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.

Homeowners insurance covers against many misfortunes, but it does have gaps.  Some exclusions, like damage from earthquakes and floods, are more widely known.

​There are other typical gaps in coverage in standard homeowners insurance, but may not be as well understood.  Here are 7 to be familiar with:

Did you know that the New Year's holiday typically sees a spike in insurance claims?

Celebratory activities, including the use of fireworks, can lead to unexpected accidents and, in some cases, insurance claims.
​
By taking a few quick precautions, you can ring in the new year without the stress of dealing with insurance claims. Here are 10 practical tips to keep in mind if you plan to include fireworks as part of your celebration:

 
Insureds along the southeast corridor got a rude awakening in September as a result of the historic damage caused by Hurricane Helene.  Many affected were far inland and geographically not used to the catastrophic  levels of wind and water this storm produced.

Thousands are still in process of understanding what their insurance policies cover, filing claims, and getting estimates for repairs.

The damage from this hurricane included:

• dwelling damage
• wind damage
• flood damage
• personal property damage

​Most homeowners have a standard homeowners policy.  What does that cover?  It can vary significantly, but in general:

Hurricane Helene has swept through, leaving many car owners dealing with unexpected damage from falling trees and flying debris.

As you face this stressful situation, understanding the details of your auto insurance policy can make the claims process smoother and help you get back on track faster.
​
Here are 5 key points to help you understand your policy's coverage and claims process better:

After Hurricane Helene's devastating effects on Georgia's Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), practically all residents were facing questions around what their insurance policies covered.

Given the hundreds of thousands of trees that fell, the primary issue was distinguishing: 1) whose responsibility it was for these downed trees; and 2) who was responsible for covering the resulting damage they caused.
​
Here are three common scenarios to help you understand who’s usually responsible for repairs and whether insurance can help.

Filing an insurance claim may seem straightforward but certain mistakes or misunderstandings can result in your claim being denied.

​Avoiding these pitfalls is essential to ensure your claim is processed smoothly. Here are 3 of the most common reasons why claims get denied:

Bow season for deer hunting has opened in Georgia and is deer hunting season is already open to firearms in South Carolina so that means deer movement is increasing.

Because this region of the country has a high deer population, that also means deer vehicle collisions will rise during the fall and winter seasons.

If you're driving through these regions, it’s important to understand what auto insurance coverage you'll need if you hit a deer, as it's not included as part of a minimum auto policy.  Here's more about what you need to know and have:

Comprehensive Coverage is Key
To protect yourself financially from a deer collision, comprehensive coverage is the most important part of your auto insurance policy. Unlike liability or collision coverage, which covers accidents involving other vehicles, comprehensive insurance is designed for damage from other events like fire, theft, vandalism, and—most importantly in this case--animal strikes.

If you have comprehensive coverage and hit a deer, you can expect your insurance will cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle, minus your deductible. Without it, you'll have to pay for damages out of pocket.

What About Personal Injury?
If you or your passengers are injured during a deer collision, your medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) will kick in to cover medical expenses, depending on what state you're in and what type of coverage you’ve selected.

What to Do If You Hit a Deer in Georgia or South Carolina
Deer collisions can be scary, but knowing what to do after the fact is crucial. Follow these steps:

1. Pull Over Safely: If you hit a deer, pull over to a safe location, preferably away from traffic.
2. Check for Injuries: Ensure that no one in your vehicle is injured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 for medical assistance immediately.
3. Contact Law Enforcement: In both Georgia and South Carolina, it’s a good idea to contact the local police or highway patrol. This can be helpful for insurance claims, as having a police report on file can validate your claim. Also, if the deer is blocking traffic, law enforcement can help with removal.
4. Document the Scene: Take photos of the damage to your vehicle, the road, and the deer (if it's safe). This evidence can be useful when filing your insurance claim.
5. Avoid the Deer: Don’t approach the animal, even if it seems lifeless. Injured deer can be unpredictable and may react aggressively.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent: Once you're safe and have all the necessary information, contact your insurance agent for guidance on next steps. Since deer collisions fall under comprehensive coverage, insurance companies may not raise your rates—unless you have a history of claims.

Deer Collision Prevention Tips
To reduce the chances of hitting a deer, try these driving tips:

• Stay Alert Especially at Dusk and Dawn: Deer are most active during these times.
• Use High Beams: When driving at night in darker/rural areas, use your high beams to better spot deer.
• Watch for Deer Crossing Signs: These signs are placed in high-risk areas because deer are known to by nearby and cross the road there. Slow down and stay alert in these zones.
• Brake, Don’t Swerve: If a deer jumps into your path, brake firmly but don’t swerve. Swerving can lead to more serious accidents with oncoming vehicles or roadside obstacles.

