What every home buyer should know before buying a home

There is always something exhilarating about owning a home in San Francisco, CA. You can drill small holes, take pictures, and modify it to your preference without worrying about the landlord suing you.  Above all, you have peace of mind that no one is coming for you due to rent arrears.

The location is quite essential

The location of your home determines many things, like whether it’s a valuable investment or not. If you have children, you will want to find a home with a school and a park nearby. You will also be looking forward to saving on fuel or transport costs when going to work. The neighborhood also determines whether you are at the right place or not.

Home insurance may be mandatory if you are buying through a mortgage

Home insurance is a critical coverage for protecting your San Francisco, CA home and family. If you are going to pay your home through a mortgage, your lender may require you to have home insurance and flood insurance if the house is located in a high-risk flood area. At Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc, we advise our clients to budget for home insurance as part of the home buying process.

Repairs and maintenance may cost you more than you think

Conduct a thorough inspection before settling on your home. Invite different people, contractors, real estate agents, or engineers to check for repairs and upgrades. They will advise you on what needs to be upgraded and what needs to be replaced. They can also help you calculate the costs. If you feel the costs are above your budget, you can always walk away before any paperwork is done

It’s every homeowner’s dream to find a place you can call your own, but it’s also essential to think about safety. You can trust Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. to guide you through the process. Be sure to drop by for more information and policy discussions.

San Francisco, CA has had one of the hottest real estate markets for a long time. Those that have bought homes here have enjoyed the long-term price appreciation while having a place to live in a great city. If you are going to purchase a home here, you also need to get insurance of it. Home insurance offers several benefits to property owners. 

Personal Liability Protection

One important benefit that comes when you get home insurance is that you can receive personal liability protection. People that own property will have personal liability risk at all times. While it may seem small, you could face serious liability claims if your property causes damage to another person’s property or a guest is injured while they are visiting you. By getting home insurance, you will get the personal liability coverage that is needed to mitigate this risk.

Coverage for Valuable Asset

You will also want to get home insurance as it can protect your most valuable asset. Your home is going to be the largest purchase that you will ever make. Along with this, you should always work hard to ensure that your home is covered as well as possible. With a home insurance policy, you are going to get the coverage you need to repair or even replace your property if it is seriously damaged.

Anyone that is in the San Francisco, CA area needs to get a proper home insurance policy. When you are going to get insurance here, you should call the team with Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. The insurance professionals with Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. understand the importance of getting proper home insurance coverage. They can then help you build a policy that offers the protection you and your home need to be covered and have peace of mind. 

Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. assists the San Francisco, CA community by offering residents multiple types of insurance coverage. We want to make sure that our clients find the policies they need to protect their assets. It’s important to us that our clients have the necessary coverage to help manage whatever the future holds.

Preparing Your Home For The Fall

As a San Francisco, CA homeowner, it’s important that you protect your investment. Home insurance gives you peace of mind that regardless of what happens in the future, your home will be covered. The policy covers your home in the event that it is damaged due to a severe storm or if it’s vandalized. In the event that someone breaks into your home and steals your belongings, your personal items are also covered. As the seasons’ change and Fall approaches, here are some things to consider.

Insulation

Make sure that you seal all of your doors and window panes. Fill in any noticeable cracks. Consider replacing parts that are visibly starting to erode.

Possible Water Damage

Water leaks may cause serious damage to your home. Observe the current condition of your pipes. If they are starting to deteriorate, you may need to make some repairs. Also, be sure to clean the gutters, valves, and drains. As the weather starts to get colder, that increases the risk that your property may suffer some damage.

Exterior Property

Consider having your roof inspected to check for any damage or possible gaps. Cracks in the exterior could lead to rodents or other types of insects entering your home and causing damage. Make sure that the lighting outside of your home is good. Proper outside lighting will prevent you from dealing with a potential liability issue if someone gets injured while visiting your home because they couldn’t see.

Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. Will Help You Assess Your Options

For more information on home insurance, visit our website today!  

San Francisco, CA is a beautiful and exciting place to call home. If you own a home in the city, you can protect your valuable property and lifestyle with home insurance. Liability coverage is particularly important to protect your assets against liability claims that can deplete your finances. Here’s why liability coverage from Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. is a must for California homeowners.      

