http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/blog/View ABC Insurance Services, Inc's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.shophoustoninsurance.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:9119e9e5-84f8-4dfd-9269-9dc6af6daeb7urn:uuid:f56aab61-b534-4171-9193-c74061206aabAllstate Corp. reported that its profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter thanks to lower catastrophe losses and improved homeowners business. The big insurance company posted a fourth quarter net profit of $724 million compared to a fourth qua...Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:51:00 -0600<p>Allstate Corp. reported that its profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter thanks to lower catastrophe losses and improved homeowners business. The big insurance company posted a fourth quarter net profit of $724 million compared to a fourth quarter profit of $296 million a year earlier. However, for the full year 2011, the company said net income was $788 million, which is 15 percent below 2010, reflecting the high catastrophe losses of previous quarters.</p> <p>Operating income increased to $750 million in the fourth quarter, a $479 million increase from prior year due to substantially lower catastrophe losses. Allstate said catastrophe losses totaled $66 million in the last quarter &mdash; way below cat losses of $537 million in the same period last year. Allstate has been pushing for rate hikes on its automobile and homeowners policies while also cutting back on writing business in difficult markets including Florida and New York. The higher premiums in homeowners helped offset a decline in policies.</p> <p>Allstate completed the acquisition of online distributors Esurance and Answer Financial in October. The company said this acquisition increased insurance premiums earned in the quarter, but the insurer continued to experience reductions policy counts due to its pricing and underwriting restrictions in auto insurance in New York and Florida and homeowners insurance in catastrophe-prone markets.</p> <p>The combined ratio for the 2011 fourth quarter was 90.5, or 1.5 points better than in the prior year&rsquo;s fourth quarter. The combined ratio for 2011 of 89.3 was within the outlook established at the beginning of the year of 88 to 91. Thomas J. Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Allstate Corp., said the company expects its combined ratio for 2012 to be between 88 to 91 as it he expects improvements in auto insurance in New York and Florida and homeowners returns to bee offset by investments in growth, particularly in the Esurance brand.</p> <p>Total operating income for all of 2011 was $689 million compared to $1.5 billion, in 2010. With the decline attributable to the substantial rise in catastrophe losses experienced in 2011 compared to 2010. Property/casualty net premium written for 2011 was $26 billion, slightly higher than in 2010 and includes the results for Esurance following the close of that acquisition in early October. For the fourth quarter 2011, net written premium was $6.4 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent over the same period a year ago driven primarily by the inclusion of Esurance results for the fourth quarter of 2011.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> ABC Insurance Services, for a&nbsp;<a name="auto insurance quote">free insurance quote</a> call 800-374-9227</p>urn:uuid:511b461c-2218-4362-b001-f3f497e07017<img src='http://www.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/ABCInsurance_1022577_BS.gif' align='left' />test&nbsp; Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:04:27 -0600test&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/ABCInsurance_1022577_BS.gif" />urn:uuid:94b3786a-abd0-48de-a13b-9502b4a2dcb3A consumer group on Monday Jan 31, 2012 issued a study that alleges &ldquo;disparate treatment&rdquo; of low-to moderate-income families by auto insurers nationwide. The group is asking state insurance commissioners to consider lowering minimum liabi...Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:42:48 -0600<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" style="width: 200px; float: left; height: 100px;" src="/img/Library/Business/682014.JPG" />A consumer group on Monday Jan 31, 2012 issued a study that alleges &ldquo;disparate treatment&rdquo; of low-to moderate-income families by auto insurers nationwide. The group is asking state insurance commissioners to consider lowering minimum liability coverage requirements and creating low-income purchase programs. </p> <p>The study from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) concludes that the auto insurance marketplace &ldquo;denies important economic opportunities, especially those related to employment, to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households.&rdquo;</p> <p>The study&rsquo;s intent, and message, was immediately attacked by several national insurance associations claiming the CFA report is misguided, infers &ldquo;malicious intent,&rdquo; makes incorrect assumptions about underwriting and even gets some of the facts wrong.</p> <p>The CFA study asks state insurance regulators to ensure that auto insurance is fairly priced and affordable for LMI families so that they have greater access to car ownership and jobs<br /> <br /> </p> <p>&ldquo;We think these solutions are fair and practical and can be delivered by state insurance commissioners,&rdquo; said J. Robert Hunter, one of the report&rsquo;s authors, a former Texas insurance commissioner. CFA&rsquo;s Executive Director Stephen Brobeck co-authored the report.</p> <p>According to the group, it worked with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Consumer Watchdog on the study. Consumer Watchdog is working to get signatures to qualify its <a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2011/11/10/223787.htm" title="Initiative to Expand California Prop 103 Ignites Insurance Battle" target="_blank">Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act</a> for California&rsquo;s Nov. 6, 2012 ballot. The initiative would &ldquo;ensure fair and transparent rates for health, home and auto insurance,&rdquo; prohibiting &ldquo;unfair pricing&rdquo; for auto based on prior coverage and credit history, according to its backers.