How to Head-off Potential Claims on Your Homeowners insurance policy

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Now that you’ve purchased your homeowners insurance, it’s time to think about steps you can take to prevent, or lessen, future homeowners insurance claims.

Here are some tips that might help in keeping the homeowners insurance claims adjuster away:

  • Buy enough coverage: Find out what it would cost to rebuild your house in your area. Want to keep the same look to the house? Ask a builder for an estimate on the cost to rebuild. Don’t skimp on coverage, and forget about paying that little extra for that piece of mind for insuring your home and belongings.
  • Bring on the fire department: Ask your local fire station to come by your house and do a fire safety inspection- and include your kids when they come to your house. Spotting fire hazards and fixing them will certainly pay off in the long run.
  • Insure that Picasso: Okay, maybe you don’t have a Picasso hanging in your entryway, but you might have a few, so-called luxury items like jewelry and an heirloom desk sitting in the den. Make sure you have the ‘rider’ for coverage, if needed.
  • Water… water: Everywhere. If only you would’ve changed that leaky hose on the washing machine before you left on vacation. Do a survey of your in-house connections. Sprinkler system? Make sure the automatic timer is working correctly and not ‘hanging up’ for hours on that station by your basement window. 
  • Accidents waiting to happen: Walkways and steps invite all sorts of potential for liability claims from strangers or friends coming to your property. Make sure step rails and decking are in good repair. 
  • Wind and hail: It’s not uncommon, or rare, for a major onslaught of wind and hail to hit parts of Arizona. Heed warnings by battening down patio furniture, or screen doors…and even keep tree limbs trimmed back. 

It makes good sense to review your homeowners insurance coverage with your insurance agent at least once a year.

 

Financial Planning

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When we think about financial security, we generally think about what we have in liquid savings or making sure our home and auto insurance coverage fits our needs. Retirement planning is a crucial step in the process. Today we’ll discuss a little about the importance of making sure we’re saving and investing enough so we’ll have the money we need to retire and care for ourselves in the future. Financial planning is about knowing what assets you have, how to access them when you need them, and having enough for both you and your spouse.

Here are some basic tips to get your started in the right direction:

  • Are you currently contributing to your 401(k)?  Having a savings account is great, but a 401(k) allows you to save tax deferred- maximizing earnings in the long term. There are a few key things to know about your 401(k). The first being, does your employer match your contributions? For example, if your employer says they match 100% of 6%, then you need to be contributing at least 6%. Basically, they’re saying that they will match, dollar for dollar, what you contribute to your 401(k) up to 6%. Not contributing is like throwing away money that the company is willingly giving you. So save at least what the company will contribute.
  • Do you have an old 401(k)s lingering somewhere? Any job you’ve ever left is something to look into. Even if you never contributed to a 401(k), it’s possible that a 401(k) was opened on your behalf and contributed to by the company you worked for. List out all the old jobs you’ve ever held and find out if you had a 401(k) with them. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this, but the easiest way may be to simply contact your old HR group and ask them who the 401(k) record keeper is. If it’s a company, like Fidelity Investments, you can just call them up and ask for information over the phone.
  • If you have money in an old 401(k) move it to a safe location, like an IRA, or your current 401(k) if the plan rules allow, so that that you have control over how it’s invested and you have easy access to information about it. Contact us for more information on what the best plan of action for your 401(k) would be.
  • Social Security and Medicare are political buzzwords, but if you’re an older worker, knowing how much you qualify for and when the best time to take it is important. Should you take it at 62, or delay until 70? A lot of when you decide to take it depends on what kind of savings you already have, including pensions, annuities, or just a savings account. To start, you can request an estimate of your benefits from the Social Security office.

So whether you’re winding down your professional career, or just getting started, contact us so we can create a tailored approach to your retirement future. You can’t take a loan to retire, so be prepared so you can enjoy your retirement and have the money you need to live the way you’ve been dreaming 0f.

Home Insurance Hints to Keep Burglars Away

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Summer is approaching quickly in Arizona, which means the heat is coming on strong. For you, that means it is time for a short getaway, or maybe a lengthier vacation, for some time to cool off and refresh your body from the heat. As you’re getting ready to go, you are checking your to-do list before you head out. Clothes and shoes packed? Check. Toothbrush and toothpaste? Check. Sudoku puzzles and iPad charger? Check. Things are looking good, your bags are packed and you’re ready to go.

But, wait. Did you burglar-proof your home? The last thing you need to happen while you’re gone is to have someone break into your home and damage or steal your valuables, which would lead to a home insurance claim.

Let’s rewind back to that check list and let’s add some more steps to ensure that you don’t leave home with a huge sign on your house that reads “NO ONE HOME. BURGLARS WELCOME!”

What you want is to prevent any need to file a claim with your home insurance. To allow that, below are a few helpful tips for how to fool those burglars into thinking you are actually at home.

-Keep your mail and papers away

Call your local post office and your newspaper agency. Have both your mail and newspapers held while you are gone. Having a collection of papers on the lawn or mail spilling out of the mailbox are both obvious signs that someone might not be home. If you are unable to hold your mail and papers, an alternative would be to ask a trusted neighbor to come each day and gather your papers and mail until you get home.

