Did you know that completing home improvements could affect the amount of insurance coverage you need? Use the steps below to guarantee your residence is equipped with the necessary protection.

Project Overview

First, outline the type of project that you plan on completing. Your outline should include the materials and labor that are needed to complete the upgrade.

Outlining the project will allow you to pinpoint the investment you will be making. If the project is going to be extensive, you will definitely benefit from ensuring the materials used to complete the upgrade.

The additional protection will protect against theft, vandalism, and acts of nature. If you seek liability protection, the additional coverage will provide protection if anyone is injured within your residence.

Risk Level

Examine the risk associated with completing each home improvement project. If you are going to add a walkway or a retaining wall, for instance, determine the likelihood of the addition becoming damaged or causing an injury.

Your risk level should be taken into account when modifying your existing home insurance policy.

Environmental Concerns

Focus on any environmental concerns that could lead to needing to file an insurance claim. If a home improvement is prone to moisture, heat, or precipitation, seeking insurance coverage for the materials used to complete the upgrade is a good idea.

The protection you acquire can be used to repair or replace any materials that are accidentally damaged or destroyed in the future.

For More Help, Contact Our Team!

Meet with one of our agents serving Burlingame, CA. A Commercial One Insurance Service agent can update your home insurance policy or help you find new coverage. Contact our office to get a quote.

Many homeowners in the Burlingame, CA area who have a home insurance policy with Commercial One Insurance Service own wood decks on their properties. These are meant to last for years and should be maintained so that you do not have to replace them regularly or be found liable in court for damages. 

Add Waterproof Sealant

At least once a year, it is an excellent practice to add water sealant to your wood deck. This keeps the water from rain and snow from causing long-term damage to the wood railing and deck floor. It would be best if you did it about the same time every year so that it retains it and you do not have a time gap. 

Replace Rotten Wood

Over time, some pieces of the deck will rot and break. Make sure that you replace these pieces right away. When you replace them, you need to use treated wood for your deck to last longer and stand up to the elements. This also keeps the wood surrounding these areas from getting worse. You could attract unwanted pests to your deck if you leave it. 

Use Outdoor Paint to Repel the Sun

One of the worst damages for wood decks is sun damage. This is because it can be drawn to the deck, and if you do not use the right paint, you can cause more damage to the deck. With outdoor paint meant directly for sun damage, you can prolong the life of the wood and keep it from breaking down over time. This keeps accidents from happening and you from becoming liable in court. 

If you need home insurance in the Burlingame, CA, area, contact our Commercial One Insurance Service team. 

You’ve finally found the home of your dreams and are ready to take the plunge to become a homeowner. In addition to the right home loan and the right home insurance coverage to protect your valuable investment. By knowing the facts about home insurance, you can choose wisely. Working with a reputable insurer like Commercial One Insurance Service in Burlingame, CA is essential to getting quality coverage to protect your property.

Home Insurance Facts Every Homeowner Should Know

As a new homeowner, you may have misconceptions about home insurance – what it is, what it does, and why you need it. These aspects are covered in the following home insurance facts:

• Home insurance offers dwelling, property, and liability coverage to protect your home, personal belongings, and assets from financial loss.
• Dwelling coverage protects your home structure against damage or loss from covered perils like fire, vandalism, lightning strikes, hailstorms, and other natural disasters.
• Property coverage protects your belongings. This includes clothes, electronics, furniture, appliances, sports equipment, and other personal items.
• Liability coverage protects you financially against accidental injuries or property damage visitors may sustain on your property.
• If your Burlingame home has a mortgage, home insurance may be a requirement. Otherwise, it’s your decision whether to have home insurance coverage or not.
• The cost of home insurance may vary depending on your chosen insurance company. Your home’s age, size, condition, and location can also impact home insurance costs. You can shop around to find the best deal for your desired coverage.   
• Standard home insurance policies do not cover flood damage. For flood protection, you need a separate flood insurance policy.

Need Home Insurance?

For quality home insurance at affordable costs, contact a local agent from Commercial One Insurance Service in Burlingame, CA.

Protecting your home is probably one of your top priorities. It is essential that you understand what risks there are to your home to adequately protect it, though. Commercial One Insurance Service, serving Burlingame, CA, and the surrounding areas, can help you decrease home invasion risks. Keep reading to learn more about the top three home invasion risks you should be aware of. 

Faulty Locks 

The locks on your doors are your first line of defense against home invasion. If these locks are faulty in some way, though, you increase your risk of a home invasion. You will probably notice a faulty lock pretty quickly because you are locking and unlocking the doors so often. However, the important thing is that you address the faulty lock quickly. It would be best if you did not let one day pass with a faulty lock on any door. 

