Auto, Home, and Business Insurance Solutions
Connell Insurance is a locally owned independent insurance agency located in Savage, Minnesota. Our representatives have been serving individuals and businesses in Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 22 years. We spend time getting to know your unique situation and needs to tailor insurance coverage that will provide the proper level of coverage for your budget and risk tolerance.
Because we are an independent agency we have relationships with some of the industry's leading insurance companies. Having relationships with multiple leading insurance companies allows us the ability to match you with the company that best fits your situation. Learn more about the benefits that an independent insurance agent provides. Don't just get insurance...get an advocate!
Please feel free to contact us with any of your auto or home insurance questions or visit us in person at our Savage office, we look forward to building a long term relationship by protecting what you value most.
Answers to 8 common storm related homeowner insurance questions.
Q. My home sustained damage to its exterior due to a windstorm. What should I do until the Claims Representative arrives?
A. Your Homeowner’s policy has a provision for making temporary repairs. You should take necessary steps to protect your property from further damage. You may have tarps installed on the roof, siding, or broken windows to protect the interior from water damage. A contractor may be hired to complete these repairs. These costs are covered.
Q. My tree fell on a neighbor’s home due to windstorm. Which policy pays for its removal: mine, or my neighbor's?
A. The neighbor's policy should cover the cost of the tree removal, up to the limit of their Homeowner's policies for debris removal. Your policy may also contribute for any debris that has fallen on your own property. In most cases, homeowners are not liable for trees that have fallen on someone else's property when a windstorm has caused it to fall. (There could be some liability on the part of a homeowner if the tree should have been removed prior to the storm, due to a disease.) The Claims Representative inspecting your property will determine this.
Q. A storm has caused a general power outage in the area, and has affected my electricity for an undetermined amount of time. Is the cost of a motel covered under the insured’s homeowner’s policy?
A. No. Your property must sustain direct physical damage causing the power outage. The property must be considered unfit for occupancy in order to recover costs for motel bills.
Q. Is there coverage for interior water damage to the home if it is the result of exterior damage caused by windstorm?
A. Yes. All homeowner forms will cover damage to the interior of a home, if the home has first sustained damage to the exterior caused by windstorm or hail.
Q. Is there coverage for a flooded basement if the water enters through the sewer or sump pump system? What if the sump pump system fails due to a power outage?
A. If your Homeowner's policies includes an endorsement to cover damage to the interior of a home, and contents, as the result of sewer back up, or sump pump failure, even if the failure is caused by a power outage. The endorsement usually provides a minimum of $5000 in coverage. This is a combined limit to cover damage to the home, the contents, and any additional living expenses. Additional coverage may be purchased, usually up to a maximum amount of $50,000.
Q. Is there coverage for water that enters the home through basement walls, window wells, or the basement floor?
A. No. Water that enters the home in this manner is considered surface water, or water below the surface of the ground, and is specifically excluded.
Q. My home sustained windstorm or hail damage to the siding, roofing, or both. What happens if the same color or style of the siding, or roofing material, is no longer available?
A. Claims Representatives first look at the availability of the existing materials. If the same siding, or roofing material is available, we pay to repair only the area that has been damaged. Insurance Companies use several resources to research siding, and roofing samples for reasonable matches. These sources are able to determine if a reasonable match is available, along with the manufacturer’s name and color description. If they determine a reasonable match is not available, we then allow replacement of the entire home. A partial payment is issued, and the balance of the replacement cost is paid if it is completed within the time allowed by either the policy or the date the insurance company has determined is a fair amount of time to complete the work.
Q. What is my deductible for windstorm and hail losses? Also, if my home and automobile are damaged in the same storm, will a deductible apply to both claims?
A. The Wind/Hail deductible is prominently displayed on your declaration page. Some insurance companies have a unique benefit when you insure both your home and auto with them, it is the Common Loss Deductible. This enhancement changes the deductible provisions of the policies. A policyholder that has both their home and auto insured with an insurance company that offers Common Loss Deductible, then the insured will only have the single highest deductible applied whenever an occurrence involves both policies.
Save on commercial auto insurance in the off season
Ever mowed a lawn in January? Or plowed a snowy driveway on a hot July day? If you own and operate a seasonal business, chances are you aren't working in the off-season, so the insurance you carry should be different than what you carry in-season.
