DFW Insurance Services Blog

DFW Insurance Services Bloghttp://www.insurewithdfw.com/blog/View DFW Insurance Services's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.insurewithdfw.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:13b722d8-bf6a-4dd8-9ccc-49337ef09fb9urn:uuid:cd994f86-8bb9-4d40-8cee-5b2290d94c7eThe Top 10 Insurance Blunders and How to Avoid Them When it comes to buying insurance, what you don’t know can hurt you…and your family…for years to come. Learn how to identify the top ten insurance blunders and what to do to avoid them with these tips.     &nb...Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:24:46 -0500When it comes to buying insurance, what you don’t know can hurt you…and your family…for years to come. Learn how to identify the top ten insurance blunders and what to do to avoid them with these tips.         1. Buying insurance on price alone. Although price is a major consideration, it’s even more important to have a reliable company and agent available should a claim arise. Take time to investigate the reputation and rating of the insurance company by visiting a third-party insurance rating company like A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings, Weiss or Standard & Poor’s. Make sure the company will be there when you need them, especially before buying long-term insurance policies like life insurance.  Tip: Investigate an insurance company’s complaint ratio by visiting the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.          2. Failure to fully understand your policy. Take time to evaluate your coverage and make sure you fully understand what is included in the policy.Exclusions, addendums, limitations, restrictions and other “fine print” can make a big difference in price and coverage. Don’t be afraid to ask questions…it’s a normal part of doing business. Tip: Actually read the policy and don’t make assumptions. For example, many people reject rental car insurance without understanding the total out of pocket expenses and other limitations that leave them at risk with standard auto insurance or credit card-provided coverage.         3. Forgetting to update policies or make changes when needed. Life events require major updates to your insurance coverage; everything from marriage to taking an extended vacation may have insurance implications.  Take time to plan in advance and notify your agent of any life changing events (marriage, retirement, leaving for college, new job etc…) Tip: Don’t forget to update your name, address and phone number if you have relocated or had a change of marital status, employment or other significant life event.         4. Making assumptions about your coverage. Many people “think” they have coverage when they don’t. Common situations include taking a rental car out of the nation (car insurance limits), traveling out of the country (may not have life insurance), relocating (homeowners coverage may not cover belongings in transit) or other common exclusions.  Tip: Ask your agent! If you have never taken the time to sit with your agent and talk about your insurance needs, assets and desired levels of protection then make it a priority to do so. Insurance is one portion of a comprehensive financial planning strategy.         5. Paying late and missing deadlines. If you are like most people then you might have a tendency to ignore all those reminders and updates sent from the insurance company; after all, they begin to look the same after a while. Big mistake! Take the time to open, review and act upon them. One of the most commonly encountered blunders is also the easiest to prevent – late payments! Don’t allow your auto, homeowners or life insurance policy to be cancelled simply because you forgot the payment. Not only will it leave you vulnerable to potential claims but it can increase your premiums. <div style="text-align: left;">         Tip: Sign up for automatic payment of your insurance policies to make sure          they are always paid on time. Just be sure to verify the amount due each year in the          event of an increase in premiums.       </div>         6. Skipping the important insurance products. Most people focus on those types of insurance required by law or a mortgage company: auto insurance, homeowners insurance and perhaps employment provided health insurance. Unfortunately, that often leaves you vulnerable to some of the most frequently encountered problems including liability claims, disability and of course…loss of income.  Tip: Talk to your agent about affordable rates for these frequently used insurance types: Life Insurance, Disability insurance, Personal liability insurance          7. Failure to insure valuables separately. <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> Most homeowner policies have limits on jewelry, computers, electronic equipment and other valuables including business or hobby related items. Adding additional coverage for valuables is easy and inexpensive  just ask your agent about a rider to the existing policy. <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> Tip: Take inventory of your belongings. Photographs, identification numbers and/or receipts or appraisals will help determine the proper level of insurance and assist In submitting a claim should the need arise.         8. Duplicating insurance. It’s particularly easy to duplicate coverage especially if you tend to use different providers for auto, home, life, health and other coverage. One of the benefits of working with one agent is the ability to coordinate coverage, have one primary point of contact for all your insurance needs and eliminate duplicate coverage (which also will save money!).   Tip: When shopping for insurance, ask your agent for multiple policy discounts if you switch all your policies to one provider. Not only will you eliminate duplicate coverage but multiple policy discounts can reduce the total cost significantly.         