“We got struck TWICE by lightning” and other bizarre insurance claims…Part Two

Our craziest claim stories continued! Read Part I (” A deer jumped through my window”…) if you missed it.

#6- Play date gone wrong- “My daughter was at her friend’s house next door and while the parents weren’t looking she took all the nail polish out of the bathroom and painted it all over their walls, carpet and furniture! It was SUCH a huge mess!”

Lesson learned: The specifics of each policy can differ but this customer was covered under her home insurance policy for the damages to her neighbors house as the “nail polish fiasco” was considered property damage.

#7- What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas- or does it?- One wild customer was partying it up with some friends in a hotel when a sprinkler head in the ceiling “somehow got broken off”. The hotel estimated that the total damages were around $10,000! He wanted to know if he should file a claim for the damages.

Lesson learned: His insurer in this case actually covered the damages- and paid out over $12,000 to repair the sprinkler head. However, this is not always typical of all policies.

#8- Lightning DOES strike twice in the same place- One customer proved the old theory wrong when she told us about lightening striking her property in the same place twice within 6 months! “We had just installed an invisible electronic fence and the lightening must have been attracted to it! It struck our property two times in the same place blowing up the power unit on the fence both times!”

Lesson learned: Lightening is considered a covered peril under a standard home insurance policy.

#9- Anger Management Issues- One of our customers purchased a home that was in foreclosure and got ready to move in. Before he could do so, the previous owners of the home, still angry about the fact that the bank foreclosed on their house, burned the entire thing down!

Lesson learned: A standard home insurance policy will cover damages caused by fire.

#10- Tombstone Insurance? “Is damage to my tombstone covered under my homeowners insurance”? The answer is actually surprising…

Lesson learned: Many standard home insurance policies do in fact provide coverage to damages caused to tombstones. However it’s best to ask your insurance agent about the specific on your policy for this one. My question is- who’s filing the claim??

Stay tuned for more crazy insurance claim stories!

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“A deer jumped through my window” and other bizarre insurance claims :: Part One

Insurance agents hear some of the wildest stories out there. Here are some of the most bizarre stories we’ve heard: Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow!

#1- Lawnmower gone wild- One policyholder filed a claim for his lawnmower after he accidentally drove it into a lake behind his house. “The brakes stopped working and I was too afraid to jump off…so I just rode it into the water!”

Lesson learned: Mishaps such as this are not covered under a standard home insurance policy- home insurance policies only provide coverage for damage caused by covered perils such as wind, hail, theft, fire and riots.

#2- An evening surprise- One customer calling to get some home insurance quotes told us that he came home to find a baffling scenario- a broken living room window and a 6-point buck wandering around his kitchen. “It took me a while to put together what happened, but I think the deer accidentally jumped right through our picture window and ended up in the house!”

Lesson learned: Damage caused by wild animals is not typically covered under a standard home policy.

#3- Our favorite coverage questions- We often get questions about whether a home policy will cover damage from flood, lightening, etc. However this was one of our favorites: “Does my home insurance policy cover me if my horse eats my neighbor’s flowers? How about if my horse were hit by a car?”

Lesson learned: A standard home policy typically covers damages caused to others by your household pets, however, you should really ask your insurance agents about the specifics of your policy for this one. And in the case of the horse being hit by a car- no, pets are not covered as part of your contents coverage. Check out pet insurance for a situation like that.

#4- A Memorable 4th of July- One of our customers told us about a home insurance claim they filed after some fireworks that they set off accidentally shot through a neighbor’s second floor window causing damage to the rugs and wall coverings.

Lesson learned: Your home insurance policy will typically cover damages that you, or other insured members of your household, have caused to others. Talk to your agent before filing a claim and weigh the cost of paying the damages out of your pocket before filing.

#5- A buzz worthy question- One customer called us to let us know that bees had nested in his sub-flooring and he wanted to file a claim. “Is this covered”? He wanted to know…

Lesson learned: Insect infestations are not typically covered under a home insurance policy. Call your exterminator!

…more to come tomorrow!

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Drivers grow concerned over rising gas prices

Drivers across the country may be cringing when they pull up to the pump these days as gas prices are close to reaching an all-time high.

CNN reports that gas prices have jumped nearly 20 cents over the past two weeks from $3.57 to $3.76.

The all-time high was set in July 2008 when average gas prices were $4.11, according to the Lundberg survey. Only 35 cents from that record high, drivers around the country are growing increasingly concerned.

Jilby Lundberg, publisher for the Lundberg Survey has this to say about what to expect in the near future:

“Unless crude oil relents and slips, we can expect a further rise at the pump because pump prices do not reflect all of the crude oil price hikes that have occurred.”

