Don’t Be “Cheap” when it comes to insurance coverage. The worst scenario is being under-insured when you have a large claim.
You pay a lot for insurance coverage; when you have a claim you want adequate coverage and not have to come out of pocket more then your deductible.
One of the biggest fallacies is that consumers only care about getting better rates.
Here are things that you as a consumer should know:
- Property prices are increasing and people want to protect their investments
- Most properties in the California fires were under-insured, probably to reduce premiums
- Clients WILL PAY more for better coverage. Often their current agent/company hasn’t reviewed their policies and the client has too little coverage
- We will pointing out the facts to you while being professional and we will win your business
The mortgage industry lost trust of mortgage brokers after the 2008 mortgage crisis and many lost their jobs. We pledge not to this happen to the insurance industry! We will help you evaluate your risks and gives you an abundance of information to help you select the proper coverage, insure to value, and select appropriate premium.
Call, text, click or email for your personal or business insurance review today.
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Homeowners and Renters–Tips for Holiday Security
The FBI reports that nearly 400,000 burglaries occur between November and December each year in the United States, but some burglars can be deterred; here are some tips:
- Do not hide spare keys under flowerpots or doormats.
- Use a timer to turn household lights on and off even if you’re not home. Burglars watch for occupancy cues especially unlit homes.
- Do not display your Christmas tree and presents in front of easy-access windows.
- Keep your windows and doors, including sliding doors, secured and locked.
- Make sure you’re home to accept any packages that are scheduled for delivery. If not, request that the packages are left with a trusted neighbor, the post office, or shipped to your work address.
- Request to suspend your mail if you are going out of town or on vacation.
- Do not leave notes on your door announcing that you’re away from home.
- Do not leave empty boxes from high-priced items outside your home for trash collection. Burglars would love nothing more to swipe your brand new flat screen TV, your children’s newest game system, and your computer.
- Ask a trusted neighbor to check up on your home if you’re out of town.
- Arm your security system if you have one installed and monitored. Studies show that homeowners with security systems only arm them 50% of the time.
Tips for Insuring Your High Value Jewelry
Christmas is a popular time for new jewelry purchases. Between engagements, holidays, and all of those jewelry sales, it seems like everyone has a few new trinkets by the time January rolls around.
If you’re investing in a new ring or receiving any special jewelry, then there are a few things you need to know about jewelry insurance! Let me help….
Jewelry is part of the contents coverage on your Home or Renters policy. It is covered on a basic level, but it’s usually not enough coverage if you have several nice pieces. This coverage varies by policy so call us to find out exactly how much coverage you have.
But there is a special coverage you can ADD to your policy to insure each piece of jewelry! It’s called “scheduled personal property.”
You simply send us a copy of the appraisal (sometimes a receipt will work too) and we can tell you exactly how much it will cost to insure it. Many times it’s less than $20-30 per year (depending on the value).
We can also discuss how this coverage protects you if you lose the jewelry and if you’ll still owe a deductible.
Even if you don’t want to insure each piece of jewelry you own, you can still increase your overall jewelry coverage to make sure that there is enough to protect your collection. You will still want to add photos, descriptions, and appraisals or receipts to your Home Inventory!
The holiday season is a magical time! Make sure that your beautiful gifts are protected. Call us today to get started!
Are Your Christmas Gifts Covered?
This time of year, most of us are doing a lot of shopping! Christmas gifts and holiday sales mean that everyone is buying a little bit more than normal. So what does that have to do with insurance?
Let’s look at some common purchases and how you can make sure they’re protected!
Electronics – Did you purchase a new flat screen TV or Xbox on Black Friday? Maybe a new laptop or some high dollar headphones?
All of these items are covered for theft or fire (or any other covered peril) by your Homeowners or Renters Insurance, but they are subject to your deductible.
However the BIG problem is that when someone has a major fire or burglary, they FORGET what they have! It’s hard to remember every item in your home.
That’s why we recommend that you keep a Home Inventory of high-dollar items. Save your receipts, take photos, or just keep a list. Keep this info in a safe place (like a file backed up in the cloud), so that you can access it in case of a claim. This isn’t required, but you’ll be glad you have it!
Guns, Jewelry, & Art – If you purchase high dollar, custom, one-of-a-kind, or collectors items, you need to contact us as soon as possible! These items will be covered by your policy, but may be limited to an amount much less than what they’re worth. If you contact us, we can review your policy and tell you exactly how much coverage is available and if you need to add these specific items to your policy.
