Fire Update in Bodfish and Groveland California

Due to wildfires we are currently under restrictions for Bodfish California, zip code 93205 and Groveland, CA zip code 95321. These restrictions remain in place until the fire has been fully contained and affect home, dwelling, personal property, auto and boat policies.

For help and claims assistance please call our office at 661-327-5531.

For help finding coverage in other high fire brush areas call our office 661-327-5531 or email us at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com. We specialize in finding quality coverage solutions for homes throughout California and Idaho located in brush and high fire areas.

Read more…. “Tips on Insuring your Home in a High-Risk Fire or Brush Area”

Tips For Great Course of Construction Insurance

Is the new home of your dreams planned out, the builder is ready to start, and suddenly you are looking for the last piece of the puzzle, Construction Insurance?

Construction Insurance or Course of Construction Insurance is often relegated to the back of the line behind picking out great windows, the perfect master bath or the perfect builder to complete your new home. Don’t worry, here are some tips to make sure you are selecting the right insurance.

So what is Course of Construction Insurance?

We are all pretty familiar with homeowners insurance that provides coverage for our homes. Course of Construction Insurance is similar in many ways. The coverage is going to provide protection for your home as it is in the process of being built.

Generally the first consideration is going to be coverage for the structure from the foundation and framing to  roof, electrical, plumbing and interior features of our home.  You also need consider if you will have any additional structures like detached garages, shops, mother-in-law units and fences.

What other coverage options should I consider?

- Theft of building materials is a major cause of loss on homes under construction. Make sure if someone steals your property at the job-site their is adequate coverage

- Coverage of materials in transit or off-site. If you are going to store any materials off-site in another lot or storage area make sure to have coverage for off-site materials. Also check for coverage while your materials are in transit from the manufacturer or distributor to your job-site.

- Premises Liability provides liability for the property owner at the construction site. If someone comes onto the job site and slips and falls or injures themselves you need to have adequate liability. Some homeowners companies will allow you to extend liability coverage to another location. If you have a homeowners policy for a home you are living in while the new home is being constructed you may be able to extend coverage. You may also be able to purchase course of construction insurance directly from the construction policy.

Two Options For Coverage

Homeowners Policy with a Course of Construction Endorsement

If you home would normally qualify for a regular homeowners policy, not in a brush area or previous claims, you can purchase a regular homeowners policy with an endorsement to cover course of construction. Many companies require that construction has not started and that construction will be completed within 12-months.

There are several advantages of the endorsed homeowners policy to cover course of construction. First you can combine with your auto and other property policies to maximize savings. Second generally the homeowners policy will renew after 1-year as a regular homeowners policy so you won’t have to shop around for insurance again. Third the coverage is comprehensive and we can include liability under the single policy.

1-Time Course of Construction Insurance

We can offer course of construction insurance on a policy specifically designed for homes under construction. Generally it is required to write this type of policy when the home is located in a high fire brush area, there are previous claims, construction has already began or construction will not be completed within 12-months.

Coverage on this type of policy is tailored specifically for the time period the home is under construction and will need to be rewritten into a full homeowners policy upon completion of the home.

We can help you secure the most affordable coverage that helps to best protect your new home and have a quote to you within 1 day

We write course of construction or builders risk insurance in the states of California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. We can provide a quote within the same business day. If you have any questions or would like Crosby and Crosby Insurance Services to help you with your coverage please call us at 661-327-5531 or send us an email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com.

What about course of construction or builders risk policies in high fire areas?

We can help with your construction insurance even if you home is located in a high fire, brush area, or protection class 9 or 10. Please give us a call at 661-327-5531.

What about course of construction or major remodel on a commercial building?

We can help you with your commercial construction or major remodel projects. Our phone number is 661-327-5531.

Packaging Your Bakersfield Home and Auto Insurance The Easy Way

A large majority of potential clients we meet say they are looking for a better deal on their insurance. Many of those potential clients aren’t taking advantage of the easiest way to save, combining their auto and home insurance.

