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How Much Commercial Insurance does Your Small Business Need in Maine?

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Are you a small business owner in Portland, ME looking to protect your assets? The last thing that you need is for disaster to strike and to learn that your policy limits are too low for you to rebuild the company. Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland can help you determine how much coverage your small business needs to survive a catastrophic event.

What is considered a small business in Maine?

By definition, a small business owner in Portland, ME is a someone who owns a company with fewer than 50 employees. Technically, sole proprietors are considered small business owners even though they are the only employee at their company. Even those who work from home should consider commercial insurance since homeowner’s policies tend to reject claims resulting from conducting business in the residence. Imagine the entire cost of medical bills for one of your clients resting on your shoulders because your homeowner’s insurance policy refused to cover a business-related slip-and-fall incident!

How much coverage do you need?

The amount of coverage varies by business. Many low-risk companies such as those primarily operated online may think they only need a minimal amount. Retail business owners might understand the exposure to loss that their customers’ foot traffic creates, and be more likely to want higher insurance limits. In reality, your liability limit should be at least $1,000,000 per occurrence – higher if  your business’ net worth exceeds that. Of course, Maine small business owners with employees also need to buy workers compensation insurance.

You have worked hard to establish yourself as the owner of your company. Do not let an incident threaten your financial stability. Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance today at 207-799-5541 for a Maine business insurance quote!

Retirement in Maine: How to Reduce Insurance Expenses

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If you’re planning to retire or recently retired, CONGRATULATIONS! It’s time to enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for. Many people dream of retiring in Maine. Of course, some of us are lucky enough to already live here!

Retirement finances can be a source of anxiety. No matter how much you’ve saved for retirement, you may wonder:

  • Will I Outlive My Money?
  • How Can I Safely Reduce My Monthly Expenses?
  • Can I Reduce My Insurance Now that I’m Retired?
  • Can I Live on My Monthly Retirement Income?

retirement insurance expense reductionMaine Retirees Are:

  • House Rich – Maine condo and home values are at an all-time high. With even modest savings, you may have a lot of net worth to protect. Make sure you have enough insurance to rebuild or relocate after a disaster. Protect your assets against lawsuits from injuries or property damage you might cause.
  • Income Tight – You’re on a fixed income. Every monthly payment reduces your retirement fund. You watch expenses more closely than ever.
  • Closer to Home? – Travel is now for pleasure, not work. You may drive fewer miles than you used to. Do you plan go south in the winter? What happens to your home and your car while you’re away?
  • Uncertain About the Future – will you stay healthy enough to do the things you want to? If there’s a disaster, will you have enough money to live the life you do now? If you can’t drive, who will help you with your errands?
  • Done with Property Maintenance  – you spent years mowing, shoveling, landscaping and painting. Now someone else can climb the ladder or wrestle the snowblower. Hiring contractors can open you up to liability if they hurt someone – or themselves.

Do You Need Less Insurance in Retirement?

As you prepare for retirement in Maine, you may be eager to reduce your insurance costs. You want to keep monthly expenses down because you’re on a limited income. But you also want to protect the assets you’ve spent your life accumulating. A good insurance agent can help you pick the coverage you need within your budget.

5 Retirement Planning Insurance Value Tips

  1. Buy enough liability insurance – and not too much.

    Your auto and homeowners liability insurance limits should at least equal your net worth. If your total assets exceed $500,000, keep your umbrella policy (or buy one). Umbrella policies are one of the best insurance buys; $1 million coverage often costs less than $200 a year.

  2. Watch Your Maximum Out of Pocket

    How much are you comfortable paying if something bad happens? Choose your home and auto insurance deductibles with that in mind. Larger deductibles reduce your monthly insurance costs.

  3. Compare Insurance Prices

    Because you’ll drive differently, and won’t be working any longer, your underwriting profile changes. Your current insurance company may still be the best value. Or maybe not. A Maine independent insurance agency like Noyes Hall & Allen can compare prices and coverage among several insurance companies with one phone call.

