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What to Do With Your Homeowners Insurance Policy After a Divorce

by jferris 18. August 2010 02:34

Homeowners insurance policies should be reviewed as your life situation changes. After going through a divorce, it’s important for you to amend your homeowners insurance documents.

After you and your spouse got married, it's safe to assume that you moved in together. Maybe the two of you even bought a house together shortly after tying the knot. If you are now going through a divorce, one of you will probably be moving out of the house you share. It doesn't matter if you are the spouse keeping the house or if you are the one moving out, you need to be prepared to make the appropriate changes to your homeowners insurance policy.

Depending on who is listed as the owner of the home and whether you or your ex-spouse are moving following a divorce, you may have to make some adjustments to your homeowners insurance policy and fill out appropriate paperwork. Your policy should only have the name of the current homeowner listed.


If you have a mortgage on your home, your insurance policy will require that you list the name and address of the financial institution that currently holds your mortgage account. Make sure that you update the information on the deed, mortgage and homeowners policy if ownership changes after the divorce proceedings. Not updating this information could cause trouble for you in the event that you have to make a claim in the future.


After a divorce, you may wish to change the locks on your house or install a new security system. If you choose to do so, make sure to alert your homeowners insurance company, as you may be eligible for a discount on your premiums for the upgrade in security measures.


Should you or your ex-spouse move to a rental property during or following divorce proceedings, you should consider purchasing renter's insurance to protect personal items as well as to provide you with liability coverage.

If you are going through a divorce and need to amend your current homeowners policy, purchase a new policy or get renter’s insurance, you should contact a licensed Florida homeowners insurance agent who will help you fine tune your policy or choose another policy that best fits your needs.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

Protecting Your Home from Burglaries

by jferris 18. August 2010 02:31

If you’re heading off for summer vacation this month, you should make sure your home and its contents are protected. With residents away from their homes, burglars may be more inclined to target them.

One of the most frightening things that can happen to a person is to have his or her home broken into. A burglary is an unfortunate event that can ravish a family's sense of security and can lead to great frustration as they fight to replace their possessions that were stolen or damaged. According to the Huffington Post, over 28,000 property crimes occur each day and more than 8,000 of them are burglaries. That means one burglary occurs every 10 seconds. In light of such staggering statistics, homeowners need to make sure that their possessions are protected.


While theft and burglary from the home is covered under most homeowners insurance policies, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned about protecting yourself in the event of a burglary. The cost of home insurance premiums can depend on a number of different factors, and chief among them is the likelihood of a future home burglary. Many factors go into determining this risk, including the crime statistics in your neighborhood.


To keep your home protected, your best bet is to install a home security system that will alert an outside service. Increasing the security of your home will allow insurance companies to offer you the greatest savings. Even if you choose not to have a home security system installed that will deter burglars from targeting your home, you may still wish to have a neighbor or family member keep a close eye on your home while you're away.


Another way to protect your home from burglary is to make sure you have enough coverage for your personal items in your home. A standard homeowner’s policy will cover most of the items in your home, but some of these items may have coverage limits. If you have valuable items such as jewelry, electronics, antiques, coins or artwork, you may want to add extra coverage to your policy in the form of endorsements.


If you’re planning to travel soon and want to secure the contents of your home, you should contact your agent to discuss what items are covered under your existing policy and even consider adding coverage.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

FLInsurance.com Urges Homeowners to Add Identity Theft Protection to Their Policies

by jferris 15. August 2010 02:36

Identity theft can destroy a person’s life. Adding identity theft protection as an endorsement to an existing homeowners policy can offer consumers security and peace of mind.

Each year millions of Americans learn the hard way how easy it is for someone to steal their identity. With as little information as your name, Social Security Number and date of birth, a thief can use this information to apply for any number of things, from a credit card to a driver’s license. Rightly, identity theft can cause a great amount of stress for the victim. Getting one’s life back on track after such an event is not only difficult, but also time-consuming and expensive.

Fortunately, there is an easy and cost effective way for families to prevent this theft from happening. A number of homeowners insurance companies cover identity theft as a part of their insurance policy, either as a separate policy or as an endorsement to an existing policy. In fact, many insurance companies have an existing identity theft clause in their insurance policies, and this protection comes at no additional cost to the consumer. With most policies, identity theft coverage provides the victim reimbursement for expenses lost during the process, including phone bills, lost wages, mailing costs, and even pre-approved legal fees. Sometimes, fraud specialists are provided to guide the victim through the exhaustive and difficult process of restoring his or her identity.

