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4787 Okemos Rd
Okemos, MI 48864

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Temporary Expenses That Your Home Insurance Policy May Cover

Temporary residential expenses may occur. The following text offers a review of relevant coverage details. Feel free to glance through your home insurance policy to understand it better.

If your home becomes unlivable, you might need to seek temporary housing and support for food and repairs. Your home insurance policy might provide coverage for these expenses.

Temporary Housing

Your home insurance policy might offer financing for temporary living accommodations. If the inhabitation of your home becomes impossible, you can opt for alternate dwellings like hotels, rental homes, or other temporary residences.

Your insurance policy might reimburse the expenses you pay for temporary housing. This type of coverage ensures a comfortable living situation when your primary residence becomes unlivable.

Food Costs

Being displaced from your home might mean temporary alternative dining arrangements. Additionally, being temporarily based in an alternate location could mount up food costs.

Your insurance policy might cover the extra out-of-pocket expenses you incur. Maintaining receipts for your purchases will assist in tracking your total expenditure while living in an alternate setting.

Repair Expenses

If your home is undergoing repairs while you are living elsewhere, you might face unusual repair expenses that you would generally not be accountable for.

At the commencement of home restoration, you should receive details about your financial responsibilities. Keep hold of any paperwork that pertains to these expenses.

Insurance Policy Review

If you have any questions about your home insurance policy, please contact one of our Great Lakes State Agency representatives. An Okemos, MI area agent is ready to assist you.

Insurance Considerations for Home-Based Businesses

Approximately 10 miles east of the state capital, Lansing, is the bustling community of Okemos, MI. It is home to many diverse businesses, including home-based ones. Home-based businesses present unique insurance needs to protect against theft, fire, and other unforeseen events that could disrupt their operations and livelihood. At the Great Lakes State Agency, we recognize the importance of commercial insurance in preventing severe financial losses.

Protecting Your Home-Based Business

Insuring a home-based business appropriately helps mitigate common risks unaddressed by standard homeowners’ policies. When choosing commercial insurance, please consider the following aspects:

  • Business Property: Commercial property coverage can guard your business’s essential assets against damage or loss resulting from numerous events, such as vandalism or natural disasters.
  • Liability Coverage: With commercial liability coverage, home-based businesses can cover damages or bodily injuries resulting from business activities.
  • Professional Liability: Claims of errors or negligence stemming from business operations can be financially devastating. Professional liability coverage protects service-based businesses from such scenarios.
  • Vehicle Use: Businesses using vehicles for business tasks like product transporting or delivery need commercial auto coverage.
  • Business Interruption: If your home-based business experiences operational disruptions due to a covered peril, business interruption coverage can compensate for the income lost.

Secure Coverage for Your Home-Based Business

Home-based businesses face many risks similar to their brick-and-mortar counterparts. The right commercial insurance policies can protect business owners from varied incidences, thus ensuring smooth operations. For guidance on choosing the most suitable commercial insurance for your home-based business, trust the Great Lakes State Agency professionals. Contact our Okemos, MI office today at 517-394-4800 to discuss your coverage requirements.

Three Ways That Home Insurance Protects You

Owning a home is a big investment, and every homeowner needs to protect their investment. You should never go without home insurance to protect yourself and your home. If you’re buying a home or looking to switch home insurance, call us at Great Lakes State Agency in Lansing, MI, to get started. 

Damage Repair

If your home is damaged by a damaging event, the house can have extremely expensive damage. Home repairs after a covered event can be incredibly high. It could be too costly for uninsured homeowners to pay for. However, the policy can pay for repairing these damages with home insurance. This protects you against great financial harm if something causes destruction to your home. 

Protection for Your Possessions

It’s essential to have your possessions protected as well as your dwelling. Losing your possessions could be extremely expensive. If you had to replace it all, it would probably be impossible for you to do so. The cost of replacing everything could be so high that your quality of life would go way down. To ensure your items can be replaced, ensure you have home insurance at all times while you own your home. 

Liability Coverage

When someone comes to your home and has an accident, you’re liable for all the expenses. It’s important to keep home insurance so the policy can pay these expenses, including medical bills. This can save you from huge expenses for medical and legal bills as well as lost wages. 

Get Home Insurance Now

You need this vital coverage, so don’t wait. Call Great Lakes State Agency in Lansing, MI.

Lansing Homeowners: How to Choose the Right Home Insurance Policy

At Great Lakes State Agency, our mission is to streamline life for Lansing, MI homeowners. Peace of mind is invaluable, and having the right home insurance policy is crucial in achieving it. We’re here to assist you in making the most suitable choice. Here are some vital steps to help you navigate the process.