</p> <p>The CFA study cites several examples that its authors say prove &ldquo;disparate treatment&rdquo; of LMI households. It also shows that the bottom rung of families considered to be low-income pay 8 percent of more of their annual income on auto insurance.</p> <p>One example, taken from a study by Consumer Watchdog, was a 30-year-old man in St. Louis with a Ford Taurus and a perfect driving record who commutes 20 miles per day. He carries comprehensive and collision insurance and a $500 deductible. If he were an executive with an MBA degree living in an upscale suburb, his average annual insurance rate would be around $558, according to the study. Get a <a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com">free auto insurance quote</a></p>urn:uuid:16acea77-e658-4527-bd6c-5d483ea68901<img src='http://www.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000000636833XSmall.jpg' align='left' />If you own a business and have a vehicle that you use for or within that business, then you must consider the purchase of a commercial auto insurance policy in order to protect your business from the financial losses associated with a damaged commerc...Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:32:58 -0600<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000000636833XSmall.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px; float: left; margin-right: 7px;" alt="commercial auto" />If you own a business and have a vehicle that you use for or within that business, then you must consider the purchase of a commercial auto insurance policy in order to protect your business from the financial losses associated with a damaged commercial vehicle. </p> <p>Many business owners aren&rsquo;t sure what they should consider a vehicle and what they should consider equipment when it comes time to get the proper insurance coverage. Here is a brief guide to give you an idea about how to differentiate. </p> <p><strong>Vehicles by Ownership Status</strong></p> <p>You can insure a commercial vehicle that you hold the title for, but you don&rsquo;t need to own a vehicle in full before you add it to your commercial auto policy. You can insure leased vehicles, hired or rented vehicles and in some cases, even vehicles that you borrowed for the purpose of your business.</p> <p><strong>Types of Vehicles</strong></p> <p>There is almost no limit to the kinds of vehicles you can insure under your commercial vehicle policy. Here is a list of some of the most common vehicles insured:</p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Private passenger vehicles. As long as the automobile is used for business purposes, a private passenger vehicle can be covered. </li> <li>Delivery vehicles. This might include vans, trucks, cars, motorcycles&mdash;even scooters. </li> <li>Trucks. If your business uses dump trucks, panel trucks, tow trucks, or any other type of industrial truck it can go on your policy. &nbsp;</li> <li>Trailers. Trailers are considered vehicles and can be covered on a commercial auto policy. </li> <li>Buses. Whether you use the bus for private charters or daily passenger transportation, you can protect it with your commercial vehicle policy. &nbsp;</li> <li>Some earth moving equipment. Not all earthmoving equipment qualifies for coverage under a commercial auto policy, </li> </ul> <p><strong>&nbsp;Vehicles not Covered</strong></p> <p>Certain marine vehicles and aircraft may not be covered under a commercial auto policy. Instead, you&rsquo;ll need watercraft or aviation policies. </p> <p><strong>Coverage Types</strong></p> <p>While you now know that you can cover a wide range of vehicles on your commercial auto insurance policy, you still need to think about what types of coverage to get. Because an auto insurance policy&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s commercial or personal&mdash;can offer many different types of protections with different deductibles and limits for each. Some coverage types to consider include:</p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Bodily injury liability</li> <li>Collision coverage</li> <li>Property damage liability</li> <li>Uninsured motorist coverage</li> </ul> <p>If you still aren&rsquo;t sure whether or not your company&rsquo;s property qualifies as equipment or a vehicle, your local commercial auto insurance agent will be able to help you decide and pick the right coverages, limits and deductibles for you business. <br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/contact.aspx">ABC Insurance Services</a></strong> has a wide array of insurance companies/products to choose from to fill your <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/business/default.aspx">Houston commercial insurance</a></strong> needs. Call us today at (713) 782-2886 to talk to your <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com">Houston insurance</a></strong> agent.</p>urn:uuid:9191dbf7-a204-4177-96ef-c76954b35f87<img src='http://www.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000002052526XSmall.jpg' align='left' />There is no doubt that a homeowners insurance policy offers you and your family the financial reimbursement you will need to get your life back on track after an insurable incident. But the financial benefits of having homeowners insurance are not ex...Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:14:39 -0600<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000002052526XSmall.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 199px; float: left; margin-right: 7px;" alt="home insurance" />There is no doubt that a homeowners insurance policy offers you and your family the financial reimbursement you will need to get your life back on track after an insurable incident. But the financial benefits of having homeowners insurance are not experienced by policyholders unless they endure an insurable incident with a financial impact that exceeds their deductible. Of course, that doesn&rsquo;t mean that there are no intangible benefits to enjoy as you pay your premiums each month.