by barefootins | Aug 21, 2026 | Florida Insurance, Personal Insurance
Buying a home in Margate, FL means thinking about more than the purchase price and mortgage payment. Homeowners insurance can become an important part of both your closing process and your long-term cost of owning the property.
For buyers in ZIP code 33063 and surrounding Margate communities, Florida’s insurance market can feel complicated. Roof age, construction, wind mitigation features, prior claims, replacement cost and flood exposure can all affect the options available.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Barefoot Insurance Brokers has been helping Florida consumers navigate the insurance marketplace since 2013, with a brick-and-mortar office right here in Margate, next door to the DMV on Banks Road.
Start Shopping for Insurance Before Closing
One of the easiest mistakes a Florida buyer can make is waiting until the last minute to obtain homeowners insurance.
Instead, begin the insurance conversation while you’re still working through inspections and financing.
An insurance agent may need information about:
- Year the home was built
- Roof age and roof covering
- Electrical system
- Plumbing
- HVAC system
- Construction type
- Wind mitigation features
- Prior claims
- Desired coverage
- Mortgage requirements
Older properties may also require inspection documentation such as a four-point inspection.
Starting early gives you more time to resolve questions before your closing date starts galloping toward you.
Market Value and Replacement Cost Aren’t the Same Thing
Your home’s purchase price isn’t necessarily the amount for which the dwelling should be insured.
Homeowners insurance generally considers the estimated cost to repair or rebuild the structure after a covered loss.
Land value is different from reconstruction cost.
That distinction is particularly important when real estate prices move up or down. A declining sale price doesn’t automatically mean a home should have a proportionally lower dwelling limit.
Why Wind Mitigation Matters in Broward County
Florida homes face significant wind exposure.
A wind mitigation inspection documents construction features that may help a home withstand hurricane-force winds.
Depending on the home, an inspection may document features involving:
- Roof shape
- Roof-to-wall connections
- Roof deck attachment
- Secondary water resistance
- Window and door protection
- Garage door protection
Qualifying mitigation features can affect the wind portion of a homeowners premium, which makes the wind mitigation report an important document when shopping for coverage.
Don’t Forget About Flood Insurance
Homeowners insurance and flood insurance solve different problems.
A standard homeowners policy generally doesn’t provide coverage for flooding caused by rising water.
Margate participates in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, and the City maintains flood-zone information and resources for residents.
Even when a lender doesn’t require flood insurance, buyers should still understand the property’s flood exposure and consider obtaining a quote.
Barefoot can compare available NFIP and private flood insurance options depending on the property and eligibility.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Before closing on a Margate home, consider asking:
- How old is the roof?
- Is there a current wind mitigation inspection?
- Is a four-point inspection required?
- Are the windows or shutters impact rated?
- Has the property had prior insurance claims?
- What flood zone is the property in?
- Does the lender require flood insurance?
- What is the estimated replacement cost?
- Are there features such as a pool, screened enclosure or detached structure that should be discussed?
- What deductibles are available?
These questions can uncover insurance considerations while you still have time to address them.
Why Shop More Than One Insurance Company?
Different insurers can have different underwriting guidelines, pricing, deductibles and eligibility requirements.
That’s one reason working with an independent insurance agency can be useful.
Barefoot Insurance Brokers represents multiple homeowners insurance markets and researches underwriting criteria to help match customers with appropriate available options.
Our homeowners markets include insurers such as Security First, Cypress Property & Casualty, Universal Property & Casualty, Monarch National, Edison, Florida Peninsula, Ovation, SageSure, Swyfft, Slide, Patriot Select, American Traditions, American Integrity, Orchid and other available markets.
Availability depends on the individual property and current underwriting requirements.
Local Help in Margate
Barefoot Insurance Brokers isn’t a national call center pretending to be local.
Our Margate office serves the community with knowledgeable insurance professionals who work in the Florida market every day.
We are an independent, woman-owned insurance agency established in 2013, and many of our customers have been with us since the agency’s early years.
Our goal is straightforward: research the available options, communicate clearly and make buying insurance as hassle-free as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is homeowners insurance legally required in Florida?
Florida generally doesn’t require homeowners to purchase a homeowners policy simply because they own a home. Mortgage lenders, however, typically require borrowers to maintain acceptable property insurance.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood damage caused by rising water. Flood insurance is normally purchased separately through the NFIP or an available private flood insurer.
Should I get a homeowners quote before making an offer?
You can begin researching insurance early, but a meaningful quote generally requires details about the specific property. Once you are seriously considering a home, obtaining insurance information before closing is wise.
Does a lower home purchase price mean I need less insurance?
Not necessarily. Market value and the estimated cost to rebuild a home are different measurements.
Can wind mitigation lower my insurance premium?
Qualifying wind-resistant construction features documented through an acceptable inspection may qualify for applicable mitigation credits.
Can Barefoot also quote my flood and auto insurance?
Yes. Reviewing home, flood and auto together can also help identify gaps, overlapping needs and available carrier opportunities.
Buying a Home in Margate?
