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Tips to Help You Save on Homeowners Insurance

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All Lakes Insurance Agency Offers Tips to Help You Save on Homeowners Insurance

Lee’s Summit, MO - Purchasing the homeowners insurance that is right for you and your home can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers. By learning the basics on how to get the most for your money, you can save on your homeowners insurance and feel confident you have adequate coverage. All Lakes Insurance Agency and Travelers, a leading provider of homeowners and auto insurance, offer these tips to lead you in the right direction when you purchase your homeowners insurance.

  • Shop around. In addition to considering friends, family, the phone book or the Internet as possible sources to find homeowners insurance, consult with an independent insurance agent. Look for a wide range of prices from several companies. Remember, you get what you pay for, so look for not only a fair price but excellent service as well. Check a company’s financial rating with A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s.
  • Raise your deductible. Companies generally have deductibles (what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in) starting at $250.  By choosing a higher deductible ($500, $750, $1,000 or higher), you’ll have lower annual premium payments.
  • Consider how much insuring a new home will be.  The age of your home may qualify you for savings because plumbing, heating and electrical systems of newer homes have lower risks than outdated systems.  Construction of the home (brick versus wooden frame) can affect your cost as well, depending on your home’s location.  Also, if you live near your local fire department, your homeowners rates might be lower than if you are many miles away.
  • Insure your home, not your land.  Since homeowners policies don’t provide protection for your land, it would be a waste of money to include its value as part of your dwelling coverage, which should only reflect the price it would cost to repair or replace your home’s structure.
  • Insure your car and home with the same company. You can save money if you have more than one type of policy with the same insurance company. The more good business you give the company, the more valuable you are as a customer.
  • Improve home security and safety.  If your home has certain types of fire alarms, burglar alarms, locks, or smoke detectors, you’ve reduced your risk and may qualify for a credit.
  • Look for senior discounts. If you are at least 55 years old and retired, your insurance company may offer you a discount. Retirees often spend more time at home and are more likely to spot trouble and prevent a loss.
  • Look for group coverage. Many insurance companies offer discounts to groups such as alumni or business associations. Check with your association director or employer to see if they offer a plan.
  • Stay with one insurer. If you keep your coverage under one insurer for several years, you may be offered a discount from the company.  The longer you are a customer, the more money you will likely end up saving.
  • Compare the limits in your policy to the value of your possessions at least once a year.  If you make any major purchases or additions, you want to ensure they will be covered, but you do not want to spend more than is necessary.

All Lakes Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including auto, home, boat, pwc, umbrella, business, work comp, wedding, and life, etc. 

For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit All Lakes Insurance Agency by calling 816-863-6327 or visit www.AllLakesInsurance.com.


Posted On 9/22/2009 3:16:51 PM

Tips to Prevent ID Theft

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All Lakes Insurance Agency Offers ID Theft Prevention Tips

Lee’s Summit, MO August, 2008 – All Lakes Insurance Agency advises consumers to be well aware of the identity theft epidemic that is happening all around us. Thieves only need one single piece of personal information to steal your identity and turn your financial life upside down. According to the Federal Trade Commission there are nearly 10 million people, or five percent of the adult population, who become victims of identity theft each year. Identity theft costs victims an estimated $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses from trying to reclaim their good credit.

