Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 – November 30. But if you try telling a May 80 MPH storm to cool it for a week or two, you probably won't be very successful. Recently, the first tropical depression of this year's hurricane season formed in the Atlantic. With hurricanes on the horizon for Floridians, it is best to utilize this Hurricane Preparedness Week to make your home a safer place.
Hurricane Preparedness Week was formed by the National Hurricane Center to remind people who live in places that are prone to hurricanes to be prepared. The following are a few safety tips for those who might be affected:
Hurricane Tips for Families
Make sure you know what your home is most vulnerable to- whether it is storm surge, flooding, or wind.
Choose a safe room in your home that will keep you safe against each hurricane hazard.
Choose escape routes out of your home, and places to meet if there is an emergency.
Ask a friend who is out of state to be your families point of contact.
Form a plan for your pets if they are forced to evacuate.
Place a list of emergency numbers by your phone.
Check your hurricane and homeowners coverage.
Although hurricanes are common, no one thinks that a storm will destroy their home. Most homeowners insurance policies have hurricane coverage standard- does yours? If you're unsure you are truly protected, visit www.timshaw.com to learn more about your options, or to get a free online insurance quote.
Florida homeowners may be surprised to learn that their insurance policies may not protect them as well as they had thought. As hurricane season approaches, it has come to light that the State may lack the financial backing to support its insurance policies. If a hurricane the size of Katrina were to hit Florida, it could result in nonpayment of claims.
You may be especially vulnerable to nonpayment of claims if your homeowners insurance policy is held by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance. In order to bolster the amount of homeowners who are insured, the government has kept rates artificially low in Florida. The low rates have resulted is situation that may leave Florida homeowners and tax payers at quite a financial risk.
Many blame Florida's Governor Charlie Crist for the insurance issues plaguing the State. Governor Crist has pushed lower insurance rates and fought against big insurance carriers. He played a rather prominent role in the debate about whether State Farm should be able to raise their Florida rates an average of 47%. Their request was denied, resulting in their decision to pull out of the Florida property insurance market.
The disturbing trends in Florida homeowners insurance rates lead a person to believe that the low rates- although attractive- are keeping companies from being able to price insurance correctly. I can imagine many Floridians must feel really vulnerable in response to this news about their insurance policies. Even though hurricane season is approaching quickly, don't panic. If you feel you might need additional coverage to protect your home, you have options. At Tim Shaw's Virtual Insurance Office you can learn more about your Florida homeowners insurance options and get a quote on a wind elimination policy.
You figured it was safe there- no one would break into your car. But after your 20 minute excursion into Starbucks, you and your latte came back to find that someone has been there while you were gone. Even worse? They made off with your laptop. If your laptop is stolen, don’t panic: you’re homeowners insurance will probably cover such a loss.
You may not be aware that your homeowners policy includes coverage for items when they are off-premises- including your laptop and other possessions that you own that may be stolen from your car. Your policy moves around with your possessions, so if you bring your laptop from your home to your ride, and someone breaks into your car and steals the computer, you’re covered. If your laptop wasn’t mobile- and was actually installed in your auto, it would be covered under your auto insurance - and not your homeowners policy. The amount of coverage for such items when they are off-property would be specified in your homeowners policy.
Although the stolen item probably falls under your homeowners policy, it is subject to your deductable. Homeowners insurance policy’s come with deductibles- which include the amount of money you will have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Deductibles often run anywhere from $500 to $1,000. If you know what your deductible is, you may find that filing a claim may not even be worth the cost. If the computer was purchased for $1,500+ over five years ago, its replacement cost now may be $500. This means that if you have a $1,000 deductible, your carrier will provide you with any money.
One of the biggest perks about owning your own home? Inviting friends and family over and having parties! Whether it is New Year’s Eve or a Thanksgiving dinner, make sure you are careful with the alcohol when your friends are over. In many states, you can be held legally responsible if friends drive drunk after leaving your home.
As the host of a party at your home, you have a variety of responsibilities. Being the “social host” isn’t all about having a good time- it also includes having a duty under the law to prevent your partygoers from drinking too much before they get behind the wheel or participate in dangerous activities. For instance, if a friend of yours drinks at your home, and hurts someone, YOU could be sued for medical expensive, vehicles costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Even more scary- in some states, you can be held criminally responsible for your drunk buddy who had one too many and broke someone’s nose. You could also be held liable for property damage. So if your guest breaks a window or runs over a tree in someone's front yard, you could end up paying the bill for that as well.
