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3 Tips for Renter’s in Lexington, MI

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When you’re searching for a home or apartment to rent, there is a lot you need to think about: What neighborhood is best, what’s your monthly budget, and what amenities are most important to you. Once you’ve found the perfect place and signed a lease, the details left to be managed don’t end there. 

Keep these three essential tips in mind:

1. Know your rights. It may seem like your landlord is in full control when you are renting a property, but tenants have rights too. Many states have a tenant’s book of rights that will tell you what rights you have as a renter — for example if your landlord fails to fix issues within your property — and what resources are available should your situation become unlivable. If you’re a first-time renter, these handbooks can be an essential resource.

2. Purchase renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance is an essential step in the rental process — and some rental companies may require you to make this purchase when signing a lease. This insurance will protect the property housed within your home or apartment — including electronics, jewelry, furniture, and clothing — should it be stolen or damaged. It may also provide coverage should there be an accident in your residence. Renter’s insurance is typically very affordable. 

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you are a good renter — quiet, clean, always pay rent on time — your landlord may be willing to negotiate a better deal to keep you in your unit. If there is a rent increase around the corner or you simply want to try to get a better deal, try talking to your landlord. Striking a deal may require that you sign a longer lease or prepay some months in advance, but in the end, it could be worth it to save some money.

Are you a renter in Lexington, MI?
If you are renting a home or apartment and need help protecting your belongings, contact North Coast Insurance Services for information and a plan that works best for you and your family. 

4 Benefits of Michigan Motorcycle Insurance

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If you value your motorcycle in Lexington, MI, you can’t afford to ride without motorcycle insurance from North Coast insurance Services. Motorcycle insurance prevents you from incurring expensive bills from your pocket when accidents and other perils strike. If you are contemplating purchasing motorcycle insurance, you are on the right track. Below are the benefits you will enjoy.

Compliance with the law

Under Michigan law, motorcyclists are required to have minimum liability coverage in their motorcycle insurance. This coverage provides bodily injury and property damage coverages for accidents you are deemed liable for. Without the state-required motorcycle insurance, the bike owner is automatically disqualified from enjoying the no-fault insurance benefits. 

Protection of the asset

Whether you use your bike to run errands, commute, or have fun, it must have cost you several thousands of dollars. If you are uninsured and a disaster occurs, you will have to finance repairs and replacement of your bike from your pocket. Thankfully, if you have comprehensive and collision coverages, your insurer covers damages to your bike up to your coverage limit.

Medical expenses coverage

Motorcycle accidents can be catastrophic. Without health insurance, you are faced with expensive medical bills that can ruin your finances. Thankfully, if you have PIP or medical payments coverage, medical expenses for you and your passengers are well-taken of despite who was at fault for the accident.  

Roadside assistance coverage

Sometimes, your beloved machine can let you down. It can break down unexpectedly when away from home. However, when you have the roadside assistance add-on, you access services like towing, gas delivery, puncture repair, and other roadside repairs to get you back on the road ASAP.

Buy motorcycle insurance today!

Having seen the benefits of motorcycle insurance, the next step is to purchase coverage from North Coast insurance Services. Contact us today, and we will help you protect your asset.

Do I Need Umbrella Insurance In Lexington, MI?

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If you have a home, boat, or auto insurance, you might feel like you don’t need further coverage. But you might be wrong. While your current insurance is vital, it doesn’t provide you sufficient liability coverage. When lawsuits come raining, your typical liability coverage may run out, putting your assets on the line. So, what’s next?

Umbrella insurance from North Coast insurance Services of Lexington, MI would save the day when your current liability coverage limits are exhausted.

What is umbrella insurance?

Umbrella insurance is the extra liability protection that saves the day for claims that exceed your current liability plans. The best way to view umbrella insurance is like a safety net that comes to your rescue when faced with substantial financial liabilities. 

Umbrella insurance protects you against the below:

  • Bodily injury caused to others
  • Property damage to third parties
  • Personal liabilities like libel, slander, false arrest, and malicious prosecution

Do I need umbrella insurance?

