I’ve written before about how to hire restoration contractors, and things to watch for. Now, here are a few tips on how to get the best prices for the restoration work you need to have completed.
• Make sure that the scope of damages is correct. You can usually get a copy of the scope of damages from your adjuster. The scope of damages lists the necessary work to be performed, not the prices.
• Make sure you get at least three estimates from three separate contractors. Inform the contractors that they are competing against other contractors.
• If any contractor finds needed repairs that are not listed on the scope of damage, insist that these repairs be listed on a supplemental estimate separate from the main estimate.
• Make sure that the general contractor bids include Overhead and Profit.
• Negotiate your claim with the insurance adjuster using the highest contractor bid. Many times, adjusters will use estimating software that has unit pricing far below market pricing. This is especially true after a major disaster such as a widespread hailstorm, tornado or hurricane.
• Once you have successfully negotiated the claim amount, go back to the three contractors and suggest that his contractors or suppliers offer better pricing. Economic times what they are today, some companies will drastically shave profits just to have the work.
• Ask your contractors to offer their professional input on ways to get the job done at reduced prices. He might recommend different floor covering, or different cabinets, or different countertops or light fixtures.
• Make a discounted offer to a contractor. Then shut your mouth. The first one who speaks loses.
• Tell the winning contractor that you prefer paying subcontractors and suppliers directly. This can be a win-win situation, since the contractor won’t have to front the money for materials. You can pay for materials out of the insurance proceeds. You can win because you won’t have to pay his overhead or profit for just paying bills.
• Don’t forget to have all vendors sign a Lien Waiver before receiving payment. No signature, no payment.
These strategies can save you thousands of dollars if you’re careful.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Seven Myths About Flood Insurance
Floods happen with great regularity in the United States. In recent years, we have witnessed entire cities underwater in the spring floods along the Mississippi River. However, floods can happen in unexpected areas and for unexpected reasons. Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide insurance protection for the hazard of flood.
The standard homeowner policy (HO-3) defines flood as follows:
“...A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas due to:
1. The overflow of inland or tidal waters;
2. The unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
3. Mudslides.
Remember Hurricane Katrina? The hurricane winds blew flood waters into areas that had never had floods before. The insurance industry denied thousands of claims, attributing the damages to flood. Thousands of property owners who were nowhere near a flood plain had their claims denied because they did not have flood insurance.
So, here are seven common myths about Flood Insurance.
Myth #1: Homeowners, renters, and business property insurance policies cover flood damage.
No, homeowners, renters, and business property insurance policies do not cover floods. The NFIP policy is a separate policy that does cover flood damage to a home or business. Contents coverage can also be added to the flood policy. Policies are available to property owners as well as property renters, whether home or business.
Myth #2: Only homeowners and business owners can buy flood insurance.
Fact is that most homeowners, renters, condo owners, and businesses in NFIP participating communities can buy flood insurance. Policy limits are:
• Home and Condo Owners - $250,000 in structural coverage, $100,000 in contents coverage
• Renters - $100,000 in contents coverage
• Business owners and renters - $500,000 in structural coverage, $500,000 in contents coverage
Myth #3: You can’t buy flood insurance if you are in a high-risk zone.
Fact is that you can buy NFIP coverage no matter where you live, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
Myth #4: You can’t buy flood insurance if you’ve been flooded before.
Fact is that as long as your community participates in NFIP, you can buy flood insurance.
Myth #5: You can’t buy flood insurance immediately before or during a flood.
Fact is that you can buy NFIP flood insurance any time. There is usually a 30-day waiting period before the effective date of the policy. Also, the policy does not cover a loss in progress, which is defined in the policy as a loss occurring at midnight on the date your policy goes into effect. So, the new policy won’t cover past or current losses, only losses after the policy goes into effect.
Myth #6: If you live in an area that is not a flood zone, you don’t need flood insurance.
Fact is that floods occur regularly in places that are not mapped flood zones. 25% of NFIP’s claims come from low-to-medium risk zones. On the other hand, if you live in a flood zone, you likely cannot finance a home loan without buying flood insurance.
Myth #7: FEMA disaster assistance will pay for flood damage.
Fact is that unless your area is declared a disaster area, there is no FEMA assistance. Fewer than 50% of floods are declared a disaster area. And, if you don’t have flood insurance when the flood occurs, you will have to buy and keep flood coverage to be eligible for future benefits.
Don’t allow your property to be damaged by flood without having the proper insurance coverage. Get the coverage you need, and don’t wait any longer.
For all the details about Flood Insurance, go to: www.floodsmart.gov
The standard homeowner policy (HO-3) defines flood as follows:
“...A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas due to:
1. The overflow of inland or tidal waters;
2. The unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
3. Mudslides.
Remember Hurricane Katrina? The hurricane winds blew flood waters into areas that had never had floods before. The insurance industry denied thousands of claims, attributing the damages to flood. Thousands of property owners who were nowhere near a flood plain had their claims denied because they did not have flood insurance.
So, here are seven common myths about Flood Insurance.
Myth #1: Homeowners, renters, and business property insurance policies cover flood damage.
No, homeowners, renters, and business property insurance policies do not cover floods. The NFIP policy is a separate policy that does cover flood damage to a home or business. Contents coverage can also be added to the flood policy. Policies are available to property owners as well as property renters, whether home or business.
Myth #2: Only homeowners and business owners can buy flood insurance.
Fact is that most homeowners, renters, condo owners, and businesses in NFIP participating communities can buy flood insurance. Policy limits are:
• Home and Condo Owners - $250,000 in structural coverage, $100,000 in contents coverage
• Renters - $100,000 in contents coverage
• Business owners and renters - $500,000 in structural coverage, $500,000 in contents coverage
Myth #3: You can’t buy flood insurance if you are in a high-risk zone.
Fact is that you can buy NFIP coverage no matter where you live, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
Myth #4: You can’t buy flood insurance if you’ve been flooded before.
Fact is that as long as your community participates in NFIP, you can buy flood insurance.
Myth #5: You can’t buy flood insurance immediately before or during a flood.
Fact is that you can buy NFIP flood insurance any time. There is usually a 30-day waiting period before the effective date of the policy. Also, the policy does not cover a loss in progress, which is defined in the policy as a loss occurring at midnight on the date your policy goes into effect. So, the new policy won’t cover past or current losses, only losses after the policy goes into effect.
Myth #6: If you live in an area that is not a flood zone, you don’t need flood insurance.
Fact is that floods occur regularly in places that are not mapped flood zones. 25% of NFIP’s claims come from low-to-medium risk zones. On the other hand, if you live in a flood zone, you likely cannot finance a home loan without buying flood insurance.
Myth #7: FEMA disaster assistance will pay for flood damage.
Fact is that unless your area is declared a disaster area, there is no FEMA assistance. Fewer than 50% of floods are declared a disaster area. And, if you don’t have flood insurance when the flood occurs, you will have to buy and keep flood coverage to be eligible for future benefits.
Don’t allow your property to be damaged by flood without having the proper insurance coverage. Get the coverage you need, and don’t wait any longer.
For all the details about Flood Insurance, go to: www.floodsmart.gov
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Home Security: Are Your Home’s Doors Break-in Proof?
Home security is fast becoming an important topic of concern here in America. As the economy worsens, the crime rate for burglaries and robberies is rising. The local news has stories almost daily of break-ins at homes and business in which the predominant method of entry is kicking in one of the exterior doors.
Over the years I have spent as an insurance adjuster, I’ve been to at least a hundred homes to investigate burglaries and help the homeowners prepare their insurance claim. Seldom have I found incidents where the burglar came in through a window. Burglars nearly always make their entry through a door.
