Insights

Hidden Hazards: Identifying and Insuring Common Self-Storage Property Exposures

Hidden Hazards: Identifying and Insuring Common Self-Storage Property Exposures

Self-storage facilities may look like typical brick-and-mortar business operations from the outside — but, when it comes to insurance coverage, they’re not. The truth is, with their distinct property exposures, self-storage facilities require a different approach to insurance coverage, one that accounts for their specific vulnerabilities.  Drawing from an insightful conversation with Josh Leykam, Vice President of Underwriting at MiniCo, this blog highlights...

read more
How to Navigate Slip, Fall, and Injury Risks for Self-Storage Facilities

How to Navigate Slip, Fall, and Injury Risks for Self-Storage Facilities

Self-storage facilities, sometimes perceived as low-risk environments, can unexpectedly become targets for liability issues, particularly in the category of slip, fall, and bodily injury claims. Picture this: An excited college student, arms full of boxes, takes a serious fall while walking down an interior hallway to their rented unit due to a...

read more
Meeting the Growing Need for Expert Self-Storage Insurance

Meeting the Growing Need for Expert Self-Storage Insurance

The self-storage industry has grown rapidly in the past several years, reaching an estimated market value of $44.37 billion, outpacing many other notable companies like Aflac, General Mills, Humana, and even 7-Eleven.  The reason?  People love their stuff — and they don’t want to part ways with it. According to Josh Leykam, MiniCo Vice...

read more
Decoding Specialty BOPs: Tailored Insurance to Mitigate Self-Storage Risks

Decoding Specialty BOPs: Tailored Insurance to Mitigate Self-Storage Risks

Most business owners understand the importance of having the right general liability (GL) insurance. What they may not know is that their GL policy isn’t all-inclusive and doesn’t provide protection for losses associated with business personal property as well as other critical coverages. A business owner’s policy (BOP) is an effective option for...

read more
Collection Preservation: The Collector’s Path to Peace of Mind

Collection Preservation: The Collector’s Path to Peace of Mind

From rare artwork to Wine to unique memorabilia, the world of collecting is both varied and ever-evolving, demanding a strategic approach to collection preservation. A collector’s worst fear is damage to or loss of a priceless, irreplaceable item or collection. For the savvy collector, implementing effective risk mitigation and preservation...

read more
The Art of Restoration with Specialty Insurance

The Art of Restoration with Specialty Insurance

When most collectors think of fine arts insurance, they may imagine disasters brought on by major events like fires, floods, and theft. However, the most common perils that threaten unique art collections are far more subtle: a poorly hung painting that falls to the ground or a simple scratch due to improper handling. Unlike the expectations with...

read more
Navigating the Underinsurance Crisis for Small Businesses

Navigating the Underinsurance Crisis for Small Businesses

Small businesses may not get the same level of media attention as larger Fortune 500 companies, but they’re quietly working away to bolster the economy, provide jobs to millions, and navigate the underinsurance crisis. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees account for 45% of all private sector jobs and keep roughly 56 million Americans...

read more
Nine Tips for Keeping Employees Safe this Winter

Nine Tips for Keeping Employees Safe this Winter

While winter officially began on December 21, the onset of cold weather was felt in many areas of the United States much earlier. As we move into what are typically the coldest months of the year, businesses need to be mindful of the safety of their employees — particularly employees who spend some or much of their working day outside.  On...

read more
Safeguarding Commercial Properties: Tips to Prevent Winter Fires

Safeguarding Commercial Properties: Tips to Prevent Winter Fires

Fires in commercial buildings can happen any time of year, but the risk can rise in winter. The colder months often bring increased usage of heating systems and electrical appliances as businesses work to make spaces more comfortable for employees and customers and to keep equipment and other business assets safe and operational. Winter weather...

read more
Winter Preparedness is Key as Regulators Warn of Grid Disruptions

Winter Preparedness is Key as Regulators Warn of Grid Disruptions

According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)’s 2023-2024 Winter Reliability Assessment, two-thirds of the United States and Canada may be in for a chilly winter season. The report concludes that during peak winter weather conditions, prolonged dips in temperatures will significantly disrupt the electric grid and...

read more
Self-Storage Demand Holds Steady With Few Signs of Post-Boom Decline

Self-Storage Demand Holds Steady With Few Signs of Post-Boom Decline

Americans love our stuff — and we’re so reluctant to part with it that we’re willing to pay someone else to store it. Storage Cafe estimates that 38% of Americans have used or plan to rent space to store what they can’t (or don’t want to) keep in their homes. Over the past two years, there’s been a boom in the self-storage industry, driven...

