Tis the season for insurance claims

Posted on December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 by Brad Smith

What are your least favorite things about the holidays? Don’t get me wrong, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is a wonderful time of year. For many of us in Kentucky, the holiday period ranks right up there with Selection Sunday and the Final Four.

Despite the magic of the holiday season, there is often more Christmas Hassle than there is Cheer! My list of holiday hang-ups is pretty long:

• Shopping
• Too much Traffic
• Shopping Malls
• More Distractions
• Parking to Shop
• There is never enough time and even less during the holidays
• Shoppers that jaywalk

It’s no wonder that auto accidents increase during the holidays. The last-minute rush for gifts doesn’t mix well with the office parties serving too much holiday cheer.

• Drive Defensively
• Avoid extra frustration
• Manage stress
• Stay on top changes in the weather
• And don’t drink and drive

The holidays are also a bad time for home insurance claims. Recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that:

• there are 800 home fires each year due to holiday decorations
• 23 home candle fires each day
o Over half of all home decoration fires are started by candles
o The three worst days for candle fires:
 Christmas
 New Year’s Day
 New Year’s Eve
• There are 471 home fires each day as a result of cooking.
o The leading cause, almost 1/3rd of all cooking-related fires are a result of unattended cooking
o Electric ranges have a higher risk than gas
• Fireworks: Ten% of all fireworks-related fires occur during the days just before and after New Years
• Christmas trees can be blamed for 170 home fires each year.

33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. How many days are you people leaving your Christmas trees up? There aren’t a lot of hard and fast New Year’s Day traditions at our house. Some years we have cooked cabbage, other years we had black-eyed peas. Cornbread, greens, pork and various other foods have made their way to our New Year’s Day table, all in hopes of good luck for the coming year.

But there is one tradition that we have observed every year that we have been married. The Christmas tree and other decorations come down. No discussion. I’ve seen others that suggest that January 5th or 6th is the proper day to take your tree down as that is the 12th day or the end of the celebration of the birth of Christ.

So if trees are coming down on the 5th or 6th of January how can 33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. I am sure that some of you are procrastinating, but I think that the high number of January fires is due to dry trees. Below are my thoughts on how to eliminate homeowner’s insurance claims related to Christmas trees:

Obviously how long you leave your tree up impacts the risk of having a fire. But studies have indicated that you can significantly extend the fresh life of your tree by watering regularly. Daily versus weekly watering may double, triple, even quadruple the moisture content of a tree cut for two months. WATER, WATER, WATER, the more you WATER he longer your tree will remain fresh and safe.
The most important advice to maintain a new Christmas tree is WATER. Water your tree daily my personal opinion is to avoid additives. Just Water. Tap water is fine. And never use the spay on tree fresheners.
When you get home with your tree, cut an inch of the bottom to improve the tree’s ability to take up water.
WATER your tree daily. One quart of water per inch your trees stem diameter
Do not place your tree near a heat source.
It is IMPORTANT TO WATER YOUR TREE DAILY
Do not put your tree in an area that will expose the tree to changes in temperatures. Placing your tree to close to a door that is used regularly will lead to premature dring.
Daily WATERING improves the trees moisture content which will increase the time your tree will be fresh and reduce fire risk.
Turn lights off when you leave the room.
BUT WATER the tree before you leave the room
Keep the tree away from all open flames. Candles, fireplace, kitchen and other equipment that could increase the fire hazard.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATERING YOUR TREE REGULARLY. WHEN I SAY REGULARLY, I AM STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT YOU WATER YOUR TREE DAILY.
Don’t remove the bark even to get the tree to fit in your stand. Buy a bigger stand.
You don’t need a hole in the bottom of your tree to improve water absorption.
Use low heat lights
Don’t overload your circuits.

Great insurance is just the starting point for sound risk management. Taking the extra step to avoid risky situation further reduces your exposure to a financial loss. By reducing the number of car insurance claims and home insurance claims you should also be rewarded with more competitive insurance premiums in the future.

