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Buffalo Grove, IL 63366

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Illinois Insurance Blog

How Does Boat Insurance Protect Me?

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Boating takes many forms. But whether it’s sailing, fishing, kayaking, or cruising in your beloved boat, you can be sure of limitless fun whenever you are in the water. And speaking of boating, there is no better state to spend your day in the water like Illinois. Featuring water bodies like Lake Michigan, Chicago, and the Mississippi River, Illinois is the perfect destination for boaters. 

However, as you have your best life in the water, don’t forget about boat insurance from STARS Insurance of Buffalo Grove, IL. Investing in boat insurance protects you in the below areas:

Liability protection

Boat insurance covers liabilities such as bodily injury and property damage for accidents you are deemed responsible for. Besides, boat insurance covers legal costs if the third party sues you for accidents you cause. Given that liability claims can be astronomical, boat insurance saves you out-of-pocket expenses, which can severely dent your pocket.

Physical damage protection

What would happen if your boat were involved in an accident? You could face expensive boat repairs that could soar into thousands of dollars. Worse yet, if the accident was severe, your boat could be totaled. Now think about the cost of replacement!

Thankfully, you don’t have to undergo such nightmares when you have invested in boat insurance. Collision and comprehensive coverages compensate you for loss or damage to your boat caused by various perils, including theft, fire, vandalism, accidents, falling objects, and other risks.

Medical payments coverage

Boat insurance covers medical costs for you and your passengers following a boating accident. This coverage pays for medical expenses, including first aid, hospitalization, surgery, x-rays, and medications, regardless of the party responsible for the accident.

Get boat insurance today!

Boat insurance ensures that you float with confidence wherever the fun takes you. Are you ready to get started with boat insurance in Buffalo Grove, IL? All you need to do is to contact STARS Insurance to start the conversation.

Buying a Home in a Flood Zone

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When shopping for a new home in Buffalo Grove, IL, you have many things to consider. All buyers should look into if their new home is in a flood zone before putting in an offer. Though buying a home in a flood zone should not deter you from making your purchase, you need to be sure you understand what can happen when shopping for homeowners insurance. For questions about insuring a home in a flood zone, call the experts at STARS Insurance to discuss your options.

What Is a Flood Zone? 

When buying a home, check the areas flooding maps to see if your home is in a flood zone. Being in a flood zone puts your home at a higher risk of experiencing damage from floodwaters. In addition, living in a flood zone can result in higher insurance premiums, based on the flood zone your home is located. Flood zones are categorized as low, moderate, or high risk. The Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) website can help you see where the home you are buying falls in flood zone risk. 

What is Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance is supplemental insurance protecting your home and belongings in the event of a flood. Typical homeowners insurance policies do not pay for flood damage caused by extreme storms, storm surge, or other events causing rising waters in your area. A flood insurance policy helps pay for repairs and replacement for items not covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy in the event of a flood. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance? 

If your new home is in a flood zone, having flood insurance is a good idea. Additionally, your mortgage lender may require you to carry flood insurance to protect your home. 

For additional information about flood zones in Buffalo Grove, IL, or to see if your new home is in a flood zone, contact the experts at STARS Insurance. Our agents can help you cover your new home, even if it is in a flood zone.

How Long Do I Need Life Insurance?

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The length of time you need life insurance depends significantly upon how long you want your policy to last. For example, term life insurance only provides temporary coverage but is less expensive, while permanent life insurance is more expensive but covers you your entire life. Those living in Buffalo Grove, IL, should speak to their insurance agent to discuss options and how long they need a life insurance policy. Or, give our experts a call at STARS Insurance today for more information. 

How Long to Get Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance does not cover you for your entire life. Instead, you pick how long you want the life insurance policy to last. The term length you choose depends on the coverage you need.

Different Term Lengths

Term life insurance offers various term lengths, including some of the most common terms of 10, 20, and 30 years. Other policy length options include 15, 25, and 35-year periods. Shorter-term lengths help cover some unplanned situations, such as needing life insurance to cover debts. Additionally, those with poor health can choose a shorter coverage and, when their health improves, get a better rate for whole life insurance coverage. 

A 20-year term is the most popular choice among young parents because this provides them coverage until their kids are grown and have completed school. However, a 30-year term is popular among newlyweds giving long-term coverage at an affordable rate. 

Picking a Term Length

There are three things to consider when selecting a term length for your life insurance policy. These things include:

  • Age: Consider how old you will be when the policy expires. 
  • Cost: Consider how much you can afford to pay premiums. 
  • Goals: Consider your financial objectives, such as protecting a mortgage or saving for retirement. 

Start planning for your financial future today and speak with an agent at STARS Insurance today about your life insurance options available in Buffalo Grove, IL.

3 Tips for Safe Summer Driving

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Although winter weather is known for causing hazardous roads, most people aren’t aware of how hazardous summer driving can be as well. Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to be prepared for the rising temperatures. STARS Insurance has put together a few tips to ensure you and your vehicle are prepared for safe summer driving in Buffalo Grove, IL.

Be Aware of Road Construction

Warmer weather generally means the snow and ice will be replaced with road construction. Although construction is beneficial for the roads, it can also lead to accidents. Construction often leads to congested roads, so it’s important to slow down and be aware of your surroundings while driving.

Be Cautious Increased Traffic

The arrival of summer encourages more people to get out, which ultimately leads to increased traffic and a greater risk of an accident. Whether you are driving to work in the morning or traveling for an annual family vacation, it’s essential that you stay patient and allow yourself plenty of time to safely arrive at your destination.

