The majority of homeowners and business owners have their personal property (contents) insured. Being insured is definitely a necessity, whether you own or rent. There are two questions to consider when buying or reviewing your homeowner’s policy, renter’s policy, or business policy:

Statistics presented in a Wall Street Journal article stated that Americans spend $1.2 trillion on goods and services annually. Additionally, the Orlando Sentinel reported that nearly one out of 10 American households rents a storage facility. Of those who rent, 65% have a garage, 47% have an attic, and 33% have a basement.

When there is a death in the family, the responsibility of settling the estate is often designated to the oldest child or a sibling. This is one of the saddest times in one’s life, full of emotion. There are many responsibilities the executor must attend to – making funeral arrangements, placing the house on the market, finalizing the financials, etc.

How often have you thought about hiring an inventory service, but felt you couldn’t justify the cost – the Return on Investment (ROI)? This is normally because people feel that “it” will never happen to them. But ask a person who endured a tornado’s damage, experienced the loss from a burglary, or suffered the emotions of digging through a fire’s debris of water-soaked, melted “stuff” that used to be their belongings. They would say every dollar they paid for their inventory service would have been money well spent.

Though some areas of the country experience more natural disasters than others, there are a variety of seasonal weather awareness campaigns in most of the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) created a Weather and Water Preparedness Events Calendar that lists all organized disaster preparedness programs.

With the fraud that is happening on a regular basis, it is evident why insurance companies require proof of ownership before they pay on a claim. A home inventory completed prior to the time when you need to file a claim will help you move through the claim process faster than those who do not have this documentation already prepared. This is because you have the proof the insurance adjuster and the insurance company is seeking.

The insurance industry loses billions of dollars to insurance fraud annually. Many think it is a victimless crime, assuming that insurance companies have deep pockets.   Unfortunately, these losses result in higher premiums for all. In fact, this crime costs the average household across the United States between $400 and $700 annually in increased insurance

Lately, I have been encountering more people in life transition, experiencing the passing of a spouse or parent. This leaves loved ones in the precarious position to become sifters of memories and along the way, determiners of value – all at a time when emotions are running high.

I’ve found there are two kinds of people – those who count down the days for the holiday season, embracing every holiday tradition around, reveling in the festivities, wishing it could last forever. And then there are those who dread the music, the shopping, the cooking, the decorating, the gift giving, the overwhelm. If you’re experiencing stress & anxiety during the holidays, wondering just how you’re going to get it all done, here are a few tips to help…