Leading commercial auto insurers like Progressive offer seasonal insurance for businesses like landscapers, snowplow drivers, ice cream truck owners, and more. These coverages allow you to customize your commercial auto insurance based on when your business is running on all cylinders — and when it's not.
Use these tips to get the most out of your policy in the off-season:
- If your vehicle will be parked during the off-season, you may think you should cancel that vehicle's insurance during that time. But if you’d like to protect your vehicle and still save a little money, just switch your insurance to a Comprehensive-only policy. This will give you basic protection against incidents like vandalism, theft, falling tree branches and hail.
A Comprehensive-only policy also gives you the bonus of having continuous insurance coverage. If you drop your insurance completely, you may pay significantly more to get a new policy when in-season rolls around because most insurance companies want to see proof of continuous coverage.
- If you plan to drive your work truck or other vehicles for personal use during the off-season, let your insurance carrier know. They can adjust your policy to reflect personal use, which can be less expensive while still providing coverage.
Claims handling is the most important feature of any insurance policy. Connell Insurance Advisors only partners with insurance carriers that provide exceptional claims service
Contact Connell Insurance Advisors for a free quote on your commercial vehicles today.
Four steps to stay safe if your car breaks down
Cars don’t last forever. In fact, occasional mechanical problems are inevitable.
April is National Car Care Month, which is an ideal time for a check up. Take your car to a professional – or brush up on the basics of auto mechanics. Some things to check are the oil, brake fluid, windshield washer and coolant levels, tire pressure, belts and hoses. Also, look under the car to check for any leaks.
“If you are ever in an accident or your vehicle breaks down, remember your safety is your priority,” said Allan Robinson, assistant vice president of claims fro Encompass Insurance.
If your car does break down – or you have an accident – the Insurance Information Institute recommends the following precautions:
- Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you've been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.
- If you can’t drive the vehicle, it may be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Under most circumstances, standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic is a bad idea.
- Carry flares or triangles to use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle’s location to give other drivers advance warning can be critical. Remember to put on your hazard lights!
- In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair – even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is minor compared to endangering your safety.
Gear up for motorcycle season
Those lazy days of summer will be here soon. If you’re like most bikers, you’re gearing up to hit the open road as soon as warm weather hits.
Before you get your motor running, be prepared. Contact us or call 651-237-5180 to make sure your policy is in the same great shape as your bike. Specialized coverages will ensure that you and your bike are properly protected.
Ice Dams
What Are They?
Ice dams can form on roofs in the winter months and can result in costly water
damage to the interior of a structure. The ice dams form when water freezes on a cold spot on a roof, usually at the eaves. Water that pools behind the ice dam can eventually work its way through the roof covering into the structure.
What Causes an Ice Dam?
Three conditions must be present for an ice dam to form:
- Snow on the roof
- Heat to melt the snow
- Cold to re-freeze the melted snow
Snow on the roof insulates the underlying snow which is in contact with the roof. Warm air in the attic warms the roof under the snow, causing the snow to melt. The melted snow water then trickles down the slope of the roof, until it comes in contact with the cold edge or eaves area. The snow melt re-freezes in the colder area.
Prolonged freeze/thaw cycles allow the water to build up in the cold region of the eaves to form an effective dam of ice. With ice accumulation, the dam retains enough melt water behind it to allow the water to work its way
under the roof covering, resulting in water entering the structure. Water can then make its way to the ceiling and/or run down the walls. Deep snow followed by frigid temperatures will increase the likely hood of ice dams.
Preventing Ice Dams:
You can’t control outside air temperature, but you can eliminate the snow or eliminate the heat.
- Take the time to remove snow from the lower eaves or end of rafter area. Without built up snow you have eliminated the source for an ice dam to form.
- Seal warm air leaks from interior rooms to the attic. (This will also cut your heating bills.)
- Ensure that you have adequate insulation in the attic. Homes in the Northern United States should have at least R 38 (about 12 inches of fiberglass or cellulose) above the ceiling.
- Be sure there is unrestricted air movement under the roof from the eaves soffit to the ridge
- Clean the roof gutters in the fall after the foliage has fallen. Though clogged gutters do not create ice dams, they can cause ice to back up onto the roof.
If An Ice Dam Develops:
Remove all of the snow from the roof. This can be accomplished by shoveling,
or by reaching up from the ground with a long-handled rake. Use caution so that you don’t fall off the roof when shoveling, or get hit with a chunk of ice if you are raking the snow off the roof.
