Dorm Room Security

Smart Security Works in Dorms Too! 

With summer coming to a close, it’s time to head back to the dorm and hit the books once again. This year, though, don’t pack up just bedding, clothes, and tokens to remind you of home — include a few high-tech gadgets to make your move back to campus better than ever.

As technology advances, home automation and smart security aren’t just for your parents’ house anymore. You can up your dorm game with these nine items that score high marks for both safety and convenience.

1. Canary Security Camera

All you need to keep an eye on dorm room comings and goings is this handy all-in-one security camera system and your smartphone. For under $200 you can outfit your dorm with state-of-the-art smart security. Simply plug in the Canary and download the app, and you’ll be able to check up on your room remotely, whether you’re taking in an early lecture or stuck in an all-night cram session at the library.

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Sleep is important for your health

Sleep is a Good Thing       

Are you regularly up at 4 a.m. to jump start the day—and still taking care of business, whether personal or professional, long after sunset each night? If so, it may be time for a wake-up call.

Being a Type A go-getter is perceived as a badge of honor today. And for some of us, it feels like we have no choice in the matter. How else are we going to eat a healthy breakfast, exercise, get the kids to school, build a career, manage a household, and maybe squeeze in a favorite TV show once in a blue moon? Sleep is often shoved to the back burner, something we dream of enjoying when we retire...

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There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Umbrella Policy

It's Not Raining. 

Why do I need an Umbrella?

Webster describes an umbrella as "a protecting force or influence." That describes a Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP) also.  It protects your assets when your home or auto policy coverage has been exhausted. 
Fun Fact: The first Umbrella policies were sold in 1949, so they have been around awhile! 

When do you need a PUP?

Insurance covers you in the case of a sudden and accidental loss. Most people do not plan to have an accident or cause damage to someone else's property. But it does happen. In Texas, all drivers are required to have Liability insurance. But when you have an accident that is more expensive than the coverage you have, what are your options? Without an umbrella, you will have to pay the difference out of your own pocket. 

What extras will a PUP cover?

Umbrella policies will cover a multitude of extras. It can cover a lawsuit that is a direct result of an accident on your property. It can cover damage you cause to someone else's property, such a car accident. It can cover Medical expenses for someone who was injured at your home. It can also cover defamation of character judgments, which can be very helpful in today's social media world. 

What will a PUP not cover?

Umbrella policies will  cover Liability (when you cause loss or harm for another person). They will not cover your own property or your business. There are Commercial Umbrella policies that would cover your business liability. They will also not cover any intentional acts. Insurance generally covers sudden or accidental loss; NOT intentional acts that result in loss. So if you intentionally run into some one's house, you will not be covered- by any insurance actually.

What do I need to know?

Carriers require specific liability limits on your home and auto before they will issue you a personal umbrella. You will need to have $500,000 in Home Liability. You will need to have $250,000/$500,000/$250,000 in Auto Liability. Or some carriers will offer a lower rate if you have $500,000/$500,000/$500,000 for your liability limits. Check with your agent fr your current limits and what it will cost to increase them if you need to. Liability isn't usually expensive to increase. 

What does a PUP cost?

Personal Umbrella policies vary in pricing depending on what you own, who drives on your policy and your claims history. If you have a home, two autos and no young drivers or claims, you will be paying around $350 annually. The price will increase if you have young drivers (under 25) or older drivers (over 75). It will also increase if you own rental properties. You will also have to carry a certain amount of Liability coverage (usually $300,000) on your rental properties. If you have a checkered claims history or motor vehicles violations, the premium will be higher as well. 

Call your agent to see if you are a good candidate for a Personal Umbrella Policy. If they cannot answer your questions, call us!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Home Insurance Changes

Is It Time to Update Your Home Insurance Policy?

I don't know many people who enjoy talking to their insurance agent. There are few out there, but most of the time people want to put a policy in place and not have to deal with the process again. This is great. Low maintenance clients are our favorite kind! But there are conversations we need to have with you. Many people do not realize how changes in their lifestyle or their home can affect their home insurance policy. 

