 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?  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 ...  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?  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:  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:  With insurance rates rising over the past several years, many policyholders are looking to reduce coverage to offset those increases.
While this is understandable, by doing this they are taking on sizable financial risk that they likely can’t cover if the unexpected were to happen. Here are 3 examples:  If you've tried renewing or shopping for homeowners insurance lately, you might've noticed fewer options—or worse, gotten a non-renewal notice. You're not alone.
A growing number of insurance carriers are either pulling out of southeastern states or tightening their guidelines. But why is this happening? Here are 4 major factors:  Most people know their credit score matters when buying a car or getting a mortgage—but did you know it also affects your auto insurance premiums?
Many insurers use something called a credit-based insurance score, something a little different from your regular credit score. Here’s what goes into this score and how it affects your insurance premiums.  Most standard homeowners insurance policies with "all-perils" coverage do include protection against tornado damage. However, that doesn’t always mean you're fully covered.
Certain exclusions, limitations, and policy conditions could affect how much you receive after a storm. Here are some key factors that could impact your tornado coverage:  In the past, homeowners who occasionally rented their properties for local events often relied on their standard homeowners insurance.
But with the rise of short-term vacation rentals, insurance policies have changed - making it essential to reassess your coverage. Here are five critical areas to review:  Did you know that investing in home security not only provides peace of mind but can also reduce your homeowners insurance premiums?
There are a number of great home security options thanks to technology, but here are three upgrades that may result in the best return on your investment on your insurance premiums while also enhancing the safety of your home.  Surprisingly, your credit score IS one factor that can influence the price you pay for homeowners insurance coverage but why and how does it affect your insurance premium?
Studies have shown a correlation between credit history and insurance loss potential, indicating that individuals with poor credit tend to file more insurance claims and are considered to be a higher risk. In general, people with higher credit scores are seen as demonstrating more responsible financial behaviors, which may translate into more cautious and responsible actions in other areas of life, including homeownership. Insurance companies typically use credit-based insurance scores, not traditional FICO scores. These scores are specifically designed to predict insurance claims and are based on certain credit-related factors. including:  The aftermath of a weather disaster like Hurricane Helene can be overwhelming. Once the storm has passed and you begin assessing damage and making repairs, you might be wondering — do you need to update my insurance coverage?
The short answer is: possibly. Here are 5 items that trigger an update:  When it comes to protecting your belongings, you need to have something called contents insurance.
What should you consider "contents?" This is best described by any personal items that are not permanently attached and that you would take when you move. This includes not only inside your home/apartment but items outside, too, like in a storage shed. People commonly underestimate the value of their contents because they forget about little things that make a significant difference in the total value. How do you best go about accurately calculating this for your home/apartment? Here is an organized step-by-step method that will help you determine how to get your contents coverage just right:  Insurance shopping can be frustrating. You submit the same information to multiple companies only to receive veryy different quotes.
There are numbers of reasons why these differences occur, and being aware of them can help you make more informed decisions about your coverage. Here are five:  Insurance is designed to safeguard your assets against unexpected events. There are times when an insurer decides not to renew an insurance policy. This can be stressful to insureds, especially if they're unsure why it happened or what steps to take next.
Here's what you need to know about why insurers make the decision to non-renew an insurance policy and how you can respond effectively. |
AuthorDennis Lam Archives
July 2024
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