From all of us at TruePoint Insurance,
We wish you a safe and Merry Christmas

Volunteering and Your Car Insurance

Posted on November 28, 2018April 18, 2019 by admin

Volunteer, risk, insurance for volunteers, do i need to insure volunteers, does my insurance protect volunteers Volunteering in your Fisherville, KY community is a good thing; people should do more of it on a regular basis. That said, being charitable doesn’t change the fact that one still needs transportation to get from point A to point B. You’re going to use your car, covered by a personal policy, and it will raise the question where does a consumer cross the line between personal use and liability protection and being part of a non-profit effort or organization? Remember, the private car insurance policy was crafted based on the assumption the driver is traveling for personal use and nothing else. volunteer insurance, auto insurance for volunteers, will commercial insurance cover volunteer autos, are volunteer's vehicles covered by insurnace Regular volunteering is definitely not in that risk assumption and could give a provider a reason to deny a claim when the insurer asks for details leading up to the accident or damage.

Occasional volunteering in Fisherville, KY is not the issue. Risk assumption is based on regular, overall usage of the vehicle. Regular, especially daily volunteer travel, however, is a risk impact and needs to be declared. The usage will be written into a policy update and the risk assumption updated accordingly. This will avoid claims being denied later on for lack of clarification or even raising questions of insurance fraud, a grave accusation of dealing with. Don’t put yourself in that position when helping out your community.

Give the experts at TruePoint Insurance a call and explain the details of volunteer insurance, ky volunteer insurance, ky auto insurance for volunteers, inurance what your volunteering consists of. We will examine your current policy for what can be changed or find a new policy that meets your needs better. Then, you can get back to helping others instead of putting yourself in a bad spot. Give TruePoint Insurance a call today to find out more.

Is Your Home Winter Ready? – Part 3

Posted on November 21, 2018December 12, 2018 by Brad Smith

In this part we discuss a different hazard of the winter season.

Firing Up A Hearty Loss

Do you own a fireplace, wood-burning stove or portable heater? What about a gas or an electric furnace? If so, you need to take steps to make sure that they are safe and used properly. This should be done well before the arrival of the heating season.

Have your furnace inspected to make sure that it will operate properly in cold weather. Clean filters and vents will go a long way to keep your furnace a source or warmth rather than a cause of a fire loss. An inspection should also make certain that your furnace is not a creating a dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.

Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves should also be inspected and, if necessary, thoroughly cleaned. Creosote, a tar-like byproduct of burning wood, builds up in chimney and stove flues very quickly. Even a single wood-burning season could produce enough buildup to create a fire or severe smoke hazard. Don’t do the inspection yourself. It’s worth the cost to have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace or stove. Also, make sure that you don’t burn softwood or paper. Using anything other than hardwoods exposes your fireplace or stove to quicker creosote buildup (softwood) or more intense heat (paper), which could clog or contribute to cracking a flue or liner. Home fire risk increase in winter

Be very careful with the use of portable heaters. Depending upon the type, they can be prone to malfunction or could be a hazardous source of burns, especially for children. Further, many types can be easily tipped with the combination of heat source and fuels, creating a serious fire hazard.

Finally, make sure you have fire/smoke and carbon monoxide detectors properly installed and in good working order. Test them and put in new batteries. Small expense, big payoff.

As always, insurance professional is a valuable source of safety and insurance information. Don’t hesitate to contact an agent to discuss your questions. If you haven’t had the chance, please be sure to read parts one and two of “Is Your Home Winter Ready” which discusses other winter concerns.

Return to Section 1 Return to Section 2

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2017

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

Is Your Home Winter Ready? – Part 2

Posted on November 14, 2018December 12, 2018 by Brad Smith

In this part we discuss an important legal responsibility created for homeowners by the winter season.

Creating A Clear Liability

Snow doesn’t show favoritism. Instead of conveniently falling onto unused areas, it covers homes, sidewalks, and driveways. As a responsible homeowner, you should arrange to make travel across your property safe. This calls for clearing your walkways of snow and ice. It is also important to clear your property of items such as rakes, shovels, tools, toys and similar items. Remember that it takes only a small amount of snow to hide items that, during clear conditions, are easily seen and avoided. So take time to move such property and make repairs to uneven or cracked pavement.

Keep in mind that clearing walkways (including stairs) is an invitation for pedestrians to use the path. So, once you clear an area, it has to be kept clear and safe, especially from ice. Also, avoid creating piles of snow that can block either a driver’s or a pedestrian’s view. Finally, be sure that your property is safe for children who are enjoying winter. Don’t allow children to slide around without being aware of pedestrians or motorized traffic and don’t let anyone throw snow or ice balls at cars (you could be sued for any accident caused by careless play) related from the use of your property or premises.