  4. Keep Maintaining Your Property

    Regular maintenance helps you budget your expenses and maximize your insurance options real estate value. If you want to change insurers, your new insurance company will inspect your home. Even if you don’t change companies,  your insurer may inspect from time to time. If they find something that they’re concerned about, they will require you to repair it. It’s better to keep up with repairs and maintenance on your own timetable.

  5. Choose Contractors Wisely

    Hire reputable and trustworthy people to work in and on your property. Ask them for proof of insurance. If they hurt someone or damage their property, or injure themselves, they should be responsible – not you. When hiring cleaning people, home health care or similar service providers, ask if they are bonded.  Bonding protects you against theft by someone you’ve let into your home.

Want a Pre-Retirement Insurance Review?

If you’re thinking about retirement in southern Maine, call a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. Or, get several insurance quotes online from our website. We can help you check your current insurance, and let you know if it’s the best value. We can also give you cost-effective advice to customize your insurance to your exciting new life. If you’re moving to Maine in retirement, and looking for a new insurance agent, we’re happy to help. We offer a choice of several of Maine’s top insurers and can do the comparing for you. We can even introduce you to some wonderful local realtors and financial planners.

Either way, you’ll know that your insurance is solid and the cost is reasonable as you head into retirement. At Noyes Hall & Allen, we’re independent and committed to you.

Commercial Insurance for Maine Business Start-Ups

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Commercial insurance is requisite for any business in the modern world, including start-ups. In fact, new businesses or start-ups have the most to lose if things go south. Therefore, it’s vital to protect yourself in the best possible way – including getting commercial insurance. In Maine, this type of coverage is not mandated, but if you are serious about running a successful business, you need to get it.

Purchasing commercial insurance might be the difference between death and survival  for your start-up. If you are planning to open a new business in The Pine Tree State and need coverage, Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME is the place to look. We offer the following commercial insurance coverage options for start-ups:

  • General Liability Insurance for Start-Ups. GL pays for losses arising from settlements, claims, or lawsuits that your start-up may face due to injuries or property damage caused to third parties.
  • Professional Liability Insurance. Many creative and tech startups would face disaster if sued for copyright infringement, programming error, printing mistakes and other gaffes. Professional liability insurance protects you and your reputation by defending you and paying damages you might owe.
  • Property Insurance for Start-Ups. This covers physical assets owned by your start-up. This includes your investments in inventory, structures, equipment and company vehicles (commercial auto insurance). Damages caused by wind and hail storms, fire, smoke, collision and vandalism fall under this category.
  • Flood Insurance.  Flood damage isn’t covered by business property insurance. That’s why you need flood insurance for your start-up. Remember that flooding can occur anywhere, anytime. It helps to be covered from the resultant losses.
  • Workers Compensation Insurance. In Maine, if you have employees, you’re required to provide workers comp insurance. Your employees are an essential part of your business. Ensure that they are taken care of in case of an accident that results in injury, disability, or missed work.

Other coverage options are available, but these are the most important. Commercial insurance is the best way to make sure that your business doesn’t go under after an unfortunate event. For more information on commercial insurance from Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME, call us at 207-799-5541, or visit our website to get the answers you need.

Home Insurance and Swimming Pools: What You Need to Know

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Spring is almost here, and as the ground begins to thaw, you may be thinking about having an in-ground pool or above-ground pool built in your backyard. If you are planning on having a pool installed, it can affect your homeowner’s insurance policy. Here at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance, serving the greater Portland, ME area, we want you to know how and why pools affect your homeowner’s insurance policy. Here is what you need to know.

When to Notify Your Home Insurance

Many people prefer to talk to their home insurance company before they sign a contract to have a pool built. This allows them to budget for  any increases to their policy, and learn if the company requires any safety features. You aren’t obligated to let your home insurance company know about the pool until it is fully constructed.

