Used Car Purchase Warning

If you are planning to buy a used car in the next three years, PLEASE request a carfax. Then, look to see it the vehicle was ever titled in Florida, Texas or Louisiana in 2017. If so, buyer beware. I, personally, would not buy the car. Also you can check unusual places for water lines, mold and dirt like the glove box, door jams, under the carpet, under the seats and in the trunk.

If I plan on driving into Mexico, do I need Mexican Insurance?

With my agency located in Arizona, I get this question asked to me frequently. My answer is always YES. Here are a few facts that support my answer.

• Most American auto insurance companies will cover you and your car within 75 miles of the US / Mexican border.
• To my knowledge, the Mexican government does not recognize any American insurance companies.
• If you have an accident in Mexico, you are considered guilty (at fault) until proven innocent.
• You can be thrown in jail and your vehicle impounded and sold.

Mexican auto insurance can be purchased at many US insurance companies and also at the border with Mexico. An example of full coverage (liability, property damage, collision, travelers aid, interpreter, and lawyer if needed is about $55 for a 4 day stay. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

Also, if you have a lien on your vehicle, some lien holders will not allow you to take your vehicle into Mexico. Please check with them before you plan a trip.

This is actual footage from an intersection in Mexico.

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Beware of strangers bearing gifts

Please beware of glass companies that offer you gift cards if they can repair your windshield. In the Phoenix area, there are some glass companies that are offering $100 gift cards if they can replace your windshield. But after the windshield is replaced, the gift cards are no where to be found. If you need your windshield repaired or replaced, please call your insurance agent for a referral to a reputable company.

Reducing tree damage

Falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in damage each year to homes, cars and downing power lines. Homeowners are a first line of defense, but often neglect taking their surroundings into consideration when trying to protect or prepare their property.

Potential problems that are easy to spot include:

·         Cracks in the trunk or major limbs

·         Hollow or decayed trees

·         Trees that look one-sided or lean significantly

·         Branches hanging over the house near the roof

·         Limbs in contact with power lines

Pruning and removal of diseased, damaged or dead plant parts can help to limit the spread of harmful insects and disease, and may help reduce future storm damage.

Tree care tips include:

·         Check local tree regulations prior to pruning or tree removal.

·         Avoid pruning branches flush to the trunk. Doing so removes not only the limb but some of the trunk wood, opening the plant to possible decay or insect damage.

·         Begin by making a cut part way through the bottom of any limb to be trimmed, a few inches from the trunk. Then cut through the limb just above the first cut. This ensures that when the limb falls, it will not tear off a long strip of bark on the way down

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·         Finish by cutting off the few inches sticking out from the trunk. Leave the “branch collar,” (swollen area of trunk tissue that forms around the base of a branch) as this protects the main trunk from damage.

·         Cut off broken or torn limbs to avoid unnecessary bark stripping.

As always, please use your best judgment when doing any home maintenance and consult a professional as needed. Please contact me anytime with questions that you may have regarding your coverage to ensure what matters to you is protected.

Four social media strategies to help deter burglaries

Although it is fun to share photos of your vacation or weekend plans on social media, advertising you are away from home may make you a victim of theft and burglary. Please consider taking the following precautions to ensure you find your house and belongings just as you left them when you return.

1.       Check your privacy settings. Make sure your posts are only being seen by certain “friends” or “followers.” Keep in mind that maintaining a “public” profile usually means the entire world can see your posts.

2.       Control how others can tag you. Even if you have strict security settings, friends may still be able to tag you in posts or photos – exposing you to potential security risks. Manage how others tag you in posts by checking your privacy settings. Decide who can see posts and photos that other people tag you in.

3.       Limit your connections. You likely have high school classmates, casual acquaintances and former colleagues who you have not spoken to in years taking up space in your social network. While social media is great for making big announcements, remember that everything you say may lead to an invasion of your privacy. Advertising your travel details or expensive purchases to all your connections is neither smart nor safe.

4.       Think twice before posting. Whether you’re “checking in” at your favorite restaurant or posting photos from the beach, once you put it on social media, you lose control. Be sure your check-ins are only shared with a select group of trusted friends rather than publicly displayed.

It is important to remember that there is no such thing as total social media privacy nowadays. People who use security settings on their accounts may be at risk of having their personal information shared with unintended audiences.

I hope you and your family find these tips helpful. Please contact me anytime with questions that you may have regarding your coverage to ensure what matters to you is protected.

What is Liability Coverage?

If you cause an accident or someone is injured on your property, you could find yourself legally liable for the resulting expenses. Medical and legal bills can add up quickly. That's why it's a good idea to know what kind of liability coverage your insurance policies provide and what limits apply. Having the proper safeguards in place may help protect your own finances should the unexpected occur.

