Author Archive for Von Nix

The Top 4 Home Insurance Companies in Oklahoma

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, July 16th, 2018 

Oklahoma home insurance rates increased roughly 50% during a 5 year period ending in 2015 as homeowners embraced continuous wind and hail storms, especially within the western one-half of the state.  

These increases have Oklahoma homeowners scrambling to find quality home insurance with stable companies without the high cost that many insurers are still trying to charge.

In our opinion, the following 4 companies offer the greatest home insurance value in Oklahoma and, in our opinion, these companies will have the best chance of saving Oklahoma consumers money as you seek quotes for your homeowners insurance needs. All  4 of these companies offer outstanding coverage, excellent claims service and they usually have a lower cost than competitors.  

      1.   Safeco Insurance ( a Liberty Mutual Company)

      2.  Travelers Insurance

      3.  State Farm Insurance

      4. Allstate Insurance

May 5, 2018 Consumer Update:  3 of the last 4 years have been very profitable for the companies offering home insurance quotes in Oklahoma.  As a result, we are starting to see some companies offer better rates in many situations.  Also, Progressive Insurance has come into Oklahoma offering an excellent home insurance policy and oftentimes the rate is outstanding.  I have confidence that Progressive will be consistent and provide and excellent home insurance value for Oklahoma customers.  As a result, here is my new, updated rankings….

  1. Progressive Insurance
  2. Safeco Insurance ( a Liberty Mutual Company)
  3. Travelers Insurance
  4. Allstate Insurance
  5. State Farm Insurance

I have moved Allstate above State Farm because Allstate has a better home insurance cost right now.  However, long-term, State Farm will provide good value relative to other premium cost carriers, in my opinion.

Statewide Insurance Agency represents Progressive, Safeco Insurance and Travelers Insurance but not State Farm or Allstate.  

 

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A HOME INSURANCE QUOTE FROM STATEWIDE NOW

 

Summer Energy Savings

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, July 9th, 2018 

Beat the Heat — and Your Air Conditioning Bill — This Summer

Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Americans spend about $11 billion each year on air conditioning? That might not be such a surprise if you’re the one who writes the check for your household energy bill every month.

Believe it or not, you can spend less on cooling costs while still keeping cool in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Here are 5 things to do before you reach to adjust the thermostat:

  • Make sure your house isn’t part of the problem. If your home isn’t insulated and sealed well, warm air could be leaking in, sabotaging your efforts to cool things down. Make sure all cracks and openings are sealed, along with your ducts. The DOE says air loss through ducts can account for 30 percent of the energy a cooling system uses.
  • Keep that breeze flowing. Natural ventilation is a great way to decrease the temperature in your home without using any energy. Open windows in the mornings or evenings when the air is cool and get a cross-breeze going throughout the house.
  • Check that the heat isn’t on. You might be heating your house in the summer without realizing it. How? By using the oven, stove or other appliances that generate heat. Cook outside whenever you can, and use the dishwasher and clothes dryer at cooler times of the day if possible.
  • Create your own personal cool zone. Cooling the whole house might not be necessary if you’re only using a few rooms. Set up fans (ceiling fans will allow you to set your thermostat a few degrees higher), drink plenty of cool liquids and eat cold foods, which can help lower your body temperature. You might even consider wearing a damp shirt to stay comfortable or putting an ice pack on your forehead, the back of your neck or your wrists.
  • Don’t forget the basics. When it’s sunny outside, keep your curtains closed. Minimize your use of lights, as they generate heat. And, when the outside air is warmer than the air in your house, close the windows to keep the cool air in. 

We can’t promise these tips will keep you just as cool as when you kick back and turn on the AC full-blast. But saving money every month? That’s pretty cool, too.