</p> <p><strong>Peace of Mind is Priceless</strong></p> <p>When you know that you have an insurance policy protecting your family, then you have peace of mind. That might not prevent an incident, but it can certainly help you sleep at night. Without homeowners insurance you are left with a subconscious nagging prompted by the insecurity that being uninsured brings with it. In this state, a lot of mental and emotional energy is used up wondering how you would rebuild your family&rsquo;s life if your home were to become ruined in an insurable incident. </p> <p><strong>Guarantee Your Continued Financial Security</strong></p> <p>Insurance also ensures your financial stability. You probably have big plans for your retirement, your children&rsquo;s educational future and the repayment of all your debt. But without homeowners insurance to ensure that your personal savings do not need to be utilized after an insurable incident, there is no guarantee that you will be able to realize any of these plans and dreams in the manner you want. Instead, you may be forced to use the money you so carefully saved just to rebuild your home after a fire or other tragedy. Saving money without knowing that you will be able to use it the way you intend can leave you feeling insecure and may even impact your motivation to save. </p> <p>Insurance is a serious topic. It&rsquo;s not a fun purchase and it isn&rsquo;t something that you will use in your everyday life. A homeowners insurance policy gives you permission not to dwell on how expensive and devastating an insurable incident can be and the confidence to know that you will be able to recover financially after one.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/contact.aspx">ABC Insurance Services</a></strong> is here to make sure your home is properly insured for you and your loved ones. Call your <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com">Houston insurance</a></strong> agent today at (713) 782-2886 ABC to determine that you have the right amount of <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/homeowners/default.aspx">Houston home insurance</a></strong> coverage. </p>urn:uuid:adaf85dd-e7f3-4bd5-8504-e1996a1c881f<img src='http://www.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000000393851Small.jpg' align='left' />After a car accident, it can be very difficult to figure out what you should do next. Not only will you be shaken up and stressed out, but you also might not know who the appropriate parties are to contact and whether or not to get the police involve...Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:49:26 -0600<p><img width="306" height="216" src="/img/%7Ewww.ShopHoustonInsurance.com/iStock_000000393851Small.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 7px;" alt="auto accident" />After a car accident, it can be very difficult to figure out what you should do next. Not only will you be shaken up and stressed out, but you also might not know who the appropriate parties are to contact and whether or not to get the police involved. Here is a simple list that you can keep in your wallet to give you some guidance if this should happen to you. <strong><br /> <br /> Turn your car off:</strong> Do not leave your car running while you get out to inspect the damage. Instead, put your car in park and turn it off&mdash;and don&rsquo;t forget to grab your keys from the ignition.</p> <strong>Get out of the car to inspect the damage: </strong>Make sure that you are in a safe place out of the way of oncoming traffic. Then, get out of the car and take a look at the damage that was done to both your car and the other car (or cars) involved.<br /> <br /> <strong>Call the police:</strong> If the damage is very small, then you may not want the police involved. But to be safe and avoid any future legal problems, having a police report and witness statements can work in your favor.<br /> <strong><br /> Exchange information with the other driver:</strong> Get the name, address and phone number of the other driver or drivers involved. Also make sure that you take down their insurance information, license plate number, make and model and write down a description of the cars and the incident as well as the damage. <ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in; list-style-type: decimal;"> </ol> <strong>Get witness information:</strong> If there were any witnesses, make sure to get their names and contact information.<br /> <strong><br /> Call your insurance company:</strong> Some insurance companies have claims adjusters who ride out to accidents. Call your insurance company to find out if this is also their process&mdash;unless you decide that the damage is minor enough that you don&rsquo;t need to involve your insurance company. <ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in; list-style-type: decimal;"> </ol> <strong>Take pictures:</strong> If you have a camera on your cell phone or a disposable camera in your glove compartment, make sure to take some pictures of both cars and the roadway, and anything else that might have factored in to the cause of the accident. <p>No matter what you decide to do in terms of police or insurance company involvement after your accident, make sure you document all the information that you can after the event and that you keep yourself safe while exploring the damage and talking to the other driver. <br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/contact.aspx">ABC Insurance Services</a></strong> is here to protect you through the good times and the bad. Call us today at <strong>(713) 782-2886</strong> to get your free <strong><a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com/automobile/default.aspx">Houston auto insurance</a></strong> quote today!