Holiday Hauling & Preventing Accidents

Traffic is no doubt the biggest concern for travelers during the upcoming holidays.

Imagine if you were a truck driver.

They have to be even more cautious of our actions than we do of theirs. Holiday travel can mean busy highways, parking lots and heavy interstate traffic. Congested roadways and anxious drivers are a cocktail for turmoil. Sometimes we get so excited we tend to not pay full attention to our surroundings.

Did you know, when we change lanes in front of a big truck upon a red light, we are actually taking away the extra space the driver allowed for their truck to efficiently stop. My four door sedan stops pretty quick, the freight truck behind me can not. Truck drivers try to prepare for all scenarios but sometimes its hard to account for all actions of other drivers. Here a few road way techniques truckers try to follow when driving and changing lanes.

ROADWAY REMINDERS

Larger vehicles are unable to stop and may slide or fishtail if the brakes are needed in a hurry.

Leave at least a car length between you and the car in front of you to avoid a preventable rear-end.

Be cautious of pedestrians at cross walks and in parking lots.

Wet roads become slippery, keep a safe distance and reasonable speed.

Contact an Agent

Business Basics

Evolving Within The Industry

In the ever evolving insurance world, it is easy to get caught up in the daily tasks. Our key business focus is communication, teamwork, and convenience. As the insurance industry grows, it’s important that independent agencies like ours keep up to trend and efficiency to help make the process as seamless as possible for the clients. Buying insurance can be a daunting task on it’s own, but with the electronic possibilities and Independent agent can evolve to make this easier. In our agency for example, we have made it possible to quote, obtain signatures, communicate through video, bind coverage and make all necessary adjustments to our clients policies without them having to do more than sign into their email.

Quoting and Accepting Insurance Policies

Insurance can be scary.
Coverage options can be confusing.
In-Office visits can be hectic.

Online quoting can take a toll on you. Many of the questions: What Agency do you trust to just “hand over” your secure information to? Are the coverage options you are choosing the best fit for what you need? Isn’t the agent the one that helps you make the best choices? Yes, I’m glad you mentioned that! 🙂 That is what we help with as your insurance agent. The process doesn’t need to be scary, confusing, or solitary. Online quoting helps get the details over to us, and we can work through the needs based on your personal answers. No time for office visits, that is fine as well. At Sound Insurance we are able to help you with everything without coming in. Chaos managed.

Obtaining Signatures and Binding Your Insurance Policies

Via Email
Two-Step Signing Process
No In-Office Visits Required

Keeping with the flow of online Insurance Quoting, signatures and obtaining your insurance coverage’s can be just as easy. We will of course have verbal requirements, but driving to our location is not necessary, unless you would like to do so. You will need a valid email address and identification, but once we are ready for the final steps, it remains as easy as the first.

Communicating Through Video

Review Coverage Selections
Compare Our Best Rates Available
Meet Your EAgent

If you choose not to visit our locations, we would still like to make you feel like you did. Our agents are just like you. Personable, Understanding, and Involved. Choosing who manages your insurance is a big deal.

Risky Business

Who needs Builders Risk Insurance?

Taking on your dreams can be easier than you think. If you are thinking about building your FOREVER HOME, a Builders Risk policy has you covered throughout the course of construction. Whether you are having your home built from the ground up or renovating your cozy home, make sure you have a policy to keep you protected during the process.

New construction builders risk policies can cost as little as $375 a year. A piece of mind for your investments is a sound decision. A solid understanding of the risk location, financial parties involved, and finished home value, among many factors, can help insure your protect, as well as all parties involved in the building process. No matter whom takes out the policy, policy coverages and terms of coverage’s remain the same. After completion, converting your Builders Risk policy into a Homeowners policy can be a smooth transition when you have a committed agent along the way.

Several clients that may need a Builder’s Risk policy:

Property Owners
Homeowners
Contractors
Investment Companies
Development Companies
Builders

Why do I need Builders Risk Insurance?

Protection is designed to cover the construction site if loss and damages were to occur. Theft, vandalism, flood, windstorm, and extra expense coverage’s are a few, but not limited to, coverage options that are available under your builders risk insurance policy coverages. Policies may also include coverage to damaged construction materials, fencing, scaffolding, and landscaping. Insuring your financial protection during your new home adventures.

Learn More about what type of policy is best for you and the steps to get you converted to a Homeowners afterwards.

Homeowners Insurance and BBQ Fire prevention

It is that time of year when everyone is having friends and family over for bbq’s! During these fun times make sure you take a few safe steps to prevent someone getting burned, hurt, or catching the house on fire!
Steaks and franks are delicious, chicken meal prepping keeps you on track, and those fresh caught Gulf filet’s are calling your name to be grilled, but this could take a turn for the worst in a matter of seconds.

Always use caution to avoid injuring yourself or your family and friends, fire safety is key. Fire accidents could lead to a liability claim under your homeowner’s insurance policy, and extending to your umbrella policy for any further injuries or damage.

Here are a few precautions you can take to keep your barbecue safe

Make sure to use propane and charcoal grills outdoors only!
Keep children and pets away from your grills and smokers!
Never leave your grill unattended!
Place the grill or smoker away from the home, trees, decks, and anything flammable.
Be sure after you are done you clean your grills or other cookers free of any greases that will catch fire!
Always check the lines on your propane cookers…make sure there are no leaks!
On a charcoal grill make sure once the fire is lit do not add more lighter fluid!

Remember safety first! For more information on household fires and fire safety check out the information listed on the National Fire Prevention site. To read the information about stove fires, grill fires, and fire prevention tips, click here.

5 Rules Every Landlord Should Live By

I’m pretty confident that if you asked anyone who has ever owned a rental property you would get an overwhelming response that it’s not as lucrative or easy as they thought it would be. In fact, owning a rental property can be a major pain, and end up costing you a ton of money!

I certainly don’t mean to be a “Debbie Downer”, and I know that if it’s done right it can be lucrative, but from an insurance agent’s perspective, I don’t see a lot of people doing it right.

So you’re probably thinking, “Well Chris, you are an insurance agent. What do you know about real estate or rental properties? Why should I take advice from you?”

I’m not a real estate agent, and I don’t own a rental property. However, several of my friends/family/clients/co-workers own rentals, and because I insure a bunch of their properties, I’ve had a first hand account of the process, and I’ve learned what to do, and what not to do.

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