5 Safety Features That Can Save You Money

When you have a car in Boise, ID, it’s important to know about the safety features that have the ability to save you money. After all, if you can save on your auto insurance policy, you should explore the opportunity. All it takes is looking at the different features before you purchase a car.

Air Bags

Air bags are one of the most important safety features. While virtually every car has them, some makes and models have more than others. At Fuhriman Insurance Agency, we can even recommend some of the safest cars on the market.

Anti-Lock Brakes

Anti-lock brakes have saved drivers from a number of collisions. It will help you to lock your brakes to avoid hitting another car, especially at high speeds.

Blind Spot Monitoring

If you have ever had a side collision with another car or hit a car because they were in your blind spot, this is a great feature. Your side mirrors will light up to tell you there is a car in your blind spot. You can then take precautions to avoid hitting another car (or cyclist or pedestrian).

Roll Bars

Many cars, as well as Jeeps and trucks, have roll bars. In the event that there is an accident where you actually roll, it will protect the frame of the car and anyone inside. This can save lives and reduce the likelihood of major damage to the vehicle.

Driver Assist Systems

A variety of car manufacturers are now incorporating driver assistance systems. These are computers that will help you as a driver. They can notify you when you are getting too close to another vehicle, and can even help you with parallel parking, emergency braking, and various other driving scenarios.

Learn more about saving money on our insurance in Boise, ID by contacting Fuhriman Insurance Agency today.

3 Things to Consider when Buying Homeowner’s Insuracne in Boise, ID

Boise, ID is a wonderful place to live.  In fact, according to livability.com, Boise makes it into the top 100 best places to live in the United States. Despite its isolation from other cities, Boise is a cultural hotspot with enough amenities that it doesn’t need to be supplemented with a trip anywhere else. Boise residents are happy right where they are.

For homeowners, Boise offers a diverse world with a mix of cultures brought in by people from all over the world. And the fours seasons give the city a plethora of outdoor activities to keep families busy.  Whether you already own a home in Boise or are looking to purchase your first home here or relocate to this gorgeous city, there are three things you should consider when purchasing a homeowner’s insurance policy in Boise ID.

1. Choose a Trusted Agent

At Fuhriman Insurance Agency, we are a full-service insurance agency that represents quality insurance companies.  We like to think of ourselves as trusted advisers who will work very close with you when it comes time to choose the best homeowner’s insurance policy available for your Boise ID home or rental property.

2. Understand Your Coverage and Policy

When it comes to a homeowner’s insurance policy, the insurance agent you work with will make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers. Getting the most affordable option is also a common goal of homeowners. Adding umbrella insurance to an existing policy is always an option for the future.

3.  Understand Your Deductible

When it comes time to choose the amount of the deductible you want, meaning the amount you will need to pay out of pocket in the event you need to file a claim, the simple rule is that the higher the deductible you choose, the lower your premium will be.

To learn more about purchasing homeowner’s insurance for a property in Boise, ID, contact Fuhriman Insurance Agency at 877-342-7935 today.

Insuring a car for work vs. personal use in Boise ID

When you first contact Fuhriman Insurance Agency looking for a policy that fits your needs, you’re going to have to consider to what extent your car is a personal vehicle, and to what extent you’re using it for work. It’s not always as cut and dry as, say, patrolling as a security guard and driving a car that belongs to the security agency, and trusting that your employers have you covered. If you drive for Uber or deliver pizzas in your personal vehicle, for instance, then you need to make sure that you’re getting a policy that reflects that. Fuhriman Insurance Agency can help Boise, ID drivers to find that policy, but you can’t just start driving professionally and hope that your current policy has you covered.

Some insurance companies won’t cover you at all if you drive for a living, but you are nevertheless going to be looking at personal insurance policies to get coverage for a car that serves as both a personal vehicle and a work vehicle.

Some companies will provide supplemental insurance while you are working for them. Uber, for instance, will offer additional coverage any time the app is actually in use. Many delivery restaurants offer the same deal. However, your employer or the agency you’re working for is not able to offer full coverage in Boise, ID. You need to talk with your insurer, let them know what you do for a living, and make sure that you are covered against all the risks that that entails.

In short, getting your personal car covered for work use is pretty easy for most drivers, but you can’t take it for granted, you have to ask your insurer about getting covered for business use.

Do All Homes Need Home Insurance?

When it comes to insuring your home, it can be difficult to decide if your home needs a policy or not. There are of course legal considerations, but there are also considerations of rebuilding as well. The agents with Fuhriman Insurance Agency in the Boise, ID area can help you get your policy set up and ready to go.

