Homes without a security system in place are three times more likely to be burglarized than homes with. One home is burgled every 13 seconds in the United States. With numbers like these, installing a home security system is as important as having a solid homeowner’s insurance policy. Not only does a security system provide you with peace of mind, it can also be key in saving you money on your premium. While each insurance provider will have their own specific guidelines for the homeowner to follow to be eligible for discounts, sometimes the simplest security measures such as, deadbolts and motion sensitive lights can start your saving at about 5 percent. More sophisticated security systems can increase your savings up to 20 percent. There are various types of systems to be considered, such as monitored, unmonitored, as well as, wireless and hard wired.
With approximately 18 million home security systems installed in the United States, why not make a smart choice and get on board? You can’t go wrong protecting your investment and saving money at the same time. Consult your local Trusted Choice agent today to see what security measures your carrier prefers you take to save on your premium.
While April showers will bring May flowers, sometimes, they bring on a leaky roof. You might think that your roof is covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy because the roof is part of the building. You may be in for a surprise; a leaky roof is not always covered.
When the leak is caused by a insured peril, it usually is covered. Typical covered perils are, hail, wind, lightning, fire, vandalism, and malicious mischief. Depending on your type of policy, you may be covered if a leak is caused by a tree falling on your roof. If your leak is caused by standard wear and tear, the normal aging process, then it will not be covered.
There are options available to you when choosing your homeowners insurance. Taking the time to understand what coverage you need is essential to obtaining the proper coverage. Have a look at you existing policy. Are you sure you have enough coverage? Do you have a named peril policy, with the perils clearly stated? Do you have an all risk policy covering all types of risks except for those listed as exclusions on the policy exclusion page?
At times it can seem overwhelming and confusing. Don’t let that deter you from knowing where you stand with your insurance policies. Talk to your local independent agent at Cheney Insurance Agency about your concerns and where you may want to update your policy. Your home may be the biggest investment in your lifetime. Your insurance should be a solid one as well.
The question has been asked. Your parents have been told. Everyone is overjoyed with the great news. Now, onto planning your big day! Whether you want a Cinderella style wedding or something more intimate, it is important that you are prepared for any and all things. Obtaining wedding insurance should be on the top of your to do list. Disaster isn’t the first thing you want to think of but, protecting your investment will give you comfort as your day nears.
You’ve spent months planning the perfect outdoor summer wedding only to see the weatherman tell you on the morning of, the eye of Hurricane Broom-Hilda will be hitting as you are to be saying “I do”. Three days before the ceremony you call a vendor to finalize details only to find no answer. They have gone bankrupt, taking your deposit with them. With the proper coverage you can recoup the funds spent, minus the deductible.
Depending on the amount of coverage you want, a basic policy can cost anywhere from $125 to $550. A basic policy will cover loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits. Be sure to know what your policy covers. You may need additional coverage depending on the type and size of your wedding.
As with any event in life, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Having the proper coverage gives you a back up plan, another option, and with an event that is so important, why not be as prepared as you can be.
The battle of the sexes has been raging since the dawn of time. The 1946 musical, Annie Get Your Gun, is a classic example of anything you can do I can do better. Pun intended. One gender related topic that can get even the most relaxed person going is; are men better drivers than women?
According to the statistics of the insurance industry, men present a higher risk for claims, especially those under 25 years of age. Men are two times more likely to be involved in an accident than women. With accidents involving fatalities, men are three times more likely to die than women. Women drivers tend to be more conscientious when following traffic rules. So, statistically speaking, it does appear women are better drivers.
It is thought that the statistics aren’t always the best gage as there are more men driving, thus generating more statistics. With more females taking to the road these statistics will surely change, potentially leveling the playing field.
While younger drivers are apt to pay higher rates, there are many variables taken into consideration by insurance companies. Because companies evaluate risk in different ways, it is important, for both genders, to shop around and compare rates. Having an independent agent can facilitate this process.
Robin Williams once said “spring is nature’s way of saying Let’s Party!” Looking out a window will tell you, nature has definitely begun to party. Maine’s wildlife has also begun to party as well. Black bears are waking from a short nap. A mild winter and warm temperatures during the past few weeks roused the bears and they are hungry.
During its winter rest, a black bear can lose up to half of its weight. Upon waking it will begin to look for high-nutritional foods. The majority of a bear’s diet consists of wild plants, such as, berries, fruits, grasses, and nuts, but sometimes, human foods will do just fine. In highly populated areas bears are more humanized and recognize that the scent of humans means food.
To avoid having your yard become a dining room for a bear, here are some suggestions:
What is one insurance policy that you purchase without telling a soul? Kidnap and Ransom Insurance, better known as K&R insurance in the industry, is one policy that is best kept secret.
In 1932, after the fatal abduction of Charles Lindberg’s son, Lloyd’s of London developed the first product designed to pay associated expenses for recovery, investigation, rewards, and ransom. Now, 80 years later, at least 60 percent of America’s largest companies carry K&R policies. Just don’t expect them to let you know they have it.
Unfortunately kidnapping has turned into a business. A lucrative one at that, criminals are profiting approximately $500 million a year from K&R payments. So what is K& R insurance, and what does it cover?
K&R insurance can provide you with valuable services and guidance, along with the potential reimbursement of a paid ransom. Typical coverage consists of everything from ransom to lost wages, death and dismemberment, travel costs for family, counseling, any rewards paid and crisis management as well. Rates for typical policies start around $600 and go up from there. Each plan is customized based on several variables with one thing in common; you can’t tell anyone you bought it.
K&R insurance may not be the first thing that comes to you mind when make plans to travel abroad, or taking a new job overseas, but maybe it should be.
Planning a vacation is exciting and fun. It is also an investment. While you are having such fun planning, are you aware of some of the risks that can occur prior to a vacation and during? Most people don’t plan vacations thinking about all of the things that could go wrong, but there isn’t
anything wrong with being prepared.
Travel insurance is such a broad term, leaving people to wonder, what type of coverage do you get? What happens if your flight is delayed or cancelled? What do you do if your child gets that nasty virus going just before your family is ready to leave for scuba diving in the Cayman Islands? Maybe you are traveling to Egypt to see the pyramids, but your trip has been cancelled due to civil unrest.
Here are five basic types of coverage to have when planning that one of kind trip.
Trip Cancellation Coverage:
This type of coverage will reimburse you for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses, such as airfare, cruise fare, hotel and tour packages to name a few.
Trip Interruption Coverage:
Not to be confused with trip cancellation, trip interruption, protects you while you are on vacation. If your trip is cut short due to illness or a weather related cause, the lost portion of your trip is covered.
Medical Expense Coverage:
If you have health insurance at home wouldn’t you be covered anywhere you travel? The short answer is no. Medical expense coverage is overlooked for this very reason. When traveling abroad, the best way to ensure you and your family will receive adequate medical care, is to have the proper coverage.
Emergency Evacuation Coverage:
Skiing in Argentina is a dream finally coming true. As bad as it may seem, what if you don’t clear that small group of trees? All of a sudden you are being airlifted to a hospital. Your legs are broken; do you want to be worrying about how you’ll pay for the helicopter flight on top of the fact that your legs are broken? Having emergency evacuation coverage will let you focus on recovering.
Baggage Coverage:
You’ve made to the most beautiful destination. Your spouse is in heaven, your kids are in heaven, and it’s going to be a fantastic week! Wait, your teenage daughter is missing her luggage! How will she ever survive? Having baggage coverage, you will be able to take comfort knowing the loss will be reimbursed, even if your daughter won’t stop crying.
We are all aware that we are required by law to have liability car insurance. A simple definition of liability car insurance is coverage if an insured is legally liable for bodily injury or property damage caused by an automobile. What we may not be so knowledgeable about is collision and comprehensive coverage. While these types of coverage may be optional, they certainly can help protect you and your loved ones from serious consequences.
Collision:
Collision coverage covers just that, a collision. Whether your vehicle strikes another car or hits a stationary object, such as your neighbor’s mailbox, you’d file a collision claim.
Comprehensive:
Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage to your vehicle that is caused by acts otherg than collision. These acts can be theft, fire, and vandalism to name a few. A great way to remember the difference between the two is to call comprehensive “other than collision”.
How the two types of coverage work: 
You’ve loaded the car up and you are headed to the mountains for the weekend. While your driving along, a moose is taking its afternoon fieldtrip across the road. You can’t slow down in time and if you swerve you’ll hit that huge pine tree. Before you know it the moose is tumbling across the hood of your car and tottering into the woods, but you aren’t going anywhere without a tow.
Because you have hit the moose you may think this will be covered under your collision coverage, but it is a claim that would be filled under your comprehensive coverage. This type of coverage pays for damage that is out of your control or unpredictable, like a moose or hail or a flood.
Let’s say you took your chances and swerved, missing the moose but smashing into the tree. It was the moose that contributed to your accident so wouldn’t you file a comprehensive claim? No, you collided with the tree, a stationary object, same as your neighbor’s mail box.
Why are they an important part of complete auto insurance?
Liability insurance will only provide financial protection in the event you are at fault in an accident. If your vehicle is damaged, liability won’t repair those damages, but having collision and comprehensive coverage will provide financial protection by covering the expenses associated with damage to your vehicle.
What do Ben Franklin and Valentine’s Day have in common? Not a whole lot really, except that in 1752 Ben Franklin started the first mutual fire insurance company, the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. Seven years after that, he was instrumental in the beginning Presbyterian Ministers Fund, the first company in the United States to sell life insurance. Of course at the time, there was some outrage at putting a price on a human life, but soon it was seen as a way to protect widows and orphans. People began to see that benefits in protecting loved ones after they were gone.
This Valentine’s Day, wouldn’t it be nice to give the gift that is arguably the most appropriate gift. Now that doesn’t mean you should skip the flowers and candy, but why not let your loved ones know that they will be secure after you are gone.
Below are just a few great reasons to have a solid Maine life insurance policy.
What venue will you be in watching the Super Bowl this Sunday? Maybe you’ll head to a friend’s house or a local pub. Maybe you are the host of the party this year. As you prepare for the night out or in, checking things off of your list, do you have a designated driver in your starting lineup this Sunday?
Super Bowl Sunday is in the top three deadliest driving days of the year, along with New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day. On any given day, approximately 40 percent of deaths are alcohol-related accidents. This percentage jumped to 54 percent over the last six Super Bowl Sundays.
This Sunday, be proactive and take responsibility to ensure a great night in or out! Make it a team effort to keep friends and family safe, because driving while intoxicated, at the least, can result in higher rates in your Maine Auto Insurance, the loss of you license, and worst of all the
loss of someone’s life.
Below are some tips for making the right plays.
You are the Host:
• Have your guests score designated drivers prior to kick off.
• Provide plenty of foods high in protein.
• Offer non alcoholic beverages.
• Serve specialty drinks.
• Do not serve any minors.
• Take a note from the NFL, stop serving drinks at the end of the third quarter.
• Know the numbers for local cab companies.
• Be ready if a friend needs to stay the night.
• Remember, not only you can be held liable, you can be prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunken-driving crash.
You are attending the
party:
• Arrange to have a designated driver before you get to the party.
• Be sure to partake in the buffet.
• Pace yourself, no need to throw the drinks back. Relax and enjoy yourself.
• Always buckle up – it’s the best defense against drunken drivers.