ALL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

  • Safeco Insurance:

 

Home Insurance – Protecting Edmond, Norman, Moore, Oklahoma City, Guthrie and Yukon, OK

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, July 2nd, 2018 

Your home is the center of your daily life, and likely your most valuable asset. When your home is damaged or destroyed, you need your claim settled by an insurance company that understands this simple fact.  Statewide Insurance Agency can help you find the homeowner’s insurance quotes that will best meet your needs and provide the most valuable combination of tailored coverage, quality service and fair pricing.

Insurance Quotes for All Kinds of Homes

Depending on where you live – a house, apartment, or condominium – the right home insurance policy can provide you peace of mind as well as the money you need to repair or replace your home and/or belongings. Contact us for more information today!

Oklahoma– What you need to know about homeowners insurance

Whether you own or rent, insuring the place you call home can help protect you financially if you suffer a loss due to fire, theft, vandalism, or other covered events. It will also cover you in the event someone is injured while on your property and wins a legal judgment against you.

Homeowners policies differ by which losses are covered, which coverages you choose, and what type of residence you own. You choose which policy is best for you, whether it’s a comprehensive policy that cover losses such as fire, hail, smoke, falling objects, vandalism and theft of personal property, or whether it’s a policy that covers only specified losses.

Statewide Insurance Agency is here to help you find the right insurance for your home

Whether you’re a home or condo owner, a renter, or a landlord,  Statewide Insurance Agency will work with you to find a home insurance quote that fits your needs. We specialize in making it easy to choose the home insurance coverage that gives you the best value for the best price.

Your home insurance policy is most often made up of the specific options you choose, so how much you’ll pay for your policy depends on:

  • What you select. Oftentimes homeowners insurance options are priced individually, so how much you’ll pay for your policy depends on what coverages you buy.
  • How much you want to cover. Higher deductibles usually lower your premium price by shifting part of the loss payment to you. For example, if you had a $500 deductible, you would be responsible for paying the first $500 of the covered loss.
  • Where you set your limits. You may choose to set higher limits than the recommended amount if appropriate to your situation and needs.
    • Worried you aren’t completely covered? Consider an umbrella insurance policy that extends your coverage.

The Right Coverage. The Right Price. The Right Value

The amount you pay for your homeowners insurance depends on many factors. Think of your personal housing situation, and the assets you want to protect.

Protection for Your Home

Property or Dwelling Coverage typically pays to repair or rebuild your home if it’s damaged or destroyed by an insured event like a kitchen fire or windstorm.

Protection for You and Other People

Personal Liability Coverage applies if someone is injured or their property is damaged and you are to blame. The coverage generally applies anywhere in the world.

  • When choosing your liability coverage limits, consider things like how much money you make and the assets you own. Your personal liability coverage should be high enough to protect your assets if you are sued.

Medical Coverage

This covers medical expenses for guests if they are injured on your property, and in certain cases covers people who are injured off of your property. It does not cover health care costs for you or other members of your household.

Additional Living Expenses

If you can’t live in your home because of a covered loss, your home insurance policy will pay additional living expenses—commonly for up to 24 months—while damage is assessed and your home is repaired or rebuilt.

Protection for Your Belongings

Your home is filled with furniture, clothes, electronics and other items that mean a lot to you. Personal Property Insurance helps replace these items if they are lost, stolen or destroyed as a result of a covered loss.

Scheduled Personal Property Coverage

If you have special possessions such as jewelry, art, antiques or collectibles you may want to talk to your agent about this additional coverage. It provides broader coverage for specific items.

If You Rent Out Your Home

Landlords may have the option to buy optional liability coverage for the risks posed by tenant-occupied dwellings. Visit our Landlord Protection Insurance page for more information.

Edmond, Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Yukon, Midwest City, Choctaw, Moore and Norman – Protect the Things that Matter to You

Make an inventory of your home and personal belongings. If possible, make a list as well as take photos or video – using two inventory methods can help expedite the claim resolution process. Keep this list somewhere other than your home. Keep in mind that your policy doesn’t cover damages caused by poor or deferred maintenance on your part.

