Why Insurance Agents Worry About Their Clients: Hotel Safety Tips

In my blog yesterday we talked about the holidays fast approaching and the highway travel that would be most likely taking place and some ways to be sure your reach your destination and return home safely. Today lets talk about when you actually arrive. If you are staying in a hotel there are some very important safety precautions you will want to take to be sure you and your family are protected.  Even if you think you know the area and you feel 'safe', you can not be too careful.  Crime is on the rise.

Before your stay, know your hotel:  Don't be afraid to call and ask questions before you make your reservation.  Select a hotel that has installed modern electronic guest room locks. Be aware of your hotels surroundings and location.  If you are visiting a foreign country, be aware of the security situation there.  Call ahead and make sure the front desk is staffed 24 hours a day. Jewelry, luggage and valuables should be photographed before your trip.  Be sure your cell phone works even if there is a phone in your room.

Once you arrive, be aware of your surroundings:  Immediately familiarize yourself with the fire escape route. Ask the front desk what number should be dialed in case of emergency.   Be aware of anyone listening in on your conversation as you check in. Don't let the front desk associate publicize your room number.

During your stay, be on guard:  Keep your room key, wallet, flashlight and cell phone on your nightstand. Check the locks on doors and windows as soon as you arrive. At night, use the main entrance.  Keep cash, credit cards and checks in separate pockets or areas of your purse. Never open your door to someone unless you are sure of their identity and expecting them.

Below is an infographic offering more safety tips before and during your stay.  You should also check with your insurance agent to be sure your belongings will be covered.  Some homeowners or renters policies provide coverage anywhere in the world, some in the US only and there is often limitations for jewelry.

If you would like a free review of your insurance policy, please visit us on the web or give us a call at one of our three locations.

Why Insurance Agents Worry About Their Clients..Road Trips!

As the holiday season approaches more and more individuals and families will be hitting the highway traveling to visit family and friends.  We want to make sure you take every precaution to stay safe while traveling near and far. 

There is some basic maintenance that should be done to your vehicle to be sure it gets you to and from where you need to be.  Like checking your battery, oil, coolant and other fluid levels.  Check your tire pressure, air filter, and be sure you have a spare tire. Most importantly, get those repairs done if needed. You may think this is silly but when loading in any potential passengers and all the extra belongings you should also check your vehicles load capacity.

There are some things  you need to do to be sure you have everything you need.  Make sure your latest insurance Identification Card contains accurate information and is located in your glove box with a copy of your registration.  We normally give our insurance handy plastic holders to keep these important documents in. It also lists our contact number on the back in case you need to reach us on the road.  You should also make a quick call to be sure you know what coverages you have, like towing, rental reimbursement and in some cases trip interruption.

Lastly there should be some things you should have on hand in the event of an emergency. Buy a road atlas or map, GPS or cell phone technology is great when they work.  Have a backup plan just in case.  Be sure your electronic devices are fully charged, like your GPS or cell phone.  A GPS may help so that you are aware of any detours.  Buy snacks, bottled water and a first aid kit, including any regular medications.  You should also have a blanket during this time of year.

Here is an infographic for easy visual reference about the things I mentioned an a pre-filled list for easy packing!  Have a safe trip, a fun holiday and most importantly feel free to contact us with questions.

Why Insurance Agents Worry About Their Clients

More and more individuals are becoming victims of identity theft.  Your money is insured through the bank or credit card company.   If you are a victim of identity theft and catch it soon enough your bank or credit card company will cancel the card or account, confirm any recent transactions and start and investigation process.  If you are not aware of accounts that may have been created in your name or using your private data it can be very costly and time consuming to recover your identity. 

Recently, many insurance carriers are aware of this problem and automatically include identity theft recovery coverage as part of the coverage provided on your homeowners or renters policy.  In some cases this coverage can also be added by endorsement for a small additional charge if not automatically included.

So what exactly is identity theft?  Identity theft occurs when a person uses another persons identification documents or other identifiers in order to impersonate that person for what ever reason.  Approximately, 10 million individuals in the US were victims of identity theft last year alone.   If not caught soon enough, you may need to hire and attorney, lose time from work, pay for duplicate copies of forms, all of which can add up.  Most of the policies we offer will pay up to $25,000 to cover these costs.

Please check out the infographic below for more information about identity theft and how to prevent it.

To find out if you have identity theft recovery coverage on your policy, even if you are not our current client, contact us at one of our three locations or visit us on the web and get a free insurance review.

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

Is anyone else terrified of the Black Friday festivities that are about to commence? I have heard that some people turn selfish and greedy during the shopping process. I decided to attend Black Friday a few years ago because there was a bargain I just HAD TO HAVE.  Even though I was well aware that it is known as the busiest shopping day of the year.  I was faced with elbow to elbow crowds in every store and mall I dared to venture in.   I saw people pushing, shoving, even grabbing... it was horrible.