Understanding Your Specific Needs

The first step for homeowners is to consider their specific needs when selecting a policy. If a policy falls short of its current requirements, it could lead to significant problems in the future. As a starting point, homeowners should estimate the costs related to rebuilding their homes and replacing all valuable possessions.

Considering Natural Disasters

Every region in Michigan has unique concerns about natural disasters. Do you live in a flood-prone area? Are you susceptible to damages associated with fierce snowstorms? It’s crucial to discuss the specific challenges posed by the elements in your area with your insurance provider. This way, you choose a policy that caters to these needs.

Close Examination of the Policy

Go through the policy meticulously with a seasoned insurance agent. This approach allows you to address any concerns at the earliest and ensures all the significant details are finalised, leaving no room for confusion later on.

For any further queries about a potential home insurance policy, feel free to contact the dedicated team at Great Lakes State Agency. Our team of professionals is always on hand and ready to assist Lansing, MI homeowners with any concerns they may have.

Which Type of Home Insurance Do You Need?

Great Lakes State Agency offers all eight forms of home insurance to protect Lansing, MI homes. Which home policy type each individual chooses depends on their type of domicile and whether they rent or own it.

Eight Forms of Home Insurance

The breadth of home insurance provides coverage for every type of home. It also offers an option for those who rent their home.

  • HO-1 and HO-2 offer named peril coverage and fewer options.
  • HO-3 coverage offers all-perils coverage and liability coverage.
  • HO-4 policies cover renters of houses, apartments, condos, mobile homes, yurts, etc.
  • HO-5 coverage provides superior coverage for single-family homes, including all-perils coverage, liability, and other types of coverage, such as loss of use.
  • HO-6 policies cover condos only with all-perils coverage.
  • HO-7 policies provide all-perils insurance specifically designed for mobile homes.

HO-8 policies provide named peril coverage equal to HO-1 policies but only available to historic homes and architecturally significant homes.

Because the policies differ so much, it’s best to choose your level of coverage after consulting with your insurance agent.

Single-family Home Choices

Owners of single-family homes have the widest selection of coverage options. A home can choose coverage for 10, 15, or all perils. They can also opt to add additional coverage like loss of use, additional living expenses, and personal property coverage. Consulting with your insurance agent offers the most effective way to choose the appropriate coverage.

Contact Us Today

Contact Great Lakes State Agency serving the great city of Lansing, MI for a home policy consultation. Let us help you choose the coverage that best protects your financial investment in your home and personal property.

Does home insurance cover dog bites?

Dogs are man’s best friends, but not necessarily the best friend of every person they meet! A home insurance policy is designed to offer homeowners legal and financial protection in the event of a number of incidents, including injuries to another that happen on your property. But what if it’s your property (which pets are according to Lansing, MI and greater Michigan law) causing the damage? Our team at Great Lakes State Agency is here to answer this commonly asked question about home insurance!

Does Home Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

Home insurance policies are generally designed to offer financial and legal protection in the event someone is injured by your dog. A home insurance policy will generally step in to provide medical reimbursements and offer legal aid should that person try and sue you for damages due to their injuries or any injuries sustained by their pet.

However, there are some cases in which a home insurance policy won’t cover dog bite injuries. Let’s take a look at those exceptions:

  • Dog bites the owner or household members. Unfortunately, if your own dog bites you or a household member, your home insurance policy will not take up the claim. You can pursue medical reimbursements through your own health care insurance. 
  • Dog bite from an excluded breed. Many insurance companies are adding certain breeds and crossbreeds to a list of dogs they will not insure because of their heightened risk of causing serious injury. Common examples include pit bulls, bully breed mixes, and rottweilers. 
  • Dog bite from a known aggressive dog. Your home insurance company may pay out for the first bite by your dog, but take care as once a history is known, future situations are unlikely to be covered.

 Learn More With Great Lakes State Agency

For more information about Lansing, MI home insurance policies and what they cover, give our team a call. 

Four special features your home insurance policy should include

It’s important that you’re aware of all the home insurance features that are available. If you have questions about home insurance features that are available in the Lansing, MI metroplex, we can answer them at Great Lakes State Agency.

The following are four special features your home insurance policy should include:

Additional living expense coverage

Home insurance policies can offer additional living expense coverage that pays for a hotel or another temporary rental if the insured property becomes uninhabitable due to damage. 

This type of coverage minimizes the stress and expense of experiencing a severe accident in your home that makes it so that you’re temporarily unable to live there. 

