As we start our summer season, there is much to go over regarding your insurance coverages. Remember, whether you are self employed or using insurance for personal needs, it is always best to review your insurance policy with your favorite agent.

Now is the time to compare rates, review insurance coverages or even switch insurance agents.  Your family and the peace of mind of total protection is of utmost importance today. Don’t let another day go without calling your agent.

For all your personal and business insurance needs call us today!

480-443-1952

Soon summer will arrive and that is the time when school is out for the kids, families go out for vacations, we tend to spend more time outside in our backyard pool, we drive to our local parks for sporting events, we drive to attend outdoor festivals.

All the activities or situations mentioned above is exposing all of us to unique risks. We could get a sports related injury playing volleyball at the park; there could be a near drowning in our backyard pool. We could trip and fall while attending our favorite arts and crafts festival. We might end up in a fender-bender with another car on the streets while starting out on our vacation.

Because of these additional risks we are putting ourselves into during the summer months, it is important to make a checklist of our important contact imformation such as our insurance agent, our AAA emergency card in case of road services we may need, medical bracelets or information to alert medical personnel that will need to know this information if we get hurt, a good contact of a close relative or friend in case of emergency. Also, when traveling, think of emergency first aid kits and maps of the travel area you will be using.

Thinking ahead to have valuable information available will greatly give you peace of mind that you are ready for anything, especially during  the summer months. We are more mobile during this season. Care must be taken when going anywhere or planning travel trips.

Lastly, make sure you are current on all insurance premiums! You don’t want to be without insurance at a time when you “forgot” or “put off” paying your premium!!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

For any question on insurance coverage, whether it is homeowners, auto and commercial, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

We found a great video that touches base on all the basic auto insurance policy coverages that you need to know. Remember to check with your auto insurance agent for coverage that will meet your specific needs.

For a quick, no obligation quote on your auto and homeowners insurance needs, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

According to Insurance.com an interesting study revealed the 10 most dangerous drivers by profession. Here it is:

1. Attorneys
2. Financial Professionals
3. Government Workers
4. Bartender or Waiter
5. Dog Groomer
6. Advertising Professionals
7. Barber
8. Coach
9. Nurse
10. Business Professionals

Happen to be one of those folks? Then you’ll want to keep in mind that an accident could raise your insurance rate. The chance of a rate increase is more likely based on factors such as accident severity, if you’re at fault, the value of your insurance claim, type of violation, and if the accident appears on your motor vehicle or comprehensive loss underwriting exchange report.

Findings were based on accident claims as a percentage of quotes. “Professions that demand multi-tasking – being on the phone, moving fast on a tight schedule are prone to more distractions and, from there, more accidents,” says Sam Belden, insurance.com VP, all joking aside. “On the other hand, though the job of a homemaker demands multi-tasking, young children are often along for any car ride. And when children are involved, people tend to take their time and use greater caution.”

On the other hand, the two categories that have the least danger is athletes and homemakers. One of the biggest factors that these two categories are the “safest” is that their schedules make them drive in “off times.” In other words, you are rarely going to see them drive during morning rush or afternoon rush hours.

When making claim under the collision coverage section, policies do not specify whether or not you have to have your car repaired, or to whom the claim check is to be written.  Policies will state that they do not have conditions of payment for damages on repair of your vehicle. Also, they cannot require you to use a specific auto body shop if you decide to have your car repaired. The insurance company can require an inspection either by a repair shop or by an adjuster and a repair estimate to be written, so they have basis on which to base their payment to you. But, unless the policy states otherwise, you can pocket the money and live with the damage.

For example, if you don’t plan on selling your car, but plan to drive it into the “ground,” and the damage isn’t too unsightly and you can definitely put up with, then why not keep the money? But if you are planning to sell or trade the vehicle, you are better to let a qualified body shop do the actual repairs.

If the damage was deemed a “total loss,” meaning it would cost more to repair it than to replace it, you have the option to keep the salvage. By law, you would have to file with the Motor Vehicle Department that you vehicle is “salvage” status. The insurance company will deduct the salvage value from their payment to you if you do so. You could sell the salvage yourself and keep the money. Some people take the settlement money and repair the car. Because of the salvage status notated on your title it will be difficult to trade or sell, and I strongly advise against it. It is better to give the salvage to the insurance company, get all the money you can from them for the actual cash value of the car, and then use that as a down payment on another vehicle.

