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Extra Layer of Protection: Understanding Umbrella Insurance

Coverage Enhancement with Umbrella Insurance

In the beautiful state of South Carolina, living life to the fullest demands a comprehensive protection plan. Umbrella insurance enhances the coverage levels of your existing policies, and at South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions, we can help you understand your options.

Understanding Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance is a unique product that offers an extra layer of liability protection in addition to the coverage already provided by your existing insurance policies. It is triggered only after the coverage of the other policies has been exhausted. Umbrella insurance may add coverage that your underlying policies don’t! Imagine it as your safeguard on a rainy day, just  like carrying an umbrella.

The Assurance Umbrella Insurance Brings

When purchasing insurance policies for your home, or boat, most people hope that they never have to use them. However, if an accident occurs, you pay your deductible and trust that the coverage you bought will handle any claims made.

But what if the coverage isn’t sufficient? What if you’re involved in a car accident and the other driver sues you for damages above your primary liability limits? Lawsuits are common in our society and can be very costly. If you’re found to be at fault, you’d be financially liable for the difference, putting you at risk of losing everything you’ve worked for over the years. This realization underscores the peace of mind umbrella insurance can provide, knowing that you have more coverage.

Discovering Your Options

Our experienced independent insurance advisors can review your current policies and help you understand the available coverage options offered by an umbrella policy. We can explain what it covers and what it doesn’t so that you can decide if it’s worth buying in your situation.

Essential Flood Insurance Tips

Living in a gorgeous coastal city like Charleston has its upsides. Residents enjoy breathtaking sunsets, historical charm, and living in a vibrant southern community. Conversely, long-term residents know that coastal storms and hurricanes blowing through the city can have devastating financial and emotional effects.

The insurance professionals at South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions want to help you minimize the financial aftermath that can result from flood damage.

Five Essential Flood Insurance Tips

Tip #1. Assess Your Home Flood Risk 

The first step is to assess the flood risk for your property. Learn about risks to your property by evaluating local flood maps, analyzing past flood events, and seeking the advice of an experienced flood insurance agent.

Tip #2. Purchase Flood Insurance Coverage

Devastating tornadoes and hurricanes that spawn flooding can happen with little to no notice. Choose a comprehensive flood insurance policy that will protect your home’s structure and interior contents against the unexpected. Check out the online quoting option on our Flood Insurance page!

Tip #3. Stay Informed About Local Weather

Staying on top of local weather-related news events can help residents secure their valuables or erect emergency flood barriers.

Tip #4. Mitigate Flood Damage Risks 

Mitigate the potential risks of damaging floods caused by rainstorms and storm surges by taking preventative measures. Elevating electrical systems, installing flood-resistant barriers, and maintaining proper drainages are all mitigation techniques that can reduce flood impacts.

Tip #5. Review Your Policy 

Homeowners should review all insurance policies annually with their insurance advisor to ensure they have sufficient comprehensive coverage to protect the interior and exterior of their homes.

Contact a knowledgeable and friendly advisor at Insurance Solutions for more information on flood insurance today!

“What if” Insurance for Small Businesses That Visit Customers

When your business involves visiting homes or businesses to provide services, you need commercial insurance to cover your work and any liability that’s involved with your services as a plumber, cleaner, or even caterer. At South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions, we are able to provide insurance plans to help businesses protect their financial assets during off-premise customer interactions.

When It Happens to You, You Need Coverage

You may have seen movies where the comedy involved a series of accidents that made you laugh, but when it happens in real life, there’s often liability for damages caused by unfortunate situations. For example, if you’re a photographer, and you knock over and break a valuable item while repositioning yourself or your equipment, somebody’s paying for it. The cost to replace it could exceed the bill for your services. Insurance can help offset your liability from unexpected occurrences.

The Range of “What Ifs” Can Be Extensive

Again, let’s look at a comedy and see how it can become a tragedy for your small business. Imagine a beautiful ice sculpture as part of a catering display. While you’re off in the kitchen preparing meals for an event, it melts. Water goes everywhere and causes shorts in the electrical wiring that is temporarily run under the table.

In a movie, following that might be fire, damage to valuable electronics in use, or someone being insured by slipping down, and more. In reality, who knows? And, don’t forget that your equipment could be damaged in that scenario too. Let our experienced advisors provide a commercial insurance policy to help protect your business from potentially expensive claims so that you can stay in business! Give us a call today at 833-359-0725.

Top Tips For Driving in Heavy Rain

The idyllic, small town of Charleston, SC is no stranger to heavy rain. The coastline makes gorgeous scenery in sunny weather, but when storms pass through, they almost always make a stop in Charleston. At South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions, we want to help you avoid having to make a claim on your auto insurance policy.

