Looking at the type of coverage is the first key thing to guaranteeing you have the proper policy. For example, you may think you have just Chandler AZ auto insurance, but you may find some additional exclusions on your policy making it even less valuable. One of the common riders you can find is the life insurance or even a medical payment plan. When you have these, you do not have to be concerned about the potential cost should something happen and having to rely on these plans to pay for the injuries or death.

The next thing to look for is what all would be covered under the policy. Now, this is an interesting point you need to think about. For example, you may discover after a disaster strikes your home, like a flood, it was not on your home insurance policy and will not be covered at any point. To avoid this you need to speak with your Chandler Arizona insurance agent and learn more about what is covered and what is not covered on your policy. Then you can determine for certain if this type of event would be covered well before you have to handle this only to learn it was not covered like you imagined it would have been.

Coverage limits is the other consideration to make when shopping for insurance. By knowing about your policy coverage limits are you can determine what type of payment can be made out to you, but also determine if the insurance policy will pay off your car should be wrecked or even if you have a  homeowners claim. You may find some of the insurance policies only offer a plan to pay off the value of your car and this could easily lead to you being stuck with a loan. However, other insurance policies will pay for the entire loan allowing you to purchase a new car without the old debt carrying over.

Being able to have the proper coverage for your home, car, or life can be hard to do. However, if you know how to insure what matters most, and  you have the proper insurance coverage amounts it can be easier then what you think. This is the time you should know what to look for to guarantee the policies are the proper ones for your specific needs. Once you know to look at the the type of plan you have with the company you can determine what you need to look for the rest of the way. The second thing you need to be looking for is the items which are covered under the insurance policy. Finally you need to figure out how much is going to be paid should an unexpected accident happen to you or anyone who would be covered under the policy. Give us a call or stop by. We would love to spend some time going over your policies with you.

Last year, the Wallow Fire near Alpine burned more than 500,000 acres in Eastern Arizona, destroying homes and businesses and claimed the title of largest wildfire in Arizona history.  Arizona insurance adjusters were swamped with claims, and many home and business owners found out too late that they were underinsured.

The reality of life in the desert is that sooner or later, there are going to be fires.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, drought conditions in Arizona are expected to persist or intensify through the end of July, 2012.

There are some tips to protect your home during drought seasons.  The Arizona Division of Emergency Management offers several tips to help homeowners protect their assets.

• Housekeeping is your friend. Old branches, dead leaves, overgrown or drying shrubbery, and clogged gutters are just a few of the hidden flash spots for wildfires.  By removing both organic and man-made debris to at least 30 feet from your home, you can create a defensible space around these structures.
• Don’t skimp on storage.  Combustible or flammable materials need to be stored properly, in approved containers.  Also, remember to keep wooden structures like picnic tables and woodpiles a safe distance from your home.
• Be aware of power lines.  It’s important to prune bushes around the house, removing dead leaves and branches.  But don’t forget any trees that may have branches hanging near power lines.  All it takes is one monsoon wind to turn that lovely tree into a fire trap.
• Protect your most precious assets.  A house can be replaced.  But your family cannot.  Always be aware of hazardous conditions, and make sure your family has a well-defined emergency procedure.  Identify more than one route to and from your home or neighborhood, and agree on a predetermined place to gather in times of disaster.

Homeowners can also use some of the following preventative measures to decrease their risk of suffering wildfire-related losses.

• Replace roof with fire-resistant materials
• Provide fire breaks to prevent the spread of fire
• Provide fire roads to aid in firefighting.
• Install smoke detectors in your home
• Teach each member of the family how to use a fire extinguisher
• Regularly check fire extinguishers and smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order.
• Create a Disaster Supply Kit which includes the following items: a three-day supply of water (1 gallon per person), non-perishable food, a change of clothing, a medical kit that includes prescription medications, credit cards and important documents, personal hygiene products, extra eyeglasses, matches in a waterproof container, and a map of the area which includes important phone numbers.

Finally, ask a family member who lives outside of the are to act as your “family contact.” In times of disaster, this contact would be the go-to person to coordinate information, keep track of family members whereabouts, and maintain contact addresses and phone numbers.

Arizona is an amazing place to live, with abundant natural beauty.  While wildfires are to be expected, they don’t have to be devastating.  With preparation and common sense, you can protect your home and your assets from the dangers of summer.

We would alos recommend that you take the time to sit down with your local insurance agent, and let him/her know your fears and get their expert opinion on any changes you should make to your Arizona Insurance Policy. If you don’t have a good relationship with your insurance agent it’s time to find a new one!

You’d think it would be hard to find anything funny about life insurance, but it turns out that there is.

It’s like the old quote, comedy equals tragedy plus time. Whenever you talk about insurance that pays off only when someone dies, well, there’s a tragedy in that so comedy just needs a little time to make it stick.

We were wondering if there’s any humor at all with Scottsdale Homeowner Insurance. It turns out that there’s plenty.

Indeed there’s a whole section on the humor site Funny or Die devoted to homeowner stuff. There’s a bunch of great videos and more there, not all of it appropriate for all audiences, but it’s worth taking a look at.

We looked around, however, and found that most of the homeowner stories out there aren’t funny at all. People don’t turn to the internet to post stories about how they had a problem and it resolved just fine. No, they go to the internet to complain.

And they do.

They often start with lines like this: “Surprisingly, my washing machine saga is NOT concluded today.”

The best way to avoid these kinds of not-funny stories is to make sure you have insurance that will really take care of you when something goes wrong. Sure, you could get some cheap insurance or inadequate insurance, but then when something goes wrong all you’ll be able to do is go complain about it on the internet, and that won’t be funny (or fun) at all.

Scottsdale Insurance Home

(480) 712-0400

20875 N. Pima Rd

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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.