Combining your home and auto insurance is the simplest way to get a better value for your insurance.

Crosby and Crosby Insurance has been helping Bakersfield residents combine their policies since 1963. Our great companies like- Safeco, Travelers and Kemper Preferred offer savings up to 20% for combining your home and auto policies.

Some benefits of combining your home and auto insurance are:

• Savings up to 20%
• Increased and enhanced coverages
• Our package policies with Kemper Preferred and Safeco provide a single policy for both home and auto
• A knowledgeable local agent to help you choose the correct coverage options and assist you with claims

It is now easier than ever to get a quote for combining your home and auto insurance. You can try Crosby and Crosby’s online rater now for a great comparison quote 24 hrs/day. You can talk to us at 661-327-5531 or stop by our office at 111 “H” Street.

Tuesday Insurance Questions… Are insurance policies all the same, Best Bakersfield Health Insurance, ATVs in a Garage

We have another batch of our “Tuesday Insurance Questions”. If you have questions about insurance send us an email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com.

Question: Are all insurance policies the same?

The answer is loudly a big shouting “NO”!!! On the basic level of the actual policy contract and how it is written companies use a similar form. The key word is similar. How does your policy wording cover things like- water backup, valuable items like your jewelry and firearms and your liability? Especially with so-called “tiered” policies the policy contract can vary drastically even within the same company.

It pays to speak with a knowledgeable agent like Crosby and Crosby to discuss specific contracts and policy coverages.

Some policies are the Motel 6 of the insurance world and some are the Ritz. Spending a $100 per night at a Motel 6 is probably a rip-off but probably is a great  deal at the Ritz. The same goes with insurance. Make sure you are getting a great deal at the Ritz and not paying for bargain basement coverage. And never forget to watch for bedbugs!

What is the best health insurance company in Bakersfield?

Health insurance is one that we have seen a ton of changes within the last few years and the markets can change literally overnight. Depending on your individual situation and the coverages that you are looking for the company may be different.

We offer coverage from Anthem, Blue Shield, Aetna and now Kaiser. These 4 companies can give us a great snapshot of the best company for your needs.

To get a health quote you can complete the online form, email our health agent Jennifer Crosby at jenni@crosbyandcrosby.com  or give us a call 661-327-5531.

Are my ATV’s covered under my homeowners insurance while they are in my garage?

This is a very common question and usually gets lumped in with dirt bikes, off-road vehicles,  personal watercraft, and power boats. Your homeowners policy very specifically excludes  coverage for, “Motor Vehicles or all other motorized land conveyances”.

If you vehicle is not subject to motor vehicle registration and is used for service at your residence or for the assistance of the handicapped it may be covered.

If you have a ATV or off-road vehicle such as a dirt bike or dune buggy please speak to us about coverage.

Coverage is very affordable and you do not have coverage on your homeowners policy even while in your garage.

That wraps up this “Question and Answer”. Make sure to send us your questions! 

Tuesday Insurance Questions… Insurance for Boats, Moving Your Insurance to Idaho, Wood Shake Roofs

Today we are kicking off our new Tuesday Insurance Questions to help answer all of your insurance questions plus anything else you can throw at us. If you have a specific question you would like us to answer send us an email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com.

Question: What is the best way to get insurance on my boat and what coverages should I choose?

Answer: The days of having to write your boat with a separate company from your home and auto insurance are in the past. The best way to get both the best value and the best coverages for your boat is combining the boat coverage with your home and auto insurance. For example Safeco, Kemper and Travelers all now offer excellent boat coverage for everything from wake boarding boats to bass boats. The best thing is that adding a boat policy may actually give your a discount on your other policies such as auto and home!

