Snowmobile the safe way

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that approximately 10 people die while riding snowmobiles each year and about 13,400 receive emergency medical treatment from snowmobile injuries each year.¹
Are you getting ready to go snowmobiling? If you are, remember these safety tips:

• Slow down — Speed is a contributing factor in many fatal snowmobiling accidents. Be sure you have enough time to react should you need to change speed or direction quickly and drive defensively particularly after sunset. In poor weather conditions, reduce speed below the posted limit when necessary.
• Be sure you have a first-aid kit — In addition to typical items such as bandages, flashlight and cotton gauze, be sure to include a knife, compass, map and means of communication such as a cell phone or CB radio.
• Avoid traveling across lakes, streams and rivers — It’s very difficult to accurately judge ice coverage or depth of frozen waters, and snow cover can act as a blanket that prevents safe ice from forming.
• Dress for the weather — Layer clothing and wear a durable waterproof outer shell and footwear. Wear a helmet, eye protection and other safety gear. Wear reflective clothing at night.
• Stay on marked trails — Ride single file, keep to the right and pass on the left only when the trail is clear. Keep an eye out for fences, tree stumps and obstacles that may be concealed by snow. And, of course, stay off private property.
• Never travel alone — Snowmobile accidents may result in personal injury so try to have someone ride along with you so you can help each other in case of accident or breakdown. If you must travel alone, tell someone your destination, planned route, and when you expect to return.
• Know the rules of the road — Learn the applicable snowmobile traffic laws and regulations for the state and area where you’ll be traveling. They serve to keep you and others on the trails safe. 
• Never drink while driving your snowmobile — Drinking and driving can be a deadly combination. Practice zero-tolerance!
• Be sure the snowmobile is in good operating condition — Conduct a safety check before each ride. Double check gas levels, brake lines, and lights before heading out. Also, carry a small toolkit with you for emergency repairs.

How safe is snowmobiling? Only as safe as the person operating the snowmobile. That’s why it’s important that you know how to operate it safely and that you always exercise good judgment. And make sure you have the insurance you want for your snowmobile.
CONTACT ME: MARIANNE HOBBS INSURANCE AGENCY 602.547.1970 or
http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs

¹Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/541.htm

Term or Permanent Insurance?

It’s all about net cost

Term or permanent insurance? That seems to be an age-old question that many of us still ask when considering the purchase of life insurance. And the answer is most often: It depends on your individual situation.

Did you know … Term life insurance often has the lowest initial premium, but for longer-term needs may actually cost more than permanent insurance such as Whole life or Universal life insurance? And, only about 4 percent to 5 percent of term policies result in death claims because the great majority of term policies aren’t in force when death occurs¹.


Your situation
Your life insurance needs depend on a number of factors, such as whether you’re married, the size of your family, the nature of your financial obligations, your current and potential future earnings, and your goals. Let’s get together — I can work with you so that you can analyze your individual situation to help you determine your life insurance requirements.


Contact me: Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970 OR http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs


¹Source: Essentials of Life Insurance Products, Stevick, 2008, p.4.28

Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state.

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Prepare Today For Your Family's Tomorrow

Perhaps you’re not in perfect health; maybe you’ve been turned down for life insurance before. Yet you want to plan ahead to take care of your obligations — you don’t want to burden your family, the ones you care most about. You may think you’re stuck without options but we may be able to help.

Now, you may qualify for up to $20,000 of permanent whole life insurance¹ with no medical exam — only 3 health questions. Here is some information you may want to consider:

• You don’t have to be in perfect health — If you’re age 80 or younger and still living independently you may qualify.
• Your policy builds cash value — You may be able to borrow against your policy to cover unexpected expenses.
• Your rate will never increase — Regardless of your age or health, your premium will never go up.