Don’t forget the inside of your home. Visitors should be kept safe from harm. Be sure to keep interior stairs and floors clear of the watery remains of melted snow. Keep things dry and consider using mats that provide good traction and an area where folks can clear snow and ice from their shoes or boots.

As always, an insurance professional is a valuable source of safety and insurance information. Don’t hesitate to contact an agent to discuss your questions. If you haven’t had the chance, please be sure to read parts one and three of “Is Your Home Winter Ready” which discusses other winter concerns.

Return to Section 1 Advance to Section 3

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2017

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

Need help finding a good insurance agent?

Posted on November 9, 2018October 30, 2018 by Brad Smith

If you’re looking for a great insurance agent, it may be wise to take a step back. Before starting your search and ask yourself, what is an Insurance agent?

Most consumers consider anyone that sells insurance to be an agent. To some degree that is true. But if you look a little closer, you will see that there is a clear distinction. Insurance sales professionals fall into two defined buckets. Insurance salespeople are either agents or brokers. Understanding the differences should be the starting point for insurance consumers.

Classifying agents is based on their relationship to the insurance company. In the strictest sense, to be considered an insurance agent, one must be an employee of the company. These individuals are also referred to as captive agents or exclusive agents. As employees of the insurance company, agents tend to have increased authority.

For the typical insurance consumers, the lines between agents and brokers aren’t clear. Today we often refer to insurance brokers as independent insurance agents. This group represents insurance companies per specific contractual guidelines. As a result, the employee agent is able to write new business with less red tape than the broker.

The term non-captive agent is often used when referring to insurance brokers. Relative to his captive counterpart, the broker has options.

But, beware. Brokers come in varying degrees of captivity. Some derive a significant amount of their income from one insurance company. In some cases, this occurs because it is a requirement of the insurance company. In these cases, it is not uncommon to see 70 to 80% of the non-captive agents premium with one company. The numbers might go even higher. Some carriers demand exclusivity. If their company has a product that will fit, then the agent cannot show anything else. Under these circumstances, the agent has more in common with the captive agent than the non-captive.

Other non-captive agents must meet specific goals as required by the carrier. Annual new business requirements, yearly predefined premium targets and more. While a step in the right direction, it will still be challenging to provide trusted advise.

Brokers, independent agents, and non-captive agents, each have the potential to offer options. Regardless of what they are called finding a good insurance agent for you is a personal decision. For me the answer is simple. I seek the services of a trusted advisor that can present me with multiple options. While some will laud the benefits of free markets, I insist that it is the number of options and not free markets that truly protect consumers.

Is Your Home Winter Ready? – Part 1

Posted on November 7, 2018July 16, 2018 by Brad Smith

If you live in a climate that includes cold winters, you know the season creates special challenges for homeowners. In this article, we discuss an icy situation.

Ice Dams

An ice dam refers to ice that has formed along a roof’s edge. The dam of ice blocks additional water and the pooling water backs up and finds pathways into a home’s interior. This water may cause deterioration and decay to interior wood and plaster, drywall or other insulation materials. Once an ice dam has forced paths into a home, the roof becomes more susceptible to future ice dams and water damage.

Too much heat rising from the home to warm the roof is the most frequent cause of ice dams. The process occurs unevenly with the warmer area at the higher part of the roof melting the snow and then the cooler, lower area, particularly the roof edge, permitting the water to refreeze and then accumulate. Inadequate insulation lets too much heat escape into the attic and this creates a warmer roof. Improper ventilation creates moisture and heat buildup due to the lack of air movement.

How To Detect A Problem

Compare the way the snow is melting from the living area of your home with how snow appears on the roof over an unheated area such as a garage or shed. How does any snow coverage on your roof compare with your neighbors’ homes? Check for icicles. They can be pretty, but heavy icicle buildup means that interior heat is melting a lot of snow and may contribute to ice dams.

How To Prevent Ice Dams

There are a number of ways to help prevent ice dams:

Clear excess snow from the roof. However, in order to minimize damage to the roof and roofing, hire a professional to remove the snow.
Add rubberized or special roofing adhesives to help prevent pooled water on the roof from finding entry into the home’s interior.
Inspect the attic and roof for cracks, holes, or joints that permit warm air to escape to the roof, and seal or repair these areas.
Add the recommended amount of insulation to the attic and exterior walls of your home to minimize escaping heat (this also reduces your heating costs).
Reduce your home’s thermostat and throw on warmer clothing during extended cold spells.
Clear your gutters and downspouts so that water is properly shed off your roof.

