Finding Boat Insurance For Seattle, Tacoma and Federal Way

Insurance is a real must-have when you want to own a boat. Living in a true mariner community like King County is a dream for so many. Owning a PWC is a true investment whether you boat and sail for pleasure, work, or a mix of both. Seattle and its surrounding cities are a paradise for those with a pension for the open water. Boat insurance is crucial for those who intend to maintain this way of life (and intend to survive past the first cracked hull or sailing “incident”). Here are some important things to consider when looking for the best deal to protect you watercraft:

Weather

Rain and Seattle go hand just as much as, well, Seattle and its boat culture. The weather can ruin more than just a day out sea, however. Boat insurance in Seattle helps you prepare for when Mother Nature sends a storm Federal Way’s way or takes over Tacoma. Storm and flooding coverage goes a long way at protecting your precious PWC.

Vandalism

You can’t stand guard at the harbour. When you’ve got to stay on land, you never know what kind of landlubber wants to wreck your boat while you’re away. Seattle can be a big city, and big cities mean more potential mad men who can’t stand the true mariner way. It can seem a little far-fetched, but it’s best not to take chances with your beloved boat.

Boating Accidents

Everyone makes a mistake. Sometimes it’s you, sometimes it’s your dumb fellow boatman. Either way, accidents can happen, whether out at sea or at the pier. Boat insurance should be ready when the unfortunate day occurs, with attention especially focused on liability coverage. Remember, it can happen because of anyone at anytime, so it is best to consider all possibilities when getting boat insurance to cover this. Repairs, punitive damage, medical payment for possible bodily harm, whether because for you or some other is important to get squared out in your pan before setting off on the high seas.

Type of boat

Obviously, not every boat is the same. Yours has its own unique history and purpose compared to your fellow sailor. When hunting for boat insurance, look for the plan that best suits your craft and your purposes. Maybe you boat regularly, maybe it’s a weekend getaway, but either way, you have to consider this to get the most suitable plan for you.

Navigational Area
It’s paramount that you know how far your coverage goes geographically. Consider whether you’re going sailing way past Tacoma or Federal’s Way. If you think you’ll be going past this, you may need additional coverage.

Personal Things

People lose things on the open water. Consider expanding to cover potential damage to your valuables as well.

Environmental Liability

When a fuel spill occurs because of your craft, you may be required to clean it up. This process is time consuming and fairly financially heavy. Getting boat insurance can help get this fixed up so you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay if this happens.

Important Things to Know About General Contractors Insurance

What is it and Why do I need it?

General Contractors Insurance is a type of insurance that protects contractors for a wide range of scenarios, from lawsuits from a customer to injuries at the work site. While a Business Owners Policy can cover some possible issues, General Contractors Insurance is more comprehensive in dealing with a wider array of risks. And because a contractor is essentially working for himself / herself, this type of insurance goes a long way in keeping the business protected and afloat. It’s essential to remember that as a contractor, a number of ‘safeguard’ laws regarding employment may not apply. The effects of an injury or property damage can be devastating.  Complaints brought to court can be dismissed, but legal work might not be covered under insurance packages not specifically suited for contractors. General Contractors Insurance can be the difference-maker between a contractor and financial burden.

Is General Contractors Insurance required to operate in my state?

Most states already require contractors to have General Contractors Insurance and most clients will ask if you have one anyway. A strong plan can go a long way in putting everyone’s mind at ease while showcasing the pretty professional side of your business.

Additionally, it helps keep you on the right side of any trouble you might have dealing with problems with workers or higher authorities should something arise that could potentially involve a large amount of money.

What does General Contractors Insurance Cover?

There’s a wide range that General Contractors Insurance can cover, although some of the biggest areas include possible property damage (meaning possible repairs for damages caused by work), bodily harm or injury at the work site (accidents at work), personal injury (reputational damage that may occur to a business due to your work) and medical payments. 

This type of insurance usually pays for areas which include general damages (which covers ‘vaguer’ or abstract areas such as ‘anguish’ and ‘pain’), compensatory damages (financial losses by the claimant as outlined in claim) and punitive damages (financial losses or fines due to missteps made or violations).