Here are some top tips for driving in heavy rain:

Apply Rain-repellent Treatment

You can find water-repellent products for your windshield at auto parts stores and other retail outlets. It takes only minutes to apply. This simple and affordable product beads up rainwater so it rolls off your windshield and improves visibility.

Understand Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is when the tires lose contact with the road due to a layer of water. If you experience this, stop accelerating, steer straight and stay calm. In most cases, hydroplaning only lasts for a brief minute. To help prevent hydroplaning, slow down while driving on wet roads and replace worn tires.

Be Aware of Fellow Drivers

Give other drivers extra room on the road, on all sides. Rain often triggers anxiety in drivers, and they may drive differently. Anticipate sudden stops and erratic behavior from other drivers. Reduce your speed and maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.

Avoid Standing Water

Drive around large puddles or standing water if you can do so safely. In heavy rain, roads sometimes wash out or leave deep potholes that can damage your vehicle.

Use Headlights

In the Carolinas, motorists are required to use headlights when using windshield wipers in the event of rain, sleet, or snow. Turning on your headlights makes your vehicle easier to see for other drivers. Motorcycles must have their headlights on at all times. Also, make sure your tail lights are in good working condition.

We Are Here To Help

To learn more or for a free quote, contact Insurance Solutions today at (833) 359-0725. We’re here to help, rain or shine!

Fitting Your Business With The Best Commercial Insurance Policy

If you’re opening a new business in South Carolina, make sure that you call us at South Carolina Financial Solutions to find your insurance policy. Our team fully understands the need for business and commercial insurance and will work hard to ensure that you are able to select the coverages to protect the financial assets of your business.

Know What Common Problems Impact Your Business

There are many issues that can seriously affect your company and potentially cause dire financial loss. It’s important for you to take these scenarios seriously and to do what you can to mitigate them. Just a few of the most common things that you might experience in your business include:

  • Potential lawsuits if someone gets hurts on your premises
  • Serious damage from fire, floods, and other problems
  • Issues with your security system that trigger hacking issues
  • Employee problems that can impact your operations

Seek Out a Comprehensive Policy

Business insurance policies can provide a comprehensive range of protection options such as liability coverage and much more. To select a policy that protects your firm, you’ll need to consider:

  • Liability protection that keeps you safe from expensive lawsuits
  • Comprehensive coverage that repairs for building damage
  • Commercial auto policies that repair your damaged vehicles
  • Cybersecurity protection to keep you safe from hacking risks

Let Us Help You

With the help of our team of advisors at Insurance Solutions, businesses can select the coverages that are most important to them. It’s important to do your research, so let us meet with you and provide the high-quality support to help you make a smart decision for your business.

Four home insurance rules to follow

South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions wants you to know some basic information about buying insurance for your home.

Don’t procrastinate before reporting claims

If you wait too long to file a home insurance claim, you might not be able to get costs covered by your policy. File claims immediately after home damage occurs to maximize your chances of getting repair costs covered by your home insurance policy.

Know how much your home is worth before you buy insurance

A home insurance policy should cover the full value of the property and any contents that it insures. That’s why it’s really important for homeowners to know how much their home is worth when they buy home insurance. Consider interior and exterior features and upgrades. Take time to understand the differences between market value, appraised value, and replacement cost.

Get quotes from numerous home insurance providers

Depending on where your property is located, you may be able to request for more than one quote for home insurance. Explore different carrier options and take advantage of those that offer discounts for policy bundling.

Update coverage periodically

As time goes on, your home insurance needs may change. You should adjust your coverage for both your home’s value and your unique financial situation.

We Are Here To Help

If you’re looking for home insurance in South Carolina, we’re here to help. Get in touch with the insurance advisors at Insurance Solutions to get a free quote on a home insurance policy.

Why Every Boater Should Have Boat Insurance

When you own a boat, you face a number of risks that can happen to it, your passengers, and to other watercraft. It’s important to practice boating safety and to have sufficient insurance coverage to protect yourself financially in the event of an accident. To get a quote and to find out more about this type of insurance, contact the insurance advisors today at South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions.

Boating Accidents

Just as with land vehicles, collisions can happen on the water too. If you are judged to be the cause of a boating accident, liability coverage from your boat insurance policy can help pay for the other person’s medical bills and property damage. Without boat insurance, you would have to pay all of these expenses by yourself. With the high cost of medical bills, it may mean that you’d have to sell some of your assets to pay for them. You can avoid much of that worry by purchasing boat insurance coverage and keeping it up-to-date.

Types of Coverage

Boat insurance works in much the same way that auto insurance works. The policy contains other types of coverages in addition to liability insurance. Collision coverage can help pay for the damage done to your boat while on the water. Comprehensive coverage can help pay for theft or accidental damage to your boat when it’s on the trailer.

