An extra way to save money for the holidays

Do you wish you had extra money for the holidays ?

Days are passing by fast and soon it will be that time of year again. Christmas is a fun time of year but not a cheap time. We all could use some extra money around the holidays. If that is you, then you need to save where you can. Insurance is not a place people think they can save, but most of the time you can. We can shop your Car, Home or even Business Insurance to save you money for the holidays. 

When it comes time to save money we all look for places to cut. Most people cut back on cable, entertainment, going out to lunch and any other spending we think we can do without. It is always a good idea to save money when you can, but why not on your insurance. Insurance is an expense we all must pay, the state requires us to have car insurance our homes are covered by homeowners insurance. That does not mean we can not save money on the insurance we pay.

When we obtain insurance for our Home, Auto or Business, we tend to become complacent. Insurance is not a product with a set price or coverages. Each company may and do provide different coverages for different prices. The company that you are currently with may of had a recent increase, while another company may of had a rate decrease. The state of Florida does regulate the insurance industry and what the coverages will cover. They also require every insurance carrier to submit for approval the premium ( cost of the policy) to the state, thus protecting the public from sudden rate hikes. Each carrier can only raise or lower rates with the states approval. This practice is supposedly to reduce the fluctuation in insurance costs to the public. However insurance companies give themselves leeway by offering credits to some, deductions to others and other ways they can adjust they cost of coverage.

This sounds complicated and even boring to most, I know. What this really means to you is that you do have an opportunity to reduce the cost of your insurance. Do not just sit back and let your current insurance company earn money for nothing. When was the last time they contacted you to try to save you money? How often did they shop your insurance to other carriers? Is your insurance agency able to shop you to multiple carriers. If they are unable to seek out other offers for your business, why are you with them?

HomeTown Village Insurance is a local independent insurance agency. We are not tied to one company, like a State Farm, Allstate or Geico. What we are tied to is our clients and saving them money. Our agency has several top insurance carriers including but not limited to: Nationwide, Progressive, Travelers, MetLife and Mercury. It is our job to seek out the best coverages for the right price. We to often see clients that have been paying to much and going along with what they were given. This is not decided for us but a choice that we make for ourselves. 

When will you break free from the chains of inferior company's. This is a wise decision to give you a choice in your life when it come to insurance. Stop walking blindly down the wrong path, open your eyes and become aware that you can choose. If not just for one moment in your life, choose to explorer your options and see what is available for you. Our agency prides its self on giving our clients options and helping them save. Do not deny yourself this opportunity to have a choice and enjoy the fact that we actually care. 

This agency was founded to bring back the local and small town traditions that most of us have had. We do not believe in 1-800 numbers, call centers or pushing products you do not need. We offer our services to The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl and all over Florida. Our services are that we take the time to understand your needs, we shop several companies for you to find the most savings, then we continuously review your polices to see what is available and if we can save you more money.

The time to save money on insurance is now. Contact our office for a free insurance review so that we can start the process.


F.Y.I.

If you are thinking you are not up for renewal on your policy's or that you just paid it, you can still save. Insurance is typically paid on a daily basis and when you change policy's you can recoup any unpaid premium. What you would need to do is provide your former insurance carrier with a deceleration page of your new policy. On that page will be a date of issue that will be the date that they use to refund any unused premium.

What is Personal Injury Protection in Florida (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Florida


Florida is one of ten states that have personal injury protection (no fault) auto insurance. The intention was to provide injured drivers up to $10,000 in IMMEDIATE MEDICAL COVERAGE in lieu of establishing fault through the court system. The goal was to reduce payment delay for injured drivers, as well as limit the utilization of the court system. In Florida, PIP coverage is REQUIRED to be purchased by all owners of motor vehicles registered in this state. PIP coverage makes the individual responsible for their own injuries in an accident regardless of fault.

The State of Florida has made a change to this law. The law is still intact, however you are limited on time. If you want to file a claim on the PIP coverage, you must do so on or before the 14th day from the incident. Please remember that change in the law for PIP. If you need to use the coverage do not wait or you might not be eligible.

