Roof Claims – Hail and Storm Damage – Insurance 101
With Spring comes storms and hail. This is the time of year Trunnell Insurance gets more inquires about insurance coverage for hail and storm damage to roofs. Roof claims can be overwhelming whether they belong to your home or business. If unsure about your current coverage for roof damage, give us a call. We’ll review your current policy and advise if it needs changing. What to do if a hail storm hits: Look for signs of damage Look for dents, broken windows, and missing shingles when surveying your building after a storm. If you don’t want to climb a ladder stand in your yard and use binoculars to inspect. Even if there is no obvious damage, large hail can cause issues that lead to leaks. When a bad storm hits, many roofing contractors will do free inspections. However, use a local, long-standing roofing company with a good reputation. Don’t work with any company knocking on doors. Many “storm chasing” roofers are fly-by-night, do sub par repair and won’t be around to guarantee their work if warranty issues arise. Take Photos Hail melts, you’ll want proof that is what it was. Include AC Units and any other damaged items outside the house. Call Your Insurance Agent/Broker For minimal damage (or if you’re unsure): Discuss with your agent to decide if it’s worth calling in a smaller claim. Most companies give you 6 to 12 months to file. A claim will affect your policy for the next 3-5 years. It’s wise to figure out the what it will cost over time so you don’t pay the damage back in higher premiums. Catastrophic damage: Sounds obvious, but call it in immediately. When a large storm hits, insurers and contractors can be overwhelmed with the number of properties that need inspected. Make a note of the exact time of the storm and have the pictures ready to send via email.
Anthony Visits NCTV17’s Business Connection
Anthony Trunnell sat down with host Liz Spencer to talk insurance on NVTV17’s Business Connection. Airing from May 9 – May 22 on channel 17, the interview covers hot topics in insurance today. You can find the full video on NCTV17’s wbsite as well as below. Host Liz Spencer begins with asking Anthony about the ‘teen driver myth’ that new drivers are covered under the parents current policy, which is not true. Anthony goes on to discuss phone use while driving, personal umbrellas, what to do when you have an accident, and market value vs replacement value of your house. Stay tuned here for clips and details from the interview coming soon.
Auto Insurance Options in DuPage – Trunnell Insurance Services
Finding the best option for auto insurance here is DuPage should be easy. Today’s consumers have many options on who to contact to get the best policy for them. However, at the end of the day it is generally going to come down to price. With over 10 different insurance providers in our network, not only can we get you the lowest price for your insurance needs, but you’ll be getting the best customer service in town. Our team is available 24 hours a day. Call and talk to us! We’ll help you get a plan in place for your auto insurance. No automated systems, an associate will answer the call. Call 630-947-7980 For a FREE Quote. Doing business in and around Naperville since 2001, Anthony Trunnell has a been providing exceptional customer service backed by the best insurance available. Insurance Providers we work with include: AAA, Andover, Progressive, Guard/Berkshire Hathaway, Encompass, Hanover, The Hartford AARP, Kemper, Mercury, National General (NatGen Premier), Nationwide, Travelers, West Bend Serving all of DuPage County with Auto Insurance Services, including: Naperville, Wheaton, Downs Grove, Lisle, Westmont, Aurora, Plainfield, Glen Ellyn, and more.
We Specialize in Teenage Driver Insurance
Adding a teenage driver is possibly the largest price change made to an auto insurance policy. We receive many fearful calls from parents asking “How much does it cost to add my teenage driver?” Every customer adding a young driver is re-quoted with all our carriers because we know something most consumers do not: Teenage driver insurance rates vary drastically company to company. Some companies charge two or three times the rate as others for the same youthful operator. The only way to find out where your teen fits best is pricing with as many “A” rated companies as possible. Call 630.947.7980 or email anthony@trunnellinsurance.com and we’ll give you 10+ insurance rates and tailored advice for your situation. It’s always cheaper to add teenage drivers to your family policy versus a standalone policy. Here’s why: They’ll share savings you get for things like owning a home, credit history, being married and (potentially) multiple vehicles in the household. Many times they can be rated as occasional instead of a primary operator. Insurance companies rate standalone teen policies higher because most teens aren’t covered standalone unless there’s a problem with driving record or behavior. You’ll be liable for any damage caused by a driver under 18 regardless if standalone. Reasonable rates begin to appear in the low 20’s due to 5+ years driving experience and maturity. If possible, wait and put them on their own then. Policy Change Precautions: Review liability limits to confirm there is enough to protect your assets (home, savings, income, etc) Consider purchasing a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy to cover excessive litigation Add Accident Forgiveness to the policy to control potential spikes in premium due to a youthful operators higher probability of accident (1 in 5 16 year olds are involved in an accident during their first year of driving) Check your state insurance laws to make sure your young driver doesn’t break a youthful driver restriction unknowingly (curfew, too many passengers in vehicle, etc) Rules for Illinois: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/teen_driver_safety/gdl.html Teenage Insurance Myths “Insurance follows the car, not the driver, so young drivers don’t need to be listed on the policy” This is a popular myth perpetuated by many parents and even some agents!! In fact, coverage does follow the vehicle, but only if all regular operators are listed on the policy. It covers a friend or family member not living at home who drives it non-routinely and short-term. Auto insurance policies specifically state in the coverage section that all regular operators must be listed for coverage to apply. If an insurance company finds out the driver causing an accident is a daily or weekly operator it is fully within its right to deny a claim and cancel a policy. The policyholder would then be responsible for all damages. This could lead to bankruptcy and financial ruin if the accident caused massive damage or death. An agent will only repeat this myth because they don’t want to lose your policies. It’s not worth the risk. Young drivers are much more likely to cause an accident. There are other ways to keep the cost down. For questions or more information and a free quote, give us a call (630) 947-7980