What do you do after a hailstorm or tornado hits Coppell? What if you have a house fire, or some other unforeseen event leaves you with a huge loss?

Posted on by Jeri McShan

If a disaster such as a fire, windstorm or hailstorm damages your home, you are your own best advocate. Keep scrupulous records of conversations with your agent, your policies and what was damaged.

It’s important to know well in advance of a disaster what your insurance policy does and doesn’t cover. It’s smart to review your insurance policy at least once a year to make sure it’s up to date and the coverage is adequate. Regular homeowners insurance doesn’t cover floods, hurricanes or earthquakes, so if you live in an area subject to those risks, you may need additional policies. According to the Insurance Information Institute, underinsurance is a huge, chronic problem, especially when homes are destroyed.

Here are nine ways to get the best results from your insurance claim after a disaster:

Know what your policy covers. Every insurance policy is different in regards to coverage. Deductibles may not be the same for all types of claims. Does your policy pay for the actual cash value of your home and contents, or do you have replacement cost coverage, which pays the cost of buying new stuff or rebuilding your house, with some limitations?

Document your loss. That could mean providing photos or video showing the damaged items or producing a copy of a household inventory or receipts. The burden of proof is on you

Protect your home from further damage. If your roof is blown off or your windows are broken, the insurance company expects you to secure those openings before more damage occurs, which may not be covered.

Negotiate if you don’t like the initial offer. Get estimates from multiple contractors and send them to the insurance company with your request for reconsideration.

Know that the money won’t necessarily go to you. Most insurance checks are written to the company holding your mortgage, which then has to send the money to you.

Hire licensed contractors. Get at least three estimates, and check references, licenses and insurance. Never hire a contractor who says he was simply “in the neighborhood.” After a disaster, reputable contractors don’t need to solicit business, and those who go door to door are often unlicensed at best and scammers at worst.

Vet the contractors recommended by your insurance company. In some cases, insurance companies have a list of contractors who have agreed to do the work for what the company will pay. Ask about warranties, references, licenses and insurance

Consider hiring a public adjuster. If you’d rather let someone else handle your claim, or if you feel the amount offered is inadequate, a public adjuster may be able to help. Before you hire a public adjuster, ask for references and check the adjuster out as you would any other contractor.

Beware of scams. Disasters bring scam artists and charlatans out of the woodwork. Be wary of out-of-town roofing companies and contractors who are simply stopping by to solicit your business. Remember that good contractors don’t need to solicit business after a disaster.

 

Educate Teens On The Road In Coppell

Posted on by AgentInsure

Your role as a parent or guardian is to educate teens when they are on the road in Coppell. While they may be enrolled in driver’s education courses, it is important to give them as much practice on the roads as possible. Teens are in the largest demographic for being involved in car crashes, and much of this can be reduced if they are more confident drivers.

One of the best ways to educate teens when they are driving in Texas is to set a good example for them. You should always be wearing your seatbelt, and drive defensively so that they see what a good driver looks like. You don’t want to be on your cellphone and you never want to speed or run red lights.

Another great way to educate teens is to let them drive in various situations. You want to make sure that they experience the majority of driving situations while you are still in the car so that they aren’t alone for the first time during them. This includes letting them drive in the rain, the snow, heavy traffic, and at night.

The more driving time teens get before they are alone in the car, the more confident they will be, and the more experienced. The graduated licensing program in Texas is designed for teens to have a longer period of supervised driving time, and you want to make sure to reinforce this within your household.

Ask questions, too. Find out what your teen feels comfortable with and what he or she wants more help with.

McShan Agency is dedicated to educating teens and helping everyone obtain quality auto insurance. Call us today to learn more about how to obtain affordable insurance that you can count on.

 

 

 

Choosing a Car for your Coppell Teen Driver

Posted on by Jeri McShan

Choosing the right car for your Coppell teen driver may not be easy. There are many things to take into account, such as safety and cost.