9. Buying before obtaining quotes. Most people buy a home, car, boat or other major purchase and then shop for insurance…big mistake! Avoid unpleasant surprises and costly premiums by obtaining insurance quotes prior to making a major purchase. Not only will you have a better idea of how to budget for the new purchase but it often makes you aware of prior damages or other issues that can be hard to spot. For example, major water-related claims on a home or extensive body work on a car could be a primary reason to negotiate a lower price. ip: Always obtain an insurance quote on the exact home, car, boat or other major item before making the purchase. It’s a good way to learn about hidden defects and avoid unpleasant surprises!         10. Naming, title and other troubles. What’s in a name? A Lot! Another commonly encountered and easily overlooked insurance blunder is how a policy, beneficiary or title is recorded. Names matter especially when it comes to legal transactions. Areas most prone to problems include beneficiaries, ownership of real estate, cars, automobiles or other major investments as well as health or personal care coverage. Tip: Always use legal names and verify that each policy includes the item and owner(s) or beneficiary including social  security number or other proper identification. urn:uuid:68bcd729-be70-4c99-b2fb-771b1358d7dbDoes My Auto Policy Cover Rental Cars? This is a common question that gets asked daily at car rental counters across the country. Naturally, the person behind the counter at the car rental company will not be able to give you a definitive answer because policies differ all across the cou...Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:21:30 -0500<div class="blocks"> This is a common question that gets asked daily at car rental counters across the country. Naturally, the person behind the counter at the car rental company will not be able to give you a definitive answer because policies differ all across the country and some policies do cover rental cars - most do, in fact - and some do not. Choosing not to answer the question provides another benefit to the car rental company in that it enables them to try to sweet-talk customers into being safe rather than sorry and opting to buy their insurance coverage which adds more to the price of the rental. Even though most car insurance companies do cover their drivers when they are in a rental car, you may want to consider the cost of the extra insurance offered by the rental company for a variety of reasons: <ul> <li>Peace of mind: Taking the damage waiver or optional insurance offered by the car rental company gives a peace of mind you might not have if you are relying on your own auto insurance policy in the event of an accident. Think about it: would you rather get into an accident and shrug your shoulders regarding the damage since it's not your car and not your policy, or have to deal with the stress and worry and paperwork and issues of getting your own insurance company to pay for the damage you did to a car you'll never see again?</li> <li>No deductible: Many of the damage waivers offered at car rental counters come with no deductible. That means that if you do get into an accident or damage the car somehow, you pay zero out of pocket for repairs. This is not likely the case with your own policy. If you scrape the car or have a fender bender, your own insurance company will demand that you pay the deductible - $500 for most insurance policies - before they'll lay down a dime to help repair the damage. Depending on your accident, you may wind up paying $499 out of pocket because you were confident and cocky that your insurance would cover you. Well, it probably will...after you cough up your share first.</li> <li>Keep your insurance low: Just like <a href="http://www.autoinsuranceremedy.com/scene-of-an-accident-protocol.html">having an accident</a> in your own car, reporting damage to a rental that the car insurance company has to pay for is likely to raise your rates and count against you. On the other hand, if you take the waiver offered by the car insurance company and get into a scrape, your insurance company isn't going to have to pay a dime, and therefore you won't have to keep paying for the mistake by way of <a href="http://www.autoinsuranceremedy.com/premiums-increase-if-i-file-claim.html">increased premiums</a> years after the accident has happened.</li> </ul> If you make the choice at the counter to rely on your own insurance coverage, make sure you know your policy well first. Certain restrictions or exclusions may apply such as the age of the person driving the vehicle, and what the vehicle is being rented for. It is not uncommon for insurance policies to not cover rentals that are being used for company or business purposes – expecting your company’s insurance policy to pick up the tab instead. </div>urn:uuid:d657d970-c9d8-45b3-b919-d6d616f06a40Protecting Your AssetsDon’t Let Your Personal Assets Get Wiped Out! You have spent your lifetime building assets to take care of your financial future but how much time have you spent learning how to protect those investments?Your business, real estate holdings and...Mon, 16 May 2011 09:52:53 -0500Don’t Let Your Personal Assets Get Wiped Out! You have spent your lifetime building assets to take care of your financial future but how much time have you spent learning how to protect those investments?Your business, real estate holdings and other assets could be wiped out with just one lawsuit. Many people are surprised to learn they are more “at risk” than they realize.Think you are exempt or just not sure you need personal liability insurance? If any of the following apply to your present life situation then chances are you are at greater risk than you realize: <ul> <li>·  You are employed or work in a high-risk professional occupation including private practice or own your own business.