Insurance laws constantly change or are rewritten. It is important to stay informed and have a good understanding of what will affect you, when it comes to insurance. I do have a lot of clients that are from out of state, that move to The Villages or surrounding areas of Florida. Each state is different when it comes to insurance and a lot of the new residents, snowbirds are unaware of the differences. That is why I say that it is a good idea to talk to your agent, so that you have a good understanding of laws and how they affect you. What you might think or understand about your insurance coverages on you Home, Auto or even Business could be different in Florida.

Contact HomeTown Village Insurance if you have any questions on Insurance in the State of Florida. We would be happy to help you in any way that we can, even if you are not our client. We want to educate everyone on Insurance, not just the clients we have.


HomeTown Village Insurance is an independent insurance agency covering The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Lake County, Marion County, Sumter County and all over Florida. We provide Homeowners Insurance, Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance and other types or personal and business products.

When is the best time to shop for insurance in Florida

The best time to shop for insurance is now. Whether you live in The Villages Florida, Leesburg or any where else in Florida. The reason that today is the best day to shop for insurance, is because insurance rates constantly go up all the time. In fact I had only one company this year lower its rates for homeowners insurance. That was very rare to see and I do not know how long that will last. However like most things in our lives, costs always go up.

If you are thinking that you're insurance policy is not up yet and you need to wait until your renewal. That is a common mistake when it comes to shopping your insurance rate. Unless you have a fully earned insurance policy, which means it is paid in full and nonrefundable. Those polices are not the norm, they tend to be a higher risk and are very rare to see. So for the average policy holder you are allowed to cancel your policy and receive a refund. Insurance in the state of  Florida is actually accessed daily. If you obtain a new policy that has an effective date during your current coverage, you can receive the unused funds back.

Even after explaining that any insurance premium paid will not be lost, most people tend not to shop their insurance policy's. We have even come across some of the public that never shop insurance, they just simply go with what the carrier or agency sends them. This is such a painful thing to see and witness. Over my 15 years of insurance experience, I have found no better weapon to use then the ability to shop. That was one of the goals that I had when I opened this agency. HomeTown Village Insurance was not going to be tied to one or two insurance carriers, but have the ability to shop many carriers for your benefit. With the ability to shop over 35 insurance carriers, I truly feel comfortable when I tell a client that this price I have for them is the best. That is why I say "We make sure you have the right coverages for the best price".

At no time should you just renew your policy without even trying one other agency or company, especially  with the shape of the economy today. Who in the United States of America would not be interested in saving money. I asked one of my clients who lives in The Villages and had insurance with American Integrity if he  would be interested in saving some money on insurance. The reply I received was the same I always get, of course I want to save money who wouldn't. That is why I tell everyone from family, friends and people on the street to shop your insurance rates. I was able to shop his home insurance and not only improve his coverages but saved him over $500 a year. Now we not only provide him with a homeowners policy but with an Auto and Golf Cart as well.

Insurance companies in Florida are like a jigsaw puzzle. To me each client is a unique piece and will not fit into just one spot. Unless that is the right spot for them. In other words, lets say you live in Leesburg and are in a home that was built in 2001. Some or most agency's would quote you with one or maybe two homeowners companies, even worse with citizens. That reason is can be different, if they are restricted by the amount of company's they have available or that they have the attitude that its a one fit for all. My agency does not do that at all, when it comes to insurance.

Like I said before we have over 35 insurance companies to shop you're Home, Car, and Golf Cart. We also have a large amount of commercial insurance carriers. I know each insurance company inside and out. Take for instance the home owner in Leesburg Fl that I told you about. I know that some companies have better coverages and rates for that age of home then others. Also the style of home can make a difference as well, block or frame. These little things can make a big difference when it comes to placing a client with the right company. If a client contacts me for a quote on car insurance, I would search out every discount that I could find. Also because of the amount of car insurance companies we have, I can see what would make a difference. Some companies like certain cars better or I have even have had a company rate one spouse higher then the other.

When it come to shopping insurance you never know what you might get or how much you might save. What I can tell you is that if you do not shop your Car insurance, Home or any other policy, you are giving up one of the best rights we have as Americans, The Freedom of Choice.Contact HomeTown Village Insurance today so that you can take advantage of your rights and shop your insurance.