read more
Common Cyber Insurance Myths and Misconceptions

Common Cyber Insurance Myths and Misconceptions

No matter what kind of business you’re in, the threat of cybercrime — and its associated costs — looms large. According to IBM Security, globally the average cost of a single breach reached an all-time high in 2023 ($4.45 million). In the U.S., that number is even higher, with an average cost of $9.48 million per breach, an increase of 0.4% from...

read more
Navigating Middle-Market Pricing Hikes

Navigating Middle-Market Pricing Hikes

Lately, middle-market businesses (those that typically pay premiums upward of $75K) are finding it difficult to secure reasonable commercial property and auto insurance. This is pushing many of them to pursue new insurance solutions for the coming year.  What’s Driving Middle-Market Property and Auto Prices?  In its Q2 2023 Property and...

read more
Nonprofit Insurance for Giving Tuesday 2023 — And Beyond

Nonprofit Insurance for Giving Tuesday 2023 — And Beyond

The Significance of Giving Tuesday While most of us may be in the midst of planning our Thanksgiving menu or trying to get a jump-start on our holiday shopping list, nonprofits across the globe are gearing up for Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday — which falls on November 28th this year — marks a unique opportunity for nonprofit and social services...

read more
Nonprofit Sector Growth Underscores Need for Specialized Insurance

Nonprofit Sector Growth Underscores Need for Specialized Insurance

The American nonprofit sector has grown an astounding 33% over the past 15 years — faster than any other segment in the economy. Although the private for-profit sector continues to employ the largest number of individuals across the country, the nonprofit sector holds the number two spot — ahead of federal, local, and state governments.  In...

read more
HNOA Insurance for Food and Cannabis Delivery 

HNOA Insurance for Food and Cannabis Delivery 

Many food and cannabis delivery service providers mistakenly believe their employees are fully covered on the road through commercial auto insurance or the employees’ personal auto policies — but that’s not the case. If a business hires drivers who use borrowed, rented, or personal vehicles for food or cannabis deliveries, they risk exposure to...

read more
Ask Your Clients These Collectibles Insurance Questions

Ask Your Clients These Collectibles Insurance Questions

Collectibles represented a $458.2 billion market last year, with expectations to grow up to $462 billion in 2023. Whether someone collects sports jerseys, bourbon, Jewelry, or specialty duck decoys, they want to know their investment is protected.  While standard insurance policies can offer some protection, they weren’t designed with...

read more
Behind Locked Doors: Unusual Finds in Self-Storage Units

Behind Locked Doors: Unusual Finds in Self-Storage Units

Abandoned storage units have long held an aura of mystery and intrigue, captivating the public’s imagination through television shows like “Storage Wars” and “Auction Hunters.” And who could forget the scene in the classic horror film “Silence of the Lambs” where Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, crawls into storage unit #31 in pursuit of...

read more
Seven Cybersecurity Measures That Lower Insurance Premiums

Seven Cybersecurity Measures That Lower Insurance Premiums

There has been a staggering surge in cybercriminal activities over the past few years, with a global increase of 38% between 2021 and 2022. The financial repercussions of an attack can be crippling, with an average cost of a single data breach reaching $4.45 million.  In an effort to cover their losses and keep up with demand, insurers have...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Flood Evacuation Planning

Ensure the safety of your employees and customers by developing a flood evacuation plan for your business that includes the following: Conditions that will activate the plan Specific evacuation procedures Maps of evacuation routes Procedures for accounting for all personnel Emergency functions with staff assignments Emergency equipment Don’t...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Driving in Flood Conditions

If you need to drive in flood conditions, be mindful of the risks and take the necessary precautions. According to the National Weather Service, almost half of all flash flood fatalities occur in vehicles, so it is important to be prepared. Six inches of standing water can stall some cars. One foot of water can float a vehicle. Two feet of moving...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Surviving a Wildfire

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, federal wildfire suppression costs range from $1-2 billion annually. Here are some tips to help you survive during a wildfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a fire. Don't assume that someone else has reported it. Monitor the Emergency Alert System (EAS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Fire Prevention Tips for Customers

Educate your tenants and customers about fire prevention to help reduce risk at your property.3 Ways to Educate Customers About Fire Prevention Signage: Post signs around the property to remind customers that smoking, candles, and open flame are prohibited. Monthly Bills: Add a fire prevention tip or other safety reminder to each monthly bill or...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Creating Defensible Space for Wildfires

Defensible space is a zone in which vegetation, debris, and other combustible fuels have been cleared, minimized, or treated with the goal of slowing the spread of fire to and between buildings. Here are tips from the Department of Homeland Security's website www.Ready.gov.6 Tips for Creating Defensible Space Choose fire-resistant materials for...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Pre-Wildfire Mitigation

