In Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the agents of Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. serve many of the surrounding communities by offering sound advice on how to keep their insurance costs stable. Homeowners and renters alike can take several steps to keep their insurance premiums low while maintaining an adequate amount of coverage. Security lighting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your home from unwanted intruders.

Landscape and Security Lighting

Strategically placed landscape and security lights can illuminate many of the most commonly used areas where intruders try to gain access to your home. Placing lights near doors and pathways will make it almost impossible for someone to make it up to the door without being seen. Security lights are often set up with timers that turn them on at dusk and off at dawn, but they can also be set up so that the homeowner turns them on whenever they want.

Minimizing Your Risk

Landscaped areas are not meant just to beautify your home. Properly designed landscaped areas that are placed near windows or patio entrances can make it extremely hard for a predator to gain access to your home. Motion activated lights that are strategically placed within the landscaped area offer an additional layer of defense.

In Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, homeowners can find out many ways to reduce their insurance costs simply by asking a few questions. Call the agents of Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. today to find out how they can help you protect your home and lower your insurance costs. Whether you own or rent your property, it’s up to you to do everything you can to keep your home beautiful and safe.

There are numerous benefits to renting over buying. In many ways, for example, renters are more protected from possible accidents, trouble with plumbing or electricity, and other upkeep needs. Still, there are certain disastrous events that won’t be covered by your landlord or your landlord’s insurance. And in these situations, renters insurance is the only thing standing between you and a complete loss of your belongings or finances.

This is what renters insurance is most known for. It covers your possessions and belongings in the event that a disaster listed in your policy occurs: lightning, water damage, theft, smoke and fire, vandalism, etc. But what about other benefits? Saving your belongings isn’t all your renters’ insurance can do as it turns out!

Here are some of the lesser-known benefits that you can look forward to — depending on the particular plan you choose.

1. Medical expenses in the event that guests are injured

If a guest of your rented home ends up injured on your rented property, renters insurance may pay the medical expenses for that individual.

2. Legal costs in the event of being sued

Renters insurance will hopefully satisfy an injured guest by paying their medical bills, but if that individual still decides to sue you for personal injury damages, your renters’ insurance may foot the legal bills.

3. Hotel stays after a terrible accident occurs

If your apartment building burns down in a fire, your renters’ insurance may also pay for you to have a place to say — a hotel, for example — while you look for a new place to live or get back into your old place.

4. “Off-premises” belongings

If your policy states so, your renters’ insurance may offer protection for your belongings even while you are “off-premises” or away from your rented home.

Looking for Coverage in North East Florida? Contact Palm Valley Insurance, Inc.

At Palm Valley Insurance, Inc., we are proud to serve renters in North East Florida with comprehensive, high-quality renters insurance policies. If you are interested in renters insurance in the area, one of our agents would be happy to meet with you to discuss your policy options.

Give us a call today, or feel free to stop by our office. We look forward to working with you and connecting you with the perfect renters’ insurance plan for your needs!

The Ponte Vedra Beach, FL area is a great place for motorcycle riders. The natural landscape makes a beautiful backdrop for riding in every season. Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. wants to make sure you stay safe while you’re enjoying the Florida roads. Use these tips to prepare for your next trip.

• Florida state law requires all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. Passengers must also have the correct headgear. Ask the sales associate at your local sporting goods store to help you select one that fits properly.
• Safety gear is more than helmets. Glasses, gloves, and the right clothing reduce serious injury during accidents and slide-outs.
• Know the limits of your body and equipment. Don’t use road bikes to do tricks. Always adjust your seat and mirrors to comfortable positions before starting your ride to reduce the strain on your body.
• Visually inspect the tires, mirrors, and lights before each ride. Follow a regular maintenance schedule to prevent damage that can cause accidents or interrupt your ability to control your motorcycle.
• Instead of relying on the mirrors, turn your head to get a good look at intersections and during lane changes. Helmets can sometimes obstruct peripheral vision. Moving your head ensures you get a full view before proceeding.
• Keep an eye on the road ahead for train tracks, curves, and unstable conditions that can cause you lose control. This is especially important in rainy and wet conditions.
• Stay calm while riding in traffic. Road rage can be deadly for motorcycle riders. Steer clear of aggressive drivers and always follow the rules of the road.

Finally, make sure you have the right motorcycle insurance before you take off on your next adventure. Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. provides motorcycle insurance for riders in the Ponte Vedra Beach, FL area. Contact our representatives to find out more about protecting your motorcycle with insurance.

For some, there is some confusion surrounding umbrella insurance. Based on the name, you would assume that it covers everything you own under one big umbrella. The truth is… that’s sort of what it does, but not quite. If you want to call Palm Valley Insurance Inc. for an umbrella policy, you should know what that means, first.