HomeTown Village Insurance

352-751-5454

Visit us online at http://thevillagesinsurance.net/

Insurance in The Villages Florida

 I would like to thank the two clients I visited in The Villages today. One of the great things that this insurance agency does is in home visits. We want to bring back that home town feeling when it comes to insurance. So our office offers in home appointments to review your insurance needs. It actually makes a difference when you can sit with the client in their home and go over the choices we give them. Most people feel more comfortable that way. We also want the client to feel like they are the most important person to us and that they have all our attention.

The first appointment in The Villages was Cheryl. Cheryl was very nice and welcoming. She was a client of The Villages Insurance and had her Home, Auto and Golf Cart with them. We spoke over the phone a couple of times and she told me the coverages that she currently had. I myself worked for The Villages Insurance years ago, so I know what they offer for insurance. I gathered some information from her so that I could shop her coverages. We at HomeTown Village Insurance have over 35 insurance companies to shop coverages and rates with. That way we are not stuck with one or two companies and the rates they offer.

After I shopped her coverages I gathered the information that I had and made an appointment to go over the coverages with her in person. My goal is to inform and educate my clients so not only they understand what the policy covers but that that also understand it. When we met this morning I reviewed and compared what The Villages Insurance was offering to what I had. What I was able to do was save her money. The fact is that I was able to lower her insurance bill by more than $575 a year. I was able to do that by knowing what companies work best and how they work. Her auto insurance was with Travelers Insurance, I was able to keep her with them while lowering her rate. It all depends on how much work your insurance agent want to work for you. She was very pleased with what I had to offer and I signed her up right away.

The next appointment I had in The Villages Florida was with Jack M.. He was a very nice gentlemen from the village of Chatham. Jack located HomeTown Village insurance through the village news web site. One of the fastest growing news sites on the internet. When I talked with Jack he informed me that he was currently with AAA for insurance. He told me that one of the reasons he liked AAA was that he had an all in one policy. An all in one insurance policy is really only offered by AAA in Florida. Even though you see all the TV adds saying they offer it, you need to look at the fine print. Unfortunately in Florida most carriers do not offer that kind of policy. That is a good thing that they do not offer it.

The reason that an all in one policy in Florida is a bad idea is this. If you have a Home, Auto and Golf Cart insurance with one company. If that company decides to raise your rates or change your coverages to one of your policies. You would not only have to shop the policy that was changing but the other policy's you have with them as well. AAA does that with all of their clients that it has in Florida. You will not be able to keep just one policy with them without the other policy rate increasing. What that means is that they know that you are more likely to keep your coverages with them when they have an increase or change in coverage then shop them some where else. If you had independent policy's that would not be the case. Whenever one policy has a change you can still keep the other policy's if you are happy with them.

I was able to explain that to Jack and make an in home appointment with him in The Villages. Jack had been with AAA for a very long time. It is hard for most people to change something that has been consistent in their life. Sadly this is how people could save them selves a lot of money. Since most people just go with the flow they do not shop the coverages or rates for insurance. It is good to be loyal to your agency but no reason you cant keep them honest and shop around. I was able to save Jack M. over $500 in insurance. With that in mind he also has the ability to change a policy or coverage with out it affecting any other policy he might have.

Saving money for my clients is very important to me and my office. However we also have a lot to offer our clients that seems to have gone missing in the United States. When you become a client of ours you become family. Our job is not to sell you what ever we can sell you. We make an effort to help you understand what you have and show you what is available so you can make the decision. If we do not see a need for something we will inform you of what we believe you need instead of what makes us the most money. That I know is hard to have faith in when so many companies just want to take. We are family owned an run with over 15 years experience in the insurance industry. We are not out to take over the world, we just want to make a difference in our community.

Whether you live in The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, or any where in Florida contact HomeTown Village if you are interested in saving money. We have over 35 companies to shop your rates and coverages with. We want to make sure you have the right coverage for the best price.

HomeTown Village Insurance

352-751-5454

Sinkhole Insurance in the State of Florida

First let me get this out of the way. Sinkholes that you see on T.V. that have swallowed a structure are not defined that way by the state. For insurance purposes what that is actually classified in a Catastrophic Ground Collapse. That is when a hole surfaces on the ground and causing damage that results in the  property being condemned or uninhabitable. A Sinkhole is when a hole or pocket in the ground have not surfaced.