Get Your Boat Insurance Policy

If you’re a boat owner, make sure you and your boat are financially protected by getting boat insurance. Call us today for more information or a free quote at (833) 359-0725.

What Does Umbrella Insurance Cover?

South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions is committed to helping property owners meet their insurance needs. Insurance products like umbrella insurance can help add an extra layer of protection to your existing home insurance policy. To learn more about this or other insurance products, please reach out to us.

Umbrella Insurance Protection

Umbrella insurance is an added layer of liability protection that picks up where your home insurance leaves off. On a regular basis, many homeowners policies offer adequate protection for your home and property, however, in certain circumstances, you may find that you need more coverage than your home insurance provides.

It’s important to know the terms and conditions associated with your home insurance policy. For example, if your child or a pet accidentally injures someone else or damages their property, you may not have enough homeowners liability coverage to pay for their medical or property bills. It is at this point that umbrella insurance would kick in and provide additional funds to help in a potentially expensive situation.

This scenario outlines why it’s so important to understand the terms and conditions of your insurance policies, including umbrella insurance. Our experienced advisors can explain the fine print associated with each policy to help you understand what the insurance does and does not cover. We can assist you with the submission of documentation to obtain coverage and support you with any changes that happen during the life of the policy.

Reach Out Today

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of having umbrella insurance protection or any of the range of products and services we currently offer, call us today at (833) 359-0725 to get started. We’re available to help you select insurance coverages that can help safeguard your financial assets when something unexpected happens.

Home-Buying Checklist: Buying in a Flood Zone

Buying a home anywhere requires careful consideration; buying one in a flood zone requires you to consider additional factors. At South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions, we encourage prospective homeowners to work through this convenient checklist when considering primary or vacation property in a flood zone.

Buying A House in a Flood Zone

First, find your zone on the FEMA Flood Map to determine whether the property you’re considering is in a flood zone. Zones are categorized as high risk, moderate risk, or minimal risk. It’s important to keep in mind that no location is risk-free. All homes face some risk of flood wherever they are located.

Remember to ask the selling agent how often the home floods and whether any previous damages have been repaired. Knowing how often the property has flooded in the past and how the damage was addressed will help you make an informed decision about the home.

Then, ensure your offer is contingent upon a satisfactory home inspection. Homes in high-risk zones may have experienced flooding before, and it’s important to confirm that any previous water damage was repaired according to industry standards before you purchase. If any unrepaired damage is identified, request that it be repaired and inspected by a professional before closing.

Finally, meet with your insurance agent who can help you find a policy that meets your needs as a homeowner. It’s important to understand that flood damage is not covered by most standard homeowners policies.

We Can Help!

The experienced team at Insurance Solutions is here to help you learn about insurance coverages to financially protect your new home. Contact us today to get started!

Startup Tips for New Entrepreneurs

Starting a business is a dream come true for many. However, doing so comes with risks. Some of the risks, like competition from savvy competitors, may be unavoidable. You may be able to protect your financial assets from certain risks like severe weather events and criminal activity. If you’re starting a business, set it up for success by getting in touch with South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions to help you explore commercial insurance options to mitigate your risks.

Entrepreneurs need to generate healthy revenue streams and monitor cashflows. Many businesses fail because of cash flow issues. It’s smart to have emergency funds that can cover unexpected repairs to malfunctioning equipment and vehicles used for your business to get them back in working condition quickly.

Mitigating Risks with Commercial Insurance

Commercial insurance plans can cover many different things. When selecting commercial insurance plans, it’s important to closely study the policy as coverage can vary from plan to plan. Commercial insurance plans can provide coverage to help pay for property or equipment damaged by a storm or if a customer is injured at your place of business. Commercial insurance plans can cover losses as a result of stolen cash receipts, equipment, inventory, and electronic data too.

Of course, individual businesses may have varying needs. It’s wise to closely consider the biggest risks to your business and then select commercial insurance policies that will mitigate those risks.

We Are Here To Help

The experienced insurance advisors at Insurance Solutions can explain coverages, limits, deductibles, and exclusions and help you select the insurance option that best mitigates the risks for your business. Call us toll-free today at (833) 359-0725.

Servicing States

  • South Carolina
  • North Carolina
  • Georgia

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Our Carriers

  • Allied
  • Allied Trust
  • ASI/Progressive
  • All Risks
  • Foremost
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Main Street/Old Dominion
  • National Flood Services
  • National General
  • National Security
  • Neptune Flood
  • Openly
  • Orion180
  • Progressive
  • Safeco/Liberty Mutual
  • Sagesure
  • Slide
  • The Hartford
  • Travelers
  • TypTap
  • Universal Property
  • Utica