Tips For Home Buyers

If you're in the market for a new home this spring, here are some valuable tips for home buyers.  Buying a house? Don’t forget to consider insurance Many experts believe the housing market is getting ready to rebound — I hope they’re right! If you’re thinking about buying a home, don’t forget to consider insurance. Would-be buyers often get pre-approved for mortgages, research school districts, and look at numerous houses before finding the “perfect” home for them. Often however, they don’t consider the insurance implications of buying a specific house. Insurance is not a one-time expense. If you have a mortgage it’s likely you will pay for insurance for the life of the mortgage, so keep insurance issues at the forefront of home-buying decisions. Do some investigation The following factors will typically impact the price and perhaps the availability of insurance for the home: Quality and location of the fire department Proximity to the coastline or floodplain and risk of flooding History of earthquakes Age of the home Condition of the roof Whether or not the home is well-built and up to code Swimming pool or other special features Before you make an offer Get a CLUE — It’s important to learn about prior claims on the house — not that a prior claim is necessarily a barrier to securing insurance. In fact, sometimes it may be good news — for example, the roof was damaged by a wind storm and replaced with a new one. Ask the current owner for a copy of the insurance loss history report, such as a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report from ChoicePoint, or an A-PLUS report from ISO, a source of information about property/casualty insurance. A record of insurance claims on the house can provide answers to two important questions: Have there been any past problems in the home? If damage occurred, was it properly repaired? Note: If the home has been claim free for 5 years there will not be a loss history report on the home. Get the house inspected — The inspector should: Check the general condition of the home. Look for water damage, termites and other types of infestation. Check the electrical system, water heater and septic tank, if there is one. Show you where potential problems might develop. Make certain that past problems have been properly repaired. Suggest upgrades or replacements that may be needed. Call me, sooner rather than later Don’t wait until the last minute to think about insurance. Call me to learn about different coverage options so you can be sure you know what you want and have an idea of the cost. Happy house hunting! http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970

April Showers Bring...Lots of Auto Accident?

April showers bring ... too many auto accidents? Maybe it's because we don't really understand how fundamentally the rain affects the road and in turn, the way we and others drive which may lead to more accidents. In any event, I would prefer that April showers bring May flowers. Here's an article that may help you reduce your risk when driving in bad weather. Rain, rain, go away Driving is safer on a sunny day Rain causes thousands of highway accidents each year largely caused by drivers who don’t realize that fair- and foul-weather driving are fundamentally different. It’s important to understand exactly how rain can cause an auto accident so that you can help minimize your risk when driving in bad weather. Two types of drivers In bad weather conditions there are two types of drivers who can increase the risk to others as well as themselves: excessively timid drivers and reckless drivers. Excessively timid — This driver may overestimate the danger of weather conditions and drive at unnecessarily slow speeds causing the traffic to back up. This can increase the risk of rear-end collisions and cause other drivers to take inappropriate risks as they try to overtake the slower driver. Reckless drivers — Reckless drivers often ignore the risks posed by bad weather and may continue to drive at full highway speed despite reduced visibility or flooded roads.  Even with four-wheel drive (4WD), vehicles can skid, and when they do their high speed makes it much more difficult to stop. Car accident prevention tips: First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather. Keep your eyes on the vehicle in front of you. Stay toward the middle lanes — water tends to pool in the outside lanes. Increase your following distance. Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you. Don’t follow large trucks or busses too closely — the spray created by their large tires reduces your visibility. Don’t brake suddenly. Correctly defog your windows. Turn your headlights on even in light rain, fog or overcast conditions. They help you see the road and other drivers see you. Don’t turn on your flashers; they are for emergencies only and may confuse other drivers. Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. Never drive through moving water and avoid standing water. Rain, rain, go away … but until it does, it’s a good idea to slow down and allow extra time to get to your destination. It’s also a good idea to call me so you can be sure you have the coverage you want to help protect yourself, your family and your vehicle. Contact us: Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency             602.547.1970       http://www.farmersagent.com/mhobbs