So now that we that out of the way. What does that mean to you and your home. In Florida you have two coverages on home insurance policy that relates to that. One is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse and the other is Sinkhole Coverage. Because of the media and how they protray things on the news. Most people believe Sinkhole coverage is what they need on their homeowners policy. That unfortunately is incorrect presumption on what they need.

Sinkhole coverage in Florida covers a potential pocket (void) under your home, in the event you become aware of this situation. The pocket or void is under the ground and has not surfaced.You may request the company to add the coverage before you purchase the policy if you pay for a sinkhole inspection. This inspection does not guarantee the coverage will be added to the policy and even if it is added the coverage will contain a 10% deductible. The result if a viod is found will most likely be a substance like cement to fill the void. That is after you pay your 10% deductible. Which if your policy is for 180,000 you will need to pay 18,000 first.

How often will you know of a void under your home. Most of the time the only way we know of a void is when it surfaces. When it does surface it no longer defined by the state for insurance purposes as a Sinkhole but Catastrophic Ground Collapse. This is a fact and is not for interpretation by any agent.

The coverage that will cover your home in the event of it falling into a hole or void is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse. Unlike Sinkhole coverage, Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse is under your normal deductible. If your home collapses into a hole or void your homeowners insurance policy will pay coverage limit. In Florida it is a STANDARD COVERAGE on all home insurance policy's. You do not have to have Sinkhole coverage to be covered if your home is swallowed by a hole or void.

Insurance companies and agents make money by the amount of coverage you have. If a coverage makes sense to you and  you think you need it then get it. Do not just go along with your agent if you do not understand the policy or coverages. If your agent tells you that you need sinkhole coverage to cover your home. Ask them about Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse and see what they tell you. After all this is a sales business and if they person you are dealing with is honest they should tell you the truth. However a lot of agents are just after the sale and to see how much money they can make.

We at HomeTown Village Insurance want our clients to be like family. Our goal is to bring back that local home town feeling. You are just not a number when it come to us. We take the time to go over your coverages with you so that you understand them. You will feel important and that your business means something to us. HomeTown Village Insurance staff want to make sure that you have the best coverages for the right price.



HomeTown Village Insurance covers The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Tavares Fl, Clermont Fl, Lake County Fl, Marion County Fl, Sumter County Fl and all over Florida.

Second Chance

Can someone explain this to me. I have been in insurance for 15 years. I have worked for major insurance corporations, ran a local insurance agency and now own one myself. The question i have is this. I just had a customer who I saved over 500 on homeowners insurance. With a top rated company. The company they used had them under insured and they were paying to much. Also they would not return phone calls or really help they client when she had questions. The client could not understand how I could be saving them so much money and insure them for more. So they called that company to see if I was telling the truth. Luckily, when they finally got a hold of someone. The person on the phone was honest and told them the truth about my policy. That the quote i gave was correct. However they convinced the client that they will correct it and lower the premium. The client just contacted me and said the policy was never corrected and she wanted to go with me. I am an honest person and have told clients to use someone else when I know they can get a better deal. Just don't understand when a company was taking advantage of someone that that person would give them a second chance. I so wish I could say told you so.

Here is a MONEY Saving Tip!

Here is a MONEY Saving Tip!


HomeTown Village Insurance has some tips for you to save money on your Homeowners Insurance in Florida. Here is an example of one of the ways to save money on Home Insurance:

Most home insurance company's in Florida automatically give a credit for meeting wind mitigation standards. But what if you don’t see that credit on YOUR policy? The reason is if your home is 2002 or newer this credit is automatic, however if your home was built in 2001 or older you will have to show the insurance company you meet the requirements.

Because most Insurance Agents do not notify you of this credit, we at HomeTown Village Insurance want to make sure you save the most on your policy. And this credit could be HUGE! In Florida, for example, premium discounts for certain favorable wind mitigation features are mandated by State law and can total 45% of the original policy's premium.  

Windstorm mitigation inspections look for construction features that have been shown to reduce losses in hurricanes, such as a hip roof, concrete block construction, the presence of gable end bracing, shutters and opening protections, the presence of roof to wall attachments such as toe nails, clips or hurricane straps, and the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier.  

This is what you will have to do; get a wind mit inspection done & send it to your insurance company or contact your Agent. Our Recommendation for that Inspection would be Heroic Inspection Services Located in Leesburg. Nik owns an excellent company that does quality work, for fair prices! Give Nik a call and tell him you need an inspection TODAY!

 

https://www.facebook.com/heroicinspectionservices?fref=ts

Heroic Inspection Services LLC

I am a licensed and insured full service inspector offering Home Inspections, 4 Point Inspections, and Wind Mitigation Inspections.



HomeTown Village Insurance covers The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl, Ocala Fl, Clermont Fl, Lake County, Marion County, Sumter County and all over Florida.

American Strategic Insurance or ASI in The Villages had a rate hike

 We have been getting a lot of calls recently from clients of The Villages Insurance. Apparently ASI insurance just had a big rate increase in Florida. That is the main homeowners company that The Villages Insurance carries. Since we have over 35 companies to shop rates with. We have saved those clients with ASI a lot of money. If you have ASI contact us today to see how much we can save you.

 Do not let this chance pass you by. Homeowners insurance is an easy and important opportunity to save money. Most people just keep what insurance they have. We talk to clients all the time from The Villages Florida that have been with the same company for years. It is a good thing to have loyalty. Sometimes loyalty can cost you money when it does not have to though.

 Most agency's only have one maybe two home insurance companies in Florida to write insurance with. Why limit your shopping to just one or two. Especially if one of them is the state run citizens insurance of Florida. You do have more options and choices when it come to home insurance in Florida. These options probably would save you money when it comes to insurance.

 The only way to find out how much HomeTown Village Insurance can save you is by contacting our office. You can call us at 352-751-5454 or visit us online at  http://thevillagesinsurance.net/. If you live in The Villages Florida, Leesburg Florida, Ocala Florida or any where in Florida then you need to contact us Today.

HomeTown Village Insurance shops Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Commercial Insurance and other lines of Insurance in Florida.

Home Insurance Rate Decrease

RATE DECREASE ANNOUNCED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are happy to announce that one of our Homeowners Insurance providers has notified us that they will have a rate decrease. This decrease will take affect in November. If you are interested in saving money please contact us for a quote. It is not every day that a company lowers its rates. Make sure you take advantage of these savings. Even if you currently have insurance it is a good idea to compare. Do not wait until it your policy is up. You might miss out on the savings. You can actually shop your insurance at any time. When we find you a better rate for home insurance, your current company would refund you the difference for the rest of the term. What that means is that you would not be penalized for shopping around. HomeTown Village Insurance provides insurance in The Villages Fl, Leesburg Fl and all over Florida.

Call us today 352-751-5454

Tropical Storm Karen Path Gets Florida Insurance Companies to Start Suspending

Tropical Storm Karen is forming in the gulf of Mexico and is heading toward the United States. As with any storm you never really know the path it will take. At this time some insurance companies have already suspended new policies in Florida. This would be a good time to have us check your coverage to make sure you are protected before it is to late. Soon all insurance companies will suspend new polices or new changes till the storm passes. Contact HomeTown Village Insurance at 352-751-5454

Flood Insurance Rate Increase

Flood Insurance rates are going way up in Florida. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 which started on Oct. 1 2013 is the cause. The act removes federal subsidies from properties in flood zones along with other changes. If your in a flood zone and purchased your home before the act was signed on July 06 2012 then most of you will see an increase of 25% annually. I know that does not sound like a lot. However lets say you are paying $1200 for Flood Insurance then it goes up by at least 300 to 1500 a month. That is a big increase for a public that already is having a hard time with this economic recovery. How ever if you purchased your insurance after that date then your insurance could increase 10 times the amount. This is the crazy part of the law to me. If you had to pay 1200 a year then it would increase to maybe 12,000 a year. unfortunately that is correct I checked it twice myself.  The affected areas are not just on the coast of Florida but in low-lying inland areas also. This also will affect the sale of homes in Flood Zones. Please contact us so we can help guide you thru this important change to Flood Insurance.

HomeTown Village Insurance 352-751-5454

Do You Have Tower Hill Insurance Company?

As many of you may know Citizens Insurance Company is a state run Insurance carrier for those people who can not find insurance. You may also beaware that most policies with Citizens are considered HIGH risk, due to a multitude of reasons.

If you are a Tower Hill customer I would beware that your insurance company has taken steps to now assume more then 100,000 policies thru Citizens. This to me is not a good sign for the average Tower Hill Client. What makes insurance prices rise are, CLAIMS... Now just think of those 100,000 HIGH risk homeowners that are now in YOUR insurance company. The truth is now those policies that were once convered by Citizens and paid out by Citizens is now going to be paid out by your insurance company Tower Hill. This insures your fate in prices rising in the future.

If you have a Tower Hill policy CALL ME today to avoid those rising prices! (352)-751-5454


https://www.thig.com/about-tower-hill/news-and-events/tower-hill-insurance-companies-approved-for-citizens-takeout

Uninsured Motorists

At HomeTown VIllage Insurance we make sure your covered because drivers don't have these hanging in their windows. Don't be caught off guard after an accident when another driver doesnt have insurance. Call us today and see if are protected against an unisured motorist today at 352-751-5454

Sinkhole Insurance Florida

Sinkhole Myths and Facts

Sinkholes have been big news lately.  We've had them in Orlando, Clermont, The Villages, Ocala and recently one in Mt. Dora.  Florida insurance policies may or may not cover them depending on the policy coverage and the severity of the hole.  

Myth:

Sinkhole Insurance provides coverage for your home in the event that the hole surfaces causing damage that results in the  property being condemned or uninhabitable.

Fact:

Sinkhole Insurance is not the coverage that covers your home in that event.  The coverage that covers your home is Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse which is included on every homeowners insurance policy sold in Florida.

Myth:

Sinkhole Coverage is no longer available in Florida.

Fact:  

Yes even though Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse will cover your home in the event a hole surfaces and destroys  it sinkhole coverage is still available.  Sinkhole coverage pays for holes or pockets in the ground that have not surfaced. To obtain sinkhole coverage you would have to pay for expensive inspections just to apply for the coverage and the coverage also comes with a 10% deductible.

Please contact us for further information or questions and to recieve a free insurance review at 352-751-5454

Florida Insurance Law

Most People don't realize they can shop their insurance anytime during their policy period. If you would like a free review of your insurance to see if you have the best coverage for the best price. We have over 35 companies to choose from. Give us a call today at 352-751-5454

Let us help you make these decisions a little easier! With our friendly hometown service we are here to answer any questions you have about your insurance. Give us a call at 352-751-5454

Check out our NEW WEBSITE!!

http://thevillagesinsurance.net/

Give us your feedback!

Insurance Fact

Insurance Fact: Bodily Injury coverage is required at the time of an accident however the State of Florida only requires you to have PIP insurance to get a tag.

Top 5 things you should do when in an ACCIDENT

Top 5 things you should do when in an ACCIDENT:

1. Stay Safe! Stay in your vehicle until Police arrive.
2. Call Police. Program the Non-Emergency phone number in your cell or simply dial 911.
3. Get a Police Report. Don't just exchange information an insurance may deny the claim!
4. Call your insurance Agent. So we can help advise you on the coverages you have purchased.
5. Get an Estimate. Do not rely on insurance company pricing to fix your vehicle. Go to someone you trust!

Villages wall torn down after residents' fight

Villages wall torn down after residents' fight

Here is an artical that shows if you are passionate about something and work hard you can get what you want.


"Berlin wall irks golf cart drivers on historic side of The Villages"

Residents continue to fight developer over Villages wall

Take a look at this video.

There are always obstacles in each stage of our lives. Voicing our opinion is something we have a right to do. However did you know that your homeowners policy can cover you for: Defamation/Slander which is a statement that harms the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government, religion, or nation

Buying an Umbrella Policy can cover you for more then a million!


Residents continue to fight developer over Villages wall

Sinkhole In Clermont - Do you have Coverage?