</li> <li>·  You own valuable assets including land, rental property or other investments.</li> <li>·  You have a teen or young adult at home or in college; remember, you are responsible for their liabilities until they reach adulthood… including auto accidents or other functions that could put your property at risk.</li> <li>·  You sit on the board of directors, advisory board or other position for a corporation or not-for-profit agency.</li> </ul>  Personal liability insurance is affordable and a great safe-guard from potential lawsuits or claims against personal and/or family assets and holdings above and beyond those covered by standard auto, malpractice or homeowners policies.One of the most affordable types of insurance available, personal liability policies cost between $200 and $450 annually for $1 to $2 million in coverage. To calculate the size of your policy simply add up all of your assets including financial, real estate, cash or other valuables then subtract the amount of your current coverage. The remaining figure should be the basis of your coverage. Be sure to take inflation and recent appraisal values into account by speaking with your insurance agent.urn:uuid:117be3b7-2aa3-41bd-9c46-390b2eec3873How much should my home be insured for?Insurance to Value – Homeowners and Dwelling Policies How much insurance do I need on my home? This is a great question, and one that our customers ask frequently. You should have an amount of insurance that is sufficient to rebuild your home...Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:25:43 -0500<div style="text-align: left;">Insurance to Value – Homeowners and Dwelling Policies</div> How much insurance do I need on my home? This is a great question, and one that our customers ask frequently. You should have an amount of insurance that is sufficient to rebuild your home in the event it is totally destroyed by a fire, tornado, hurricane or other insured catastrophe.  It’s estimated that about 60 percent of American homes are underinsured by an average of 22 percent, according to a company that provides building-cost data to the insurance industry.  Your home is probably your largest single investment, so insuring it adequately is an important part of maintaining your financial independence.  The amount of insurance should cover the cost of rebuilding your home at current construction costs, not including the value of the land.  Don’t think about the price you paid for your home or the appraised value.  The cost of rebuilding could be more or less than the price you paid or could sell it for today. Besides the cost of materials and labor you normally consider when thinking about building a home, there are other considerations such as the expense of clearing debris from the lot before rebuilding can begin fees for an architect or other design professional to estimate costs and produce plans to be followed by the contractor rapid inflation in the cost of building materials and labor following a major catastrophe that affects a number of homes in the same area local building codes that require replacement  with additional features or more expensive materials Debris Removal When rebuilding a home after a loss, you can’t start the process until the lot has been cleared of the debris.  This is an additional expense you wouldn’t incur if you were building a home from scratch.  All insurance policies pay for this expense, but some pay more than others.  Some policies pay debris removal expenses in full, but the payments reduce the amount of insurance available to replace the home.  Other policies provide an additional limit for debris removal expenses on top of the amount available to replace the home, usually 5 percent or more of the limit of insurance shown on the policy for your home.  Extended Replacement Cost Coverage After a major hurricane or a tornado, building materials and construction workers are often in great demand. This can push rebuilding costs above homeowners policy limits, leaving you without enough money to cover the bill. To protect against such a situation, you can buy a policy that pays more than the policy limits. An extended replacement cost policy will pay an additional amount – up to 20 percent or more – above the limits, depending on the insurance company. A guaranteed replacement cost policy will pay whatever it costs to rebuild your home as it was before the fire or other disaster.  Not all insurers offer these features, so be sure to ask us to find an insurance company that does offer them if this exposure is important to you. Building codes Local building codes are updated periodically and may have changed significantly since your home was built. If your home is badly damaged, the building officials in your community may require you to rebuild it  to meet new building codes.   Some communities require you to demolish undamaged parts of the home if they determine the damage exceeds a certain percentage of its value. Most insurance policies include the extra expense of rebuilding to code, up to a certain dollar amount like $5,000 or a certain percentage of the limit like 10 percent.  But the amount provided generally does not increase the limit of insurance.  Most insurance companies offer an additional limit for building code coverage for an additional premium.  To fully cover the additional costs related to required building code enforcement, you must add the necessary amount to the limit of insurance or purchase additional coverage if offered by the insurance company. Whose Job Is It to Determine the Proper Amount of Insurance? Ultimately it is your responsibility to establish the value of your property and select the amount of insurance for your policy.  We can help with that decision and explain what you can do to avoid an unpleasant surprise after a loss. Help Is Available There are several resources available to help you determine an appropriate amount of insurance on your home.  