And what about all of those gifts sitting in your car trunk? Yes, it’s a great place to hide presents from the kids but here is the bad news – your auto insurance DOES NOT cover the contents of your vehicle. That means that if someone breaks in and steals everything, it’s only covered by your Home or Renters policy. And if you have a large deductible, you could be out of luck! Get those presents into a safe location quickly and don’t keep them stored in your vehicles.
’Tis the season for lots of shopping! Call us to make sure all of your possessions are properly protected!
October Is Fire Prevention Month
October is officially Fire Prevention Month. As your insurance agency, this is an issue that is very important to us! Unfortunately, we’ve seen clients suffer from home fires, and we want to share some things you can do to prevent a disaster.
Beyond basic fire prevention, like checking electrical cords and not leaving a pot unattended on the stove, there are several important things to do with your children or grandchildren to make sure they’re safe.
First, create a PLAN. When children know what to expect, they can remain calm, even during an emergency. Help your child know exactly what to do if a fire occurs.
Stress the importance of getting out of the house and to your family meeting spot. Choose an area a safe distance from the house where children should go if making a fire escape. It could be a street light, mailbox, or neighbor’s tree.
If you have pets, tell your kids that your pets will find their own way out safely and that they should never go back to rescue the pet on their own.
As a family, go through each room of the house and discuss TWO different ways to get out if a fire occurs. Let children practice opening a latch and unlocking doors too.
Now host a fire drill! Make the practice drills fun and informative. Create sample scenarios and build up your kid’s confidence. They’ll be better prepared for a fire and you will too!
When it comes to any sort of emergency situation, people are what matter most. Take precautions to protect your loved ones and let your professional insurance agents take care of protecting your home and belongings! Call us for a free quote on your Homeowner’s Insurance today!
Insurance For Your Wedding Rings
Did you know that June is the most popular month for weddings?
I’ve seen many of my clients planning weddings over the next few weeks. So I thought I’d share an insurance tip this week just for engaged couples and newlyweds.
You’re spending a lot of money on your wedding and those new rings. Make sure they’re covered!
Jewelry is covered under your Homeowners or Renters insurance. But the coverage amount can be limited. If you don’t cover the individual piece of jewelry specifically, you might not have enough insurance if it were to be lost or stolen.
Here’s what I recommend. Get an appraisal of your rings from the jeweler. Then bring in a copy and we’ll add the rings to your policy. (We can also discuss deductibles or special coverage.) Depending on the value of the ring, you might spend only a few dollars a year to know that your valuable jewelry is insured.
If you are renting or getting ready to purchase a home and don’t have a policy, now is a great time to schedule a free consultation to discuss what coverage you’ll need and give you a ballpark figure for what it will cost. Renters Insurance is very inexpensive and can give you a lot of peace of mind as you combine your two households.
But the best tip I can give? Get a local insurance agent you can trust! We’ll look out for you and help you get the right coverage at an affordable rate. Call today for a free quote.
Fact or Fiction? Only some renters need renters insurance.
If you are currently renting your home or apartment, it’s time to learn more about renters insurance!
Homeowners insurance covers the house itself and the items inside. But if you don’t own the home, you don’t need insurance to cover it. All you need is coverage for your actual personal belongings.
It might not seem like a lot, but all those little items add up! When you think about the cost to replace your furniture, dishes, sheets, clothes, books, and everything else filling up your home, it’s probably a lot more than you thought.
Renters insurance is an affordable way to protect what you’ve worked hard to acquire. And it’s probably a lot cheaper than you’d expect! In fact, many times the discount you receive on your auto insurance for having multiple policies can almost pay for the entire renters policy!
Renters Insurance will cover personal belongings within your home as well as a limited amount of property off premises (such as items in a storage building) or your laptop when it’s in the car.
It also includes important liability coverage. If you accidentally cause a fire that burns down the property, your insurance pays the landlord to replace it (protecting you from a damaging lawsuit). In fact, many landlords now require that tenants carry a certain amount of liability insurance before they approve the lease.
So if you’re renting, it’s time to look at protecting your valuables. Give us a call today and ask for a no obligation quote on renters insurance. And don’t forget to find out how much you’ll save on your auto insurance too!
Jon Olson Agency-Farmers Insurance 