A boat insurance policy is going to have several options. You are going to want a policy that offers “agreed value” in the event the boat is destroyed. That is the policy will pay a value that is agreed to on the policy as opposed to a depreciated amount. Don’t forget coverage for the trailer and personal property such as fishing equipment and electronics that you may keep on the boat.

Last but not least you are going to want to discuss your coverage needs for both liability and uninsured boaters coverage. Don’t skimp on the uninsured boaters coverage! Many boaters on the water chose not to carry any coverage and in the event they cause an accident the uninsured boaters coverage will protect your and the passengers on the boat.

Question: I am moving from California to Idaho and need to transfer my insurance. How do I do that?

Answer: Many agencies are to be licensed to do business only in California. Crosby and Crosby is both licensed to write insurance in Idaho as well as having a local office in Boise. If you are currently insured with Travelers, Safeco or Kemper we can help you to transfer your existing California policy to Idaho and maintain all longevity credits that you are receiving. Our phone number in Idaho is 208-366-8366.

Question: I have a wood shake roof and am currently getting cancelled by my current insurance company. What can I do?

Answer: We have written several blog post about wood shake roofs including this one, “The Best Way to Get Homeowners Insurance for a Wood Shake Roof”. If your roof is in relatively good condition and less than 25 years old we can help find you great coverage. You can even quote and purchase online here.

Crosby and Crosby Insurance is a leading independent agency for great companies like Travelers, Safeco and Kemper Auto and Home. We are licensed in California, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin.

We can be reached to answer any of your questions at 661-327-5531 or 208-366-8366 in Idaho or you can email us at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com

Why Most Insurance Quotes Are Boring

Get an instant comparison insurance quote with us now

There is no reason getting an insurance quote should be boring! You are doing something that will help to protect your family and hopefully is going to help you get a better value along the way.

Why should you go through the repetitive task of comparing exactly the same coverage over and over and hoping you come across a good deal?

There is a better way to shop for insurance. It starts with having several options and companies to chose from and ends with building a relationship with a trusted agent that can help you to make the best decision on your insurance.

Whether you prefer to call us on the phone or complete your quote online with Crosby and Crosby you are going to get several quotes with different options to compare. You can save time and compare options from great companies like Travelers, Kemper Auto and Home and Safeco Insurance.

You can call and discuss your quote with one of our agents at 661-327-5531 or if you prefer you can quote online now.

Quote and Buy Safeco Insurance Online and Get a Great Agent

There is certainly a lot of benefits to shopping for your insurance online and being able to quote and even purchase a policy online. With Safeco’s new quote and issue feature you can take advantage of the best of both worlds by purchasing a policy online and at the same time partnering with a great agent.

Many people think buying direct from the company can save you money. Whether you buy insurance directly from Safeco or from our agency the cost is exactly the same. What you get when you purchase your insurance through our agency is a trusted partner. As a, H.K. Dent recognized agency, Crosby and Crosby Insurance has been recognized as one of the top 10% of all Safeco agents in the nation.

The 1-on-1 Difference

With Crosby and Crosby Insurance you are assigned one agent that will handle your account during your application, will assist you with claims, and will be your independent advisor to make sure you are getting the proper coverage.

Get a quote now!!!

You can quote online 24 hours a day and even purchase the policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like help with your quote call us at 661-327-5531 in California, 208-366-8366 in Idaho or toll free 1-888-710-7816.

Crosby and Crosby Insurance Services is licensed to write business in California, Idaho, Washington and Wisconsin.

What is Going on with Bakersfield Home Insurance?

I was speaking with a potential new customer on the phone last week about her 20+ year relationship with her current insurance company. Her current agent represents a single company. Over the years her rates have been going up but this newest renewal she had an increase of over 20%.

For the last 5 years insurance rates have been fairly steady. Within the last year many companies have had substantial increases in their premiums.

While speaking with this customer I explained to her the simple but effective way we have been able to help our customers when insurance rates rise.

- Maximize discounts! Many times when a company files for a rate increase they may change or add a new discount to keep the premium attractive to their preferred customers.