Liability coverage is typically offered as a component of a number of insurance policies, from auto to home to boat.
Here's a look at how liability coverage may help offer protection:

Auto Liability Coverage

Liability insurance is a standard component of most auto insurance policies and it's a required coverage in most states. Auto liability can help provide protection in two important ways. Bodily injury liability coverage may help protect you if you are found liable for someone else's medical bills or if you're sued after an accident. Property damage liability may help pay for damages you cause - for instance, you hit another car or crash into someone's home.

Homeowners Liability Coverage

Suppose, for instance, a guest slips and falls on your pool deck or a broken stair. If you're found liable for someone else's injury at your home, liability coverage may help cover related medical or legal expenses. This coverage is typically part of a standard homeowners insurance policy, though limits will apply.

Renters Liability Coverage

No one plans for a visitor to become injured, but it can happen. If a guest incurs medical bills from an accident at the home you're renting, liability coverage can help pay for related expenses if you are found legally responsible for the incident. Or if your young athlete accidentally throws a ball through a neighbor's window, liability protection may also help cover the expense of repairing the window

Condo Liability Coverage

Personal liability coverage, which usually comes with a standard condo insurance policy, can help provide protection if, for instance, you're found responsible after someone is injured in your unit. Most condo policies also offer family liability protection, which can help protect you if you're found responsible for someone's medical bills resulting from an accident in your home.

Boat Liability Coverage

Liability coverage on a boat insurance policy can help protect you from paying out of pocket if you're found responsible for someone else's injuries or damage to another person's property resulting from an accident you caused.

Motorcycle Liability Coverage

Liability coverage generally comes in two forms on a typical motorcycle insurance policy. Bodily injury liability coverage can help protect you if you're found responsible for someone else's medical expenses or if someone loses income as a result of a motorcycle accident you caused. Property damage liability coverage can help prevent you from paying out of pocket for repairs or replacement to someone else's vehicle or property if you're found at fault for an accident.

ATV Liability Coverage

As with many other types of liability protection, ATV liability insurance typically offers two kinds of coverage. Bodily injury coverage can help cover someone else's medical bills if they are injured in an accident you caused. Property damage coverage may help protect you from paying out of pocket if if you cause an accident that damages someone else's property while riding your ATV.

Landlord Liability Coverage

Landlords may not live in a property they own, but being the boss comes with certain responsibilities. For instance, suppose a tenant falls over a broken step. If you were found negligent in maintaining the property or failed to advise the tenant of a potential risk, you could be found financially responsible for medical expenses resulting from an injury.

Business Liability Coverage

Small business owners are exposed to risk in a number of ways, which is why many types of business liability insurance are offered. Depending on the policy, liability coverage may help provide protection if, for instance, someone is injured at the business, if a detective product causes someone harm or if an employee sues for discrimination.

Personal Umbrella Policy

While a typical insurance policy may come with some liability protection, limits will apply. That means the policyholder may still be exposed to out-of-pocket expenses in the event that they are found liable for someone else's loss and those expenses exceed what the policy covers. That's where a personal umbrella policy may help. An umbrella policy provides liability coverage beyond the limits of an underlying policy, helping provide greater protection against a potentially financially devastating judgment.

Monsoon 2017 Tips

As we enter monsoon season, here are some safety tips to remember.

• Flashlights - These are key "to haves" for both your residence and automobiles. The best flashlight to have is an LED. They are brighter and last longer. A good place to get a package of 3 or 4 would be at Costco, Home Depot or Lowes. You can purchase a package containing 3-4 LED flashlights for about $20.00. Keep one in your car and the remaining flashlights in your residence.
• Batteries - Whether you have batteries or not, it's time to get new ones. The best type of batteries to get are Alkalines. It does not matter where you get them, but I like either Duracell or Eveready. Buy just enough to use in your flashlights, not a mega package. This would also be a good time to replace your smoke detector batteries.
• Radio - I suggest getting a small weather/emergency radio that runs on batteries. This is so you can stay on top of any weather or other emergencies, incase the power is off in your area.
• Food and Water -  It's always good to have some caned food/soup and bottled water in your home just incase of loss of power or if you are unable to leave your home during a bad storm. Make sure you also have a manual can opener to open those cans of food.
• Candles and matches - In case of loss of power for and extended period of time, a small supply of candles and matches can come in handy.
• Refrigerator - Remember, things in your refrigerator can stay cold and or frozen for up to 24 hours. Just try to minimize the number of times you open and close the door. 
• Driving - If you don't have to, then don't. Driving in monsoon weather is very dangerous. If you are stuck in a dust storm, pull off and over to the far right of the roadway, place your car in park, turn off your lights, set your parking brake, keep your foot off the brake pedal and DO NOT put on your emergency lights. Once it is safe to drive, then proceed carefully.
• Outside objects - Secure any outside objects you might have. This includes, but is not limited to, lawn chairs, patio umbrellas, small plants, pool supplies and hanging objects like bells, flags and plants.

Please be prepared and safe.