Why You Need to Notify Your Home Insurance

There are many reasons why you need to notify your home insurance about your new pool. A new pool increases the value of your property and may create issues that home insurance would need to cover. It can be a safety hazard for visitors and neighbors. As such, your home insurance company may need to adjust your policy.

What Changes Need to Be Made to Your Home Insurance

The insurance company may require certain changes to your policy. Regardless, you may want to increase your liability insurance coverage, or add a personal umbrella policy. This helps to protect you in case someone injures themselves or drowns in your pool.

If you are looking to have a pool installed in the greater Portland, ME area, you may be looking to change your homeowner’s insurance policy too. When you are in the market for a new policy, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent. Call us at 207-799-5541, or compare Maine home insurance quotes online today. We represent several home insurance companies so we can help you find the best value. We’re independent and committed to you.

Uninsured Motorists Insurance in Maine

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Every U.S. state except New Hampshire requires liability insurance. Makes sense. People should be able to pay for damage they cause to other people or their property. But there are always some who fail to get insurance for a variety of reasons. If you’re injured in an accident with an uninsured driver, it can be confusing and maddening. But the staff at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, Maine can help you make sure you’re protected by your own automobile insurance policy.

Maine is a “fault” state. A person ruled to be at-fault in an accident is responsible for all damages or injuries caused. Some states, including Massachusetts, are “no-fault”. Each person pays for their own vehicle damage in an accident regardless of who is at fault. Maine requires at least $50,000 per person of uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays for any injuries caused by someone else whose insurance will not cover it.  For instance, if your medical bills and pain & suffering are $100,000, and the other person has $25,000 of liability insurance, your own insurance will cover the rest of the charges. This could be very beneficial in an “at fault” state like Maine, especially if the other person has no coverage at all.

Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in Portland, Maine to find out more about automobile insurance and learn what to do if you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist. Don’t wait until you are in that situation to learn what you need to know. Get information about a new policy, or come see us make sure your policy is up to date and that you have the coverage you need.

Not ready to talk to an agent yet? You can compare Maine car insurance prices by getting up to 6 quotes in 10 minutes from our website.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Office Equipment?

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One of the biggest decisions you will make when starting your business is selecting the right commercial insurance to cover your office equipment. Business insurance adds a layer of protection in the event of a covered loss. Some of the covered losses that your insurance protects you from include fire and theft. Your insurance policy will cover most items owned by the business, including office equipment.

How To Get The Right Coverage

When you start to look for business insurance, there are a few things to keep in mind. Find a commercial insurance agent you trust in your area. They’ll help you select the type of coverage your business needs, and avoid coverage you don’t. A good agent can help match you with an insurance company that understands your business. Make sure your policy includes all business assets. One way is to look at your balance sheet and make sure that you have enough coverage for inventory and equipment. This helps prevent gaps in your coverage that could lead to losses.

Documenting Office Equipment

It is important to include your office equipment in your coverage. One way to ensure that you adequately protect valuable office equipment is to save receipts or check your balance sheet. Photocopy all of your documents that figure into your insurance policy and keep them stored in a separate location or in the cloud. One highly respected insurance company that can help you step by step through the coverage process is Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME.

If you are looking for high quality and reliable commercial insurance, call Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland, ME at 207-799-5541. One of our knowledgeable agents will be glad to answer your questions and help you get started protecting your investment today. We represent several insurers, so we can help you choose the best value. We’re independent and committed to you.

How to Secure your Home with Insurance

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A home is a place where you go after a long day of work. It is where you raise a family, and share and creates memories. To most people, home is the most important place and thus an investment. But life is unpredictable; you never know what to expect. You may wake up one day to find your house on fire or damaged by weather. What do you do then?

At Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME, we are experienced and have been in the insurance business for quite some time, and within that time, we have had the chance to work with different clients and handle a multitude of different situations. We understand the risks that can affect a home, and so, we have various coverage options that are designed to fit your needs and provide the protection you want.