Remember:  Home values and rebuilding costs change all the time, so it’s a good idea to do this annually when your policy renews. Obtain a real estate appraisal from a qualified professional.  Unfortunately, the cost of such an appraisal may be prohibitive, but some insurance companies who specialize in writing higher-valued homes pay for such appraisals as a service to their policyholders. Use the insurance company’s replacement cost estimator.  Almost all major insurers offer this service.  It is an automated program provided by a leading aggregator of building cost data (such as Marshall & Swift (www.marshallswift.com).  You provide information on your home – such as square footage, type of construction and special features – to input into the computer program.  Some insurance companies will provide “guaranteed replacement cost” coverage if you agree to purchase the limit of insurance recommended by the replacement cost estimator. Use your own replacement cost estimator.  For example, AccuCoverage by Marshall & Swift (www.accucoverage.com) will provide a real-time estimate based on the information you submit on their website for a fee of $7.95 charged to your credit card. Talk to a local home builder.  But keep in mind that they are usually building new homes from “scratch.”  The cost per square foot for new construction is generally less the cost to rebuild.  Ask the builder what a typical cost per square foot is for remodeling or adding a room to home – that’s generally closer to the actual cost of rebuilding a damaged home. This article was prepared and made available to your agent by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, which is solely responsible for its content. Some of the content for this article was reproduced with permission by the Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org).  Please read your insurance policy. If there is any conflict between the information in this article and the actual terms and conditions of your policy, the terms and conditions of your policy will apply. The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is a non-profit association of more than 1,700 insurance agencies in Texas, dedicated to helping its members succeed, in part by providing technical resources that explain insurance policies sold to their customers.urn:uuid:a6ae0ad5-9800-4fad-ab57-56c773a8f1ccHow much life insurance do you really need?Life insurance is something you buy and hope you'll never use. However, if you have anyone in your life who depends on your income, you might want to give it some thought. The big questions to answer are: 1. Do you need it? 2. If so, how much sho...Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:56:00 -0500Life insurance is something you buy and hope you'll never use. However, if you have anyone in your life who depends on your income, you might want to give it some thought. The big questions to answer are: 1. Do you need it? 2. If so, how much should you buy? 3. And what kind should you get? We are a strong believer in term life insurance. The main thing to remember is that life insurance is designed to replace lost income or pay for special needs your family would have if you weren't around. Life insurance is more affordable than ever and will provide you with the peace of mind knowing that if anything should happen, your loved ones will be taken care of. If you decide you are a good candidate for life insurance, your next step is to estimate just how much you need. The industry suggestions is somewhere around 8-10 times your annual income. Using that base will help you formulate a good snapshot of your lifestyle and financial needs and make it easier to select the amount of insurance to purchase. We represent many of the top companies and we’ll take the time to explain your options. Then it’s up to you to make the decision that's right for you and your family. Drop us an email to <a href="mailto:info@insurewithdfw.com">info@insurewithdfw.com</a> or fill out the quote request form at: <a href="https://a1c48d73-c199-4d25-bc18-2084ec94e7e3.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/life/term_insurance_quote.aspx">https://a1c48d73-c199-4d25-bc18-2084ec94e7e3.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/life/term_insurance_quote.aspx</a> We look forward to the opportunity to serve you! James Baker DFW Insurance Servicesurn:uuid:8ea0fd7d-8999-4d29-9e39-0c9e8077153fThe Value Of IndependenceIf you've never done business with an independent insurance agent, here's some helpful info. Be sure and watch the short video as well. http://www.safeco.com/find-an-insurance-agent/benefits-of-an-independent-insurance-agentTue, 05 Oct 2010 13:42:38 -0500If you've never done business with an independent insurance agent, here's some helpful info. Be sure and watch the short video as well. <a href="http://www.safeco.com/find-an-insurance-agent/benefits-of-an-independent-insurance-agent">http://www.safeco.com/find-an-insurance-agent/benefits-of-an-independent-insurance-agent</a>urn:uuid:9a690e87-4de4-4bf4-914d-1dc329431e13Taking Insurance To CollegeTaking Insurance to College My son (daughter) is leaving home to attend college this fall.  Will my auto and homeowners insurance policies cover him (her) while at college? This is a great question, and one that our customers ask frequently.&n...Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:51:40 -0500Taking Insurance to College My son (daughter) is leaving home to attend college this fall.  Will my auto and homeowners insurance policies cover him (her) while at college? This is a great question, and one that our customers ask frequently.  When college students move from home to their home-away-from-home - a rented dorm or apartment – insurance issues can arise and should be addressed before they leave home. One key question that arises in discussing these issues is whether the student is still considered a resident of your household.  