$1,000: Not a bad sum of money in this economy! One thousand dollars could certainly help many families in New Hampshire breath a little easier.
So, what could you do with $1,000?
1) Buy lots of groceries 2) Gas, at least until the summer 3) One night at a casino! 4) Kids summer camp payment 5) A new pet! 6) Weekend away...maybe weekend(s) away 7) Mortgage relief 8) Car payment relief 9) New air conditioners for the summer months 10) Vacation home rental
We at Counterpoint Insurance in Bedford, New Hampshire just saved a married couple $1,000 in insurance payments for the year by combining their home, auto, and umbrella policies. This may sound crazy, but it could be you! Even if you save $300 this year, every penny counts - as you can see above. So tell us: What would you do with $1000 in insurance savings?
Be sure to check out our FREE Savings Analysis! We're CounterPoint Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Bedford, New Hampshire.
When you have homeowners insurance and your home is robbed or damaged by weather or fire, replacement cost will replace or rebuild your lost/damaged property as accurately as possible.
For example, when your have replacement cost, your insurance provider hires local contractors to replace repair the damage using the same materials and quality of work so that your home won't depreciate in value. Many people add replacement cost on to their homeowners policy because it makes rebuilding homes and damage much easier.
As for the contents of your home, the insurance company will give you the actual cash value of those stolen or damaged contents.
There are many different types of replacement cost policies, so it's important to find the one that best meets your requirements. Guaranteed replacement cost will pay to completely rebuild your home. Other types will pay your policy limits, plus a certain amount above those limits.
As the weather gets warmer, more and more motorcyclists are strapping on their helmets and hitting the road. Here are a few safety tips to help drivers share the road with motorcyclists.
It's important to LOOK for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection. They are small and can often be missed.
Motorcycles are small. Because of this, they may look farther away than they really are. It can also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into or out of a driveway, know that a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to carefully check traffic, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.
A motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.
Motorcyclists tend to slow down by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance (3-4 seconds). At intersections, know that a motorcyclist may slow down without a visual warning.
Turn signals on a motorcycle aren't usually self-canceling. Thus some riders, especially beginners, can forget to turn the signals off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.
Motorcyclists often adjust their position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off.
The ability to easily maneuver is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement can make stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle.
When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle - think of it as a person.
For more information about motorcycle safety and motorcycle insurance, contact us today! We're CounterPoint Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Bedford, New Hampshire. We are also happy to offer free motorcycle quotes!
Many entrepreneurs face the same problem of finding the right commercial space once their business is up and running. It's important to focus on finding a place that meets your highest priorities. When you go to check out your options, be sure to bring along a notebook, pen, pocket calculator, measuring tape, and, if possible, a Dictaphone and a digital camera.
Here are a few pointers on what to look for when looking for your perfect commercial property.
Good security. After all, your livelihood is going to be running inside these walls. Will your business be a target for burglars? What's the area/neighborhood like? Does the landlord employee any security guards? How good are the locks or alarm systems? Will it be a safe building for you or your employees to be working late at? Are there security cameras? Is there enough light in the parking lot in the evening? These are important questions to ask. Not only are you looking out for your business's safety, but you'll also be looking out for your own safety and the safety of your employees.
Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Coming into a freezing office in the dead of winter is horrible. Walking into an oven during the summer isn't fun, either. It's important to make sure the space you'll be occupying has properly-working HVAC systems. Will you be able to control the temperature? And will you be allowed to keep the air conditioning or heating running during off-hours, if your business needs it to? (Example: computers would need to be in a cool environment during hot summer months.)
Outward appearance. If your business is the type to have customers coming and going, outward appearance is crucial. Even if you plan to take meetings in your commercial space, you should find a space that's clean and attractive. If it looks shabby to you, it will look shabby to everyone else.
Defects. Look for apparent problems, such as missing floor tiles, lots of nail holes in the walls, loose steps, torn carpet, stains anywhere, broken light fixtures, etc. Maybe these imperfections won't bother you, but if they will, check for them immediately. You don't want to move in and then suddenly start seeing problems everywhere. If you don't mind flaws such as these, be sure to check for bigger problems, like a leaky roof. Chances are, if the carpet, tiles, fixtures, etc. are in rough shape, other areas could be too - areas that are more expensive to repair. Assuming that the space has some possibilities for you, try to evaluate how difficult (and expensive) it will be to fix any problems.
Access and convenience. Are there elevators nearby? How about bathrooms? Is there a good place to have a big meeting? What about vending machines or a cafeteria? A good idea is to make a list of the things you'll definitely want to have (on-site parking, storage units, a wheelchair ramp, etc.) and ask for it when you're checking out the space.
These are just a few of the things you'll need to ask about. There are many other considerations, such as zoning compliances, licenses, permits, and who pays for office improvements. Make sure you're allowed to have your business where you're looking. If necessary, consult with a professional who can make sure you don't miss anything. Careful, documented visits to perspective sites will prove extremely helpful.
To get a free quote on commercial property insurance today, contact CounterPoint Insurance! We're an independent insurance agency based in Bedford, New Hampshire.
In these financially strained economic times, it's important to keep your employees' morale boosted with well-provided group benefits.
Both employees and you as the employer gain advantage from having a group benefit program - it's not only a benefit to your staff.
Advantages for employers include tax deductible expenditures; attraction for qualified employees; a healthy workforce, and the fact that benefits can be provided in exchange for monetary compensation.
Different benefits can mean even more benefits, depending on what they are.
