February 2014 Home Maintenance Tasks

Each month in 2014, we’ll be sharing a short list of tasks that you can do
to help take care of your home, vehicle, and family. Consider them a
helpful reminder of what needs to get accomplished throughout the
month to keep your important items protected.

Here’s what’s on the list for February:

Purchase A Fire Extinguisher 

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in
your kitchen, now is the time to get at least one. Plan a family meeting
and teach everyone in the household when and how to use it. Easy way
to prevent a small kitchen fire from getting out of hand.

Schedule High-Value Jewelry On Your Allstate Insurance Policy

Did your Valentine surprise you with a new piece of jewelry? Make sure it’s
covered! While your Homeowners or Renters policy will cover jewelry,
there are some limitations. Get an appraisal and bring it in so we can
discuss the best course of action for your piece. (This also applies to
artwork, guns, and other collectibles or antiques.)

Seal Up Drafty Windows 

Feel cool air blowing in around windows or
doors? Seal them up now! You’ll be glad you did when those summer air
conditioning bills arrive.

Newlywed Insurance Review

Did you get married this month? Call us
to schedule a newlywed insurance review! We’ll look at your individual
policies and discuss how best to combine them for your new household.

Show The Love!

There is no better way to show your family how much
you love them, then with the proper amount of life insurance! We can
give you a quote on an affordable term policy and help you get this
important coverage in place quickly. We even offer policies with no exam required.

We LOVE our clients! Let us know if we can assist you in any way with
your auto, home, business, or life insurance. Call Matt Elwood at
360-452-9200 or stop by our office at 707 E Front St in Port Angeles.

January Home Maintenance Tasks

Each month in 2014, we’ll be sharing a short list of tasks that you can do to help take care of your home, vehicle, and family.  Consider them a helpful reminder of what needs to get accomplished throughout the month to keep your important items protected.

Here’s what’s on the list for January:

Make A Home Inventory 

January is all about getting organized, right? So what better time to document what you own in case you were to suffer a serious insurance loss (like a fire). Grab your cell phone and make a short video of each room in your home, focusing on big ticket items. Many times, it’s difficult for our clients to remember every little possession after the shock of a large claim. You’ll be glad you took the time to make the videos if you ever need them.

Deep Clean Your Dryer Vent

A large percentage of home fires begin in the clothes dryer!  Lint builds up in the vent and hose which can spark a fire.  Unhook the hose and vacuum the area well on a regular basis to keep your home protected.

Organize Your Warranties

Do you have a big pile of warranties, product documents, and receipts stuffed in your desk drawer?  Do you even own those items anymore?  These days, many owners manuals can be found online without taking up valuable drawer storage.  Also consider scanning and keeping a digital file of your receipts and warranties for easy storage and retrieval if needed.  

Check Your Circuit Breakers

How often do you actually look in the breaker box?  Open it up and make sure the labels are correct and readable.  Also stash a spare flashlight (with working batteries) close by in case of a power outage.

Gather Your Tax Documents 

It won’t be long until you’re filing your 2013 taxes.  Start gathering up all the documents you or your accountant will need.  Need a copy of your insurance policies or premiums?  Call us at 360-452-9200 and we’ll be happy to help!  

Know Your Deductibles

When was the last time you reviewed your deductibles?  This is what you would pay out of pocket in the event of an insurance claim.  It’s a good idea to keep this amount in your savings account so it’s available when you need it.  Feel free to give us a call to review all of your insurance policies in detail.  

January is a great time to get organized for the new year!  Let the Matt Elwood Agency know if we can help in any way!  

Happy New Year!  

Ask Your Port Angeles Allstate Insurance Agent: What is Liability Insurance?

Have you ever looked at your insurance policy and wondered just exactly what it is you are paying for?
 
Everyone knows that they are legally required to carry liability insurance.  But many people don’t really understand what that means or how it works.

In simple terms, liability insurance pays to fix damage that you cause to someone else. 

On your auto insurance policy, this is split into three pieces.  Here is an example:

Bodily Injury:  50/100
Personal Property: 50

Let’s say that this was your coverage amount and you hit another car in an accident.  Your insurance would pay up to $50,000 per person for injuries up to a total cap of $100,000.  And it would pay up to $50,000 in property damage to fix the other car.  

Remember, liability only covers the person that you hit.  It doesn't cover your vehicle or anyone inside your car. 

There are many different amounts of liability coverage.  We work directly with our clients to determine how much you need.  This will vary based on factors like how many assets you have, your income, and home value. 

