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What Are Texas Regulations Regarding Boat Insurance?

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Living in Willis, TX, offers a wealth of water sports and boating activities. If you’re considering buying a boat, you will likely have questions about boat insurance. At the Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency, we are frequently asked these questions. In this blog, we’re going to clear up one of the most common queries.

Does the state of Texas mandate boat insurance requirements?

Texas Law

Boat insurance requirements in Texas are straightforward. The state does not legally require boat owners to have insurance.

While that sums up the legal side of things, it’s important to note that even in the absence of state-level requirements, certain circumstances might necessitate boat insurance.

Lenders

Financing your boat is often one of these circumstances. If you secure a loan to purchase a boat, the lender will probably compel you to avail of an insurance policy to safeguard their investment.

Upon complete loan repayment, you gain more leeway in your insurance decisions, but until then, the lender has the right to impose a boat insurance policy and stipulate minimum insurance prerequisites.

Liability and Protection

Although Texas doesn’t mandate boat insurance, it also doesn’t protect you from liability. If an individual is injured on or by your boat, you may be held responsible, and ensuing charges could escalate rapidly. Liability protection helps cover these expenses (up to the policy’s limit) and shields you against potential lawsuits.

The state of Texas offers some additional recommendations for boat insurance. Without imposing any legal obligations, the state endorses different boat protection policies. These include replacement cost, actual cash value, and agreed-upon value policies, all offering varying levels of remuneration if your boat incurs damage.

As a resident of Willis, TX, you have multiple boat insurance options. Consult with your Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency representative to determine the insurance choice that best suits you.

Understanding Umbrella Insurance

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In order to make the best insurance choices, you need to understand the different types of policies available. At Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency, serving Wilis, TX, and the surrounding areas, we love helping clients better understand their insurance options. Let’s learn about umbrella insurance.

Umbrella Coverage

Umbrella coverage is a unique type of policy that helps pay for excessive claim expenses if another policy you already have in place is exhausted. This can happen when the costs associated with a claim exceed the amount of the policy. If this happens, you will be responsible for paying for the difference. It could leave you financially hard, depending on how much this is. 

Ideal Customers

Umbrella coverage is helpful for any insurance customer, but in some situations, umbrella coverage is more necessary than others. For instance, if you are in a high-risk type of career, you might want to have umbrella policies in addition to your regular policies. If you are seriously injured in your field, you can rest assured that your medical expenses will be covered. 

Another instance in which umbrella policies are recommended is if you have a large number of assets that you’d want to protect. If you were to be found liable in a lawsuit, you want to know that insurance can pay for the expenses and that the other party wouldn’t come after your assets.

Coverage Amounts

The amount of coverage you might need is highly personal and depends on many factors. You should discuss the right amount of coverage with an insurance rep.

If you’d like to learn more about umbrella coverage, please contact us today at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency, serving Wilis, TX, and the surrounding areas.

Flood Preparedness and Insurance: Securing Willis, TX Homes

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The last thing you ever want to experience is a flood. Unfortunately, many floods occur without any notice in Wilis, TX, which can lead to significant amounts of damage. Preparedness is critical, and having flood insurance can make a big difference. At Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency, we can ensure you have the coverage that’s needed.

Prepare for Floods

Floods can occur because of significant rainfall, a blocked storm drain, a coastal surge, and many other factors. As soon as the flooding occurs, it may be too late to take action, which is why you need to be prepared with flood insurance.

Willis, TX, homeowners may experience all sorts of damage as a result of a flood, including:

  • Damage to flooring, walls, and other aspects of the home
  • Damage to furniture and other belongings

Additionally, the home may not be livable while the flood damage is addressed. With the right flood insurance policy, you can file a claim without having to worry about significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Why Home Insurance Isn’t Sufficient

Many homeowners make the mistake of assuming that home insurance protects them against floods. This is not the case. In fact, your average home insurance policy won’t provide any protection against floods. That’s why you need a separate policy.

Some mortgage companies may require you to have the coverage while others will not. Much of it depends on your zip code and whether you’re in a FEMA-identified flood zone.

Even if you’re not in a zone that requires coverage, it can still be an important policy to purchase.

Get Help with the Right Coverage

Many factors are involved in buying a flood insurance policy to help protect your home. These include the value of your home, the likelihood of a flood, and more.

You can get a customized policy with the help of friendly and experienced agents at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency. Call us today to get started.

How Does Whole Life Insurance Work?