As always, an insurance professional is a valuable source of safety and insurance information. Don’t hesitate to contact an agent to discuss your questions. If you haven’t had the chance, please be sure to read parts two and three of “Is Your Home Winter Ready” which discusses other winter concerns.

Continue to Section 2

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2017

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.I

Insurance Broker

Posted on November 5, 2018October 30, 2018 by Brad Smith

Insurance sales professionals come in many forms. They go by various names and have different strengths and weaknesses. Agents can be classified by their relationship with the insurance company, the customer or both.

The term insurance agent is used widely by the public. But, the term agent is most often used when referring to an employee of the insurance company.

Insurance broker, independent agent and non-captive insurance agent are often used interchangeably. Each of these classifications describes insurance sales professionals that represent multiple companies. The level of autonomy varies significantly between agencies. The same is true regarding the options that they can present to clients.

Logically, more options are better. But your search for a top insurance agent needs to go a few steps further. In your quest to find the best insurance agent for you, consider the benefits associated with an unbiased agent. To reveal an insurance agents biases, it might be wise to understand how much of the agency’s premium is placed with their top insurance company. How about the top three?

Insurance Agent

Posted on October 30, 2018April 29, 2019 by Brad Smith

Insurance professionals come in many forms. They go by various names and have different strengths and weaknesses. Agents can be classified by their relationships with the insurance company, the customer or both.

The public uses the term insurance agent to describe anyone that sells insurance. While this is generally accepted consumers should have a basic understanding of the players.

Individuals that sell insurance are generally classified into one of two categories. Agents and Brokers:

Agents are employees of the insurance company. They represent only one carrier.

Insurance Brokers also called Independent Agents, are third-party providers. They represent a number of insurance companies but are not an employee of any.

Insurance agents are sometimes referred to as exclusive agents or captive agents. These terms stem from the fact that the agents are employees of the insurance company. As a result, they can only sell the products of their employer.

With limited options, captive agents can find themselves at a disadvantage. While independent agents have access to multiple insurance markets, however, a positive to be captive. As employees of the insurance company, captive or exclusive agents have more authority.

If you are searching for the best insurance agent for your needs be sure to consider the benefits associated with each type. Or even better, take a little extra time and try both a captive and an independent agent.

Innkeepers Legal Liability Insurance

Posted on October 29, 2018October 23, 2018 by Brad Smith

Motel Insurance

Innkeepers Legal Liability

At times most of us leave personal belongs under the temporary control or custody of others. These individuals or entities are referred to as a Bailee. Cleaners, jewelers, and parking valets are good examples of Bailees.

Hotel insurance needs in some ways are similar to most other businesses. Commercial Property, Business Auto, Commercial General Liability and Workers Compensation coverages are likely to be somewhat comparable to most others.

Insurance for motels and hotels must also address some more unique exposures. When traveling, we may leave property in the care, custody, and control of lodging or other hospitality-related organizations. Hotels, motels, and B&B’s are required by law to have in place coverage for customer belongs. Insurance for the lodging guest can be acquired via an Innkeepers Legal Liability or similar coverage.

Who will require me to have condo insurance?

Posted on October 26, 2018April 29, 2019 by admin

Louisville KY condo insurance, Ky condo insurance, condo isurance America has been called the land of opportunity. It has allowed an unthinkable number of individuals the chance to amass fame and fortune. For many, the first step towards success was the purchase of a home.

Although your grandparents may not recognize it, the American dream is still alive. Like most other facets of life, technology has left an imprint on the American Dream.

Mobility for example. Following WW II, construction of the interstate highway system made the dream more accessible. Americans who could now drive further in less time began to work further away from home.

Today we can work from anywhere. Almost anywhere! We are constantly connected. No matter what time of day, or where you are, you will see mobile phones, pads, and computers all around you. Technological improvements have certainly put a damper on workflow relocation. Americans can shop their skills for the highest bid, and often work remotely.

Condos outpacing single family homes

The demand for condos in the US is exceeding supply. Over a five year insure your invest, insure your condo, condo insurance, Lexington KY condo insurance, buy condo insurance

insure your invest, insure your condo, condo insurance, Lexington KY condo insurance, buy condo insurance

period ending in 2017, Trulia reported that Condo sales had risen by 38%. During the same time period, single-family residential homes rose 28%.

