Do you have a personal property inventory?

Home Safety

Create a Personal Property InventoryIf your possessions are stolen or destroyed,
your insurancecompany will ask you to provide a record of them.
Details will be important at claim timeDo you know the brand name and serial
 number of your stereo?
Would you recall off the top of your head when and how much you paid for your digital camera?
 Without a list in front of you for reference, the details of your valuables may be forgotten -
 which creates more frustration in an already stressful time, and can cost you money in the long run.
That's why it's important to have a personal property inventory created ahead of time -
 before an unfortunate incident.
What is a personal property inventory?A personal property inventory is a complete
 list of all your household goods and personal belongings. A complete inventory includes
the following information about each item on your inventory list:

• The room in the house where it's located
• Item description and quantity
• Purchase date
• Place of purchase
• Original cost
• Estimated current value
• Serial and model number
• An accompanying videotape or still photographs of each item
• Receipts and current appraisals for the most valuable items

How does an inventory help you?No one is fully prepared for a loss, but you
can take steps to reduce the stress in the aftermath. A personal property inventory
 in place before a claim ensures
 that your claim is filed promptly and completely, which means that you'll get it
settled quickly and accurately, and get your life back to normal.
You can also use an inventory to determine if you have adequate coverage for your possessions.
Many people find out after a loss that they were not sufficiently covered, and should have purchased
higher coverage amounts or replacement cost coverage. A good rule of thumb is to add up
 how much it would cost to replace your belongings, and then compare it to your policy's personal
property limit. This is an indicator of whether or not you need to purchase additional coverage.
It's also a good idea to check the claim settlement methods on your policy. If you've purchased
replacement cost coverage, your settlement allows you to buy new items to replace the damaged or
 stolen ones. If you have actual cash value coverage, you receive what your items are worth
at the time of the loss - taking into account depreciation.
More helpful tipsBe complete with your inventory. An effective way to do an inventory is to
split the areaof your house and take one room at a time. Start outside and take views of
each side of your house,including the landscaping. Make sure to include all items in a
storage shed or garage, like children'sbikes and sporting goods.
Move inside the home and cover one room at a time. You might want to start with artwork or wall
hangings and then move onto the floor. Remember to include all high-valued items like antiques,
collectibles, silverware and jewelry.
Electronics are a key part of any personal property inventory. TVs, stereos and personal
 computersshould be included, as well as clothing, CDs, tapes, furniture and items
 inside china cabinets and storage bins.
As you videotape each item, it's important that you verbally state when each item was purchased,
its value,any special features and the model and serial number. If you choose to
photograph these items instead of videotaping them, write all pertinent information on
 the backs of the pictures.
When the inventory is completeOnce you've completed the inventory, copy everything
including paper lists,videotapes, receipts, computer printouts, appraisals and photos.
Store one set in a secure place in your home,and store the other off the premises in a
safe deposit box or with a friend or relative.Update your inventory every four to
six months to ensure that the information is accurate and reflects all
items in the home. Save all the receipts for newly purchased items, and make sure to
update your inventoryas soon as you make a major purchase and delete the items you
no longer have.There's more for you on this subject. On our site we have additional details on
how to create your personal property inventory. On that page you'll also find a link to a form
 you can use to list your items.
.

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March of Dimes 2012 Drawing Winner

Local Resident Wins New 2012 Ford Focus SE

All Star Ford Donated the New Vehicle to Support the
March of Dimes and their Mission to Improve the Health of Babies

OLYMPIA, Wash., June 4, 2012 – It was an exciting moment on Saturday, June 2^nd when Gabrielle Moreno, a local resident of the Lakewood community, won the all-new 2012 Focus SE.  The 2012 Focus SE (Super Fuel Economy) can get up to 40 mpg on the highway and is part of Ford’s fuel-efficient lineup.  The drawing was held at All Star Ford, 1925 Cooper Point Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98502.  Competition was fierce with more than 5,000 names in the drawing, but Moreno’s ticket was the winner!

Lakewood resident Gabrielle Moreno, lucky winner of the 2012 Ford Focus raffle, claims her prize!

“I was thrilled,” said Moreno.  “I knew when I purchased the raffle ticket that it was for a great cause, but I never dreamed I would actually get to take the car home.”

All Star Ford in Olympia donated an all-new, 2012 Focus SE to the March of Dimes Washington Chapter in support of the March for Babies campaign, which is their signature fund-raising event.  The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Funds raised through the Ford Focus raffle ticket sales exceeded $50,000.

