home information. This includes things like square footage, foundation, building material, and interior specifications. This will determine a rebuild amount based on today’s current construction costs.  Your homes current market value and cost to rebuild it are completely different. It is always a good idea if you feel this amount is too high to discuss it with your agent to review. They may have simply gotten some misinformation from the Auditor’s site and/or have additional options available to lower the amount.

What about My Business Insurance?
It is a good idea to talk to your current agent before each year’s renewal to determine what adjustments should be made to your insurance. This can be reviewing driver’s lists, sales, equipment and vehicle lists, and business property limits.

We suggest shopping and comparing new prices every 2 to 3 years. You are a business owner and your time is valuable. So is your money and it is important to not overpay for insurance for your growing business. When shopping your insurance keep in mind most agents will set up appointments to come to you. Just like personal insurance, having a copy of your current policy is a great start. The agent will probably have a few additional questions because every business is unique and therefore insurance should never be one size fits all. If you have commercial auto coverage a current drivers list is needed. Also Loss runs. Loss runs are a list of any claims your business has had in the last 3 to 5 years. All of these things are easily obtained from your current agent. They can be quickly printed off and faxed or emailed to you directly. Taking the time to shop could save you thousands of dollars a year!!
 
For More Insurance Questions
Please call Buckner Insurance at 937-434-6800 or email Office@BucknerInsurnace.com.

In April, we put together a Shoe & Sock drive to benefit a charity close to our heart, Shoes4Shoeless. We teamed up with Ohio Green Works, Rembrandt Roofing, and Club 51. With our combined efforts we were able to collect almost 200 pairs of shoes, 385 pairs of socks, and over $200 in monetary donations!! 

​We have been so fortunate to be in the Springboro Expo for 2 years now. It is one of our favorite events. We just love seeing everyone and hanging out with our fellow businesses. This years theme was Superheroes!! We like to think we are superheroes because we are always here when life hits you with the “Bangs!” , “Pows!”, & “Crashes!” Our insurance protects you from financial devastation should an unfortunate event ever happen.

This event was seriously so much fun, seeing the children’s faces light up when they saw superheroes was worth all of it. We also raffled off an Apple watch, a free oil change from Walker Toyota, a free will from Chris Beck Law, Teeth Whitening from Village Park Advanced Cosmetic & Family Dental in Springboro, & “Breakfast on Buckner” to our winning Springboro Business.

​We cannot wait to see everyone again next year!! 

In November, we put together a donation drive for leftover Halloween candy which we sent overseas to our troops currently deployed. It was a huge success!! We had drop off locations at Pat’s Gas in Waynesville and Titus Powersports.

The Tennessee wildfires were heartbreaking and really hit home since our owner grew up in Tennessee. We teamed up with Baker Salvage Co. & Gem City Cafe and the community response was incredible. Phones were ringing off the hook and our office quickly filled up with donations. It was really something to see everyone come together like that. The donations filled 3 vans!