Purchasing a Home? What Steps Should You Take?

If you’re interested in purchasing a home, you have more ahead of you than you may realize. It’s important though to follow these rules. At Zot Insurance Agency, serving Davie, FL and the surrounding area, we strive to help make the process of buying a home and maintaining it easier. 

Decide on a Budget

Before you decide on a home, you need to determine what’s in your price range. You want to keep in mind you may need to pay a higher monthly rate if you choose to put down a smaller down payment, especially since you may need to pay a special fee. To help you decide on a budget, you may want to use a mortgage calculator.

Start Looking for Homes

The second step to purchasing a home is browsing the homes that are in your price range.

Getting Your Loan

Then, you want to get qualified by a lender and gain approval. 

Make an Offer

The next step is to make an offer on the home you want. 

Select Your Loan

Then, you want to work with your mortgage lender and obtain your loan.

Get a Home Appraisal 

Your lender is going to ask you to get an appraisal. This particular portion of the home buying process consists of a person who isn’t associated with your lender going to the home and figuring out the value of your home. 

Paperwork

Like any major purchase, you have paperwork to fill out. In fact, when you’re buying a home, you have a great deal of paperwork to complete. 

Closing 

Closing the house is the final step. You finish with the last of the paperwork and loan documents. 

Get Insurance

As soon as you get your home, you want to purchase a home insurance policy.

Get a quote for a home insurance policy from Zot Insurance Agency, serving Davie, FL and the surrounding region, by calling 954-680-8088 today.  

Trucking Insurance: Excessive Liability Or Umbrella Coverage?

When it comes to your Florida trucking insurance, although the terms excess liability and umbrella liability are often confused as being the same, they are quite different. Zot Insurance Agency is here to help you understand how each type of insurance works. 

Umbrella vs. Excess Liability Insurance 

While there are similarities, there are differences. Umbrella liability is collective. It could reach over general, auto, or employer’s liability, as well as provide coverage when the underlying coverage does not exist. Excess liability is very specific. It is extra coverage over a set amount for all three lines of coverage. What they do share in common is that for either an umbrella or excess liability policy to trigger, the underlying insurance policy line must be exhausted. 

Umbrella Liability and Excess Liability Insurance Coverage 

Both policies provide an excellent solution to help you protect your assets (such as your Davie, FL home) and net worth in the event you are faced with a large claim. The coverages may also meet shipper’s requirements for specific loads. 

For example, excess liability can be written in whereby the carrier chooses not to select the higher limits required by the shipping contract. This provides no coverage for other hauls that the carrier has that do not involve the shipper named on your excess liability policy. If an umbrella policy is triggered due to a claim that doesn’t include the underlying insurance than retention or deductible (typically $10,000 per claim) would apply.  

With ever-increasing claims in the trucking industry, it is smart to consider either an excess liability policy or an umbrella liability policy to protect you and your business. To learn more about umbrella and excess liability or to speak with an agent about your trucking insurance needs, call  Zot Insurance Agency in Davie, FL today. We serve over seven states!

Can You Have More than One Commercial Policy?

When it comes to commercial insurance, it is always best to know just what you can and cannot have. For those that live in the Davie, FL area, the agents with Zot Insurance Agency can help you to determine what type of coverage you need and what type of coverage you want for your business.

When you have a commercial property, it is essential to have a commercial policy to help protect this property from theft, damage, and to help protect the employees that work there, as such, it is essential to figure out what policy is going to work for you. In many cases, you can have as much insurance as you wish on any property. The issue when it comes to having multiple policies is the overall value of the business.

You cannot, for instance, have three policies on one property that amount to more than the property is worth. This causes an issue with most insurance companies as insuring a business for far more than it is worth is going to cost the insurance company a great deal more money to take care of a claim than what the property is actually worth.

In most cases, you are not going to be able to have multiple policies on the same property through the same insurance company. You may be able to insure it through another company, but you always want to speak with an agent about what is legal and what is smart when it comes to insuring your business. You can always insure your business and adjust coverage as needed to guarantee that you are going to be fully covered in the event of an incident.

For those in the Davie, FL area, the agents with Zot Insurance Agency can help you to find the policy that works best for you, and that is going to do the most for your business.  

Ways to Improve your Homeowner Insurance Risk Standing

Insurance companies pay attention to risk in every policy they approve and provide to consumers, and homeowners are no exception. So when a consumer in Davie, FL or anywhere in the state takes the time to reduce risk in a home that is covered, insurers often reward the consumer because it benefits the safety of the home as well as reduces their chance of having to address a damage claim. The most common way to reduce risk is to install a home alarm; this is a well-known discount and is even identified by insurers to new clients. However, there are other steps one can take as well.

