DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

507-226-8121 [email protected]

Our Privacy Policy From DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

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Privacy Concept.

Privacy Policy

What information do we collect?
We collect information from you when fill out a form. You may be asked to enter your name, e-mail address, mailing address or phone number. You may, however, visit our site anonymously.

What do we use your information for?
Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways:

  1. To process transactions
    Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the purchased product or service requested.
  2. To send periodic emails
    The email address you provide will only be used to send you information and updates pertaining to the request you request submitted online.

How do we protect your information?
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or access your personal information.

Do we disclose any information to outside parties?
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

Third party links
Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third party products or services on our website or one of our blogs. These third party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.

California Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance
Because we value your privacy we have taken the necessary precautions to be in compliance with the California Online Privacy Protection Act. We therefore will not distribute your personal information to outside parties without your consent.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance
We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), we do not collect any information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old or older.

Your Consent
By using our site, you consent to our privacy policy.

Changes to our Privacy Policy
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page.

Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Arrow SetDeKok 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.

[tweetthis]Privacy Policy. #DeKokInsuranceGroup, #MNInsurance #Insurance[/tweetthis]

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state ofMinnesota.

Photo Credit: purchased from fotolia.com  © tashatuvango – Fotolia.com

Football Fan Safety – Tips from DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

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Football Ball

Make football season fun and safe!

Fall is here and many of us are enjoying the cooler temps, colorful leaves, the start of school and, of course, football season in Minnesota. I confess I’m not a fan of the sport, but many of our family and friends are. Joy caught a game a few weeks ago while visiting her parents and she had fun watching the Vikings and Bears game – MN lost by one  point.

Football season in Minnesota brings with it a whole host of seasonal activities for football fans, from game-day tailgates and sports bar outings, to friendly bets and bowl parties.  At DeKok Insurance Group, we want your football season to be both exciting and safe, so as you cheer your team to victory, consider the following tips.

  • Keep it clean: Tailgating is one of America’s favorite pastimes!  If you’re tailgating, opt for non-breakable, recyclable containers. This will make cleanup easier and help avoid injuries resulting from broken glass.
  • Be smart: Whether you are tailgating, hosting a football-watching party at your house in Rochester, sitting in the stands at the stadium or joining your friends at the local sports restaurant, know your limit on alcohol intake and make sure you have a designated driver.
  • Know where you’re going: Pre-plan travel to and from the stadium to avoid getting lost and to make finding parking easier if you drive.
  • Fill those bellies: Whenever alcohol is consumed, make sure food is too!
  • Be weather wise: If you’re heading to the stadium, be sure to prepare for the weather. In colder temps, bring layers and blankets (especially if you’re bringing the little ones along).  Also, avoid umbrellas if you find yourself in a lightning storm.
  • Keep it close: Whether you’re hitting the live game or the local tavern, be sure to keep your valuables, such as wallets, mobile phones and purses, safe.  Also, keep it close to you (better yet, attached) at all times to avoid theft.

Wherever and however you’re watching the game this weekend, we hope you enjoy every last minute.

Game day insurance tips

Here are a few pointers for making sure your insurance provides an additional safety net on game day:

• Make sure you have adequate auto coverage to cover any contents that may be stolen in the unfortunate event of a break-in at the stadium parking lot.

• Ensure you have sufficient liability coverage on your homeowner’s policy, as well as medical payments coverage and possibly umbrella coverage. These exist to protect you in the event someone becomes injured while at your house.

• Consider roadside assistance coverage. In the event your vehicle breaks down or you lock your keys in your car, it can save the day.

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Arrow SetDeKok 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.

[tweetthis]Football Fan Safety #Football #Safety #DeKokInsuraceGroup[/tweetthis]

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Photo Credit: purchased from fotolia.com © FeSeven – Fotolia.com

How Much Home Insurance is Enough

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Beige large luxury house with summer landscape.

I’ve been in the insurance business for over thirty years and understand the home insurance needs of my customers. I’ll work with you to estimate the replacement cost for your home and to adjust your policy limits from time to time as needed.