If there are doors in your home that are not used very often, then you should regularly check the locks on those doors to ensure they are working properly. 

Faulty or Unlocked Windows

Another home invasion risk is faulty or unlocked windows. A faulty window would be any window that does not shut and lock properly and securely. This is more common than you might think. You should check your windows periodically to ensure they are closing and locking properly. If you discover a faulty window, waste no time having this repaired. 

Another home invasion risk is windows that work perfectly well but are left unlocked. This very risky practice can increase your chance of a home invasion. 

Hiding Keys 

Although you may think this is a perfectly acceptable practice because many people do it, you should be aware that hiding keys on your property does increase the chance of home invasion. A safer option is to have keys made for anyone you wish to grant access. 

If you want to learn about home insurance, please get in touch with us at Commercial One Insurance Service, serving Burlingame, CA, and the surrounding areas. 

Many count on Commercial One Insurance Service to provide home insurance to make them feel safe, but there is more to having a safe home than a good home insurance policy. Home safety should be a priority for homeowners in Burlingame, CA.

Install a home security system

You have never had more options for home security. From DIY weekend projects to professionally installed systems, you can find a system that fits your needs and your wallet. Whether you have your home monitored or do the monitoring with your smartphone, it all helps make your home safe. 

Light the exterior of your home

Having motion detector lights on a home’s exterior can be very discouraging to potential intruders. Don’t forget the back and sides of your home as well. Light is your friend when the sun goes down. 

Use door and window locks

It doesn’t help to have locks on your doors and windows if you are not using them. Don’t forget your garage and your sliders. All of them should be adequately locked whether you are home or not. 

Use non-slip mats in tubs and showers.

Making your shower or tub a safe place can help reduce falls. Nonslip mats or sticks can help lower the potential danger. 

Remove clutter

Clutter in hallways and on stairs is a recipe for disaster. Especially at night, when you can’t see where you are going, the danger of a fall is very real. The very young and the very old are the most likely to receive serious injuries. 

Contact us

If you are a resident of Burlingame, CA or live in the area, you can count on Commercial One Insurance Service for all your home insurance needs. Give us a call or stop by our office. 

You wouldn’t choose any old home, so why would you choose any old homeowner’s insurance policy? While knowing you need insurance for your home is easy, selecting the right policy can take significant effort. Home insurance policies can vary in total coverage, payouts, policies on pools and visitors, and even have requirements based on your specific home loan. 

Commercial One Insurance Service, serving Burlingame, CA, can guide you with top tips for choosing California home insurance.

California Home Insurance Tips

1. Understand the Policy Coverage you Need. Explore the amount of liability and property coverage you need to make you whole again in the case of an accident or injury. Learn more about types of policy coverage today before you buy.
2. Talk to your Experts. Talk to both your realtor and your lender for recommendations. As providers who already know your unique needs, your lender and realtor can steer you in the right direction and help ensure your policy fits your purchase.
3. Get Native Language Support. Don’t search for support you won’t fully understand. Search California’s database for realtors who provide additional language assistance. 
4. Get a Second Opinion. It never hurts to get a second opinion on policy rates and coverage. Check with an additional provider before you decide. If you think you have been denied coverage in error, submit a complaint to the California Department of Insurance.
5. Understand the California FAIR plan as a last resort. The FAIR plan is a California safety net to provide fire insurance to high-risk properties that otherwise may not qualify for traditional homeowners policies. 

Commercial One Insurance Service serving Burlingame, CA is ready to meet your homeowner’s insurance needs. Contact us online today.

Before you contact Commercial One Insurance Service about home insurance for your Burlingame, CA home, you should make a home inventory, a list, or a video of the items you own.

Providing your home inventory when you contact Commercial One Insurance Service helps us provide you with the most accurate information and quote. That’s because your policy can offer various levels of personal property protection. We base the amount of coverage on your current home contents.

When you create a home inventory, you document the equipment and household items you own. You also document their condition. If your home policy reimburses you for items at actual value, then you’ll receive the value of the items not at the value of when you purchased them new, but at the depreciated value. Your video home inventory can prove that your item held value because of the care you took of it.

You should update your home inventory with your insurance agent when you buy new big-ticket items. Since your insurance policy provides a dollar amount of coverage, you need to update it when you purchase new jewelry, hobby equipment, such as cameras, or sports equipment, such as a new road bike. This ensures that your home policy covers the items you own.

The same is true of sharing your home with a roommate, significant other, or spouse. When you add another person to the household, you also add their stuff. Until you update your policy though, it only covers the items for which you initially purchased the personal property coverage. You’ll need to add their items to your home inventory and update your insurance policy accordingly.

