Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How can I save on my
homeowner's insurance rates.

Question: What is the right kind of Life Insurance for me?

How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:

How much of the family income do I provide? If I were to die early, how would my survivors, especially my children, get by? Does anyone else depend on me financially, such as parent, grandparent, brothers and sisters?

Do I have children for whom I'd like to set aside money to finish their education in the event of my death?

How will my family pay final expenses and repay debts after my death?

Do I have family members or an organization to whom I would like to leave money?

Will there be estate taxes to pay after my death?

How will inflation affect future needs?

Whole Life Insurance covers you for as long as you live if your premiums are paid. You generally pay the same amount in premiums for as long as you live. When you first take out the policy, premiums can be several times higher than you would pay initially for the same amount of term insurance. But they are smaller than the premiums you would eventually pay if you were to keep renewing a term policy until your later years.

Question: How can I save on my
homeowner's insurance rates?
Answer: There are several things you can choose to
do in order to decrease your homeowner insurance rates. For example, you might want to:

• Increase your deductibles. Do not smoke.
• Install alarm systems.
• Install a fire/police department alarm.
• Install dead bolt locks.
• Install smoke detectors.
• Buy a home constructed of masonry or fire- resistant materials.
• Locate in fire-protected areas.

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• Contact the nearest law enforcement agency.
• For each involved party, make a list with their name, address, license number and phone number.
• Get the name and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
• Do not discuss the facts of the accident with anyone except the law enforcement officer or your insurance company's representative. DO NOT ADMIT FAULT.
• Report the accident to your insurance company or to us.

Question: How the Homeowners claims process works.
Answer: If you have suffered a loss, an insurance claims representative will be quickly called to review any damage and work out a fair and equitable settlement according to the terms of the policy. If you have taken some action to prevent further damage, such as boarding up damaged windows and doors, moving personal property to a secure area, or temporarily fixing holes in roofs, keep a record of your costs. The cost of such repairs can become part of the claim.
If damage is extensive enough, the homeowners policy provides funds if you have to rent equivalent temporary living space. The policy also covers certain additional living expenses in excess of your normal living expenses. Keep an accurate record of these expenses. To help with these items, verify with your agent or claims representative what limits are available for these expenses.
You may be asked to submit a property inventory of the entire household's damaged or destroyed items. A Household Inventory can be of great value. Consider making a room-by-room listing or a videotape of the contents 01 each room. Store this information in a bank safe deposit box or someplace away from the premises. If you don't have al inventory, a useful tip to help recall what was in the house is to roughly diagram each room, then recall where items we situated.
The claims representative will probably take photos of the damage and spend time with you discussing your coverage's, property values, and how the claim will be handled. If you have any questions during the process, don't hesitate to ask. This is the time when it is important to work with the claims representative so you will understand the settlement.
Often, an estimate from a contractor is necessary. The claims representative might meet with your contractor to discus! How the repairs will be made, what materials to use, and the costs. When the costs and contractor are agreed upon, payment for the repairs are often made jointly to you and to the mortgage holder, if any, named on the policy .You ma) also authorize direct payment to the contractor doing the repairs or rebuilding the property.
If new developments arise, contact the claims representative as soon as possible. It is important for all parties involved the settlement to share as much information as possible. In doing so, a fair and satisfactory settlement can be reached. Your agent is also an excellent resource and will often be actively involved in the claims process.
The insurance claim settlement process is designed for the prompt, fair handling of claims. The system works well, and claims representatives strive to be helpful, informative and fair.

Question: What can I do to reduce my
auto insurance premiums?
Answer:

• Increase your deductible. Your premium will automatically decrease if you are willing to pay more out of your pocket in the event of an accident.
• You can discuss the yearly savings with your Coffey Insurance agent.
• Insure all your household vehicles with one company. If you insure two or more autos, Our representing companies will reduce your premium on most coverage's.
• Consider the type of vehicle you drive. Think about driving a less showy model. Not only do conventional models cost less to insure, but they are also likely to cost less in repairs should an accident occur.
• Be extra cautious when insuring your teen on the family policy. Encourage your teen to think about the serious responsibilities that come with having a driver's license. Some important issues to discuss with your teen are:
  • Inexperience
  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Inattention
  • Not wearing seatbelts
  • Drinking and driving

These are some positive things you can do to help your child -and help protect your insurance rates at the same time.