As an experienced independent insurance agent in Georgia and South Carolina, I can help you review your policy to ensure you have the right coverage to protect you in the event of a deer collision.

​Contact me for more personalized advice or a free insurance review: 706-726-1446.
​

This is the perfect time of year to make sure your house and property are in top shape for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Seasonal maintenance inside and outside your house can help you avoid not only costly repairs, but also prevent insurance claims and keep your premiums in check.
​
Here are 5 insurance-related tips to protect your property as this fall season approaches:

Navigating the complexities of insurance coverage can feel overwhelming for individuals and businesses alike in the current hard insurance market because:
​

• insurance underwriting becomes stricter
• carriers reduce coverage offerings due to increased losses or economic pressures, and
• insurance premiums rise.

When this happens, having an independent insurance agent by your side becomes more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Here’s why:

When shopping for auto insurance, many factors influence the rate you’ll pay, including gender.  Here are a couple of general things to know about gender and auto rates:

1. A few states don't allow gender to be considered when calculating auto rates, but Georgia and South Carolina aren't among those few.
2. While insurance companies consider gender, it’s not a static factor—its impact on rates often changes with age.

​Here's how you can expect gender to impact your auto insurance rates with age:

Have you ever thought about how many people drive vehicles without having insurance coverage?
 
It's not something at the forefront of your mind until you're the victim of an auto accident where the at-fault party has no insurance coverage.
 
Unfortunately, this is a reality for many drivers, ​making it all the more important to have adequate coverage for your own financial protection. Here are 5 reasons why:

In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, I described a range of valuable auto insurance discounts, from multi-car and loyalty discounts to checking rates before buying a vehicle.

​In this final installment, I’ll highlight 4 more discounts that can further reduce your premiums and help you save.

In Part 1, I shared 4 potential valuable auto insurance discounts including: paying in bulk, loyalty, low mileage, and having a paid-off auto loan.
​
In Part 2, I dive into 4 more discounts that could further reduce your auto insurance premiums.

When it comes to auto insurance, every dollar saved counts. Many drivers aren’t aware of the potential discounts available to them.
​
This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on potential auto insurance discounts you could be eligible for that you might be missing.  Here are the first 4 that could help you keep more money in your pocket.

A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) conviction can have significant consequences on your life, including your auto insurance.

​Here's how a DUI affects your auto insurance and what you can do to navigate the situation.

Weather forecasts for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) have projected significant rain amounts due to tropical storm Debby.  For those in Savannah and Charleston, which can flood even with regular rainfall amounts, warnings have been issued for possible historic flooding events.

Generally, most of the CSRA isn't considered a typically flood-prone area.  But as we recently saw in our local area, sudden heavy rain storms created flash floods in areas that weren't at all known for flooding.

Unusual events like this have homeowners questioning whether their homeowners insurance covers flooding from heavy rains.

What do you think - does a typical homeowners insurance policy cover water damage from storm flooding?

If you said "no," you're right.

Homeowners must have a specific flood insurance policy to cover water damage from flooding, even if their homes are not considered to be in a flood plain.
​
Wondering if you should look into getting a flood policy?  Here are the key points you need to know:

As the 2024 Summer Olympic Games get underway, millions will be actively watching the events and purchasing Olympic swag.

Unfortunately, too many will become the victims of online scams run by unscrupulous deceivers.  They set up very sharp and slick-looking e-commerce sites with the sole purpose of absconding with your money or even your identity.

According to Gen Digital's Threat Labs, scam attacks increased over 280% during the last summer Olympics and 238% during the last winter games. 
​
Even if you and your family members take precautions vetting these sites to prevent falling for these fakes, you might consider investing in the following types of insurance coverage:

Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear comments bemoaning the rise of homeowners insurance - or worse - the receipt of a non-renewal notice from an insurance company.

Why are these actions happening and affecting even those who haven't filed a claim on their homeowners insurance?
​
Recent reports shed a spotlight on the data found, including these  4 eye-opening facts that help answer that question:

Even though meteorologists' technology resources allow us to anticipate some upcoming severe weather events, others can crop up with little warning.

Since these events can leave behind significant damage and disruption, policyholders should be prepared well ahead of time for such occurrences to ensure your safety and protect your property.
​
Here are 5 key tips to help you stay prepared for a potential claim from a weather-related event: