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124 Triad Center W,
O'Fallon, MO 63366

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Senn Insurance Agency Blog

Why you should have a home inventory

Home insurance is one of the most important things you ever buy for your home. It is more important than a new roof or an updated kitchen. Almost as important as the actual policy is the agent you choose to purchase your insurance from. Having a locally owned agent with an office you can walk into or an agent you know and trust gives you peace of mind you can’t find any other way. In O’Fallon, MO that is the Senn Insurance Agency. 

When a covered hazard hits your home, whether it is a fire or a tornado, you may not have much of a home left to come back to. When you file your claim, replacing your physical building is the easier part. You have a value on your declaration page and that is what you have to rebuild. You also have a contents amount. With the contents, you need to provide some information about what you lost. That is where your home inventory comes in. 

A home inventory provides the record you need to replace all the things you lost. It is a time-consuming process to record everything you own in every room of your home. But after a devastating loss, it makes the whole claims process so much easier. You can show your list, pictures, and receipts to prove exactly what your home was like before it was destroyed. Making your home inventory as detailed as possible helps make the whole process of collecting from your carrier a lot easier and less painful. 

At the Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO, we are here to offer you the benefit of our years of experience. As independent agents, our team can offer you a network of preferred carriers. Come into our office or give us a call for a no-hassle quote. 

Three whole life insurance policy features to be aware of

If you are on the market for a life insurance policy, you should definitely explore whole life insurance policies. Whole life insurance policies are one of the major types of life insurance available.

At Senn Insurance Agency, we offer a variety of different life insurance policy options. The following are three whole life insurance policy features to be aware of when you’re on the market for life insurance in O’Fallon, MO. 

Whole life insurance is a permanent type of life insurance coverage.

You should choose whole life insurance if you’re looking for a permanent life insurance option. Unlike term life insurance policies, whole life insurance policies last indefinitely. They offer both a death benefit and a long-term savings option. 

Whole life insurance accumulates a cash value. 

If you purchase a term life insurance policy, you will get nothing back for your premiums if you outlive the policy.

However, you will get money back for the premiums you pay if you choose whole life insurance. That’s because a whole life insurance policy will accumulate cash value as time goes on. 

Whole life insurance offers the opportunity for borrowing.

One great feature of a whole life insurance policy that you should be aware of is the opportunity for borrowing. 

After your whole life insurance policy has accumulated cash value, you can borrow against that cash value. This makes a whole life insurance policy a great way to save and also keep cash readily available to you if you should need it. 

Protect the financial future of your family with our help at Senn Insurance Agency. We can help O’Fallon, MO families to find the right life insurance option for their needs.

Questions To Ask Your Auto Insurance Agent

Car insurance is one of the most important types of insurance. Moreover, it is also required to have auto insurance in Missouri, and it is illegal to drive without it. However, choosing the right car insurance coverage is not the most straightforward task. In order to make an informed decision when you are shopping for car insurance, there are specific questions that you should ask your insurance agent. Senn Insurance Agency, serving O’Fallon, MO and other surrounding areas, has prepared a list of a few of them:

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

A car insurance agent is an excellent resource for deciding how much coverage you should get. In addition to the minimum coverage required by the state, there are other types of auto coverage that you can discuss with an agent. They include comprehensive coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist protection, and collision coverage. 

How Much Will I Get If My Car Is Totaled? 

It is crucial to discuss losses with your agent as well. You need to figure out whether you will receive actual cash value or agreed-upon value. Actual cash value means the replacement cost minus depreciation, while the agreed value is an agreed amount settled upon by both a policyholder and the insurance company. 

Who Is Covered Under My Policy?

It is an important question because many people assume that one policy means one car. However, in most cases, when it comes to sharing a vehicle with other family members, additional coverage is needed. 

Getting the right car insurance coverage is extremely important because it is the protection of you, your family members, and your passengers on the road. If you are a car owner from Missouri and you have questions about auto insurance that you want to discuss with an insurance agent, Senn Insurance Agency, serving clients from O’Fallon, MO, will be glad to assist you. Give us a call to talk to one of our experienced insurance agents and receive all the information you need. 

Why do I need to get home insurance?

For most people that are in the O’Fallon, MO area, owning a home is a great long-term idea. When you own a property here, the home can quickly become one of your most valuable assets and a way to build long-term wealth. While there are plenty of benefits that come when you own a home here, there are responsibilities that you need to take care of as well. One thing that all property owners need to do is get into a quality home insurance policy.