-Turn your lights on and off

You might be wondering how this is possible if you are not at home. It’s actually pretty easy with some simple timers in place. Attach some timers to a few lamps around your house and set them to turn on and off intermittently throughout the day and evening. If a light is on, a burglar is less likely to come lurking nearby. At the same time, though, if a light is on non-stop, a burglar might get suspicious. Don’t forget to make sure they go off as well.

-Keep your grass clean-cut

Okay, IF you have grass, keep it trimmed. There are lawn-mowing services that you can call, or you can ask a neighborhood kid to mow your lawn and keep it neat while you are out of town. An unruly, overgrown lawn can be a tip off to burglars that your home is currently uninhabited.

-Keep your windows covered

Don’t leave any option for anyone to be able to peep inside your home. Close all drapes, shades, and blinds. It doesn’t matter how well-kept your front yard is, or if your lights are going on and off all night. If anyone can just walk up to your window and look inside, they’ll figure out pretty quickly whether or not anyone is home. Before you leave for your vacation, make sure all your windows are covered.

Why take any chances while you’re gone? You should be able to relax and feel confident that you took all precautions to keep your home and your valuables safe. Hold your newspaper, hold your mail, keep your lawn clean, set some timers, cover your windows, and enjoy your vacation.

For more information call your insurance agent and sit down for a policy review..

How to Ensure You Have the Proper Insurance

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When you are looking to buy insurance, it can be more of a challenge than you think. After you have bought your insurance policy, you may not realize you do not have enough coverage for all of your belongings. This is when you may need to learn more about how to ensure you have the proper coverage amounts should you have to file a claim at any given time. The first thing you need to do is look at what kind of plan you have. After you have evaluated the plan you should look to figure out what is covered on the plan. Finally, you need to evaluate the amount of coverage the plan is offering for you should an accident happen at any given time.

Looking at the type of coverage is the first key thing to guaranteeing you have the proper policy. For example, you may think you just have 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 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.

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 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, 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 what 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 it be wrecked. 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 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 than 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 how 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 are 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 insurance policies with you. Call us and one of our insurance agents will walk you thru the process.

Insurance Tips: Don’t Let Wildfires Take You by Surprise!

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Anyone who knows the difference between a “Zonie” and an “Arizonan” can tell you what May brings: the beginning of wildfire season.  As the last traces of coolness head toward the mountains and beyond, homeowners in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler  and Tucson and surrounding counties can look forward to the simple joys of burn notices, monsoons, and eventually, wildfires.

Last year, the Wallow Fire near Alpine burned more than 500,000 acres in Eastern Arizona, destroying homes and businesses, claiming 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.

Arizona Wild Fires

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 be.  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  that 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 area 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 also 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 home insurance policy.  If you don’t have a good relationship with your insurance agent, it’s time to find a new one!

The Lighter Side of Homeowner Insurance

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We saw this funny (fake, we hope) photo recently and tweeted about it. It cracked us up!Scottsdale Homeowners Insurance

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

It’s like the old quote from the film Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), “tragedy plus time equals comedy.” 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 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, 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.

 

All We Want for Christmas Is…

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No matter what kind of business you’ve worked for, or what position you held, you have always dreamed of having the ideal client. Even if you are/were an employee for a major corporation and have never interacted with your prospects or customers, you are serving and working for those in your company. So, you can still imagine the perfect “client” in your head.

Well, with Christmas coming up, it seems appropriate that “the ideal client” should make it onto 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 into this category):

Someone looking for their best policy – too many people looking for car insurance or 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 insurance based on the premium. 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 insurance brokerage, we have all kinds of options and can shop for 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 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, insurance companies are benefiting more from your patronage so they’re more willing to split that money with you in the form of savings.

Someone who communicates – the last thing you want to deal with is calling your insurance company. Whether you have a crack in the windshield, or get into 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.

Holiday Safety Tip #3: Christmas

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Can you believe how quickly the holidays are flying by? Seems like we were just writing about Halloween. Thanksgiving came and went, and now we’re on to Christmas. Crazy! But holidays are all about celebrating. And how are you supposed to celebrate when disaster strikes? So we just want you to be aware of some of the dangers you could be facing during Hanukkah or Christmas.

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 juice from your turkey or ham. Or perhaps you forget there’s something in the oven. According to ABC news, chimney fires are on the rise.

No one wants to spend their special day calling their insurance agents about fire damage, so be careful.

Break Ins – how tempting is a house full of gifts? New electronics? Perhaps, jewelry? 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. 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. 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.

How to Ditch Your Insurance Guy (or Gal)

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If you take a look at your friends and family members, chances are you’ll find an insurance agent among them. Or, if you don’t know someone directly, you probably chose your agent because they were a friend of a friend.

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 companies. So let’s say, hypothetically, that you have an agent give you some quotes on insurance. What do you say to your current 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 where. 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. If you can just send an email canceling your policy, that’s even better.

3. The joking approach – make them laugh. Your agent won’t be laughing when you decide to switch 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 we are 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 offering the kind of rates and policies we can get you.

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

Keeping Your Business Risks Low

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last night when I was watching television, I saw a commercial that interested me. It was a plea to consumers to buy at least one thing from a small business this holiday. With just 30 seconds of play time, the commercial couldn’t describe the struggles small businesses are going through, but obviously things could be better.

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, it’s worth it to protect that company.

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

Call or email your insurance agent and let them know how they can help you and your business.