Well, with Christmas coming up, it seems appropriate that “the ideal client” should make it on to our Christmas list. The question is…what does our ideal client look/act like? Here’s our list (feel free to determine if you fit in this category):

Someone looking for their best policy – too many people looking for Arizona car insurance or Arizona home insurance merely seek out the cheapest prices. The clients we love best are the ones that want a perfect policy to meet their needs at the cheapest prices. Far too often we hear from individuals who chose their Arizona insurance based on the premium. Then, when they had to submit a claim, they discovered that very little of their loss is covered by their cheap insurance.

We love helping people cover their needs, and they are nearly always astonished at the great rates we find them. But that’s one of the benefits of working with an Arizona insurance brokerage, we have all kinds of options and can shop your insurance for you.

Someone who wants to understand their coverage – let’s face it, understanding your insurance policy is tricky. You might read your yearly statements and pretend you know what they say, but very few people do. There are all kinds of provisions, limits, and stipulations.

Naturally it’s not fun to try and figure all of it out. But do you really want to risk being surprised when it comes time to call the AZ insurance company? The ideal client for us understands exactly what’s covered and can ask for additional coverage if they need it. Of course we’ll do our best to meet your needs. However, that’s a whole lot easier if you are part of that process.

Someone who bundles – you’ve seen the commercials about bundling your policies. And there’s a reason for it…when you bundle, you save. You see, AZ insurance companies are benefiting more from your patronage so they’re more willing to split that money with you in the form of savings.

At Bennett and Porter Insurance, we offer AZ home owner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, AZ auto insurance, business insurance, recreational vehicle insurance and more. We can offer you much better deals if you choose to move all of your assets to the same company. And there’s nothing we like more than getting you some great deals.

Someone who communicates – the last thing you want to deal with is calling your Scottsdale insurance company. Whether you have a crack in the windshield or get in a major accident, that call to the insurance company might feel intimidating. But if you’ve stayed in communication with us (about your change of address, the small stuff that you need to keep an eye on, or your policy needs and renewals) it sure makes things easier down the road. Then, we’re up-to-date on all your details and can get you all the help you need.

Obviously we love all of our clients, but if Santa were to drop a few of these ideal clients under the tree for us, we sure wouldn’t complain. If this describes you and you haven’t called one of our agents yet, be sure to do so soon! We’ll do our best to make your holidays bright.

Here are a few (though certainly not all of them):

Fire Danger – you can figure out the basic dangers…dry Christmas trees going up in flames, candles lighting curtains or furniture on fire. But what about those hidden fire dangers that damage your home and make you grateful you have insurance?

What about the cords that you stretch clear across the floor (you know, as you check to make sure everything works)? Then there is the danger of an oven fire if you were to spill the juice off your turkey or ham. Or perhaps you forget there’s something in the oven. And according to ABC news, chimney fires are on the rise.

No one wants to spend their special day calling their insurance company about fire damage. So be careful.

Break Ins – how tempting is a house full of gifts. New electronics. Perhaps jewelry. And all the other gifts you might buy for the holidays. It’s tempting. And during the holidays, you are likely to be out a lot more. Make sure your windows and doors stay locked. Set your alarms if you’ve got them. And avoid bragging about the expensive things you bought or received.

Although your home insurance should cover any losses, you may not have taken the time to document the new purchases. And who wants to wake up to a Christmas without presents?

Driving Hazards – you wake up early Christmas morning, eat a big holiday meal, and then drive home or to mom and dad’s. You’re tired, full, and probably getting an earful of noise from your children playing with their new toys. Be careful. You’re not in the best of driving conditions. Furthermore, if you’ve had anything at all to drink – stay off the roads!

Nothing is more devastating on the holidays than winding up in the emergency room. Or, worse yet, losing a loved one. Remember, your car insurance can only fix your car. It can’t erase the damage to individuals. And the police won’t thank you for having to write an accident report on Christmas Day.

More than anything, we want you to enjoy safe and happy holidays. If you give us a single thought…well, let’s just hope it’s only because we sent you a holiday greeting card in the mail.

We believe in helping out friends and family. But the fact of the matter is, times are tough right now and no one can expect your loyalty where money is concerned. You’ve got to save every dime you’ve got. And if you can get a better insurance rate somewhere else, well, maybe it’s time to consider that option.

