Shannon Harvey Insurance

Congratulations to our customer, Rick Peele, for winning the June Referral Contest drawing for a $40 gas card! Thank you, Rick, for your business. We're glad to put you in Good Hands.

Thank you also to the other entrants in the drawing. Your referrals are greatly appreciated!

The contest is simple. For every referral that you send our way that calls and asks us for a home or auto insurance quote, we will enter you in the contest for the monthly and quarterly prize. If the referred individual purchases the quoted policy, your name will be entered a second time. The best part about this program is, there is no limit to how many times your name can be entered. The more referrals you send the better your chances of winning!

Each month we'll select one winner to receive a $40 gas card.  Additionally, each quarter we'll select one person as the winner of the quarterly prize--this quarter's item is a Nintendo Wii. So what are you waiting for?

It's amazing how much influence a realtor can have on a homebuyer, whether it's which neighborhoods are most appealing, which builders have the best reputations, or which lender is currently offering the lowest interest rates. Another area I've seen some realtors separate themselves from their competition is in pointing out a few things about homeowners insurance, especially since it's easy to think all homeowners insurance policies were created equal (even though they're not).

Here are 4 tips I've heard Expert Realtors give that are not only beneficial to their clients, but also add value to the realtor/buyer relationship.

1.     Since you're married...for about $25/year, you can usually increase the limits on covered losses for Jewelry/Silver/Watches/Furs to $10,000. Otherwise, it's usually only $1,000 for Jewelry & $2,500 for Silver. If you notice a beautiful diamond ring, it's a good bet the owner wouldn't sell it for $1,000 which is essentially what they would be doing if it was lost and they only had the standard coverage on their homeowner's policy.

2.     Since you have a child in college (or soon to be in college)...if they're in a dorm, then covered losses would usually fall under your homeowner's insurance policy. If the student is renting an apartment, you'll want them to obtain a renter's policy. The average renter usually has $30,000 in personal belongings (think about jeans, shoes, and other clothing in the closet, ALONG with any computer equipment) which can be covered for roughly $180/year...which is usually what they'll pay for just a few textbooks during the semester.

3.     You mentioned your photography/music equipment...for about $20/year, you can usually increase the limits on covered losses for Music/Photography equipment to $5,000. Otherwise, it's usually only $1,000. And if they're like most enthusiasts that I know, they likely collect equipment much like stamp collector collects stamps...and the standard coverage simply won't do.

4.     With Identity Theft on the rise for the 9^th year in a row...you should consider adding Identity Theft Protection to your homeowner's insurance coverage, which can often be done for about $30/year. Identity Theft is on the rise and remains the top reason for consumer complaints for the 9th year in a row (and these types of crimes tend to INCREASE during a recession). According to www.IDTheftCenter.org: Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime, often over a period of years. Based on 600 hours times the indicated victim wages, this equals nearly $16,000 in lost potential or realized income.

The great thing about these 4 tips is that a potential problem can be solved for less than most of us spend to fill up our tanks with gas. If a covered loss occurs, your customer would get plenty of mileage out of the money they've spent. There are usually no traffic jams on the extra mile and with these 4 easy observations, you can not only help your clients but you'll also endear them to you for future transactions.

Did you know that July is Women's Motorcycle Month? Female riders can stay safe and still enjoy their rides this summer. A fast-growing segment of the biker population, women represent one-third of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's riding course and about 10 percent of the country's riding population.

Women's bikers are growing in numbers, with the number of licensed motorcycle riders increasing by 28 percent over the past five years. During that same time frame, the number of licensed male motorcycle riders has only grown seven percent. It's important to us that riders - both male and female alike - know how to ride safely, and motorists understand the proper ways to share the road.

Motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled during the past 10 years, accounting for over 4,500 deaths and 78,000 injuries annually, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports more than two-thirds of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle and another vehicle.

In conjunction with Women's Motorcycle Month, we and the NHTSA suggest the following safety tips for motorcycle riders:

·         Protect yourself: Choose gear that increases your visibility and provides protection if you were in a crash. Always wear a helmet that fits right, and has a DOT label showing that it meets federal safety standards. 

·         Keep control: Know your bike's limits. Stick to the speed limit. Use your signals. Brake smart by using both brakes at the same time, slow and steady.

·         Know the road:  Watch for hazardous road conditions, including potholes, wet leaves and railroad tracks.