The simple answer to this question is yes, every home needs an insurance policy unless you have the money lying around to rebuild after the home is damaged or destroyed. Most people do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around so making sure you keep up a policy that has enough coverage is going to make a huge difference in how quickly you can rebuild.

Homes that are already paid for are not legally required to have a home insurance policy, but they can still benefit from keeping a policy. As mentioned before, if you do not have a home insurance policy, it is going to be your responsibility to come up with the money to either rebuild or repair or even buy a new home if yours is destroyed or damaged.

For a few hundred dollars a year you can protect your home and make it possible to collect an insurance pay out to rebuild or repair if your home is damaged. Your home is a very important part of your life and protecting it with a home insurance policy is the best way to make sure you always have a place to live and that you can recover if something happens to your home.

If you live in the Boise, ID area, the agents with Fuhriman Insurance Agency can help you find the policy that fits your home each and every time.

3 Reasons Auto Insurance Is Necessary

In Boise, ID, it’s common for people to forget about the importance of their auto insurance. Until you actually need it, it can just seem like another unwanted bill you have to pay. But there are so many reasons to be glad that you have it rather than annoyed, and Fuhriman Insurance Agency can give you a few key points to remember.

1. Your Savings Account Is Never Enough

This particular reason doesn’t just mean that you never seem to have the funds to pay for that new handbag or necklace you want. When an accident happens, you could be deemed responsible for tens of thousands of dollars for both property damage or bodily injury. Almost no one in the world has that type of savings account to cover it all.

2. Keeps the Law at Bay

When you don’t have enough money to cover the damage, you’re subject to legal threats and more. While no one can extract money from that you don’t have, not having car insurance can mean having wages garnished for years or possibly even ending up in jail. No matter how you look at it, you really can’t afford not to have it.

3. You Need Someone to Call

When something happens in Boise, ID, you need to have someone to turn to other than just your family and friends. Fuhriman Insurance Agency can provide much more than just sympathy. The right agency can give you both helpful advice and the crucial financial assistance when you need it most. This type of safety net is truly priceless to those in complicated situations. Call to find out more about how our agency has been helping our clients for years and what we can do to get you the right policy.

Tips for Protecting Your Home for the Winter

Temperatures can drop severely in Boise, ID. You should think about protecting your home for the winter before the weather becomes extremely harsh.

  • Overhanging Trees – Trees that are not trimmed properly can have old branches that weaken when the weather changes. Weak branches can fall on your roof or damage other areas of your home. Make sure these branches are taken care of before winter arrives.
  • Water Heater Temperatures – Lower the temperature of your water heater by 20 degrees. Most heaters usually push hot water at 140 degrees. If you manually decrease the temperature to 120, you could save lots of money as well as reduce wear and tear on your water pipes.
  • Ceiling Fan Direction – During the winter, change your ceiling fan’s direction. Switch it from counterclockwise to clockwise. This will allow the heat, which naturally rises, to be pushed down by the circulation of the fan. Warm air will travel down and help keep your rooms warm. Changing the direction of the ceiling fan is a simple, yet great way to minimize heating costs.
  • Door Locks – Extremely cold weather can contract metal door locks causing the key to freezing inside the locking mechanism. A simple solution is to spray a small amount of lubricant in the lock to prevent freezing.
  • Check Your Policy – Winter begins at the end of the year, so it’s a good time to go over your policy and make sure you’re covered. Understanding your coverage for winter accidents or mishaps will give you peace of mind. It is also a good time to add extra coverage if it is needed.

Boise, ID residents, can have our expert agents helping them with their home insurance policy. We can also offer assistance with new or existing life, health, and auto insurance policies.

5 Ways to Decrease Your Home Insurance Premiums

The cost of homeowners insurance in Boise, ID can vary depending on several factors that may seem out of your control.  While some factors are determined by things you can’t do anything about, such as location, the material your home is made from, or the rates of home insurance in the marketplace, there are things you can change.  Here are 5 ways you can decrease your home insurance premiums.

  • Deductible – Raising your home insurance deductible, the amount you pay towards a loss, can decrease your home insurance up to 25%.  If you put this amount of money in a savings account, you can make money by keeping a higher deductible amount set aside.
  • Security – Improving home security can save up to 5%.  For example, adding smoke detectors to each level of the home, having fire extinguishers in easy access areas, installing burglar alarms, and deadbolt locks will all help.
  • Rebuilding Cost – Don’t confuse the home’s rebuilding costs with how much you paid for your home.  Remember, the land isn’t at risk for damage, so you only need insurance for the cost of rebuilding the home.
  • Good Credit – Maintaining a good credit history can decrease home insurance rates because insurance companies use credit information in determining rates.
  • Loyalty – Using the same insurance company for your insurance needs can make you eligible for up to 15% in discounts depending on what’s insured.