</p>urn:uuid:b71852e6-6f1e-4082-9912-31bd14354baaTexas Auto Insurance In the great state of Texas you are required to have a minimal amount of automotive liability coverage. In Texas,there has been a large number of people being pulled over or getting into an accident that do not have the proper a...Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:44:08 -0500<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Texas Auto Insurance<br /> <br /> </strong></span>In the great state of <strong>Texas</strong> you are required to have a minimal amount of automotive liability coverage. In <strong>Texas</strong>,there has been a large number of people being pulled over or getting into an accident that do not have the proper amount of <em><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong></em>. Statistics claimed that about 75% of autos on the road are insured. The remaining 25% either have no <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong> car there policy is not adequate. Just remember that when you are searching for <strong><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong></strong>. There are good <strong>insurance</strong> policies that do not cause a lot of money. But saying that just remember that buyer beware. Make sure that you take your time and read the documents word for word. And if you do not understand what you are reading ask the agent that you do not understand a portion of the policy. And just make sure that you shop around at least three companies before you make your final choice. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Auto</strong> <strong>Insurance </strong>Quote</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: center;">When getting a <strong><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong> quote</strong>, make sure that it includes your basic <strong>auto</strong> liability coverage. <strong>Automotive <strong>insurance</strong> in <strong>Texas</strong> </strong>is body injury should contain at least $30,000 per person. And $60,000 per accident for lively injury. And property damage in the state of <strong>Texas</strong> should have a minimum of $25,000 per accident. As stated in the last paragraph make sure that you thoroughly read and comprehend your <strong><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong> </strong>quote. One important thing to remember is that we are talking about <strong>Texas</strong> car <strong>insurance</strong> minimum coverage. You must understand that the <strong>insurance</strong> company will pay up to this amount. The remaining cost of repair will be your responsibility. By increasing your liability limits, you can pay less in the long run if you ever have any accident. When adding comprehensive and collision coverage to your liability policy. You will be adding coverage that will repair are the place the vehicle involved in a vehicle more accident. Most finance companies require this type of coverage if you are financing or leasing a vehicle. Just make sure to purchase <em><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong> </em>that is affordable so that you can afford to make your payments on the <strong>insurance</strong>.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Texas Auto Insurance Companies</strong></span></p> <p><strong><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong> companies </strong>offer discounts to qualified drivers. This will definitely help for your rates. Some of the discounts are, multiple automobile discount, a discount if you have renters are homeowners <strong>insurance</strong>. In a discount if you had a clean driving record. Myself, I like to deal with a independent <strong>insurance</strong> agent. This can save you a substantial amount of money. But you must do a lot of shopping around when looking for a <em><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>auto</strong> <strong>insurance</strong></em> quote. They are able to find the most affordable policy for you and your pocketbook. What I liked about a independent agent is they can shop around all of the <strong>insurance</strong> companies. A agent who represents only one <strong>insurance</strong> company does not have the flexibility to offer you the proper policy at a affordable price. Just make sure that you get the proper amount of <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Auto</strong> <strong>Insurance</strong>.A professional <strong>insurance</strong> agent will take the time to explain the policy that you will be purchasing. They should not let you leave until you are completely comfortable with understanding the <em><strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Auto</strong> <strong>Insurance</strong> <strong>Quote</strong></em></p> <p>Just remember that there is a lot of information out there on <strong>auto</strong> and sure policies and coverage this remember the required liability limits in the state of <strong>Texas</strong>.</p>urn:uuid:3885bfcf-b5dd-493c-a13c-5a74fca9b550Progressive Insurance Review &amp; Rating Founded in 1937, Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance groups in the United States. They are strong in technology providing online comparison rates and 24/7 customer and claims service. Between 19...Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:37:19 -0500<p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Progressive Insurance Review &amp; Rating<br /> </span></strong><br /> Founded in 1937, Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance groups in the United States. They are strong in technology providing online comparison rates and 24/7 customer and claims service. Between 1996 and 2005, Progressive grew an average of 17 percent per year, from $3.4 billion to $14 billion and continues to grow today.</p> <hr /> <br /> <strong>William</strong>&nbsp; <div style="float: right; clear: right;"> <div class="myrp_boxes myrp_ratings_comments"> <table> <tbody> </tbody> </table> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <p>My vehicle was stolen from my garage after we were out for vacation. They provided the reasonable amount for it. Their service was really good. I am extremely pleased and always recommend Progressive time and again.