10 Things That Can Cause Your Insurer to Drop You

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

Nobody likes to make costly mistakes that can hit them in the wallet.  Whether it's trusting your unruly teenager with the keys to the family sedan or heeding a stock tip from your hair stylist, if you take risks with your assets you run the risk of taking a financial hit.  However, what can even prove worse is making an innocent mistake that can cause your insurance company to drop your coverage.  To make sure this never happens to you, I've come up with my top-10 list of reasons that could cause you to lose coverage.

What Kind of Insurance Do You Need to Rent Out Your Home

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

So, you're looking to get into the property rental game. There are many reasons why a homeowner may wish to rent out all or part of their home.  Be it to help pay the mortgage, to keep a property occupied while you relocate elsewhere temporarily, or to smooth the way for the eventual sale of your home, renting can be the way to go.  If you're considering renting your home, turning your garage into an apartment, or joining the Airbnb craze, there are some things you need to know before you hand a renter the keys.

How to Avoid Home Repair Scams

 By Catherine Powell

Image Courtesy Pixabay

Just as night follows day, so too do home repair scams.  No sooner does a severe storm blow through town when contractor reps start prowling local neighborhoods looking for signs of damage.  If they spot a tree down on your property or a few missing shingles on your roof, the next thing you'll hear is a knock at your door.  The smiling rep will tell you that his company can remove that tree or replace that roof. Some will tell you they get the job done cheaply while others say they can help you deal with your insurance company so the repair won't cost you a dime.  All you have to do is sign on the dotted line.  What could be easier?  Before you sign any contract, there are a few things you need to know about dealing with contractors.  Below are ten tips to help you avoid unscrupulous contractors the next time you need to make a home repair.

Insurance Considerations Following a Divorce

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

As I've pointed out in many blogs, insurance is based on risk.  That risk is based on statistics. When it comes to marriage, there's a 40-50% statistical risk of divorce with a first marriage and a 60-67% risk of divorce with a second marriage.  That being said, if you ever wind up in divorce court, there are a few things you need to know about your existing insurance coverage before you untie that matrimonial knot.  Below is my top-10 list of insurance considerations for divorcees.

10 Ways to Talk Your Way Out of a Traffic Ticket

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

Nobody likes to get pulled over for a traffic violation.  Yet what you say and do in the next few minutes can mean the difference between being given a warning or a ticket.  Getting ticketed cannot only cost you money, but the infraction can also cost you time as well.  That's because getting a ticket can mean taking the time to either fight it in court or attend traffic school. It can also spell the potential for causing your insurance rates to rise.  If you'd like to avoid all of these sticky situations, below are ten things you need to consider the next time you see those flashing blue and red lights pull behind your vehicle.

How Secure are Home Security Cameras?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you were following the news around the holidays, you may have caught the Fox 30 piece about porch pirates who were captured on video stealing packages.  While this kind of larcenous behavior is nothing new, the proliferation of home security cameras has made it easier for home and business owners to catch thieves in the act.  This not only gives law abiding citizens evidence to use in court when the culprit is caught, but some web-enabled systems allow owners to alert law enforcement while the crime is taking place.  While user-friendly technology is making it far easier to secure your possessions, some systems can be used to spy on the same home and business owners who installed them.  If you own or are planning on acquiring home security cameras for your property, you need to know a few things about that eye-in-the-sky.

Spoofed Call Scams Are No Joke

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy pxhere

In this high-tech world of ours we're all at risk of being scammed.  In previous posts I've revealed all kinds of ways that con artists use technology to rob consumers and small business owners blind.  In this week's blog I'll reveal how phone rooms run by international criminal enterprises are now using sophisticated techniques to fool the average citizen. All too many victims are being conned into revealing sensitive information, while others are being duped into transferring money directly to these crooks.