Storm Damage - Things you should know.

With the recent high winds we've been having, I feel it would be important to remind our clients about the scope of their cover when it comes to Storm Damage; beit to their own home, a let property or an unoccupied property.

Unoccupied properties are often not covered against storm. When a property is unoccupied, the perils that the insurer will cover the property owner against are often restricted to just Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion and Aircraft only. Extended cover can be sourced which reinstates the standard perils (Storm, flood, escape of water etc) but this cover would carry a much higher premium and the maximum claim amount for the additional perils may be restricted to say £2,500 for any one claim.

One of the most common part of a property which would suffer damage in stormy conditions is fences. On any policy covering a property, it is common that storm damage to gates, fences and posts are excluded.

Another important point to note would be if your property has a flat roof. Flat roofs often carry an increased excess for ingress of water following a storm (typically £500). Also there would likely be an endorsement on the policy stating the flat roof needs to be annually inspected by a builder and for any defects to be immediately repaired.

If you are looking for a quote for your property or would like some advice, please call the commercial team on 01249 463206 or check out our website www.advanceinsurance.co.uk

Restaurant Insurance

Each business has it's own individual insurance needs and Restaurants are a good example.

There are many factors to consider together with  important information that must be disclosed.
For example:  Do you have frying equipment? Do you provide entertainment? Do you have a bar
for use by the general public? Do you have a children's play area? Do you provide a takeaway service?
The above is not an exhaustive list but simply a prompt to get ones mind thinking about what you need to consider to ensure that you will be properly insured.

At Advance Insurance we have tailor made policies for Restaurants.

Many online quote systems will only ask for your required sums insured and details of the security
before providing you with a premium indication. This may leave you exposed if an Insurer is not aware
of the full facts.

Call Advance today to discuss your full requirements

Ricky Marshall or David Mann 01249 463206 or Email: ricky.marshall@advanceinsurance.co.uk
                                                                                      david.mann@advanceinsurance.co.uk

Office Insurance

Do you require Office Insurance?

Advance Insurance can offer independent expert advice to ensure you get the protection you require.

Below is a list of items commonly covered together with items that can be optional :

Tenants Improvements

General Contents

Office Based Computers

Portable Computers

Specialist Equipment

Business Interruption

Public & Employers' Liability

Money Cover

Terrorism (optional)

Personal Accident cover (optional)

Fidelity Insurance (optional)

For more information please contact Ricky Marshall on 01249 463206

www.advance-commercial.co.uk

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Claims Handling Service

Arguably the most important role of an Insurance policy is for it to provide peace of mind and act as a safety net to ensure a company can continue to trade following a large, potentially catastrophic claim.

But what is required from a business owner (or delegated member of staff) following such a claim and how much of their time could potentially be taken up throughout the claims process?

Time would be taken in preparing a claim, speaking to insurers, arranging site visits, arranging building works and negotiating settlements or interim payments with insurers. All this whilst also trying to keep the business running perhaps from alternative premises or other temporary arrangements.

For a relatively small sum, based on the company turnover and wageroll figures, we can provide you with a policy, to sit alongside your main insurance policy, which provides you with a loss adjuster to work on your behalf following an insured material damage claim (Fire, flood etc) which is likely to amount to more than £5,000. Upon notification you will have a loss adjuster on site within 24 hours who will deal with assessment, submission, negotiation and administration of your claim for you. They will also arrange examination of the damage to the the premises by engineers, architects, surveyors or contractors. It's basically designed to help take the stress out of the claim for the company owner whilst enabling them to concentrate in making alternative arrangements for the running of their business.

If you would like more information on this product or would like a quote, please contact us on 01249 463206 or visit our website www.advanceinsurance.co.uk

Landlord Policies

Advance Insurance have many Landlord schemes available to us which can cover a wide range of properties including:

·          Residential

·          Commercial

·          Unoccupied Residential

·          Unoccupied Commercial

·          Unoccupied Mixed Residential and Commercial

·          Part occupied mixed Residential and Commercial

With our unoccupied property schemes we can offer various levels of cover from standard FLEEA (Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion and aircraft only) to full perils.

We can also look at "non-standard" properties e.g long-term unoccupied, previous subsidence issues, adverse claims, structural alterations etc.

Remember, if you have a property which you have purchased with the intention to let it out, this will have to be insured as unoccupied until a tenancy agreement is signed. Similarly, properties that are going through probate which were formally owner occupied are likely to have to be insured as unoccupied if they are pending sale or waiting to be let.

For more information or advice on which policy is best for you, please call our commercial department on 01249 463206.

For more information on what Advance Insurance do, please see our website www.advanceinsurance.co.uk

Insurers updating their Flood Areas

Check your Flood excess!

With the increasing instances in flooding from prolonged spells of rain and flash flooding from short heavy downpours, we have noticed a lot of mainstream insurers have been re-categorizing a lot of addresses as being in "an area at risk of flood".
Insurers have been investing heavily in updated and comprehensive flood mapping systems in order to properly manage their exposure when it comes to acts of nature. The systems provide information on worst case scenarios ranging from the areas "at risk of flooding" due to rivers breaking their banks to the types of soil in particular areas which may effect surface water run-off and cause flash floods. Some of the systems are apparently accurate to within 5 square metres.
The important thing to note here is that you don't necessarily need to live near a natural watercourse to be deemed to be in an area at risk of flood.

If your existing insurer now deems your property to be in a flood risk area, it may effect your policy in the following ways at renewal depending on how severe a risk they rate you to be:

1. They may not offer renewal terms
2. They may exclude Flood cover
3. They may heavily increase your premium
4. They may increase your policy excess for Flood (up to as much as £10,000!)
5. They may do more than one of points 2, 3 and 4.

At renewal, the insurers are supposed to highlight any significant changes to your policy but this can be a single line on a page of writing so could be easily overlooked.

The point I'm trying to make is, when you get your renewal through for your home, let property, business premises etc, even if it's just a contents policy, it's always a good idea to double check the perils you are covered against and the corresponding policy excess for each one.
For more information on what Advance Insurance do, please see our website www.advanceinsurance.co.uk