Contact Commercial One Insurance Service about home insurance for your Burlingame, CA today. We can help you obtain the coverage you need to protect your financial security.

Filing a home insurance claim in Burlingame, CA, is not easy, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.  The more significant the loss, the more complex the process. However, with the help of insurance professionals at Commercial One Insurance Service, you can rest assured that you will be fully and fairly compensated for every loss under the terms of your home insurance policy. Here are a few tips to help you out.

Create an Inventory

You never know when disaster might strike. That’s why you need to act now by preparing a list of all valuables covered in your home insurance policy. Your list should include the name, price, and the date you purchased them. If you have receipts for large items, keep them safe and update the inventory every time you buy a new item.

Study Your Policy

It’s almost impossible to successfully file a home insurance claim in Burlingame, CA, if you don’t know what is covered. Take time to go through your policy, read terms and conditions, ask questions, and have the correct information on hand. Review your policy after every six months to keep it updated.

Document the Damage and Your Interactions 

Sometimes the entire claim process may not go as you expect. If you feel that you were unfairly compensated, you can file a lawsuit against your insurance company and demand fair compensation. To do this, you must document every step of the claim process, from adjuster conversations to the damage in your home. Your lawyer will need all this information to build a strong case against your insurer.

Act Fast

The faster you act, the faster you can settle down after a disaster.  If there is any criminal activity involved, make sure you report it to the police before calling your insurance provider. Fill out the home insurance paperwork and provide all the required information on time. 

To learn more about home insurance claims, please get in touch with Commercial One Insurance Service. 

When you live in California, the fear and threat of wildfires will always be on your mind. You can add coverage to your California home insurance policy to help you with a little peace there.

At Commercial One Insurance Service, we want Burlingame, CA residents to have the home insurance coverage they need to be protected financially from wildfire. Here are some coverages you will want if you are concerned about the threat of wildfire.

Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling coverage will rebuild or replace your home and any attached structures such as a garage or a deck. It’s always a good idea to review your dwelling coverage, in order to keep up with the changing costs of your home. 

With wildfires in your area, you may find that materials shortage and labor demands could lead to cost surges after a wildfire. The cost to rebuild may be higher than your dwelling limits. You can get guaranteed cost coverage to cover the cost of a rebuild, or add extended coverage which could be an amount like 25 percent over your current limit. This gives you a cushion with dwelling coverage if the costs to rebuild are exorbitant in the event of this tragedy.

Update Your Contents Coverage

You could lose everything in a wildfire, and it may have been some time since you updated your property inventory. Check the value of your contents by performing another inventory, and updating your contents coverage. 

Most home insurance policies give you a 50 to 75 percent allowance above your dwelling coverage for contents. If you have added new contents or property that is significant in value, have your coverage updated.

Additional Living Expenses

Adding additional living expenses or loss of use coverage to your policy will cover you in the event that you need to vacate your home. This will cover hotels, restaurants, and even pet boarding if you need to leave the home after a wildfire. Make sure this is added to your policy.

Get a Quote

When you are worried about wildfires in California, update your home insurance policy. This will give you some peace of mind. At Commercial One Insurance Service, we want Burlingame, CA residents to have the home insurance they need to protect them during these tragedies. Call us for a quote today.

How much do you think it costs to insure your home? While it’s not free, it’s not as expensive as you think. With home insurance, you spend today, but it saves you loads of losses when perils strike. If you have been having second thoughts about home insurance, here are reasons you should buy this coverage, according to the Commercial One Insurance Service of Burlingame, CA.

Home insurance protects your dwelling

For most people, a home is one of the most expensive assets to own. As a result, your home is the last thing you want to be taken away from you. Luckily, with homeowner’s insurance, you have an investment to protect what you love.

While home insurance won’t prevent perils like fire, theft, and so on from striking, it ensures that your financial burden is manageable when such perils strike.

Home insurance compensates you when you lose personal assets

Your assets are what make your house become a home. Otherwise, it would be an empty shell. Home insurance protects your home contents, including furniture, clothing, electronics, and valuables like jewelry.

If you want to get the best put of your personal contents coverage, take an inventory count of your assets to ensure all your belongings are covered when filing a claim.

Home insurance provides liability protection

Besides protecting your assets, home insurance shields you against liabilities. While you may be careful not to cause accidents to neighbors, your family members may not be. As a result, you may be accused of bodily injury and property damage that may be expensive to sort. Thankfully, when liability claims strike, you have home insurance to turn to.

Buy home insurance today!

Are you looking for affordable coverage in Burlingame, CA? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Commercial One Insurance Service for a competitive quote. Here, we understand that homeowner’s needs differ. As such, we provide different home insurance coverages to answer the needs of various homeowners.