Most people use deadbolt locks and their first line of defense. Nothing wrong with that. I’ve never seen a deadbolt lock fail. The deadbolt is not the weakest link in the chain when it comes to securing an exterior door.
The weak link is the door jamb.
For you that are unfamiliar with the term “jamb,” it is the frame to which the door is mounted by hinges. When you turn the key the deadbolt lock throws a steel bolt into a latch on the jamb.
For tens of millions of homes, apartments and businesses, the exterior door jamb is made of wood. In residential applications, the door jamb usually has a thickness of ¾”. Sometimes exterior door jambs can have a 1 ½” thickness.
The screws that mount the latchplate onto the jamb are usually ¾” wood screws, and are usually about 1” away from the edge of the jamb. So, when a bad guy kicks your door, there is only about 1” of wood in the jamb offering any resistance. One inch of pine wood, or even oak, does not give you much protection.
In almost every burglary claim I’ve handled where the burglar came in through a door, it was the wood door jamb that failed...usually on about the second kick. And the cost of replacing a damaged door and jamb can easily run $750 - $1,000.
The best solution to securing your exterior doors against break-in would be to install steel jambs and steel doors. However, that can be very expensive.
Sliding glass doors are also an easy entry point for thieves. Placing a dowel, bar or stick in the track does not prevent your door from being lifted out of the track.
There is another solution that is cost effective and works great!
Armor Concepts is a company based in Saddle Brook, NJ that has created three products that solve this security problem. They are:
• Door Jamb Armor - A patented door security and repair solution that will help stop home invasions before they begin. Door Jamb Armor can also be used to repair a previously damaged jamb and can be installed in under an hour by the average do-it-yourselfer. All pieces are made of galvanized steel and are powder coated so they will stand up to harsh weather and can be painted to match your door. You will barely notice the steel door armor once it's installed. Door Jamb Armor will allow you to turn any door into a security door that's attractive and economical.
• FIX-A-JAMB - A cheap, quick and attractive door frame repair solution
• Armor Latch - An effective and economical sliding glass door security solution. Prevents sliding glass doors from being lifted out the track.
You can see some dramatic product testing video at the company’s website at: http://www.djarmor.com One video shows use of a police battering ram. The jamb holds rock solid.
These products can be found at big box home improvement retailers like Lowe’s.
If you do not protect your doors and jambs, it will be cheaper for you if you’ll just go ahead and leave the doors unlocked. At least the thieves will only steal your belongings, not destroy your door and then steal your stuff.
Over the years I have spent as an insurance adjuster, I’ve been to at least a hundred homes to investigate burglaries and help the homeowners prepare their insurance claim. Seldom have I found incidents where the burglar came in through a window. Burglars nearly always make their entry through a door.
Most people use deadbolt locks and their first line of defense. Nothing wrong with that. I’ve never seen a deadbolt lock fail. The deadbolt is not the weakest link in the chain when it comes to securing an exterior door.
The weak link is the door jamb.
For you that are unfamiliar with the term “jamb,” it is the frame to which the door is mounted by hinges. When you turn the key the deadbolt lock throws a steel bolt into a latch on the jamb.
For tens of millions of homes, apartments and businesses, the exterior door jamb is made of wood. In residential applications, the door jamb usually has a thickness of ¾”. Sometimes exterior door jambs can have a 1 ½” thickness.
The screws that mount the latchplate onto the jamb are usually ¾” wood screws, and are usually about 1” away from the edge of the jamb. So, when a bad guy kicks your door, there is only about 1” of wood in the jamb offering any resistance. One inch of pine wood, or even oak, does not give you much protection.
In almost every burglary claim I’ve handled where the burglar came in through a door, it was the wood door jamb that failed...usually on about the second kick. And the cost of replacing a damaged door and jamb can easily run $750 - $1,000.
The best solution to securing your exterior doors against break-in would be to install steel jambs and steel doors. However, that can be very expensive.
Sliding glass doors are also an easy entry point for thieves. Placing a dowel, bar or stick in the track does not prevent your door from being lifted out of the track.
There is another solution that is cost effective and works great!
Armor Concepts is a company based in Saddle Brook, NJ that has created three products that solve this security problem. They are:
• Door Jamb Armor - A patented door security and repair solution that will help stop home invasions before they begin. Door Jamb Armor can also be used to repair a previously damaged jamb and can be installed in under an hour by the average do-it-yourselfer. All pieces are made of galvanized steel and are powder coated so they will stand up to harsh weather and can be painted to match your door. You will barely notice the steel door armor once it's installed. Door Jamb Armor will allow you to turn any door into a security door that's attractive and economical.
• FIX-A-JAMB - A cheap, quick and attractive door frame repair solution
• Armor Latch - An effective and economical sliding glass door security solution. Prevents sliding glass doors from being lifted out the track.
You can see some dramatic product testing video at the company’s website at: http://www.djarmor.com One video shows use of a police battering ram. The jamb holds rock solid.
These products can be found at big box home improvement retailers like Lowe’s.
If you do not protect your doors and jambs, it will be cheaper for you if you’ll just go ahead and leave the doors unlocked. At least the thieves will only steal your belongings, not destroy your door and then steal your stuff.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Travel Security: Proper Planning Prevents Travel Nightmares
Travel security is a topic that needs some discussion. I talked about Vacation Security in my last article, which dealt with leaving your home secure when you go on vacation. Today, let’s discuss the security issues you need to deal with while you’re traveling.
This article will not address the repressive governmental strictures on travel in the USA. You can get that from another source.
Domestic Travel
If you’re on a driving vacation, here are some tips.
• Get the car checked over before you begin driving. Make sure the tires are good and properly inflated. Make sure the engine is running correctly. If your car is old and unreliable, seriously consider renting a car for the trip. Nothing can ruin a trip more quickly than a car breakdown.
• Prepare an emergency box for the trunk. Put in flares, a can of tire inflator/sealant, jumper cables, a gallon of premixed engine coolant, a toolbox, a flashlight with extra batteries, a blanket and duct tape. Add more if you can think of stuff you want.
• Make sure that your auto insurance premiums are paid and your coverage is current. If you don’t have Emergency Road Service on your policy, either have it added or buy it from someone like AAA.
Follow the tips you’ll find below. They are as useful when traveling domestically as they are internationally.
International Travel
Most places you will likely travel are tourist areas that will have relatively good safety. However, some like to travel to out-of-the-way places. Just realize that there are risks you take whenever you travel. The greatest risk you take while traveling is being naive and trusting. So, here are some tips. Each one could be an article all by itself.
• Pack light...then pack even lighter. Don’t take big suitcases. Try to get by on the smallest luggage you can. A rucksack or backpack would be best. You’d be better served to take extra cash and buy clothing at your destination. Leave it there when you come home, or buy a suitcase over there and bring the stuff home. Don’t you need mementos of the trip?
• Carry-on bags: Keep your bag under your seat or between your legs. If you are going to place it in the overhead compartment, try to place it ahead of your seat location, so you can see whoever reaches into the compartment.
• Rucksack/backpack rules: line the bottom with a towel or jacket. Bad guys like to slit the bottom of backpacks with a razor and then follow you until your stuff falls out. Bring with you or buy a daypack, a smaller version of the backpack just for day trips. Same rules apply.
• Don't look wealthy; don't flaunt your valuables. Don’t even take valuables with you.
• Never leave a computer, PDA or other electronics in your hotel room. Put it in the hotel safe or take it with you. You do realize that even the finest hotels can have employees that steal, even from the hotel safe, don’t you?