<br clear="right" /> </p> August 25th, 2011 at 9:33 am <div class="contentblock1"><br /> <br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;">&nbsp; <div title="4" class="myrp_rating_container" style="text-align: left; width: 120px !important;"> <div class="myrp_big_disabled_star" style="padding-bottom: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px !important; width: 24px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; float: right; padding-top: 0px !important;border: 0px;"></div> <div class="myrp_big_disabled_star_on" style="padding-bottom: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px !important; width: 96px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;border: 0px;"></div> </div> <br /> </div> <b>Tiffany</b> <div style="float: right; clear: right;"> <div class="myrp_boxes myrp_ratings_comments"> <table> <tbody> </tbody> </table> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <p>Their price is very decent. Also its very easy to set up your account online. You never have a call hold time with their customer service which means you never have to hold to talk to their customer care officials.<br clear="right" /> </p> </div>urn:uuid:12462d86-c503-4da9-a854-f3e7cd3eba94Ways to Lower your Homeowners Insurance Policy There are many ways to lower your home insurance rate. One by choosing a higher deductible, most people are scared to get higher deductibles in case they have a smaller claim. On the other hand you are ...Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:15:08 -0600<div class="testimonial_content"><strong>Ways to Lower your Homeowners Insurance Policy<br /> </strong><br /> There are many ways to lower your home insurance rate. One by choosing a higher deductible, most people are scared to get higher deductibles in case they have a smaller claim. On the other hand you are giving&nbsp;your money&nbsp;away to the insurance company by choosing lower deductible. Installing alarm system can save you up to 12% of your annual premium. Manitain your home ; keep your house up to date and fix little things as you go before they turn to major problems. Other disounts that may apply;<br /> <br /> </div> <div class="testimonial_content"> <ul> <li>5 Year Claim Free, Do not call in and make small claims under your deductible- review your policy and choices before calling in a claim. </li> <li>Get Multi Policy Discounts, Insure your auto, life with the same carrier in order to get multi policy discount.</li> <li>Get Monitored Alarm installed, it will almost pay itself off by savinf on your home insurance policy.</li> <li>Some companies can get your lower rates for having better credit rating.</li> <li>Lower home insurance rates for over 50 years of age.</li> <li>Construction type of the house can definitly get you a lower rate.</li> <li>Age of the House can also make a difference in your rate.</li> <li></li> </ul> </div> <p>These are some of the things you can do to lower your home insurance rate, Discounts vary from one company to another, so make sure to shop around and ask your agent for discounts.</p> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a id="RightBanners__ctl00_bnLnk"></a>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <br /> <a id="RightBanners__ctl02_bnLnk"></a> <br /> </div>urn:uuid:9f29e131-4582-4886-a555-2f2fcca11df4 Is an Ant Attack Covered by Homeowners Insurance? Ants are notorious for ruining picnics- but they can also be a huge pain in the um, rear, when they make their way indoors. Over the last couple of days, we have been fighting back an invasion that ...Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:01:48 -0600<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <h3>Is an Ant Attack Covered by Homeowners Insurance? </h3> <p>Ants are notorious for ruining picnics- but they can also be a huge pain in the um, rear, when they make their way indoors. Over the last couple of days, we have been fighting back an invasion that makes the Normandy landing look like a stroll on the beach. <br /> <br /> <br /> If you're going through the same problem, you might be thinking of hiring a pest control company and then filing a claim with your homeowners insurance provider to reimburse you. Well, don't count on that plan to work. Ants, termites and other insects aren't a peril that homeowners insurance covers. In fact, filing too many homeowners insurance claims over small problems could increase the cost of your homeowners insurance policy. </p> <div class="entry-more" id="more"> <p>&nbsp;To fight back our invaders, we have deployed multiple defenses. Here are the steps that my wife and I have taken: </p> <p>&nbsp;1. Clean, clean and clean. Keeping the floors clean of any kind of crumbs, and eventually ant corpses, seems to keep them from striking the same area twice. </p> <p>2. Find where they are infiltrating your perimeter and stop their incursion. We have put down a couple ant traps where we see them coming from. </p> <p>3. Search and destroy! There are bound to be a couple heroes who survive the ant trap and avoided the suction of the vacuum to strike out on their own and recon for new spot to invade. For these Rambo ants, a little spray of Raid usually ends their mission. Since we have cats, we are very careful to clean the floor after we spray anything. </p> <p>&nbsp;Hopefully these tips will help you win your battle against the ants. If you have any tips on how to get rid of ants, please do share. </p> </div> </div>urn:uuid:1a7ea6b6-3136-43c9-8b84-7fe7b60806b4 Home Renovations and Homeowners Insurance Changes You've just ripped out that leaky shower and replaced the countertops in the kitchen. Congratulations! But have you contacted your home insurance company to update your policy? If you don't update ...Thu, 23 Dec 2010 06:57:58 -0600<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <p><strong>Home Renovations and Homeowners Insurance Changes<br /> </strong></p> <p>You've just ripped out that leaky shower and replaced the countertops in the kitchen. Congratulations! But have you contacted your home insurance company to update your policy?