One of my biggest concerns is when a potential clients calls for a quote and we discover that their property is underinsured.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the danger of being seriously underinsured:

  1. Call.  If you have questions or concerns about the limits in your policy, ask me to show you how those amounts were calculated. This will also give you an opportunity to make us aware of any overlooked information.
  2. Read your policy. Certain property, such as jewelry, and certain perils, such as earthquake or flood, is better insured separately. Knowing what is covered and for how much will help you insure properly. If there is anything in your policy you don’t understand, call me at 507-226-8121 and ask for an explanation.
  3. Review. At each annual renewal of your policy, you receive a new Policy Declarations page showing limits of coverage and optional coverages. Review this information. If you do any significant remodeling or add a family room, extra bedroom or bathroom, etc., call me and ask about these changes so your coverage limits can be adjusted to cover the improvement.
  4. Consider carefully whether your policy provides all the protection you need. Does it provide coverage for extra costs resulting from building code changes? Does it automatically increase coverage limits annually to keep pace with inflation? Does it provide additional funds if the cost of rebuilding your home exceeds the policy limits?

Make sure you know:

  • Will your insurance company stand behind agreed upon repairs after a claim? Some companies are willing to put this guarantee in writing.
  • Does your policy include replacement cost coverage for contents (clothing, furniture, appliances, and other personal property inside your home)? If not, you can add it by endorsement. The cost is small, the protection valuable. Replacement Cost Coverage pays for losses to your possessions at the cost of brand new items. Without this option, a covered loss to your personal possessions would be depreciated by their age and condition, reducing the size of your claim settlement.

If you have an art collection, antique furniture, jewelry, or other valuable possessions, call and ask me about supplemental coverages, such as fine arts or scheduled property endorsements, to adequately protect your investment in these items. The cost is modest for the extra protection, and sometimes the deductible is waived.

Consider whether you should have more coverage for personal property (contents) than your policy provides. Personal property coverage is usually 70% of the coverage limit for the structure. Your limit may be lower than 70%. Supplemental protection is available for a small additional premium.

Inventory your home. Prepare an inventory of personal property items, update it periodically, and keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safe deposit box at your bank. It will save you hours of time trying to list everything damaged or destroyed if you need to make a claim. It will also help ensure you don’t forget some items.

Personal Liability

Besides making sure you have enough protection to cover possible damage to your own home and contents, you should also evaluate your exposure to liability risks. These result from damage to the property of another, or injury to a person, not a member of your household, for which you can be responsible.

In recent years it’s become common for homeowners to be sued for injuries or damages to others, even when there is no evidence of negligence by the homeowner. The reality today is if you have any appreciable assets, you are exposed to the risk of being sued. Even if you ultimately prevail in court, your legal fees and the months or years of worry and uncertainty can be a terrible burden on you and your family.

The Personal Liability coverage provided by your Homeowners Policy usually provides a limit of $100,000 or $300,000. We recommend increasing this protection with a personal umbrella policy. Not only will it increase your personal liability, but also your auto liability. Limits are available from $1 million to $10 million and beyond. The cost of this coverage is usually very reasonable.

Keep in mind that Minnesota  can require certain minimum levels of coverage. After that, the right coverage for you is unique. I’d like to help you find out how to get the best price and value on insurance for your home, personal property, and liability.

It’s also an excellent idea to consider Umbrella Insurance. Click HERE to read more about this inexpensive protection.

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Arrow SetDeKok 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.

[tweetthis]How much insurance do you need? #HomeownersInsurance #MNInsurance #RochesterMN[/tweetthis]

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Graphic purchased from fotolia.com and used with permission © Iriana Shiyan – Fotolia.com

Why Have Personal Umbrella Insurance?

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umbrella

To really feel secure about protecting your assets and your future, you may need the extra level of protection provided by a personal umbrella liability insurance policy.

What’s Peace of Mind Worth to You?

An umbrella policy provides additional layers of liability protection. If the liability limits are exhausted on your home, auto, or other underlying insurance policy, your umbrella insurance policy takes over and provides you with additional protection. The cost is minimal compared to the comfort of knowing you’re covered.

Do You Have Enough Liability Insurance?

Imagine what would happen if your dog was to bite a neighbor’s child, or if there was an accident on your rental property. What would happen if a fire in your condo spread to other units?  If any of these things happened to you, there’s a good chance your current liability limits wouldn’t be adequate to protect your assets, or your future earnings.

Liability Insurance Starts When the Others Stop

Once the liability limits are exhausted on your home, auto, or other policy, your umbrella policy takes over and provides a second layer of protection of at least $1,000,000.  Higher limits may also be available. Talk with me to determine the right amount of coverage for your needs.