• Keep both hands free. Carrying stuff makes you vulnerable to getting your pocket picked.
• Make copies of your passport photo page, vaccination certificate, travelers check receipts, airline ticket, driver's license, student card, YHA card, etc. Leave one set of the copies at home. Carry a couple of copies in various places in your luggage. Take a certified copy of your birth certificate to help you get a new passport. Keep a list in your trip address book of the numbers of your insurance policies, bank accounts, social security or national identity number and credit card numbers,.
• If you buy new travelers checks, train or airline tickets along the way, not only save the receipts (separate from the checks), but keep a separate note of all the check numbers and when you spend them. Having exact information will help in getting them replaced if lost or stolen.
• Keep your passport, credit cards and cash next to your skin. Keep them in front of you, not in your back pocket or a fanny pack on your fanny. Sleep with them. The best solution is a “passport bag” that you hang around your neck, inside your clothing.
• Keep a small billfold with your “day money” in your front pocket.
• If you buy enough stuff that you need another suitcase to carry it home, seriously consider boxing it and shipping it home.
• Stay in physical contact with your bags unless they are locked in your room or stowed safely on the vehicle of transport.
• Every time you stand up, glance back to see what you left behind.
• YOU carry your luggage onto the bus, train, truck, or taxi with you. Don’t allow a porter or stranger to take your bag for you. You might not ever see it again.
• When you buy a ticket, be sure you actually receive a ticket.
• Don't rent a hotel room that is not secure; lock your room every time you leave it.
• Rinse out your own laundry in the room, and hang it up inside the room. It will usually dry overnight. But sending out your laundry invites theft.
• Be aware of your surroundings everywhere you go. Don’t be so absorbed in sightseeing that you become blind to what’s happening next to you.
• Don’t agree to carry ANTHING home for ANYONE, no matter how bad their sob story or who it is. If they want it badly enough, they can ship it. If you get caught with contraband in your bags, it’s your backside that will go to jail.
• Always count your change after you make a purchase.
• If you are in a bar or restaurant, NEVER EVER leave your drink or meal unattended. Drugs can be squirted into a drink in a millisecond. Don’t accept free drinks from anyone.
If you will simply be highly aware of your surroundings at all times, you will likely be pretty safe as you travel.
This article will not address the repressive governmental strictures on travel in the USA. You can get that from another source.
Domestic Travel
If you’re on a driving vacation, here are some tips.
• Get the car checked over before you begin driving. Make sure the tires are good and properly inflated. Make sure the engine is running correctly. If your car is old and unreliable, seriously consider renting a car for the trip. Nothing can ruin a trip more quickly than a car breakdown.
• Prepare an emergency box for the trunk. Put in flares, a can of tire inflator/sealant, jumper cables, a gallon of premixed engine coolant, a toolbox, a flashlight with extra batteries, a blanket and duct tape. Add more if you can think of stuff you want.
• Make sure that your auto insurance premiums are paid and your coverage is current. If you don’t have Emergency Road Service on your policy, either have it added or buy it from someone like AAA.
Follow the tips you’ll find below. They are as useful when traveling domestically as they are internationally.
International Travel
Most places you will likely travel are tourist areas that will have relatively good safety. However, some like to travel to out-of-the-way places. Just realize that there are risks you take whenever you travel. The greatest risk you take while traveling is being naive and trusting. So, here are some tips. Each one could be an article all by itself.
• Pack light...then pack even lighter. Don’t take big suitcases. Try to get by on the smallest luggage you can. A rucksack or backpack would be best. You’d be better served to take extra cash and buy clothing at your destination. Leave it there when you come home, or buy a suitcase over there and bring the stuff home. Don’t you need mementos of the trip?
• Carry-on bags: Keep your bag under your seat or between your legs. If you are going to place it in the overhead compartment, try to place it ahead of your seat location, so you can see whoever reaches into the compartment.
• Rucksack/backpack rules: line the bottom with a towel or jacket. Bad guys like to slit the bottom of backpacks with a razor and then follow you until your stuff falls out. Bring with you or buy a daypack, a smaller version of the backpack just for day trips. Same rules apply.
• Don't look wealthy; don't flaunt your valuables. Don’t even take valuables with you.
• Never leave a computer, PDA or other electronics in your hotel room. Put it in the hotel safe or take it with you. You do realize that even the finest hotels can have employees that steal, even from the hotel safe, don’t you?
• Keep both hands free. Carrying stuff makes you vulnerable to getting your pocket picked.
• Make copies of your passport photo page, vaccination certificate, travelers check receipts, airline ticket, driver's license, student card, YHA card, etc. Leave one set of the copies at home. Carry a couple of copies in various places in your luggage. Take a certified copy of your birth certificate to help you get a new passport. Keep a list in your trip address book of the numbers of your insurance policies, bank accounts, social security or national identity number and credit card numbers,.
• If you buy new travelers checks, train or airline tickets along the way, not only save the receipts (separate from the checks), but keep a separate note of all the check numbers and when you spend them. Having exact information will help in getting them replaced if lost or stolen.
• Keep your passport, credit cards and cash next to your skin. Keep them in front of you, not in your back pocket or a fanny pack on your fanny. Sleep with them. The best solution is a “passport bag” that you hang around your neck, inside your clothing.
• Keep a small billfold with your “day money” in your front pocket.
• If you buy enough stuff that you need another suitcase to carry it home, seriously consider boxing it and shipping it home.
• Stay in physical contact with your bags unless they are locked in your room or stowed safely on the vehicle of transport.
• Every time you stand up, glance back to see what you left behind.
• YOU carry your luggage onto the bus, train, truck, or taxi with you. Don’t allow a porter or stranger to take your bag for you. You might not ever see it again.
• When you buy a ticket, be sure you actually receive a ticket.
• Don't rent a hotel room that is not secure; lock your room every time you leave it.
• Rinse out your own laundry in the room, and hang it up inside the room. It will usually dry overnight. But sending out your laundry invites theft.
• Be aware of your surroundings everywhere you go. Don’t be so absorbed in sightseeing that you become blind to what’s happening next to you.
• Don’t agree to carry ANTHING home for ANYONE, no matter how bad their sob story or who it is. If they want it badly enough, they can ship it. If you get caught with contraband in your bags, it’s your backside that will go to jail.
• Always count your change after you make a purchase.
• If you are in a bar or restaurant, NEVER EVER leave your drink or meal unattended. Drugs can be squirted into a drink in a millisecond. Don’t accept free drinks from anyone.
If you will simply be highly aware of your surroundings at all times, you will likely be pretty safe as you travel.
Vacation Security: Think Like A Burglar and a Risk Manager
Vacation security is commonly the last thing on the minds of vacationers. But that lack of focus can make for a sour experience when they arrive home.
This is the time of year when families firm up their plans for summer vacations. While you’re finishing up your plans, do not forget your security plans.
Today’s article will deal with hearth and home, not security while you’re on vacation. That will be the subject of the next article.
To protect your home, think like a burglar. Criminals are constantly on the prowl for targets that look unoccupied. But also think like a Risk Manager. They are “on the prowl” to prevent losses. So, here are some tips to make your house less inviting to a burglar, and some ideas to prevent some home losses.
General Security
1. Do you have a home security system? If you do, do you have an exterior horn that blasts when the system is triggered? Get one.
2. Are your plants and shrubs grown up and obscuring the windows or doors? Trim them down below the windows and away from doors.