Stay on Top of Vehicle Maintenance

Hotter weather means your vehicle is working harder to stay in top running condition, so make sure to schedule routine maintenance for your vehicle, including an oil change and topping off all fluids. The hotter weather also means the pavement will be hotter, which can be rough on tires. The heat may cause the air inside the tire to expand, and it could potentially cause the tire to burst. So, be sure to check the tire pressure before driving each time.

The most important thing to do for driving safely during the summer is to remain patient and leave a few minutes before your scheduled departure. Here’s an extra tip as well-most vehicles are equipped with a button for circulating the air in the cabin of your vehicle, if you activate this while driving with your air conditioner on, the circulated air will actually help to keep the cabin cooler.

At Accurate Auto Insurance, we take pride in covering Illinois vehicle auto insurance as well as many other states. As a car-centric company, we want to ensure you drive safely. If you have questions about our services or safe driving in the summer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

Residents of Buffalo Grove, IL who want to learn more information about summer safety driving or to discuss their automobile insurance policy should contact STARS Insurance.

Who Should Invest in Commercial Insurance?

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In order to truly answer the question of who should invest in commercial insurance, it’s necessary to understand what commercial insurance is, and what it does. Commercial insurance works just like most insurance in that it creates a safety net or protection from unforeseen events that may affect your business and your profitability. It can also protect business owners from personal liability. 

So…Who Needs this Type of Insurance?

In short, commercial insurance can benefit any business owner who wants to protect their business from lawsuits, property damage, theft, and injuries, to name a few. Most business owners can benefit from this type of insurance. Particularly if they own and operate a business that puts them in contact with the public or requires travel. However, commercial insurance isn’t limited to business owners who have these types of activities as a normal part of their operations. In short, any business owner who wants some protection and peace of mind from personal liability and financial losses that can come from a wide variety of different situations should invest in commercial insurance. 

What Does Commercial Insurance Entail? How Does it Work?

Commercial insurance can provide protection and peace of mind from a wide variety of different situations and circumstances. Best yet, business owners can purchase different types of coverage to suit their business. In other words, there are different types of coverage that fall under the title of commercial insurance. Our team at STARS insurance takes pride in guiding business owners when it comes to selecting the best coverage for their business. Commercial insurance includes coverage for injury claims, cyber-attacks, general liability, property damage, and workers’ compensation. However, there are other forms of coverage as well. As with any insurance policy, you buy the type of coverage or protection that will protect you and your business from potential harm. Businesses differ in terms of what’s needed. One business may need more of one type of coverage than another. As a result, business owners can invest in the type of coverage that will benefit their businesses the most. Navigating commercial insurance can be a little confusing, however. Give us a call. We’re here to answer your questions and help you to select the best commercial insurance coverage for your business. 

How can commercial insurance protect your inventory?

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At STARS Insurance serving Buffalo Grove, IL, we want you to understand how insurance can best protect your business. Each type of insurance policy protects your business in a different way.

Many people think of property insurance as protecting their building or their office equipment, but it also protects your inventory whether you own a retail shop or manufacturing firm inventory protections. When any named peril in the insurance policy occurs, such as fire, the coverage applies to any inventory stored in the building that incurred damage.

Similar to what you do at your home when you insure it, you need to make a written list of your inventory. For a small business, you might be able to fit this on a single sheet of paper. Larger businesses should print out the inventory on hand at the time of insuring and develop an average sheet that shows what they typically have on hand. This provides the insurance agency with the knowledge of what to base the coverage upon.

Your property insurance policy covers the structure you own as your office or storage, etc., and your business equipment and inventory inside it. When you provide the inventory averages, you let the agent know how much to write the policy. When a named peril occurs, you have the right amount of coverage to handle the loss.

Learn more about how commercial property insurance protects you by calling or visiting STARS Insurance today. We serve all of the greater Buffalo Grove, IL area. If you own a business in a neighboring community, you can still count on us for insurance. Contact us today to find out how we can help you keep your business safer.

How Does Home Insurance Protect Me?

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Buying a home is quite a journey. It’s one of the significant financial commitments you will ever face. In light of this, it’s vital to protect your hard-earned investment with commercial insurance. While most homeowners understand the importance of home insurance, many don’t know how home insurance covers them. If you buy home insurance from STARS Insurance for your Buffalo Grove, IL home, here is how the insurance protects you.

Liability protection

Suppose your dog bites someone? Or perhaps, you throw a party, and an intoxicated guest slips and injures their leg? In both cases, you could face possible medical costs and lawsuit charges. Thankfully, you don’t have to pay bodily injury costs sustained to others from your pocket if you have home insurance. Besides bodily injury coverage, home insurance covers property damage you cause to other people. 

Assets protection

How much has it cost you to put up your home? It must be thousands of dollars. Given that you have put your sweat, blood, and soul into bringing your dream home to fruition, you need home insurance to protect your asset from unforeseen circumstances. When disaster strikes, home insurance pays for repairing or rebuilding your home up to your policy limit.

Additional living expenses coverage

Suppose a covered peril like fire or windstorm damages your home. You may need to seek temporal shelter, incurring expenses like travel and hotel food and accommodation. Thankfully, if you have ALE coverage, your insurer pays for living expenses exceeding your everyday living expenses.

Medical coverage

If a guest is injured in your home, the medical coverage in your home insurance covers their medical costs.

Buy home insurance today!

As you can see, home insurance protects you in more than one way. To that end, if you are looking for home insurance in Buffalo Grove, IL, contact STARS Insurance for a comprehensive quote.