Anyone with a bank account, credit card, driver’s license or social security card is at risk for identity theft. Homeowners with an existing policy should speak with their agent to determine what their basic policy covers and to discuss the benefits of adding identity theft protection as an endorsement. Homeowners seeking new policies should shop around for the best identity theft insurance policy, as rates and protection levels can vary from company to company. In addition, consumers should check their credit cards to see what coverage they might offer in the event of identity theft. Knowing what coverage is already available will better enable consumers to purchase an endorsement policy that is right for them.

Adding identity theft insurance is a small investment that will go a long way toward securing a family’s peace of mind.


To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Getting the Right Auto Insurance Quote

by jferris 28. July 2010 02:31

When applying for auto insurance, consumers want to get the best deal possible. In order to get the best deal, motorists need to provide accurate information on their applications.

By providing agents with accurate information, motorists can be sure that they are getting the lowest premium based on their exact circumstances. Determining your auto insurance premium will depend on many factors, including where you live, the kind of car your drive, how much you drive, how much coverage you want, your driving record and even your age. If an error is made in reporting any of these important facts, your rates will not be quoted correctly.

Auto insurance misquotes can happen when your application information differs from your actual driving record. All auto insurance companies ask states' motor-vehicle divisions to verify the records of drivers they insure. So, if you tell your insurance agent you have a perfect driving record, and it turns out that you don't, your insurance company will end up charging you higher premiums than your agent quotes. To avoid these kinds of misquotes, make sure you provide accurate information about your driving record and any other facts that could affect the cost of insurance, such as the make of your car or how far you commute to work. It may be a good idea to spend some time reviewing your driving history and calculating how much you use your vehicle and for what purpose. If you collect your information carefully, you have a better chance of providing information that will lead to an accurate quote.
Also, make sure you verify all of the information you’ve gathered before signing the application.

Getting the right quote on an auto insurance policy requires responsibility on the part of the consumer. The policy cannot be properly rated unless correct and complete information is provided. Without accurate information being given to the insurance companies, the quotes you receive will not be reflective of the rates you will actually end up paying. Supplying an insurance company with information that is inaccurate or incomplete will never result in lower premiums. Instead, it will simply waste your time, and you’ll end up paying higher rates than you anticipated.

When applying for auto insurance, contact a licensed Florida insurance agent who can help you review all of the information you need to secure an accurate quote. Even if you are searching for quotes online, make sure there is a licensed agent you can contact with questions.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

A Closer Look at Homeowner’s Insurance Deductibles

by jferris 24. July 2010 03:02

Before securing homeowners insurance, you need to have a good understanding of how the deductible you choose will affect your premium and your out-of-pocket expenses. Insurance companies typically use one of two different deductible calculations.

Insurance Deductibles as Percentages:

This type of deductible is the least common. Not all insurance companies calculate deductibles in this way, but the trend has become increasingly popular in Florida due to the extensive damage caused by hurricanes or windstorms. These increased deductibles are meant to limit the insurance companies' exposure in these high-risk areas.

With deductible percentages, the deductible is usually set as 1 to 5% of the insured value of the home. If, for example, your home is insured for $400,000 and you have a 2 percent deductible, you’d have to pay out $8000 before the insurance company begins paying out. As this example illustrates, this amount is more costly than the traditional deductible. Typically, insurance companies use this calculation when providing coverage for windstorms or hurricanes, and this deductible is separate from the deductible for basic coverage.

Traditional Homeowner’s Insurance Deductibles:

Traditionally, homeowner’s deductibles are a flat amount and will vary from company to company. If, for example, you choose a $500 deductible and you incur $2500 worth of damage to your home in a covered event, you would only pay the first $500. The insurance company would pay the remaining $2000. Having a deductible as low as $500 dollars, however, will likely result in a costly premium. By raising your deductible to as much as you can afford, you can greatly reduce your homeowner’s premium and you’ll have more money to spend on your day-to-day expenses.

Generally, the higher deductible you have on your policy, the lower your homeowner’s insurance premium will be. The more risk you are willing to absorb, the less your insurance will cost you. Some deductibles, such as a hurricane coverage deductible in Florida, may be set at a percentage of your home value. You should talk to an agent about your deductible and premium options.

 

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

FLInsurance.com Offers Advice to First Time Buyers on Finding the Right Auto Insurance

by jferris 24. July 2010 03:00

When purchasing a new or used car, first time buyers should consider how their purchase will affect their insurance rates. Buyers will need to find car insurance that provides an adequate amount of coverage and fits into their budget.

