 Heading out on a Thanksgiving road trip with a rental car?
Great choice—just make sure you know how insurance works before you drive off the lot. Here are a few key points to think through before signing that agreement.  With the time change back to standard time and as package deliveries start ramping up across Georgia and South Carolina, so do reports of porch pirates making off with them. A recent Chamberlain Group survey found that nearly 7 out of 10 homeowners are worried about package theft — and it’s easy to see why.
But here’s the big question: Would your homeowners or renters insurance cover a stolen package?  Insurers are tightening their standards and restrictions so before you call to file a homeowner’s insurance claim and have it denied, ask yourself these questions:
 What Is Diminished Value And When Should You Request It? Even after a vehicle is properly repaired following a collision, it typicaly doesn’t retain the full market value it had before the accident. That drop in value — simply because the vehicle was in a wreck and now has an accident-history — is called diminished value (DV).
Why is this important to know? If you were in an accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to recover that loss in value via the at-fault party’s insurer (or your own in certain states, including Georgia, under very specific circumstances). Many vehicle owners have never heard of this and overlook it when filing an auto claim. What are the eligibility criteria for filing a diminished value claim?  It’s been a little over a year since Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia and the Carolinas, wreaking an estimated $64.2 BILLION in damages. Damage ranged from high winds, downed trees, inland flooding, mudslides, and infrastructural damage to roads and utilities.
With such a wide range of causes, some homeowners uncovered additional hurricane-related hidden damage after their claim was closed that wasn’t previously included. In cases like this, is it possible for homeowners to re-open the original claim after they’ve already received and cashed a check for those damages and request to receive additional compensation for those damages?  So many homeowners admit they “set it and forget it” when it comes to their homeowners insurance policies. Unfortunately, that means many people end up paying out of pocket for things their policy might already cover.
So, how well do you really know what’s inside your home insurance policy? Most homeowners policies protect six key areas:  When the temperatures dip and the leaves start to turn, most of us look forward to cozy nights indoors. Unfortunately, squirrels, mice, and rats have the same idea—and your attic, crawlspace, and venting may look like the perfect Airbnb to them.
Does your homeowners insurance cover repairs from damages from animal home invasions?  Did you know Georgia ranks 9th in the country for the number of animal collision claims according to the latest data?
With the sun setting earlier and earlier, the potential for colliding with animals on the road rise rapidly in the fall. You can probably guess that the highest incident rate is with deer. They are on the move primarily from dusk to dawn, which happens to be when visibility is lowest while driving. Costs from an animal collision vary widely, depending on the situation, but can vary from a scratched bumper to totaling your vehicle. What insurance coverage do you need to cover an animal strike?  In today’s world, you can buy just about anything with a click so it’s no surprise that insurance companies have jumped on the “buy online now” trend. The idea sounds great: fast, easy, and cheap. But when it comes to protecting your home, car, or business, “fast and easy” often translates to “expensive regrets later.”
Here’s why you should not buy insurance online:  Most people don’t find out what’s missing in their insurance until after a claim. And by then—it’s too late.
The number one issue is ...  Property title or deed fraud is increasing significantly as criminals target property owners with more sophisticated resources. These forms of fraud can have devastating effects, including loss of property, costly legal battles, and irreparable damage to your financial standing.
If you own real estate, do you understand the best practices for preventing this type of scam? There are 5 steps you can take to shield yourself from these threats.  Labor Day weekend isn’t just a long weekend — it’s a hotspot for some insurance claims that happen more often here than any other time of the year. Here are a few surprises:
 This past year, a family faced a real-life nightmare that no parent ever expects. Their 17-year-old son, driving after a party, lost control of the car and crashed into a nearby home. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt but the fallout quickly became complicated.
The injured homeowner filed a lawsuit—not just against the teenage driver, but also against his parents, claiming they had “negligently entrusted” him to drive under unsafe circumstances. But when the family turned to their umbrella insurance for help, things didn’t go as planned because, as it turned out, the umbrella policy didn’t apply in this situation. Why?  When you think about your homeowners insurance policy, you probably picture coverage for your home’s structure, personal belongings, and liability protection. But there’s a hidden gap many people overlook, and it could cost you dearly.
 I’ve reported on this question before and, as you might anticipate, this statistic can vary yearly because of factors like changes in vehicle manufacturing and differences in consumer choice.
So far this year....  Your roof is one of the biggest investments in your home, and keeping it in good shape is key to protecting everything underneath it. In recent years, roof rejuvenation has been marketed as a cost-saving alternative to full roof replacement—especially for aging asphalt shingles.
The process typically involves spraying a specially formulated product onto your shingles to restore flexibility and slow down wear. While this may sound like a smart way to extend your roof’s life, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Before committing to roof rejuvenation, here’s what you should consider:  Summer heat isn't just tough on you—it’s brutal on your tires too. In fact, tire failures cause hundreds of avoidable accidents and fatalities each year, especially during the hotter months, which many tire professionals call “blowout season.”
Here are 3 key facts every driver should know to stay safe during summer travel:
Bottom line: Before you head out in the summer heat, check your tire pressure and tread depth. A quick check now could save you from a serious accident later. Planning a road trip? Give me a call at 706-726-1446 for a professional review of your auto insurance. Let’s make sure your coverage is ready to go when you are.  Got a speeding ticket? You're not alone, especially now that law enforcement’s “Operation Slowdown” campaign is in motion.
While the initial fine might sting, the long-term cost will show up later—on your auto insurance. Do you know when the effects of this ticket will show up on your insurance, how much to expect your premium will go up, and how long it will remain on your record? Here's a breakdown of what to expect:  This Independence Day is expected to set a record for the number of Americans traveling — and while that’s great news for reunions, road trips, and summer celebrations, it also means a greater potential for insurance claims.
July 4th consistently ranks among the highest-risk days for incidents that affect both people and property. Here are 7 practical tips to protect yourself, your guests, and your property from becoming part of the claim statistics:  Are you among the many side hustlers renting out your backyard, pool, or other property by the hour?
In addition to bringing in some extra money, it can also create additional liability issues for you.  When people think about what affects their homeowner’s insurance premium, they usually think of things like the age of their roof, condition of their home, and where it’s located.
But does your credit score also play a role?  Throughout my career, I've had more clients than I'd like who declined certain insurance coverage only to then experience some tragedy in which that coverage would have provided much needed protection.
While you don't want to over insure your assets, you DO want to make sure your insurance is adequate. Here are three real-life examples that drive this point home: Severe Storm Season Is Back: Are You Sure Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Covers Wind Damage?6/3/2025
 Last year’s hurricane season provided some hard lessons for thousands living in their direct paths. Torrential rains, followed by hurricane-force winds, wreaked devastation on areas with heavy tree densities. This combination created the perfect storm for trees, especially pines, to uproot and fall.
Given our country’s increase in wind-related weather disasters, insurance companies are changing coverage details in some geographic areas. What does this mean for those living in Georgia and South Carolina?  Do your outdoor recreational hobbies include ownership of non-auto motorized vehicles like golf carts, boats, motorcycles, ATVs, or RVs?
Insuring these can be very different from protecting conventional autos. Here are 4 points you should be aware of if you own a recreational vehicle like these:  🛑 66% of U.S. homes are underinsured
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