Friday 30 November 2007

Why Sports Cars Cost More To Insure

Have you ever wondered why sports cars cost more to insure than other types of car – even when the purchase price of the sports car is less expensive? If so, the following are the main reasons why this is the case.

Car Insurance Group Categories

While many of the factors that determine the make-up of car insurance quotes are not known, what is known is that insurance companies ‘group’ certain types of cars into categories. For this purposes, insurance companies have groups ranging from 1 through to 20. Group 1 is the least expensive type of car to insure. Group 20 is the most expensive type of car to insure. So, if you buy a Fiat Panda, you’ll be classed a Group 1 car driver. Buy a sports car, any sports car, and you are looking at being classed a Group 15 and above driver. Buy a performance sports car, such as a Porsche 911, and you’ll definitely be Group 20 driver!

Theft

Over 2 million car crimes happen in the UK each and every year. Aside from popular model cars, such a Ford, the biggest car crime category is sports cars! Have a soft-top convertible sports car, and the chances of it being stolen are red hot! So, even if you live out in the countryside with no one else around for miles, you will still be seen as driving an extremely high risk car when it comes to car theft. With increased risk, comes an increased premium!

Accidents

Insurance companies are not charities – they’re in the business to make money. As such, they keep vast amounts of data and part of that data tells them that if you drive a sports car there is an increased risk you’ll be in an accident and that the accident will be more serious (and costly) than if you were driving a regular car. As such, the premium charge is going to be higher.


Under 30?

Unless you have just won the Lottery, if you are under 30 there are no appealing factors when it comes to insuring a sports car. Not only do the insurance company see the car you drive as being a high risk car to insure, but you as the driver are far more risky to insure as well. Consequently, car insurance premiums for those 30 years of age or under, driving sports cars, is probably the highest of all types of car insurance available in the UK today.

About the Author: Joseph Kenny writes for the Loans Store.

Insuring A Second Home

As a nation we in the UK are becoming wealthier. With the rise in our overall wealth has come a desire to spend our money on certain luxuries we enjoy. And one of the boom industries when it comes to spending this money is on the second home – the cottage in the countryside where we can spend the weekends. However, as this is considered your second home, and not your principal residence, the home insurance is going to cost you more than it will do for your principal residential home. To avoid this expense becoming burdensome, however, you may want to consider taking the following steps:

Security

The Number 1 reason why your second home will cost you more to insure than your principal home is because you are not there as often. As such, your lack of presence providers potential thieves with more of an opportunity to steal items from your home. In order to mitigate the chances of this happening, and so as to placate your home insurance provider into lowering your home insurance premiums, you will need to make sure that your second home has a sufficiently good security system. In effect, what this means is that you second home should have:


- a central alarm system
- a smoke detector
- deadbolt lock systems on your doors
- no area of the garden should be obscure, so you may need to cut back trees
- adequate lighting, which you should have on a timer system so that you second home is not consistently in the dark
- secure main entrance and back door
- secure garage area

Home insurance loss assessment advisors calculate that you are 20 – 30 percent less likely to have your home broken into if you have a good security surveillance system in place than if you do not.

Employ and agent

Employing an agent or friend to check in on your house daily and clear away any junk mail or local newspapers that may be delivered to your home can also help to reduce the chances of your second home being broken into, thus reduce your second home insurance premiums. Keep in mind that nothing makes a house look unlived in more than a collection of mail on the floor mat.

Select a relatively crime free neighbourhood

Finally, when looking around to buy your second home, make sure that you select a neighbourhood where the crime figures are relatively low. Crime figures are a major factor in calculating home insurance, so if you chose to live in an area where the crime figures are high, you should automatically expect to be paying more in home insurance premiums for that home.

About the Author: Joseph Kenny writes for the Loans Store.

Disability Insurance Protection You And Compare Policy Before Purchase

If disability income insurance is the protection you need, shop around and compare policy features before making a purchase. Some professional insurance agents consider the ideal disability policy to be a form called 'own occupation' coverage. But the average life of a disability insurance policy is about 5 years. Even if you have long-term disability insurance through your employer, you may want to consider an individual policy as well. That's why after recently meeting with his financial planner, he decided to supplement his employer's disability coverage with an additional long-term disability insurance policy.

Sometimes, your employer pays for an individual disability insurance policy on you. You choose the length of your waiting period when you purchase your individual disability income insurance policy. During this process, the insurance company collects information about you and uses it to decide whether to issue you a disability policy. They are not affected by payments from any other individual disability insurance policy you have purchased. Neither long-term care nor long-term disability insurance terminates once it pays a benefit unless the maximum benefits of either policy are exhausted.