Safety
The top priority when buying a car for your teen is passenger safety. Since teens are already new to driving, and not completely secure on the road, getting the safest vehicle is a must. The car should be equipped with all important safety features including airbags and blind spot monitoring systems. Since small, compact cars can be less safe in an accident and large SUVs with many passengers can be distracting, midsized sedans may be a good choice for new drivers.

Reliability
For a credible source on automotive reliability, check out JD Power’s awards. Once you have narrowed down your list, look at forums dedicated to specific cars. You can communicate with other drivers about their experience with that car’s reliability.

New or Used
Once you have decided that you want to purchase a car the question becomes “New or used?” One pro to buying a used car is the more reasonable price range. However, this might be partially offset by repair costs. If you buy a used car make sure all of the safety features are still intact and remember to run a Vehicle History Report on any used car.

Use it as a Teaching Tool
Use this opportunity to inform your teen about the dangers of driving and the responsibilities of owning a car. Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Teen Drivers Guide for more tips on all the things to be aware of as a teen driver. Also, the financial aspect of owning a car can be used as a teaching tool for your teens as with a cost-splitting system, they will have to manage their own budget to pay for associated costs like gas and repairs.

http://www.thehartfordmile.com/2015/07/21/finding-the-right-car-for-your-teen/?cmp=SOC-PL-Content-01009515

Avoid Accidents By Staying Awake On The Roads

Posted on by AgentInsure

When you’re driving in Coppell, Texas, it’s important to always focus on the roads. Even when you’re a good driver, accidents can happen. You may not be aware of all of your surroundings because of being drowsy. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure you can stay awake at all times.

Approximately 60% of all adult drivers say they have driven while drowsy and approximately 37% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. This is very dangerous and leads to around 100,000 crashes every single year.

If you’re too tired to drive, admit this to yourself before ever getting behind the wheel. Ask someone else to do the driving or pull over at a hotel for the night. Whenever you are doing long distance driving, it’s smart to drive with a partner so you can alternate driving. If you start to get sleepy, it’s best to admit it so you don’t get into an accident.

It’s not just other drivers on the road that you have to worry about when driving. You could veer off the side of the road, hit a tree, or swerve into oncoming traffic. Any of these scenarios can be fatal and it’s not worth the risk.

You want to make sure you have the right amount of coverage on you and your car when you take to the road. However, all the coverage on the road isn’t going to help if you fall asleep and get into a fatal accident.

Stay awake. It’s the easiest way to avoid accidents when you’re driving in Coppell.

Call and talk to one of our independent agents at The Select Insurance Agency today to learn about auto insurance. We can get quotes from multiple companies and guide you towards a policy with sufficient coverage at a good price.

BBQ And Safety Go Hand In Hand

Posted on by AgentInsure

Spending time out at the BBQ is one of the most fun things about being a homeowner. When you’re in Coppell, Texas the weather can be great throughout many parts of the year. You can have the fun while maintaining safety at the same time.

If you decide to BBQ out on the grill, you want to be safe as a way of protecting your home. While you can have a homeowners’ insurance policy to protect you against smoke and fire damage, the best way to protect your home is to avoid these things entirely.

Keep the grill a fair distance away from your home. You want to bring it outside of any kind of enclosed patio so that the fumes have a place to go. It will also ensure that there is no smoke damage on the walls or ceilings of the enclosure.

You also want to make sure the grill is cleaned after each use. If you don’t scrub the surfaces with a wire brush from time to time, there can be clogs. This can lead to an obstruction of the burners or cause the electronic ignition not to light properly.

It’s also important to never leave the grill unattended. You never know when a flame could dart out or something could fall into the grill, causing a fire. By watching the grill, you can catch problems immediately.

Whether you’re cooking on a gas or a charcoal grill, the safety needs to be in place. This will make it easier for you to enjoy your time at the BBQ and ensure that your house is being kept safe throughout the entire process.

Call and talk to The Select Insurance Agency today. We can help you find a great homeowner’s insurance policy that provides all the coverage that you need at a price that you can afford.