Here is a glimpse at some of the options available:

Structure Coverage

With our home insurance policy, we may be able to rebuild or repair your home if it gets damaged by hail, winds, fire, or any other disaster. Note, however, not all home insurance policies protect your home from floods, and so it is essential to make sure you know and understand your coverage.

Personal Belongings Coverage

Home is where you keep all your personal belongings. It is where you have your clothes, shoes, furniture, electronics, and just about everything in between. So, if your home is destroyed, all your possessions may become destroyed as well. With a personal belonging coverage, we help you recover all your lost or damaged personal items. It is also wise to make an inventory of your more important items for the insurance company.

Additional Coverage

If your home is destroyed, you may have to find a place to live while your home is being repaired. Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance can cover all additional living expenses which include restaurant and food bills. With that, you get to continue living your life without worrying about the costs.

If you are in the Portland, ME area, please feel free to contact us for more information and to have your questions answered.

How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost in Portland Maine?

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Most Portland Maine landlords require proof of renters insurance before you move in to your apartment, house or condo. That’s because the landlord’s insurance does NOT cover your belongings against water damage, theft, fire or other perils. They want to make sure that you have coverage for your own stuff. The same goes for your liability. If someone slips on an ice cube in your apartment, the landlord’s insurance will not pay for medical bills or lost work. But, your renters insurance will.

How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost?

The price depends on how much coverage you need. The minimum premium for many insurers is $150 to $200 per year. That usually buys you $300,000 of liability protection and $20,000 of personal property (contents) coverage. You can insure an engagement ring on the same policy for a few dollars a year. If you have a lot of stuff, you might spend $300 – $400 for $100,000 of contents. You may save money by bundling your car insurance and renters insurance.

How Long Does it Take to Buy Renters Insurance?

Most insurance agents can quote and bind renters insurance the same day – and often within the same hour. A local agent knows most of the apartment buildings in their area, and can quickly put together a cost-effective program to meet your lease requirement. They can also send proof of coverage to your landlord.

How Do I Provide Proof of Renters Insurance?

Your insurance agent can list your landlord as an “additional interest” so that your landlord automatically gets a copy of your renters insurance every year. This proof doesn’t cost any extra, and makes sure that you stay in good stead with your landlord.

If you’re renting a Portland Maine area apartment or condo, get a renters insurance quote from Noyes Hall & Allen.  We know every neighborhood from Willard Square to Westbrook, Oak Hill to the Old Port, the Eastern Prom to Eastern Village, and the Foreside to Bayside. We work with you and your landlord to make sure you’re protected quickly and properly, so you can focus on moving into your new place.

We’re independent and committed to YOU.

Are Drones Covered by Maine Homeowners or Business Insurance?

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Flying Drone

Innovative Maine businesses use drones to literally get a new perspective on their operations.  Land owners survey lots and buildings. Engineers use photos from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in project work.  Photographers and videographers use drones to capture unique images and videos. Marketers use or hire them to create compelling and disruptive visual content. Even individual hobby fliers own drones now.

 

 

Drones: A Money Saving Investment

High quality drones and UAVs are not cheap. It’s easy to invest $15,000 or more in a good quality industrial setup, including cameras and software. Still, that can be a lot less expensive than renting an airplane or helicopter, and offers much more control and flexibility. It’s also safer than sending an employee up on a ladder or bucket to inspect facilities at height. The price of hobby drones has dropped a lot in the last few years. You can find them for less than $1500.

Legal Issues for Drones in Maine

The FAA requires registration of drones and UAVs weighing more than 0.55 lbs. The maximum weight permitted is 55 lbs. Permitted location and other rules vary between pleasure and business use. A remote pilot airman certificate is required as well.

Drone owners and operators face many of the same liability issues as other aircraft pilots. The low altitude operation of UAVs can also create privacy and property issues. Some examples:

  • Injuring someone, either directly, or by causing an auto accident
  • Damaging property by striking it
  • Invasion of privacy or trespass

Even if a claim against you is not valid, defending yourself can cost many thousands of dollars in legal fees in Maine.

