A neighbor of mine recently added about 600+ square feet onto their home. It was a massive construction job that took about three months to complete. Plus, they gutted the inside and completely upgraded nearly the entire place.
My neighbor insures their home elsewhere, but I asked if they had notified their current insurance agent.
They had not and were not aware of the need. Big mistake.
They also were not aware that because the insurance company is insuring a smaller home all these current upgrades and the new addition is not necessarily covered.
Another agent relayed this story to me. A homeowner in the East Valley added about 1,000 square feet to his already sprawling home. He did not inform his agent or company until the home was destroyed in a fire. I do not know the final outcome, but the insurance company was initially unwilling to pay for the new addition, since they were never notified and were not charging a premium for it.
The moral of the story?
Talk to your agent, at least annually. Tell him/her immediately of any changes occurring in your life that you feel may affect your insurance. This includes major changes, such as additons to your home, or could include smaller details, such as buying or inheriting valuables like jewelry.
I receive calls virtually every week from clients notifying me of changes in their lives. I appreciate that they do that. It helps us both sleep better at night.
arizona auto insurance
Phoenix Life Insurance / Arizona Life Insurance
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Long Term Care Insurance?
Why are we talking about Long Term Care in an Auto & Home Owner Insurance blog?
For one, because hardly anyone else is talking about it.
Secondly, if you are age 50 or over, you need to consider buying it.
If you become sick and need a nursing home it currently costs about $65,000 per year for a private room in a nursing home. Do you have that money sitting in a savings account?
Even if you do, your money is more wisely leveraged buying long term care insurance.
Medicare does very little when it comes to paying for long term care.
The Medicaid program pays only after you have already spent nearly every asset and savings you own.
The best solution is to buy Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
Keep in mind, the cost of nursing homes and long term care assistance is going up, and fast.
If you do not buy LTC insurance, you are taking the chance on saving your entire life only to lose most or all of what you have in the final couple years of your life - spending it on nursing home care.
The odds of needing some sort of Long Term Care? About 50%.
If the lottery were 50%, we would be thrilled. But these are the types of odds in LTC that you would rather avoid.
If you are married and both of you are 65 or over, the odds increase to 75% that one of you will need LTC.
Do the prudent thing and seek a quote for Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
For one, because hardly anyone else is talking about it.
Secondly, if you are age 50 or over, you need to consider buying it.
If you become sick and need a nursing home it currently costs about $65,000 per year for a private room in a nursing home. Do you have that money sitting in a savings account?
Even if you do, your money is more wisely leveraged buying long term care insurance.
Medicare does very little when it comes to paying for long term care.
The Medicaid program pays only after you have already spent nearly every asset and savings you own.
The best solution is to buy Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
Keep in mind, the cost of nursing homes and long term care assistance is going up, and fast.
If you do not buy LTC insurance, you are taking the chance on saving your entire life only to lose most or all of what you have in the final couple years of your life - spending it on nursing home care.
The odds of needing some sort of Long Term Care? About 50%.
If the lottery were 50%, we would be thrilled. But these are the types of odds in LTC that you would rather avoid.
If you are married and both of you are 65 or over, the odds increase to 75% that one of you will need LTC.
Do the prudent thing and seek a quote for Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
The Changes in Your Life
We buy insurance and then sort of forget about it.
It's normal and happens to most of us.
But then a claim happens......uh oh.
The thoughts race through your mind - am I covered for this? Do I have enough coverage?
It's one reason why it's good for most consumers to call their agent at every renewal (or every other renewal at most), and ask for a review and break down of their coverage.
This review can take place over the phone, via email or in person.
The easiest reminder to review coverage is when you get your renewal. For auto insurance that could be every six months or once a year (depending on which company we have you with), and for homes it is annually.
In life insurance there is a saying, "Life Insurance is for those you leave behind".
In Auto & Home Insurance, the saying should be: "Review your auto and home policies Before you have a claim".
Why to keep in Contact with My Agent
True Story: a neighbor of mine (that I do not insure unfortunately) just added over 600 square feet to their home. I asked if they had notified their agent about the addition and they had not. Big mistake. The insurance company is insuring a smaller home and charging a premium based upon the original square footage. As I explained to my neighbor, the insurance company has based their policy & premium on the home without the new addition. If they want to ensure the new addition is covered, they needed to notify their agent.
While the above is not a normal example of a typical life change, there are changes in our lives that happen during the course of a year. Take thirty minutes out of the 525,000 minutes you have every year and call to discuss any changes that have happened, and whether or not your current coverage is still appropriate for you.
