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.