Whether you’re moving across Broward County or relocating to Florida, Barefoot Insurance Brokers can help you research homeowners, flood, auto and umbrella insurance options before closing.
Visit or contact our Margate, Florida office to speak with a knowledgeable local insurance professional.
Coverage, discounts, underwriting requirements and eligibility vary by insurer and property. This article is general educational information and isn’t a substitute for reviewing the specific policy and property.
About the Author
Kassy Mendez is a Licensed Independent Insurance Agent with Barefoot Insurance Brokers, bringing years of industry experience in personal lines coverage to Florida homeowners and families. Her areas of expertise include flood insurance, homeowners insurance, high-valued and coastal home insurance, wind-only coverage, personal umbrella policies, and auto insurance throughout Florida. Kassandra Mendez is known for helping her insurance clients navigate complex risk exposures with clarity and confidence. You can reach Kassy Mendez directly at kassy@barefootins.com or call/text 754-233-0637 to discuss your insurance needs.
by barefootins | Aug 19, 2026 | Commercial Insurance, Florida Insurance
Lawn Care vs. Landscaping Workers’ Comp in Florida: Understanding Class Codes 9102 and 0042
If you own a lawn care or landscaping company in Florida, one seemingly small detail can have a major effect on your workers’ compensation policy: what your employees actually do during the workday.
Two businesses may both describe themselves as “landscapers,” yet their workers may belong in different workers’ compensation classifications due to their daily activities.
Two classifications that frequently create confusion are Class Code 9102 and Class Code 0042.
Understanding the difference can help a Florida lawn or landscaping business avoid classification problems, unexpected audit adjustments, and insurance coverage headaches.
What Is Workers’ Compensation Class Code 9102?
Class Code 9102 generally applies to lawn maintenance operations involving existing lawns and landscapes.
Typical operations may include routine lawn care and maintenance rather than installing new landscaping.
For example, a company primarily maintaining established lawns may have a very different workers’ compensation exposure from a crew installing plants, trees, mulch, landscape features, or entirely new landscaping.
Interestingly, the class description can cause confusion because business owners don’t necessarily describe themselves using the terminology found in workers’ compensation classification manuals.
That’s why the actual work performed matters more than the name on the side of the truck.
What Is Workers’ Compensation Class Code 0042?
Class Code 0042, Landscape Gardening & Drivers, is generally associated with new landscape installation work. Think beyond routine mowing and maintenance.
Operations involving installation of new landscaping, planting and similar landscape-development activities may point toward 0042 rather than a lawn-maintenance classification.
This distinction isn’t merely theoretical. NCCI has identified 0042 as a classification where employers are frequently reclassified to 9102 because their actual work is better described as maintenance of existing landscaping rather than new landscape installation.
Can a Landscaping Company Have Both 0042 and 9102?
Potentially.
A Florida landscaping company may perform different types of operations.
For example, a company might maintain existing lawns for recurring customers while another crew performs new landscape installations.
Whether payroll can be divided among classifications depends on the applicable workers’ compensation classification rules, the operations being performed, and whether the employer maintains the required payroll records.
This is one reason accurate job descriptions and payroll records matter.
If employees regularly cross between different operations, classification can become more complicated. Your insurance agent and workers’ compensation carrier should review the actual duties rather than relying solely on a business name or website description.
What About Tree Trimming?
Tree work deserves special attention.
Ground-level tree or shrub maintenance can present a different classification issue from employees climbing or performing above-ground tree work.
Above-ground tree trimming creates substantially different hazards and may require a tree-trimming classification such as 0106, depending on the operation and applicable classification rules.
A lawn company shouldn’t assume that its workers’ compensation classification automatically covers every tree-related service it decides to offer.
Before adding climbing, elevated tree trimming, or a substantially different operation, contact your insurance agent.
Why Misclassification Matters
Workers’ compensation premiums are closely connected to payroll and employee classifications.
If the business is classified incorrectly, problems can surface during the policy audit.
An audit may examine:
- Payroll
- Employee duties
- Business operations
- Subcontractor exposure
- Certificates of insurance
- Changes in operations during the policy period
If the work performed doesn’t match the classifications used on the policy, the final audited premium may change.
For a growing contractor, discovering a classification problem at the end of the policy year is considerably less pleasant than addressing it before the work begins.
A Common Example
Imagine two Florida companies.
Company A mows lawns, edges properties, performs routine ground-level maintenance and maintains established landscaping.
Company B installs new landscaping, plants trees and shrubs, creates landscape beds and performs landscape installation projects.
Customers may casually call both companies “landscapers.”
From a workers’ compensation perspective, however, their operations aren’t necessarily the same.
That distinction is exactly why business owners should describe their operations carefully when applying for coverage.
Growing Your Lawn Business? Review Your Insurance Before Adding Services
Many businesses evolve gradually.
A lawn company starts mowing residential properties. Then customers ask for mulch. Next comes landscape installation. Eventually the owner buys additional trucks, hires employees, adds tree work, or starts bidding commercial jobs.
Insurance needs can evolve right alongside the business.