There is a popular misconception that umbrella insurance is for the wealthy. This statement can’t be further from the truth. Umbrella insurance is appropriate for anyone as long as you earn a livelihood. You see, legal claims can befall anyone. As such, you need umbrella insurance to protect your assets and future earnings when lawsuits come calling.

While umbrella insurance applies to most people, if you fall in the below categories, you might want to consider umbrella insurance seriously:

  • You have significant assets or earnings to safeguard
  • You own particular breeds of pets that can bite
  • You coach youth sports
  • You are involved in risky hobbies like skiing and hunting
  • You own a business
  • You own a home, boat, or vehicle
  • You or your loved ones have a social media presence

Would you like to purchase umbrella insurance? Contact North Coast insurance Services today. Better yet, you can visit our Lexington, MI offices to speak to one of our agents. 

Is boat insurance required in Michigan

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Boating is a fan favorite activity in Michigan. If you live in the state, you are never far from an inland lake or one of the Great Lakes. It is no wonder there are so many boats on the more than 11,000 lakes, and this is not even considering the rivers. At North Coast insurance Services in Lexington, MI, we are the friendly neighborhood insurance team. We aim to develop long-lasting relationships with all of our customers. As independent agents, we can offer more choices and affordable rates. 

Boat insurance is not required in Michigan, but all motorized boats are required to be registered. However, if you have a boat loan, the lender may require you to carry boat insurance to protect their investment in your boat. Just because boating insurance isn’t required, it doesn’t mean that it is a good idea to be out on the water without it. In 2019, there were 128 boating accidents on Michigan waters, and accidents, injuries, and death have continued to rise for the past few years. The cost of all these accidents is more than half a million dollars. 

When your boat is stored at home, damage or theft may be covered minimally by home insurance, subject to your deductible. But if you get into an accident with your boat or watercraft, you will really benefit from having a dedicated boat insurance policy. Not only will comprehensive boat insurance pay for damage to your boat, but it will also pay for any damage you may cause to another boat or structure. It will also give you liability coverage to pay for any bodily injury you may cause and a lawsuit resulting from the accident.  

Boat insurance isn’t required in Michigan, but you would certainly be wise to consider having it. Contact North Coast insurance Services in Lexington, MI to discuss the benefits of boat insurance. 

3 main benefits of buying life insurance while young

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Around 41 percent of Americans don’t have life insurance. At the same time, 84 percent of Americans agree that people should have life insurance. From this study, it’s easy to point out that the younger people believe they should have life insurance but have not yet got one as they assume they are too young for life insurance. While this is technically true, you can save money and get several other benefits when you buy insurance early. Here are the big three.

You get more money

The younger you are when you buy life insurance, the more time you have to get the most out of your life insurance. Term life insurance in Lexington, MI is generally cheaper than whole life insurance can generate a good amount depending on the agreed duration. However, before settling down on a specific policy, it’s essential to speak to our insurance experts at North Coast Insurance Services to help you pick your type of policy based on your needs.

Young and healthy means good rates

When you buy life insurance at a young age, your premium rates remain the same for that duration of your policy unless you decide to change the coverage limits. You can lock in lower premiums and substantially reduce the amount you would spend on life insurance. Apart from age, health is also a critical determinant of how much you pay for your life insurance. When you are young, energetic, and healthy, you are likely to have a clean health record than older people who may have already started dealing with senior-age illnesses.

Get the peace of mind that your loved ones are protected.

Life insurance provides you with the assurance that your loved ones will be financially stable if you died. If you are in a relationship, you may want to secure the future of your to-be children. They can use the money to pay off a mortgage you took, college fees, or finance your burial expenses.

Looking to buy life insurance in Lexington, MI, soon? Call North Coast Insurance Services, and get a policy that matches your needs.

What to Know When You Get an Insurance Policy for Your First Car

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Do you have plans to purchase your first vehicle, or have you recently done so? Before you drive it, you’ll need to have an adequate auto insurance policy in place. It would be helpful to visit an independent agent such as those at North Coast Insurance Services of the Lexington, MI area for assistance with this to know what you’re getting and what you can expect from your first policy.