While times may be tough for businesses, it's important to keep good workers around by continuing to offer them valuable benefits. For more information on great group benefits at great rates for you, contact us today! We're CounterPoint Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Bedford, New Hampshire.
In these difficult economic times, it's important that you don't risk losing money in your business. As an electrician or plumber, there are many mistakes you can make on the job, but that doesn't even have to be the case. These days, a customer can file a lawsuit against you for something you didn't even do.
What if you get blamed for breaking a window in a customer's home? Electricians, what if you make a mistake and blow out the entire building's electricity? Or as a plumbing business, maybe you hire employees and one of them causes a kitchen to flood. In these instances, you can be sued. Are you prepared?
A single lawsuit could wipe out your whole business. It's important to protect yourself and all you've worked hard for.
Did you know that annuities aren't just a way to save for your retirement? They also have an insurance advantage. Depending on what policy you choose, you have the option with annuities for guaranteed death benefits, guaranteed payments for as long as you live, or payments for the life of your beneficiary.
Annuities are a great option for you if you've used up your employee-sponsored 401k and you have more capital to invest. Annuities may also be good for you if you're already a retiree and you're concerned about outliving your money. Variable or fixed annuities can help retirees receive income for the rest of their lives. And finally, you may want to consider annuities if you believe you could be vulnerable to malpractice, because annuities are exempt from malpractice lawsuits because they are credit-protected.
There are two types of annuities: fixed and variable. Which one works best for you is entirely your decision. The difference in them is that with a fixed annuity, it gives you a pre-determined interest rate on your income which is guaranteed for a specified term, depending on your contract. With variable annuities, you invest them among stocks, bonds, and market accounts similar to a 401k and traditional IRA.
For more information on annuities, contact us today! We're CounterPoint Insurance, an independent insurance agency is Bedford, New Hampshire.
Anyone who has started their own business and watched it grow successfully will naturally begin to think sooner or later about what will happen to their company once they have to step down.
It doesn't matter if you've started your own flower shop or if you were given the title of President of a huge company by your parent: eventually, business owners will have to think about business succession planning.
But how do you choose the right person to take over for you? For some people, the decision is simple and clear. They know exactly who will be able to run things correctly. For others, it can be a little more complicated - especially if it's a family business.
Here are a few things to ask yourself when trying to determine who will be the right successor:
Do I trust this person wholeheartedly?
Will this person make the right decisions?
Is this person experienced enough in the area of my business?
Is this person fully committed to this job? If something better were to come along, would they remain?
Is this person a good manager of employees, peers, time, and problems?
Is this person a strong and clear communicator?
Is this person good with money?
Do I find this person to be honest and hardworking?
Does this person have good ideas and relevant input?
Is this person motivated?
Does this person handle stress well?
Do we have equal values?
Does this person genuinely care about this company?
No one can know who will be best for the job but you. Answering these questions for yourself is just one way to help you decide.
Unfortunately, at some point or another, many employees have to look into disability insurance. This coverage takes care of you when you have to miss work because of an injury or an illness. Many employees use this type of coverage, but finding the right kind can be tricky because there are so many different types.
Generally, there are two types of disability policies: short term and long term. Short term policies have a waiting period of up to 14 days, with a maximum benefit period of no longer than two years.
Long term policies have a waiting period of several weeks to several months, with a maximum benefit period which can range from a few years to the remainder of your life.
Disability insurance policies also have two different protection features: non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable.
Non-cancelable policies cannot be cancelled by the insurance company, unless payment stops. This lets you renew the policy annually, without the premium being raised or a decrease in benefits.
Guaranteed renewable lets you renew your policy with the same benefits you’ve been receiving, without the policy being cancelled by the company. With this type, your carrier has the right to increase your premiums as it does so for all other policyholders in the same rating class as you.
It’s important that you’re receiving the right disability insurance. Have questions? Contact us today to learn more about disability insurance. We’re CounterPoint Insurance, based in Bedford, New Hampshire.
If you own a restaurant, coffee shop, or a bar, you understand that lots of accidents can happen. As a result of slippery floors, waiters and waitresses rushing around, alcohol intake, and the possibility of food spoilage, a restaurant is a hotbed for lawsuits. You most likely already have restaurant insurance, but are you absolutely sure you’re covered for everything? Have you considered the worst-case scenarios? Depending on where you’re located, you could have many dangers right at your restaurant’s doorstep. It may be time for you to re-evaluate your restaurant, coffee shop, or bar insurance policy. There are a few very basic types of insurance that no one should be running a food industry establishment without.
Food spoilage. What if a huge storm knocks out the power overnight, and by morning, all of your food is spoiled? And on that note, you would have to close the place down for a few days while you had new food brought in. Do you have business interruption insurance to cover your loss of income during that time? It also covers lost funds in the event of damage due to weather or theft.
Property insurance will cover damages when fire or other disasters strike, and general liability will pay for medical expenses if someone gets injured on the property of your restaurant, or if they get food poisoning. Workers compensation does the same, but for your employees. (This is a must.)
There are also other types of insurance you may need, especially if you cater, such as commercial auto insurance. This is just like regular auto insurance, only it covers your employees who drive and the car. Combined with other restaurant insurance policies, it’s also cheaper. And do you serve alcohol? If so, liquor liability is a very good idea. It will cover damaged property and/or injured customers if someone decides to go on a drunken rampage inside your place. This happens much more often than people realize.
Call us today if you’re interested in updating your restaurant insurance policy. After working so hard for your restaurant, coffee shop, or bar, it’s important to keep it protected. We’re CounterPoint Insurance in Bedford, New Hampshire.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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