Coverage for additional structures

If you have outbuildings on your property, you should look into coverage for additional structures. This will cover damage to detached garages, barns, sheds, and more. 

Personal property coverage

Home insurance doesn’t just protect your home’s structure. It also protects the personal belongings that you keep in your home. However, home insurance only insures personal property up to a certain amount.

It’s always a good idea to evaluate your personal belongings and make sure that your home insurance offers enough personal property coverage to insure the full value of your belongings. 

Added liability coverage

When you buy home insurance, you’ll have the option of choosing from among a variety of liability coverage options.

You should probably invest in added liability coverage and not just purchase the lowest amount of liability coverage. Lawsuits can get expensive, so it can really pay off to invest in additional liability coverage that will protect your assets. 

We Are Here To Help

We will help you find the right home insurance policy for your needs. Homeowners in Lansing, MI can get in touch with us at Great Lakes State Agency to get a policy quote today!

Three Things You Might Not Know About Home Insurance

The more you understand about home insurance, the better equipped you will be to deal with it. Great Lakes State Agency in Lansing, MI is here to help. 

Here are three facts about the subject that you may not be aware of:

Your Insurer Needs to Have a Good Reason to Drop Your Coverage. 

We hear about insurers abruptly terminating coverage, but the truth is that they are required by law to provide a reason. An insurer who is careless about dropping a customer may face heavy fines and lawsuits as a result of their efforts.

You Can Reopen Old Claims

You may be able to reopen a claim even after you’ve been reimbursed in some cases. Often, you won’t know the full extent of the damage until repairs begin, in which case you may be able to get supplemental payment from your insurer.

Your Insurer May Limit Your Deductible

Different insurers have different limits. Typically, most insurers will not allow you to set your deductible higher than $1,200. Lower premiums result from higher deductibles and vice versa. But, of course, there has to be a limit somewhere — both for the sake of your insurer and for your own. You don’t want to file a claim only to discover that your deductible is several times the amount of your damages.

You don’t have to be an expert, but it’s always a good idea to do some research before spending money on something. This is especially true for home insurance.

Reach Out To Us

To learn more about home insurance or to get a free quote, contact Great Lakes State Agency today. Our agents are proudly serving the Lansing, MI region and can help answer any and all of your insurance-related questions. Call us today to find a policy that best fits your needs!

Do you need to have home insurance in Michigan?

As you are shopping for a place to call home in the Lansing, MI area, there are a lot of important choices to make. One important choice will come when you are shopping for insurance for the property. A home insurance plan provides different types of coverage that can help protect you and your dwelling.

There are various reasons why you need to have this coverage here:

Insurance is often an obligation

One reason that you should have this coverage is that it is often an obligation. If you are going to take out a home loan when buying the property, or if you live in a home association, it is important that you properly insure your home as it will likely be a requirement under certain agreements you sign. Carrying coverage will ensure you are in good standing with such agreements. 

Insurance offers valued protection

You will also need to have this coverage as it can provide you with valued protection. Anyone that is going to buy a home will want to know that it is covered and supported. If you have a home insurance policy, it will give coverage to protect the dwelling and also offer liability support. This can be quite helpful if there is an accident or damage to your home. 

Contact Us Today

Those that live in the Lansing, MI area should always ensure that they are properly insured with home insurance. If you are going to purchase a home here and need this insurance, calling the team with the Great Lakes State Agency is a great idea. The team with Great Lakes State Agency can offer you any support that you need to build your next plan including giving guidance and support, so you understand all your needs and options. 

What You Need To Know About Home Insurance

Home insurance is an important way you can invest in your home and family. Although many people think of home insurance as just another expense each month, it is truly much more than that. Great Lakes State Agency is here to help folks in Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas, better understand their home insurance options and the importance of this type of coverage. 

Is Home Insurance Really An Investment?

Yes, each month when you pay your home insurance premium, you are investing into safety and security for your family. Should your home be damaged or lost, a home insurance policy is there to make sure you have the funds you need to make repairs or replace your home. This provides a deep sense of safety and security for you and your family. You will always have a place to call home. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance will cover the cost of repairs or replacement of a home should it be damaged or lost. Home insurance will also cover the cost of any lost possessions inside the home. 

In addition to this, home insurance also provides liability coverage. This type of coverage can help pay for expenses resulting from an injury on your property or in your home. 

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

Each family is different and each home is different. This is why you should sit down with an insurance representative to determine exactly how much insurance coverage you need. 

Get Home Insurance Today

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, or any of our other services, please contact us at Great Lakes State Agency, serving Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you today. 

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