Why?

Better value. Locations. Demographics. Taste!

Do you still need insurance?

Yes, but it doesn’t come in the same form as a homeowner’s insurance policy. ‘

Achieving the American dream is in large about making good investments. Each of us, when looking to make a good investment, will be confronted with the buy versus rent dilemma.

Buying a home in America has generally been a great investment decision. However, maintaining and protecting the investment is essential.

Yes, single-family homes require serious maintenance and can be a huge responsibility. If you don’t feel like your up to becoming a handyman there is always the option to purchase a condo. Depending on your location that may be an issue. Louisville Kentucky condos shouldn’t be an issue at all. The same is true for Lexington and most of Northern Kentucky. Generally, the availability of condos will be directly related to the size of your town.

When you own a condo, you undoubtedly will need to have a reliable condo insurance policy on your home. As mentioned earlier the form of a condo insurance policy (HO-6) differs from that of homeowners (HO-3). There are several situations in which you will be required to carry condo insurance.

Loan Outstanding

You will need to have condo insurance when you have any loans outstanding on your home. Since it can be an expensive investment, you likely will have to take out a mortgage to finance it. Do you know how often a home lender will tell you, “don’t worry about getting that insurance? I know ya and I know your good for it!”

The answer is: ALMOST NEVER!

And just in case your that 1 in a 1,000,000,000 that does, then run to the nearest insurance agency as fast as you can.

A mortgage gives a lender legal rights. Your home or condo becomes collateral to protect the lender. In the event you don’t pay, you, the lender and a judge will have a meeting at the courthouse. At some point, the judge is basically going to give your house to the bank. outstanding, the lender will likely require that you grow your monthly insurance payments. This will help to ensure that their collateral is properly protected.

If the house burns down and you don’ t have insurance, you’re not going to have a really good impression of the judge.

How often do you get paid?

That’s how often the judge is going to mandate that you stop by the bank and leave the money.

Condo Association Requirements

Do you know what you do when you make your final mortgage payment?

You have a party and you burn it!

You will no longer have a mortgage. You will no longer need an insurance policy to protect the lender.

But don’t cancel your insurance just yet.

Most people that live in a condo are also part of a condo association. These associations are typically governed by a variety of different rules and regulations. One of the most common regulations is a regulation that will require insurance on your condo. Your condo insurance will continue to protect property. But the primary reason for the requirement is it also proved liability coverage.

Earlier we mentioned the need to maintain and protect your investment. There are lots of ways to do this. Painting, maintaining gutters and downspouts, shingles and more. Even better, a short trip to the Ace Hardware store and you’ll be armed.

But none of these will protect your home from, fire, wind, hail, earthquake and many of perils. Potect your condo, insure your condo, buy insurance for conds

Potect your condo, insure your condo, buy insurance for conds

The corner Ace Hardware won’t help protect against these. But, a quick trip or call to your local Independent Insurance Agent will!

If you are looking for condo insurance in Kentucky, contact TruePoint Insurance. We will help you to identify your condo insurance needs and get you into a great policy.

f the maintenance requirements and responsibilities that come with a single-family home, another option would be to purchase a Fisherville, KY area condo. When you own a condo, you undoubtedly will need to have a reliable condo insurance policy on your home. There are several situations in which you will be required to carry condo insurance.

Loan Outstanding

The first situation in which you will need to have condo insurance is when you have any loans outstanding on your home. Since it can be an expensive investment, you likely will have to take out a mortgage to finance it. Whenever you have a mortgage outstanding, the lender will likely require that you grow your monthly insurance payments. This will help to ensure that their collateral is properly protected.

Condo Association Requirements

If you do not have a loan outstanding on your condo, you still might be required to have a condo insurance policy in place at all times. Most people that live in a condo also live in a condo association. These associations are typically governed by a variety of different rules and regulations. One of the most common regulations is a regulation that will require that you have insurance on your condo. This insurance will not only have to protect the actual property but will also have to provide liability coverage.

If you are looking for a condo insurance policy in the Fisherville, KY area, you should contact TruePoint Insurance. The TruePoint Insurance company will help you to identify your condo insurance needs and get you into a great policy. You can take control and help move the process down the road by doing your own condo insurance quote online.

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