Marital Status

Did you get married? or are you now single? These changes can affect your rates. If you got married, you will want to put your spouse on your policy. If something happens to you and you are incapacitated, if your spouse is not on your policy, they cannot file claims or make decisions about the policy. If you are now single, you will want to remove your (previous) spouse from the policy so they may not make changes or decisions about the policy. Being married will usually lower your rate a little bit. Most carriers consider married couples to be a more stable risk. I know we all know people that would not be true of, but carriers compile several types of statistics to determine risk. 

High End Purchases

You have a certain amount of coverage for your Personal Property on your policy. If you buy a large screen TV or a high end computer system, this can eat into that coverage amount. Most carriers will offer options on the personal property amount.  It is a good idea to keep receipts and take photos of any high end purchase for verification in case you file a claim. Home policies also cap the amount of coverage for jewelry, so if you buy a new piece of jewelry, you may need to change your coverage. You can add a "Schedule Personal Property" endorsement that will cover a specific piece of jewelry. You need to get a certified appraisal, including a photo to verify the value of the jewelry so the carrier can write the additional coverage for the exact amount of the piece. It is not subject to  the policy deductible and will ensure you are fully covered.

Home Improvement

Remodeling/adding onto your home can increase the Replacement Cost on your Dwelling

value. The dwelling value is what the carrier determines it would cost to rebuild your home from the ground up in the case of a catastrophic loss. This can includes remodeling the kitchen or bathrooms, adding a pool, changing out plumbing. Not everything will affect your dwelling value, but talk to your agent about any changes you are planning. 

Pet Changes

Have you adopted a dog recently? Some dog breeds are prohibited by carriers (think Pit Bulls and German Shepherds). I know your dog is not a problem, but again, statistics show that certain breeds are more aggressive and carriers don't want to pay out those claims so they make them ineligible. If you have an ineligible dog breed, your carrier may cancel your policy outright or they may exclude liability coverage for anything that has to do with the dog. If you do not disclose the dog, they may deny a claim because of fraudulent information on the policy.

Home Security Systems

Have you added a monitored alarm system? Turned your home into a "Smart Home"? These can save you money on your policy. Now I believe having a monitored alarm system is a very good idea, but it will not save you the same money you will spend installing and maintaining the system. You add a security system for one reason- security. And no, the system that notifies you on your iphone is not a monitored alarm. It must be monitored by a certified alarm company that notifies the police and/or fire department. 


When you are coming up on your insurance renewal it is a good idea to keep these things in 
mind. If you have made any of these changes, be sure to let your agent know so that you will be sufficiently covered. Also let them know any contact information changes. We have had people move, change phone numbers and email addresses and then act completely shocked when we don't know about the changes. Agents do not know you have made these changes unless you tell them! You can email or call into your agent; just let them know!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Windows

Does Residential Glass Cover Your Windows?  

Bay Window

Like everything else these days, there are more choices in windows than I could possibly list here.

But here are a few:

Single Sash Window: two panels set vertically. The bottom panel moves up to open the window. The top panel generally stays in one fixed position.
Casement Window: The panel is operable, hanging on a hinge that allows the window to be opened like a door.
Awning Window: It is mounted vertically with a hinge at the top so the panel is pushed out to open. It allows air flow, but keeps out debris such as falling leaves or light rain.
Bay Window: They are not usually operable. They are useful for allowing maximum light into a room as the sun travels from one end of the sky to the other throughout the day.
Palladian Window: This is a large panel, consisting of several small panels with a curved top and usually two smaller side panels.Double Hung Window: Two panels arranged vertically and both the top and the bottom panel move all the way up and all the way down. Most popular type. 

Single Sash

Jalousie Window: This is very American. It consists of thin, staggered strips of glass that open and close at the same time, similar to a Venetian blind. 

The list is much much longer, but I'm getting bored and you are wondering when I will get to something you can use.

Do you need window coverage on your home insurance policy?

That would be useful to know- right?

Most policies will include "Residential glass" coverage for about $10 annually. This generally will cover up to $100 per pane to replace broken glass. The most common claims are a tree falling into your window or maybe a baseball hit into your window. Although I think that is less common these days thanks to shatter resistance glass technology. This will not cover leaking windows, rotting frames, worn old seals or breakage caused by fire, war or nuclear reaction.

How expensive are windows?