The most recent survey was performed on Friday where the highest gas prices were recorded in San Francisco Bay area at $4.13/gallon. The lowest were recorded in Tucson, AZ at $3.41.

As auto insurance rates are concurrently trending upwards, many drivers may feel the increased financial burden right now.

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The top seven moving tips you don’t want to learn the hard way

Whether you are moving to a home 5 miles away or 500, there is a certain overwhelming dread that usually comes along with the thought of packing and unpacking an entire household. I was surprised recently when I realized that I have moved 13 times in the past 10 years- a figure that I dare say may be deemed remarkable by even the most transient military family. So, I thought I’d share some of the hard-learned lessons I’ve learned along the way.

#1- Clean out shop- I must admit I used to be a pack rat. Well, after ‘Move #6' things began to change in that department of my life. The random ‘things’ I was holding onto became just added weight during a move and needed extra storage once I got to where I was going. Before starting to pack, do a thorough cleaning out of things you no longer need to keep or hold onto. Can’t decide what goes and what stays? My rule of thumb follows the old William Morris saying , “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. Everything else- get rid of it. Hold a yard sale to make a few dollars or donate to a local donation center (don’t forget your receipt for tax purposes).

#2-Don’t underestimate the value of a small box- This is probably common sense to a seasoned mover but newbies listen up: While big boxes hold more, they are much more difficult to move. Save the big boxes for lightweight items like linens and pillows.  Scout out some small sized boxes for items that are particularly heavy or fragile. You (and your back) will be thankful for this on moving day.

#3- Pack a “Last Minute” box of household items- Keep a box handy of things you will need quick access to throughout the move. Some of these things might be a few forks, drinking cups, toilet paper, a note pad and other essential items you don’t want to be rummaging through sealed boxes for. This should be the last box you grab before locking up the house for the final time- and the first one you bring into your new home.

#4- Pack the truck with a plan- Keep in mind that whatever you load into the moving truck first, will be coming out of the truck last when you get to your new home. When it comes to unpacking in a new place, I have always found it easier to get the furniture in first so you aren’t maneuvering your sofa, for example, around lots of boxes. So in this case, you’d want to make sure you pack your furniture in the truck last so that it’s the first thing off.

#5- Double check utilities ahead of time- Trust me when I say that you don’t want to move into a new house, in the middle of a snow storm, and realize you have no heat or electricity. Call ahead of time to verify with your utility companies that everything is turned on at the house so you don’t run into any surprises. Also, to prevent lost mail and late payments be sure to provide your new address to those companies that send you important mail including your credit card statements, car insurance bill, bank statements, etc.

#6- Bribe your friends to help- That’s right, good old fashioned bribery often works best in this scenario. It’s worth the few boxes of pizza and IOUs to have help moving all of this stuff. The more people you can enlist, the sooner it will all be over. Just remember to return the favor someday.

#7- Don’t try to unpack in a day- While you may be anxious to get everything set up in your new place, don’t make the mistake of tearing open every box right away. Start by getting the big stuff in place in each room. Then work on setting up electronics and organizing cabinets and closets. Leave the little details like home decor, artwork and mirrors for very last.

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RateReport :: January 2011 home insurance rates show steady increase

Average Home Insurance Premium Report :: Jan. 2011

In the most recent release of the HomeInsurance.com RateReport [January 2011 Edition] it appears that average home insurance rates have increased slightly across the country. The national average premium as sold by HomeInsurance.com in January 2011 was around $699 with state-specific premiums ranging anywhere from $400 to $1400.

Why the huge range?

There are a lot of factors that cause  home insurance quotes to vary from one homeowner to the next, and from one state to another. Some of these include the policyholder’s credit-based insurance score;  building type and square footage of the home; the building costs in the area; the condition/age of the home; and the likelihood of natural disasters occurring in that area.

Since there are a lot of factors that affect the cost of home insurance that a policyholder can’t control- it’s good to know which ones you can. According to the Insurance Information Institute a few ways to save money on homeowners insurance are to shop around, raise your deductible, package your home and auto insurance, upgrade your home and consider home insurance costs when purchasing a home.

Another way to keep your monthly premium down is to ask your insurance agent about other discounts that your insurer may offer. Some carriers offer discounts for new homes, smoke-free homes, retirees and/or certain security alarms.

“You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies may cut your premiums by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations.”

- The III

Overall, rates are up about 2.5% from the same time last year when average national home insurance premiums reported by HomeInsurance.com were around $683. State-specific increases are slightly more dramatic with Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington DC all seeing at least a 5% increase in new policy premiums between December 2010 and January 2011. On the other end of the spectrum, homeowners shopping in Utah, Mississippi, Vermont and New Mexico all saw at least a 5% decrease in average premiums.

For more information on rates in your state visit the RateReport.

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5 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day From Your Home

Looking for ways to contribute to our planet this Earth Day? Here are some ideas offered by our staff and followers during a recent poll on the HomeInsurance.com facebook page:

Recycle:  The obvious choice but not always every one’s first pick. If you aren’t currently taking advantage of your community’s recycling program start by getting informed. Some questions to ask include:

Is recycling encouraged or mandatory in my community?Is there a pick-up service or do I need to take my recyclables to a recycling center?What types of items are accepted?

Even just recycling a few bottles or cans each week makes a big difference.

Conserve Water: Everyday humans consume fresh water faster than our Earth’s water cycle is able to replenish it. So, conserving our water is more important than it may seem. A few easy ways to work this earth-friendly task into your daily routine?

Turn off the sink faucet while brushing your teethTurn off lawn sprinklers when it is raining, has recently rained or is predicted to rain in the near futureCut your shower time short (without compromising hygiene of course!) and you could save a few hundred gallons of water each week

Bike instead of Drive: Park the car in the garage and dust off old two-wheels when you need to run around the corner to the store, make a quick trip to the post office or other errands. Save the gas, save the air from the emissions and get a nice work-out at the same time.

Paper or Plastic? Neither! One of our fans suggested foregoing the paper and plastic bags offered out by cashiers when you are only purchasing 1 or 2 items. Need a few additional things? Use a re-usable grocery shopping bag.

Picking up Litter: Next time you take a stroll around your neighborhood, bring a garbage bag with you. You’d be surprised at the amount of litter you will find on the side of the road just waiting to be picked up by a good citizen like yourself!

Happy Earth Day from HomeInsurance.com.

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Royal Wedding has many asking about Special Event Insurance

If you’ve tuned into any major news station over the past few days you couldn’t possibly have missed the coverage on the Royal Wedding scheduled for this Friday, April 29th.  And although many are making their own predictions about the dress, the ceremony and the reception- there is one thing that’s for sure: the Royal Wedding is all about the details… intricate, meticulous (and expensive!) details.

And while the Royal Wedding will surely go down in history for its unbridled pomp and circumstance, there is one thing it shares with all weddings: everything is expected to go down without a hitch.

But what happens when it doesn’t?

We’ve received a few questions recently about Special Event insurance, sometimes known as Wedding Insurance. And while we aren’t the experts on the topic- we thought we’d share some of what we know. As with all types of insurance coverage, Special Event insurance is designed to protect the policyholder from financial loss in the event of an unforeseen peril.

And anyone who has recently paid the bill for a modern day wedding can attest that when it comes to tying the knot these days, a fairy tale wedding doesn’t come cheap.

According to ProtectMyWedding.com (The Travelers Wedding Protection Plan), there are lots of things that can go wrong on the big day… things you may not have ever thought of- or wanted to! Many of which are covered by a standard wedding insurance policy. To name a few:

Vendor/Venue Problems (going out of business, for example)Lost RingsSevere Weather (hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc)Sudden illness/deathLost depositsRuined PhotosBride/Groom gets called to duty

“For the third consecutive year, vendor and venue problems remain the most frequent causes of wedding day mishaps for couples, according to an analysis of 2010 wedding insurance claims by Travelers (NYSE: TRV).”

-Travelers Insurance press release

Special event insurance is designed to protect your financial investment in your wedding and to reimburse you for expenses in the event of a covered claim. And according to The Wedding Report, the average cost of a U.S. wedding went up a shocking 23 percent last year- so it appears there is a lot to protect!

Special event insurance is not just for weddings either- it can be purchased for most any private event.

Whether or not the Royal Family will have Special Event insurance- we’re not entirely sure. But one thing we know- accidents can happen anywhere, at anytime and to anyone- so being properly protected is always important.

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HomeInsurance.com launches Facebook sweepstakes- one fan will win $250 gift card

Fans of the HomeInsurance.com Facebook page already know the benefits of be-friending the leader in online, comparative home and auto insurance shopping on the largest social network. Rate trend reports, comparative shopping services and home maintenance tips are delivered right to the their news feed.

Now it’s gotten even better. In an effort to increase exposure and ensure more homeowners are receiving these helpful features, HomeInsurance.com has launched a Facebook sweepstakes offering one lucky fan the chance to win a $250 Lowe’s Home Improvement gift card.

New and existing fans just need to ‘like’ the HomeInsurance.com Facebook page and then answer the poll: “What would YOU do with a $250 Lowe’s gift card?” and they are automatically entered.