For a quick, no obligation quote on your auto and homeowners insurance needs, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

Over the years, we have been very fortunate to have met wonderful people, assisted successful businesses with their insurance needs, and made long lasting friendships.

As we reflect on all the years we have been helping people with their insurance needs, we find that there is nothing that can compare to the feeling we get when an insured makes a claim and we can indeed make a difference in helping them to get back to where they were before the loss occured.

For those of you who have come to this blog for the first time, please pass the word along to visit here. We plan on many new things here that will keep you interested.

As we bid farewell to 2009 and ring in 2010, we wish all our valued customers and business associates a very successful and prosperous New Year!

As we near the year end of 2009, it is a good time to think about reviewing your coverage. Ask youself, what major or minor changes have occured in your household. Did anyone move in? Did anyone move out? Did you do any home improvements? Did you buy more jewelry? Almost any type of change in your family, your family members or change in your home situation can all have an effect on your insurance coverage.

Did you know that a little change such as the youngest member of the family turning 25 years old can lower the insurance premium by a sizeable amount?

Here are some other things to think about when reviewing your current insurance coverage with your insurance agent.

• Raising your collision deductible or even cancelling collision deductible for an older vehicle in the household.
• Deleting floater coverage on  items in the house that you no longer own.
• Did you install a new fire/security alarm system in the house this year and not claim your homeowners discount?
• Did a family member finally quit smoking for good?
• Raise coverage on a specialty item that you recently purchased.
• Raise personal property coverage on added computers in the house.
• Did you make any noticeable home improvements since your last review?

These and many other situations can contribute to you saving paying more insurance premium than you have too. The most important thing to know is that you make certain you have enough insurance to cover what you may think you have.

The tragedy of many insureds is that you assume you have coverage on something or a situation that you really do not and find out that there is no coverage. If only you reviewed your coverage with your insurance agent before a loss!!

Be prepared is to be forearmed!!

Have a save and prosperous holiday!

From all of us at Doug Seide Insurance Agency.

Call Us at 480-443-1952.

I found a great video that gives you an easy to remember list of things to think about when you want to save on your insurance premium on homeowners insurance. Check out this video here.

Saving Money on Homeowners Insurance

We have 5 important tips to protect your home during the holidays.

1. Make sure you lock all doors and windows and close blinds to prevent people from looking inside your house. You want to hide view to your Christmas presents.
2. When disposing of holiday wraps and packaging, destroy all signs of product labels such as “expensive” TVs. You don’t want to “advertise” to the neigborhood of high dollar purchases.
3. Don’t forget to arm your security system, without fail when leaving the house even for a moment.
4. When any and all delivery people deliver a parcel, you have the right to ask for identification, this is a must! It could be a burglar.
5. If you plan to travel during the holiday season, make sure you have a trusted neighbor take in your newspaper deliveries and take in your daily mail. Also move the car occasionally if your car is parked outside the home.

You can never be too careful when protecting your home from burglary. Remember to be aware of your surroundings and watch for suspicious people that appear to be “out of place” in your neighborhood. They could be “staking out” your street. Be liberal with reporting suspicious activity to the police.

If you should have a burglar incident, explain all the precautions above to your insurance adjuster that you took to prevent theft and break in of your home. They will look more favorably on your claim that you took every effort to prevent an incident.

We wish you and your family a safe and fun holiday season.

For a quick, no obligation quote on your auto and homeowners insurance needs, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

Make sure when you consider any insurance company, whether it is for property/casualty, auto, homeowners, commercial, that it is rating financially solvent with reputable insurance rating companies like Standard and Poors, and most importantly, AM Best & Company. You can go to the AM Best company website at http://www3.ambest.com/ratings/advanced.asp

When you get to the AM Best rating site, enter the name of the insurance company in the “text” box and click on the “search now” button. You will see how well it is rating withing their parameters. It should be a guide to help you make your purchasing decision regarding your insurance company.

AM Best is the most important rating system for insurance companies that there is. Even insurance companies insuring other insurance companies or “reinsurance companies” look to this guide before the underwriting department will even consider covering a risk.