 

Select Agency Lead Generators

Posted on by Jeri McShan

The Lead Source Program at The Select Insurance Agency in Coppell is a way for individuals to earn money by finding people who would like to get a home or auto insurance quote from our independent insurance agency. Lead Generators find friends and family who are interested in allowing our insurance agency to shop our numerous markets to find them better coverage and/or rates on their home or auto insurance. Call us today if you are interested in becoming a Lead Generator for The Select Insurance Agency.

A Tip for Your Texas Beach Vacation

Posted on by Jeri McShan

Going to a Texas Beach this summer? The Texas Beach Watch program can help you determine if the water is safe for swimming. Within this program, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) contracts with local governments, universities, and commercial laboratories (local contractors) to collect and analyze water samples. The results of low, medium or high levels of bacteria are posted on the website: www.texasbeachwatch.com.

Currently, bacteria levels are low on the Gulf coast. If they get in the High range, a beach advisory will be recommended. If you head south from Coppell, Dallas or Ft. Worth this summer for some beach time, be sure to check the site first. Most importantly, have a great time on the beach! Happy Summer from The Select Insurance Agency!

Relief for Coppell Flood Victims

Posted on by Jeri McShan

The City of Coppell is collecting cash donations to help local flood victims that have been displaced from their homes. Donations are being accepted at:

  • Grapevine Springs Senior and Community Center, 345 W. Bethel Road
  • The CORE, 234 E. Parkway Blvd.
  • Town Center, 255 E. Parkway Blvd.
  • William T. Cozby Public Library, 177 N. Heartz
  • Any of the three fire stations in Coppell

 

Visit this link for more information: http://www.coppelltx.gov/images/pdfs/CityManager/Flood_Victim_StatusJune_1.pdf

 

Avoiding Summer Travel Scams

Posted on by Jeri McShan

If you’re leaving Coppell for a vacation this summer, here are a few things to know about scams and how you can avoid them.

Protect your Home – Be careful mentioning on social media that you will be away. Thieves sometimes use that information to target victims who are out of town. You may want to have the post office hold your mail while you’re away, and perhaps have a police officer do a drive by. Lights on timers is a good idea too.

Front Desk Call – A long running travel scam is the phony call to your hotel room, pretending to be the front desk, asking you to confirm credit card information. Never give it over the phone. Go down to the front desk to verify the call.

Wi-Fi Hot Spot Hackers – High traffic areas like hotel lobbies and airports are potential places for Wi-Fi scams. Some scammers ask you to provide credit card info for services of only a few dollars, but then they steal your information. Other scammers may download malicious software onto your computers. Only join and provide information on trusted networks.

Have a great time on your summer vacation, but be smart about it!

Travelling from Coppell in your RV?

Posted on by Jeri McShan

Are you getting out of Coppell this Spring/Summer in your RV? Here are a few tips to remember:

Take Care of Your Tires

  • Check your tire pressure before setting out on the road, while they’re still cold.
  • Never exceed the maximum tire pressure indicated on your tire sidewalls or your owner’s manual.
  • Keep tires covered to protect them from the sun and weather when you’re not traveling.

Weigh Your RV and Tow Vehicle

Find a certified platform scale and get weighed to make sure weight is properly distributed and that you are within legal weight limits. Fully load your RV with passengers, cargo, fuel, personal belongings and full fresh water and propane tanks to get an accurate weight.

Understand Propane and Gas Systems

Inspect your propane and gas systems every spring for leaks and proper appliance operating pressure. Be sure you know how your RV alerts you to leaks, and know what to do if one occurs. Here’s some easy things to do if you smell gas or propane:

  • Extinguish any open flames and pilot lights.
  • Do not touch electrical switches.
  • Shut off gas supply at the tank valve(s) or gas supply connection.
  • Open the doors and windows and leave until the smell clears.
  • Have the gas system checked and repaired by a qualified technician before using again.

Use the Onboard Generator Sparingly

The onboard generator gives you extra power when there’s no shore power available, but be wary of carbon monoxide.

  • Never sleep with the generator running, and before you start the generator inspect the exhaust system.
  • Test the carbon monoxide detector, and know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning so you can watch out for it.

Make sure your RV is covered properly. Give The Select Insurance Agency a call today and inquire about RV insurance.

 

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