Start Now!

The winner will be announced via live Facebook news feed at the end of August so get connected, enter to win and stay tuned!

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How to justify the little luxuries in life

In today’s economic climate consumers are increasingly aware of the money they spend.  However, when it comes to saving money, it is important to think about WHAT you are saving money on, instead of just the overall savings. Most people immediately turn to cutting out the luxuries in life as a way to cut down on unnecessary spending. And while this is viable plan, it can oftentimes lead to failure. Why you ask? Because we all need to spoil ourselves sometimes. That family vacation, night out to the theatre or day at the spa might not seem like a necessity, but when it comes to maintaining sound mental and emotional health- it’s important to treat ourselves to these little luxuries in moderation.

So while you should be practical in all areas of your spending, why not save on the boring stuff, so that you can justify the fun stuff?

Below are a few of my favortie tried and true tips for saving money in your household. Try a few of these out for a few weeks and keep track of how much money you are saving. Then, use what you saved to treat you and/or your family to a special something. It may require a little more time and elbow grease, but it’s worth it!

Consolidate Cleaning Products: Whoever does the shopping in your house can probably testify- cleaning products definitely add a hefty sum to your weekly/monthly spending. I recently looked under my kitchen sink at my arsenal of cleaning products and realized how many job-specific products I have.  Kitchen counter top spray, bathroom cleaner, products for the floor, windows, tile, grout…you name it, it was there. A cheaper, just-as-effective alternative? Plain old white vinegar. Mix it with water (and maybe just a drop of dish soap) to create a great cleaning solution for your floors, windows and other non-porous surfaces. Need something with more disinfecting power? Use bleach and water. Even the most expensive vinegar and bleach products out there cost about 1/4 of the price per ounce as compared to leading cleaning products.

Do a bill audit: Every 3-4 months do a thorough review of every bill you pay on a monthly basis and see where you might be able to save additional money. For example, do you watch all the channels your cable package offers or can you down grade your plan to save $5-$10/month? Or, are there home and auto insurance discounts that you may qualify for but are not taking advantage of? Spend some time reviewing your bills and see where you can cut a few dollars back each month. Over the span of a few years it really adds up.

Cut down on household paper products: While there are certain paper products we can’t do without (toilet paper!) it’s actually very easy to get by on limited paper towels and napkins. How you ask? Switch to cloth and rags. One old bath towel can be cut down nicely into individual hand rags that can be used almost anywhere a paper towel can be. Cloth napkins can usually be used a few times before just being thrown in the washer and dryer. Not only can you save a nice sum of cash but you’re also helping out the environment.

Conservative Couponing: Clipping and using coupons for purchases you would have made anyway  is one of the easiest ways to trim down that grocery store spend. Find a grocery store that doubles manufacturers coupons and you’ll do even better.  The key to smart couponing is not to let the “deal” drive your purchase decision. Meaning, don’ t buy 20 bottles of club soda if no one in your home will drink it just because you saved 50%. Otherwise you’ve just spent money you didn’t need to.

Make a menu schedule: Do you ever find yourself throwing out meat and produce that went bad in the fridge before you got the chance to prepare it? This happens a lot and can be easily avoided. Make a flexible menu for the week that you and your family can stick to. Create a grocery shopping list based on this menu and stick to the list. This will keep you from buying extra things that you don’t need and that can spoil.

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Tornado Victims :: Catastrophe Units Deployed

HomeInsurance.com customers who have been affected by this week’s deadly rash of tornadoes throughout the Midwest can rest assured knowing that their home and auto insurance providers are responding quickly and proactively.

For claims information please use the following contact information for your specific insurance provider:

Travelers Customers: Travelers has deployed emergency response units across the tornado affected states for customers who cannot file a claim via telephone or computer. If you know someone who needs to file a claim via an emergency response unit, please see the Travelers Catastrophe Response page for locations in each area. For customers who would like to file a claim over the phone please call 1.800.CLAIM33 (1.800.252.4633). To file an online claim visit Travelers Online Claim System.

Safeco Customers: Safeco has mobilized its National Catastrophe team to the affected areas. Safeco customers who want to file a claim over the phone should call 1-800-332-3226.

Hartford Customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-800-243-5860.

Foremost customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-800-527-3907  or visit their online claims center.

ASI customers who would like to file a claim should call 866-274-5677.

Ark Royal customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-866-509-0314.

Progressive customers who would like to file a claim should contact 1-800-527-3907 or visit their online claims service.

For information on what to do in the event of a tornado, visit: The HomeInsurance.com Tornado Guide

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