3. Install deadbolts on every exterior door. Don’t go cheap, but install high quality hardware.
4. Buy programmable timers and plug in lights, TV and radios to mimic your normal routine.
5. Never store ladders and tools out in the open. Place them inside a locked shed or in the garage.
6. Install blinds on your windows and doors so you can prevent criminals from peering inside your house.
7. Get the lawn mowed regularly. An overgrown lawn is one of the first visual signs a burglar sees and tells him that perhaps someone is not home.
8. Install motion-sensor-triggered lights at door openings. Lights scare burglars.
9. Read your insurance policy and be certain that your coverage is up to date.
Just Before You Leave On Vacation
1. If you are on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, resist the temptation to announce to the world when you’re going on vacation. Criminals read social networking sites, too...and, trust me, you’re not that hard to find. If you tell everyone you’ll be gone the last two weeks in June, guess what might happen?
4. Can you afford a housesitter? That is someone who actually stays at your home while you’re gone. Housesitters can be the perfect solution if you’re going to be gone on vacation. They can water the plants, receive the mail and newspapers and take care of the pets. Many times, the cost of a housesitter is less than just the cost to board pets. But look at all the value you’d get for the cost.
Sometimes you can get a trusted friend to take care of the house without actually staying in it. They can feed the pets, collect the mail and do the other regular things around the house.
If you cannot afford a housesitter, or do not have a person to keep an eye on the house, then do the following below.
3. Suspend newspaper deliveries.
4. Notify the post office and ask them to hold your mail while you’re gone. Many people have mail slots at home, but why risk some type of post office mistake? A substitute carrier might not notice your schedule and deliver your mail.
5. Secure your important documents and valuables. Move financial and legal documents, expensive jewelry, family photos and such to a more secure location, like a large safe deposit box at a bank. If you’re leaving your computers at home, back them up onto a disk and put the disk in the safe deposit box.
6. Call the police and inform them of your vacation schedule.
7. If you have a monitored security company, call them and inform them of your schedule. Tell them who has authority to be inside your home while you’re gone.
8. Tell your neighbors you’ll be gone. Leave a key with a trusted neighbor. Ask them to watch your property. Tell them who is supposed to be there (housesitter, lawn service, etc.) Give them your contact information. Ask them to phone police if they hear your alarm system going off or see suspicious activity at your house.
9. Lower and close the blinds on ALL windows and doors. Lock all doors and windows. If you have a sliding door, place a door-width dowel in the door track to prevent the door from opening.
10. Park a car in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. If it’s your car parked, give a key to a neighbor and ask them to move the car every couple days to give the illusion that you’re home. Don’t leave the garage door opener inside the car. And speaking of garage doors...
11. Unplug the garage door openers before you leave. Criminals can get descramblers that open garage doors. Then, they could open your garage door, drive into the garage, and close it behind them.
12. Forward your land line phone calls to your cell phone.
13. If it’s cooling season, leave the A/C unit running. Just set the thermostat at a higher temperature setting. An exterior compressor than never turns on would be a good sign to a burglar that nobody’s home.
14. Shut off the main water supply to your home. This will prevent refrigerator icemaker lines, water heaters, and other water-fed appliances from leaking while you’re gone. What could be worse than coming home to a flooded house? You’d be shocked at how often this happens.
15. Set the alarm system. Make sure the person taking care of the home has the security code and knows how to use it. Then, when you arrive home after the vacation, change the alarm code.
16. Print out this article and use it as a vacation security checklist.
Then, have a terrific vacation!
This is the time of year when families firm up their plans for summer vacations. While you’re finishing up your plans, do not forget your security plans.
Today’s article will deal with hearth and home, not security while you’re on vacation. That will be the subject of the next article.
To protect your home, think like a burglar. Criminals are constantly on the prowl for targets that look unoccupied. But also think like a Risk Manager. They are “on the prowl” to prevent losses. So, here are some tips to make your house less inviting to a burglar, and some ideas to prevent some home losses.
General Security
1. Do you have a home security system? If you do, do you have an exterior horn that blasts when the system is triggered? Get one.
2. Are your plants and shrubs grown up and obscuring the windows or doors? Trim them down below the windows and away from doors.
3. Install deadbolts on every exterior door. Don’t go cheap, but install high quality hardware.
4. Buy programmable timers and plug in lights, TV and radios to mimic your normal routine.
5. Never store ladders and tools out in the open. Place them inside a locked shed or in the garage.
6. Install blinds on your windows and doors so you can prevent criminals from peering inside your house.
7. Get the lawn mowed regularly. An overgrown lawn is one of the first visual signs a burglar sees and tells him that perhaps someone is not home.
8. Install motion-sensor-triggered lights at door openings. Lights scare burglars.
9. Read your insurance policy and be certain that your coverage is up to date.
Just Before You Leave On Vacation
1. If you are on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, resist the temptation to announce to the world when you’re going on vacation. Criminals read social networking sites, too...and, trust me, you’re not that hard to find. If you tell everyone you’ll be gone the last two weeks in June, guess what might happen?
4. Can you afford a housesitter? That is someone who actually stays at your home while you’re gone. Housesitters can be the perfect solution if you’re going to be gone on vacation. They can water the plants, receive the mail and newspapers and take care of the pets. Many times, the cost of a housesitter is less than just the cost to board pets. But look at all the value you’d get for the cost.
Sometimes you can get a trusted friend to take care of the house without actually staying in it. They can feed the pets, collect the mail and do the other regular things around the house.
If you cannot afford a housesitter, or do not have a person to keep an eye on the house, then do the following below.
3. Suspend newspaper deliveries.
4. Notify the post office and ask them to hold your mail while you’re gone. Many people have mail slots at home, but why risk some type of post office mistake? A substitute carrier might not notice your schedule and deliver your mail.
5. Secure your important documents and valuables. Move financial and legal documents, expensive jewelry, family photos and such to a more secure location, like a large safe deposit box at a bank. If you’re leaving your computers at home, back them up onto a disk and put the disk in the safe deposit box.
6. Call the police and inform them of your vacation schedule.
7. If you have a monitored security company, call them and inform them of your schedule. Tell them who has authority to be inside your home while you’re gone.
8. Tell your neighbors you’ll be gone. Leave a key with a trusted neighbor. Ask them to watch your property. Tell them who is supposed to be there (housesitter, lawn service, etc.) Give them your contact information. Ask them to phone police if they hear your alarm system going off or see suspicious activity at your house.
9. Lower and close the blinds on ALL windows and doors. Lock all doors and windows. If you have a sliding door, place a door-width dowel in the door track to prevent the door from opening.
10. Park a car in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. If it’s your car parked, give a key to a neighbor and ask them to move the car every couple days to give the illusion that you’re home. Don’t leave the garage door opener inside the car. And speaking of garage doors...
11. Unplug the garage door openers before you leave. Criminals can get descramblers that open garage doors. Then, they could open your garage door, drive into the garage, and close it behind them.
12. Forward your land line phone calls to your cell phone.
13. If it’s cooling season, leave the A/C unit running. Just set the thermostat at a higher temperature setting. An exterior compressor than never turns on would be a good sign to a burglar that nobody’s home.
14. Shut off the main water supply to your home. This will prevent refrigerator icemaker lines, water heaters, and other water-fed appliances from leaking while you’re gone. What could be worse than coming home to a flooded house? You’d be shocked at how often this happens.
15. Set the alarm system. Make sure the person taking care of the home has the security code and knows how to use it. Then, when you arrive home after the vacation, change the alarm code.
16. Print out this article and use it as a vacation security checklist.
Then, have a terrific vacation!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Your Free Copy of My Book Is Only A Click Away!
Insider Blows the Whistle and Reveals All!