You may assume that the policy you took out originally is still ok. And it might be. But let's make sure.
Remember, would you rather ensure you have the right coverage before OR after a claim?
And keep in mind, a review can be very informal. You can do it through email, by phone or in person.
Phoenix Life Insurance, Arizona Life Insurance
Arizona Auto Insurance
Arizona Home Owner Insurance
It's normal and happens to most of us.
But then a claim happens......uh oh.
The thoughts race through your mind - am I covered for this? Do I have enough coverage?
It's one reason why it's good for most consumers to call their agent at every renewal (or every other renewal at most), and ask for a review and break down of their coverage.
This review can take place over the phone, via email or in person.
The easiest reminder to review coverage is when you get your renewal. For auto insurance that could be every six months or once a year (depending on which company we have you with), and for homes it is annually.
In life insurance there is a saying, "Life Insurance is for those you leave behind".
In Auto & Home Insurance, the saying should be: "Review your auto and home policies Before you have a claim".
Why to keep in Contact with My Agent
True Story: a neighbor of mine (that I do not insure unfortunately) just added over 600 square feet to their home. I asked if they had notified their agent about the addition and they had not. Big mistake. The insurance company is insuring a smaller home and charging a premium based upon the original square footage. As I explained to my neighbor, the insurance company has based their policy & premium on the home without the new addition. If they want to ensure the new addition is covered, they needed to notify their agent.
While the above is not a normal example of a typical life change, there are changes in our lives that happen during the course of a year. Take thirty minutes out of the 525,000 minutes you have every year and call to discuss any changes that have happened, and whether or not your current coverage is still appropriate for you.
You may assume that the policy you took out originally is still ok. And it might be. But let's make sure.
Remember, would you rather ensure you have the right coverage before OR after a claim?
And keep in mind, a review can be very informal. You can do it through email, by phone or in person.
Phoenix Life Insurance, Arizona Life Insurance
Arizona Auto Insurance
Arizona Home Owner Insurance
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Some Life Insurance thoughts
Unless you work for a mortuary, a pre-planning funeral service or an insurance agency, you probably prefer not to discuss dying.
Over the past 14 years I had more than a few husband's tell me they would not discuss life insurance because they believed it would (in effect) curse them. They really thought that talking about it would hasten their demise.
It's weird, because I feel pretty comfortable talking about it, to be honest. I've done it for so long because I have written lots of life insurance for lots of families.
Arizona Life insurance is not for you. It's for the loved ones in your life.
Are there people in your life that you would love see have life a little easier, with less stress?
When a loved one dies, it can be a fairly stressful situation. Especially if the person who passed away was a breadwinner.
Life Insurance can pay off a home, provide a surviving spouse with an ongoing monthly income, pay off credit cards, car loans and even be used to put kids through college.
Think about those you love. Think about how they will be affected if you die tomorrow.
And if you want a quote on life insurance - call or email me.
Gary Brown (480) 659-0229
gary@choicearizon.com
http://www.choicearizona.com
Phoenix Life Insurance
Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
Over the past 14 years I had more than a few husband's tell me they would not discuss life insurance because they believed it would (in effect) curse them. They really thought that talking about it would hasten their demise.
It's weird, because I feel pretty comfortable talking about it, to be honest. I've done it for so long because I have written lots of life insurance for lots of families.
Arizona Life insurance is not for you. It's for the loved ones in your life.
Are there people in your life that you would love see have life a little easier, with less stress?
When a loved one dies, it can be a fairly stressful situation. Especially if the person who passed away was a breadwinner.
Life Insurance can pay off a home, provide a surviving spouse with an ongoing monthly income, pay off credit cards, car loans and even be used to put kids through college.
Think about those you love. Think about how they will be affected if you die tomorrow.
And if you want a quote on life insurance - call or email me.
Gary Brown (480) 659-0229
gary@choicearizon.com
http://www.choicearizona.com
Phoenix Life Insurance
Arizona Long Term Care Insurance
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The OTHER insurance stuff
Some people own toys like a boat or motorcycle.
I am a big proponent of carrying lots of Bodily Injury protection on your auto policy. And the same holds true for boats and motorcycles.
But also think about adding Medical coverage to your policy if you own a boat or motorcycle.
Too often we focus on our deductible and the bottom line premium. But skimping on items like Bodily Injury and Medical can easily come back to haunt you.
While we all want to pay as little as we have to, some things in life are not worth going cheap on - like BI and Medical coverage.