This is a legal question, but your homeowners and auto policies both contain provisions that apply the broadest coverage available in those policies to persons who are legally considered residents of your household. It is generally accepted that students living away from home while attending college are residents of their parents' household. Based on previous Texas court decisions, the real test is whether the absence of a person from the household is intended to be permanent or only temporary - whether there is physical absence coupled with intent not to return. This leaves a great deal of room for interpretation. There may be borderline cases that require you to think about alternatives. For example, it may be difficult to consider a 23-year-old graduate student living in an apartment year-round to be a resident of your household. Homeowners Policy Your homeowners policy covers personal property owned or used by a resident of your household while the property is located anywhere in the world. However, most policies limit the amount of coverage on personal property to 10 percent of the amount shown on the policy for personal property, when the property is located at another residence away from the home address.  Look at your policy and find the limit provided for personal property.  Take 10 percent of that amount, and then think about the items your student has taken to college:  clothes, TV, computer, other electronics, furniture, and household items.  How much would it cost to replace all those items if they were all lost at the same time in a fire or other catastrophe?  In addition to the dollar limitation, some policies don’t cover theft of personal property from the student's residence, except while the student is temporarily living there. This is a definite problem, especially when the apartment is owned, or rented for a 12-month term, and the student comes home for the summer. Your homeowners policy also provides liability coverage in case a family member is legally liable for another person’s injury or damage to another person’s property.  This coverage clearly applies to accidents at home or away from home, but some policies limit the coverage when an accident occurs at an owned or rented residence other than the family home.  Some insurance companies offer liability coverage at separate residences for an additional cost. After all of the above information is considered, it's easy to see there are potential coverage gaps in your homeowners policy when a student leaves home for college. That’s why we recommend that you purchase a separate tenant or renter’s homeowners policy for the student's residence, whether it is an apartment or a dorm room.  The cost of such a policy is small compared to the benefits it provides.  Automobile Policy If your student takes one of your family vehicles to college, the coverage provided by your family automobile policy follows the vehicle anywhere in the United States and Canada.  This includes coverage for damage to the vehicle itself (if you have purchased such coverage on that vehicle) as well as liability coverage for injury or damage to other persons or property. If your student doesn’t take a vehicle to college, some coverage under your policy may still apply if they are riding in or even driving a vehicle belonging to someone else. Students Who Are Not Legal Residents of Your Household Coverage complications can arise on your homeowners or auto policy if your student for whatever reason is not considered a legal resident of your household, as was mentioned in the first part of this article.  We encourage you to discuss your personal situation with us and your attorney.  To be safe, we will likely recommend separate homeowners and auto policies for the student.  This article was prepared and made available to your agent by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, which is solely responsible for its content. Please read your insurance policy. If there is any conflict between the information in this article and the actual terms and conditions of your policy, the terms and conditions of your policy will apply. The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is a non-profit association of more than 1,800 insurance agencies in Texas, dedicated to helping its members succeed, in part by providing technical resources that explain insurance policies sold to their customers. urn:uuid:a76c2a90-9ff6-48d3-b4d1-20786c19ef2aSimple Keys To Buying Life InsuranceAll policies fall into one of two camps. There are term policies, or pure insurance coverage. And there are the many variants of whole life, which combine an investment product with pure term insurance and build cash value. Insurance is sold, not bou...Wed, 12 May 2010 11:54:03 -0500All policies fall into one of two camps. There are term policies, or pure insurance coverage. And there are the many variants of whole life, which combine an investment product with pure term insurance and build cash value. Insurance is sold, not bought. Agents sell the vast majority of life policies written in the U.S. because the life insurance industry has a vested interest in pushing high-commission (and high-profit) whole-life policies. Whole life is expensive. Policies with an investment component cost many times more than term policies. As a result, many people who buy whole life often can't afford an adequate face value, leaving themselves underinsured.  