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If you have dependents, a life insurance policy isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. Two main types of life insurance exist. The term life policy and the whole life policy. Whole life insurance is a popular choice with numerous advantages, albeit a few drawbacks. Understanding the different types of life insurance policies and how they function is vital. To explore your whole life insurance opportunities, contact us at the Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX.

Continuous Coverage

A term life insurance policy comes with a specific expiration date. Once your term ceases, you’ll need to secure new insurance. However, whole life insurance is fundamentally different. This policy offers perpetual coverage without an expiry date. As long as you are willing and able to make payments, your coverage will continue for the remainder of your life. This benefit is a major advantage and the main reason why many choose whole life insurance.

Acquiring Cash Value

Another significant advantage of whole life insurance is the accrued cash value. Its cash value will gradually grow over the years of holding the policy. You could borrow funds against this value in a financial emergency. This facility can greatly ease financial stress, creating a lifeline for unexpected situations. The borrowed funds can be repaid as any other loan would be.

Securing Whole Life Insurance

Insufficient or lack of life insurance can expose you to significant risks. Don’t put off getting covered. Contact us at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX, to initiate your life insurance policy.

Do small businesses need commercial insurance and commercial vehicle insurance?

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Small business owners understand the importance of controlling their risks, and most understand the role insurance plays in managing their business’s potential liabilities. However, small business owners sometimes believe their personal insurance policies can cover business risks, particularly when it comes to auto insurance. If you are a small business owner and want to avoid that mistake, contact the Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency team, serving the Wilis, TX area, to structure a commercial insurance plan that fully covers your business needs.

Commercial Versus Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Most small business owners recognize they need commercial insurance covering general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial property. Typically, they also obtain the appropriate commercial coverage for their industry or profession. Unfortunately, some fail to acquire the right coverage for the motor vehicles used for business activities, particularly regarding passenger vehicles.

For example, think about a small business owner involved in an accident while driving a client to lunch following a business meeting. If the accident results in a client injury, the business owner’s personal insurance policy will not cover those expenses. The individual policy also would not cover damages if the accident involved another vehicle or the injuries passengers in the other vehicle might suffer.

An insurance company might unknowingly cover a fender bender, but accidents that result in substantial liability are investigated thoroughly and are not covered when found to be business-related. Talk to your agent and ensure you have proper coverage for your risks.

Working with Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency

Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency handles the business and personal insurance needs of many small business owners in Wilis, TX. Please stop in or call us today at 936-249-0023. Let us help you build an insurance plan to protect your business and assets.

Home Insurance Stats and Facts Everyone Should Know

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Interested in learning more about home insurance? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll cover a variety of important facts and stats regarding home insurance. If you have any questions or are looking for home insurance agencies that serve Willis, TX, contact Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency. We’d be happy to provide more insights.

Vital Home Insurance Statistics and Facts

Bankrate reports that around 6% of insured homes made a claim in 2021. Roughly 97% of these claims involved property damage, with wind and hail being the most common source of damage. Even if your home hasn’t yet been damaged by adverse weather, the day may come when you’re left picking up the pieces. Fires, lightning, and water damage are also very common. Claims resulting from theft, meanwhile, totaled less than 2%.

In total, about 93% of homes are covered by home insurance. Interestingly, home insurance isn’t legally mandated in most jurisdictions like auto insurance is. Still, many mortgage lenders demand that a home be covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurance is required because it mitigates risks for the lender.

Home insurance may also provide coverage for liability claims. For example, if someone is injured by tripping over something in your yard, they might try to sue you. Home insurance policies may provide assistance. That said, make sure you closely study plans to learn what is and is not covered. Ultimately, only about 2.3% of claims were for liabilities in 2021.

We Are Here To Help

If you’re looking for home insurance, get in touch with Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency. We serve Willis, TX and other communities. We’d be happy to help you select the right homeowner’s insurance given your situation and local risk factors.

Motorcycle Insurance and Your Parking Spot

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Factors that can affect your motorcycle insurance in Willis, TX include your age and experience riding a motorcycle, whether you’re a commuter or occasional rider, your driving record, and more. One that you might not have considered is where you park your motorcycle, to the extent that it reflects the risk the motorcycle is exposed to.

If you live in a safer neighborhood and keep your motorcycle in a locked garage, you’re likely to see a difference compared to on-street parking on a busy city street. Driveway parking, keeping the motorcycle in a storage unit or storage company lot, and in an apartment complex parking area could also affect your risk and premium rates. At Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency, we can help you manage your motorcycle insurance coverage, helping you find insurance that fits your lifestyle.

