Author: abraham

Picture this. You install a diving board in the castle moat and yell “Cannonball!” Everything seems fun and harmless until the water rises a little too high. Maybe the moat overflows because of mischievous dragons, or maybe it is simply heavy rain from a passing storm. Either way, the result is the same. Water where it should not be.

While most homes do not come with castles or moats, the reality is that flooding can happen almost anywhere. Heavy rainfall, hurricanes, storm surge, overflowing rivers, or poor drainage can all lead to water entering a home. When that happens, many homeowners are surprised to learn that standard homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage. Flood protection requires a separate flood insurance policy.

This is where planning ahead makes all the difference. Flood insurance helps cover damage caused by rising water, including structural repairs and sometimes personal belongings, depending on the policy. Without it, homeowners may be responsible for covering those costs out of pocket, which can add up quickly.

The good news is that protecting your home does not have to be complicated. With the right guidance, you can understand your flood risk and explore coverage options that make sense for your home, your location, and your peace of mind.

Think of it like turning that overflowing moat into a relaxing lazy river. With the right coverage in place, you can feel confident knowing your home is protected even when the unexpected happens.

If you would like help reviewing your coverage or learning more about flood insurance, our team is here to help. Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/ to get started. Your future self, and maybe even your neighbors, will thank you.

Your home is your castle… protect it like one! 🏰🐉
Sir Burke is helping Mischief avoid the mishaps that could turn into insurance claims.
Rooftop landings? Kitchen fires? Overgrown trees? Not on our watch!

Talk to us about protecting your biggest investment. 🏡💪

Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com.

Today we are talking about telematics, which is a fancy way of saying driving data. Telematics are used by insurance carriers to help assess a driver’s risk, which allows carriers to potentially adjust premiums based on real-time data and not just estimates.

Why is this important? So glad you asked. Telematics track driving habits such as the times of day you drive, the miles you drive, any fast acceleration or quick breaking. Good driving habits are not only beneficial for your safety and the safety of those around you, but they can also lead to savings on your premiums. We all know an icky driving record can lead to higher premiums.

Using telematics, your good driving data can lead to lower rates. Most carriers will also start off with a discount just for adding telematics to your policy. Some carriers have devices that plug right into your car while others have an app that tracks your driving data.

As with many things in life, you do have to work a bit before you could potentially start seeing discounts on your premium. The standard “monitoring” program is generally conducted over a period of time (at minimum 80 days) to get a good read on a person’s driving habits. Some newer vehicles come pre equipped with built-in telematic systems that can be converted right onto a person’s policy without having to enroll in the carrier’s telematics program. Pretty neat!

To wrap up, here’s a quick list of some of the perks of using telematics:
Savings on your premium! Get rewarded for your good driving habits with a more “personalized rate” that is a direct result of your driving.

Safety! Telematics will highlight areas where you may need to improve your driving. Maybe you frequently find yourself breaking quickly or are an easily distracted driver. The apps used by carriers may even flag certain driving behaviors as risky, such as looking at your phone while driving!

Seeing the data is a helpful reminder to discourage risky behavior that can be dangerous to you and those around you. It’s also an easy way to monitor any young drivers you may have…especially when it comes time for curfew! 😉

As with anything, always talk to your local Burke and Burke agent. We are here to help guide you! Give us a call today or visit us online, our customer portal is available to you 24/7. And just remember, there’s better coverage behind our shield!

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

This month, we sat down with Kim Oztuna, our Personal Lines Director to have some Q&A around flood insurance. While not a mandated coverage in most cases, flood insurance is not something to let float downstream without checking into it. Many floods occur outside of flood zones so it’s important to be prepared, no matter where you live.

Take a moment and listen in as Kim explains the major points of this type of coverage. Don’t be shy about picking up the phone to give your Noble Knights a call; it’s worth it if your kingdoms ever end up taking on water!

 

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What is flood insurance?
Flood Insurance is a policy that you can purchase that will help cover damage to your structure as a result of flooding. Flooding is defined as “two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties that experience an overflow or unusual accumulation of surface waters.

Who can purchase flood insurance?
Anyone! You do not need to live in a flood zone or even be a homeowner. Renters can purchase flood insurance as well. If you do happen to live in a flood zone, however, you are required to have this coverage.

What does flood insurance cover?

• Structure damage
• Personal belongings
• Carpet/flooring
• Detached structures (up to 10% of your coverage limit)
• Appliances
• Plumbing/Electrical

What does flood insurance not cover?

• Anything basement-related, which is anything that is below ground level. Your policy will typically cover anything in the basement that will service your home, such as HVAC, furnace, food freezers, washer/dryer, water heaters, and heat
  pumps/sump pumps, as well as structural and foundation damage.
• Finished drywall/carpet in your basements and personal belongings. Move those valuable items up higher in your house!
• Temporary housing: anytime you must relocate because you cannot live in your primary residence as a result of a covered loss. The policyholder is responsible for paying the bill for temporary housing, it is not part of the coverages

Is there a waiting period?
Yes, there is a 30-day waiting period unless proof of flood insurance is needed at the time of closing on a property. In those situations, the waiting period is waived.