I promised myself I will never brave Black Friday shopping again. This year the stores will be open for early savings on Thanksgiving as well.  I think that is going too far.  It is mostly the large chains of retail stores that have decided to open, like Walmart, Target etc.  They will reap the rewards by getting some extra revenue they were not able to collect in prior years.  The employees will really suffer, instead of enjoying a day off with their families they most likely are being forced to work.  Cyber Monday offers a safer, more civil shopping experience that can be enjoyed from home, local coffee shop, or any other place with internet. Today’s infographic offers some interesting stories and information about Cyber Monday and Black Friday. Good luck to all you brave shoppers out there, get those deals and stay strong! [via]

reprinted in parts from dailyinfographic.com

Make sure all your purchases are covered properly, give us a call for a free review of your renters or homeowner policy or for a free quote.

Have you ever been victim to a frivolous lawsuit?

Did you know that included in many insurance policies is liability coverage.  There are many different types of policies and liability coverage.  Your homeowner or renters policy usually provides personal liability.  This type of liability is very broad and covers "you" anywhere.  Most people think that the liability coverage provided on this type of policy only protects you if someone gets hurt on the property.  Actually, it is much broader than that.   This is the type of liability coverage I am going to focus on today.  Here is some more specific information, in hopefully easy to understand language:

Personal Liability:  Found on  your homeowners or renters policy.  You must read your specific policy language for specifics of what is covered or not covered.  Who is covered is also defined in your policy language.  However, in most cases "YOU" are a named insured and any resident relatives.  Also, in most cases the policy language states that they will pay all sums up to the amount shown on the declaration page which anyone we protect becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of a personal injury or property damage resulting from an occurrence during the policy period.  

A good example is if you are in the supermarket and you accidentally hit someone or perhaps their vehicle with your shopping cart.  If you are sued, your insurance company will hire and attorney, investigate, and if necessary go to court and pay any claims up to the limit on your policy.

If your son or daughter, who lives with you, is playing in the yard and accidentally knocks a ball through a window - a neighbors house or car, again you will be protected.

Here is the most important thing I want you to know about this coverage and the least known:

Personal liability coverage is the LEAST expensive coverage on  your policy. Often times $100,000 worth of coverage is automatically included in your premium. Did you know that usually for $20-$30 approximately more a year you can make that $1,000,000.  

Please contact us if you would like a free review of your current home or renters policy, even if you are with another agent or if you would like to increase your coverage.

You can also contact us on the web and get a free homeowner quote or visit us at one of our three locations.

The 6 Smartest Things You Can Do Every Night and Morning

Waking up and getting the day started is one of the toughest parts of the day. Everything you have to do is jumbled and floating around in your head. You want nothing more than to just stay in bed. But you can’t because you have a life and people that depend on you. It’s bad enough that you have responsibilities, but you have to dress nice too? I don’t know about you all, but picking clothes in the morning is one of the most frustrating things about starting my day.

We want to do it all. We want to feel energized from our morning exercise. We want to actually get a decent breakfast in. And we want to look good for the day to come. Often striving for these things is what keeps people from being the “morning person” that so many hate at work. Whether we admit it or not we are jealous of the morning people. We envy their positivity and the ease in which they handle the start to their day.


Planning ahead is what is going to get us there. In this infographic, we are shown a few tips and tricks to making the new day a better and easier one. Organizing your thoughts will help you visualize how to efficiently achieve your to-do’s. Doing something that’s going to make you feel good about yourself is a must in the morning. Make yourself a routine to ensure you can be a happier and more successful you. [via]

Some of the Most Amazing Houses in the World!

Little boxes on the hillside aren't’ for everyone.  While some people might be content with a cookie-cutter home in a bland suburban neighbor hood, others create truly one-of-a-kind homes with incredible imaginative shapes and materials. Here are a few extraordinary examples:

The Upside Down House—Szymbark, Poland

Polish businessman and philanthropist  Daniel Czapiewski built The Upside Down House as a statement about the communist era and the end of the world.  It took 114 days to build because the workers were so disoriented by the angles of the walls.  It certainly attracts its fair share of tourists to the tiny village of Szymbar, who often become dizzy and ‘seasick’ after just a few moments inside.

(Images via: Fresh Home)

The Toilet –Shaped House—Suweon, South Korea

The world’s one and only toilet-shaped house was built to mark the launch of the World Toilet Association, a campaign for more sanitary restrooms worldwide.  Sim Jae-Duck, nicknamed “Mayor Toilet”, had the 4,508 square foot concrete and glass structure built in his native city of Suweon, South Korea.  At the center of the home is a glass-walled “showcase-loo” that produces mist to make users feel more secure.  Sim, who was born into a toilet and has made clean restrooms his life work, now lives in the home.  

               

(Image via: Reuters)

The Pod House in New York State

Also known as the Mushroom House, architect James H. Johnson was inspired by the shape of the local wildflower Queen Anne’s Lace, when he designed this unusual home in Powder Mills Park, near Rochester, NY.  The home is actually a complex of several pods with connecting walkways. Perched atop thin stems, the pods are amusing yet eerie examples of organic architecture. 

(Image via: pointclickhome.com)

For more homes like these check out www.weburbanist.com or architecture.about.com.

Please visit us on the web or contact us at one of our three locations to get a quote or for a FREE insurance review.