- Offer multiple companies! By representing multiple companies we can offer other options. I couldn’t imagine being able to only offer our customers a single insurance company. If one company raises rates we can shop around for the best value for our client.

- Review our clients needs! Sometimes by spending 5 minutes  we can better access our clients changing needs. Many people that were only comfortable with a $500 deductible 10-years ago may be better served with a $1000 deductible today and so on.

By taking advantage of the simple things that I have mentioned above you can make sure you are getting the best value for your home insurance.

Give us a call today 661-327-5531. Ryan, Scott, Larry and Paula are waiting to help you with all of your insurance needs.

The Best Way to Get Homeowner’s Insurance for a Wood Shake Roof

Many companies are making it harder to insure homes with a wood shake roof. With our agency and through Safeco Insurance you can now quote and issue home insurance for wood shake roofs up to 25 -years old instantly online.

If your home is currently: owner occupied, in above average condition and loss free (1 small weather related claim may be acceptable), you should consider Safeco and Crosby and Crosby Insurance Service for your home insurance.

Click on our quote link and you will be able to securely and quickly get a quote on your home insurance. The entire process takes about 5 minutes and you can complete your quote with very little information. Once you quote has been generated you can purchase your quote directly online or contact one of our agents at 661-327-5531 and get a free insurance review and have all your questions answered.

You can instantly quote your home insurnace and purchase the policy online if you live in California, Idaho or Wisconsin.

 Tips for Quoting Your Wood-Shake Roof

• You can save up to 15% for combining your home and auto insurance
• Your roof should be in good physcial condition. If you have questions call 661-327-5531 or email us at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com
• The quote process from completion to purchase should take less than 10 minutes

You can enjoy the advantages of having a trusted agent and the convenience of quoting and purchasing your policy online 365 days a year/24 hours/day.

Crosby and Crosby Insurance Services is an independent agent serving California, Wisconsin and Idaho.

Should I Purchase Earthquake Insurance?

Should you purchase earthquake insurance for your home? That is a question that we hear often because homeowners insurance companies in California are required to offer

USGS Earthquake Map

earthquake insurance to their policy holders. You will always receive an offer when you write  a new policy and at least every other year after that.

Should you take that offer?

You should make that decision based on the following 2- questions:

Could an earthquake destroy my house?

Would a earthquake destroying my home cause me to go bankrupt or have great financial pain?

Both of those answers are clearly; YES! If you live in the Western United States we are always waiting for the “big one” that would destroy our home in seconds. The damage or destruction of your home would cause the vast majority of us to go bankrupt or have great financial pain in trying to recover.

“Isn’t Earthquake Insurance very expensive”? Earthquake insurance rates have been falling in recent years and are quite affordable. Most homes in California can be insured for earthquake coverage for a few hundred dollars per year. Insurance Companies tend to have short memories and the Northridge Earthquake in 1994 was the last major earthquake event in California. In fact the Northridge Earthquake completely reshaped the California home insurance market with as much as $25,000,000,000 in damages.

“Isn’t Earthquake Insurance very limited in what it covers”? As rates have fallen, the coverage offerings have also improved. You can now purchase a policy with a lower 10% (as opposed to 15%) deductible, increased coverage for personal property, loss of use and building code upgrades.

“How do I purchase coverage”? Most earthquake insurance is required to be written through your homeowners insurance policy. Many companies allow you to purchase earthquake insurance at any time during your policy (prior to a loss of course). Some companies only allow you to start an earthquake policy when they offer it each or every other renewal.

“If I have a big loss and my home is destroyed I am sure the state or federal government will help me to rebuild”. It is actually a very common response when talking about earthquake insurance. We help our customers protect themselves and their families and it certainly is not prudent to “hope” that the government will step in to help when you need them.

If you have questions you can talk to us by phone 661-327-5531 or by email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com. You can also complete an instant quote here.