Former insurance adjuster shares valuable strategies so you don't get ripped off by your insurance company!
For a limited time, get your copy of his book at no cost or obligation!
FROM: Russell D. Longcore
Dear Friends-
Frankly, I am exhausted.
Selling books is hard work. I think that giving books away might be easier.
Wouldn’t you agree?
From now until midnight ET, June 30, 2009, I’m going to give you a free copy of my hot-selling 220-page book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” No strings attached...no cost...no obligation. This is a $29.97 value, given to you at no cost whatsoever.
I’ll also give a copy of the book to anyone on planet Earth that you tell about the offer.
Pay It Forward, folks. Pay It Forward. Do good for others and it will return to you.
I accept 100% of the risk. You have 0% risk and you do not spend even one cent.
So please keep reading for all the details!
After many years as an insurance claims adjuster, I had seen insurance companies delay, defend and deny insurance claims. I wanted to help policyholders maximize their insurance claims, not stand by and watch the insurance companies cheat their own policyholders. The more I wrote, the more the book became an insider’s “tell-all” expose´that benefits anyone with an insurance policy.
I knew that the insurance companies will NEVER reveal the TRUE claims process. Why would they? If they tell you ways that you can collect more money in your claim, they make less profit. And, if you have questions about the claims process, who are you going to ask? Most people will ask the insurance company, who controls the claims process. It’s great for the insurance company, but terrible for you.
Most people I’ve ever talked to don’t know the first thing about how to handle an insurance claim. That puts them...YOU...entirely at the mercy of the insurance company and the insurance adjuster.
Many times, people who have had a loss are on the raw edge of emotion. Isn’t is natural to be fearful in a situation where you don’t feel you’re in control…where you don’t know what will happen next, and you’re scared you’ll be “ripped off?” Most everyone has heard a story from a relative or friend about an insurance claim that went badly.
People like that need solid advice and a strategy on what to do to get their claim paid IN FULL.
They need to understand the claims process completely so that they are not at the mercy of the insurance company, the claims adjuster and the claims examiner.
They need to be paid every dollar that they are entitled to collect.
They need to have peace of mind knowing that their claim was handled correctly.
So I wrote a book. I guess I struck a responsive chord with policyholders.
I wrote the book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” (ICSR) and released it in June of 2007. By October of 2007, the book had rocketed to NUMBER ONE in two search categories at Amazon.com, the world’s largest bookseller. The book has STAYED NUMBER ONE continuously ever since!
Even if you enter the most general keyword possible, “insurance,” into the Search box, Amazon will show you over 350,000 books. ICSR is ALWAYS in the top 100, and its highest daily ranking was #21 back in April 2009.
ICSR has sold all over the world at $29.97. I’ve sold it on every continent. Policyholders from America to England to Ireland to Singapore to Thailand have bought this book and used my strategies to collect more money in their insurance claims.
In this book, you will learn:
• The games and scams insurance companies use to cut costs and keep claim payments at the lowest amounts possible
• When it's the right time to use an attorney
• How you can take control of your claim, and not allow the insurance company or claims adjuster to control YOU
• What a Public Adjuster is, and the valuable help you can get from them
• That the insurance adjuster is NOT there to help you
• How to handle insurance adjusters and get paid all you are entitled to collect
• and much more
You will learn:
• What to do when you have a car accident...BEFORE you open the car door or talk to anyone. This one strategy could save you hundreds of thousands of $$$
• How much MORE money I collected (thousands!) in the two little claims I had while writing this book, and how you can do the same things I did
• About Diminished Value on automobiles, and how it can cost you THOUSANDS if you don't fight
• About cheap aftermarket auto parts that insurance companies LOVE, but leave you less safe
• How insurance companies use depreciation to cheat their policyholders, and how to fight back and WIN
• What you MUST do after a loss like a hurricane, flood or fire
• And so much more
Get this book before something bad happens to you!
Get this book after something bad happens to you to keep it from getting worse!
Here is what our readers have said about this book!
“Thanks for writing your book. It explains things so the rest of us can understand.”
Dawn A., Houston, TX
* * * *
“I was really glad when I came across your book. I wish we had come across it sooner. Thank you for writing a book and making yourself available for questions.”
Marie R., Warren, NJ
* * * *
“Hey Russ,
Great book! I am sure I will give your books away as gifts too...”
Andy S., Westminster, MA
* * * *
“I heard the DJ on the local radio station talking about Russell's book, so I immediately downloaded it when I got to work. It has been a great help to me. Not only does it talk about vehicle accidents but property damage and more, as well. I would recommend anyone dealing with an insurance company to buy this book. Well worth the knowledge you gain to determine if the insurance company is treating you fairly. Knowledge is power when dealing with insurance companies.”
Lisa W., Winston, GA
* * * *
“Russell D. Longcore deals with this head-on, and in terms that you and I can easily understand. His honest, direct, straight-forward approach is excellent.
It's not a question of "if" you're going to need to know and understand the facts about which Longcore writes in this book - but "when." Longcore addresses those things which the insurance industry would just as soon you never knew, and certainly won't tell you, until after-the-fact. Based on personal experience, I hope it's not too late for you.
If you're considering the purchase of a new policy, or are about to renew a policy - regardless of the type - READ THIS BOOK FIRST.
INSURANCE CLAIM SECRETS REVEALED! is a book deserving of a FIVE STAR rating, because it will guide you in your thought process, and protect you in ways that you've never suspected, nor imagined. Pass it up at your own peril.”
Sanders H., Atlanta, GA
* * * *
“At the end of Feb. 2008 a tornado went through our neighborhood. Fortunately the damage we sustained was inconvenient damage. We had several trees down, one unfortunately hit the back of our car, and lots of debris, and the top of our neighbor's pine tree was dropped onto our roof. We called our insurance agent to report and started the clean-up. The weekend after the storm I was listening to the radio and heard Russell Longcore being interview by Ilyce Glink. I was so impressed, I immediately got online to his website and bought the E-book. It downloaded right away and I started to read. Fortunately our house is now back together and we are only out of pocket the amount of our deductible. There is so much information in this book and it's easy to read and understand. No one should be without it.”
Dee K, Atlanta, GA
* * * * * * * *
Bookselling is tough.
I published this book myself instead of going begging for a publisher. I’m OK with that, but when you self-publish, you also assume the role of Marketing Director.
Don’t believe the hype that you can write a popular book and the money just rolls in. Hundreds of thousands of book titles are published each year. Most authors who write a book, no matter what kind of book, never sell 1,000 copies...EVER! The big mega-selling books are so scarce it’s ridiculous. No wonder publishers are going out of business at record numbers.
Selling books is exhilarating, though. You can’t imagine how rewarding it is to have readers tell stories of how my strategies have helped them collect all the money they were entitled to collect! I’ve been blessed to change lives the world over!
But What’s In It For YOU?
Simple. I want to give YOU a copy of my book as a marketing experiment to jump-start my other business.
I’ve found that another very effective use for ICSR is to give them as a business introduction gift. I use the books to introduce my business to others. I give such a large amount of value UP FRONT to prospective customers that they will do business with ME, rather than my competitors. Everybody wins.
My other business is “Insurance Quote HQ.” The website address is: www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com
This is the best website on the Internet for getting no-cost insurance quotes for any kind of insurance imaginable.
How can I say that?
Simple. No one else in the insurance quote business can do for you what I can do.
To receive your Ebook copy of my hot-selling 220-page book, click on “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” and leave your name and email address. We will instantly send you an email reply confirming your request, and a page with your link where you can download your copy of the Ebook.
What’s in it for Russ Longcore?