Our insurance agents hear it all the time. When our agents talk to others about insurance, they often hear the phrase, “I’m not getting that kind of rate.” This is not surprising. Most people shop the major insurance companies and choose from those. But there are dozens of insurance companies and only a brokerage like Bennett and Porter is going to shop them all for you.

So let’s say, hypothetically, that you have a Bennett and Porter Insurance agent give you some quotes on insurance. What do you say to your current insurance agent? We’ve got a few ideas:

1. The boring but effective approach – tell them the truth. You can get a better insurance rate somewhere else. When they ask where, tell them Bennett and Porter Insurance Co. That should bring the discussion to a halt.

2. The evasive approach – change the subject. Naturally your insurance agent will want to know why you’re canceling your insurance policy. Simply say, “You know…hey, did you see the game on Monday night?” Just be sure that you quickly reiterate your desire to cancel your policy before the conversation ends. And if you can just send an email canceling your policy, that’s even better.

3. The joking approach – make them laugh. Your insurance agent won’t be laughing when you decide to switch insurance companies. But if you crack a joke, your agent will laugh, breaking the ice. They have to. Even if it’s a bad joke, they’re still hoping to change your mind. So tell your joke, get that policy canceled, and move on.

4. The hyperbole approach – exaggerate the great deal you’re getting. When your insurance agent wants to know why you’re switching companies, tell them you’ve found someone who can save you millions. No one can blame you for saving that kind of money. Saving money is the one thing almost all of us understand.

5. The avoidance approach – sadly, it may be time to block calls from your insurance agent. Who wants to explain that you just plain found a better deal – and you had to take it? Just be careful before you head to a party that you won’t be running into that friend or family member who used to provide you with insurance.

One of the reasons Bennett and Porter Insurance is so effective is because we really do provide you with great rates and great customer service. Sure, everyone says that, but they are usually blocked from offer the kind of rates and policies we can get you.

Do yourself a favor, call a Bennett and Porter Insurance agent and find out if it’s time for you to say goodbye to your current insurance guy (or gal).

When the recession hit, businesses everywhere started shutting their doors. But it’s not just the recession that business owners need to worry about. Anything and everything can happen to a small business. Which is why we offer business insurance.

Many service businesses have already invested in business insurance. You see their workers driving around in trucks with this message painted on the side, “Licensed, bonded, and insured”. But what happens to other businesses when a natural disaster hits, they face a lawsuit, or an employee gets injured?

For companies just starting out, business insurance may be way down on the list of “Things we’d like to invest in.” However, tragedy is not going to wait for you to make more money before it strikes. If you’re going to own a business then it’s worth it to protect that company.

If you don’t have business insurance, then it’s time you call our office. At Bennett and Porter, we look at all aspects of your business and then help you determine the best business insurance package for you.

There are a million things you should be doing to keep your business risks low:

• Keep a physical address locked up and protected by a security system
• Get all “deals” in writing
• Carefully enter partnerships – if you do at all
• Sell more than you buy

But when it comes right down to it, business insurance is your best investment for long-term stability.

Let us know how we can help you and your business.

If you get on Facebook, you’ve seen your friends and family mentioning something they’re grateful for every day. Well, we’re not going to write a post each day of this month. So we’ll just use this one opportunity to tell you the things we appreciate most:

The chance to work in the insurance industry. Insurance agents have not always enjoyed a positive reputation. And, we have to admit, some people have given insurance a bad name. That’s why we’re grateful to be working for Bennett and Porter. We get a chance to work closely with our clients and make sure they are getting the best policies for their situation. We help people. It’s rewarding. And that’s definitely something to be grateful for.

Our clients. Obviously, we wouldn’t enjoy our jobs so much if we didn’t get the chance to meet people like you. Working in a service industry, we have to expect cranky and sometimes mean clients. However, we’ve been seriously lucky. We love the people we work with/for. Another reason for gratitude.

Our families. We receive a lot of comments about the “young kids” we’ve got working in this office. But most of us have families. Families who let us work late hours so we can be available to our clients when they get home from work at night. We love our spouses. We love our kids. And we’re really grateful for ‘em!

The great State of Arizona. Okay, so super hot weather in the summer is not our favorite thing. But during the winter months, Arizona can’t be beat. Plus, Arizona offers a diversity of individuals to work with. So while we enjoy the sun and fun of Arizona we get to work with all kinds of people.

Safe drivers. Maybe this is because we have families, and maybe it has something to do with caring for our clients, but we’re grateful for drivers who take the time to play it safe. We hear far too many horror stories of car accidents and lives that are lost when drivers make silly mistakes.