Drones are NOT Covered by Standard Insurance Policies

Because drones are considered unmanned aircraft, and subject to FAA regulation, they are excluded from coverage on homeowners or business liability policies. The Maine Bureau of Insurance recommends that you buy separate insurance for your drone. We agree.

Up to now, few insurers have offered insurance on drones. One of our company partners, Acadia Insurance recently introduced a liability insurance plan for businesses that use drones as an incidental part of their ordinary operations.

If you or your Maine business uses a drone or other UAV, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207.799.5541. We’d love to hear how you’re using this innovative technology for fun or business. We can help you manage your risk. We’re independent and committed to you.

What are the Highest Rated Insurance Companies in Maine?

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If we recommend an insurance company you haven’t heard of, it’s natural to ask how good they are. Noyes Hall & Allen represents many insurance companies. Some are more well-known than others.

Because our companies sell through independent agencies, they advertise very little. By contrast, Geico, Allstate and State Farm advertise nationally to create brand awareness. Geico alone spends $1 BILLION on advertising – about 1 out of every 6 insurance advertising dollars in the U.S.

Good rates are important, but that’s only one reason for choosing an insurance company. Will they pay your claims? Are they easy to work with? At Noyes Hall & Allen, we’ve curated a group of insurance companies that we can stand behind. We work closely with them on behalf of our clients.

How to Choose a Good Insurance Company

There are three important considerations when you evaluate a potential insurer:

  • Financial solvency – Can the insurance company can pay claims, even in a disaster? Fortunately, A.M. Best studies insurance companies and rates each one for you. Noyes Hall & Allen only chooses insurers rated “A-” (Excellent) or better.
  • Customer Satisfaction – Feedback from other customers is helpful when evaluating a new insurer. Any company can have complaints; but those with repeatedly good reviews are a better bet to provide good service to you.  The J.D. Power national claims satisfaction survey compiles consumer claim feedback every year. But they focus on big national insurers. That excludes many regional insurance companies, which are so important in the Maine market.The Maine Bureau of Insurance indexes home and auto complaints by insurer. It includes Maine’s most important insurance companies. The drawback: the Bureau doesn’t get many complaints each year. That small sample can skew results. The Bureau weighs the ratio of complaints against each insurer to that company’s volume. This weighting levels the playing field. An insurer with an index below 1.00 is “better than average”. Anything above 1.00 is “worse than average”. We’ve included a chart with a recap of those scores below.
  • Fit with Your Situation – If you insure your beach house with an insurance company that has great financials and terrific reviews, but that company doesn’t like property close to the coast, it’s not going to end well. Some insurers specialize. Others are generalists. Some are comfortable insuring rental properties, or snowmobiles. Others focus on high risk drivers.

 

Complaint Index – 2016 – Maine Home and Auto Insurance

We compiled this table from data published by the Maine Bureau of Insurance. It shows the 2 year average of home and auto complaint indexes for the top 25 homeowners and auto insurance companies in Maine (by volume). We assigned a “green light” to the companies with ratings in the top 33%, yellow to the middle 33%, and red to the bottom third. Remember, customer satisfaction is only one way to evaluate an insurance company. The companies with the highest satisfaction may not write the kind of insurance you need.

 

source: Maine Bureau of Insurance. Compiled by Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance

How to Get Quotes from Many Insurance Companies at Once

Noyes Hall & Allen has access to the companies shaded in blue. That’s 11 out of 25, covering more than 50% of the volume in this list. The insurance companies we represent have a complaint index of 0.91 – much lower than the 1.00 average. By the way, insurance agencies have online reviews, too. We’re proud to show the reviews that our clients have left for our agency.

When you contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent, you’re checking 11 companies at once, backed by our knowledge of where each company excels. Your agent can customize advice to your situation, proposing a solution built just for you.

That’s what we mean we we say we’re “Independent and Committed to You”.  Request a Maine insurance quote today, or call us at 207-799-5541.