·         Make sure other drivers can see you: Never share a lane with a car. Don't ride in blind spots or tailgate. Always use your headlights.

·         Be respectful of others: Don't weave through traffic or diver on the shoulder.

Motorists can follow these tips to help keep the roads safer for both themselves and motorcyclists:

·         Motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see: Remember that bikers are often hidden in a vehicle's blind spot or missed in a quick look due to the bike's smaller size. Always check your mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane.

·         Allow the bike a full lane width: Although it may seem as through there is enough room in the traffic lane for both a automobile and motorcycle, remember the motorcyclist needs room to maneuver safely. Never share a lane with a motorcycle.

·         Allow more following distance: Don't follow a motorcycle too closely. Allow enough room for the motorcyclist to take evasive actions. In dry conditions, bikers can stop more quickly than cars.

·         Always use your signals: This allows the biker to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position. Don't be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle because motorcycle signals usually are not self-cancelling and bikers sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the biker is going to turn before proceeding.

·         Be aware of road conditions: Minor annoyances to you may pose major hazards to bikers. Motorcyclists may change speed or adjust their position suddenly in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings and grooved pavement.

The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season is here, and hurricane prone states are doing their part to help prepare their citizens and communities.  From sales tax holidays on hurricane and emergency preparedness equipment in Virginia and Louisiana, to a major hurricane exercise in Florida, states are taking actions to ensure that citizens and the emergency response community are prepared for the 2009 hurricane season.

"Across the country, we are working and communicating with our state and local partners to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "States are also taking it upon themselves to make sure their citizens and responders are prepared. These efforts will go a long way in determining the outcome of the next hurricane or disaster, and I applaud them."

Click here to find examples of just some of the activities taking place in hurricane prone states. FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

South Carolina has already takens steps to communicate with state residents and if you click here the link will take you directly to the SC Emergency Management Division web site. Once there, you will be able to access an official South Carolina Hurricane Guide, which will be available in both English and Spanish.

While it's easy to hope for the best, it's better to plan for the worst.

Firing up your backyard grill this weekend, or for a Fourth of July cookout?  Before you ignite the charcoal briquettes or crank open the gas valve on the propane tank, make sure you've run through your grilling safety checklist before tossing food over the flames.  Even the slightest oversight can spark danger, potentially leading to extensive property damage and severe burn injuries.

Summer time offers plenty of opportunities for families and friends to get together for large, outdoor parties. But in the excitement of planning the event and preparing the food, it's easy to overlook basic safety tips that may prevent your backyard barbecue from going up in flames.

Grill Safety Checklist

To avoid grilling disasters, follow these safety tips to enjoy safe outdoor cooking all summer long:

• Make sure your barbecue grill is on a level surface far enough away from homes, furniture, children and pets
• Check to see grill legs are sturdy and avoid grilling on a combustible surface such as a wooden deck.
• Position your grill so sparks and smoke won't fly towards people, furniture or buildings
• Avoid grilling in a confined space and if possible, don't grill on balconies and decks of apartments and condominiums
• Protect your hands and body by using potholder-type gloves and a heavy apron when over the grill
• Keep lighted cigarettes, matches and open flames away from your grill
• Clean your grill after every use to avoid grease buildup at the bottom

For Charcoal Grills:

• Never allow burned coals to smolder in any container on a wooden deck and make sure to douse coals with water before they're disposed
• Do not discard used briquettes in a cardboard carton or any other combustible container
• Avoid using gasoline, kerosene, alcohol or a cigarette lighter to ignite a fire
• Do not add more starter fluid to an existing fire
• Only use enough charcoal to last for the amount of time it's needed
• Make sure the ash catcher is properly attached when using a kettle grill
• In the event of bad weather while grilling, do not move a grill indoors; hot charcoal can build up lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

For Gas Grills:

• Always store gas tanks in an upright position outside and away from your home or garage and out of the reach of children and pets
• Check to see tank valves are turned off when not in use
• To see if there may be a leak in a tube or connection, pour soapy water over it with the valve turned open - bubbles will appear if there is a leak.  Should there be a leak, shut off the gas immediately and do not use the grill until it is repaired

And for all types of grilling, never leave your grill unattended when in use.  Taking time to check for safety will ensure that any fireworks over the holiday are not related to your grilling handiwork.