Archive for 'For Your Home'

It’s Valentine’s Day, and thoughts of people everywhere turn to … jewelry.

About one of four Americans buys jewelry, spending $2,000 per year on average, and industry
experts expect jewelry sales to grow by at least 5% annually through 2025.
Those who don’t buy shiny things for Valentine’s Day may prefer other types of
valuables, such as electronics, artwork, antiques, wine and furs. All totaled,
Valentine’s Day gifts will tally approximately $17 billion of retail sales in
2008.

Whatever the purchase, American ...

Millions of Americans donate time—their most valuable asset—to
serve as a volunteer board member on non-profits, booster clubs, churches, PTAs
and civic organizations, just to name a few. The decisions these folks make can
have a dramatic impact on their respective organization—and not always for the
better. If a volunteer endeavor goes bad, would a volunteer board member have
coverage against a lawsuit under his or her homeowner’s policy?

Homeowners’ Insurance

The last thing volunteers want to consider is what would
happen ...

In the throes of an economic recession, millions of consumers today are cutting back on discretionary spending—and are even tightening up on the necessities. Now is an excellent time to review your insurance coverages with your independent insurance agent to find ways to cut costs while still protecting your family or business.

The premiums paid for insurance are a tremendous value. For instance, for the cost of several hundred dollars annually, a homeowners insurance policy provides a family with the means ...

Old Man Winter will soon be unleashing his full fury. Is your home ready for the onslaught of snow, ice and cold winds? If not, the time to prepare is now, before the first storm strikes and your home suffers significant damage from the freezing temps and winter conditions.

Typical homeowners insurance policies protect against winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, wind and damage caused by the weight of ice or snow. But you can save yourself a huge ...

The end of summer seems to be peak time for natural disasters. Often, Labor Day weekend newscasts include stories about a hurricane, flood, tornado or wildfire happening somewhere in the United States.

Those who are dealing with the crises created by natural disaster need more than news coverage—they need insurance coverage. There are significant risks presented by natural disasters, which not only threaten homes and businesses but also endanger the health and lives of people in their paths.

Nowhere is the value ...

Your homeowner’s insurance policy will pay to repair damage to your home caused by a fire, windstorm or other covered cause of loss. But when you and your family incur expenses for moving out while repairs are made, who picks up the tab?

An often-overlooked but essential function of your homeowner’s policy is “additional living expenses” (also called “loss of use” or “Part D”) coverage. Additional living expenses coverage will pay the necessary increase in living expenses required to maintain your ...

Trees can be the reason your property is so valuable. They can keep your utility bills low and give the kids something to do outside. For all their positives, trees can also be the reason why you need to call your Trusted Choice^® insurance agent.

Whether it’s typical seasonal conditions, a freak windstorm, or any number of other reasons, trees and branches fall. Sometimes, they fall onto things, causing significant damage to property. Factor in the cost of paying a contractor ...

Most Americans view auto insurance as necessary to protect against the costs of a car accident. Likewise, it’s common knowledge that homeowners insurance helps families rebuild their lives and homes. An “umbrella” policy is not as well known, but anyone who owns a home or any assets should consider buying it.

Umbrella liability insurance covers you in many situations if you are held responsible for bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury. The product got its name because it adds a ...

Oh how the times have changed. In 1950, eight in 10 households were occupied by married couples. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, that number declined to 51.7%; the balance being singles and couples living together who are not married. The former includes individuals who either live alone or with roommates; the latter encompasses both opposite and same-sex couples who consider themselves partners. It is the latter segment which now makes up approximately 10% of American households.

A benefit to marriage ...

Mobile information devices like PDAs and MP3 players occupy the bags and pockets of tens of millions of Americans. These devices can be pricey, often costing hundreds of dollars. The cost to obtain the information programmed on these gizmos can be exponentially more. If your portable device is damaged or stolen, will these costs be covered by your insurance?

Personal Insurance

Consider the iPod. Their owners span every demographic. For some, the iPod is as important to getting through the day as ...