Newsletter

You probably bought your motor home or travel trailer because it offers the best of both worlds: the ability to explore the world we live in and the convenience of your home each night when you pull over. Motor homes and travel trailers offer a freedom and joy that’s unique regardless of the size of the coach or fifth wheel.

But with this dual benefit also come some increased risks. As a vehicle, your motor home needs some auto-type insurance to protect you from crashes, medical costs, and the like while you’re driving on the road. But comprehensive RV insurance needs also to protect you when you have stopped and camped. That means you need insurance closer to what you find in a homeowner’s policy that includes features such as:

Personal Liability:
Protection in case someone is injured in or around your RV.

Personal Property:
Enhanced property insurance that will protect the contents of your RV in case of theft or damage.

Additional Living Expenses:
Protection that helps pay for your cost of living if you are displaced from your motor home.

Attached Accessories:
Another layer of protection that covers your awning, tv antennas, or other accessories that might be damaged.

Other RV Insurance You Should Consider Is:

• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Uninsured motorists’ coverage
• Rental reimbursement coverage
• Towing coverage

Getting the right recreational vehicle insurance doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult with an insurance expert on your side.
Some policies include Roadside Assistance, which has you covered 24/7 in the event of a breakdown or accident. Some will even allow you to upgrade the coverage to include lodging, transportation, and meal coverage if needed.

Recreational and full-RV timer insurance are the two most common types. Recreational insurance will protect your RV inside and out when you’re on the road or parked at a campsite if you don’t live in it full-time. A full-time RV insurance policy is for people who live in their motorhome or travel trailer full-time. Many of the coverages will overlap with a recreational policy, but you’ll be able to add coverages like personal liability and loss assessment that are similar to homeowner’s insurance.

Brooks Insurance is committed to providing clients with the highest quality insurance plans available combined with some of the lowest possible rates. Whether you are shopping for auto insurance, home insurance, or business insurance, we can help you obtain the best coverage available with the lowest rate possible. 

All of us at Brooks Insurance truly value the long term relationship with our clients, and are proud to give families, individuals and businesses the personal attention required when it matters most. When claims arise, we realize that it can be very stressful and will do everything possible to assure timely and complete recovery.
 

These Vacation Safety Tips Brought to You By Brooks Insurance

• Don't post on social media until you return.

• Let a trusted neighbor know you will be away and have them keep an eye on your home. It is a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.

• Be aware of any travel and health alerts at your destination

• Write out a schedule and give it to a family member for safety purposes.

• Make copies of all of your credit cards, important identification information, including your medical insurance cards and your traveler's checks.

• Look for deals. You can find websites all over the internet that can help you score deals on hotels, amusement park tickets, airline travel, and so on. Make sure you look for bargains after you set the budget.

• Put inside and outside lights on timers.

• Advise your alarm company and local police if you will be gone for an extended period.

• Stop the paper and garbage service.

• Don't take expensive jewelry with you. Jewelry can get lost or be a target for thieves.

• Never put your home address on your luggage tags. Write your phone number instead.

• If you are traveling to a foreign country, remember to study up on laws and customs. You will have a much better time if you understand the culture.

• Make sure all electrical appliances are turned off.

• Before you leave for vacation, you may decide to close your curtains to prevent people from peering inside your home to see whether you're there.

A Personal Insurance Update

Do you think you could create a list of every household item without being in your home? If you have a loss that is exactly what you may have to do. Think about every piece of furniture, every book, shoe, dish, and piece of electronic equipment. Now, ask yourself these questions, “How much money are all of my belongings worth”? “What would it cost me to replace everything I own”?

The winter is a great time to create a home inventory because the kids are off to school and the holidays are behind us. Here are some great tips to help you create your own home inventory.

How to Create a Home Inventory

Creating a home inventory is actually simple these days with all the technology. Here are a few tips.

• Create a digital record of every room. While you are videoing, describe each item and identify a replacement cost.
• There are great online resources if you want to create a hard copy of the inventory.
• It may be useful to categorize clothing. For example, 10 pairs of men’s pants, 12 tee-shirts, 6 pairs of Nike shoes, etc.
• Make sure you focus on high-end items like jewelry, guns, computers, and art work.
• If you have expensive art it would be good to have it appraised.
• Update the inventory from time to time.
• Keep the inventory in a safe or at a secondary location. Even store it in the cloud.

Whether it’s your flat-screen TV or a wedding ring, your possessions are important to you. Keeping track of your belongings with a home inventory can help save you hassle and money if the unexpected occurs.

Homeowners Insurance
A well-written homeowner’s policy will pay to replace any of your personal property that is destroyed in a fire or other disaster. Having an inventory will allow the insurance company to completely replace items that were damaged or lost.
 
Brooks Insurance is committed to providing clients with the highest quality insurance plans available combined with some of the lowest possible rates. Whether you are shopping for auto insurance, home insurance, or business insurance, we can help you obtain the best coverage available with the lowest rate possible. 

All of us at Brooks Insurance truly value the long-term relationship with our clients and are proud to give families, individuals and businesses the personal attention required when it matters most. When claims arise, we realize that it can be very stressful and will do everything possible to assure timely and complete recovery.
 

Some people buy insurance online without really knowing or understanding what they are buying. Some people use an agent but really don’t fully understand the process of securing insurance. Most people buy homeowners’ insurance, auto insurance, or business insurance to protect their interests. Insurance can be a very important part of your long-term financial plan. A good insurance agent can be an incredible asset to you and your family. Let’s face it when your home is burning, you want someone who is there to come alongside you and help you through a tough time.

We are here to offer a different way of discovering insurance.  

• We are experienced and professional. We take your insurance seriously.
• Our goal is to be your trusted advisor. We know and understand your risks.
• Customized options are the best way to buy insurance. You are unique and deserve unique insurance options.
• We live and work in your community.

The goal of the independent agent is to provide the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service. For example, independent agents have experience in understanding what services insurance companies provide and can match unique services with client needs. Not all insurance agencies are alike.
 

Every one of us has certain things that occasionally prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep. 
These concerns might be a job, kids, an illness, or other problems in life. Our goal is to make sure that protecting your family with the right insurance is one thing that does not keep you up at night.

Here is how we help you get a good night’s sleep:

1. We never sell you a policy. We ask questions and educate you so that the coverage you select is the right fit for you.
2. Insurance is a complex transaction, so we work hard to make sure you understand how insurance works before you make a decision.
3. Our team is licensed, and we have years of experience, which helps us better educate and guide you in your insurance needs.
4. We are here to answer any questions you may have regarding your insurance decisions.

According to an Insurance Journal article, here are the top issues that keep people up at night:

• Floods and other natural disasters
• Identity theft
• Lack of money to cover accidents or emergencies
• Building a new home
• End of life issues
• Eldercare

We can provide valuable information regarding each of these concerns so that you can make the right decision for yourself and your family. Our team will never push you into a hasty decision. That is because we will only offer you an insurance solution after we fully understand your needs. Connect with us, and let us show you how we do it and help you get a good night’s sleep.