Personal Perspective

If you’re renting a home and think that Homeowners insurance will pay for loss or damage to your belongings, think again.

A Homeowners policy covers the structure of a dwelling and lot, not the contents of the home. As a renter, you’ll need Renters insurance to cover your possessions.

Here are more tips about this coverage:

• Because your possessions are worth only a fraction of a building’s structure, a Renters policy will cost much less than homeowners insurance.
• If you have a roommate who carries a Renters policy, find out if it covers your belongings.. Chances are that you’ll need to buy your own insurance.
• When you’re considering the amount of coverage, be sure list everything you have: appliances, rugs, and furniture (even hand-me-downs) Replacing a flat screen TV, refrigerator or bed. can get pricey.
• Don’t assume that you can avoid a natural disaster Remember, anything can happen to anyone at any time. It’s far better –and less expensive — to be safe than sorry.

We’d be happy to provide you with help (including a sample inventory of household contents) to choose a policy that can protect your precious possessions, at a price you can afford.

Imagine, you’re getting away from the cold weather for a nice Caribbean cruise. You’ve been planning this trip for more than six months. Your bags are packed and ready. then a major snow storm strikes. cancelling all flights out of your local airport.

Let’s say you’re on safari in the African plains when you start feeling ill. You’re hundreds of miles from a hospital. Your guide is driving as fast he can, but it will take hours before you get to medical care, and you’re fading rapidly. To save your life, the guide has to call in a medevac copter.

Under these scenarios, you’d be out thousands of dollars — unless you have Travel insurance! This invaluable “peace of mind” coverage can provide total reimbursement for a trip that’s cancelled, as well as access to quality hospitals, pharmacies, and health care providers in case of death or illness (as well as other travel-related expense.

Don’t leave home without Travel insurance! For more information, feel free to get in touch with us.

If you’ve just bought a recreational vehicle. and can’t wait to get on the road. will Auto insurance protect your pride and joy?

That depends. You might want to get an endorsement to your Auto policy that would provide coverage. However, since your R. means so much more to you than just transportation, it’s best to get specialized insurance that a typical Auto policy won’t cover. Recreational Vehicle insurance combines Auto, Homeowners, Renters, and Travel coverages into a single policy that will also insure generators, water pumps and refrigerators – items that standard Auto or Homeowners policies would not cover.

The amount of coverage will depend on the value of the RV and its contents, as well as your driving record.

Before you hit the open road, give us a call our office for a comprehensive policy on your vehicle so that you can get behind the wheel with peace of mind.

Happy trails!

It’s become common practice for states to require that drivers carry a minimum amount of Auto coverage, with the amount varying by state.

The amount of insurance you buy depends on two basic questions:. 1) How high a premium can you afford? and 2) How much could an accident cost you?

Which coverages should you choose? Liability insurance will pay for damage that you cause to another motorist’s vehicle, and their medical expenses, if applicable. Each state sets a minimum amount for coverage.

Comprehensive Insurance will cover damage to your vehicle, including fire, theft, vandalism, and contact with falling objects, ,people, or animals.

Collision insurance is optional, however it is always a good idea to carry it. Collision insurance will pick up the tab for damage to your vehicle from objects such as telephone poles, buildings or fences. Although this coverage is optional, it’s almost always a good idea to carry it.

For a complimentary, comprehensive review of your Auto policy, feel free to contact our office at any time. As insurance professionals, it’s our obligation to make sure that you have the coverage you need to protect yourself.

Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life. You have been planning this day for most of your life. You and your fiancé wanted to have a white wedding in the mountains. Your lodge is reserved, the caterer is ready with the menu, the disc jockey has your playlist, and you have just picked up your gown. Everything is coming together beautifully. Even the weather cooperated. A little more than you were expecting.

A major blizzard hit your venue and there is no way anyone can go anywhere. You have to postpone your big day. The good news is that you have purchased wedding insurance before your big day so everything is covered and you can still have your white wedding without paying any additional out of pocket expenses.

Your wedding insurance covers these unforeseeable acts:

• The venue. If your venue has any unavoidable cancellations from certain acts (such as damage) your wedding insurance will take care of you.
• Any weather related problems such as inaccessibility, damage to venue, and many others. All the details including rescheduling the ceremony flowers, tent rental and reception food will also be covered.
• None of your vendors showed up. Any number of reasons why a vendor may not show up and in that case, your insurance will cover it.
• If you are called for duty or your job sends you off. Wedding insurance will cover the postponement of your wedding.

Give us a call when you are ready to take the plunge.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE

Not all homeowners policy cover everything the ‘what ifs’ of life.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies have gaps in coverage, which can get expensive in the case of any emergency. Here are just a few of them:

• Earthquakes. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover earthquakes. You will need a separate policy for coverage.
• Floods. If you have a flood in your basement and no extra flood coverage, you’ll be paying for damages out of pocket.
• A new building code? Your county passes a new building code and your house is not up to par. Only “ordinance or law” policies will reimburse your upgrades.
• Did you cover your pipes for the winter? I hope so, otherwise any damages will be paid by you.
• Fido. Due to certain breeds being labeled as ‘aggressive,’ not all types of dogs are covered under the homeowners’ policy, specifically Doberman Pinschers or Pitbulls.
• Put your money in a bank. If you have money lying around your house and it gets stolen or damaged, the homeowners’ policy may only cover up to $1,000 of it.
• Pools. You will need an umbrella policy to cover any injuries incurred around the pool area, since it is considered an ‘attractive nuisance.’

