South Carolina's beautiful coastal region has always been a prime location for homeowners looking to enjoy the stunning beaches and year-round sunny weather. However, this picturesque region has faced its share of natural disasters, including hurricanes, flooding, and severe storms, leading to a significant impact on the coastal home insurance market.

Over the past few years, South Carolina's coastal insurance market has undergone some significant changes. Let's take a closer look at the current state of the coastal home insurance market in South Carolina.

Running a business can be a risky venture, with potential threats lurking around every corner. Whether it is an employee getting injured on the job, a natural disaster damaging your property, or a data breach compromising sensitive information, any of these events can significantly impact your company's bottom line. That's why it's essential to have the right insurance policies in place to protect your business.
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Here are the top insurance policies that every business should consider investing in:

Umbrella insurance is an extra layer of protection, particularly for those with high incomes, who have assets to protect or own a home.

Umbrella insurance is a form of liability insurance that provides extra protection over and above your existing policies.

It is not a substitute for other types of insurance; if you need Auto Insurance or Home Insurance, you’ll still need to have those policies in place.

In other words: umbrella insurance can help protect your assets in case something bad happens.

​If you have high income or own valuable assets such as a home or cars with equity in them, it's especially important for you to have umbrella coverage.

It’s also important to note that umbrella insurance does not cover all risks: it only covers the excess amount over what’s already covered by your other policies. Make sure the underlying policies are sufficient on their own before purchasing an umbrella policy on top.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand what umbrella insurance is and how it can help you better protect your assets. If you have any further questions, please contact us. We are happy to help!

Introduction

We recently did an analysis of insurance rates across the Lowcountry, and we thought you might be interested in seeing the results.

Homeowners Insurance Rate Increases

The average increase in homeowner's insurance rates is 6% statewide, but it varies by county. In Charleston and other coastal areas such as Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head homeowners can expect to see higher than the statewide average increase. Some areas in the Lowcountry saw increases as high as 14%, while others (more inland) saw a decrease of up to 5%.

There have been several other contributing factors to rising Home Insurance costs in Coastal parts of the Lowcountry as several coastal insurers have gone insolvent, while others have pulled out of the market completely. Gulfstream Property and Casualty, St. Johns Insurance Company, Avatar Property and Casualty, and most recently Fed Nat have all either gone insolvent or are "restructuring". This leaves the Lowcountry and many other coastal areas with less options and many times higher than normal annual increases.


Car Insurance Rate Increases

This is a nationwide problem. Car insurance rates are rising across the country due to an increase in car accidents and a rise in the cost of repairing cars.
The increase in car insurance rates is also due to a rise in the cost of car parts for repairs, which are often needed after an accident.


A few other factors that affect all your insurance costs

Inflation Rate

Inflation is one of many culprits for rising insurance costs. However, there are a few ways to save money on your rates. One way is to shop around for new insurance companies. You should also consider getting quotes from a local independent agent who offers personalized service and competitive rates.
Finally, if you're interested in learning more about how to save on auto insurance or homeowners coverage, check out our other blog posts!

Credit Score

Credit score is based on your past history of paying bills on time and how much debt you have. If you have missed payments, this will affect your credit score and can make it more difficult for you to qualify for lower insurance rates. If your credit score is good, then chances are that you'll qualify for lower insurance premiums because the company knows that they're more likely to get paid back by someone with a good track record than someone who has been late in the past.


Conclusion

Don't despair as we have many options to help our clients find the best coverage for the best value. GSP Insurance Group works with 50+ carriers to find the best options for you. Give us a call today at 843.707.4473, email us at info@gspins.com or check out our website at www.gspins.com.