All too often many first time buyers barely scrape enough money together to purchase a car, and they overlook the costs involved in finding the right auto insurance coverage for the newly purchased vehicle. Car insurance costs vary depending on a host of different factors including age, gender, marital status, location and vehicle type. New drivers should take the time to evaluate what is required by law and compare it with what fits in their budget. In doing so, they’ll be able to find the right auto insurance for their new car.

When first time buyers are looking at securing auto insurance, they need to be sure that the coverage they choose complies with the state's minimum liability requirements. It is important, though, for new drivers to remember that the minimum is just a minimum, and they should consider purchasing higher liability limits. A licensed Florida insurance agent can provide premium quotes for the cost to buy liability limits above the minimum state requirement.

First time buyers who plan to purchase their vehicle through a loan are subject to contractual insurance obligations and should carefully consider these obligations before deciding on a loan. Many vehicle finance companies require physical damage deductibles of no higher than $500, or they require an Additional Insured/Loss Payee endorsement which adds the lending institution as an additional insured/loss payee. When purchasing a car, first time buyers should review the lease and/or finance agreement to ensure that they can purchase coverage that complies with the terms of the lease.


First time buyers will also wish to consider whether or not they wish to add comprehensive physical damage to their auto insurance policy. This pays for damage to the automobile from theft, vandalism, flood, fire, and other covered perils. Policyholders need to remember that they will have to reach into their pocket to cover the deductible for every physical damage claim they make.

When choosing a deductible, first time buyers must consider their budget and whether or not they can handle paying various deductible amounts out-of-pocket. It will do little good for buyers to use all of their money on an expensive car and then not be able to insure it properly.

 

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

 

FLInsurance.com Offers Advice to First Time Buyers on Finding the Right Auto Insurance

by jferris 24. July 2010 03:00

When purchasing a new or used car, first time buyers should consider how their purchase will affect their insurance rates. Buyers will need to find car insurance that provides an adequate amount of coverage and fits into their budget.

All too often many first time buyers barely scrape enough money together to purchase a car, and they overlook the costs involved in finding the right auto insurance coverage for the newly purchased vehicle. Car insurance costs vary depending on a host of different factors including age, gender, marital status, location and vehicle type. New drivers should take the time to evaluate what is required by law and compare it with what fits in their budget. In doing so, they’ll be able to find the right auto insurance for their new car.

When first time buyers are looking at securing auto insurance, they need to be sure that the coverage they choose complies with the state's minimum liability requirements. It is important, though, for new drivers to remember that the minimum is just a minimum, and they should consider purchasing higher liability limits. A licensed Florida insurance agent can provide premium quotes for the cost to buy liability limits above the minimum state requirement.

First time buyers who plan to purchase their vehicle through a loan are subject to contractual insurance obligations and should carefully consider these obligations before deciding on a loan. Many vehicle finance companies require physical damage deductibles of no higher than $500, or they require an Additional Insured/Loss Payee endorsement which adds the lending institution as an additional insured/loss payee. When purchasing a car, first time buyers should review the lease and/or finance agreement to ensure that they can purchase coverage that complies with the terms of the lease.


First time buyers will also wish to consider whether or not they wish to add comprehensive physical damage to their auto insurance policy. This pays for damage to the automobile from theft, vandalism, flood, fire, and other covered perils. Policyholders need to remember that they will have to reach into their pocket to cover the deductible for every physical damage claim they make.

When choosing a deductible, first time buyers must consider their budget and whether or not they can handle paying various deductible amounts out-of-pocket. It will do little good for buyers to use all of their money on an expensive car and then not be able to insure it properly.

 

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

 

A Closer Look at Homeowner’s Insurance Deductibles

by jferris 22. July 2010 03:02

Before securing homeowners insurance, you need to have a good understanding of how the deductible you choose will affect your premium and your out-of-pocket expenses. Insurance companies typically use one of two different deductible calculations.

Insurance Deductibles as Percentages:

This type of deductible is the least common. Not all insurance companies calculate deductibles in this way, but the trend has become increasingly popular in Florida due to the extensive damage caused by hurricanes or windstorms. These increased deductibles are meant to limit the insurance companies' exposure in these high-risk areas.