These are just a couple of the possible gap scenarios. There are many more. Make sure you contact our office for a complete review of your homeowner’s policy so that we can close the gaps.

“But he that filches from me my good name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/And makes me poor indeed.” – Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3.

Identity theft is a huge problem in the United States. Did you know that identity thieves stole approximately $21 Billion from victims in 2012? This equates to one incident of fraud every three seconds. That’s scary. In every minute, 20 acts of fraud occur. When you keep adding up the numbers it looks horrific. Most victims don’t know until it’s too late that they have become a victim of identity theft. If you are one of the victims of identity theft, we have listed a few things for you to do:

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) whether online or by phone, 877-438-4338.
• If necessary, send mail certified and request a return receipt.
• Contact your bank and let them know of the fraud.
• Contact all of your credit card companies and credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) and inform them of the situation.
• Contact your insurance companies and make them aware of the theft.
• Keep a detailed filing system. Keep all your originals, only send copies of originals to requestors.
• Follow all deadlines. Keep a timeline of when you spoke to a person and set up a follow up date.

Following the above guidelines will help minimize any future thefts. We hope that you never have to use this list.

Not too many people consider their vehicle an investment, but it is. In fact it could be your most important investment. Your vehicle gets you to and from your employment. Your vehicle offers a safe and accessible way to travel.

As your investment, you take care of it. You put gasoline in the car. Diligently, you pay attention to the maintenance schedule for your oil changes and milestone check-ups. Rotating your tires, parking your car in a garage or a covered parking area, getting your car detailed, and other long term preventive measures are on your to-do list. You make sure your car is in tip-top shape.

Getting the right kind of car insurance should be on that list as well. Sadly, that is not the case. Many people like to get liability insurance to satisfy the requirements of the bank or the state. Realistically, however that basic coverage may not be enough coverage for expenses incurred in case of an accident. Liability insurance is basic insurance that only offers coverage for the other person in case of an accident. If you have damage to your vehicle and/or injuries you are out of luck.

Protect your investment and don’t skimp on auto insurance coverage. Get the best possible policy that covers your investment. Give us a call today to get a review of your auto policy so we can help you fill in the gaps.

Don’t let negative rumors about home security systems keep you from adding this valuable protection for you and your family. Before you buy a system, consider these myths and realities:

Myth: No one will break into my home.

Reality: Burglars can target any home anywhere, and they’re seeking unprotected targets like yours. In 2011, the FBI reported more than 1.5 million residential burglaries, an average of more than one a minute.

Myth. Security systems cost too much.

Reality: According to the FBI, burglaries cost victims an average of $2,185 in 2011. A security system that costs $50 a month (a mid-range figure for most systems) can provide more than three and a half years of protection for the money and valuables you might lose in a home burglary, not to mention helping ensure your peace of mind.

Myth: My pet will set off false alarms

Reality: Many home security systems are pet friendly, designed to distinguish between pets and intruder.

Myth: Having a security system won’t lower my insurance rate

Reality: Because insurance companies can save a ton of money when policyholders use quality alarm systems (which reduce the chances of burglary claims significantly) they offer these customers a sizeable discount on homeowners coverage. You can use these savings to offset the cost of your system.

Myth: Because I have insurance, I don’t need a security system

Reality: Insurance can’t bring back irreplaceable items, such as family heirlooms or other valuables, which a home security system can help protect. What’s more, many people don’t want to deal with filing a claim and receiving an insurance settlement.

For more information on the benefits that alarm systems can provide, feel free to get in touch with us at any time.

Everybody has felt that unpleasant surprise when a car comes zooming into view after being hidden in a blind spot. Older motorists are no different, and they see warning systems against this hazard as the top safety feature in newer cars, according to a new report by the MIT AgeLab and The Hartford Insurance Company. After surveying hundreds of drivers over age 50 who get behind the wheel at least three times a week, the study found that these “mature motorists” felt more confident with cars which have at least one of 10 advanced safety technologies.

Here are the top 10 safety features for older motorists (in order):

1. Blind-spot warnings alert drivers when another vehicle is approaching unseen and also help with parking.
2. Crash mitigation systems detect imminent collisions and can help reduce passenger injuries.
3. Emergency response systems alert paramedics or other emergency personnel if there’s an accident.
4. Drowsy driver alerts warn motorists when they nod off or otherwise become inattentive.
5. Reverse monitoring systems help drivers (especially those with reduced flexibility) judge distances and back up safely by warning of objects behind the vehicle.
6. Vehicle stability control reduces crashes by helping steer a car if it veers offline or has trouble navigating a curve.
7. Lane departure warning alerts motorists when they drift from a lane.
8. “Smart” headlights illuminate the road more effectively by responding to the direction the driver is steering and the vehicle’s speed.
9. Voice-activated command systems allow motorists to use a car’s features without losing focus on the highway.
10. Automated parking assist calculates the angles and steers the car into the space, reducing driver stress and increasing the number of potential parking spots.

How many of these safety features does your newer car have?