Covers Valuable Property

One of the main reasons to get home insurance in this area of Missouri is that it can protect your valuable asset. Your home will always be one of the most considerable assets that you will ever own. To ensure that you are adequately covered and protected, you need to get home insurance. When you have a quality home insurance policy, you will receive the coverage you need to protect your asset.

Required for Mortgage Borrowers

Another reason that you will need to get home insurance is that it is often required for mortgage borrowers. Any mortgage lender will want to make sure that their collateral is appropriately protected. One of the best ways that they can do this is by requiring all borrowers to carry home insurance at all times. 

There are several reasons why you need to get home insurance in O’Fallon, MO. When you are looking for a new policy here, you should call the Senn Insurance Agency to discuss your needs and options further. The team at the Senn Insurance Agency can help you better understand the importance of having a quality insurance policy. They can then help you find a policy that offers you the protection that you need.

When should you buy life insurance

Life insurance is not insurance that most people know a lot about. It is rarely talked about, and if you feel overwhelmed, don’t feel like you are alone because you have lots of company. One fact not disputed is when you are young and healthy, the rate you pay for life insurance will be at its lowest. Chances are, though, that this is also when your income is also at its lowest, and life insurance may not be high on your list of things to spend on. If you live in or near O’Fallon, MO, the Senn Insurance Agency has been providing insurance solutions for their customers for ten years, and as independent agents are able to find the best rates from some of the top carriers in the business. 

Looking into life insurance should begin when you get your first full-time job. Your employer may offer it, and taking advantage is a good financial decision. This will get you off to a good start, and it will become part of your financial planning for the future. 

When you buy a home or when you get married are both occasions when you may want to buy life insurance. You will have new liabilities, and you should make sure your life insurance reflects these changes in your life. 

When you start a family, you may want to take a good look at the amount of life insurance you have and looking to the future of what you will need. Insurance can figure into your children’s college education expenses. 

When you are ready to start putting together a life insurance plan, the team at Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO will be there for you. Give us a call or stop by our office and let us help you to look at your needs today and into the future. 

Missouri Auto Insurance Options and Requirements

Missouri Auto Insurance Requirements

Every state requires different minimum insurance for vehicles on its roads. Senn Insurance Agency of O’Fallon, MO wants you to understand that if you just moved to the state, you will need to obtain auto insurance that fits the requirements of Missouri law.

The laws of the state require you to purchase three types of insurance: property, bodily injury, and uninsured motorist. You must purchase liability coverage for bodily injury in the amount of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. You also have to purchase a liability policy that covers property damage of at least $10,000. Some states do not require uninsured motorist coverage, but Missouri does. You only need uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury.

While meeting the minimums keeps you legal, the problem is that accidents do happen, and you need a way to pay for the other kinds of accidents. That means carrying full coverage. Think about adding the following to your existing insurance coverage:

  • Comprehensive: pays for the repairs to your vehicle when the auto gets damaged by fire, or severe weather, or another named peril.
  • Collision: pays for the repairs to your vehicle when it gets damaged in an accident with an object or vehicle.
  • Medical payments: pays your medical bills related to an accident.
  • Rental car costs: pays for you to rent a car when you cannot use your vehicle due to damage.
  • Emergency roadside assistance: covers your costs to get roadside assistance.

Let Senn Insurance Agency of O’Fallon, MO help you with your auto insurance needs. Contact us today to learn about our auto insurance options and potential discounts.

What is the benefit of a Missouri home insurance policy?

If you live in the O’Fallon, MO area, it is vital to think about all of your insurance needs and obligations. For property owners, one type of insurance that they need to get is home insurance. Several benefits come when you get this form of insurance in Missouri. 

Protects Dwelling

One benefit that comes with getting a home insurance policy in Missouri is that you will get protection for your dwelling. Your home is a very valuable asset that you need to be able to repair or replace if it is severely damaged. When you have home insurance, you are going to receive coverage for damages caused by fire, storm, or even vandalism.

Covers Personal Assets

Beyond having coverage for your property, you will also want to have a home insurance policy to cover your personal assets. Under the roof of your home, you could have thousands of dollars worth of personal belongings. You can get an insurance policy plan that will include your personal belongings as well. If you have valuable assets, such as art or jewelry, you can even get additional personal property riders to your policy. 

