After nearly 50 years in the insurance business, Bill Palmer has seen just about everything. Car accidents. House fires. Fallen trees. Hailstorms. Burst pipes. Teenage drivers. Through it all, Bill remains a calm, seasoned insurance professional. But there are certain sentences capable of making even a veteran insurance agent’s eye begin to twitch.
Things like:
“We bought a trampoline.”
Or:
“We put in a swimming pool.”
And perhaps the most terrifying phrase in the insurance business:
“Oh… were we supposed to tell you about that?”
So, as a public service, we present: How to Make Bill’s Eye Twitch
Step 1: Buy a Trampoline
Nothing says wholesome backyard fun quite like launching members of your family several feet into the air above a collection of metal springs. Kids love them. Insurance companies? Their enthusiasm may be somewhat more restrained. Trampolines can create significant liability concerns on your home insurance policy, particularly when neighborhood children are involved. Depending on the insurer and policy, a trampoline could affect your coverage or require specific safety measures. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 3/10
Step 2: Install a Swimming Pool
Congratulations! You now have your own backyard oasis. You also have something your insurance agent would very much like to know about. Swimming pools can increase liability exposure, and insurers may have requirements involving fencing, gates, covers, diving boards and other safety features. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t own a pool. It means you probably shouldn’t install one on Saturday and casually mention it to Bill three years later. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 5/10
Pool + diving board + no fence? We’re going to need Bill to sit down.
Step 3: Get a Dog
Bill likes dogs. Your insurance company may want a little more information. Dog ownership can create liability issues because homeowners can potentially be responsible when their dog injures someone. Insurers differ considerably in how they handle dogs, breeds, bite histories and other risk factors. So if you’ve added a large dog to the household—or really any dog—it’s worth mentioning when you review your homeowners coverage. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 4/10
Step 4: Start Renting Your House to Strangers
You have a spare bedroom. Lancaster is busy on football weekends. You discover Airbnb. What could possibly go wrong? Actually, that’s exactly the sort of question your insurance agent would prefer you ask before accepting your first reservation. Using your home as a short-term rental can change the nature of the risk being insured. A standard homeowners policy wasn’t necessarily designed for regular business or rental activity, and coverage can vary. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 7/10
Step 5: Start a Business in Your Garage
It’s just a little side business. Nothing major. A few customers stop by. You’ve got maybe $25,000 worth of equipment in there. And technically you have one employee. Homeowners insurance may provide limited—or no—coverage for certain business property and liabilities. If you’re operating a business from home, talk with your insurance agent about whether you need additional coverage or a separate business policy. And please don’t wait until after something happens to announce: “Technically, the garage was a commercial woodworking operation.” Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 7/10
Step 6: Let Your Newly Licensed Teenager Drive Your Car
Bill knew this day was coming. He has been emotionally preparing since the child was in kindergarten. When someone in your household becomes a licensed driver, that’s something your insurance company generally needs to know. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 8/10 — Hand them the keys to the new sports car? 9/10.
Step 7: Build a Backyard “Something”
This category includes: A giant fire pit. A homemade zip line. A treehouse 20 feet off the ground. A skateboard ramp. A backyard shooting range. Or any structure introduced to your insurance agent with the sentence:
“My brother-in-law and I built it ourselves.”
Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: Variable, potentially catastrophic.
We’re not saying you can’t have fun on your own property. We’re simply suggesting that if neighborhood children have started lining up to sign waivers, perhaps give Bill a call.
Step 8: Ignore That Giant Dead Tree Leaning Toward Your House
You’ve been meaning to take care of it. For four years. Every thunderstorm it leans another three degrees toward the garage. At this point even the squirrels have moved out. Insurance is designed to protect against unexpected losses—not to replace routine maintenance or eliminate every consequence of a known hazard. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 8/10
Step 9: Don’t Tell Bill About ANY of This
And here we arrive at the championship round.
Trampoline?
Check.
Pool?
Check.
New dog?
Check.
Teen driver?
Check.
Airbnb guests arriving Friday?
Check.
Garage business?
Check.
Massive dead oak tree?
Still there.
And Bill knows absolutely nothing about any of it. Bill’s Eye Twitch Level: 11/10.
Here’s the Part We’re Actually Serious About
Your insurance policy is based partly on information about your home, vehicles, household and how they’re being used. Life changes. You renovate the house. Your teenager starts driving. You buy expensive equipment. You add a pool. You start working from home. You rent part of your property. You get a dog. You buy another vehicle. Some changes may have little effect on your insurance. Others could change your coverage needs substantially. The important thing is not to assume. An insurance agent would much rather have a five-minute conversation with you today than discover an important change after you’ve suffered a loss.
Save Bill’s Eye. Review Your Insurance.
If you’ve made some changes around your home or in your life since the last time we reviewed your policies, give Bill Palmer Insurance a call. We’ll review your current coverage, talk through what’s changed and help identify potential gaps before they become expensive surprises. And if you recently installed a pool, bought a trampoline, adopted Cupcake, started an Airbnb and handed the car keys to your 16-year-old…
Maybe don’t tell Bill all of it at once. Special thanks to Otra ruta for the featured image!