</p> <div class="entry-more" id="more"> <p>If you don't update your policy after major renovations you could be underinsured if an accident or disaster occurs. Contact your provider to update your homeowners insurance policy as soon as possible.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Acquiring New Valuables<br /> </strong></p> <p>When acquiring valuables, be they expensive electronics, furniture, art or antiques, inform your homeowners insurance provider to see if they are covered by your standard policy or if you need to purchase additional homeowners insurance coverage. You don't want to be left underinsured when disaster strikes.</p> <div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <p><strong>As your life changes, so do your insurance needs</strong>. For example, if you moved to a new neighborhood or remodeled your kitchen this year you'll need to update your homeowners or renters insurance policy. And buying a new car or joining a carpool means it's time to consider an updated car insurance policy. </p> <p>Here are 10 "life" situations that require changes in your insurance coverage, starting with #1: Getting Married or Divorced, and #2: Switching Jobs.</p> <div class="entry-more" id="more"> <p>#1: Marriage or Divorce</p> <p>When you get married it makes sense to start combining insurance policies. Combining two car insurance policies into one policy could save you money. As you and your partner move in together and start combining property you need to revisit your homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy as well. This is also a good time to think about term life insurance -- you want to make sure that your partner is taken care of should a tragedy occur. </p> <p>Getting a divorce necessitates setting up separate policies, since you are presumably no longer sharing cars and/or homes. Also, you'll need to update your term life insurance policy's beneficiaries. </p> <p>#2: Switching Jobs</p> <p>If you have just landed a new job your driving situation may have changed. If your new job is farther from home, your annual mileage will be higher. Perhaps you will be telecommuting or using public transit and so you'll drive considerably less. Additionally, if you've been receiving term life insurance benefits from your previous employer, you need to make sure you can continue that coverage with your new employer or go out and shop for life insurance on your own.</p> </div> <br /> Read more: <a href="http://blog.insweb.com/2010/08/10-reasons-update-insurance-part-1.html#ixzz18wHjnLOC" style="color: #003399;">http://blog.insweb.com/2010/08/10-reasons-update-insurance-part-1.html#ixzz18wHjnLOC</a></div> <br /> </div> <br /> </div>urn:uuid:f670e573-dade-4b5d-945f-f5edce0f2a72 The Beginning of the End of Employer-based Health Care? Health reform has, thus far, produced several unintended consequences. As a result, legislators are scrambling to stave off more public backlash.&nbsp; The recent wave of exemptions granted by...Thu, 23 Dec 2010 06:53:18 -0600<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <h3>The Beginning of the End of Employer-based Health Care? </h3> <p>Health reform has, thus far, produced several unintended consequences. As a result, legislators are scrambling to stave off more public backlash.&nbsp; The recent wave of exemptions granted by Congress to major corporations like McDonalds and Home Depot may only be a postponement of what appears to be an intended consequence of <a href="http://www.health-insurance.org/reform-health-care">health insurance reform</a>. The corporations argue that the new requirements may force them to drop insurance coverage for thousands of low wage workers.</p> <div class="entry-more" id="more"> <p>If these companies ultimately cease providing what is called "mini-med" coverage, also known as limited benefit plans, then tens of thousands of workers will be absorbed by the new Medicaid exchanges set to open in 2014 &ndash; well after the next presidential election.<br /> <br /> <strong>New Ratio Unrealistic to Meet for Limited Benefit Insurance Plans</strong> <br /> <br /> </p> <p>At issue for these companies is the new medical loss ratio that requires companies to spend at least 80% to 85% of their premium dollars on actual medical benefits, which is the law's way of ensuring that employer-sponsored health plans limit the amount of money spent on high executive salaries and administrative costs. The ratio for mini-med plans is skewed towards administrative costs because of the high turnover of low-wage workers and the fact that there is low amount of actual claim expenses. In fact, the average amount of benefits claimed by McDonalds' workers is about $5,000 per year. For $13 a week, a McDonalds' employee can receive a maximum of $2,000 in benefits, which covers 100% of most medical costs except in-patient services, according to <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2010/12/03/health-care-under-the-golden-arches-cheap-but-faulty/">Time Magazine</a>. At the higher end, $32 provides $10,000 of benefits.