It may be simple to buy insurance, but that doesnt mean the decisions one makes when taking out a policy dont require some amount of thought and research. Rush to take out the first cheap policy you find and you may end up with an insurance portfolio filled with gaps, inefficient policies and more self-insurance risk than you can afford. Here are six tips to help ensure that you get exactly what you need without learning the hard way that you needed it. Watch your deductibles. Many insurance ...

People have many different types of hobbies and one of the most popular is the hobby of collecting. Some people collect items with an eye toward growing the monetary value of their collection. Others collect because they love a certain object and dont even realize it when the value of their collection begins to grow to impressive numbers. Whether you collect coins, baseball cards, ceramic figurines, or books its important to keep an eye not just on the sentimental value of your collection but al...

Home insurance is an absolute necessity. Without it, your home and belongings are at the mercy of mother nature, accidental damages and other people. Still, you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get coverage. There are three simple things you can do to get discounts from your Battle Creek home insurance provider and two of them are absolutely free! The first money-saving  trick happens at the moment you are getting your policy written. Ask your agent about multiple policy dis...

You may wonder why insurance companies charge different premiums to different people. Well, a number of factors are considered before an insurer determines how much you should pay to insure your home. Here are 10 factors that have an impact on how much or how little your premium will be. Frequency of Risk Occurrence A good record invites low premiums charged by the insurer. For instance, a homeowner who has filed several claims in the past will be charged higher premiums than a homeowner who h...

A number of factors dictate how much you pay for your Battle Creek home insurance policy, and one of them is your history of making claims. If you’re a regular claimant, insurance providers will see you as a significant risk, and they will offset that risk with higher premiums. In some cases, they will withdraw coverage if they believe the risk you and your home pose is simply too great. However, there are some simple actions you can take to secure and maintain your property in order to ke...

Your home insurance policy must be designed to fit your individual circumstances. Lifestyle changes like marriage, divorce or retirement can have a significant impact on your needs for adequate insurance. Here are some important questions to discuss with your independent agent in order to make sure you are adapting your home insurance to changes in your lifestyle. Have you gotten married or divorced? The merging of two households can increase your personal property significantly. You should re...

Most of us dont fret too much over a winter storm. In most cases, it blows through and life is back to normal in a day or two. But in more severe situations, heavy snow, ice or wind can knock down electric lines, leading to a power loss in homes that depend on it for heat. You should know what to do and what not to do in this situation. Have an emergency supply of food, water, flashlights, batteries and medicine. A battery operated radio is also handy for keeping informed a...

Weather-related damage, accidents and injuries on your property are all reasons to file a claim on your homeowner’s insurance. When you file a qualifying claim, your insurance provider presents you with an indemnity check to repair or rebuild your home. Unfortunately, filing claims can affect the rate you pay for your current policy and future policies for home insurance. If you want to keep costs low, the following are three common claims that you can avoid or reduce the impact of the dam...