So we've now gotten settled in our new location at the SW corner of Comanche and Wyoming.  We are really liking our new location and we've even gotten some walk-in business.  It seems homey and comfortable although customer sometimes get lost when they come past the receptionist desk.  The weird thing about this location is that its very close to the highschool I attended and I remember coming to this very office for flowers and driving by liking the looks of the building.  Anyways I'm really happy here and feel like I've "arrived". 
On a personal note I have my baby (Kambria A. Geissler) 7 weeks ago on Sept 4th and I am back from maternity leave.  I have been bringing Kambria to the office and between my husband John (health insurance and employee benefits rep) we been able to take care of her. She is wonderful and we are enjoying having here with us all the time.  

This is John our health insurance specialist

This is John in our office he helps individuals, families, seniors and businesses to get health insurance.  He works with all the major carriers (Presbyterian, Lovelace, Blue Cross, Humana, United, Mutual of Omaha, Delta Dental and Dental Source) here in New Mexico and he finds the best plan at the best price for clients he works with.  In the past, he worked for a health insurance carrier selling their products then he was a Pharmaceutical Representative for 10 years.  Therefore he draws his experience from different sides of the health industry and has the knowledge to better help the clients he works with.

2011 off to a good start!

So far this year has been very productive.  We have worked hard to keep our pipline full and we've been getting several referrals (thank you BTW).  I spent an hour on the phone last night explaining auto insurance coverages to a new customer.  I could spend hours talking about that stuff.  I really appreciate a potential client who asks all their questions up front.  Spending time with clients answering questions and explaining their insurance is my favorite part of the job.  I look forward to helping others with their insurance questions.

Training Day

This is a picture I took last Friday (casual day) of my office manager Yolanda (right) training my new contact manager (left) on Farmers' internet based computer system.  Typically when I hire someone, which hopefully isn't too often, either Yolanda or I will sit at the desk with them and go through different scenerios.  There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time but my new assistant is picking it up quickly.  Notice she is also smiling.

Tips for Buying Homeowners Insurance (Part 2)

Once you’ve chosen an agent and a reputable insurance company, you need to make sure you have the right insurance coverage. 

A homeowners insurance policy will typically be a package of coverages including dwelling, personal property, liability, guest medical and possibly separate structure.  Most of the aspects within a policy have limits that are derivatives of the dwelling coverage.  When you’re deciding how much coverage you need for your home consider that you’ll need enough coverage to rebuild of your home if it’s destroyed in a disaster.  Keep in mind, insurance companies don’t insure the land your house sits on; it’s not going anywhere.  The market price is not relevant when figuring this cost.  Remember, although the value of a home on the market has decreased in recent years the cost to replace that same home has increased.  This can be attributed to the increased cost of fuel, wood and other materials.  A good calculation you can use is to divide the dwelling coverage you want by the amount of square feet in a home (i.e.  $500,000 / 3500 sq ft = $142.86 price per square foot). Your price per square foot should be around $120 to $160 per square foot depending on the grade of materials needed to rebuild the home.    Once your coverage is established, plan to review it at least once a year with your agent.

Buying Homeowners Insurance

So you’re buying a home.  Here are some tips you need to know about purchasing homeowners /hazard insurance.

When purchasing a home it’s important to secure your insurance as soon as possible.  This will help you avoid any surprises or last minute decisions.  Even if you’ve found a home you like but it’s not yet under contract you can get a homeowners insurance quote from an agent.   Checking with your current auto insurance company is a good idea but it’s also recommended that you get comparable quotes from other agents.  Not all insurance companies or agents are created equal nor is the coverage they quote.  Remember this is your home we’re talking about don’t risk working with someone you can’t look in the eye and voice your concerns.  You want to find an agent (and staff) you can feel comfortable with because this could be the beginning of a long business relationship.  You’ll want an advocate who is willing to go the extra mile on your behalf.

An insurance agent can also check the claims-filing history of the home you want to buy.  Some insurance agents will give you a copy of the home loss history report, also known as the CLUE report, just for asking.  A claim may increase the premium of your prospective home insurance by up to 30% for as long as three years.  It’s also a good way to find out if there have been any water or roof issues, even if they’ve been repaired.

Homeowner Insurance: What Is It?

Your home may be the most expensive asset you own. Even though your mortgage company probably requires that you carry insurance its always a good idea to have a good policy that fits your needs.  The standard homeowners policy protects more than just your home, it protects your stuff and you.  If you get sued they litigate on your behalf.  Remember an insurance company will only pay you up to the limits stated in their contract. In addition an insurance company will replace your personal property (clothes, shoes, furniture and appliances).  It may also pay you to live elsewhere if you can't live in your home. It will pay for you to send your guests to the ER if they get injured at your wild party.    All this typically for less than $1,000 per year.  Usually these policies have deductibles (i.e. 250, 500 or 1000).  The higher your deductible the lower your premium because you're accepting more of the risk.  How much of the risk can you afford to shoulder if something happens? Your choice.  I don't recommend having low deductibles for reasons I'll talk about later.  A good homeowners insurance policy comes with a knowledgeable agent and staff and it's an "all perils" policy with "replacement cost" for your personal property.  More about those terms later.