Serena's Coverage Corner at Diversified Insurance Group, 1901 E Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI (2026)

09/05/2026

FINE PRINT FRIDAY

You have Business Income coverage.

Great.

But does that mean coverage starts the second your business closes after a covered loss?

Not necessarily.

Some Business Income coverage includes a waiting period before coverage begins.

Think of it a little like a time deductible.

Depending on the policy, there may be a certain number of hours that have to pass after the covered physical loss before Business Income coverage starts responding.

And that's just one piece of the fine print.

There may also be rules about:

what kind of physical damage has to occur
how long the interruption can be covered
how the loss of income is calculated
what expenses continue during the shutdown
when the "period of restoration" begins and ends

The exact wording varies by policy and carrier, so this is definitely not a one-size-fits-all coverage.

Fine Print Friday takeaway:

Having Business Income coverage is important.

Knowing when it actually starts can be just as important.

If you own a business and you've never looked at that part of your policy, this is one of those areas that's worth understanding before you ever need it. If you're not sure how your Business Income coverage is set up, take a look at your policy or ask your agent to walk through it with you.

And if you'd ever like a second set of eyes on your coverage, I'm happy to take a look too. No pressure - sometimes it's just helpful to have another perspective.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

09/04/2026

TIP THURSDAY

If something shut your business down tomorrow, would you know what to do next?

And I don't just mean calling your insurance agent.

Think about all the things it takes to keep a business running:

Who contacts your employees?

Can you access important records if you can't get into the building?

Do you have current contact information for vendors and customers?

Are important files backed up somewhere other than your physical location?

Could you operate temporarily from somewhere else?

Do you know which equipment or systems you absolutely HAVE to get back online first?

A fire, severe storm, power outage, water loss or other unexpected event can create enough chaos on its own.

Figuring out your plan shouldn't be part of the chaos.

You don't need a 47-page disaster manual gathering dust in a binder somewhere. Even a basic written plan with contacts, backups, responsibilities and next steps can make a big difference.

And while you're thinking about what it would take to reopen, it's also a good time to know what your insurance does - and doesn't - provide if a covered loss interrupts your operations.

Which ties in pretty nicely with what we talked about Tuesday. 😉

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

09/03/2026

CLAIMS CORNER - Stories from the Front Lines

I've mentioned before that my years as a claims adjuster gave me some stories.

This is definitely one of them.

I had a water damage claim at a single-wide mobile home. The only bathroom was all the way at the back of the house, so I walked in through the front door and quickly realized getting there was going to be...interesting.

There was stuff everywhere.

Every counter was covered. The coffee table was piled high. The couch and chairs were covered except for one small place to sit. And the hallway?

There was what I can only describe as a "donkey trail."

The hallway was already narrow, and belongings were piled about chest-high along one side for pretty much the entire length of it. I literally had to turn sideways and squeeze my way down the hall to get to the bathroom.

When it was time to take the recorded statement, there wasn't a clear surface anywhere for my laptop.

So I balanced it on a pizza box on top of the coffee table.

Claims adjusting is glamorous, folks. 😂

But here's the insurance part of the story.

The water damage wasn't caused by a sudden pipe burst or another sudden event. It had been leaking slowly over time.

Ultimately, I had to deny the claim because the damage did not meet the policy provisions applicable to that loss for direct, sudden and accidental water damage.

And no - the claim wasn't denied because of the clutter.

But the condition of the home certainly didn't make noticing a developing water problem any easier.

That's the takeaway from this one: check the boring places.

Under your sinks. Around your toilets. Behind appliances. Near your water heater. Pay attention to staining, dampness, warped flooring, musty smells or anything else that suddenly doesn't look quite right.

A small leak can quietly cause a LOT of damage before you realize it's there. And damage that happens gradually over time may be treated very differently by your insurance policy than a sudden water loss.

Catch the little problem while it's still a little problem.

And somewhere out there is a pizza box that briefly served as my claims-adjusting desk. 😂

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

09/02/2026

POLICY TRANSLATION TUESDAY - Business Income

You have insurance on your building. You have coverage for your business property.

But what about the money your business isn't making while everything is being repaired?

That's where Business Income coverage can come in.

Let's say a covered fire damages your business and you're forced to close for repairs.

The property coverage may help repair the physical damage.

But meanwhile...

You're not ringing up sales.

You may still have bills to pay.

You may still have payroll or other continuing expenses.

And being closed for several weeks - or several months - can hurt a business long after the actual damage is repaired.

Business Income coverage is designed to help replace certain lost income and continuing operating expenses when your business has to suspend operations because of covered physical damage, subject to the terms and limits of your policy.

Think of it this way:

Property coverage helps put the business back together.

Business Income coverage can help the business survive while that's happening.

There are important details buried in this coverage - including what triggers it, how long coverage lasts, and when it actually begins.

We'll talk about one of those on Fine Print Friday.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

09/01/2026

MYTH MONDAY

MYTH: "If someone gets hurt at my house, my homeowners insurance will just pay for everything."

Not exactly.

There are actually two different coverages on a homeowners policy that may come into play when someone gets hurt: Medical Payments to Others and Personal Liability.

And they do two very different jobs.

Medical Payments is generally meant for smaller medical expenses when someone who doesn't live with you is accidentally injured. The big difference? You don't necessarily have to be legally responsible for the injury for this coverage to apply.

Personal Liability is different. That's the coverage designed to protect you when you're legally responsible for someone else's bodily injury or property damage. It also may help with the cost of defending you if you're sued.

So let's say your friend trips walking down your stairs and needs a few stitches. Medical Payments may come into play even if you didn't actually do anything wrong.