Liability Protection

Additionally, you will get liability insurance with your home insurance policy. A home liability insurance policy will ensure you are protected from liability in the event an accident occurs on your property. This could provide valuable coverage if a bad accident takes place. 

Ultimately, anyone that is in the O’Fallon, MO area needs to make sure that they get a quality home insurance policy. When you are looking to get a new home insurance policy, you should call the Senn Insurance Agency. The team at the Senn Insurance Agency can help you to figure out your insurance needs and get you into a new policy. 

How much life insurance do I need?

Most people would not dream of going without car insurance or homeowners insurance.  These same people are often reluctant to talk about or purchase life insurance. No state requires residents to carry life insurance and yet it is one of the most important types of insurance coverage, especially if you have dependents. At Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO, our team has years of insurance experience, and we offer coverage from a preferred network of carriers. 

When it comes to how much life insurance you need, the easiest way to answer that question is "it depends." Life insurance is something that should be tailored to the individual needs of the client. It is not one size fits all. A young unmarried woman will not need the same amount of coverage as a married couple with children. 

The rule of thumb is that you need to have about ten years of income in life insurance. This takes into account that you may have dependents, a mortgage, credit card debt, and other things that need to be paid should you pass away. You want your dependents to be able to maintain their lifestyle even if you are not there. You also need to take into account the age of your dependents. If you have young children, then ten years may not be enough. If you want to provide for their college education, that is another thing to consider. 

In the case of persons without dependents, you only need enough life insurance to take care of any debt that you have and your final expenses. As you can see, life insurance is something that you need to sit down and discuss with a knowledgeable insurance agent. At Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO, we have the information you need to make an educated decision about how much life insurance you need. Stop by our office or give us a call to make an appointment to discuss your needs. 

 

What should you look out for when purchasing auto insurance

Whether you are buying insurance for a new vehicle or an old car, you want to ensure that you are adequately covered in case of an accident. At Senn Insurance Agency, we discuss the concerns of each client individually to come up with a policy that satisfies their needs. There are several things you should look out for when buying auto insurance in St. Peters or O’Fallon, MO;

How much coverage?

  • To find the right policy, come up with how much coverage you need. In Missouri, there is a required minimum thresh hold on the minimum coverage. Our agents at Senn Insurance Agency will advise you on how to ensure that you do not need to ever worry about liability issues.

Your driving record

  • It is essential to check with the states department how many tickets you have been issued with. If you are a careless driver or one who is continuously over speeding, this impacts on your insurance coverage. A bad driving record often drives up the cost of insurance. Please discuss this with our insurance agents so we can properly assess what policies will be necessary for you.

Review your insurance policy

  • Our customer-centric agents at Senn Insurance Agency will discuss the details of everything in the policy. This is crucial in case your auto has an accident. Be well aware of your limits of coverage as well as where to report in case of an accident. Reviewing your policy annually is also smart. Things can change over the course of a year. Let us help you make the adjustments. 

The reputation of the insurance company

You must research the company you intend to buy insurance from. Finding an agency you can grow with is critical. Feel free to visit our office in O’Fallon. MO, or call our agents for more information on auto insurance and how to get a quote.

Common Home Riders You May Want To Add

Home insurance comes with limits on coverage. You may think that a home insurance policy covers you for every single thing that could happen to your home, but you would be mistaken. That is not to say that you can not be covered for almost any eventuality, but to be covered, you need to add a rider, sometimes called an endorsement, to your basic policy. At Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO, our experienced team can help you to understand what you need in the way of riders. 

  • Sewer or drain backup – This is something that you may never have thought about, or if you have thought about it, you assumed that your home insurance covered it. Having a sewer or drain back up into your home can cause a devastating amount of damage. This rider will cover the structure of your house as well as personal property. It will also help with the cleanup, which can be a tremendous job. 
  • Flood – Weather changes all over the United States have resulted in an increase in the number of areas that are vulnerable to flooding. Almost no home insurance policies cover flooding, and you need to make sure that if there is any risk at all, you add the coverage to your policy.  
  • Jewelry/Antiques – All home insurance policies have a set limit for jewelry and antiques. It is quite low compared to the possible value of even the amount of jewelry that the average person with an engagement ring might have.
  • Homebased business – If you are operating a business out of your home, your basic home policy may not cover the inventory and any business equipment you have in your home. 

These are just a few of the common riders you may want to add to your home policy. Senn Insurance Agency in O’Fallon, MO can help you to make sure you have all the coverage you need. Call the office or stop by for a no-obligation quote.