Protection against Accidents

Accidents are common occurrences at home, even if you maintain a safe and secure environment. If a visitor is injured in an accident on your property, you could be held responsible. That means you’d have to pay his medical costs. Liability insurance protects you from accidents by paying the cost of accidental injuries or damages that occur on your property.

Serious accidents could deplete your financial assets if you had to cover these expenses on your own. Imagine having to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical expenses, lost wages or disability due to someone having a serious accident in your San Francisco, CA home. You may have to tap into your savings, retirement funds, investment funds or future wages to cover these costs.

Protection against Lawsuits

If you’re found negligent for a serious accident in your home, you could be sued for damages. In addition to paying legal costs, you may have to pay a major settlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, if you lose the lawsuit. Liability insurance protects you against lawsuits by covering legal fees and settlement costs, up to the limits of your policy. Ideally, your liability coverage should be enough to protect your assets against the risk of lawsuits.

For more information about liability insurance or to purchase home liability coverage, see your Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. agent today.

You hear of bundling insurance often, especially home and auto. You get advice about it and see commercials about it, but you are still not sure if it is the best choice for you. At Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc., we want you to understand the benefits of bundling insurance so you can make the best decision for you. 

Discounts

One of the most significant benefits of bundling is that most companies offer a discount if you bundle with them. Many people bundle their phone and the internet or their internet and cable because they receive a discount when they do. Bundling your insurance works similarly.

One Bill and Agent

Paying bills is bad enough, but paying multiple ones is even worse. You can save yourself some time and trouble of getting around San Francisco, CA by bundling since you pay all of your insurance at once. Additionally, when you do business with only one agency, you have a better opportunity of building a relationship with that agent.

Potentially Lower Deductible

There is a possibility that you will have a lower overall deductible to meet as your two policies are joined.

Consumers must do their due diligence. At times, though it is rare, bundling may not provide a discount. There is also a chance that bundling two insurance types may affect the coverage you receive. This is why it is vital that you do your research before signing any contracts. You want to be sure you are getting the best deal, that the agency you choose can answer any questions you may have, and that they are transparent with the quality of the coverage you will receive through bundling.

If you reside in San Francisco, CA, and have any questions about bundling your insurance policies, give Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. a call. You can count on us to help you make the best choice for you and your family.

 

Owning a home in San Francisco, CA is a dream come true. When you own a home, you probably have a mortgage and your lender will require that you protect their investment by carrying home insurance. Home insurance also protects you since it provides coverage for not only the physical building itself but also your personal belongings. Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. offers its clients and future clients the benefit of their years of experience when it comes to choosing the right home insurance. 

If your home is damaged or destroyed by a covered hazard, you can lose all or part of your personal possessions. Imagine having to reconstruct from memory your entire home and what you have in every single room, drawer, closet, and cupboard. It is a daunting prospect. This is why creating a home inventory is a good idea. With a home inventory, you will have all the proof that you need to verify the things that you owned prior to the hazard that caused the damage. 

To create a home inventory, go through your home room by room and write down all the things in the room. Be as specific as possible. For example, saying a sofa is not enough.  You will need to describe the sofa. If you have proof of the money spent on items, include that with the inventory. Take photos to go along with the inventory. For higher-priced items like electronics, be sure to note the brand and model. The inventory should then be stored in a safe place, preferably off-site but at the very least in a fire and water-resistant box. 

Your home is your castle, and in San Francisco, CA, Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. understands that. Why not give our office a call or stop by to discuss the value of a home inventory and any other insurance needs you may have. 

 

For the most part, people are not going to have to deal with sinkholes. For others, it is a real concern. Sinkholes are an occurrence when the ground sinks or opens up to fill a hole that is beneath the surface. For those that live in the San Francisco, CA area, Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. can help you to find the policy that is going to work best for you.

Home insurance policies, in most cases, do not cover ground movement or settling in a home. In some cases, a sinkhole may fall into the ground movement category, which means it is not going to be covered by your home insurance policy. Even if your standard policy does not cover sinkholes, but you feel that you are going to have issues with sinkholes, you may want to take out a secondary sinkhole policy.