When you give me your email address, I will send you a confirmation email to make absolutely certain that you have requested the book. Once you confirm the email, we send you a link where you can download the book. We do not send spam to anyone. And, when you are a part of my email membership, you may unsubscribe at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. We never share our email list with anyone, ever.
As a member of my email list, you will receive emails from me that will offer you terrific information, a regular newsletter about insurance and money, interesting offers and terrific value. My strategies can save you thousands of dollars!
When you use my insurance quote service, I earn a commission, even though you have not spent one single cent. How does that work?
Most successful insurance agents are using some type of prospecting service, in which special companies provide the agents with lists of people (prospects) that have requested rate quotes. These prospects are called “leads.”
Whenever a person goes to my website, completes the easy quote request form and submits it, the lead company pays me a small commission. Then the agents of top companies compete for your business.
You, the “prospect,” pay nothing. Quotes are free. It’s the agent or insurance company that are paying for the leads and paying my commission.
So, the more leads I send them, the more commission I earn. Simple as that.
Don’t Be Misled By Internet Ad Copy
The Internet has made it very easy to get the most competitive rate quotes for all kinds of insurance. And, naturally, it makes sense to shop for the best rates combined with the best coverage, which makes the best insurance value.
There are hundreds of websites where you can get insurance quotes. Some of them are good, some not so good. I have visited scores of these websites, and I noticed a common flaw.
They don’t think like a claims adjuster. They think like sales people.
The other quote websites seem to be all about the lowest cost insurance quotes. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like low prices as much as the next guy.
But, isn’t there usually a difference between lowest price and best value?
Insurance is a service, not really a product. So, great customer service should be near the top of your list of benefits for buying insurance.
But don’t be fixated on great customer service when you’re BUYING your policy. That will only give you a false sense of security.
You should be MOSTLY concerned with the service you get when you have a loss. After all, insurance is all about keeping promises.
You see, friends, it’s not good enough just to get a great low premium on your insurance policy. When you buy an insurance policy, all you have is a bunch of pages stapled together with writing on them.
Your policy ONLY comes to life when you have a loss and submit a claim.
You enter into a contract with the insurance company. You promise certain things, like paying your premium. They promise to pay your claim if your loss is covered.
Every insurance policy will have a section that tells you what you must do when you have a loss and want to file a claim. But, the policy NEVER tells you about the “claims process.”
The “devil is in the details” of the claims process. The insurance companies all rely on the fact that their policyholders don’t know the claims process. That lack of knowledge helps the insurance companies hold down claim settlement amounts. That increases their profits...but at your expense.
So, What Can You Do To Win?
You MUST become more “claims-conscious” than price-conscious.
Saving a few hundred dollars in premiums is great, but it won’t change your life. However, your life could be permanently altered if you have a big claim and don’t collect every dollar you are entitled to collect. Or, not having enough insurance could ruin your finances forever if you are sued in a liability issue.
So FIRST, let me help you become claims-conscious! When you read my book, you’ll become familiar with the claims process and the super-valuable strategies that help YOU take control of your insurance claims.
Then go ahead and confidently get the best insurance quote and lowest price on your insurance...at NO COST TO YOU!
I recommend a four-step strategy:
1. Get a free copy of my book at “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” to get the strategies you’ll need to add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlements. You’ll also learn crucial things you should do to protect yourself BEFORE you have a claim.
2. While you are reading the book, go to: www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com and fill out the simple form so that we can get you the quotes you need. This service is also without cost or obligation. Not a penny do you spend!
3. Compare the insurance quotes carefully and make sure that the quotes have the same coverage.
4. Buy the coverage you need at the most competitive rates.
CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL OFFER!!
Between today and midnight ET, June 30, 2009, I’m going to make the book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” available to anyone and everyone with a valid email address and an Internet connection. I’m giving a FREE Ebook copy of the NUMBER ONE BOOK IN THE WORLD about insurance claims to anyone who gives me their valid email address!
Then, if you agree with me that shopping for the best rate on the insurance you need makes total good sense, go to www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com and click through and get a FREE QUOTE! But if you don’t agree with me, and don’t use my website to get your insurance quotes, you still get the f*ree copy of my Ebook...a $29.97 value!
Just LOOK at the vast array of insurance policies we quote:
• Auto
• Home
• Renters
• Term Life
• Pet Insurance
• Health
• Disability
• Long Term Care (LTC)
• Cancer
• Burial
• Annuity
• Business
• General Liability
• Commercial Auto
• Commercial Property
• Professional Liability (E&O)
• Business Owners Package Policy (BOP)
• Workers Compensation
• Commercial Crime
• Group Health Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• 401K/Retirement Plans
• Supplemental Plans/AFLAC
• Keyman Life Insurance
• Keyman Disability Insurance
• Deferred Compensation
• UK and European Quotes Coming Very Soon
• And the list just keeps growing every week!
Your quotes will come from the top insurers in America today. And when you make a quote request, you’ll get quotes from multiple companies so you can truly compare rates and find your best deal.
SAVINGS ALERT!!
I used this exact quote service in April, and got quotes from eight different companies. I switched insurance companies for my Auto and Homeowners policies and saved $590.00 per year! I was shocked at that kind of savings, since I watch my premiums very closely from year to year. My new policies also have better coverage than I had before.
Could YOU get that kind of savings? You’ll never know until you get the quotes!
By making this stunning book offer, I am showing my trust in you. I am sowing good seeds in good ground, and I expect a good harvest. I’m betting that the majority of people who receive a free copy of the book will use my insurance quote service to get the best insurance rates possible. It only makes common sense.
So, I’m not giving you a gift AFTER you make an insurance quote request. That is an “incentive”offer in which you are forced to make a quote request to get the book.
I’m not playing that game.
I’m giving you a no-obligation gift of my book. I’m confident that you’ll see the value that I’m giving you. I’m also confident that, because of that value, you will trust me to get you the best insurance quotes available. But you get the gift whether you make a quote request or not.
To receive your Ebook copy of my hot-selling 220-page book, click on “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” and leave your email address. We will instantly send you an email reply to confirm your request, and a page with your link where you can download your copy of the Ebook.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Get
Ripped Off By Insurance Companies
When you get your copy of the book, why not tell everyone you know how to get a free copy? There’s no downside, only upside. They will get a book that could help them collect thousands more dollars (or Euros, or Pounds, or Pesos, or Bhats, or Yen, or Rupees) in their claims settlements. Your friends will thank you for referring them to this free book offer. They will especially thank you if they ever have an insurance claim!! Then, if they save some money on their insurance premiums, they will REALLY be glad you are their friend!
If you have an email list for your business, send this offer to your list.
Pay It Forward, folks. Pay It Forward. Do good for others and it will return to you.
Send this amazing offer to everyone in your Address book. Don’t leave anyone out. Put this offer on your Facebook page. Twitter a link to this page.
No other insurance quote website in the world can offer you this winning formula for maximizing your insurance claim settlements AND getting the best insurance rates! No matter if your claim is a homeowners, renters, auto, business, etc...THESE STRATEGIES WORK EVERY TIME!
Don’t wait another day! Click Here NOW for your free book!
Thanks for your business!
Russell D. Longcore, Author and owner
www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com
www.InsuranceSecrets.com
www.WebMarketingHQ.com
www.SuperArticleDirectory.com
P.S. I just completed the manuscript for another book. This one is dedicated to claims strategies for businesses and commercial entities. The book’s title is “Commercial Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” . This new book will be available by September 1, 2009 worldwide at $49.97. Watch for it...I might give this book away, too!