The long and short of it is: You still need to keep your standard homeowner’s policy on your house in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, even if you have an umbrella policy. You need to keep your car insurance policy, your business policies and so on. Umbrella policies are not a replacement for conventional insurance plans, but supplemental coverage for everything that you already hold insurance policies for. If your car or home suffers damages beyond what your basic policies cover, then you dip into a single umbrella policy to make up the difference.

Well, it covers almost everything. Umbrella insurance won’t always cover specialty insurance items. If you own an exotic car or your business happens to be managing and coordinating dangerous stunts for Hollywood films, not every insurer is going to cover that with an umbrella policy, but for most of us, umbrella will cover just about everything we own.

Umbrella coverage simplifies a lot of the problems you have with insurance. You don’t have to try and guess which policy needs to be extended, you can simply call Palm Valley Insurance Inc., get a single new policy as a sort of safety net (or, well, an umbrella) and rest easy, knowing that if your current auto or home plan runs out, then you have the umbrella plan to lean on.

Investing in life insurance is a good idea as it provides your family with financial stability in the event you are no longer around to support them. Now, there are many different kinds of life insurance policies available, so selecting the best option for you is important. At Palm Valley Insurance, Inc., we are here to assist you in finding the best insurance policy for your particular needs, regardless of if you live in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL or the surrounding North East Florida community. 

Term Life Insurance

This is the basic life insurance policy. It provides a death benefit with a cash value that builds. It is also one of the more affordable options. There are a few variations to this, including increasing and decreasing term life insurance coverage. With these life insurance policies, it is often connected to paying off large investments (like mortgages) and ends when the connected bill is paid off. These increase/decrease options often come as supplemental insurance policies. 

Permanent Life Insurance

This insurance coverage provides a death benefit, but it also has a cash value aspect to it. Due to this, it is possible for a policyholder to cash in their insurance ahead of time and use it as a form of investment. 

Whole Life Coverage

This kind of coverage is a locked in insurance policy that lasts as long as a person is alive. It is a very budget friendly form of life insurance coverage for those individuals who need protection but don’t have a large amount of money to invest. 

At Palm Valley Insurance, Inc., we want to make sure you and your family are protected. It doesn’t matter if you live in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL or a neighboring city, we’re here to help.

Palm Valley Insurance, Inc., serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Northeast Florida, notes that anyone who has followed automotive technology knows that self-driving cars are just on the horizon. But even before you can hop in your vehicle and let the computer take you where you need to go, self-driving features are now available on conventional cars.

What are the two best features that enhance your auto safety?

One safety-enhancing feature is automatic emergency braking. The way AEB works is that if the vehicle’s forward sensor detects an obstruction, the car ahead of you or someone who walked into traffic without looking, the brakes are applied automatically to prevent a collision. The AEB comes with an alarm that alerts you to what almost happened in case you were distracted.

The other great self-driving feature that could make you safer behind the wheel is called the blind spot warning system. The BSW provides a visual and/or audio warning if there is another vehicle in an adjacent lane in your blind spot. The system may be configured to provide another warning if you switch on your turn signal and try to shift lanes when another vehicle is in the way.

These two features can help prevent some of the most common causes of accidents. Other self-driving features that might help you remain safe include rear automatic emergency braking, which would stop you from backing up into an obstruction, and lane departure warning if you are moving outside your lane by accident.

Safety features, however, are no substitute for driver vigilance.

For any questions about auto insurance, feel free to contact Palm Valley Insurance, Inc. serving Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Northeast Florida. Our agents can work with you to start a policy and get you a quote.

Flood insurance is not included in your standard homeowner’s policy, as it is a separate type of insurance. Although it is offered through FEMA, you can purchase flood insurance through your insurance agency. This is different from federal assistance, which is actually a loan that must be paid back.

Your flood insurance will protect you against situations where damage has occurred due to flooding, tidal waves, or severe storms, and it can cover specific situations related to mudslides. You will be covered in scenarios that are directly related to the flood, and your personal possessions will typically not be included under this coverage.

Legal Requirements and Qualifications

It is not required by law that residents of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL carry flood insurance, but lenders can require homeowners to obtain a policy. This is primarily the case when a property sits on a flood plain or in a low-lying area. You can discuss your level of risk with your insurance agent, as flooding can occur for a variety of reasons, including hurricanes, flash flooding, and rapid thawing. It is important to recognize that homes situated in areas with a low-to-moderate risk of flooding actually account for one-third of all disaster relief. 

Palm Valley Insurance Inc. Can Help You

At Palm Valley Insurance, Inc., we have valuable experience meeting the insurance needs of those living in and around Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. You can visit our website, and use our rating tool to find a quick quote on homeowners and automobile insurance. We consider it a privilege to work with you, and we invite you to call or stop by our office to discuss all your home or flood insurance options today!