Fuhriman Insurance Agency

If you own a home in the Boise, ID area, you want to work with a community trusted company like the Fuhriman Insurance Agency.  Our independent agents will help you explore your home insurance discount options.  We can also give you helpful suggestions of things you can do to give you more discount opportunities.

Hiring a Contractor to Prep Your Home for Winter Weather

Your house is designed to protect your family throughout the year, but it was also intended to have routine maintenance conducted in order to hold its integrity against the weather. Autumn is always a good time to consider what work may be beneficial toward maintaining your house as a home, simply because summer storms and winter freezes cause different issues which build on each other. Repairing damage from summer storms prepares your house against the upcoming winter weather.

Typically, your insurance isn’t going to cover routine maintenance charges. With that concept in mind, it never hurts to speak to your insurance agent when discussing maintenance or upgrades to your home with a contractor. Your contractor may be able to justify legitimate damage which allows your insurance agent to offset at least part of the cost. The agent, on the other hand, may be able to suggest a minor change in how the job is approached which allows the contractor to bill the insurance company for some or all of the work to be conducted.

Typical winter preparedness includes a few minor tasks such as cleaning the gutters, inspecting your furnace, and assuring your siding and windows are doing their jobs of keeping heat in and cold out. When you hire a contractor to prepare your home for the upcoming winter weather, you should also speak with a representative from Fuhriman Insurance Agency. Even if the repairs aren’t covered by your current policy, the fact you take such great care of your home might be a consideration toward future insurance expenses. Furthermore, preemptive maintenance always pays for itself by preventing more expensive damage which can happen later if the house isn’t prepared against the weather.

 

How To Determine Coverage For Your Auto Insurance In Boise

Determining coverage for your auto insurance policy in Boise, ID is easier than you might think. It pays to work with an independent insurance agent from Fuhriman Insurance Agency so that your various questions can be answered along the way.

What You Drive

The type of car that you drive in Boise, ID is going to impact the kind of coverage that you may want. When there are more safety features in your car, it may not be necessary for you to have certain types of coverage. Then again if you are financing or leasing your vehicle, you may be required to have certain types of coverage because of what the lien holder wants you to have. This could include adding comprehensive and collision coverage so that there’s more financial protection in place.

Your Past Driving Experiences

If you have been involved in a variety of accidents over the years, you may want to have additional coverage. This is because you are likely to exceed standard coverage for property damage and/or personal injury liability. Your goal should be to have insurance take care of all of the expenses rather than having remaining money to pay out-of-pocket.

One of our independent insurance agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency will be able to guide you to choosing the best coverage for your policy.

Exploring Coverage

Some coverage is more important than others. You are required to maintain a certain level of liability insurance for the state of Idaho. Additionally, you may want to explore various other options, including:

  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Uninsured
  • PIP
  • Rental car coverage

Not all insurance companies offer the same coverage options, nor do they offer the same level of customer support. This means it’s important to make some comparisons – and one of our agents can help you.

 

 

 

3 Reasons to Rethink Your Home Insurance Policy in Boise

Your home insurance is one of the best measures to save you money, but you probably don’t think of it like that. Savings to you probably means what’s in the bank and how often you forego an expensive purchase. Here are three reasons to start rethinking how you see your insurance policy in Boise, ID, so you can give it the time and attention it deserves. 

1. Your Home Is an Investment 

And likely the best one you’ll ever make. No matter what type of neighborhood you live in, there’s a lot to be said for taking care of what you have. When you buy coverage that extends to protect you against a variety of both natural and man-made events, you’re taking care of the value within. 

2. Consequences Are Severe 

 Just one event could leave you feeling entirely helpless when it comes to your home and what to do about it. If you don’t have hotels near you or a friend to call, it’s generally your insurance policy that can either help or hurt you. This kind of predicament is not something you will want to face alone, so getting comprehensive coverage is really a move to keep yourself from experiencing the worst. 

3. It Pays to Save 

As stated at the beginning, you should really look at home insurance as a way to save. If you can’t cover reconstruction costs or replace the contents of your home without breaking a sweat, then this is the time to look for more coverage. Fuhriman Insurance Agency serves Boise, ID, and can help you determine the next steps, whether you’re looking for a new policy or shopping around for a different one. Give us a call today for more information.