Specialty

Generally windows can run from $250 for basic windows to thousands of dollars for Specialty windows. The pricing varies greatly due to the different types of windows (see the partial list above) and the quality of the product and the contractor installing the windows. The more inexpensive windows will not last as long, look as nice or be as soundproof or energy-efficient as some of the more expensive options. This doesn't mean the more expensive the better. Get an experienced, certified contractor and preferably someone referred by a relative or friend you trust. 

Replacing windows can increase the aesthetic value of your home. You also want them to be functional and productive. Know your options before
making repairs. If you have the residential glass coverage, know when you can use it as well as when the coverage will not apply. If you don't have it, ask your agent if it is an option on your home insurance policy. It is a very inexpensive coverage that can save you a good bit of money!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683 

Home additions

Additions Need Additional Insurance

Are you thinking of adding onto your home? Or upgrading/ remodeling what you already have? Talk to your insurance agent first and see if you need additional coverage.

Remodeling

If you are doing a minor remodel including paint, cabinet and new appliances or a mid-grade remodel, adding new flooring, lights, furniture also, you shouldn't need to increase your coverage. But if you are doing a high end remodel that includes floor plan changes, window installments, granite counter tops, among the other changes listed, you will need reevaluate the dwelling value for your home. The difference between the value of a "Builders Grade" bathroom (a very basic bathroom) and a "Designer" bathroom is over $21,000. The difference in value of a "Builders Grade" and a "Designer" kitchen is almost $150,000. You want to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild your home to its current standard. 

Building Additions

If you are building an addition to your home, such as another bedroom or a sun room, you will need to a Builders Risk policy while building the addition. If you hire a contractor, this should be included in their General Liability coverage. (Get verification!) The value of the addition needs to be added to your home insurance policy from the start. Take into consideration there will be additional square footage as well as fixturing, plumbing and electrical work that will add value. Consider how much coverage you have for your personal property for the additional furniture also. You should be able to increase the coverage amount if you need to. 

Building Other Structures

If you are building a Detached garage or a swimming pool, these would be covered under "Other Structures". This is usually a predetermined percentage of the Dwelling amount, usually 1-% - 20%. Some policies will let you increase/decrease this coverage. The average cost to build/replace a basic detached garage is between $9,000 and $12,000. The average cost to build a pool is $22,000. Of course these costs will increase with higher end materials and more square footage.


With all projects, take before and after pictures and keep your receipts. If you hire a contractor, ask for verification of their General Liability insurance up front and keep a copy of the signed contract and invoices. If you have friends/family help you with the project, make sure your home insurance policy has enough guest medical and liability coverage for any possible injuries. Take a look at your insurance coverage as you make your plans. There may be an additional cost associated with increasing the coverage and you want to include this in your budget. Please don't wait until your renewal to talk to your agent about your coverage. Weather and fire will not wait for your renewal, so please make sure you are covered correctly from the start!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Insurance Reports

Can I Lie About My Driving History?

You can try. Technically it is considered "soft fraud". It won't matter anyway. All carriers run your history reports before (or sometimes after) they write your policy. Most run the reports before they will bind the policy. Your reports largely determine your rates so they can be very significant in your pricing.

Bad history means higher rates    

 or worse. 

 Some carriers will not insure you at all!

Carriers will run two main types of reports for an Auto policy.


The CLUE report provides a 7 year history of claims associated with the driver/car. It will show the date of the loss, the type of loss, the amount paid out and the driver and car associated with the claim. Your agent can send you your CLUE and you can dispute any claims that are on your report in error. 

The Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) provides your driving history, including your drivers license history (including suspension/cancellations), your traffic violations/citations and DUI convictions. The time frame of the MVR varies by state. 

Auto insurance carriers use these reports to decide what the risk is to insuring you.  The greater the risk (bad history), the higher the rates. So a clean driving history will earn you better rates. Most carriers will look back 5 years, but some go back only 3 years. 

Your driving history is very important to your rates (and to job opportunities if they involve driving!) You can lie all you want. We have had people tell us they have not accidents or tickets and then we find out they have both. "Oh I forgot about that" seems to be the common retort.  The reports will show your history, whether you have revealed it yourself or not. 

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683