Whole-life policies are built on assumptions. The returns quoted by the agent are simply guesses - not reality. And some companies keep these guesses of future returns on the high side to attract more buyers. Keep your investing and insurance strictly separate. There are better places to invest - and without the high commissions of whole-life policies. Buy enough term coverage to fill your needs. Life insurance is no place to skimp, especially with rates at historic lows. Match the term of the policy to your needs. You want the policy to last as long as it takes for your dependents to leave the nest - or for your retirement income to kick in. Buy when you're healthy. Older people and those not in the best of health pay steeply higher rates for life insurance - so buy as early as you can, but don't buy until you have dependents. Tell the truth. There's no sense in shading the facts on your application to get a lower rate. Be assured that if a large claim is made, the insurance company will investigate before paying.urn:uuid:290f2f27-0844-465b-a0d7-91fe06212467What To Do When Water Floods Your Home!When Water Floods Your Home: What to Do and Not Do Are you ready in case your home is one of the more than 2% of homes that will have an insurance claim for water damage this year? Many more will have smaller problems that might not exceed insurance ...Thu, 06 May 2010 11:20:18 -0500When Water Floods Your Home: What to Do and Not Do Are you ready in case your home is one of the more than 2% of homes that will have an insurance claim for water damage this year? Many more will have smaller problems that might not exceed insurance deductible levels if handled appropriately. Bottoms fall out of water heaters; sewer pipes back up; feed lines for toilets, ice makers, washing machines or dish washers break; pipes freeze and break... stuff happens and water escapes and becomes destructive. When water is loose in your home, time is not on your side. The longer water has, the further it will spread. Within minutes wood furniture stains begin transferring to flooring, particle board starts to sponge up the water and swell, paper items begin to dissolve, drywall starts wicking the water and losing structural integrity. Here are some tips about how to stay safe and limit water damage: Before Water Damage Happens: ·         Know how to turn the water off. Where is the valve? Does everyone living there know where and how? Are there special tools required? Put needed tools in a place everyone knows and can find quickly. Every minute of delay can mean many gallons of water flooding your home. What NOT To Do: ·         Don’t operate electric appliances. Don’t use TV’s, computers, lamps, and ceiling fans, etc. while standing on wet flooring.  Also, don’t plug or unplug any electrical appliances in wet areas. ·         Don’t use a vacuum cleaner. Regular household vacuum cleaners can be destroyed trying to remove water. What To Do: ·         Turn the water off. It is important to stop the water quickly. ·         Call emergency responders. Call a water damage specialist like PuroClean Property Rescue, immediately. Call your plumber for repairs. ·         Use caution. Watch your step - water can cause floors to be slippery. Watch for dangers like collapsing ceilings. ·         Remove water when possible. Mop up as much excess water as you can to limit its spread. ·         Protect valuables. Remove paintings and other artwork to a safe, dry place. ·         Protect furniture. If possible, place aluminum foil or plastic wrap under furniture legs on wet carpeting. ·         Remove items from floors. Pick up any books, magazines, papers, or other items that may be on a wet carpet or floor. Remove area rugs and put them where they can drip without causing further damage. Notice what might be getting wet on closet floors and move to dry areas. Check the floors on the other side of walls where you know floors are wet. If you are the victim of water damage, don’t ignore it and hope it goes away. Most things will eventually dry out on their own, but a lot of unnecessary damage can happen in the meantime. Water and time are two essential ingredients for mold to grow. It is unwise to try to dry things out by yourself. Water tends to get into more nooks and crannies than most people realize. Professionals from a company like PuroClean Property Rescue know how to limit water damage. Look for other helpful tip sheets in this series: “When Fire or Smoke Damages Your Home” and “When Mold Invades Your Home” provided by Doug Williams, Owner and President of PuroClean Property Rescue / 500 E Arapaho Rd Suite 206 / Richardson, Texas. PuroClean professionals are “The Paramedics of Property Damage.” For Water/Fire/Mold/Biohazard emergency services 24/7 call (972) 232-1200. For more information, see <a href="http://www.purocpr.com/">www.PuroCPR.com</a>.urn:uuid:fdb6ae43-5ab3-4236-a8cb-d0bfbbaa30feHow much insurance is enough?This is a question that everyone should make an informed decision on. Recently one of our insured called to report an accident. They were the party at fault and had three other people in their car. Two of the other occupants were sent to the hospital...Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:45:45 -0500This is a question that everyone should make an informed decision on. Recently one of our insured called to report an accident. They were the party at fault and had three other people in their car. Two of the other occupants were sent to the hospital. Their auto policy has state minimum limits of liability which are 25/50/25. These limits pay up to $25,000 per person for medical bills with no more than $50,000 per accident. Two of the occupants were transported to the hospital and that didn't even begin discussing any possible injuries to people in the other vehicle. In this situation, our insured had chosen to buy lower limits as a cost savings move thinking something major was unlikely to occur. Higher limits of protection are available at affordable rates considering the valuable protection they provide. If you would like for us to offer a free evaluation of your current policy, call our office and we'll be glad to assist you. Safe driving to everyone! James Baker DFW Insurance Services