Automatic water shut-offs are a newer tool, thanks to advancing technology, that are a big winner with home insurers, according to Zot Insurance Agency. The most common cause of water damage in a home tends to be a burst pipe or unidentified leak behind the internal walls of a home. Now, there are easy to install tools that monitor water presence and moisture around the highest risk water systems in a home, and this shuts the water flow to them if triggered. The water heater is a perfect example. Old heaters are notorious for springing leaks, and the water flow will normally continue if not shut off. An automatic moisture sensing monitor will solve this problem almost as soon as the leak happens and spreads.

Shatter proof windows are another method insurers like. Smash and grabs are common in neighborhoods where people commonly leave during the day for work. Higher temper glass makes it much harder to get in, even stopping some attempts. That also reduces losses. Again, the big benefit is a reduction of risk for the homeowner and insurer. If you need help finding out what benefits you can receive for  your home in Davie, FL, call Zot Insurance Agency today. We can guide you on exactly what changes to make and which will benefit you the most.

When do You Need Trucking Insurance?

If you own a business in Davie, FL that uses trucks for hauling equipment or transporting goods, you need trucking insurance to protect your vehicle and cargo. Any business that offers trucking services needs trucking insurance. Although this type of insurance is geared mainly to large companies with fleets of trucks, small business owners can also benefit from the protection this insurance has to offer. By talking to an agent from Zot Insurance Agency, you can get a better idea of the type of trucking insurance coverage you need.

Trucking Insurance Options

Trucking insurance policies come with many coverage options ranging from basic protection to customized coverage. Basic protection often includes collision damage and comprehensive insurance. Collision damage helps cover the repair costs of your vehicle and that of other drivers if you’re found at fault of an accident. Comprehensive insurance covers the costs of damages to your truck from accidents that don’t involve a collision like hail, wind, vandalism, etc. Before getting coverage, take time to assess your risks as this can help you choose the amount and type of coverage you need.

Customized Coverage

If you own a large fleet of trucks and your main business is transporting goods, you can get specialized insurance coverage to protect your assets fully. Options for specialized trucking insurance include commercial collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, auto liability, cargo insurance, and uninsured/underinsured motorist. You can tailor your policy to cover the types of vehicles in your fleet and the services they provide.

In short, you need trucking insurance if your business uses trucks for commercial purposes to haul equipment or supplies, transport hazardous materials, tow heavy machinery, deliver food, ship freight, or perform chauffeur services.

To learn more about trucking insurance and policy costs, contact us at Zot Insurance Agency in Davie, FL.

What Does Commercial Insurance Mean?

When you open up a business, you want to make sure it grows. One way to keep it safe is to have full coverage insurance, such as commercial insurance. Commercial insurance will protect your business from losses that may have to do with natural disasters, theft, employee accidents, or even auto accidents. The Zot Insurance Agency in Davie, FL would like you to inform you about what it means to have commercial insurance.

Commercial Insurance Coverage Types

Having commercial insurance to protect your business can be costly, but worth it if something unexpected happens and you have no way of paying for damages. To be fully covered, you should consider all of the different types of policies under the commercial insurance umbrella. But there are two main types that you should have, at least.

  • Property insurance – Covers your building and equipment, if it is destroyed or damaged.

  • General liability insurance – If someone is injured on your property, then you could be covered for any damages the person received.

Other Types of Coverage

  • Commercial umbrella – This umbrella coverage fills in the gaps that general liability does not cover.

  • Electronic data coverage – With data being stored and developed more and more through the internet, it would be costly to lose it without this coverage.

  • Commercial Auto Insurance – Is similar to regular auto insurance, including bodily injury, property damage liability, and collision coverage.

Finding the Right Commercial Coverage

In Davie, FL, the professional agents at Zot Insurance Agency are waiting for you to call or stop by. They can happily help you find the right kind of commercial insurance for your business. They can also help you establish other types of insurance for your personal needs as well, such as auto, home, and life insurance.

Do I Need to Have Home Insurance?

When you are looking to make a great long-term investment in the Davie, FL area, one of the best things that you could do would be to buy a home. To ensure that your home is adequately protected, having home insurance is a practical necessity. There are several reasons why you need to have home insurance on your property.

Protects Your Assets

The main reason you need to have home insurance on your property is that it will protect your assets. A home insurance policy can provide you with protection in many different ways. The home insurance policy will be able to protect the actual home in the event of a fire or other casualty. It can also provide you with coverage for your personal belongings. This way, you will not have to replace all of your items out of pocket if they are damaged.

