02/26/23

Five Reasons To Use An Independent Insurance Agent

With promises of cheap rates and one-click buying options, shopping for insurance online can seem too good to be true. But buyer beware, sometimes it is. When shopping for insurance, you often do so to protect some of the most significant assets you have; your car, home, business, and, most importantly, your family. As you may consult an attorney before signing a contract or creating an estate plan, so should you consider an independent insurance professional when protecting your livelihood.

What is an independent insurance agent? Independent agents like Elliott, Powell, Baden, and Baker work with multiple insurance companies to offer a broad range of insurance products to meet customer needs. Here are some benefits of working with a local independent insurance agent:

1. They Provide One Stop Shopping. One of the biggest benefits to working with an independent insurance agent is having them shop the insurance marketplace for you. With access to multiple companies, an independent insurance agent can compare rates and coverage types among multiple companies at once, saving you both time and money.

2. They Are Licensed Professionals – Home, auto, and business insurance can be tricky to navigate. Independent insurance agents can explain the complexities of insurance in simple terms, helping you make smart decisions. They are adept at assessing their customer’s insurance needs and matching them with the insurance carrier best equipped to meet those needs.

3. They Are Your Advocate. If you have ever experienced a car accident or a burst pipe in your home, you know the last thing you want is to deal with the frustrating 1-800 menus, call-back numbers, and complicated insurance jargon from a large call center. An independent agent is available to you when you need them. Whether it’s a billing question, a claim concern, or a significant event, your agent can be your advocate, working with the insurance company on your behalf.

4. They Are Your Neighbors. Local independent insurance agents live, work, and play in the city you call home. Unlike a national insurance company, a local independent agent has direct knowledge of the risks of living in your particular area and are more adept at finding the right coverage to protect your assets.

5. They Provide An Exceptional Customer Experience. That’s what we strive for at EPB&B insurance. From the first phone call, advising on appropriate coverages, to helping navigate the claims process, we want to make insurance easy for our customers. With 24/7 customer service and a real person answering the phone, relationships with our customers is a top priority for the team at EPB&B Insurance.

6005809838

02/20/23

Why Business Owners Need General Liability Insurance

Insurance for Businesses

Small Business

Did you know that four out of 10 small business owners are likely to experience a property or general liability claim in the next 10 years? Claims range from unexpected incidents, damage to a customers property, to unforeseen accidents, such as a customer getting injured after slipping and falling.

Whether you are a boutique hotel, a florist, a tech firm, a construction company or a food truck, as a business owner, just the fact you operate a business means you run the risk of a person or another business claiming you, your product or your employees caused them injury or damage and initiating a lawsuit.

Without the protection of commercial general liability insurance, you could be liable to pay expenses resulting from a lawsuit with your personal or business assets, with the outcome being catastrophic losses for your business and family. .

At EPB&B insurance, we work with a broad range of companies that offer General Liability coverage in a multitude of industry niches. Here is an overview on why general Liability is a must for your business.

What Does It Cover

Commercial general liability business insurance covers a variety of claims for damages that can result from:

Non employee Injuries that happen on your property, such as those from slips or falls.
Bodily injury or property damage to a third party caused by your work, products or your employees’ activities.
Liability of others assumed in the specifically defined contract, such as a customer or vendor injured on your property.
Libel, slander, or business disparagement .

Why Do You Need It?

If you or your employees interact with customers face-to-face, access customers’ property, advertise or market your services, work on job sites, or enter into contracts requiring general liability coverage, Commercial general liability insurance is right for you. In addition:

General liability insurance policies can help you land more customers and contracts, as many of them won’t work with you unless you can prove you’re insured. Even if GL coverage isn’t required, having it can make customers more comfortable working with you.
It prevents you from paying out of pocket for damages and lawsuits that potentially could be devastating to your business.
It can provide protection in case you manufacture or sell a defective product that causes injury or damage.
It can meet legal business insurance requirements if you want to rent or lease a space for your business.
It can cover some accidents or damages that happen in your home office (your homeowners’ insurance doesn’t usually cover business-related incidents).

Is It Required?

Commercial liability insurance is not required by federal law, but most cities and states have their own legal requirements for business owners who work with the public. For example, if you’re a contractor and you’re applying for a license, most states will require you to provide proof of GL coverage before you can get licensed.