You may have lots of assets or very little. But the one thread we all have in common is we all work to earn a living. It is possible someone can sue and get a garnishment on a portion of your income. I am not an attorney and do not disperse legal advice, but having decent Bodily Injury and Medical coverage is like taking vitamins for your body. It helps keep you all-around more healthy. BI and Medical can help keep you financially healthier - if you are ever at-fault in an accident or have an accident while on your boat or motorcycle.
If you have guests on your boat or motorcycle you need to carry BI and Medical - period. Don't put your financial well-being at risk. Plus, having these coverages is the right thing to do. If you own the toys, you really should have the proper insurance as well.
Don't forget to ask about an Umbrella policy while you are at it.
Arizona Auto Insurance, Home Owner Insurance Quote, Car Insurance Phoenix
Arizona Auto Insurance, Home Owner Insurance, Car Insurance Phoenix
http://www.arizonaautoinsurance.cc
http://www.arizonahomeownerinsurance.biz
http://www.insurancephoenix.net
http://www.phoenix-life-insurance.com
I am a big proponent of carrying lots of Bodily Injury protection on your auto policy. And the same holds true for boats and motorcycles.
But also think about adding Medical coverage to your policy if you own a boat or motorcycle.
Too often we focus on our deductible and the bottom line premium. But skimping on items like Bodily Injury and Medical can easily come back to haunt you.
While we all want to pay as little as we have to, some things in life are not worth going cheap on - like BI and Medical coverage.
You may have lots of assets or very little. But the one thread we all have in common is we all work to earn a living. It is possible someone can sue and get a garnishment on a portion of your income. I am not an attorney and do not disperse legal advice, but having decent Bodily Injury and Medical coverage is like taking vitamins for your body. It helps keep you all-around more healthy. BI and Medical can help keep you financially healthier - if you are ever at-fault in an accident or have an accident while on your boat or motorcycle.
If you have guests on your boat or motorcycle you need to carry BI and Medical - period. Don't put your financial well-being at risk. Plus, having these coverages is the right thing to do. If you own the toys, you really should have the proper insurance as well.
Don't forget to ask about an Umbrella policy while you are at it.
Arizona Auto Insurance, Home Owner Insurance Quote, Car Insurance Phoenix
Arizona Auto Insurance, Home Owner Insurance, Car Insurance Phoenix
http://www.arizonaautoinsurance.cc
http://www.arizonahomeownerinsurance.biz
http://www.insurancephoenix.net
http://www.phoenix-life-insurance.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Truth about Buying Insurance
The OTHER guys....
A State Farm agent can only offer what State Farm has to offer. An Allstate agent can only offer what Allstate has, and the same for Farmers, Geico, and other companies like American Family.
Why not use an Independent Insurance Agency?
An independent insurance agency, like ours, can compare rates with lots of carriers, such as MetLife, Travelers, GMAC, Hartford, AAA and more. We do not represent just one carrier, like those "other" agents.
I think sometimes that consumers just do not understand who and what an independent insurance agent is.
CONSIDER THIS
Does a State Farm agent or an agent with one of the above companies shop around to find you the better rate? No, they only offer the ONE rate (whatever rate their company has to offer). Realistically, those "other" agents are on the insurance company's side. They don't shop around on your behalf.
On the other hand, we are on YOUR side. We are on the BUYERS side - that's you! We shop to find YOU the best rate we can through the many different companies we represent.
If you are not yet insured through us - give us a try! You may save more money than you imagine.
Arizona Auto Insurance / Arizona Home Owner Insurance
A State Farm agent can only offer what State Farm has to offer. An Allstate agent can only offer what Allstate has, and the same for Farmers, Geico, and other companies like American Family.
Why not use an Independent Insurance Agency?
An independent insurance agency, like ours, can compare rates with lots of carriers, such as MetLife, Travelers, GMAC, Hartford, AAA and more. We do not represent just one carrier, like those "other" agents.
I think sometimes that consumers just do not understand who and what an independent insurance agent is.
CONSIDER THIS
Does a State Farm agent or an agent with one of the above companies shop around to find you the better rate? No, they only offer the ONE rate (whatever rate their company has to offer). Realistically, those "other" agents are on the insurance company's side. They don't shop around on your behalf.
On the other hand, we are on YOUR side. We are on the BUYERS side - that's you! We shop to find YOU the best rate we can through the many different companies we represent.
If you are not yet insured through us - give us a try! You may save more money than you imagine.
Arizona Auto Insurance / Arizona Home Owner Insurance
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