Q. What are your office hours?

A. Our regular office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, you may leave after-hours messages for any of our associates using our voicemail system.

Q. How do I send e-mail?

A. If you go back to our home page and click on the button entitled "Contact Us," you will go to a screen that gives the addresses and phone numbers to our offices. If you want to send an e-mail to our agency, visit our contact page and complete the email form.

Q. Do you sell Mobile Home insurance?

A. Although our agency handles most types of insurance, there are some specialty areas where we feel we do not have the expertise or markets to do a good job for our clients. Mobile Home insurance is one of those areas. We suggest that you look for an agency in the Yellow Pages that specializes in this area.

Q. Do you sell Hurricane insurance?

A. Usually when we are asked this question, the person asking is referring to the actual perils associated with a hurricane. Those would include wind insurance and flood insurance. Yes, we sell this coverage. However, in southwest Florida, where the threat of a hurricane is quite real, obtaining this coverage can be tricky. We have over 30 years experience helping our clients protect their assets against this natural disaster.

Q. My mortgage lender doesn't require me to carry Flood insurance. Do I still need it?

A. Probably. Lenders frequently waive the need for a homeowner to purchase Flood coverage if their home is not in a designated Flood zone. As a result, many people choose not to purchase this coverage. However, the peril of flood is excluded from your Homeowner's policy. In the event of a strong tropical storm or hurricane, damage caused to your home by flooding is not covered unless you have Flood insurance. In addition, after you purchase Flood insurance, there is a thirty-day waiting period before it takes effect. So the time to purchase the coverage is now, not when a storm is on the way. We do offer this coverage and can help you determine how much you need.

Q. I notice on my policy, there are all sorts of taxes and surcharges. What are they for?

A. If you contact our office, we will be happy to send you a complimentary brochure created by the Florida Association of Independent Insurance agents that will explain these additional charges.

Q. How do I report a Claim?

A. Our experienced claims team is always ready to serve you as quickly and effectively as possible. However, many of the insurance carriers that we represent encourage and prefer you to contact them directly on a claim so that they can begin the claim process with you as quickly as possible. If you click on the “Claims Assistance” button on the left side of our Home Page, you will be put into a screen that lists the major insurance carriers we represent along with their phone numbers for claims reports. If your carrier is not listed, or you would like to speak to a member of our claims team, please contact Rick Slukich, Commercial Claims Representative (435-7153) or Chris Keefer, Personal Lines Claims Representative (435-7107). If you are ever dissatisfied with your claims experience, please contact Dennis Slabaugh, Director of Claims (430-7541).

Q. Are there any special things I need to know in case of a hurricane?

A. It is difficult to predict what might occur if a hurricane were to hit southwest Florida. However, if you were to incur property damage, here is some useful information: 1) In the event of property damage to your home or business, you do not have to wait for a claims adjustor to visit you to make temporary repairs that will reduce further damage. 2) Gulfshore Insurance will make every effort to assist you with your claim. We will attempt to give ongoing, useful information on this website and on Radio Station WAVV FM 101, which will broadcast information about our agency including our hours of operation and location should we have to move to a temporary office.

Q. Do you offer individual health insurance?

A. We do not sell individual health insurance coverage. We do offer Group Life and Health insurance products for businesses with ten or more employees. Group coverage may also be obtained through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Please see "Gulfshore Human Capital Solutions" in the "Products and Services" section.

Q. If friends or family visit me, will they be covered if they drive my car?

A. Since we get many visitors to our tropical paradise, this is a common question. Under the personal automobile policy, anyone to whom you give permission may drive your car. The only people that need to be specifically listed on the policy are residents of your household.