Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Do I really need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?


I hear this question every week at my agency and in my opinion, the answer is YES. Let me explain why.

Lets suppose you are driving down the street,and by mistake, run a red light and are at fault for the accident, You have smashed into other car and cause serious death or injuries to other people in that car.The Bodily Injury coverage on your auto policy will pay for those deaths or injuries, up to the limits on your policy. Let's say you have $100,000/$300,000 liability limits. That means your auto policy will pay up to $100,000 worth of injuries per person  and up to a total liability payout of $300,000 per accident.

Now lets suppose the opposite situation. You are driving down the road and someone runs a red light and hits your car. Your medical injury bills total $100,000 but the other driver
only carries State Minimum Coverage of $15,000/ $30,000. What do you do now? You have $85,000 of medical bill that the other person's insurance will not pay and if the other person is driving with State Minimum Coverage, do you think they have the assets to cover your bills if you sue them for the balance? Probably not.

This is where having Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your own auto policy is a blessing for you. This coverage will help pay your medical bills, to your policy limits, if the other driver is at fault and either does not have auto insurance or does not have enough coverage to pay your medical bills. Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your policy is not required by AZ State Law and is not very expensive. But it could mean the difference between paying your medical bills or you having to sell some of your assets to help pay your bills.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Is Jewelry Protected on Renters, Condo or Home Insurance?

Just because you don't own your own home doesn't mean that you don't have nice stuff. If you own expensive jewelry, whether it's a diamond engagement ring or a family heirloom, you may have wondered whether renters insurance covers it.

When it comes to your belongings, it's important to understand what types of risks your renters insurance protects against and how much coverage it provides. In some cases, you may decide that it's worth putting extra protection in place. Here are some things to consider.

Personal Property Limits on Renter's, Condo or Home

Insurance policies typically come with limits for each type of coverage. For instance, your renters insurance policy may provide $50,000 in coverage for your belongings (described in most policies as personal property). However, renters insurance policies usually include sub-limits for certain types of items, such as jewelry.
That means that while you may have up to $50,000 in coverage to help pay to replace your belongings if they are stolen, for instance, you may find that your policy provides only $1,000 in coverage for theft of jewelry. Some insurers may set a "group" coverage limit for an entire category of valuables — for example, a maximum of $2,500 for all of your jewelry.
In either case, the coverage provided by a standard renters insurance policy may or may not be enough to cover what you actually paid for your jewelry or what it's worth on the current market.
For this reason, it's important to document how much your jewelry is worth so that you can make sure you have enough coverage in place. Documents like receipts and appraisals are good ways to track the value of your belongings, the Insurance Information Institute says. Such records may come in handy in the event that you need to file an insurance claim.

Monday, August 8, 2016

The question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Glass claims here in Arizona are as common as scorpions. With our dusty and rocking environment, the question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Most insurance companies give you the option of picking your own glass company. My suggestion, is that if you have a chip or crack in your windshield, contact your agent. They will help you determine the best place to get it fixed. Here are some suggestions to help you.

  • Refrain from using "car wash" glass companies. You want to deal with a glass company that will back your repair with a 100% guarantee and will be there if you need them. 
  • If you are offered a cash incentive to use a glass company, than buyer beware. There is usually a reason they have to offer you a cash incentive to use their services.
  • All glass companies are not created equal. You want to pick a glass company that does a complete job, such as replacing the rubber molding, not just putting a new windshield. Replacing the rubber molding the glass fits into helps make a more complete seal and eliminating wind noises.
  • I always like referrals from such sources as Angie's List, Yelp (4 star reviews) and personal friends. Hint, you can also ask your agent where they get their windshields repaired. 



Friday, July 22, 2016

Why having a "local insurance agent" is better for you than an "800# agent"

In my opinion, it is ALWAYS better to have a local insurance agent rather than an 800# agent. My reasoning is as follows.


  • To us, you are a client , not just a policy number;
  • As a local agent, we get to know you, your family and your needs;
  • Insurance is a custom fit product, not a one size fits all;
  • If you have a question, we are there personally to help you;
  • When you call our office, you always talk to the same people, not a call center;
  • If you need a recommendation for a body shop, plumber or repair person, we are in the neighborhood and can guide you to qualified professionals;
  • Should you need additional coverage, we are there to recommend that coverage;
  • If you can make changes to your policy to help you save money, we will recommend these changes, not so much with "800# agents" or call centers;
  • If you have a question regarding the possibility for filing a claim, a local agent can help you make the right decision. With most "800# agents" or call centers, once you call them, they immediately log your call in as a claim;
  • We offer renewal reviews on your policies, most "800# agents" and call centers do not. They just send you a new bill;
  • Our office offers perks such as free document shredding and free smoke detector batteries;
  • We help support local charities, such as Foothills Animal Rescue and Purple Purse Foundation; 

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

If you have rental properties, please read this.