When Your Parking Spot is Problematic

Risk is also a matter of claims you and others have filed, and a parking spot where you wind up having repeated damage claims or perhaps entering traffic from curbside and having accidents could raise your rates as well. If you’re an experienced motorcycle rider, you have some idea of where you face more risk and can manage it without reacting to premium expenses.

To find the best coverage for your needs, you can ask the experts at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency for suggestions such as combining policies, making sure that you’re insured properly for the experience level and driving record of listed riders, and working with the right insurance company to match your needs. We’re here to help you in Willis, TX, providing helpful information, excellent service, and friendly staff who are knowledgeable and experienced. We look forward to serving you and invite you to call us today!

Do You Really Need Boat Insurance? Yes!

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As the owner of a boat, there are a lot of things you need to do to protect yourself and your watercraft. One way to get this protection is to get boat insurance. Because of the danger of boating accidents and other incidents, every boat owner needs to have this coverage. When you need this protection, you can call us at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX.

Boating Accidents

Like vehicle accidents on the road, boating accidents often happen on waterways. Many people don’t think much about boating accidents until they happen. Once they do happen, you could end up owing a lot of money if you’re at fault for the accident. Getting boat insurance can protect you against many of these costs. The minimum that you should have is bodily injury liability and property damage liability. These work much like auto insurance and keep you safe from having to pay huge amounts for boat damage or injuries. With the high cost of medical care, it’s always important to have this coverage in case of accidents. You should also carry collision coverage so that the damage to your own boat can be covered.

Other Boat Dangers

There are plenty of other things that can happen to your boat and cause it to become damaged. Some of these happen when the watercraft isn’t in the water. To protect against these events, you need to have comprehensive coverage in your boat policy. This will pay to repair or replace your boat when something serious happens to it on land.

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you’re a boat owner and you don’t have this coverage, it’s time to call us to find out more. You can contact us at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX to get started with a boat policy of your own.

Umbrella Insurance for Your Home and Auto Policies

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If you have a home insurance policy and an auto policy, you may feel well protected against many of the risks you face. However, you might not have the coverage you need if there were to be a severe accident. These can cost an enormous amount, and your home and auto policy may not have enough liability coverage to pay for the damages. That’s why so many people choose to get an umbrella policy to add to their coverage. If you need an umbrella policy to make sure you’re better covered, call us at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX.

More Liability Coverage

The liability coverage that you get with your home and auto policies is often too low to pay for an expensive accident. When you get umbrella insurance, it puts more liability coverage on both of these policies. Umbrella policies come with an enormous amount of coverage, and this makes up for the low coverage in the other two policies. This means that when a serious accident happens, and the bills are sky-high, they can still get paid by insurance instead of being paid from their own pockets.

Overages

The main risk of not having umbrella insurance is that after a serious accident, your home or auto policy won’t be able to pay for the resulting bills. When this happens because you have only a small amount of liability coverage, it creates an overage after the home or auto policy has been paid and maxed out. This overage is what an umbrella policy would pay for you. This ensures that you won’t be left with a huge bill after your insurance maxes out.

Get Protected With Umbrella Insurance

When you need an umbrella policy, we’re here to help. Call us at Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency in Willis, TX.

Floods Can Happen Anywhere, but Flood Insurance Offers Protection

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Even in climates that are typically pretty dry, flooding is possible. That’s why it’s a good idea to assess your risk and determine whether flood insurance is right for you. If you’re in the Willis, TX area, Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency can help you learn about this important type of insurance and understand your risk. Then you can make an informed choice and have increased peace of mind.

Flood Insurance Protection

Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. It may seem more likely in climates where there’s more rainfall, but that’s not always true. A drier climate can have flooding risks because the ground doesn’t absorb rain as quickly. If there’s a strong storm, the water doesn’t get soaked up fast, and it has to go somewhere. That’s where flash flooding often comes from, especially during the later summer months when monsoons are more common.

To help protect your family and your assets, you may want to make sure you have all the right insurance coverage. That often includes protection from unlikely events that are still possible, such as floods. You can generally get this kind of coverage for a good value if you’re not in a flood zone because your risk of a claim is low. Most insurers understand that and will provide you with quotes that can meet your needs.

Consult With Us

If you’re in the Willis, TX area and looking for help with a flood insurance policy, Melvin Gessner Insurance Agency can answer your questions. We’ll work with you to find the policy that fits your situation, so you can feel comfortable and protected for the long term. You don’t want to put one of your largest assets at risk when it’s easy to avoid it. Reach out to us today to find a great flood policy.

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