Every home is unique – talk to us today to find out how to get the best price and value on homeowners insurance for you. 

 

 

Home Insurance: When Cheap Turns Costly

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, June 25th, 2018 

 

We are all looking for cheap home insurance in Oklahoma.  However, cheap can turn to costly very fast if the home insurance policy you purchase does not cover  Additional Living Expenses (ALE).

ALE are monies paid to you by the home insurance company to pay for additional living cost that you incur as a result of a home insurance loss.  The best example of this is the cost to rent or lease another house while your home is being repaired or while the insurance company is assessing your home’s damage that is covered by insurance.  

As you seek cheap home insurance in Oklahoma, remember to make certain that the quote you request contains ALE as an important part of your home insurance plan.  Below is a typical example of the wording that an Oklahoma home insurance company will use in order to provide ALE.  This particular contract wording is from Safeco Insurance Company.  Safeco is one of the companies that we count on to provide home insurance value in Oklahoma without compromising critical policy coverages.  

“If a loss covered under this Section makes that part of the residence premises where you reside
uninhabitable we cover Additional Living Expense, meaning the necessary increase in living
expenses you incur so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living.“

Tips and Tricks for Saving $$$ on Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy

Posted by Von Nix 
· Tuesday, June 19th, 2018 

If you own your home in Oklahoma/OKC Metro, or if you’re in the process of buying your home then you’re aware of the importance of a homeowner’s insurance policy. But are you making sure that your homeowner’s insurance policy is saving you as much money as possible?

 

 

Here are a few tips and tricks for saving money
on your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy. 

Do Your Research

A smart consumer will request several quotes and shop around for the best deal on their homeowner’s insurance policy. Talking with independent agents is always a good method for getting a good understanding of what constitutes the best deal taking coverage and cost into consideration. But you should also look for any discounts you can: many memberships come with insurance discounts, even wholesale club memberships like Costco and Sam’s Club.

Update Your Home

If you own or are purchasing an older home especially, talk with an agent about what modern upgrades will affect your premiums. You can make some changes that make your home safer and also save you money every month!

Brush Up on the Lingo

Sometimes, consumers choose a slightly cheaper option without knowing the real cost of the compromise in coverage. For example, consider the way your policy handles a payout. Actual Cash Value will save you a little money on your premium, but should something happen, you may find this payout inadequate. 

This is because Actual Cash Value payouts are based entirely on the current worth of the home and contents insured. In contrast, Replacement Cost will payout based on the current cost to rebuild or purchase the home and contents. This can mean a stark contrast in what your payout looks like and greatly affect your ability to recover from a disaster. 

Consider A Higher Deductible

As with any type of insurance, you can expect to lower your premium by raising your deductible. You have to consider whether this option is the best fit for you, because raising your deductible will put more financial responsibility on you than sticking with a lower deductible. Speak with an agent about how much you feel comfortable with raising your deductible up to and see how it affects your annual premium.

Add an Umbrella Policy

Although adding an additional policy made seem counter-intuitive when it comes to saving money, an umbrella policy can add extra protections that save you significant money in the future. Should you face any liability litigation, that exceeds your homeowner’s policy, you are personally and financially responsible for those costs. If you don’t have the funds available, you could be looking at wage garnishments or worse. An Umbrella policy is quite inexpensive to add and the protections it provides are more than worth it.

How Safe Are Your Valuables?

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, June 11th, 2018 

Think fast – your tax return from 2017, where is it? How about your grandmother’s diamond watch? Is it in a secure place?

Having a home safe means that not only are important documents and valuables protected from fire and theft, but that you also know exactly where they are when you need them. But, is a home safe or a safe-deposit box – or both – right for you? Let’s take a look at the advantages, disadvantages and uses of each.