Wait…doesn’t our property policy cover flood losses?
Nope! Your primary policy does not cover water damage caused by floods. You can add endorsements to your policy for other natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, however flood coverages are their own separate policy and cannot be added as an endorsement to an existing property policy.

What’s the cost?
Call in and check with our Noble Knights to learn more about the cost of flood insurance and how much coverage you may need!

 

Is there anything I can do to help mitigate flood damage?
Yes!

• Purchase flood insurance, of course!
• Keep gutters, downspouts and any drainage free of debris (like leaves)
• Move valuable items to higher floors (don’t store them in the basement!)
• Install flood vents in the foundation walls or any enclosed areas to allow water to flow out
• Waterproof your basements
• Install a sump pump and water alarm (with a battery-operated back up pump)

We’d like to thank Kim again for sitting down with us and sharing her expertise. While we hope you all never have to experience the damaging effects of floods, our hope is that you feel reassured knowing that you have coverage options! Our team is here to help keep your kingdoms safe. Give us a call, visit us online, and check out our new Client Portal. There’s better coverage behind our shield!

 

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

 

We’ve changed the clocks, the snow is gone, so that can only mean one thing…it’s time to spring clean! Open all the windows, break out the brooms, and write the mile long checklist of tasks to be done.

This month, Sir Burke and Mischief take a quick break from protecting the kingdom and causing trouble to talk to us about spring cleaning. Alison Lytel, Personal Lines Associate and Brittanie Bardwell, our Bowling Green Office Manager, have submitted a valuable list of tasks to include in all your cleaning lists. As you hike up your sleeves to start throwing out old junk.

Be sure your list includes the following:

1. Yard work! In the DMV, we’ve experienced several storms this past winter. Check your trees to make sure they are sturdy and healthy; if they are growing over your roof, trim back those limbs to prevent damage or moss/plant growth on your siding or roof. Remember, you can be held responsible for damage caused by dead trees on your property. Clear out all those fallen tree branches that seem to be everywhere. Maybe get those flower beds ready for planting!

2. Detached structures! Give your fence, sheds, decks, garages, or any other detached structures you have on your property a good once over to see how they are holding up. It’s important to keep them maintained; replace weathered or missing boards, check for moss and mildew, and beware of wildlife that may have taken up residence during the cold winter months. Remember these structures are covered under your homeowner’s insurance!

3. Roofs! How does your roof look? Replace any missing shingles you may have. If your roof is 15-20 years old, it might be time to replace it before those April showers start leaking into your attic!

4. Siding! Is your siding in good shape? Take a moment to peek into your attic and make sure there are no unwanted animal guests hiding out. As cute as they can be, they are not covered by your homeowner’s policy and can cause serious damage to your home.

5. Declutter! For the interior of your homes, tidy up and declutter. Focus on the closets and junk drawers that tend to accumulate forgotten and unwanted junk. While you’re clearing all the nearly empty containers of Chlorox wipes from under your sinks, check for any water damage. Your home policy does not cover long, slow leaks, so check on your fixtures and appliances for any trouble spots.

As always, please reach out to your Noble Knights with any questions or updates you may have. We know these tasks can be daunting, but you won’t be sorry once you start checking off your list and your kingdoms are safe and sound for the coming months ahead.

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

Love on Your Business!

This month we meet up with Joe Chapman, our Commercial Lines Director here at Burke & Burke Insurance. Joe shares his business insurance expertise with us, answering questions like “What is business insurance and who needs it?” while adding valuable insight into how to understand your policy overall. Take a few moments and listen in or read along below to catch the highlights!

What is business insurance?

As Joe explains, business insurance is risk mitigation. He outlines 4 strategies to think about when you are reviewing your business.

1. Risk avoidance: Looking at the parts of your business that have a preponderance of risk that you aren’t willing to take. For example, sticking to what you’re good at.
2. Risk acceptance: Being willing to accept a particular risk. Joe uses the humorous example of accepting every six months or so he will stub his toe on the chest that is located at the end of his bed. It’s a low severity risk, but one he is willing to accept. The same applies to your business when looking at different risks.
3. Risk transfer (insurance): This one of course is our favorite! Working with your agent to transfer risk in the form of an insurance policy is another strategy in
   keeping your business protected.
4. Risk limitation: The most common strategy is to look for ways to limit the risk to your business. Start by asking yourself the question, “what is the severity level of
   the occurrence? For Joe, it might be adding a cushion to that chest to protect his toes or even moving it to a different location. Review your business regularly and have someone else review as well. Ask questions like what is your potential for risk, what risk strategies do you want to employ and what are you not good at? A thorough review will help you target those gaps that would leave you most vulnerable.

