Do you really need a household inventory?

In a word, “YES!” An inventory of your household items is critical, whether you have purchased homeowners, rental, or condominium insurance coverage. Why is an inventory so important? If your household items are damaged or stolen, you’ll need to provide the insurance company with information such as item manufacturers, models, and serial numbers, plus purchase dates or receipts.

Your inventory should include a room-by-room list of all household items, such as furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, and jewelry. Some big-ticket items or collectibles may need to be insured separately. So, we always recommend checking with your insurance agent to be sure that you have purchased adequate coverage to meet your individual needs. Your household items are generally included under the Coverage C (Contents) amount listed on your policy declarations page.

KnowYourStuff.org, sponsored by the Insurance Information Institute, is a free home inventory website where you can store your item information and photos. The user friendly site provides step-by-step instructions and videos to help you create your own home inventory room by room. Remember, it’s important to update your inventory when you purchase new items and to contact your insurance agent to be sure they are covered by your current policy.

For more information, visit KnowYourStuff.org and start taking inventory today! Or you can print and complete the property inventory worksheet included in the Florida’s Homeowners Financial Tool Kit at MyFloridaCFO.com.

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Saving Money on Insurance

There are certain risk factors that will lead to a higher premium for your insurance policy. Most of these you can’t change, like the state you live in, or how many accidents you’ve been in.

There are some, however, that you CAN change, and these could vary from driving fewer miles per year than the average driver to quitting smoking, according to CNN Money.

But you can’t get any discounts if you don’t ask. Be confident and nonchalant, ask for that senior citizen discount! See if your credit score makes a difference in your annual premium for your flood policy. And perhaps the most useful strategy? Combine coverage. Insurers often cut costs up to 15% to customers that have more than one policy.

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Great Coverage, Courtesy Your Friendly Neighborhood Insurance Rock Stars

[to the tune of "The Candyman Can" from the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"]

Who can save you moneyyyyyy…
Requote your policyyyyyy…
Find the best insurance rate for your whole familyyyy…
Security Firrrrrst….
Security First caaaan…

Security First can because we sprinkle it with love
and make the world taste goooooooood!

Congratulations are in order to our super-agent Kim, who just saved Carol G. a bundle on her homeowners insurance. Carol was an existing customer of ours who asked us to shop her policy around and see what else we could come up with, since it was time for her renewal. Kim shopped around, gathered several quotes from the myriad companies we write with, and wound up saving Carol a whopping $1100/yr on her homeowners insurance!

As a fellow Orlando resident,  I quote Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” when I sing “Oh, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

Way to go, Kim!

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Top 8 Things to Know About Your Insurance

Over the New Year’s respite, I was having a brief chat with some comrades in Orlando concerning both sides of the insurance world, the agents and the consumers. CNN Money offers 8 tips and facts of the insurance world:

  1. You’re a statistic.
  2. To an insurer, you’re not a person; you’re a set of risks. An insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your “risk factors,” including your occupation, who you are, what you own, and how you live. The balance will come into play when you find an agent that sees you as an individual with needs and questions, and tries to craft a policy around your personal needs. Find an agent you can trust.

  3. Know your home’s value.
  4. Before you choose a policy, it is essential to establish your home’s replacement cost. A local builder can provide the best estimate.

  5. Insurers differ.
  6. As with anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can be priced differently by different companies. You can save money by comparison shopping, which is why good agencies (like the good folks at Security First Insurance) will shop your quote with several different companies to find the policy that’s just right for you.

  7. Don’t just look at price.
  8. A low price is no bargain if an insurer takes forever to service your claim. Research the insurer’s record for claims service, as well as its financial stability.

  9. Go beyond the basics.
  10. A basic homeowners policy may not promise to entirely replace your home.

  11. Demand discounts. Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk.
  12. However, Americans waste some $300 million a year because they forget to ask for them!

  13. At claims time, your insurer isn’t necessarily your friend.
  14. Your idea of fair compensation may not match that of your insurer. Your insurer’s job is to restore you financially. Your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.

  15. Prepare before you have to file a claim.
  16. Keep your policy updated, and reread it before you file a claim so there are no surprises.

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