Resources - DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

Making Change Easier – Let DeKok Insurance Group Shop for You

March 17, 2013 By Jon DeKok

Your insurance rates just went up and you know it’s time to shop around. Then, you look at all the information required, for each company, and you decide change is too hard.

It’s different at DeKok Insurance Group.

Here’s how it works: You call (507-226-8121) or email ([email protected]) me for a quote, give me your information once, and I start looking for the right coverage at the best price for you. When I’ve checked with several of the highest rated companies in the insurance industry, I call or email you with the quotes.

Then, you decide.

If you have any questions about quotes or the companies I represent, please feel free to call or email me.

Making Change Easier,

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 35 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Attractive Nuisances

December 4, 2012 By Jon DeKok

What is an Attractive Nuisance?

An attractive nuisance is something that is so interesting that it would entice a child into entering another’s property. For instance, many courts require that the object be man-made and many require that you “maintain” the nuisance in order to be liable. This would mean that ponds or lakes are generally not attractive nuisances.

Some of the typical attractive nuisances include:

Swimming pools and fountains
Machinery (lawnmowers, weed trimmers, etc.)
Wells and tunnels
Dangerous animals
Paths and stairs
Construction materials
Trampolines
Empty buildings

How can you protect yourself from liability?

Taking some basic actions to prevent injury goes a long way toward avoiding liability. Courts usually punish people who didn’t seem to care or put any effort into encouraging safety. In short, you should do whatever it takes to prevent a child’s access to the nuisance.

If you have any questions about attractive nuisances, please feel free to call or email me.

Jon

[email protected]

phone 507-226-8121

DeKok Insurance Group, Inc. Referral Program: When you tell your family and friends about your positive experience with my agency, and they call for a quote, I’ll send YOU a $20 gift card.

Photo purchased at fotolia.com © air – Fotolia.com

Better Coverage

October 30, 2012 By Jon DeKok

One of the goals I have as an independent insurance agent is to offer better coverage than you now have and do it at a better rate.

What do I mean by better coverage? Depending on your needs, it may be higher limits of coverage, or it may be the policy we offer has a broader and more comprehensive range of coverage’s.

For instance higher limits of coverage on an auto insurance policy may be that your current limits for Bodily Injury liability are at $100,000 per person – $300,000 per occurrence. In most cases, I am able to offer a substantially higher limit for a small increase. This increased limit could be $250,000 each person – $500,000 per occurrence, or as high as $1,000,000. When it comes to a serious claim, this change could make a huge difference in your life.

An example of broader coverage would be a homeowners policy including identity theft coverage, or special form coverage (all risk of physical damage) on your personal property instead of “named perils” coverage. We can also include increased building limits coverage at 25, 50, or 100 percent. Meaning if your dwelling limit was $200,000 and it took more than that to replace it, that $200,000 limit would be increased by the percent you have ($200,000 X 125 percent), ect..

Another type of better coverage could be disappearing deductibles. One of the companies I write motorcycle insurance through includes this feature (if you have no comprehensive or collision loss, the deductible is reduced by 25 percent per year).

This list of better coverage’s could go on and on, but you get the idea. Better coverage at better prices.

If you would like to see what we can do for you, please feel free to call 507-226-8121, or email me at [email protected].

Jon

DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

[email protected]

507-226-8121

Are Your Insurance Rates on the Rise?

October 17, 2012 By Jon DeKok

Don’t you hate it when your insurance rates go up? I do too! Being an independent insurance agent helps, in that I can shop several companies for a better rate, and most of the time find one, but not always due to several factors.

More about that in another blog.

Getting back to rate increases. It makes sense to see your rates increase some, after all, some of the things that make your rates what they are, are increasing in cost (car repairs, medical costs, lumber, materials, labor, etc.). However, what doesn’t make a lot of sense is when you haven’t had any losses, and your rates go up 40% or more.

All insurance companies try to anticipate what their losses will be each year, in 5 years, etc. in order to set their rates. The goal is to collect enough premium dollars to pay for the losses, pay their expenses, set aside money in reserves to take care of unexpected losses, and make a profit. Insurance companies are a business and should make a profit in order to stay in business and motivate growth.

There are some other things that come into play when looking at several different insurance companies rates. One company may be doing business in the whole country, and some are only doing business in one or more States. This can have an impact on that company’s specific rates since some States are more prone to different types of hazards (Wind storms, tornados, hurricanes, fires). For instance, the Mid West has had a higher than the normal amount of wind storms in the last five years, causing rates to increase on most homeowner’s insurance policies (roof damage, etc.). Another factor is underwriting (an insurance company’s rules to accept business). Each company accepts new clients based on rules they feel will keep them profitable. Some of these are based on the client, and some are based on the property to be insured.

Some companies have been surprised by the amount of losses they find themselves paying due to an unexpected number of storms, and other losses. When this happens, they will try to tighten up their underwriting rules, and raise their rates to get back to their comfort zone.

I don’t necessarily hate a rate increase when it is needed, but what I do dislike an awful lot is when a company panics, and jacks their rates up 40% or more or takes other drastic immediate moves that are detrimental to their clients.

If your insurance company has raised your rates in a panic kind of way, or if you would just like to see what I can do for you, please feel free to call (507-226-8121) or email me at [email protected] for a comparison.

Jon

[email protected]

507-226-8121

When They Steal Your Identity

August 2, 2012 By Jon DeKok

Many insurance company’s have an Identity Fraud Expense Coverage. This is usually an endorsement added to your Homeowner’s or Renter’s insurance policy. This coverage is designed to help you get your identity back and cover the cost to restore your good name and credit.

For example – Travelers insurance has an endorsement which costs $25 per year. It will pay up to $25,000 per loss. They will reimburse these expenses in your resolution efforts.

Lost wages as a result of time taken off from work to deal with the identity theft – up to $1,000 per week for a maximum of five weeks.
Notary and certified mailing charges for completing and delivering fraud affidavits.
Fees to reapply for loans that were denied due to erroneous credit information caused by the identity theft.
Long distance telephone charges for calling merchants, law enforcement agencies or credit grantors to discuss an actual identity fraud.
Daycare and eldercare expenses.
Attorney fees incurred, with Traveler’s consent, for:

– Defending suits brought incorrectly by merchants and their collection agencies

– Removing criminal or civic judgments wrongly entered against the victim

– Challenging the information in a credit report

If you have any questions concerning identity theft, or would like to discuss other insurance needs, feel free to call 507-226-8121 or email me at [email protected]

Jon