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Archive for October, 2009

Will Lightning Strike Your House?

Did you know that lightning kills more people than tornados and hurricanes each year. It normally strikes about 270,000 times and kills an average of 76 people each year. A typical home insurance policy protects our homes from lightning hurt. when you buy comprehensive insurance with your auto policy, any hurt to your vehicle is covered as well. Your health insurance will cover medical expenses in the event you or a family member were to be struck by lightning.

Lightening-related insurance claims filed by policyholders have dropped nearly 11.5% since 2004. The average cost per claim but, has risen nearly 70% over the past five years. Experts on insurance-related matters, blame increased claims cost on two things: Severe storms and a large increase in consumer electronics in homes.

High dollar electronics are now common place in the average houshold, which has a significant impact on insurance claims losses. While we delight in having sound systems, computers, and high definition televisions , these expensive electronics have contributed greatly to the cost of the average lightning related claim.

While the weather is beyond our control, we can take steps to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our homes from the effects of lightning. It’s vital to do your part to lower insurance rates-and keep your family, your home, and possessions safe. Don’t underestimate the power of lightning.

Here are some safety tips for you and your family

Try not to have contact with sinks, baths and water faucets.

Avoid windows, doors, and electrical appliances.

Aviod using a telephone during storms. Use a cell phone instead.

When storms are approaching, go to an area of lower elevation .

Stay away from single trees, metal objects, open areas, and hilltops.

Look for shelter in a nearby home or car.

Having a lightning protection system properly installed is approximately 99% effective in preventing potential lightning hurt.

Make sure your home’s electrical system is properly grounded.

The simplest and most effective way to protect expensive electronic equipment is to unplug them before storms approach.

Lightning can ruin costly electrical systems, home electronics, and start fires. To help prevent hurt use surge protectors

A typical bolt of lightning can result in heat of up to 50,000 degrees which often results in a fire. Such fires often go unnoticed , burning in attic space or within the walls of the home. Even if there is no visible flame, if you smell smoke or sense the possibility of fire, call the fire department quickly so that they can determine whether there is an immediate hidden danger.

It is also a excellent thought to follow up by having a qualified electrician diagnose frayed wiring and other potential hazards as soon as possible.

Although your chances of being struck by lightning are only 1 in 600,000, being prepared can reduce those numbers and keep yourself, your family, and your home safe when lightning strikes.

Homeowners Insurance 101

If you’re like most people your home is most likely the most vital investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Making sure it is protected from an unexpected event is crucial to your financial well being. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be aware of when purchasing homeowners insurance.

Most policies cover four areas

The structure of the home

Personal property

Liability coverage

Loss of use expenses

Structure of Your Home

If one of the disasters named in your policy hurts or destroys your home you should have enough insurance to rebuild. Other Structures that are typically covered include: garages, storage sheds, and fixtures attached to the land includingdriveways, fences, patios, sidewalks, and retaining walls.

Personal Belongings

Personal property protection can be based on actual cash value or replacement cost and covers the contents of your home and other personal items owned by you or family members. Taking pictures or video of you valuables is a way to provide proof of ownership in the event of a claim. Many policies include off-premise coverage, which means your possessions are covered any where in the world.

Liability

In the event someone gets hurt on your property liability coverage protects you against law suits. It pays for your defense in court and any money you are required to pay, up to your policy limit. If someone is injured in your home, it also includes no fault medical coverage.

Additional Expenses

If you are forced out of your home during repairs of hurts caused by one of the covered disasters in your policy,loss of use protection typically covers living expenses over and above your normal living expenses. A standard policy will pay for your hotel stay, restaurant bills, etc.

Two types of coverage are actual cash value and replacement cost coverage.

An actual cash value policy pays to rebuild your home, minus depreciation. A replacement cost policy pays to replace your home and possessions without a deduction. The highest level of protection is guaranteed replacement cost coverage. With this type of coverage the total cost to replace your home will be paid, even if it is higher than your policy limit.

These are the primary areas you need to consider when shopping for homeowners insurance. Do some research online and compare quotes from different insurer’s. Narrow your quotes down to two or three, and then contact the agents with any questions you have. Spending time comparing quotes is worthwhile and can save you a significant amount of money.

Making Life Insurance Your Financial Safety Net

Life is filled with myriad twists and turns and it is your level of preparedness that can take you through the opportunities as well as the stumbling blocks that life presents in your path. One day, everything might be working out for you and you will be having a fantastic time; the next day, life will take a turn for the worse and fill your days with bitter experiences. If you do happen to have a streak of positive events happening in your life, then just bless your excellent luck.

But, to expect the excellent fortune to continue indefinitely is impractical. What you need to do, instead, is to get adequately prepared to prevent life’s events from turning negative as well as your luck from turning sour. The primary precaution that needs to be adopted is to secure not just your financial needs but also those of your family. If this has been accomplished, you will experience fantastic relief. There are numerous ways to secure your family’s financial position. In fact, securing finances is nearly as simple as losing the money!

You just have to do the research to know what kind of coverage you need, find the best company to get it from, and then make sure to pay your premiums on time after buying the policy. Basic examination of most insurance companies will tell you that the reputable ones offer the best policies the market can handle at their price levels, but it’s up to you to compare the nitpick details to find the best deal. The best deal isn’t just money, either, but also coverage, which is really the more vital thing anyway.

After you have invested in a suitable life insurance policy, your outlook on life will change for the better. You will be more confident and full of energy. Knowing your family’s future is secure makes for brighter days. Terrible times are simpler to deal with and/or face. Your uphill struggle and determination will produce a profitable tomorrow. Financial plotting will help you to achieve your dreams. If you plot properly, life will be a small less stressful. Then again, all is not perfect; therefore some ups and downs should be expected. In spite of that, financial stability will enable your family to call a halt to any disruptions.

All that you need to do is to plot and secure your finances, and life will glide smoothly without too many hiccups or hardships. Life can sometimes be mean and try to pose too many hurdles. But, if you are financially secure and if you have invested in a life insurance policy, there will be nothing to worry about and you are more than ready to face life. It is vital to stay cool, focused and practical at all times. If you can adopt such measures to tackle the stumbling blocks, then your life will always be filled with joy and enthusiasm. After all, even if some financial difficulty does arise, your life insurance policy will take care of the problem.