Ensures Compliance

When you own a property, many different entities will require that you carry insurance the whole time. If you have a mortgage, you will need to have a home insurance policy outstanding at all times. When you live in a community with a local association, you also likely will need to carry a policy to stay in compliance. If you find yourself in default with either the mortgage lender or the association, you could face stiff penalties or even foreclosure.

When you are considering whether or not to get home insurance, you should meet with the Zot Insurance Agency. For those that are buying a home in the Davie, FL area, the Zot Insurance Agency can provide a variety of very valuable services. This will help you to assess your home insurance needs better while also making sure that you get into the best policy possible.

Basics of Trucking Insurance

As a commercial enterprise, trucking presents special insurance needs. That is why they deserve unique attention from knowledgeable agents. A trucking policy not only has to cover the truck, but it also has to protect the driver and the contents of the truck. These variables need to be addressed in any policy. As the value of the truck’s contents will vary as will the risks facing the driver in certain conditions and areas, it is important that you work with agents that understand these unique needs. The agents at Zot Insurance Agency work for truckers in the Davie, FL area, and several surrounding states. They are well versed in the coverage needs specific to the trucking industry. 

As every trucker is different, there is a variety of policy options available. Some of the considerations include whether you are an owner-operator and drive for a company. Do you have someone who shares the driving with you? They will also need insurance coverage. Does your family come on the road? If so, there may be an additional need for medical coverage while you are away from home. They can also discuss the options that are available to companies with fleets of trucks on the road or who, as part of their business operations, lease trucks.

Truckers find themselves in many different environments with a wide variety of loads. This means that as an owner-operator or a fleet owner, you will need a policy that addresses the risks that you face daily. The team at Zot Insurance Agency specializes in trucking insurance policies. They not only understand the unique needs of their clients in the Davie, FL area, but they also strive to serve the broader needs of truckers and trucking companies throughout the region. Visit our website then call or come by. Get the coverage you need today whether you live in or outside of Florida!

Basics of Trucking Insurance

As a commercial enterprise, trucking presents special insurance needs. That is why they deserve unique attention from knowledgeable agents. A trucking policy not only has to cover the truck, but it also has to protect the driver and the contents of the truck. These variables need to be addressed in any policy. As the value of the truck’s contents will vary as will the risks facing the driver in certain conditions and areas, it is important that you work with agents that understand these unique needs. The agents at Zot Insurance Agency work for truckers in the Davie, FL area, and several surrounding states. They are well versed in the coverage needs specific to the trucking industry. 

As every trucker is different, there is a variety of policy options available. Some of the considerations include whether you are an owner-operator and drive for a company. Do you have someone who shares the driving with you? They will also need insurance coverage. Does your family come on the road? If so, there may be an additional need for medical coverage while you are away from home. They can also discuss the options that are available to companies with fleets of trucks on the road or who, as part of their business operations, lease trucks.

Truckers find themselves in many different environments with a wide variety of loads. This means that as an owner-operator or a fleet owner, you will need a policy that addresses the risks that you face daily. The team at Zot Insurance Agency specializes in trucking insurance policies. They not only understand the unique needs of their clients in the Davie, FL area, but they also strive to serve the broader needs of truckers and trucking companies throughout the region. Visit our website then call or come by. Get the coverage you need today whether you live in or outside of Florida!

Commercial Liability Insurance for Independent Contractors: What You Need to Know

The gig economy is changing the way we earn money. Anyone with a skill and a bit of self-motivation can make a living doing a variety of tasks on their own schedule. The Zot Insurance Agency wants to help you make the most of your freelance career in the Davie, FL area. Commercial liability insurance is an important part of that.

How can these policies protect independent contractors in the gig economy?

  • As an independent contractor, you are solely responsible for the results of your actions. If one of your direct-sales products makes someone sick, you could be held liable for medical payments and restitution. Your commercial general liability policy would help you pay for legal defense and defray the impact of any court-ordered costs.
  • If you cause an injury or accident while doing work for another business, your client could be held liable for your actions. This could mean bad news for the future of your business. An active liability policy protects your client as well. In some industries, potential clients are more willing to hire contractors with liability coverage, since they know they’re covered too.
  • Many gig workers engage in multiple money-making activities to make ends meet. Whether you’re stocking shelves for a major brand distributor or crafting handmade jewelry in your garage, your liability coverage will protect you. You won’t need a different policy for each of your roles. However, you may need additional coverage if you drive professionally. 

The experts at the Zot Insurance Agency helps gig workers in the Davie, FL area safeguard the assets they work so hard to build. Let our agents assess your insurance needs and personalize a general liability policy for you. Contact us today to get started whether you live in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, or Texas.