Monthly Archives: May 2014

Ladies…we need to talk!

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This is especially for those of us over 40!

Warmer weather is approaching and I’d like to take the opportunity to bring two important issues to the forefront.

First…please, please, please look at yourself in the mirror before you leave the house…too short, too tight, too much skin…you don’t look young and sexy, you look like an old broad trying too hard to look young!  It just makes you look old, have a little respect for yourself.  Honestly, sometimes more is better and sexier!

Second…if you can’t walk in 5 inch heels…don’t try, you may look fantastic just standing there, but no one is going to think you are sexy when you start tottering away!  Duchess Catherine routinely wears 4 to 5 inch heels and walks elegantly in front of the world, if you can’t…buy something that still looks good, but you can actually walk in, it’s important that you are able to stride confidently wherever you go!

I swear I really miss the eternal wisdom of Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear, each week they made over women behaving like many of you…

heels

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My friend Heather Swank owner of Brookson Insurance Posted this on her blog…you really need to think about this!

What Is Going On With Home Deductibles????

Did you get a letter with your home renewal this year forcing you into a higher deductible or a % deductible for wind and hail damage?  Be aware this is happening all over Indiana.  This year make sure you review your renewal for any changes like this.  
There are some basic facts surrounding these changes.  I know rates have been enough, but these changing deductibles are an attempt to change the face of home insurance in Indiana.  Indiana has seen consistent storm damage for fifteen plus years.  Each hail event we have results in millions of dollars in damage not to even begin wind, lighting, and tornado damage.  Hurricanes are no longer the big boys of catastrophe claims in the US hail has become the mass producing damage maker.  It’s because it hits every single day through storm season somewhere and now even beyond.  Late fall tornadoes, unexpected ice damage from harsh winters, and then right back into our storm season.  This has forced insurance carriers to raise pricing just to literally keep their heads above water.  On average in the US there are 12,000 hail events each year costing upwards of a billion dollars per year in damages.  Let me ask how many people have actually paid themselves out of pocket to replace their own roof on their home?  Yeah, it rarely if ever happens after so many years a storm blows in and poof a new roof.  The fact is most roofs being replaced should have been replaced by the homeowner well before that storm came along because of age and that is maintenance which is not the intention of the insurance policy to cover.   It has become an expectation of the homeowner that the roof will always be replaced and that is just not anything you will ever have to do.  This cost, the cost of replacing worn out roofs that should have been replaced far before a stone of hail came along, that is why the cost of insurance is skyrocketing. Be prepared for changes, but also be aware not all carriers are making those changes.  When shopping ask is there a higher wind hail deductible?  Or is there a % deductible for wind hail.  The % deductibles are often 2% sometimes higher.  What that means is that whatever your home is insured for the “dwelling” your deductible would be 2% of that. So, if your dwelling is insured for 260,000 then your wind hail deductible would be $5,200.   I know it seems as though the insurance world is a big evil machine when we pay our bills and never file claims, but it really is not.  Hey, I am an insurance agent and I still hate paying my premiums but I do so because I know I’m sharing risk so that when my time comes my claim will be paid.   These storm patterns we experience now are only getting worse so buckle up it will keep getting more expensive and it will keep changing.  I’m a proud insurance agent who fully understands the product and grasps how beautiful it really is.  We all pay in and when a family experiences a fire and loses everything they had in life you see the product in action.  It’s amazing life begins to rebuild and without insurance that would never happen.  A family could be financially devastated if they suffered a severe loss without it.   I remember standing on a slab in Kansas City in 2001 after tornadoes blew through and more coming literally every night.  I am a former claims adjuster I was dispatched there for claim work for 4 weeks.  Standing on the slab of what had been a home 48 hours prior I saw an American flag stuck to the only remaining portion of a wall.  In that moment I knew I was in the right field and kept on working claims until each family had been taken care of.  Today I watch out for insured families. This change in home insurance pricing and deductibles is the most major change I have seen in my career.  My lead carrier Erie Insurance has chosen NOT to create higher deductibles for wind or hail, nor are they applying % deductible.  Your regular deductible is what it is.  If you experience anyone stressed about the forced higher deductibles pass my agency name along.   Buckle up storms are upon us.  I’m here as always for any questions.   Heather Swank Brookson Insurance  317-534-5202 Heather@brooksoninsurance.com
Brookson
Vicki Reed

How to survive a remodel…

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My friend Cindy Hiland of Servpro is used to taking care of others disasters…but when she decided to re-do her kitchen…I’ve asked her to share some of her stories and tips on surviving the remodel…

After years of doing repairs, I have provided all types of advice to our customers.  For example because losses are never convenient, I try to calm nerves by advising to go ahead and have celebrations when under construction.  This way, it won’t matter if someone spills wine/punch on the sub floor.  Additional things to add (since undergoing my own repairs)…
Plan an alternative route to your laundry, if applicable.  My neighbors have not appreciated my running from my front door in my pj’s and slippers, through the front yard, and around to the garage because my kitchen is completely cordoned off during repairs and is my regular route to the laundry.  There was snow on the ground during some of this which caused my family members to fight over who had to do the laundry.
Prepare some freezer crock pot meals before construction.  Trying to prepare dinner for 8 weeks without a stove, oven, etc is quite trying.  We’ve been creative, even tried to make some sweet potato chips, which caught fire on the grill.  They were just a little too crispy.
Along the lines of appliances…when operating your coffee pot, toaster oven, and mini microwave from your dining room, make sure they are not on the same breaker.  You will blow your breakers if you try to use two at once…and trust me, when you are trying to get your first cup of coffee…this matters!
Final piece of advice:  If washing dishes in your laundry room, don’t put your dishes on the washing machine to dry…IF you are going to wash a load of clothes.  Your dishes will fall off and break during the spin cycle.  (Unless of course, you are wanting a reason to get new dishes).
Hope this helps!
Cindy Hiland
Cindy
Servpro

Hats, Mint Juleps and Thoroughbreds…

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Ah yes…it’s Derby Day!  This year’s field is full of great contenders, check out the horses and odds on this table from Vegas Insider:

2014 Kentucky Derby Field and Odds
Post Position Horse Odds
1 Vicar’s In Trouble 20-1
2 Harry’s Holiday 50-1
3 Uncle Sigh 30-1
4 Danza 10-1
5 California Chrome 5-2
6 Samraat 15-1
7 We Miss Artie 50-1
8 General A Rod 15-1
9 Vinceremos 30-1
10 Wildcat Red 15-1
11 Hoppertunity (withdrew due to Injury) N/A
12 Dance With Fate 20-1
13 Chitu 20-1
14 Medal Count 20-1
15 Tapiture 15-1
16 Intense Holiday 12-1
17 Commanding Curve 50-1
18 Candy Boy 20-1
19 Ride On Curlin 15-1
20 Wicked Strong 8-1

Vegas Insider

 I would love to have one of the longshots come in!  To learn more about the horses, owners, trainers and jockey’s, visit the Kentucky Derby website (click here) for all the details!

My pick?  I’m going torn between Harry’s Holiday and Wicked Strong…how about you?

Derby

Vicki Reed