    With technology advancing every day, it is important to know what you can do to protect yourself before it is too late.  All Lakes Insurance Agency  and Travelers, the first company to offer identity fraud expense reimbursement insurance, recommend the following identity theft prevention tips:
  • Check your credit report, which is available free once every 12 months at www.annualcreditreport.com from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  If you suspect that there are any inaccuracies, call the bureau immediately.  (Call Equifax at 800.685.1111; Experian at 888.EXPERIAN; or Transunion at 800.888.4213.)
  • Protect your Social Security number.  Do not use your SSN as an identifier at work, school or on your driver’s license. Request a new number to substitute as an ID if this is assigned automatically.
  • Create passwords and PINs that are difficult for others to guess but easy for you to remember. Memorize the numbers to avoid having to write them down.
  • Buy a shredder to destroy any financial and personal documents before throwing them away. This includes bills, statements and pre-approved credit card offers.
  • Check your wallet:  Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate, passport, or extra credit cards unless absolutely necessary.
  • Never put outgoing documents that contain personal information in your mailbox to be picked up; drop them directly at the post office or a postal service mailbox.
  • Be aware of your surroundings especially when using an ATM, entering PINs or making a purchase with a credit card. Scam artists can easily look over your shoulder, or even spy from far away to steal your information.
  • Use caution when responding to, or clicking on, an unfamiliar or unsolicited email. It is very easy for someone to scam you by using a seemingly authentic Web address.
  • Be aware of your personal information. Know where it is going and to whom if you choose to enter it online. Read each Web site’s privacy policy and check for the padlock icon on the bottom of the screen to help ensure your privacy.
  • Avoid emailing personal or financial information to anyone. It is much safer to furnish this information over the phone, provided you are the one who initiated the call.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) immediately. For more important prevention tips visit the FTC Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
    Travelers offers identity fraud expense coverage as an endorsement to a Travelers homeowners, condo or renters policy. For only $25 per year, this insurance provides $25,000 of coverage for expenses incurred due to identity theft including:
  • Lost wages (up to $1,000 a week for five weeks)
  • Reasonable attorney fees incurred, with prior approval
  • Telephone, certified mailing and notary charges
  • Loan re-application fees
  • Daycare and eldercare expenses
    In addition, Travelers now offers resolution services that can provide you with the help you need in the event you become a victim of identity theft.  A consumer fraud specialist will guide you through the steps of reclaiming your identity and repairing your damaged financial history, including ordering credit reports, alerting credit reporting agencies, enrolling you in six months of daily credit monitoring, and preparing dispute letters on your behalf.
 
   “Recovering as a victim of identity theft can be a long, expensive and very complex process,” said Mendy Doak, President.  “By adding identity fraud expense coverage to your policy, you can protect yourself from the out-of-pocket expenses associated with cleaning up your credit and feel secure in the knowledge that qualified fraud specialists will be there to help you through the process.”

    Established in 2006, All Lakes Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including Auto, Home, Boat, Cycle, Renters, Landlords, and Business insurance.  All Lakes Insurance Agency is a member of Missouri Association of Insurance Agents, Midwest Insurance Agency Alliance, & Strategic Independence  Agents Alliance.    

For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please call All Lakes Insurance Agency] at  816-863-6327 to set up an appointment or visit www.AllLakesInsurance.com.




Posted On 9/22/2009 3:14:56 PM

Tips to Help You Save on Auto Insurance

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Purchasing the auto insurance that is right for you can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers. By learning the basics on how to get the most for your money, you can save on your auto insurance and feel confident you have adequate coverage. All Lakes Insurance Agency and Travelers, a leading provider of auto and homeowners insurance, offer these tips to lead you in the right direction when you purchase your car insurance.
  • Be a safe driver. Drivers with good driving records can save as much as 60 percent over drivers who cause accidents.
  • Enroll in a driving class. Drivers who complete a state-approved defensive driving course, or drivers under the age of 21 who take a driver training course, could qualify for savings.
  • Buy a car that includes safety features such as anti-lock brakes, alarms or other security features, airbags, and automatic seat belts.
  • Choose a higher deductible (what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in), which can mean paying less for your policy.
  • Eliminate unnecessary coverages.  If you drive an older car with little cash value, consider eliminating “collision” or “comprehensive” coverage, which pays for damage to or theft of your car.
  • Insure more than one car with the same company, and you may be eligible for savings.  
  • Insure your car and home with the same company. You could save money if you have more than one type of policy with the same insurance company (for example, an auto policy and a homeowners policy). The more good business you give the company, the more valuable you are as a customer.
  • Look for low-mileage discounts if you car pool or do not put a lot of miles on your car annually.
  • Check for student discounts such as a good student credit for maintaining a B average, or if a driver in your household is living away at school and not driving as much.
  • Buy a safer car that will cost less to repair and less to insure.  Check crash-test reports, repair records and manufacturer recalls of any car you are considering.  A consumer protection magazine can be very useful or check car sites on the Internet.



Posted On 7/25/2009 8:15:30 PM