Regardless of your state’s requirements around general liability insurance, it’s a good idea to take out this policy. Most customers won’t work with you unless you have it, and some vendors won’t allow you on their property without proof of coverage.

Examples of how General Liability Insurance Can Protect Your Business:

A customer trips and falls on your property resulting in bodily injury.
A gas attendant at a station you own fills a car with unleaded instead of diesel, causing damage to the customer’s engine.
As a contractor, youtube break a water line while remodeling a home, resulting in water damage to the property.

Contact Elliott, Powell, Baden and Baker and we will help find the right general liability coverage for your business.

02/13/23

EarthQuake Insurance Is A Solid Investment

Homeowners Insurance

Insurance for Businesses

Insurance for Individuals

Insurance Products

This week marks 323 years since a major earthquake struck the Pacfic Northwest. According to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, there is a 1 and 10 chance that a major earthquake will strike Oregon again within the next fifty years, but we all know mother nature plays by her own rules. In the case of a significant event know the facts that will help protect you, your family, and your property.

Make Sure You Are Covered. Most homeowner, mobile home, condominium, and renter insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. The means if an earthquake destroys your home, you lose everything. Since, for most homeowners their biggest investment is their home, a separate earthquake insurance policy may help protect that investment.

Living Expenses. If earthquake damage to your home is so severe that you must move out, coverage for additional living expenses is available only if you have earthquake coverage. Check with your agent when purchasing earthquake coverage to make sure that the additional living expense coverage extends to earthquake damage.

When to buy. Most insurers place a moratorium on selling earthquake coverage for a period of time after any significant seismic event. So, buy earthquake insurance before an earthquake strikes.

Earthquake coverage is available for personal and property damage to your home and commercial property. Earthquake coverage carries a separate deductible that is often a percentage of the coverage rather than a fixed dollar amount.

In the event an earthquake strikes, familiarize yourself and your family with the immediate safety protocol and have an emergency supply kit, at the ready.

Have Questions? The team at EPB&B can help.

02/06/23

Heart Attacks Are Preventable. Tips For Heart Health and Awareness

General Interest

Insurance Products

February is Heart Awareness Month. According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, someone suffers a heart attack every forty seconds in the United States, with heart disease being the number one cause of death among men and women.

The good news is that 87% of heart-related problems are believed to be preventable. And being aware of prevention and treatment options is critical.

Taking good care of your heart is really about taking good care of yourself. You can improve and protect your overall health when you:

Get a daily dose of physical activity, such as a brisk, 30-minute walk.
Cook meals that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats.
Take your medications as prescribed and keep your medical appointments.
Sleep 7-8 hours a night.
Manage stress through, for example, meditation, yoga, a warm bath, quiet time with a good book or your favorite streaming show, or a fun and relaxing outing with friends.
Be mindful of your weight and try to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Part of self-care is knowing your health status. Even during uncertain and busy times, check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about your heart health and make a plan to keep it healthy and strong.

Don’t wait to get help if you experience any heart attack warning signs. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but others start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As an employer, providing a Group Health plan to your employees is an integral part of a benefits plan. Not only does it help attract the top candidates in your field, but it helps your employees get access to crucial medical care that will keep them healthy and your business thriving. For more Information on Group Health contact Jennifer French at 503-227-1771 or jfrench@epbb.com

02/01/23

Our Lucky Referral Winner; We Appreciate Your Vote Of Confidence

Homeowners Insurance

About EPB&B

Auto Insurance

Elliott, Powell, Baden, and Baker would like to thank everyone who takes the time and effort to refer business to us. When you refer your friends, and colleagues to EPB&B, it speaks volumes about the trust you have in our services, and we truly appreciate the vote of confidence.

As you may be aware, whenever a current customer refers a new customer – and we write the new customer’s business – we send a $25 gift card to the customer who made the referral, and also enter them into a drawing for a free tablet computer and a 25.00 gift card.

Our lucky February winner is Eric Hollstein, who referred Carol Curthoys to EPB&B. We wrote a home and auto policy for Carol. Thank you to both Greg and Heather for being valued insureds of EPB&B. Please remember to keep those referrals coming. It could mean a new tablet computer in addition to a $25 gift card. Thank you to Sarah and Sean.