Former insurance adjuster shares valuable strategies so you don't get ripped off by your insurance company!
For a limited time, get your copy of his book at no cost or obligation!
FROM: Russell D. Longcore
Dear Friends-
Frankly, I am exhausted.
Selling books is hard work. I think that giving books away might be easier.
Wouldn’t you agree?
From now until midnight ET, June 30, 2009, I’m going to give you a free copy of my hot-selling 220-page book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” No strings attached...no cost...no obligation. This is a $29.97 value, given to you at no cost whatsoever.
I’ll also give a copy of the book to anyone on planet Earth that you tell about the offer.
Pay It Forward, folks. Pay It Forward. Do good for others and it will return to you.
I accept 100% of the risk. You have 0% risk and you do not spend even one cent.
So please keep reading for all the details!
After many years as an insurance claims adjuster, I had seen insurance companies delay, defend and deny insurance claims. I wanted to help policyholders maximize their insurance claims, not stand by and watch the insurance companies cheat their own policyholders. The more I wrote, the more the book became an insider’s “tell-all” expose´that benefits anyone with an insurance policy.
I knew that the insurance companies will NEVER reveal the TRUE claims process. Why would they? If they tell you ways that you can collect more money in your claim, they make less profit. And, if you have questions about the claims process, who are you going to ask? Most people will ask the insurance company, who controls the claims process. It’s great for the insurance company, but terrible for you.
Most people I’ve ever talked to don’t know the first thing about how to handle an insurance claim. That puts them...YOU...entirely at the mercy of the insurance company and the insurance adjuster.
Many times, people who have had a loss are on the raw edge of emotion. Isn’t is natural to be fearful in a situation where you don’t feel you’re in control…where you don’t know what will happen next, and you’re scared you’ll be “ripped off?” Most everyone has heard a story from a relative or friend about an insurance claim that went badly.
People like that need solid advice and a strategy on what to do to get their claim paid IN FULL.
They need to understand the claims process completely so that they are not at the mercy of the insurance company, the claims adjuster and the claims examiner.
They need to be paid every dollar that they are entitled to collect.
They need to have peace of mind knowing that their claim was handled correctly.
So I wrote a book. I guess I struck a responsive chord with policyholders.
I wrote the book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” (ICSR) and released it in June of 2007. By October of 2007, the book had rocketed to NUMBER ONE in two search categories at Amazon.com, the world’s largest bookseller. The book has STAYED NUMBER ONE continuously ever since!
Even if you enter the most general keyword possible, “insurance,” into the Search box, Amazon will show you over 350,000 books. ICSR is ALWAYS in the top 100, and its highest daily ranking was #21 back in April 2009.
ICSR has sold all over the world at $29.97. I’ve sold it on every continent. Policyholders from America to England to Ireland to Singapore to Thailand have bought this book and used my strategies to collect more money in their insurance claims.
In this book, you will learn:
• The games and scams insurance companies use to cut costs and keep claim payments at the lowest amounts possible
• When it's the right time to use an attorney
• How you can take control of your claim, and not allow the insurance company or claims adjuster to control YOU
• What a Public Adjuster is, and the valuable help you can get from them
• That the insurance adjuster is NOT there to help you
• How to handle insurance adjusters and get paid all you are entitled to collect
• and much more
You will learn:
• What to do when you have a car accident...BEFORE you open the car door or talk to anyone. This one strategy could save you hundreds of thousands of $$$
• How much MORE money I collected (thousands!) in the two little claims I had while writing this book, and how you can do the same things I did
• About Diminished Value on automobiles, and how it can cost you THOUSANDS if you don't fight
• About cheap aftermarket auto parts that insurance companies LOVE, but leave you less safe
• How insurance companies use depreciation to cheat their policyholders, and how to fight back and WIN
• What you MUST do after a loss like a hurricane, flood or fire
• And so much more
Get this book before something bad happens to you!
Get this book after something bad happens to you to keep it from getting worse!
Here is what our readers have said about this book!
“Thanks for writing your book. It explains things so the rest of us can understand.”
Dawn A., Houston, TX
* * * *
“I was really glad when I came across your book. I wish we had come across it sooner. Thank you for writing a book and making yourself available for questions.”
Marie R., Warren, NJ
* * * *
“Hey Russ,
Great book! I am sure I will give your books away as gifts too...”
Andy S., Westminster, MA
* * * *
“I heard the DJ on the local radio station talking about Russell's book, so I immediately downloaded it when I got to work. It has been a great help to me. Not only does it talk about vehicle accidents but property damage and more, as well. I would recommend anyone dealing with an insurance company to buy this book. Well worth the knowledge you gain to determine if the insurance company is treating you fairly. Knowledge is power when dealing with insurance companies.”
Lisa W., Winston, GA
* * * *
“Russell D. Longcore deals with this head-on, and in terms that you and I can easily understand. His honest, direct, straight-forward approach is excellent.
It's not a question of "if" you're going to need to know and understand the facts about which Longcore writes in this book - but "when." Longcore addresses those things which the insurance industry would just as soon you never knew, and certainly won't tell you, until after-the-fact. Based on personal experience, I hope it's not too late for you.
If you're considering the purchase of a new policy, or are about to renew a policy - regardless of the type - READ THIS BOOK FIRST.
INSURANCE CLAIM SECRETS REVEALED! is a book deserving of a FIVE STAR rating, because it will guide you in your thought process, and protect you in ways that you've never suspected, nor imagined. Pass it up at your own peril.”
Sanders H., Atlanta, GA
* * * *
“At the end of Feb. 2008 a tornado went through our neighborhood. Fortunately the damage we sustained was inconvenient damage. We had several trees down, one unfortunately hit the back of our car, and lots of debris, and the top of our neighbor's pine tree was dropped onto our roof. We called our insurance agent to report and started the clean-up. The weekend after the storm I was listening to the radio and heard Russell Longcore being interview by Ilyce Glink. I was so impressed, I immediately got online to his website and bought the E-book. It downloaded right away and I started to read. Fortunately our house is now back together and we are only out of pocket the amount of our deductible. There is so much information in this book and it's easy to read and understand. No one should be without it.”
Dee K, Atlanta, GA
* * * * * * * *
Bookselling is tough.
I published this book myself instead of going begging for a publisher. I’m OK with that, but when you self-publish, you also assume the role of Marketing Director.
Don’t believe the hype that you can write a popular book and the money just rolls in. Hundreds of thousands of book titles are published each year. Most authors who write a book, no matter what kind of book, never sell 1,000 copies...EVER! The big mega-selling books are so scarce it’s ridiculous. No wonder publishers are going out of business at record numbers.
Selling books is exhilarating, though. You can’t imagine how rewarding it is to have readers tell stories of how my strategies have helped them collect all the money they were entitled to collect! I’ve been blessed to change lives the world over!
But What’s In It For YOU?
Simple. I want to give YOU a copy of my book as a marketing experiment to jump-start my other business.
I’ve found that another very effective use for ICSR is to give them as a business introduction gift. I use the books to introduce my business to others. I give such a large amount of value UP FRONT to prospective customers that they will do business with ME, rather than my competitors. Everybody wins.
My other business is “Insurance Quote HQ.” The website address is: www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com
This is the best website on the Internet for getting no-cost insurance quotes for any kind of insurance imaginable.
How can I say that?
Simple. No one else in the insurance quote business can do for you what I can do.
To receive your Ebook copy of my hot-selling 220-page book, click on “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” and leave your name and email address. We will instantly send you an email reply confirming your request, and a page with your link where you can download your copy of the Ebook.
What’s in it for Russ Longcore?
