What Condo Insurance Can Do

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you own a condo you most likely have condo insurance.  Many people think that condo insurance and homeowner’s insurance are one and the same.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  While both insure the structure and contents of a home, there are a number of differences between the two.  The good news is condo owners for the most part pay less for their insurance than do homeowners, for the simple reason that condos are partially owned by the owner and partially by the condo association.  However, to properly insure a condo and protect the property that condominium owners do possess, it’s important that you understand what condo insurance can and can’t do.

Will Self-Driving Cars Drive Humans Out from Behind the Wheel?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy wikimedia

Last week I had a chance to take a ride in a Tesla Model X SUV.  Equipped with everything including a pair of gull-wing back doors, the all-electric vehicle was a revelation for someone born and raised on the internal combustion engine.  Not only doesn’t the Tesla require a stop at the gas station, as I was soon to learn, it doesn’t really need a driver behind the wheel.  As my friend who owns the Model X explained as he engaged the Autopilot, “This baby pretty much drives itself.”  As we headed west on Beach Blvd. he took his hands off the wheel and the car quickly settled into the middle lane where it maintained a safe distance between it and the pickup truck ahead, even when the light turned red and traffic came to a stop.  When the light once again turned green and the traffic once again rolled onward, so did the Model X. 

Car Care Clinic

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy USAF

With the average cost of an automobile being $30,140, I thought I’d dedicate this week’s blog to car care.  I’m old enough that I can still remember when people used to routinely work on their cars.  Today’s automobiles are more computer than car that practically require an engineering degree to work on.  Even worse, it’s all but impossible to even see, much less reach, anything under the hood.  I mean, I know the engine’s down there somewhere, but it’s going to take a hacksaw to get at it.  That means for most of us it’s vital that we maintain our vehicles if we want to get our money’s worth.  Here are a few tips to help you keep your car from eating you out of house and home.

Google Calling?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

As much as the insurance business is about helping policyholders recover from calamity, as an insurance agent I feel it is my duty to help my clients keep out of harm’s way.  Whether it’s pointing out hazards on the road or potential perils in the home, I go out of my way to make sure I give people a head’s up about anything I feel can do them harm.  That’s why I decided to dedicate this week’s blog to helping all my readers out there keep out of the cross-hairs of scammers. 

Are You Out of Your Trees?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy wikimedia

Fortunately for all us northern Floridians, last year’s hurricane season went by without a hitch.  That’s good, because the two years previous gave the area a brutal one two punch.  Aside from tearing shingles of many homes, hurricanes Matthew and Irma caused a great deal of flood damage and lots of downed trees.  While shoring up your home against rain and flood is something that I can’t really help you with (other than providing insurance coverage), when it comes to keeping you from having any undue anxiety over your trees, I can give you some advice.

Trees can be a blessing or a curse.  When the dog days of summer hammer us with months of 90+ degree temperatures, shade trees can help us keep our cool.  They can also save you money by lowering your electric bill, since a shaded house doesn’t require nearly as much power to cool as one that has to take everything the Florida Sun can throw at it.  The bad news is when the high winds associated with squalls and hurricanes make the rain blow sideways, sometimes the strain is too much for trees to take and they come crashing down.  If they hit your home or your vehicle, the damage can be extreme, especially if the tree falls in the middle of a storm which can cause extensive water damage after the fact.

Getting Your Share of Carsharing

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy wikimedia

Having been in the insurance business for many years, I’ve pretty much thought I’d seen everything there was to see in the automotive world.  Then along comes carsharing and suddenly a whole new world opens up.  That’s because there’s more ways than one to share a car.  You can rent a car for a few hours or by the day from companies like Zipcar or Car2Go, but you can also rent cars from individuals or rent your own car to the public or drive for companies like Uber and Lyft.  If you’re looking to get your share of the carshare market, there are a few things you need to know.

Water You Doing to Promote Safe Boating?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy GoodFreePhotos

Even though it’s the end of February, it feels more like April, so I thought I’d devote today’s blog to covering the ins and outs of being a safe boater.  Unlike most of the country, Florida boaters can set sail practically all year long.  Especially with the warm weather already setting in, the call of the water is going to entice many boaters to take to the river, intracoastial waterway and the ocean sooner rather than later.  Below are some of the things you’ll need to bring and do if you want to keep you and your passengers safe afloat.