With the average cost of a funeral now more than $8,000², this coverage can help you provide for these types of expenses and is an easy way to help you prepare for tomorrow. You've always planned ahead to take care of your obligations — that's why you have insurance. Call me to learn more so you can be sure you have the life insurance you want.
Contact Me: Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970 OR http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs




¹Farmers Graded Death Benefit Whole Life Insurance Product. Limited Death Benefit during first two policy years. Policy form numbers ICC11-2011-123, 2011-123 series.

²National Funeral Directors Association, General Price List Survey, National Average 2010.

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state.

Are You An Accidental Landlord?

Attention, homeowners turned landlords: Have you recently decided to rent your home instead of selling it in the current market? If so, you are now a landlord, and when you become a landlord your property becomes a place of business. There is a policy specifically for landlords. 

A growing number of homeowners are becoming landlords by default rather than design. Many who are relocating for a job or other reasons are having trouble selling their homes. Others who are relocating would prefer to wait until the market values increase before selling. And many people who own second homes are choosing to rent them to generate additional income. In any event, you may find yourself becoming an “accidental landlord.”
Keep in mind that when it’s rented, your property changes character — it becomes a place of business. It is no longer your primary or secondary residence, and there is a different type of insurance policy for your status as a landlord. A landlord insurance policy normally covers the property — both the building and the landlord’s personal property.


Many choices
Landlord policies typically cover the building in case it’s damaged or destroyed by:

• Fire
• Explosion
• Lightning
• Windstorm*
• Hail damage*

There are other important coverages that are typically part of a landlord package policy but which can be added to a property only landlord policy for an additional premium:

• Coverage for vandalism
• Loss of rents
• Landlord Personal Liability Coverage

Depending on your individual situation, you may consider some options especially important. For example, do you rely on rental income to pay your living expenses? If so, a landlord policy may include coverage to help compensate for lost rent if the building is uninhabitable because of covered damage such as fire or explosion. Personal liability coverage often can be added to a landlord policy that covers property only. You may want liability coverage in case you are sued because someone is hurt on or in the rental property.


Call me
I can give you additional information and answer any questions you may have so that you have the coverage you want when you rent out your property.


Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970 OR http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs

*Coverage may not be available in all areas and can vary among states.

It’s Your Stuff

“What are the odds?”
“My landlord has insurance.”
“I can’t afford renters insurance.”
Question: What if everything you own in your apartment or rental home was stolen or destroyed? Normally, your landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your personal property. Would you have the thousands of dollars it could cost to replace all of your belongings? If your answer is no, you may want to consider renters insurance. Standard coverage typically includes:
Coverage for your possessions

• Based on the property you own, you choose the amount of coverage you want.
• Your personal property is covered anywhere in the world.
• Coverage is on a named-peril basis, which means that only losses resulting from causes listed in the policy are covered (subject to exclusions).
• For an additional premium, replacement cost coverage for your personal property may be available to pay for the cost of repairing or replacing lost or damaged items without deducting for their depreciation.

Additional Living Expenses

• Covers additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your living quarters uninhabitable.
• Coverage is based on a percentage of the amount of insurance you choose for your personal property, and covers the necessary increase in living expenses (hotel, meals, laundry, etc.) to maintain your normal standard of living for the shortest time needed to repair or replace the living quarters, or for you to permanently relocate, but only up to a stated period of time, often 12 months.

Liability coverage — If your guest or visitor is injured, or their property damaged because of an accident at your residence, you could be sued:

• At our expense, we will select an attorney to defend you from any covered claim or lawsuit.
• We pay for the covered damages from a covered claim or lawsuit if you’re legally liable for someone else’s bodily injury or property damage.

Medical Payments to Others (sometimes called Guest Medical)

• Pays for necessary medical expenses for people (other than residents of your household) accidentally injured at your residence, or accidentally injured elsewhere due to your activities or due to your pet, regardless of liability up to coverage limit stated in policy.

Call me for more information. Learn how you can pay a little to cover a lot with renters insurance from Farmers — and how you may be able to save money with Farmers’ auto/home discount.
Contact Me: Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970 OR http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs