Shannon Harvey

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.

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.

All of us at the Shannon Harvey Allstate agency wish you a safe and a fun 4th of July celebration.

So whether you're planning to observe America's birthday with parades, All-American eating, fun in the sun, or evening fireworks, we wish you a happy 4th of July.

"What if I died tomorrow. How would my loved ones fare financially?" That is the unthinkable...the dreaded question nobody likes to think about, but not doing so can have serious consequences. A death can cause plenty of emotional stress on a family - make sure financial difficulties don't get added to the mix. Take steps now so that if the worst were to happen, your family knows and understands how to execute your wishes and has the financial support it needs to carry on.

The nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) offers the following five simple steps to help people get their financial affairs in order so that they can rest easy knowing their families would be taken care of when they die:

1. Make it a Family Affair. Be direct when talking with loved ones about this difficult topic. Keep the conversation private, in a setting where everyone feels comfortable and involve as many immediate family members as you can. Then talk through worst-case scenarios to find out what everyone's concerns are and needs would be, financial and otherwise. An example might be identifying who would take care of your children if you and your spouse died or deciding how much money your family would need upon your death to meet ongoing living expenses and fund future plans. Answering these questions will help ensure that your family is well taken care of no matter what twists and turns life brings.

2. Pay it Forward - Purchase adequate life insurance for you and your spouse now to help your family avoid financial potholes down the road. Having the right amount of coverage will help ensure that your family's dreams can be realized even if you're not there to witness them. How much and what kind of life insurance to buy is based on a number of factors, so seek assistance from a qualified insurance professional.

3. Where There's A "Will" There's A Way. I often hear people say, "I don't want to make a will...I might die." Guess what...you're going to die anyway. You might as well die with a will in place. Make a will and update it frequently. Make sure it specifies executors, trustees and guardians for dependent children. And don't forget to get a living will also (health care directive) to make sure loved ones know whether or not you want to be kept on artificial life support. Likewise, you need to designate a power of attorney - someone you authorize to manage your affairs, typically financial ones, if you're not able to handle them yourself.

4. Rest in Peace - Make decisions for final arrangements including: your funeral, type of burial, where you want to be buried and whether you want to be an organ donor. Write wishes down and inform family and close friends.

5. Make a list and check it twice - Make a master list of all key financial information, to include bank account numbers, mortgage and insurance policies. Then go one step further and write down where important non-financial information and valuables are located, including birth and marriage certificates, titles and deeds and safe deposit box keys. Be sure to include contact information for all of the professionals who help with your financial and legal affairs, such as your insurance advisor, attorney or accountant. Lastly, keep copies of the list in a safe place and tell your family members how to get to it.

While we all like to hope for the best, it's always wise to plan for the worst.