With deductible percentages, the deductible is usually set as 1 to 5% of the insured value of the home. If, for example, your home is insured for $400,000 and you have a 2 percent deductible, you’d have to pay out $8000 before the insurance company begins paying out. As this example illustrates, this amount is more costly than the traditional deductible. Typically, insurance companies use this calculation when providing coverage for windstorms or hurricanes, and this deductible is separate from the deductible for basic coverage.

Traditional Homeowner’s Insurance Deductibles:

Traditionally, homeowner’s deductibles are a flat amount and will vary from company to company. If, for example, you choose a $500 deductible and you incur $2500 worth of damage to your home in a covered event, you would only pay the first $500. The insurance company would pay the remaining $2000. Having a deductible as low as $500 dollars, however, will likely result in a costly premium. By raising your deductible to as much as you can afford, you can greatly reduce your homeowner’s premium and you’ll have more money to spend on your day-to-day expenses.

Generally, the higher deductible you have on your policy, the lower your homeowner’s insurance premium will be. The more risk you are willing to absorb, the less your insurance will cost you. Some deductibles, such as a hurricane coverage deductible in Florida, may be set at a percentage of your home value. You should talk to an agent about your deductible and premium options.

 

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

Protecting Your Home from Burglaries

by jferris 18. July 2010 02:28

If you’re heading off for summer vacation this month, you should make sure your home and its contents are protected. With residents away from their homes, burglars may be more inclined to target them.

One of the most frightening things that can happen to a person is to have his or her home broken into. A burglary is an unfortunate event that can ravish a family's sense of security and can lead to great frustration as they fight to replace their possessions that were stolen or damaged. According to the Huffington Post, over 28,000 property crimes occur each day and more than 8,000 of them are burglaries. That means one burglary occurs every 10 seconds. In light of such staggering statistics, homeowners need to make sure that their possessions are protected.


While theft and burglary from the home is covered under most homeowners insurance policies, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned about protecting yourself in the event of a burglary. The cost of home insurance premiums can depend on a number of different factors, and chief among them is the likelihood of a future home burglary. Many factors go into determining this risk, including the crime statistics in your neighborhood.


To keep your home protected, your best bet is to install a home security system that will alert an outside service. Increasing the security of your home will allow insurance companies to offer you the greatest savings. Even if you choose not to have a home security system installed that will deter burglars from targeting your home, you may still wish to have a neighbor or family member keep a close eye on your home while you're away.


Another way to protect your home from burglary is to make sure you have enough coverage for your personal items in your home. A standard homeowner’s policy will cover most of the items in your home, but some of these items may have coverage limits. If you have valuable items such as jewelry, electronics, antiques, coins or artwork, you may want to add extra coverage to your policy in the form of endorsements.


If you’re planning to travel soon and want to secure the contents of your home, you should contact your agent to discuss what items are covered under your existing policy and even consider adding coverage.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

Are Homeowners Insurance Extras Right for You?

by jferris 2. July 2010 02:59

Basic homeowners insurance provides enough coverage for many families. For families who require extra coverage, there are options for extras that can provide more comprehensive coverage.

When buying a homeowner’s insurance policy, you will be faced with a number of important choices including how much of a deductible you wish to pay. In addition, you will also have to choose just how much coverage you wish to secure. You can get the minimum amount of insurance coverage you’d need to replace your home and your things in the event of a disaster. However, you can increase your coverage to include a host of scenarios that aren’t covered with a basic homeowner’s insurance policy.
Below are some extras you can add to your homeowner’s insurance policy:

Emergency Response Time: This coverage will provide quicker response in the event of an emergency that’s covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. Emergency response time coverage can include a stipulation that a contractor will be on-site within a certain number of days or hours to get started on repairs to your home. This extra can be expensive and is ideal for those who know that they will have no other place to stay in the event of an emergency.

Legal Service Coverage: This coverage will pay for the cost of defending yourself in court if there are any legal issues related to your home including property disputes, personal residence disputes, and personal injury cases. Before you purchase additional coverage, make sure you have checked your existing homeowners insurance to see what fees it will cover.

Personal Property Coverage: A basic home insurance policy covers a standard amount to replace the contents of your home. Sometimes, depending on the kinds of property you own, this coverage may not be enough and you may need to secure additional coverage. If, for example, you have a large investment in electronics equipment or many valuable antique heirlooms, you will want to ensure that you have enough coverage to replace those items.

Adding these extras may not be the right choice for every family. You should consult a licensed Florida homeowner’s insurance agent who can help you and your family decide which extras are right for you.


Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com