</p> </div> <br /> </div>urn:uuid:884595dd-e840-4c34-9c9a-e96ff0d3dcbb Distracted Driving and the Invisible Gorilla According to a new study, our ability to multi-task simply isn't what we think it is. Check out this video by Daniel Simmons. Why does it matter? For one thing distracted driving is a major cause ...Thu, 23 Dec 2010 06:48:07 -0600<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <h3><a href="http://blog.insweb.com/2010/10/distracted-driving-invisible-gorilla.html">Distracted Driving and the Invisible Gorilla</a></h3> <p>According to a new study, our ability to multi-task simply isn't what we think it is. Check out this video by Daniel Simmons. <br /> <br /> </p> <p><embed width="350" height="221" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGQmdoK_ZfY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" originalPath="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGQmdoK_ZfY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" originalAttribute="src" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p>Why does it matter? For one thing distracted driving is a major cause of auto accidents. Many drivers think they can safely drive and talk on the phone, converse with passengers, read and/or send texts and more. According to the study behind this video, drivers need to think again. </p> <br /> </div>urn:uuid:6b70df29-2740-46f4-a064-945247cdd70cTo get a bonded title or lost auto title for a vehicle. First you have to contact TxDot office near you and fill up a statment of fact so you can get an approval letter from TxDot specifing amount of Surety Bond needed to register your vehicle and ob...Sat, 09 Oct 2010 07:04:58 -0500To get a bonded title or lost auto title for a vehicle. First you have to contact TxDot office near you and fill up a statment of fact so you can get an approval letter from TxDot specifing amount of Surety Bond needed to register your vehicle and obtain a bonded title.<br /> <br /> Then you have to find a bonding company to issue the Auto title bond, also known by Lost Title, or defective Title&nbsp;Bond&nbsp;( <a href="http://www.allstatesuretybonds.com">www.allstatesuretybonds.com</a> ) (<a href="http://www.abcbondingtexas.com">www.abcbondingtexas.com</a>) ) <a href="http://www.713auto.com">(www.713auto.com</a>) . In most cases the estimated title bond will <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>cost you around $100 ( one time fee)</em></span> for bonds valued up to $5000, and bond over $5000 the rate will increase by $15 per $1000. <br /> <br /> <strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Bonded Title Procedure:<br /> </span></strong><br /> <p><b>Step 1: Determine your eligibility</b></p> <ul> <li>In order to qualify, you must be a Texas resident or military personnel stationed in Texas; or </li> <li>Have a vehicle that was last titled in Texas. </li> <li>The vehicle must be in your possession and cannot be considered abandoned, junked, stolen, or in any other pending lawsuits. Although not required to be operational, it must be a complete vehicle including a frame, body and motor or if a motorcycle, a frame and motor. </li> </ul> <p>If you meet the above eligibility requirements take or mail the following documents to your <a href="http://www.txdmv.gov/wheretogo/regional_offices.htm">Vehicle Titles and Registration (VTR) Division Regional Office</a>:</p> <ul> <li>A <a href="http://www.txdot.gov/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/VTR-130-SOF.xdp&amp;appID=/VTR&amp;status=/reportError.jsp&amp;configFile=WFServletConfig.xml" target="_blank">Statement of Fact for Bonded Title</a> (VTR-130-SOF), </li> <li>A <a href="http://www.txdot.gov/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/VTR-270.xdp&amp;appID=/VTR&amp;status=/reportError.jsp&amp;configFile=WFServletConfig.xml" target="_blank">Statement of Physical Inspection </a>(VTR-270) </li> <li>Any supporting evidence of ownership (Bill of Sale, Invoice, Cancelled Check, etc.) </li> </ul> <p><b>Note: A Request for Motor Vehicle Information, Form VTR-275 may be required by your bonding company.</b></p> <p>If your documents are approved, you will be issued a letter with the amount of the bond equal to 1&frac12; times the value of the vehicle. The department is responsible for determining the value of the vehicle using:</p> <ul> <li>The Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) from our Web site (<a href="http://www.txdmv.gov/">www.TxDMV.gov</a>) as the primary source </li> <li>If a SPV is not available, a national reference guide, National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) will be used </li> <li><b>If a value is not available either through SPV or NADA</b>, a licensed motor vehicle dealer or insurance adjuster may appraise the vehicle on a form provided by VTR. </li> </ul> <p><b>Step 2: Purchase a surety bond</b></p> <p>Take the letter and other documents given to you by the VTR Regional Office to an auto insurance agency or any agency that is licensed to sell vehicle Surety Bonds in Texas.</p> <p>You have one year from the date of the letter to purchase a Surety Bond in the amount shown on the letter, otherwise a new letter and bond would be required.</p> <p><b>Step 3: Apply for a bonded title</b></p> <p>Within 30 days from purchasing the surety bond, take the original letter given to you by the Regional Office and the documents listed above, to your <a href="http://www.txdmv.gov/wheretogo/tax_offices.htm">county tax office</a>, in addition to:</p> <ul> <li>a completed <a href="http://www.txdot.gov/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/130-U.xdp&amp;appID=/VTR&amp;status=/reportError.jsp&amp;configFile=WFServletConfig.xml" target="_blank">Form 130-U</a> </li> <li>proof of insurance. </li> <li>weight certificate (if a commercial vehicle or a truck) </li> <li>Vehicle Identification Certificate (Form VI-30), completed by a <a href="http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/inspection/new_locator.asp" target="_blank">Safety Inspection Station</a> (if previously titled out-of-state) </li> <li>Customs Document (HS 7) (if vehicle imported from out of country) </li> </ul> <br />urn:uuid:ff1d4552-3513-4759-8542-7f216b7e74e6Most surety bonds cost between 0.5% to 3% of the requested Bond amount. Some Bonds are underwritten based on applicant's credit and past experience, others are issued with no questions asked. Some are declined because of bad credit or past claim expe...Sat, 09 Oct 2010 06:52:49 -0500<em>Most surety bonds cost between 0.5% to 3% of the requested Bond amount. Some Bonds are underwritten based on applicant's credit and past experience, others are issued with no questions asked. Some are declined because of bad credit or past claim experience. But if you do your shopping you can always find a bonding company that will issue a surety bond for a reasonable rate. <a href="http://www.713auto.com">www.713auto.