 

Home Safes

  • Advantages: They help protect against fire and theft and give you the ability to quickly and easily find important documents and other items.
  • Disadvantages: If the safe can be easily pried open or carried off, your valuables aren’t actually all that safe.
  • What to keep inside: Documents and other things you access regularly or might need to find quickly, such as insurance policies, medical information, investment and bank documents, wills, safe-deposit box keys, passports, fine jewelry, etc.

 

Safe-Deposit Boxes

  • Advantages: A secure location within the bank vault makes theft very unlikely, unless someone gains access to your key. Banks likely have a lower risk of fire and other incidents than your home, as well.
  • Disadvantages: You have to leave home to access important documents or valuables, and can do so only during bank hours. There’s typically a monthly or annual cost, rather than the one-time purchase of a home safe. You’ll also likely need to have an account with the bank in order to rent a safe-deposit box.
  • What to keep inside: Original documents (car titles, property deeds, etc.), valuables that you don’t often display or access, your home inventory, etc.

 

Whichever you choose, it’s sure to beat that shoe box you’re using now to store important documents. However, neither is a substitute for having your valuables properly insured. Give us a call today to talk about your personal property coverage!

ALL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

  • Safeco Insurance

Supersizing Your Edmond Home Insurance

Posted by Von Nix 
· Thursday, June 7th, 2018 

Statewide Insurance Agency continues to have a great deal of confidence in Safeco Insurance (a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance) to provide our customers with long term value on their Edmond home insurance and their Edmond car insurance.  

Cheap home insurance rates in Edmond aren’t enough!  Oklahoma home insurance companies also have to provide consumers with a long term value package that includes excellent coverages and great agency service to go with the low home insurance rates and low car insurance rates.  Today’s consumers are well-read and able to compare home insurance quotes from several companies in a short amount of time.  These high demands eliminate many home insurance companies in Oklahoma from being able to offer long term insurance value.  Safeco Insurance is a company that we trust and believe you can too.  Here a few facts about Safeco…. 

THEY MAKE HOME INSURANCE EASY FOR HOMEOWNERS IN EDMOND AND ALL OF OKLAHOMA
Safeco offers 24/7 claims service and online account management tools.

ALL THE PRODUCTS EDMOND HOMEOWNERS NEED IN ONE PLACE.
Auto, home, motorcycle, boat, RV…you name it, chances are Safeco covers it.

LOCAL AGENTS, EXPERT ADVICE.
You’ll work with a local home insurance agent, like me, to get the coverage and home insurance quote you need at the right price.

THEY’LL BE THERE.
Safeco has been in business since 1923 and is backed by the financial strength of Liberty Mutual.

Top 5 Homeowner Insurance Companies in Oklahoma

Posted by Von Nix 
· Monday, June 4th, 2018 

Oklahoma home insurance rates increased roughly 30% during a 5 year period ending in 2017 despite the fact that our weather was pretty good in 2014 – 2017.

These increases have Oklahoma homeowners scrambling to find quality home insurance with stable companies without the high cost that many insurers are still trying to charge.

In our opinion, the following 5 companies offer the greatest home insurance value in Oklahoma and, in our opinion, these companies will have the best chance of saving Oklahoma consumers money as you seek quotes for your homeowners insurance needs. All  5 of these companies offer outstanding coverage, excellent claims service,  they usually have a lower cost than competitors and they offer good rates on car and home insurance bundles.  

     1.  Progressive Insurance

     2.  Safeco Insurance ( a Liberty Mutual Company)

     3.  Travelers Insurance

     4.  State Farm Insurance

     5. Allstate Insurance   

Statewide Insurance Agency represents Progressive, Safeco and Travelers Insurance but not State Farm or Allstate.  

Statewide Insurance Agency

okstatewide.com

 

Protecting Yukon, OK, Edmond, Norman, Midwest City, Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Moore, OK

Posted by Von Nix 
· Thursday, May 31st, 2018 

 

Your home is the center of your daily life, and likely your most valuable asset. When your home is damaged or destroyed, you need your claim settled by an insurance company that understands this simple fact.  Statewide Insurance Agency can help you find the homeowner’s insurance quotes that will best meet your needs and provide the most valuable combination of tailored coverage, quality service and fair pricing.