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an average of 70,000 wildfires are set ablaze across the United States each year. Lightning can trigger burns, but they are frequently initiated by humans through intentional or unintentional means. Property owners can help mitigate potential wildfire losses, but some don’t take these...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

First Aid for Heat Exhaustion

First aid actions for heat-related illness: Call a supervisor or co-worker for help. If no one is available, call 911. Have someone stay with the person until emergency medical personnel arrive. Move the person to an area that is air conditioned or shaded. Remove the person’s outer clothing. Fan the person and mist them with water. Apply ice bags...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illness

Working outdoors in the summer months can mean coping with hot, humid weather conditions. It is important for you and your facility managers to understand the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke to help prevent these dangerous, and possibly deadly, situations. Symptoms of heat exhaustion: Headache, dizziness, or faintingWeakness and wet...

read more
Watch Out for Heat Stress

Watch Out for Heat Stress

In many parts of the country, the summer months mean high heat and high humidity – a combination that can be a serious health hazard for you and your facility managers who have to work outside. Here are some tips for avoiding heat stress and heat-related illness: Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabric.Drink small...

read more
Watch Out for Heat Stress

Here Comes the Sun

During the warm-weather months, it's important to take precautions to protect yourself and your employees from the hazards of sun exposure while working outside. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight causes premature skin aging, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. Remember: there are no safe UV rays or suntans. Here are a few ways to stay safe...

read more
Watch Out for Heat Stress

Employment Practices Complaints

High-profile cases involving employee claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination by their employers make headlines on a regular basis. Self-storage businesses are not impervious to this type of trouble. In today’s litigious environment, all employers would be wise to consider employment practices liability coverage to...

read more
Watch Out for Heat Stress

Employment Practices Liability Coverage

No business is immune to the possibility of employment practices complaints, which most commonly involve complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. With this in mind, it is important to discuss employment practices liability coverage with your insurance agent. Employment practices liability coverage may be...

read more
Watch Out for Heat Stress

Fireworks Safety

In the weeks surrounding the July 4th holiday, an average of 180 people per day wind up in the emergency room due to fireworks-related injuries according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fireworks are synonymous with Independence Day celebrations. But in the midst of the festivities, it can be easy to overlook the fact that...

read more
Pest Control

Pest Control

The last thing your tenants want to discover is evidence of damage to their valuable stored items as a result of insects, rodents, or other pests. Your facility risk management plan should include a monthly pest control prevention program that includes regular inspections and treatment. Hiring a licensed, insured pest control vendor to perform...

read more
Maintaining Gates and Elevators

Maintaining Gates and Elevators

Gates, gate operators, and elevators are some of the most frequently used features at a self-storage facility. Now that spring is on the way, it's a good time to inspect these systems and make any necessary repairs. This action ensures that these systems are operating at peak efficiently while helping to minimize the potential for costly property...

read more
Spring Roof Inspection and Maintenance

Spring Roof Inspection and Maintenance

As you plan ahead for the busy summer rental season, one of the first tasks to address is a thorough roof inspection. Roofs and gutters can take a beating during the winter months, and it is important to address any issues before a problem escalates into a leak causing costly damage to the facility or tenants' stored items. Be sure to inspect the...

read more
Hurricane Emergency Plan

Hurricane Emergency Plan

With the 2022 hurricane season underway, it is critical that you be prepared. The first step is to create an emergency preparedness plan, a basic requirement for all businesses regardless of location. Once the plan has been developed, it is important to communicate it to your managers and employees. Training – Provide ongoing training for your...

read more
Hurricane Season Forecast

Hurricane Season Forecast

June 1st marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. This year's extended-range forecast by Colorado State University research scientist Dr. Philip Klotzbach anticipates above-normal activity. His forecast for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season predicts 19 named storms including 9 hurricanes with 4 classified as major hurricanes...

read more
Flood Evacuation Planning

Downed Power Line Safety

Downed power lines can be deadly. They can energize the ground for up to 35 feet (or more in wet conditions). The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) recommends that downed power lines should always be assumed to be live to reduce the risk of severe injury or fatality. Here are...

read more
Electrical Safety and Hurricanes

Electrical Safety and Hurricanes

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and severe storms can strike across the country at any time. The storm preparation checklist for your self-storage facility should include electrical safety considerations. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) offers recommendations for before, during, and after a...

read more

Stay Informed

Want to receive information from MiniCo on timely marketplace trends, hot new program launches, and valuable industry expertise that will set you up to win? Sign up to receive email communications.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We’re excited you want to explore career opportunities at MiniCo!

You are about to be redirected to the careers page on our parent company website JencapGroup.com. Here you will find all available positions at MiniCo as well as our affiliate companies.

Please wait while you are redirected or click here.