Not having enough liability insurance is one of the biggest financial mistakes you can make! Carrying only the Washington State minimum of 25/50/10, could leave you open to a lawsuit.  Think about those cars you’ve seen on the road worth easily over $40,000!  If you don’t have enough property damage coverage, then you are at risk. 

There is also liability coverage on your homeowners or renters insurance.  It pays if someone is injured on your property due to your negligence.  One common example is a dog bite.  This is another time when it’s good to have enough liability insurance!

Hopefully this clears up any questions you have about how liability insurance works.  If you need help determining the right amount of coverage for your family, give us a call at 360-452-9200 for a no obligation review and quote. 

Happy Holidays

It’s that time of year! Holiday parties, gift shopping, and lots of family time and fun. But as your Port Angeles insurance agent, I have to think about the risks too. In fact, I put together a few reminders for you in this month’s article.

1. Be careful with a live Christmas tree. Real trees are beautiful but can be
hazardous. Water your tree daily and turn the lights off at night and when
you won’t be home to avoid a house fire.

2. Don’t leave gifts in your car! A lot of people don’t realize that items in their
car are NOT covered by auto insurance. While property off premises is
covered by home and renters insurance, it is typically subject to a much
higher deductible. If you must leave anything in the car, put it in the trunk
and lock the doors.

3. Traveling out of town? Don’t make it too obvious! Leave lights on in the
house, stop your mail, and leave your number with a trustworthy neighbor
who will keep an eye on your home.

4. Make sure to keep an updated insurance card in your car when you travel.
Not only is it good to have if you get pulled over, but all the information you
need is in one place if you were to have a claim.

5. Need to contact us after hours or on the holiday? No problem. Just call
800-255-7828.

6. Received some special jewelry for Christmas? Make sure to call us! We’ll
review all of your options to make sure it is properly covered and protected.

And most important? Have a safe and joy-filled holiday!

Referral Rewards

Thank you to everyone who sent in their friends and family for a quote in 2013. We gave out 21 gas cards and hope to increase that number in 2014.

Would you like to be the next winner? Simply refer a family member or friend who is not currently an Allstate customer and we will send you a gas card once they get a quote. It’s that easy! 

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Elwood Agency

Cherry Creek Mortgage

As a local insurance agent in Port Angeles, I like to align myself with other successful professionals in related industries in order to better serve my clients. It is important to have a great network of people that are experienced, trustworthy and proven in their fields. In the local mortgage industry, those folks are my good friends at Cherry Creek Mortgage.

Local Lenders

With Branches in Port Angeles and Sequim, Manager Roger Rheinheimer has assembled a team of highly skilled Sr. Mortgage Consultants. From conventional to FHA, and VA to USDA loans, you are sure to find the best financing to meet your needs.

Local MLS Search

Looking for that perfect home with great financing? I am pleased to bring you the opportunity to enroll in direct access to the local MLS (multiple listing service), where you have direct, no obligation or cost access to homes for sale. You can also generate a sold report, so you can keep up with what homes are selling for in your neighborhood. The wonderful people at Cherry Creek Mortgage Company in Port Angeles at 711 E Front St., Ste. B are the exclusive provider of this direct access service. Click on this link, Search for Homes, enroll, and start searching! And if you have a mortgage related question or need financing, please contact Kelly Raymond nmls #646168 at kraymond@ccmclending.com, or Vonnie McKnight nmls #109043 at vmcknight@ccmclending.com, or call either of them at 360-452-1200.

I am confident that you will have a great experience working with Cherry Creek Mortgage. A tradition of Trust.

What Is Insurance Really For?

Thanksgiving has almost arrived. This is the time of year when we sit back and reflect on all the things that we are thankful for. What immediately comes to mind?

For most of us, they’re things like our family, our home, and our good health. And guess what they have in common? All of these things are what insurance protects!

That’s why it is so important to me that my clients have excellent insurance coverage. It’s not just about having an ID card in your car so you don’t get a ticket or fulfilling your mortgage company’s minimum loan requirements.

Insurance is there to make sure that if the worst happens, you can recover from it. It might not be easy, but we’re here to ease the financial burden after your house burns down or a loved one passes away.

All of those TV commercials that just tell you to find the cheapest rate are completely wrong! Of course no one wants to pay more than they have to, but it’s not the most important part of the equation.

Rather than looking for a cheap, bare bones policy, take the time to interview and meet with local agents. See who is looking for the best coverage and truly meeting your needs while keeping the rate affordable. Ask about how they handle claims and if they do annual policy reviews. 

This Thanksgiving, our agency is extremely thankful for all of our wonderful clients. If you need a local agent in Port Angeles to look out for your most prized possessions, give us a call at 360-452-9200 today for a free, no-obligation quote.

Knowledge is power

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