Homeowners rates will be increasing – Here is why …

Yikes!  Everything is getting so much more expensive – gas, food, taxes, and even insurance!  The Insurance Information Institute shared a video to explain why you may find your homeowners’ coverage increasing:

1) More severe weather continues to pound areas throughout the US causing severe – snow storms, super storms, hurricanes, not to mention fires and earthquakes.

2) The cost to repair a home after a catastrophe is much higher – even more expensive than building a new home from scratch.

3) Interest income on investments is lower, which in the past was used to offset the insurance claims costs for insurance providers.

4) Reinsurance rates have risen due to global catastrophic events and have put pressure to increase rates here in the US.  And actuarial studies sophisticated claims modeling are being used to support even higher rates.

Add to all of that the complexities of your individual home’s location, age, and construction --- and the question becomes how can you control the rising cost of living???!!!

Your Trusted Choice agent is a good place to start.  Your local professional agent can assist your with  reviewing your coverages for adequacy and will offer you options on coverages, companies, and deductibles.  You get to choose.

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and find ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel, Tammy Garfield, Dawn Garza, Tammy Hogue, Wendy Johnson, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Susan Monti, Kayleigh Davis, Matthew Langlinais, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: atreutel@southgroup.net , phone:228-466-4498, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel ! We now have 3 locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS.

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/ Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and many other states. We specialize in coastal exposures.

Fog City!

It’s like a scene from a horror movie!  Dense fog, wet air, eerie sounds … but no!  It’s just a normal work day in a community near a large body of water when the air temperature and water temperature collide!

So how do you get to work or school safely in this treacherous environment? Check out the Wiki article  “How to Drive Safely in Fog” and the Weather Channel’s “Driving in Fog”:

1)      Pay attention to the local weather and attempt to avoid driving, if possible, during heavy fog.

2)      Keep extra distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you (allow 5 seconds instead of 2 seconds as you normally should)

3)      Use your wipers and defroster to keep your windshield clear.

4)      Keep your lights on!  Use your fog lights or low beams.

5)      Stay in your lane and reduce your speed! 

6)      Stay alert for animals that are harder to see that may enter your path.  Listen for traffic you may not be able to see.

7)      If you have no visibility, pull off to the side and wait a bit.  Put your hazard lights on only if you are parked.

8)      Be certain you have good auto insurance coverage.  Contact your Trusted Choice agent at SouthGroup Insurance!

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and find ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel, Tammy Garfield, Dawn Garza, Tammy Hogue, Wendy Johnson, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Susan Monti, Kayleigh Davis, Matthew Langlinais, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: atreutel@southgroup.net , phone:228-466-4498, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel ! We now have 3 locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS.

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/ Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and many other states. We specialize in coastal exposures.

Baby It’s C-C-C-Cold Outside! Protect your home and pipes!

The Insurance Information Institute reports that winter storm are the third highest costing natural disaster.  Thunderstorms and Hurricanes were second and first most costly.

Good prevention will protect your home and your pocketbook from costly repairs:

·         Keep gutters cleared – remove sticks and debris to keep ice from backing up water which will seep into your home.

·         Remove dead branches and trim trees to avoid frozen falling objects.

·         Check steps and handrails for needed repairs to avoid slips and falls.

·         Caulk and add weather stripping around pipes and holes in outside walls or your foundation to keep ice or snow from damaging your home.

·         Add insulation to attics or basements to keep pipes from freezing or allowing snow to build up on the roof.

·         Perform regular maintenance on your heating system to ensure you will not encounter problems staying warm

·         Clean your chimney and furnace to prevent possible fires.  Keep fire extinguishers handy.

·         Know how to shut off the water pipes in the event your pipes break to prevent subsequent water damage.

·         Check your insurance policy to be certain you are adequately protected.  Your Trusted Choice agent is available to assist you.

To help you through the maze of coverages, carriers, premiums, and find ways to save money on your insurance, if you are on the Gulf Coast, contact your Trusted Choice agent, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com/ , SERVICE TEAM: Angelyn Treutel, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Wendy Johnson, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Susan Monti, Kayleigh Davis, Matthew Langlinais, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: atreutel@southgroup.net , phone:228-466-4498, fax:888-415-8922, FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast , or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel ! We now have 3 locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS.

We offer the following Lines of Coverage: Workers Compensation, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Disability, Motorcycle, Boat, Wind, Flood, Commercial Property, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Bonds, Group and Individual Life/Health/Dental/Disability/ Vision/Long Term Care, Business Owners, Builders Risk, Commercial Crime, Errors and Omissions, Dwelling Fire, Commercial Flood, Group Accident, Garage Dealers, Inland Marine, Law Enforcement Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, Personal Umbrella, Commercial Fire, Commercial Umbrella, Excess Flood, Identity Theft, more…

We serve Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and many other states. We specialize in coastal exposures.