A growing landscaping operation may need to review:
- Workers’ compensation
- Commercial auto insurance
- General liability
- Tools and equipment coverage
- Inland marine
- Trailer coverage
- Commercial umbrella insurance
Don’t wait for the annual audit to tell your insurance agent that the business has changed.
Barefoot Insurance Brokers Helps Florida Landscaping Businesses
Barefoot Insurance Brokers works with Florida businesses to research available insurance markets and help business owners understand the coverage appropriate for their operations.
As an independent insurance agency, we can work with multiple insurance companies and brokerage markets rather than relying on a single carrier.
Our agents can help with workers’ compensation, commercial auto, general liability, tools and equipment coverage and other insurance needs for lawn care and landscaping businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lawn care the same workers’ compensation classification as landscaping?
Not necessarily. Maintenance of existing lawns and new landscape installation can fall under different classifications. The actual work employees perform is important.
What is workers’ compensation code 9102?
Code 9102 is commonly associated with lawn maintenance operations. Classification should always be verified based on the employer’s actual operations and the rules applicable to the policy.
What is workers’ compensation code 0042?
Code 0042 is Landscape Gardening & Drivers and is generally associated with new landscaping installation operations rather than routine maintenance of existing lawns.
Can my company use both 0042 and 9102?
It may be possible when distinct operations are performed and applicable recordkeeping and classification requirements are satisfied. The carrier or workers’ compensation professional should review the operation.
Does tree trimming change my workers’ compensation classification?
It can. Elevated or above-ground tree work presents different hazards from routine ground-level lawn maintenance and may require a different classification.
Should I tell my insurance agent when my landscaping company adds a new service?
Yes. Adding services can change your liability, workers’ compensation, vehicle and equipment exposures. Reviewing the change before beginning the new work can prevent surprises later.
Need Help Insuring a Florida Lawn Care or Landscaping Business?
Barefoot Insurance Brokers can help review your operation and shop available workers’ compensation, commercial auto, general liability and related business insurance markets.
Barefoot Insurance Brokers
Serving businesses throughout Florida from our Margate and Cocoa offices.
Insurance availability, eligibility, classifications and pricing vary by carrier and individual risk. Workers’ compensation classifications should be confirmed based on actual operations and applicable carrier/NCCI rules.
About the Author
Alexandra “Allie” Horblitt is a Licensed Independent Insurance Agent with Barefoot Insurance Brokers., bringing over 14 years of industry experience to her clients. She specializes in marine artisan insurance, workers’ compensation including USL&H, general liability, and commercial auto coverage. Allie is licensed to sell commercial insurance products in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. To connect with Allie for customized coverage solutions, email her at allie@barefootins.com or call/text 786-440-8242
by barefootins | Aug 14, 2026 | Commercial Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Florida Insurance, Marine Insurance
Are you a Marine Artisan in South Florida?
Whether you’re fixing engines, props, marine electronics, masts, or detailing vessels, you need the right insurance coverages to get into the top marinas in the area.
Allie Horblitt with Barefoot Insurance Brokers works with the top insurers in Florida Coastal Areas to insure all types of Marine Artisan Vendors and insurance requirements at the most discerning marinas like Safe Harbor Rybovich, Town of Palm Beach Marina, Palm Harbor Marina, Loggerhead Marina, 17th Street Yacht Basin, Lauderdale Marine Center and Old Port Cove Marina, to name a few.
Give me a call today to discuss your business venture and your insurance needs! 786-440-8242
Alexandra “Allie” Horblitt is a Licensed Independent Insurance Agent with Barefoot Insurance Brokers., bringing over 14 years of industry experience to her clients. She specializes in marine artisan insurance, workers’ compensation including USL&H, general liability, and commercial auto coverage. Allie is licensed to sell commercial insurance products in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. To connect with Allie for customized coverage solutions, email her at allie@barefootins.com or call/text 786-440-8242
by barefootins | Aug 6, 2026 | Personal Insurance
Dog Liability Insurance in Brevard County | Barefoot Insurance Brokers
Brevard County dog life is laid-back, outdoorsy, and social. But beach walks, trails, and family neighborhoods also mean more interactions and more risk.
Under Florida’s new law, dog owners may now need liability insurance after an incident.
Why It’s Worth Having
Dog liability insurance helps with:
• Bite-related injuries
• Legal costs
• Claims not covered by renters or homeowners insurance
Great for:
• Young families in Viera
• Renters in West Melbourne
• Beachside living in Cocoa Beach
You can love the outdoors and still protect your future.
📞 Call/Text: 786-440-8242
📧 Email: allie@barefootins.com
About the Author
Alexandra “Allie” Horblitt is a Licensed Independent Insurance Agent with Barefoot Insurance Brokers., bringing over 14 years of industry experience to her clients. She specializes in marine artisan insurance, workers’ compensation including USL&H, general liability, and commercial auto coverage. Allie is licensed to sell commercial insurance products in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. To connect with Allie for customized coverage solutions, email her at allie@barefootins.com or call/text 786-440-8242