But let's say you knew the handrail was broken, never fixed it, your friend falls because of it and suffers a serious injury. Now we may be having a very different conversation involving your Personal Liability coverage.

Same homeowners policy. Two completely different coverages.

And one other important distinction: Medical Payments limits are usually MUCH smaller than your Personal Liability limit. Your actual limits will be listed on your policy.

So if you've ever looked at your declarations page and wondered why you have both...

Now you know. 🙂

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

08/29/2026

FINE PRINT FRIDAY: Ordinance & Law Coverage

Your homeowners policy says it will rebuild your house after a covered loss.

Great.

But what happens when the house you lost was built in 1975...and the house you're rebuilding has to meet 2026 building codes?

That's where Ordinance or Law coverage can become pretty important.

Let's say you have a major covered fire. During the rebuild, current building codes require upgrades that weren't part of your original home.

Maybe it's electrical. Maybe it's plumbing. Maybe it's structural. Depending on the loss and local requirements, bringing the damaged property up to current code can add a LOT to the cost of rebuilding.

And here's the part that's easy to miss:

Your basic dwelling limit and your coverage for those increased costs aren't necessarily the same thing.

Policies can provide different amounts of Ordinance or Law coverage, and exactly what is covered depends on the policy, carrier and circumstances of the loss.

So when you're looking at your declarations page and see something like:

"Ordinance or Law - 10%"
..that's not just another random insurance line item.

It could matter quite a bit if you ever have a significant loss.

Fine Print Friday takeaway:

Replacement cost answers, "What does it cost to rebuild?"

Ordinance or Law coverage helps address another question:

"What happens when the law says I have to rebuild it differently?"

This is one of those coverages that's worth understanding before you need it. If you're curious what your current policy provides, I'm happy to help you decipher it or give you a second opinion.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

08/28/2026

TIP THURSDAY - Fall Storm Prep

We're getting close to that time of year when Michigan decides leaves belong absolutely everywhere...including your gutters.

Before fall really gets going, this is a good time to take a quick look around the outside of your house.

Clean leaves and debris out of gutters and downspouts, and make sure downspouts are actually directing water away from your foundation.

While you're at it, check that:

- Gutters aren't loose, sagging or leaking
- Downspouts aren't clogged
- Extensions haven't fallen off or gotten moved
- Soil around the foundation isn't directing water toward the house
- Window wells and exterior drains are clear of debris

None of this is particularly exciting homeownership stuff. But neither is discovering water in your basement after a heavy rain. 😬

A lot of claim prevention comes down to catching the boring little things before they turn into expensive big things.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

08/27/2026

Apparently today is National Dog Day, so we're taking a brief break from insurance. 😂

Let's be real. Most of us don't need an official holiday as an excuse to show people pictures of our dogs, but I'm certainly not going to turn down the opportunity.

So let's see them. 👇

Big dogs. Little dogs. Senior dogs. Puppies. Purebreds. Mystery mutts. Dogs who are perfect angels and dogs who have absolutely no regrets about whatever they did five minutes ago.

Drop your favorite picture of your pup in the comments!

I'll start with mine. 🐾

08/26/2026

POLICY TRANSLATION TUESDAY: Water in your basement is water in your basement, right?

Not to your insurance policy. 😬

Two homes can have water standing in their basements and have two completely different coverage situations depending on where that water came from.

Here's the plain-English version:

Water backup is generally water that backs up through a sewer or drain, or water that overflows or is discharged from a sump, sump pump, or related equipment.

Coverage for that type of loss is often available by endorsement, but it is not necessarily included automatically on a standard homeowners policy. Limits and coverage vary by policy and carrier.

Flood is different.

Think surface water coming onto normally dry land and entering your home. A standard homeowners policy generally excludes flood, which typically requires separate flood insurance.

And here's where it can get confusing:

A major rainstorm could potentially contribute to either situation.

Water backs up through your basement drain? One coverage conversation.

Water accumulates outside and flows through your basement window? Very different coverage conversation.

Same storm. Same basement. Same water damage.

Potentially very different insurance coverage.

That's why, when someone tells me, "My basement flooded," one of my first questions is going to be:

Okay, but where did the water come from?

If you're not sure whether your current policy includes water backup coverage, or what limit you have, this is one of those coverages worth checking before you're standing in two inches of water.

And if you'd like a second set of eyes on your policy, I'm always happy to help.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

08/25/2026

MYTH MONDAY - MYTH: "I have $100,000 of personal property coverage, so everything I own is covered up to $100,000."

Not quite. Your homeowners policy may show one big limit for Personal Property, also called Coverage C. But buried inside the policy are special limits that can apply to certain types of property or certain types of losses.

Depending on your policy, those may include things like:

💎 Jewelry, watches and precious stones
💵 Money, coins and precious metals
🔫 Fi****ms
🥈 Silverware and goldware
💻 Property used for business
🚤 Certain watercraft and related equipment
📄 Securities and valuable papers

Here's the important part - having $100,000 in Personal Property coverage does NOT necessarily mean you could collect $100,000 for one of these categories.

For example, you could own $15,000 worth of jewelry and still have a much smaller amount available for a theft loss if your policy has a special theft limit for jewelry. That's why valuable property sometimes needs to be specifically scheduled or otherwise separately insured.

The takeaway: Don't just look at the big number on your declarations page. Sometimes it's the little numbers buried inside the policy that matter most.

Have jewelry, collectibles, fi****ms, expensive equipment or other higher-value property and aren't sure how your policy treats it? I'm always happy to take a second look and explain what you're actually covered for.

That's all for today's visit to Serena's Coverage Corner!

Because insurance is serious. Learning about it doesn't have to be.

Serena's Coverage Corner at Diversified Insurance Group

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

08/29/2026

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