Shannon Harvey Insurance

Congratulations on your decision to become a condo owner. You'll not only have a wonderful new place to call home, but you'll also have both individual and common insurance needs. Individually, you need to protect your personal property, and you also need protection from liabilities and additional assessment fees. With your fellow condo owners, you share certain responsibilities, such as building upkeep, as well as common liability. 

Your condo insurance can help protect you against loss from theft, both at home and away, losses for accidents to visitors in your home, and more. If a guest or family member is injured on your stairs, would you be able to pay the medical expenses? If lightning causes damage to the exterior portions of your condominium building, will your association carry enough insurance to repair everything? If a storm causes your condo to be uninhabitable, are you prepared to pay for the additional living expenses? 

With the right condo insurance, you should be able to relax in your new condo with the peace of mind that you're in good hands. But before you go to closing, here are a few things to look for:

1. Test all appliances.

2. Turn on all water faucets to check water pressure.

3. Adjust the thermostat to make sure heat turns on.

4. Examine the ceilings and walls for spots which might indicate leaks.

5. Look for loose wires and electrical fixtures without covers.

6. Make sure all the doors and cabinets open and close easily.

Maybe these are things you've already taken care of, but if not it's better to plan for the worst while you hope for the best.

I've often heard other insurance professionals say, "People buy life insurance because of love." Life insurance helps you to ensure that the financial needs of your family are met in the event of your death. This gives you peace of mind, since you'll know your family will be secure in the future.

So, to answer the question, you need a life insurance policy if your loved ones depend on your income or stand to inherit a financial burden in the event of your death.

The money your dependents will receive, "the death benefit," can help pay essential day-to-day expenses, such as mortgage and medical bills, and help your family reach longer-term goals such as your children's college education. Plus, life insurance can help ensure that your loved ones are not burdened with debt or forced to sell assets to pay outstanding bills or taxes.

Okay, so you've decided you do need life insurance and you're now asking: "How much life insurance do I need?" This depends on a few factors. Generally, the rule of thumb is 7 times your salary; however, as life changes, your insurance needs might, too. It's a good idea to reassess your needs annually to make sure you have enough to properly protect your family.

Beyond protection, life insurance can be the cornerstone of your family's financial security by providing savings and wealth transfer opportunities. In fact, the very first step in selecting life insurance is to decide how you want the insurance to work for your family.

If you have more questions, I can help you determine the amount of protection you may need and the type of insurance that's right for you.

College football is right around the corner, which means the biggest college football rivalries will soon be heating up. Are you planning a road trip to your favorite college or university for a football game? Do your plans include a trip to Clemson for the Tigers' season-opener against Middle Tennessee on Saturday at Memorial Stadium?

Well, you won't be alone on the roadways, so don't let the typical distractions ruin your trips this college football season. Drivers are faced with the added distractions of extra traffic on the roadways heading to the stadium, congested parking lots and campuses with plenty of pedestrians and moving vehicles. With so many things to do, and so little time to do it, it's no wonder why we try to multitask while driving.

In 2007, nearly 112 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes around the United States on average, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Allstate encourages drivers practice caution behind the wheel, and offer some good driver safety tips:

•·                     Keep your eyes on the road.

•·                     Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

•·                     Do not eat while driving

•·                     Do not apply cosmetics or groom if you are behind the wheel.

•·                     Don't text or use your cell phone behind the wheel

•·                     Pull over if you feel drowsy

This fall you'll root for your favorite team to take extra care of the football late in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. Use that same frame of mind when you're behind the wheel making those trips back and forth to the games. It's okay to hope for the best as long as you plan for the worst.