Who needs it?
Most businesses need insurance. Again, start by evaluating the risk level. Joe gives us four categories to help break down this process:

1. Legal: Most simply, states and localities often require business to have insurance. In Virginia, for example, workers compensation policies are required for businesses with 3 or more employees. Employee is a broad definition inVirigina, which can include full time, part time, volunteers or “other” so this is a good topic to bring to your agent to ensure you have the proper coverage.
2. Contractual: When taking on a job, (i.e. contractors), businesses must have a certain level of insurance to do the work. General contractors are a good example for how to model your policy. They transfer risk by making sure everyone on site has a certain level of insurance. Subcontractors do the same to ensure that all parties involved in a job have a certain level of coverage to mitigate risk and protect all businesses involved.
3. Business decisions for risk mitigation: What is the frequency of occurrences vs severity of occurrences. Transfer the risk to an insurance policy!
4. Credibility and reputation: As a business, you want to tell your clients that you are insured and bonded. You take your work seriously and you customers candepend on you and your reputation.

Types of insurance?
As you listen it to the video, you’ll hear Joe mention a few of these types of insurance.
Listed below are the ones we commonly see:

1. General liability and property
2. BOP (Business Owner’s Policy)
3. Worker’s compensation
4. Umbrella:

a. A quick note on umbrella coverage: they only cover certain parts of your policy, mainly parts of your general liability policy, not your entire business owner’s policy. Umbrellas do not go over your property, they go over your liability.

5. Commercial auto
6. Professional and management liability:

a. Items that are excluded from your liability policy (i.e. errors and omissions, malpractice). Designed to cover things that you are not an expert at but fall into your purview.

7. Bonds

When it comes time to choose a policy, Joe and his team will work to find you the best fit with our carriers. In some cases you may be able to put all your policies with one carrier,
in others you might need to work with a few carriers to find the best fit. No matter what, Joe and his team are equipped to work with you to find the best solution.

Tips for maintaining a healthy policy!

Joe’s parting advice is to review your business regularly. Focus on your risk profile; is it changing? Are you taking on parts of your business that are increasing your risk? Or perhaps you’ve downsized and now your risk is smaller. Bring these changes to Joe and his team to ensure that your policy is changing with your business. We look forward to helping your business stay protected from risk!

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

Happy New Year!

If you’re like us, the new year probably has you cleaning, decluttering, and setting new goals for the coming year. It might also get you thinking about your insurance policy, or at least we hope it does!

A new year can bring several changes; perhaps you have a new house, a new driver in the family, or maybe you got married and need to add your spouse to your policy. No matter if you have a personal policy or a business policy, the turn of the year is a great time to check in on your policy to make sure it’s up to date.

Now, how to go about making that change?

When it’s time to call in, you’ll want to have a few things on hand. Tune into our video to hear Sean Burke, one of our Personal Lines Associates out of our Bowling Green location, and Sharon Brown, one of our Commercial Lines Account Executives out of our Annandale location, explain this process. Or continue below for a quick list of items to have ready.

Personal policy 

When updating a personal policy, be it auto & toys or home, it’s good to have the below ready:

• Contact information for all individuals on the policy 
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration information for all cars, boats, and motorcycles that need to be on the policy
• Driver’s license
• Any major changes to home, i.e. new roof, additions
• Address changes if you bought or sold a home

Business Policy

When updating a business policy, you’ll want to have the below ready for your agent:

• Changes to gross payroll, employee headcount, changes in gross sales
• Type of work being performed by the business
• Fleet maintenance: driver information, number of cars, VIN and registration information, where the vehicles are garaged
• Changes to location(s): addresses, number of properties and the states in which they are located
• Any equipment that needs to be covered under your policy 

While not an exhaustive list, referencing the above will help you come prepared when submitting change requests to your policy. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Knights; they are here to assist you in ensuring all parts of your kingdom are protected from perils!

 

 

 

Hello Burke & Burke Community,

Your Noble Knights would like to take a moment to call attention to the new policy minimum limits issued by the state of Virginia.

What does this mean to you?

We are so glad you asked!

With the implementation of these new minimums, all new business policies with an effective date of January 1, 2025 and after will be written with the above new minimums. Also, any current policy that has the prior minimum limits will be increased at the renewal to the new required minimums.

Be sure to review your policy with your Noble Knight as you may notice changes in your rates.

Your Knights are here to assist you in navigating these changes.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.

At some point, most business owners will ask themselves how important it is to carry a business insurance policy. Now, I get it. This question is totally understandable, especially if you have never filed a claim before. However, it is so so important to remember that just because you’ve never needed to file a claim does not mean that you never will. So first off, you need to keep in mind that some businesses are actually required to carry certain types of insurance. It’s an obligation to be insured. Ok. Now, secondly, operating without insurance, risks your livelihood, it risks the incomes of your employees and it even risks the solvency of any businesses that rely on you for service. So before making a decision on how to structure your business insurance, it is definitely worth taking a step back and taking account of all the even remotely impossible situations that could cause your business to suffer. So once you’ve brought those up to your insurance agent, the good ones can help you to shave off any unnecessary costs out of your business policy while still providing a solid uh coverage amount. Oh, and do not be shy about letting them know that you have questions or concerns and I hope this was helpful.

We’d be happy to review your insurance coverage options with you! Give us a call at (703) 751-1001 or visit https://burkeandburkeinsurance.com/.