Simple Stuff, Insurance, and Other Things that are not Synonymous

A brief introduction; my name is Corbin, and I’ve been a social media engineer for Andrew G. Gordon, Inc. for the past 2 months. I’m about to enter my senior year of high school, and insurance is not an entity I’ve had any sort of contact with prior to this job. However, seeing as a succinct job summary of my position would be “gracing the internet with insurance information”, I’ve been exposed to a veritable hailstorm of news, literature, and media all relating to insurance. Poor metaphors aside, I have been able to catch a glimpse into the insurance world, and I’ve managed to cement a few rational impressions about insurance that I might as well share with the internet.

Impression the First:

INSURANCE IS COMPLICATED. Why did I exert the energy to depress the caps-lock key (twice!) in the previous sentence? Because it’s super important. Perhaps there was once a day when cavemen and wooly mammoths nonchalantly shot the breeze about easy to understand coverage and liability policies, but that age is now far in the past. The fact is that insurance is a very complicated entity to deal with, and it has to be, considering the services it must provide. So before you embark on an insurance venture, find good insurance information (trust me, it’s out there) and arm yourself. With some research, you will be an insurance wizard in no time. On an unrelated note, if you are at the point where you are searching for insurance information and stumbled upon this blog, I would like to extend to you the chance to view our website’s “whiteboard talks”. These are educational videos about insurance created for the benefit of humankind, and you can click here to take advantage of them.

Impression the Second:

The insurance industry is not an evil machine out to harm you. Despite this common misconception, every experience I’ve had working at A.G. Gordon, Inc. suggests to me that insurance companies make every effort to make the customer experience a good one. I’ve seen many examples of healthy insurance relationships, business and personal. Despite the generally formidable “street rep” of insurance companies, if you find a good agency, both insurer and policy-holder will be playing for the same team.

Impression the Third:

Understand your coverage. While this is loosely tied to impression the first, I feel it holds enough significance to earn its own paragraph. As I post blogs and summarize articles about insurance, I notice that there are fairly common issues that most people aren’t aware of. Did you know that if a dwelling in MA is left unoccupied for 60 days, the building is considered vacant and fire coverage is cancelled? I didn’t, which isn’t shocking, but neither did my parents, and we’ve moved over 10 times in the course of my childhood, often leaving vacant homes in our wake. How about that rust or other corrosion, mold, or wet or dry rot damage is not usually covered in homeowner’s policies? By taking time to do some policy research, you could save yourself some headaches down the road. And if you are currently a homeowner, I would advise you look at our homeowner’s checklist, a goldmine of good information.

And for topical and relevant insurance information and risk-management solutions, visit us at our website.

Homeowners Insurance Claims hints

A burst of flames, wind damage from a summer storm or water damage from a burst pipe can all cause substantial damage to your home. Submitting a homeowners insurance claim is a simple process if you follow these steps:

1. First, notify your insurance company that your home has suffered damage. Let the company know the type and extent of damage as they will prioritize claims adjuster visits based on the severity of the claim. Give your contact information so the company can reach you to set up an appointment.
2. Document your loss- you will need to prepare for the claim adjuster visit by providing a list of damaged items. Starting a home inventory list before a loss makes this process simple.
3. Keep receipts for any additional living expenses such as hotel or meals if you are unable to stay at your home.
4. It is your responsibility to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage if it is safe to do so. Make arrangements and save any receipts.
5. Keep organized – along with receipts keep a list of all contacts involved with the claim.
6. Don’t be a victim of a scam – check references before giving deposits to contractors.
7. Keep your agent at Andrew Gordon Insurance informed if we can be of any assistance with your claim.

Look to Gordon Insurance at www.agordon.com for overall risk and insurance advice. For specifics on your home insurance visit www.agordon.com/home, or for all our whiteboard presentations, visit www.agordon.com/whiteboards

Home inventory – how to organize

Do you know how much “stuff” you own? Don’t find yourself scrambling to recreate a list of your possessions if you suffer a fire or other devastating loss. An up-to-date home inventory will help you get your home insurance settled faster, help you purchase the correct amount of insurance and verify losses for Uncle Sam when tax time rolls around.

Tackling the inventory list can be simplified if you:

- Take pictures of rooms and important individual items. Don’t forget to open your closets and drawers for items hidden from view.
- Videotape- walk through your house, condo or apartment videotaping and describing the contents. You can also do the same with a tape recorder.
- Use your computer- many personal finance software packages include room by room inventory software programs. Remember to send the list off-site to save in case the computer is damaged or ruined.
- Keep any photos or videos or receipts in your safety deposit box or at a friend’s home.
- Lastly, remember to update your list periodically so the inventory is current.
For more on taking the risk our of your home, visit our home page at www.agordon.com.