How much is General Contractors Insurance?

Compared to other insurances, it can be costlier in the short term. Construction is a high risk job in terms of potential accidents, ranging from a fall from a ladder to a ceiling panel falling off. Construction work is not easy and a number of things can go wrong at the job site. It’s not just a regular legal requirement – although as previously mentioned, most states require it and clients are a lot more scrupulous in ensuring a contractor is insured – but, in the long-term, it’s an important part of keeping contracting business going. Accidents are almost inevitable while running construction businesses over years and years. There are way too many stories of businesses going down because of one accident or debt because of substandard coverage. It’s more than just a minimum legal requirement; it’s an essential part of creating and building a thriving business. When in this line of work, it’s really not enough to just get what’s needed, but to go and get the best coverage to truly safeguard your business. 

What to look for at your Washington Homeowners Insurance Agency

The premiums for Homeowners Insurance in Washington are among the nation’s lowest; of course, that doesn’t mean you settle for just any insurance agency. There are a lot of things for homeowners to factor when looking for the best coverage. Building and construction flaws, weather, vandalism, all these things can become a sudden problem at the most unexpected time. Homeowners Insurance goes a long way in putting your mind at ease and finding the right agency that saves you money while providing extensive coverage is nothing to take lightly. 

Washington has some of the best insurance rates in the country, partly due to its reputation as a relatively low-crime state and being geographically situated in a place where natural disasters aren’t common. This being said, a number of insurers are aware of Washington’s reputation for downpours and flooding coverage may cost a bit more as it isn’t usually part of a number of packages.

Prices can vary from location, however, as does the house being insured. All of these should be considered when purchasing your Homeowners Insurance Plan at an agency. Considering all of this, the information service firm J.D. Power sought to determine how insurance companies stacked up for Washington, and the findings for five big insurance companies were compiled by Reviews.com

State Farm

State Farm was found to be relatively hassle-free and the J.D. Power survey found that customer satisfaction was pretty high for claims handling. It doesn’t offer as many discounts compared to other companies, but the discounts available are enough that qualifying for them is fairly common. Available Homeowners Insurance usually don’t require a separate snow/hail deductible, something big to consider living  in Washington

Geico

 Your experience with Geico depend on the Homeowners Insurance Agency or company you deal with because Geice doesn’t sell directly to customers, although they are one of the biggest providers in the state and have a relatively good track record for customer service through their providers.

All State

All State gives slightly above average rates but offers a number of discounts and the qualifying savings can affect the type of rates you’ll be offered. There are a number of endorsements that can provide benefits long term. Homeowners Insurance handling customer service-wise is seen as less compared to other companies, although this problem may depend on outside factors and vary from case to case.

Farmers

The most affordable option with a number of discounts offered and coverage for arguably more niche Homeowners Insurance situations such as owning an ‘Eco-home.’ Claim tools for Washington homeowners can be done over the phone with a representative or in person. A Claim Tracker online tool can help someone follow the claim daily.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual is the largest claim provider in Washington with their endorsements particularly attractive for homeowners in the state. The Homeowner Protection Option helps cover unexpected costs when rebuilding your home, while the Inflation Guard Option ensures that you maintain the same coverage initially signed up to. Rates are affordable, just behind Farmers, and customer satisfaction is high compared to some other insurance providers.

Food Truck Insurance For Tacoma and Washington

The food truck is a very unique form of business indeed. It’s a great innovation and a true display of entrepreneurship, but it also comes with a great deal of risk which goes beyond those a traditional restaurant. When looking for insurance, food truck owners have to consider both the coverage for their truck and the restaurant business. A lot can happen in this challenging industry from issues with the food to issues with the vehicle. That’s why food truck business insurance is such a helpful safeguard.

Frequently Asked Questions:  

     

So what does Food Truck Insurance actually cover?

The type of food truck you operate may affect the type of insurance policy for you, but a lot of the basics are covered. Food Truck Insurance usually entails.

•  Personal Liability Coverage : this means that medical payments should an injury due to your business (and not necessarily related to the vehicle) can be covered if you are found legally responsible for the injury, as well as for possible lawsuits brought up.