Our Veterans. No, we didn’t write a special post for Veteran’s Day, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them. We are extremely grateful for a free land and the men and women that give their lives to keep us free.

This Thanksgiving, we hope you all find yourselves safe and surrounded by family, friends, and good food.

Between the rush to get back home (so they can work the next day), the exhaustion of a long day, too much food, and possibly kids screaming in the background, you can understand why Thanksgiving produces some of the most dangerous drivers.

But guess what? Dangerous road conditions are not the only thing that may put you, your family, and your friends in jeopardy. Here are some things you can do this Thanksgiving to keep yourself safe:

1. Plan Ahead – If you are making a long trip to see loved ones, plan to get plenty of rest before heading back out on the road again. If you need to get home on Thursday night, then plan to eat an earlier dinner and then get a power nap in before hitting the road. Or, plan a meal that’s not quite as rich in sugars and heavy foods. That way you won’t be as drowsy as you drive.

2. Keep on Eye on the Food – No one wants a burnt turkey. But more than that, accidents happen when you’re cooking. And when you’re cooking an entire table full of food it’s even more precarious. In fact, the Red Cross says there are more than double the number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving than happen on a regular day. Keep a close eye on hot oil, boiling pots, and crock pots that might be sitting too close to flammable materials (like paper plates and cups). You need to protect yourself from getting hurt and your home from experiencing any accidental burns.

3. Get a Designated Driver – If you know you’ll be having holiday spirits at your Thanksgiving feast, then take a minute and designate a driver. It’s something you plan for on New Year’s and for other important celebrations. Why wouldn’t you do the same for this holiday?

4. Check Your Home Afterwards – In preparation for guests, you might light a few candles or plug in aromatic scents. Be sure to walk through your home after your guests leave and blow out candles or unplug anything you don’t usually leave plugged in. Plus, if you had children at your home, check under beds and in unusual places for any dangers they may have left waiting for you.

5. Keep Windows and Doors Locked – Recently, I was listening to the news when it said that more homes are robbed during the fall months. Why? Because that’s when temperatures cool down and people are more likely to open their windows and doors. Well, as you’re cooking, you’ll likely open a few windows of your own. Just make sure that when the meal is over, the windows are closed and locked again.

As an insurance company, we want to make sure you stay safe during the holidays. You have insurance to manage all those unexpected events in life. But how much better off would you be if you never needed to make any claims? Keep yourself safe this holiday season by making good choices and staying aware of the dangers around you.

This week, we thought it would be fun to speculate on some of our favorite characters. Who needs what insurance? And how much coverage would they need? If you think of a few more, please be sure to add your comments to this list.

Batman – As alter ego Bruce Wayne, the man has a ton of money. So it may not seem that he needs insurance. But, having a lot of money also makes him a target. So he’s going to need home insurance to the tune of a couple million (both for the house and the person who wants to sue him for getting hurt on his property). All those vintage cars need to be insured. And, of course, the Batmobile is going to need to be covered up to a million dollars or more. We can’t think of anyone who is going to need more car insurance, can you?

Transformers – Big the last two years, Transformers may be out of the Halloween running this year. But since they live most their time as cars, they’re going to need auto insurance that combines with medical. Right?

Pirate – Always big at Halloween, you’re sure to run into a few pirates this year. For the captain, there needs to be insurance on his ship. For the whole crew…well, someone needs to insure the booty. If any of them own houses, they can wrap their personal belongings (booty included) in with their home insurance.

Princess – Big or small, you’re going to see a handful of princesses. Though her personal affects are undoubtedly insured by her father, each princess might be expected to provide insurance for her own pumpkin carriage.

Wizards – whether it’s a student at Hogwarts, or a more traditional blue robe, long beard costume, we’re looking forward to the wizards’ costumes. So, what kind of insurance does a wizard need? Well, whether you’re running away from Lord Voldemort or as old as Merlin, we’re going to suggest life insurance.

There are hundreds of costumes headed your way this next week. Pay attention and then come back to the site and let us know what type of insurance the characters you see are going to need.

If you haven’t taken the time to talk to a Bennett and Porter insurance agent, squeeze it in between now and Halloween. High insurance rates or bad coverage can be spooky for anybody.

Our thoughts go out to his family.

Now, when something like that happens, you have to wonder whether the person had Arizona insurance. You always want to know if the wife and kids being left behind will have enough AZ insurance to cover their needs and help them live comfortably.