Joel Olsen, Chief Financial Officer at All Star Ford, knows first-hand about the March of Dimes’ efforts: Olsen’s son was born eight weeks premature. 

“My son is now a healthy 3 ½ -year-old, and the support we received from the March of Dimes at that critical time made a huge difference,” Olsen said.  “I want to make sure that every baby gets the chance for a healthy start in life.  The funds from the Focus raffle will help others in similar situations.”

Olympia’s Bennett Olsen, 3, prepares to draw the winning ticket with dad Joel Olsen of All Star Ford. Bennett was born eight weeks premature.

Funds raised through the raffle tickets sales and March for Babies events will enable the March of Dimes to help moms before, during and after pregnancy get the information and support they need to have healthy babies.  And if something goes wrong, the March of Dimes offers information and comfort to help parents cope with premature birth, a child with a birth defect, or the loss of a baby.  Until every baby is born healthy, there is the March of Dimes.

About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Got Vacant Property?

If your rental property becomes vacant, 

will you still have coverage?

Your rental property has just been vacated and you want to take some time to screen new tenants or make upgrades to your property. Does your coverage change now that the home is vacant? To avoid surprises at the time of a claim, it’s crucial to know exactly what your policy covers.

Review your policy today for restrictions. Here are some points to check regarding coverage on vacant property:

• Will your policy immediately terminate when the home is vacated?

• If not, how long will coverage continue for named perils like fire, explosion, lightning, vandalism, windstorm and hail damage?
• What happens if you decide to renovate?
• Does your carrier offer a separate policy for vacant property?

Not everyone loves insuring vacant homes. But Foremost does. That’s why they also offer a specific program for vacant homes that provides a full 12-month policy with pro-rata cancellation and the choice to stay insured for up to 24 months. The home can be for sale, in the name of an estate or under renovation. Coverage includes common perils, plus options for liability, personal property, vandalism and malicious mischief.

Not sure what your policy provides? Call me to discuss your coverage and find out more about the Foremost Vacant program.

*Coverage may not be available in all areas.

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Is my car covered?

Does My Homeowner’s Policy Cover My Car If It Is In My Garage?

     Fire, flood, and other types of home damage can be traumatic; the last thing that any victim of this type of disaster wants to think about is whether or not their now damaged vehicle is covered under the umbrella of their home insurance policy. While many individuals assume that a car parked in their garage is protected by their homeowner’s insurance, the fact is that this is almost always not the case.
     A home insurance policy is purchased by an individual who wishes to protect their home, the items that reside directly within or around their home, and to protect themselves from costly repairs for damages incurred by the house in which they live. However, a vehicle that is registered (or is eligible to be registered) with its state’s department of transportation cannot be considered an item within the home, and is therefore not covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. The opposite is true regarding car insurance. While you would expect that your homeowner’s insurance protect the surround sound system you keep in your den, you would not expect that it be covered by your car insurance if it happened to be damaged while sitting in your back seat. This principle can be applied to damage incurred by your vehicle while it is parked in your garage.
     If your vehicle does happen to become damaged while parked in your garage, your car insurance provider would be the first party to call regarding compensation for repairs. Unfortunately, a standard auto coverage plan does not cover fire, flood, or other types of damage sustained while the car is parked on your premises. If you desire the level of coverage that would protect your car in these (and other situations not listed on a standard policy), you would opt instead for comprehensive coverage. This type of coverage would help to pay for repairs due to theft, vandalism, fire, and others, while your liability coverage only kicks in when you are actually operating the vehicle.
     Even in light of this information, some drivers may still be slightly confused concerning the amount of coverage actually offered by their homeowner’s insurance plan. It is helpful to think about the car situation as follows: A vehicle, no matter how it is utilized, is never considered a fixture of your home. Even if the car is parked in the dining room of your house and you use it as a table on a regular basis, it is still a car that is eligible to be registered and driven on the roads of the country in which you live. Therefore, it is not actually a fixed item of your home and is not covered at all by your home insurance policy.
     This point is further proven by another example. If a tree falls on your garage and completely wrecks the roof of your car in the process, you would need to contact two parties: your home insurance company for assessment and repairs to your garage and your car insurance company for comprehensive coverage for your car’s roof. If, for any reason, your car’s insurance coverage does not extend to such damage, you can expect to pay an out-of-pocket amount for those repairs. This is the reason that many drivers elect to pay a bit more for a comprehensive coverage plan if they believe their vehicles to be at risk of this type of damage. If you find that you are concerned with risk to your vehicle while it resides within your garage, contact your car insurance provider for details on comprehensive coverage.