•   Commercial Vehicle Insurance: this covers damages related to the vehicle and is usually required in states like Washington in order to operate a food truck. This insurance itself covers a wide array of areas from bodily harm to medical payments. Commercial Vehicle Insurance should also be noted as distinctly different from Personal Vehicle Insurance due to some higher risks involved in operating a Commercial Vehicle.

•  Property Damage Insurance: This covers damage caused by the truck in an accident. A food truck operator should also remember that because he has equipment on board his truck, he may need to spend a little more on this. Insurance for the equipment such as the stove, refrigerator or freezer can be obtained under this and is highly recommended to safeguard your food truck. The equipment involved in the restaurant side of the business is usually not attached to the Commercial Vehicle Insurance, so this coverage is crucial.

• Workers Compensation: This covers employees working on the food truck and can cover possible injuries incurred while working or operating the truck.

Are there discounts I can obtain?

 Yes, there are usually discounts for the different insurances involved. This is especially true if you are an experienced food truck business with a solid enough history of operation.

Why isn’t one type of insurance enough to cover my food truck?

The answer is because of how multi-dimensional this type of business is. Most states view food trucks as restaurants so, as a food truck operator, you are a subject to a number of regulations that, if you are found to have violated, are not covered by a normal vehicular insurance.  There are also a number of modified equipments most insurance providers do not include under their normal coverage. This being said, the fact remains that you are driving a vehicle and must still be protected from the regular risks that may occur that are not covered by insurances other than Vehicular Insurance.

This all said, insurance agents can help you determine what kind of policy can work for you-just be willing to inquire and you can get a deal that will suit you well.

What is Multi-family Dwelling Insurance?

Multi-Family. As a word, it already sounds pretty stressful. With so many family dwellings to handle, running an apartment or being a landlord can be a tough task to handle. Anything or anyone can become a 'situation' at anytime. That's why getting Multi Family Dwelling Insurance goes a long way at putting a landlord's worries to bed. Whether you own one building or are renting out several, Multi Family Dwelling Insurance for you specific ownership scenario will help you recover from the unexpected from everything that may hit your properties from fire to natural disasters.

What does Multi Family Dwelling Insurance usually cover?

The type of coverage you get can depend on your insurance policy, although general areas include property, liability, and personal injury coverage.
Personal Injury Coverage is meant to cover a landlord when he must payout legal fine or fees from a lawsuit which covers, among other things, wrongful eviction, entry, or violations of privacy laws.
Liability Coverage can cover medical payments should an injury occur on the multi-family dwelling owned. Often included under this is the Personal Liability Coverage which can cover payments for injuries you may be found responsible for, as well as for possible lawsuits brought against you.

Loss of rental income coverage can help cover possible financial issues should you be unable to rent out your property such as during the renovating process.

Property Damage Coverage covers the property as well as, should you obtain a policy that does so, other items of importance that are out of service.

What factors about the property may affect how you will be covered?
 
Age of the property is a big component in determining how you will be covered. The wiring is a particularly big part when considering policy because of potential fire risks although the construction and plumbing are particularly big parts as well. Multi-family dwellings are defined by certain characteristics such as the presence of multiple bathrooms and bedrooms, so there is a lot that can go wrong if a house has aged even with the best inspection and renovation.

Whether you are looking for coverage for one property (say, an apartment) or multiple (renting multiple houses) will also affect the type of coverage you may be looking for. Apartments in particular present a specific in challenge because of the amount of people living in close proximity to each other. Safety equipment has an especially important role and insurance providers may look to see if there are an appropriate amount of smoke detectors and alarms. They may also want an amount of sprinklers to ensure that should a fire impact one dwelling it will not necessarily spread to another dwelling. Multi-family means increased risk for handling an injury.

What can this type of insurance cover?
 
Multi-family dwelling insurance can cover weather damage such as flooding, hail, wind or lightning, damage from fire, theft, vandalism, damage from accidents caused by vehicles, explosions, rioting, etc. Where you live may affect the rate of risk in facing any of these potential damaging factors, so finding the best insurance plan and coverage for you is an imperative.