Insurance Quotes for All Kinds of Homes

Depending on where you live – a house, apartment, or condominium – the right home insurance policy can provide you peace of mind as well as the money you need to repair or replace your home and/or belongings. Contact us for more information today!

Oklahoma– What you need to know about homeowners insurance

Whether you own or rent, insuring the place you call home can help protect you financially if you suffer a loss due to fire, theft, vandalism, or other covered events. It will also cover you in the event someone is injured while on your property and wins a legal judgment against you.

Homeowners policies differ by which losses are covered, which coverages you choose, and what type of residence you own. You choose which policy is best for you, whether it’s a comprehensive policy that cover losses such as fire, hail, smoke, falling objects, vandalism and theft of personal property, or whether it’s a policy that covers only specified losses.

Statewide Insurance Agency is here to help you find the right insurance for your home

Whether you’re a home or condo owner, a renter, or a landlord,  Statewide Insurance Agency will work with you to find a home insurance quote that fits your needs. We specialize in making it easy to choose the home insurance coverage that gives you the best value for the best price.

Your home insurance policy is most often made up of the specific options you choose, so how much you’ll pay for your policy depends on:

  • What you select. Oftentimes homeowners insurance options are priced individually, so how much you’ll pay for your policy depends on what coverages you buy.
  • How much you want to cover. Higher deductibles usually lower your premium price by shifting part of the loss payment to you. For example, if you had a $500 deductible, you would be responsible for paying the first $500 of the covered loss.
  • Where you set your limits. You may choose to set higher limits than the recommended amount if appropriate to your situation and needs.
    • Worried you aren’t completely covered? Consider an umbrella insurance policy that extends your coverage.

The Right Coverage. The Right Price. The Right Value

The amount you pay for your homeowners insurance depends on many factors. Think of your personal housing situation, and the assets you want to protect.

Protection for Your Home

Property or Dwelling Coverage typically pays to repair or rebuild your home if it’s damaged or destroyed by an insured event like a kitchen fire or windstorm.

Protection for You and Other People

Personal Liability Coverage applies if someone is injured or their property is damaged and you are to blame. The coverage generally applies anywhere in the world.

  • When choosing your liability coverage limits, consider things like how much money you make and the assets you own. Your personal liability coverage should be high enough to protect your assets if you are sued.

Medical Coverage

This covers medical expenses for guests if they are injured on your property, and in certain cases covers people who are injured off of your property. It does not cover health care costs for you or other members of your household.

Additional Living Expenses

If you can’t live in your home because of a covered loss, your home insurance policy will pay additional living expenses—commonly for up to 24 months—while damage is assessed and your home is repaired or rebuilt.

Protection for Your Belongings

Your home is filled with furniture, clothes, electronics and other items that mean a lot to you. Personal Property Insurance helps replace these items if they are lost, stolen or destroyed as a result of a covered loss.

Scheduled Personal Property Coverage

If you have special possessions such as jewelry, art, antiques or collectibles you may want to talk to your agent about this additional coverage. It provides broader coverage for specific items.

If You Rent Out Your Home

Landlords may have the option to buy optional liability coverage for the risks posed by tenant-occupied dwellings. Visit our Landlord Protection Insurance page for more information.

Edmond, Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Yukon, Midwest City, Choctaw, Moore and Norman – Protect the Things that Matter to You

Make an inventory of your home and personal belongings. If possible, make a list as well as take photos or video – using two inventory methods can help expedite the claim resolution process. Keep this list somewhere other than your home. Keep in mind that your policy doesn’t cover damages caused by poor or deferred maintenance on your part.

Every home is unique – talk to us today to find out how to get the best price and value on homeowners insurance for you. 

 

 

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