If you have rental property, you need to make sure you are covered for all possible situations. That is why I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that when you have the tenant sign a lease for your property, you require two things.

1) as part of you lease agreement, your renter MUST obtain and maintain a renter's insurance policy containing at least $100,000 in liability coverage. If your property has a swimming pool, I would recommend the renter have a minimum of $300,000 in liability coverage. This way if someone is injured on the property, the renter has coverage for the injuries and the claim is not filed against your landlord policy;

2) as part of your rental agreement, your renter MUST list yourself or your management company as an INTERESTED PARTY on their renter's policy. This way if they make any changes to the policy or decide to cancel the policy, you or your management copy get a copy of all changes.

An average renter's policy, including $20,000 in personal property coverage and $100,000 in liability coverage is only about $150 per year.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Don't Under Estimate a Thief

Don't Underestimate A Thief!

While a thief is obviously a person making a bad decision, they're not necessarily unintelligent. Don't underestimate someone who is determined to rip you off in one way or another-and they have some clever methods. Statistics show that a thief will take the "path of least resistance." The more secure the situation, the less likely they will be to target it. With all the electronic gadgets available today, it's likely you use at least one or two of them. Here are some steps you can take to try and make things more difficult for a thief so they may be less likely to target you or your home.

"Open, Says ME!" If your garage door opener is removable, and you keep your registration in your car (or other items with your home address), you've just told your thief where you live and given them a way to get in. And imagine that the thief located this information in your car while it's in long-term parking at the airport - now you've also provided information that you'll be gone for a long time. TIP: Take your remote garage door opener with you when leaving your car (even for a few hours).

"GPS, Take Me Home": Was "Home" one of the first locations you programmed into your GPS? This, in combination with having a garage door opener creates a situation similar to the first scenario. The thief now has a way in to your house and can just have your GPS direct him straight to your house. TIP: Keep the "Home" setting, but change it so it directs you to a nearby location (e.g., store or gas station) so you can still find your way home.

"Hubby, Sweetie, Honey, Mom": Take a look through your contacts list on your cell phone. Do you use nicknames for your loved ones, or do they use them for you? If you got a text from "Hubby" that said "In line at grocery store. Forgot PIN for debit card. Text it to me please." Or from "Mom" that said "What's our garage door keypad code again?" What would you do? More than likely you'd promptly text the necessary information. If the phone was in the hands of a thief, you have just given them access to your bank account or your home. TIP: Don't assign nicknames in your contacts. In addition, if they are requesting sensitive information, confirm their identity by asking specific questions via text or, better yet, call and talk to them. Furthermore, if you DO confirm the identity and text the information, be sure to delete the text later, and make sure your "Hubby" (or Sweetie, or Mom) does too.

Missing Item Found! Have you ever lost something of value and reported it to the "proper" authorities (e.g., mall security, airport security, library lost and found)? Just think how happy you'd be if you got a call that they had your item and that you should come and claim it immediately. If it's a thief who actually made the call, they're now aware that you'll be out of your house for a while-perhaps enough time to burglarize your home. TIP: Look up the "real" phone number (don't just use the caller ID display) and call to confirm that the "item found" report is valid before leaving your house.

Bottom Line:Take your time and think before acting, speaking, texting. If it doesn't feel quite right, or if you're revealing information that you would normally keep secure, pause and think it through before revealing it. As previously mentioned, thieves use their smarts and can be tricky. They will rely on the element of surprise, count on "typical" human responses, smile and be charming, look you straight in the eye and speak with confidence-all while getting you to reveal information or behave in a way that works to their advantage. Visit the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety for more helpful information.

Computer Ransom

In  the world we live in today, there are new threats popping up every day. If you have a commercial business insurance policy, you need to be concerned about "Computer Ransom".

Computer Ransom is when a hacker downloads a virus into your business computer that locks up your computer and all the information you have in it. Then, you get notification that for a "fee", they will release the computer and it's information to you. Fees (blackmail) range from $2500 and up. The police, FBI and computer experts will tell you to pay the fee, since they have no way to correct the situation.

If coverage for this type of event is important to you, please contact your insurance provider so they can talk to you about this coverage and possibly add it to your policy.