Too Much Snow On Your Roof?
Structural damage can occur when the weight of snow and ice exceeds the load-bearing capacity of your roof. This is most often the case with flat roofs, older buildings, or structures whose integrity may already be compromised. Here a good example of what can happen when too much snow builds up on a roof.
Q. How do I know if there is too much snow and ice on my roof?
A. Generally, if there is more than a foot of heavy, wet snow and ice on your
roof, you should try to have it removed.
Q. How should I remove the snow and ice that has accumulated from my roof?
A. If you have a flat roof that is easily reached from an interior stairway, you may want to shovel the roof. Remember to put safety first any time you are on a roof. If you have a sloped roof, it may be possible to remove the snow and ice using a roof rake, a long-handled tool designed specifically for this purpose. Stand on the ground and pull as much of the snow off the eaves as you can safely reach. It is not necessary to remove all the snow; removing the first three to four feet of snow closest to the gutters will help alleviate these issues.
Do not use a ladder in snowy and icy conditions. This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to professionals.
Q. What if I can’t reach the roof at all?
A. Many homebuilders, landscaping and roofing contractors, and property maintenance companies will remove snow and ice from roofs. Before hiring a contractor, check references. Always be sure your contractor is insured and bonded.
More information on ice dams can be found at the University of Minnesota’s website.
*Source: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Do you need Rental Car Insurance
Do you plan to rent a car on your next vacation? Before heading out, review this short video for advice on rental car insurance and the steps you need to take to insure that you are covered.
If you have questions about an auto insurance policy or would like a free review of your current insurance situation from your local independent insurance agent, please call 651-237-5180 or contact us.
Credit Score and Insurance Discounts
Contact us or call 651-237-5180 to find out how we can help you find the best insurance company for your specific situation
Flood Insurance
With all the talk of flooding that is bound to occur in the Minneapolis metro area, this spring, you may be wondering if flood insurance is right for you. This video will help you understand flood insurance and how flood insurance can be a benefit to you.
FEMA provides a flood map so you can see if your home is within a flood zone. Visit FEMA Map Service Center to check your property location.
Please remember that flood insurance has a waiting period of 30 days before any coverage is afforded. Because of this, be sure you have a policy in place before the water starts to rise this spring!
For more information please call 651-237-5180 or contact us.
Six Steps to Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim
Follow the steps outlined in this short video to make sure your homeowners insurance claim is handled smoothly.
Please contact us with any questions you have or if you need to file a claim. You can also find your insurance company contact info here.
Theft Prevention Tips for Homeowners
Ways to secure your home before you leave for vacation.
By using these theft-prevention tips to protect your home and possessions, you and your family will have extra peace of mind, whether you’re away for a day or on vacation.
- Make your home looked “lived in” even when you’re not there
- Have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
- Arrange for someone to mow your lawn or shovel snow.
- Ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway while you’re gone.
- Use timed switches on your lights, TV and stereo. Look for timers that turn on and off randomly.
- Never advertise your absence by taping a note to your door or announcing it on your answering machine/voice mail.
- Turn your telephone ringer down or off. This way a burglar is less likely to hear the ringing of unanswered calls and realize no one is home.
- You can add to the security of your lighting system and cut your electric bill by installing a motion detector on outside lights. This will activate your lights when anyone comes within range of the unit’s motion sensor.
Follow these tips from law enforcement officials
- Join a Neighborhood Watch group. Most police departments have officers who will help you start a program. Neighbors can help watch your home when you’re gone.
- Keep valuable items in your safe deposit box, such as stocks and bonds, duplicate copies of your will, stamp and coin collections and jewelry you don’t frequently wear.
- Give parking lot attendants and mechanics your ignition key only, not your house key. Don’t carry an identification tag on your key ring. This could help a would-be thief easily identify your home and vehicle.
- Consider installing an alarm system for an extra level of protection. You have a variety of choices – from do-it-yourself kits that trigger a siren or lights to professionally installed systems connected to a police station or monitoring service. Post signs in your windows showing you have a security system.
- Lock your doors and windows when you leave, whether you’ll be gone a few minutes or a few days.
- Avoid leaving an extra “hidden” key outside your home, such as under the doormat or in a mailbox or planter. To make sure you always get in, leave a duplicate set of house keys with a trusted friend or neighbor.
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