Our guess is that a race car driver knows the risks he’s taking and ensures his family will be well taken car of. But for the rest of us…do we know how risky our own lives are? And have we purchased the right amount of Scottsdale insurance to cover those risks?

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you make the important insurance decisions in your life:

For AZ Car Insurance

Do you speed when you think you can get away with it?

Have friends and family commented that you follow too close?

Does anyone ever complain about having to ride with you?

Do you text, talk on the phone, or eat while driving?

If you answered yes to even one of these questions, then it’s probably a good idea to get more coverage than that required by the state.

For AZ Home Insurance

Have you ever come home to find a curling iron or the stove still on?

Do you live in an area with a high crime rate?

Are you and the rest of your family members gone during the day?

Do you live in an area known for any natural disasters?

Arizona Home insurance premiums are a little bit different than Arizona car insurance. With car insurance, you have a set limit of coverage. Scottsdale Home insurance claims are calculated based on the value of what is lost.

For Arizona Life Insurance

Do you have kids?

Do you work at a job with high accident rates?

Do you enjoy traveling, extreme sports, or recreational activities?

Do any health problems run in your family?

The best rule of thumb when getting AZ life insurance is…get enough to pay your debts and leave your family sitting comfortably for up to a year. It could take that long for your spouse to get their own lives in order.

Getting insurance is about more than just complying with the state guidelines (auto insurance) or your mortgage lender (home insurance). You need insurance that will take care of you no matter what happens. If you haven’t reviewed your insurance policies in a while, then it’s time to talk to an insurance agent. Our agents at Bennett and Porter would be more than happy to review information with you.

Good luck and let’s hope a tragic accident, like the one this weekend, never affects you and your family.

Over the next few months, we’re going to give you all kinds of safety tips to keep you safe and save you from having to file an AZ insurance claim. A lot of these are no-brainers. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore them. It’s always a good idea to remind yourself of some of the basics. So…what do you need to remember about Halloween?

1) Be extra careful before, on, and after the 31^st. Even though Halloween only lasts a single day, the parties, trick-or-treating, and other events could take place for several days before and after – especially when Halloween is on a school night.

2) Plan to drive slowly through neighborhoods and watch for children, smashed pumpkins and debris in the road. After all, your AZ auto insurance may not take kindly to the claim that “a jack-o-lantern came out of nowhere.”

3) Keep an eye on the candles. Jack-o-lanterns, though fun, pose a risk to your house…and by extension your AZ home insurance. Only light candles when you plan to be home. And be sure to blow them out before going to bed.

4) Make sure all windows and doors are locked. Sure, most Arizona home insurance policies cover theft, but do you really want to risk it? With thousands of ghosts and goblins wandering the streets (and the parents out with them), it is far too easy for someone to break into your home unnoticed. Even if someone is home, keep everything shut and locked.

5) Send your children out with flashlights. When children are dressed up in costume – especially dark costumes – they are difficult for drivers to see. Flashlights or glow sticks minimize your child’s risks and can make you feel a little safer as a parent.

The best insurance is always the insurance you don’t have to use. But when the holidays creep up, so do the dangers. The last thing you want to be doing this time of year is filing an insurance claim. By remembering a few small details about the holiday, you can keep yourself protected and have an enjoyable time.

If your car, house, or you are not covered by insurance, now is a good time to talk to one of the agents at Bennett and Porter. We can get you signed up before the holidays start and get you on the path to a great year end.

Never heard of insurance scores? You’re not alone. You see, most people know that when they get a ticket or have an accident, their insurance rates are liable to go up. But did you know that those incidents will affect your insurance score as well?

So what is an insurance score? Well, no one has really figured out how the score is determined. However, insurance scores are likely affected by a few key factors including:

-Accidents

-Age

-Existing Credit Issues

-Number of Insurance Score Inquiries

At Bennett and Porter Insurance, we do everything we can to help you get the best possible car insurance rates. But you can sure help that process. How? Well, you can make sure your credit rates remain high. Good credit is an indicator to both lenders and insurers alike that you are someone they are willing to take a chance on.

Getting a car and getting insurance is not just a simple two step process. There is a lot more involved than just asking for insurance and getting it. If you’re looking to save money and get great policies, then you need to be paying attention to everything from financial credit scores to your driving habits.

If you’re looking for new insurance or just want to check and make sure you have the best policies at the best prices, be sure to give Bennett and Porter Insurance a call.