It goes without saying that once your guests begin to drink, they’re rationality goes out the window. As the host, it is up to you to know when to take the keys, call a cab, or offer a friend a ride home. Thankfully, if damage happens on your property, your homeowners insurance will offer you some protection. If you are in search of an agency that offers comprehensive and affordable homeowners coverage, give Tim Shaw Insurance Group a call at 800.711.3305. Want more information right now?- Visit our Virtual Insurance Office at www.timshaw.com to get a free online homeowners insurance quote.
When a teen passes their driving test and receives their license, it suddenly seems like the whole world has opened up before them. With a license, a young person has the freedom to drive where they want, pick up their friends…and worry about their insurance. When a teen receives their license, it may be the first time in their lives that they have thought about insurance. In the future, as teenagers graduate from high school and enter their college years or the working world, there are many insurance concerns for them to think about. Because purchasing insurance will continue to be an aspect of your teen’s life as they grow, it would be beneficial to sit down with them and go over their auto insurance options.
When it comes to serious and fatal accidents, the statistics for teen drivers are usually less than stellar. According to the figures, teen drivers typically have the highest risk of being in a dangerous accident. Because of their risk factors, teens can usually assume that their insurance premiums will be high- and if you insure your teen on your family’s plan, their costs could add anywhere from 50 to 100% to your auto coverage. Although the impact your teen could have on your insurance costs may scare you, with educational and family discounts, it is still generally cheaper to place your teen on your family auto package.
When it comes to auto insurance, the best thing you can do for both yourself and your teen is to talk to them about their options. Educating your teen on their insurance options while their young will do much to help them in the future. If you have a teen driver, and are looking into your auto insurance options, be sure to look into Tim Shaw Insurance Group. Tim Shaw Insurance Group’s Virtual Insurance Office is available 24/7 and can meet all your insurance needs. Visit our website at www.timshaw.com to learn more or to get a free quote on auto insurance for your teen, today!
In today's economy, being knowledgable is your strongest asset- especially when you are looking to buy insurance. While jobless rates rise to 25-year highs, and home prices plummet, many Americans are unaware of what their insurance will cover and what it won't. But, it is possible to get ahead- get informed.
In a new survey, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that the majority of Americans believe that they are confident in their insurance knowledge. Yet- at American's understanding of insurance tells a different story. If you feel that you know the ins and outs of insurance, try to answer these three simple questions:
Is a rental car covered under your auto insurance?
Can you own a home without homeowners insurance?
How much life insurance is typically recommended, with respect to your salary?
If you answered, no, yes and 5-7 times your annual salary, you faired better than 1,000 American adults. On average, Americans did poorly in answering these questions, averaging only a 40% score on this three question quiz.
To make sure you are using your insurance money wisely, your best bet is to contact an insurance agent for advice. Speaking with an agent will cost you nothing- but will leave you more knowledgeable about your insurance options. Visit http://timshaw.com/.Through Tim Shaw Insurance Group, you can not only learn more about insurance, but you can also get a free rate quote.
Are you satisfied with your restaurant insurance? Do you feel confident that you're completely protected? Do you even have insurance?
Let's talk about liquor liability.
A couple comes into your restaurant to celebrate their 5-year wedding anniversary. The anniversary drinks are flowing, when suddenly the husband announces it's been a great five years, but he has decided to move on and leave the marriage. The wife, full of drinks, becomes upset and smashes her glass down. The glass hits another customer in the ankle, while another customer gets cut by the glass. The drunk wife begins throwing whatever she can at her husband - plates, food, silverware, anything. She breaks a few windows, hits a few customers...etc, etc. Suddenly you are faced with damaged property and some very angry customers - who look at you to compensate them.
Alcohol can make people crazy. That's why liquor liability is a must for any restaurant. Are you prepared?
So many electricians are working without any kind of insurance. They believe that just because they're good at fixing wiring and know how to do their job correctly, customers can pay them and everything will be fine.
However, it's very unwise to work this way. As an electrician, you'll need electricians liability insurance. No one can predict accidents. What would happen if you were to cause an electrical fire or someone got a shock due to your faulty wiring? It doesn't even have to be related to your work - you could have a quick clumsy moment and knock over a valuable glass vase.
You may be thinking, "I know I'm a good electrician. I don't cause fires or shocks." Maybe, but do you employee other electricians? Can you account for them?
Besides having electricians liability to pay for accidents, you'll need it to grow your business. Most customers don't want to hire an electrician or an electrician company if there's no insurance.
Basically, electricians insurance pays for itself. If there's an accident, it can save you thousands, and you will gain more customers if you have it. For more information on electricians insurance, contact us today! We're the Tim Shaw Insurance Group, based in Fort Myers, Florida.
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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