When you give me your email address, I will send you a confirmation email to make absolutely certain that you have requested the book. Once you confirm the email, we send you a link where you can download the book. We do not send spam to anyone. And, when you are a part of my email membership, you may unsubscribe at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. We never share our email list with anyone, ever.
As a member of my email list, you will receive emails from me that will offer you terrific information, a regular newsletter about insurance and money, interesting offers and terrific value. My strategies can save you thousands of dollars!
When you use my insurance quote service, I earn a commission, even though you have not spent one single cent. How does that work?
Most successful insurance agents are using some type of prospecting service, in which special companies provide the agents with lists of people (prospects) that have requested rate quotes. These prospects are called “leads.”
Whenever a person goes to my website, completes the easy quote request form and submits it, the lead company pays me a small commission. Then the agents of top companies compete for your business.
You, the “prospect,” pay nothing. Quotes are free. It’s the agent or insurance company that are paying for the leads and paying my commission.
So, the more leads I send them, the more commission I earn. Simple as that.
Don’t Be Misled By Internet Ad Copy
The Internet has made it very easy to get the most competitive rate quotes for all kinds of insurance. And, naturally, it makes sense to shop for the best rates combined with the best coverage, which makes the best insurance value.
There are hundreds of websites where you can get insurance quotes. Some of them are good, some not so good. I have visited scores of these websites, and I noticed a common flaw.
They don’t think like a claims adjuster. They think like sales people.
The other quote websites seem to be all about the lowest cost insurance quotes. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like low prices as much as the next guy.
But, isn’t there usually a difference between lowest price and best value?
Insurance is a service, not really a product. So, great customer service should be near the top of your list of benefits for buying insurance.
But don’t be fixated on great customer service when you’re BUYING your policy. That will only give you a false sense of security.
You should be MOSTLY concerned with the service you get when you have a loss. After all, insurance is all about keeping promises.
You see, friends, it’s not good enough just to get a great low premium on your insurance policy. When you buy an insurance policy, all you have is a bunch of pages stapled together with writing on them.
Your policy ONLY comes to life when you have a loss and submit a claim.
You enter into a contract with the insurance company. You promise certain things, like paying your premium. They promise to pay your claim if your loss is covered.
Every insurance policy will have a section that tells you what you must do when you have a loss and want to file a claim. But, the policy NEVER tells you about the “claims process.”
The “devil is in the details” of the claims process. The insurance companies all rely on the fact that their policyholders don’t know the claims process. That lack of knowledge helps the insurance companies hold down claim settlement amounts. That increases their profits...but at your expense.
So, What Can You Do To Win?
You MUST become more “claims-conscious” than price-conscious.
Saving a few hundred dollars in premiums is great, but it won’t change your life. However, your life could be permanently altered if you have a big claim and don’t collect every dollar you are entitled to collect. Or, not having enough insurance could ruin your finances forever if you are sued in a liability issue.
So FIRST, let me help you become claims-conscious! When you read my book, you’ll become familiar with the claims process and the super-valuable strategies that help YOU take control of your insurance claims.
Then go ahead and confidently get the best insurance quote and lowest price on your insurance...at NO COST TO YOU!
I recommend a four-step strategy:
1. Get a free copy of my book at “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” to get the strategies you’ll need to add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlements. You’ll also learn crucial things you should do to protect yourself BEFORE you have a claim.
2. While you are reading the book, go to: www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com and fill out the simple form so that we can get you the quotes you need. This service is also without cost or obligation. Not a penny do you spend!
3. Compare the insurance quotes carefully and make sure that the quotes have the same coverage.
4. Buy the coverage you need at the most competitive rates.
CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL OFFER!!
Between today and midnight ET, June 30, 2009, I’m going to make the book “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” available to anyone and everyone with a valid email address and an Internet connection. I’m giving a FREE Ebook copy of the NUMBER ONE BOOK IN THE WORLD about insurance claims to anyone who gives me their valid email address!
Then, if you agree with me that shopping for the best rate on the insurance you need makes total good sense, go to www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com and click through and get a FREE QUOTE! But if you don’t agree with me, and don’t use my website to get your insurance quotes, you still get the f*ree copy of my Ebook...a $29.97 value!
Just LOOK at the vast array of insurance policies we quote:
• Auto
• Home
• Renters
• Term Life
• Pet Insurance
• Health
• Disability
• Long Term Care (LTC)
• Cancer
• Burial
• Annuity
• Business
• General Liability
• Commercial Auto
• Commercial Property
• Professional Liability (E&O)
• Business Owners Package Policy (BOP)
• Workers Compensation
• Commercial Crime
• Group Health Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• 401K/Retirement Plans
• Supplemental Plans/AFLAC
• Keyman Life Insurance
• Keyman Disability Insurance
• Deferred Compensation
• UK and European Quotes Coming Very Soon
• And the list just keeps growing every week!
Your quotes will come from the top insurers in America today. And when you make a quote request, you’ll get quotes from multiple companies so you can truly compare rates and find your best deal.
SAVINGS ALERT!!
I used this exact quote service in April, and got quotes from eight different companies. I switched insurance companies for my Auto and Homeowners policies and saved $590.00 per year! I was shocked at that kind of savings, since I watch my premiums very closely from year to year. My new policies also have better coverage than I had before.
Could YOU get that kind of savings? You’ll never know until you get the quotes!
By making this stunning book offer, I am showing my trust in you. I am sowing good seeds in good ground, and I expect a good harvest. I’m betting that the majority of people who receive a free copy of the book will use my insurance quote service to get the best insurance rates possible. It only makes common sense.
So, I’m not giving you a gift AFTER you make an insurance quote request. That is an “incentive”offer in which you are forced to make a quote request to get the book.
I’m not playing that game.
I’m giving you a no-obligation gift of my book. I’m confident that you’ll see the value that I’m giving you. I’m also confident that, because of that value, you will trust me to get you the best insurance quotes available. But you get the gift whether you make a quote request or not.
To receive your Ebook copy of my hot-selling 220-page book, click on “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” and leave your email address. We will instantly send you an email reply to confirm your request, and a page with your link where you can download your copy of the Ebook.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Get
Ripped Off By Insurance Companies
When you get your copy of the book, why not tell everyone you know how to get a free copy? There’s no downside, only upside. They will get a book that could help them collect thousands more dollars (or Euros, or Pounds, or Pesos, or Bhats, or Yen, or Rupees) in their claims settlements. Your friends will thank you for referring them to this free book offer. They will especially thank you if they ever have an insurance claim!! Then, if they save some money on their insurance premiums, they will REALLY be glad you are their friend!
If you have an email list for your business, send this offer to your list.
Pay It Forward, folks. Pay It Forward. Do good for others and it will return to you.
Send this amazing offer to everyone in your Address book. Don’t leave anyone out. Put this offer on your Facebook page. Twitter a link to this page.
No other insurance quote website in the world can offer you this winning formula for maximizing your insurance claim settlements AND getting the best insurance rates! No matter if your claim is a homeowners, renters, auto, business, etc...THESE STRATEGIES WORK EVERY TIME!
Don’t wait another day! Click Here NOW for your free book!
Thanks for your business!
Russell D. Longcore, Author and owner
www.InsuranceQuoteHQ.com
www.InsuranceSecrets.com
www.WebMarketingHQ.com
www.SuperArticleDirectory.com
P.S. I just completed the manuscript for another book. This one is dedicated to claims strategies for businesses and commercial entities. The book’s title is “Commercial Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” . This new book will be available by September 1, 2009 worldwide at $49.97. Watch for it...I might give this book away, too!
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