Here’s some great advice from our favorite family in the insurance world.

Homeowners insurance is a topic that’s not often thought of by buyers, but today we’ll be speaking with Dave Stewart and his daughter Sadie with North Central Insurance to answer some common questions about homeowners insurance that everyone should know the answers to.

Dave has been an independent agent for over 30 years, and for the last three years, his daughter Sadie has been working alongside him. They were kind enough to sit down and answer a few common insurance-related questions for us.

What coverage is often overlooked by new homeowners?

One thing that gets overlooked is the coverage for water backup of sewer and drain. These claims can be quite expensive, and if you don’t have that endorsement on your policy, you don’t have that coverage. 

Service line coverage is newer for most companies. Generally, if you’re hooked up to the city for water or electricity, you're liable for those lines from your driveway through your yard. Service line coverage helps cover any damages.

What are two options for deductibles for different types of policies?

One is a percentage deductible, which takes the replacement cost of your home. Typically, it’s 1% of the replacement cost of your home. With a $300,000 home, your deductible would be $3,000. Generally, you don’t save that much with a percentage deductible.

We like people to look at $1,000 deductibles. It’s much more affordable. There are a number of additional factors that come into play, however.

How can a homeowner continue to pay their mortgage in the event of an untimely death?

A lot of times, advertisements for policies that cover untimely death are sent to you in the mail when you move in. If you do happen to take one of those, they typically name the mortgage company as the beneficiary. If you take a policy out on your own, you can often get it cheaper and you can name your own beneficiary. 

What’s it like working as a father-daughter team?

Sadie: We see each other quite frequently, which is fun. It’s nice having the experience, but it can be a bit of pain working for someone you have a close relationship with. Mostly though, it’s fun.

Dave: I’ve been in the business for over 30 years, and I do see things from a different perspective now. I see things through her eyes that I wouldn't necessarily look at before. Once I determined that she’s the boss, it made things a lot easier.

Thanks so much to Dave and Sadie for joining us and sharing their expertise. If you have any insurance needs whatsoever, don’t hesitate to reach out to them at (763) 241-7900.

If you have any other real estate-related questions for us, feel free to reach out via phone or email at any time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Info about our guests:

Sadie Murphy, Insurance Agent

Bio - Sadie has been a licensed insurance agent since 2018. Although she is newer to the insurance business, Sadie has the drive and determination to be an effective problem solver regarding all of your insurance needs. Sadie was raised in and around the insurance business, as her father, Dave Stewart has been an agent with North Central Insurance for more than two decades. Sadie loves learning new things and she is prepared to spend the rest of her career learning how to best serve her clients. She loves animals, especially her cats and dogs, and loves to take her dogs on hikes with her husband when she isn’t in the office.

Phone: 763-241-7900

Email: sadie@northcentralinsurance.com

Dave Stewart, Insurance Agent / Owner

Bio - Dave and his family have lived in Nowthen since 1993. He has been with North Central Insurance since 1998 and has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. His daughter, Sadie, received her insurance license in July 2018 and started working with him in the fall of 2018. Dave and his wife Holly spend their free time camping and traveling. They also enjoy taking trips on their motorcycle.

Phone: (763) 241-7900 ext 1004

Email: dave@northcentralinsurance.com