Broad Coverages

An umbrella insurance policy also pays some claims not covered by your home, auto, or other underlying insurance. The policy covers not just you, but your spouse and all family members living in your household, anywhere in the world. Legal defense fees are also paid.

The right coverage for you is unique – call me at 507-226-8121 or email me at [email protected] to find out how to protect yourself, your family and your future with the right personal umbrella insurance for you.

Jon

Arrow SetDeKok 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.

[tweetthis]Personal Umbrella Insurance #DeKokInsuranceGroup, #MNInsurance #UmbrellaInsurance[/tweetthis]

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Call of the Convertible – Buying Tips from DeKok Insurance Group and Edmund’s

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Ford Mustang

I used to have a motorcycle. Joy and I rode for hours and loved being outside while we drove. The motorcycle is gone and we have a new dream: an RV pulling a convertible.

The call of the open road is at its strongest during the summer – and so is the call of the convertible. If you’re one of those drivers who has long dreamed of dropping the top and heading across Minnesota and beyond, I have some buying tips for you.

Safety considerations

Of course, you want to be safe when driving your new car, so here are a few things to look for in a convertible, according to Edmunds.com. (If you buy a classic convertible, these will not be options.)

  • Roll bars: Generally, convertibles offer some sort of roll bar to protect passengers should the car roll over.
  • Airbags: Side airbags that deploy from seats can be an optional feature on less-expensive convertibles and something you should consider. Some of these airbags offer extra protection for the head.
  • Rear-view cameras and sensors: When the top is up, it can be difficult to see out of the rear window. Cameras and sensors can provide added safety.

Hard or soft top?

You have two main choices when it comes to tops: Soft, which can result in more road noise and may be more susceptible to damage, and hard, which often look better but add weight and take up more trunk space when down. (A third option is a completely removable hard top, such as those found on some Jeeps.) This choice is largely a matter of personal preference, though cost can be a factor.

You’ll also want to test the top for leaks – regardless of whether it’s a soft or hard top. Spray water where the roof connects with the windshield and where the glass meets the roof along the sides. You’re looking to make sure no moisture gets inside.

Everyday issues

If you’re planning to drive your convertible frequently (and why wouldn’t you?), there are some practical things you should take into consideration:

  • Wind noise: When you have the top down at Minnesota’s highway speeds, you might find it difficult to hear the stereo system. If you’ll be driving a lot with the top down, getting the upgraded stereo might not be worth it. Then again, a better stereo can have more power, allowing you to actually hear your music.
  • Putting the top up/down: A motorized top, of course, makes everything easier. But they are more complex. Be sure to test out the top and how long it takes you to put it up or down, especially if it’s a manual process. After all, if it starts raining suddenly, you want to be able to get the top up as quickly as possible.
  • Luggage space: Most convertibles aren’t large to begin with, but trunk space is even smaller when the top is down. If you plan to take your convertible on vacation (or pack golf clubs or other bulky items), it’s a good idea to really take a hard look at the trunk space before you buy.
  • Passenger space: Do you need to take more than one passenger on many of your drives? If so, a roadster (two seats) isn’t an option. But even if the convertible you’re eying has four seats, hop in back and check the comfort level. If you aren’t comfortable, your passengers probably won’t be, either.

Special features

According to Edmunds.com, there are certain features that truly make a difference in convertibles, such as wind deflectors, heated/cooled seats and sun-reflective upholstery. Certain features, such as heated seats, can make your convertible much more comfortable to drive on cooler days in Minnesota – especially if you’re at the North Shore.

Above all, you’ll want to choose the convertible that best fits how you’ll use it. If you’re lugging golf clubs (and golf buddies) around in the summer, you probably don’t want a roadster. Conversely, if your idea of a great weekend is to toss a duffle bag in the passenger seat and hit the road, smaller may be better.

One of the great – and annoying – things about buying a car is the sheer number of options out there. But if you get frustrated, remember one thing: You’re buying a convertible for the fun of it.

And when you buy that convertible, give me a call. I’ll make sure you’ve got the right coverage for you rag-top.

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Arrow SetDeKok 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.

[tweetthis]Call of the Convertible. #AutoInsurance #MNInsurance #IndependentAgent[/tweetthis]

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.