Michigan State Minimum Requirements for Auto Insurance

In the state of Michigan, it’s necessary that you have minimum liability coverage in your auto insurance. In addition, some automobile lenders do ask that you have other types of coverage such as collision and comprehensive. It’s a good idea to know what is and isn’t covered by your provider for each of these categories so that there are no surprises. A qualified insurance agent will be able to explain this to you in detail.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability

Two common types of coverage are for bodily injury and property damage. With a bodily injury, your insurance will at least partially cover medical bills, lost wages, and legal fees in the instance that someone else is injured in an automobile accident that you are responsible for causing. As the name implies, property damage includes other individuals’ property such as a fence, their mailbox, or a part of their home, such as their garage door. Both of these help tremendously since it means you can likely avoid having to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

North Coast Insurance Services of Lexington, MI and beyond strives to secure the best possible solutions for each customer’s insurance needs. Contact us with your questions, and we won’t steer you wrong.

Myths about Commercial Insurance

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To make sure your business in Lexington, MI, is protected, it helps to know more about commercial insurance so you don’t give in to these myths.

  • Home Insurance Covers Home-Based Business: Your home insurance is not enough to protect your home-based small business. It would be best if you had proper business insurance that meets your business’s needs to ensure that your operations are protected against a variety of claims. An agent at North Coast Insurance Services can get you started.
  • General Liability Covers Every Possible Risk: General liability is needed, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for all business-related risks.
  • Employees Drive Their Own Cars So You Don’t Need Commercial Auto Insurance: Many personal auto insurance policies don’t cover any losses when a vehicle is being used for business purposes. As a business owner, your employees must know what personal policies cover and don’t. There are different advantages to commercial auto insurance, including coverage for GPS equipment and rental vehicles.
  • The Business Is Too Small for Insurance: Even if your business is small in Lexington, MI, it’s not just businesses with deep pockets that should be concerned about being sued. Anyone can be sued. If you are found liable for damages and can’t pay, wages can be garnished, and bank accounts and assets seized.
  • Property Insurance Isn’t Needed if Operations Are Done in the Client’s Area: Some owners think the work is in the client’s area, using the client’s equipment and tools, that they don’t need property insurance. Coverage for property insurance varies. Companies should find a policy that suits their needs.
  • You Don’t Need an Insurance Agent: Some owners don’t get professional advice when choosing their business coverage. Since there are so many different coverage variations, it’s best to speak with a qualified agent to find the right coverage for your business.

Contact North Coast Insurance Services to get a quote on commercial insurance. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Theft?

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A standard home insurance policy will cover your belongings if they are stolen outside or inside your home. The most important thing to determine is if your belongings are covered for Replacement Cost Value (RCV) or Actual Cash Value (ACV). With ACV, you get the amount your item is currently worth. RCV will give you the amount it costs to replace the same product at the current economic value. For example, if you got your TV five years ago, it may not be worth much now due to depreciation with ACV.

Those listed under your policy will have their belongings covered by your policy. This includes your children, spouse, and those you have identified on your policy. It will extend coverage to these people living in different places. For example, if your child is living in a dorm room on campus, then your policy protects them if their belongings are stolen.

Your home insurance policy in Michigan will cover most everything that can be stolen with some exceptions. Some items cost a higher amount to replace, and this means standard insurance policies will limit the amounts you will be reimbursed if these certain items are stolen. Jewelry and cash are two examples. If your car is stolen, it won’t be covered under your home policy but instead can be covered by a comprehensive auto policy. If you do have jewelry or items that are high in value, you may need to consider a personal floater. This coverage is added to the standard policy to help insure high-value property. You can go over your policy limits with an agent at North Coast Insurance Services in Lexington, MI.

Your home insurance will generally cover losses from break-ins. The first loss is of possessions, such as TVs. The second can be damage to the physical structure, and insurance can also cover those repairs. Discuss this further with your agent if you have questions.

Contact North Coast Insurance Services in Lexington, MI to get a quote on home insurance.