Our Top Ten....

5 Reasons to Have Renters Insurance

It’s important to know when you’re moving into a new rental home or apartment, your landlord carries insurance only on his building. It’s up to you to insure anything inside by purchasing renters insurance, or HO-4 as it’s known in the insurance industry. There are five primary reasons every renter should have insurance.

1. Protection From Natural Disasters

If your home is damaged by strong winds, hail, lightening, volcanic eruption, or even a fire, renters insurance will cover your losses. Floods and earthquakes are rarely covered on a renters insurance policy. If you need coverage for those eventualities, make sure you let your agent know.

2. Protection From The Unexpected

Say a small plane hits your home, or a car veers off the road and comes through your front door. Renters insurance will cover those things. Likewise if your home is damaged due to civil unrest or riot, you’re covered. Imagine your hot water heater explodes, smoke from a neighbor’s fire fills your house, a water pipe breaks, there’s an electrical surge that fries your electronics, or the weight of snow causes your roof to collapse. None of these are pleasant scenerios, but they are much easier to deal with if you’re insured.

3. Protection From Mischief

If anyone decides to vandalize your home or to break in and steal your belongs, renters insurance will help make you whole again.

4. Financial Coverage When You’re Without A Home

In the event you’re unable to stay in your home, renters insurance will cover the expenses you incur while your place of residence is being repaired or rebuilt. Most renters policies limit the amount they cover under this benefit to 30 – 40 percent of the policy value. Check with your agent prior to the purchase of your policy in order to ensure that you have enough coverage to sustain you until you can get back into the house or apartment.

5. Protection From Liability.

Imagine your tub or toilet overflows and the water seeps through the flooring and stains the ceiling of the apartment below yours. This is another good time to have renters insurance as it will cover the cost to repair damage to another residence that has occurred due to an accident or negligence on your part. Likewise, If someone slips and falls in your residence or runs into a door and needs stitches, your renters insurance will protect you from that liability by covering the cost of treatment. Insurance will also cover you up to your liability limit if one of those people chooses to sue you in court and wins.

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What New Parents Need To Know

What New Parents Need to Know About Life Insurance Coverage

As a new parent you have plenty on your mind: late-night feedings, new-found financial responsibilities, childcare, the list goes on…One of the most important things to consider during this exciting time is life insurance coverage. Even if you currently have life insurance, assessing your needs is a must.

How much life insurance coverage do you currently have?

Employer-Provided Life Insurance

Like many Americans, you probably depend on group life insurance through your employer to protect your family. Unfortunately employer-provided life insurance generally only covers a small fraction of the financial support your family would need if you were no longer able to provide. If you currently have life insurance coverage at work, your first step as a new parent is to find out just how much protection your group policy provides. Even if you’ve checked in the past, it’s a good idea to reevaluate. What may have seemed like a lot of coverage just a few years ago may no longer be enough.

Private Life Insurance Coverage

If you currently have a private life insurance policy, be sure to reevaluate that coverage as well. Will it adequately provide for your spouse and your child? Once you’ve assessed your current life insurance coverage it’s time to determine if you need an additional policy. Though it might seem like a task you simply don’t have time to complete, shopping for and even starting the purchasing process for life insurance coverage online can be fast and easy. At IntelliQuote we offer instant online quote comparisons, enabling you to shop and compare when time allows. No more excuses, next time the little one goes down for a nap, take the opportunity to request a quote.

Assessing Your Needs

Now that you know how much life insurance coverage you have, it’s time to determine how much you need. If you were to pass away what would your spouse and your new baby need to survive financially? Your life insurance coverage should compensate for: replacement of income, remaining mortgage debt, outstanding car loans, credit card balances, your child’s college tuition and your spouse’s retirement. If your life insurance coverage is coming up short, now’s the time to purchase additional coverage.

Update Your Will

Though there are many measures you can take as a new parent to protect your little one’s financial future, updating your will should be a top priority. Be sure your wishes are clearly defined and your child is protected. If something should ever happen to you, there is no recourse if your will is out-dated. So take the time, update your will and protect what matters most!