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; or&nbsp; <a href="http://www.allstatesuretybonds.com">www.allstatesuretybonds.com<br /> </a><br /> <br /> </em> <div class="testimonial_author"></div>urn:uuid:b1c77049-cfac-4371-a05c-101821918343Many people love to get lower deductibles in fear of having an accident or a claim, then they have to come up with higher out of pocket expense to pay for the claim. In return they end up paying much more on their auto nsurance for years to come. If ...Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:07:10 -0500Many people love to get lower deductibles in fear of having an accident or a claim, then they have to come up with higher out of pocket expense to pay for the claim. In return they end up paying much more on their auto nsurance for years to come. If you do the math you will be much more ahead if you have higher deductible&nbsp; ike $750 to $1200 instead of $250 of $500 deductibles. If you can save $20 to $40 a month on your auto insurance premium, then you will make up the difference in less than one year and you might not have any accidents for 3 to 7 years. <br /> <br /> There are many other ways to lower your auto insurance rate, like keepng your driving record clean, homeowner, insuring all your cars with one carrier, insuring all of your auto home life with one carrier&nbsp;can get you multi policies discount.&nbsp;bsing claim free for over 3 years make a&nbsp;big differnce, living at the same address over 1 year. This is to name a few. for mor information and a quick&nbsp;quote visit <a href="http://www.shophoustoninsurance.com">www.shophoustoninsurance.com<br /> </a>urn:uuid:b09aec0f-2c6e-416f-bac0-7f589fdb0353 &gt; Aug. 24--SAN MARCOS -- Get caught speeding in a San Marcos school zone and expect to pay an average of $230, according to a new survey by Allstate I...Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:17:24 -0500<table style="width: 500px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-size: medium;" id="ctl00_BodyContent_GridView1" class="pageText" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td>&gt; </td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td style="font-size: x-small;">Aug. 24--SAN MARCOS -- Get caught speeding in a San Marcos school zone and expect to pay an average of $230, according to a new survey by Allstate Insurance.The company recently surveyed 80 police departments and municipal courts across the state -- including in San Marcos -- to find out the average cost of a speeding ticket in a school zone for driving 10 miles per hour over the limit...<br /> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>urn:uuid:4c1cf5e8-ffb0-49c9-af50-c8dc338dfbca These days, technology can do virtually anything, including putting blind people behind the wheel. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and an engineering team at Virginia Tech have been working since 2007 to produce a vehicle that will allow ...Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:07:16 -0500<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <p>These days, technology can do virtually anything, including putting blind people behind the wheel. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and an engineering team at Virginia Tech have been working since 2007 to produce a vehicle that will allow blind people to drive.The prototype for the first self-driving vehicle is a Ford Escape with a non-visual interface to help sightless drivers maneuver on the road. Vibrating gloves tell the driver where and when to turn and laser sensors to act as the driver's "eyes."The NFB hopes that self-driving vehicles will provide blind people with greater independence and change the way people perceive the blind.Blind drivers will test-drive the modified Escape at Daytona International Speedway in January.</p> </div>urn:uuid:4104a3c8-45d3-43db-8a3f-c4c921914d83 As your life changes, so do your insurance needs. For example, if you moved to a new neighborhood or remodeled your kitchen this year you'll need to update your homeowners or renters insurance policy. And buying a new car or joining a carpool means ...Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:05:30 -0500<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <p>As your life changes, so do your insurance needs. For example, if you moved to a new neighborhood or remodeled your kitchen this year you'll need to update your homeowners or renters insurance policy. And buying a new car or joining a carpool means it's time to consider an updated car insurance policy. </p> </div>urn:uuid:def793a8-8399-4ae6-aee3-aa8d44019885 Having a baby, This is obviously a major life event and an excellent opportunity to review all of your insurance needs. But the first thing that should jump to mind is term life insurance. If you don't have term life insurance, get some today. If y...Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:03:40 -0500<div style="text-align: left; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none;border: medium none;"> <p>Having a baby,<br /> <br /> This is obviously a major life event and an excellent opportunity to review all of your insurance needs. But the first thing that should jump to mind is term life insurance. If you don't have term life insurance, get some today. If you do, make sure your policy is updated and that you have enough coverage to pay the costs to raise your new child, as well as to cover future expense such as a college education. Most financial experts recommend a coverage amount in the realm of 6-10 times your annual income. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="entry-more-link"><a href="http://blog.insweb.com/2010/08/10-reasons-update-insurance-coverage-part-2.html#more">Continue reading " 10 Reasons to Update Your Insurance Coverage--Part 2 " &raquo;</a> </p> <br /> <br /> </div>