In areas where ground movement is likely to occur, you may want to take the time to find an excellent policy that is going to help protect your home. A sinkhole policy is going to help make sure that if your home is damaged from a sinkhole, you are not going to have to fix it alone. Sinkholes are something that may not be common, but if you live in an area where this type of ground movement is common, you may want to look into a policy.

For those in the San Francisco, CA area, the agents with Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. can help you to find the perfect coverage for your home. We will work with you to find a policy that matches your needs and answer your questions.

At Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc., we find that many of our San Francisco, CA residents, and those in the area, experience worse insurance rates due to pets. Thankfully, there are several tips and tricks that you can use to lower your rates and avoid complications. 

Train Your Pup to Limit Liability 

Insurance companies will be pleased with you if you train your pup to behave. This training will show them that you take your pup’s potential for damage very seriously and that your dog has been adjusted to avoid issues. Don’t hesitate to get multiple types of training to boost the effectiveness of your insurance policy. 

Buy Kid-Friendly Animals 

The worst problem you’ll experience with pets is if they tend to bite children. Animals who bite will cause you increased insurance rates and higher co-pays. Thankfully, you can buy dogs who are friendly with animals or cats who don’t scratch to get the best results. Talk to your agent about which animals get the best rates and then focus on these animals. 

Create an Outdoor Exercise Area

Many pets – dogs in particular – get bored when left alone for too long and will lash out by chewing home items. This problem is one that can affect your insurance rates in a variety of ways. Instead of leaving your dog indoors, create an outdoor area with toys, food, a dog house, and items that your pet  appreciates while you’re gone. In this way, you can show your insurance company that your home is protected.

Get Professional Help

So if you live in San Francisco, CA and you want to own pets, make sure that you contact us at Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services Inc. to learn more. Our professionals will work hard to find you a policy that costs you as little as possible but which still protects you from pet-related damage.

Home insurance is not only for the homes in which we live primarily. For some homeowners, they own several properties that are rented out to tenants and their families. If you own multiple properties in the San Francisco, CA area, be responsible and purchase home insurance on these properties today. Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. has a policy that will fit your needs and protect your property.

Fire Damage

Often, there are unforeseen accidents that can happen in a home, whether you are living in it or renting it out. In the event that one of your homes has fire damage, that structure may be covered under your home insurance policy. Any building on your property, as well as home damages, will be covered. 

Vandalism

Unfortunately, damage can occur to the exterior of your home if you live in a high traffic area. Expect coverage from your home insurance policy if one of your homes falls victim to vandalism. Damages to broken windows, graffiti, and other exterior damages can be costly without an insurance policy. 

Personal Property

While the personal property of a tenant will not be covered by a landlord’s policy, any personal property that you have inside will be included in the policy when damaged by fire or theft. Any appliances, furniture, or equipment that belongs to you as the owner is covered in your policy. If a landlord provides appliances in the rental agreement with tenants, as a landlord, you will need to make sure that you can include them via insurance should tragedy strike. 

Cover Your Properties 

If you do not have home insurance on your multiple properties, let Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. provide you with the coverage you need today. Our agents serve homeowners in the San Francisco, CA area and surrounding communities. 

 

 

When you refinance your home it means that you are adjusting the amount of money that you are paying for your home and that you may be able to have less home insurance coverage. It is important that if you are working to refinance your home, you also reevaluate how much home coverage you need. For those that live in the San Francisco, CA area, the agents with Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. can help you find the perfect policy for your refinanced home.

Refinancing means that you are going to take out a smaller loan or that you are changing the terms of your financing for your home. When you refinance your home, you may also need less home coverage and you need to take the time to make sure your coverage is properly aligned. You may need more or less coverage depending on how much you finance along with other factors. Taking the time to look at your home coverage after you refinance may mean that you can take out a smaller policy and therefore have lower premiums.

This is not always the case. However, you may still want to have a broad policy to cover the cost of replacing the home rather than just taking out an insurance policy for the cost of your mortgage or the loan that you have financed. At the least, your loan amount and your coverage should be in line with one another and should reflect one another to make sure that if your home is damaged, you have the funds to pay off your loan and start over. You can talk with your agent about what needs to be done to adjust your insurance policy properly.

For those in the San Francisco, CA area, the agents with Biddle-Shaw Insurance Services, Inc. can help. Reach out to our offices to find out more about refinancing and home insurance policies for your residence.