Unearned income you may receive includes private disability payments from an insurance policy or short-term and long-term disability coverage from your employer. The maximum normally allowed under a disability policy is 60-66% depending on the insurance carrier. If you're not sure, an individual disability insurance policy can help. In summary, as the disability insurance market continues to deteriorate, every physician should perform a "policy check-up" to better understand his/her policy. Business Overhead Expense (BOE) insurance is a disability policy that reimburses the practice for specific overhead expenses if a shareholder is disabled.


Variables in coverage Insurance is always complicated and disability is no exception. Benefits are taxed, however, if your employer pays for the disability insurance coverage. Long-term disability insurance usually kicks in after short-term disability coverage ends - typically after six months. Free disability insurance quotes to help consumers find insurance coverage with the lowest rates for disability insurance. As with many other insurance plans, having disability insurance coverage usually makes more financial sense than not having it.

Although it gets less attention than life insurance, experts agree that disability coverage is at least as important. Nationally recognized attorneys representing medical, dental, business and legal professionals in disability insurance coverage disputes with carriers throughout the United States. Lack of coverage could ruin your family's lifestyle but disability insurance will ensure a continuous income stream. One coverage I don't have is disability insurance that will cover my loss of income in case of accident or extended illness. Most school districts do not provide disability insurance coverage for their employees. individual coverageDisability insurance may be included in your benefit plan from your employer or union. While on a disability-related leave, you may continue your insurance coverage by paying premiums directly to the Lab's Payroll Office.

For a longer illness, lasting six months or more, your employer may provide group long-term disability income insurance. Employee Benefits Disability benefits from your employer may include workers' compensation insurance for work-related injuries. In either case, you should find out as much as you can about the group disability insurance provided by your employer. Group disability insurance can be fully paid by your employer or may require an employee contribution. When you purchase disability insurance through your employer, you may be able to have premiums deducted from your pay on a pretax basis. Plus, one overwhelming advantage of personally owned disability insurance is that it cannot be reduced or terminated if you leave your current employer.

Your employer or association-sponsored group disability insurance plan may not be all you think it is. However, be aware that benefits paid by group disability insurance policies paid for by an employer are usually taxable. If your employer is among those who have overlooked disability insurance, you may want to suggest a reallocation of benefit dollars. You're actually less likely to get long-term disability insurance from your employer than life insurance.
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Pet Insurance & Public Liability – Are You Safe From A Personal Injury Compensation Claim?

Are you one of the million of Britons famous the world over for being a pet owner and lover? If so, do you have pet insurance? If not, you may well want to read on if you want to save yourself millions of pounds….

Let’s look at two, not uncommon, scenarios that may happen to a pet owner in the UK:

Scenario 1:

You own a dog. The dog is out in the garden. The post comes to the house to deliver a letter. In the course of delivering the letter your dog bites the postman.

Scenario 2:

You own a horse. The horse is grazing in the field. The horse is startled, jumps the hedge and crashes into an oncoming car.

Do you know what would happen in both of these scenarios? Well, if you don’t already know, as you may recall from the recent famous case involving Princess Anne, in Scenario 1 you could be liable to pay damages under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Less well known, in Scenario 2 you could be liable to pay damages under a recent House of Lords interpretation to the Animal Act 1971. Either way, you’re paying.


How can you limit the liability you’ll suffer if either of these unfortunate events where to occur? Without some form of pet insurance policy you could not. As such, if you have a pet and want to save yourself from the prospect of having to pay out a potentially large amount of money in compensation damages to a third party – now is the time that you should be considering getting pet insurance.

Although pet insurance is unlikely to cover you for the full costs you that you may need to pay to both defend your self against a claim and also pay compensation if you lose, as there is likely to be a minimum excess payment and maximum cap payment, for a reasonable annual premium payment you can arrange to have cover that would pay a large portion of this amount.

At the end of the day, however, having pet insurance is like having any other type if insurance. Would you go out n the roads and drive your car without insuring yourself against an accident? Would you leave all your valuables at home without having any home contents insurance? Do you want to take the chance that you could be used for million in personal injury compensation without having paid a minimal amount in pet insurance?

About the Author: Joseph Kenny writes for the Loans Store and offer more information on personal loans and other loan topics available on site.

Travel Pet Insurance

Recent changes to the UK’s quarantine laws mean that it is now possible for you to obtain a pet passport (under the government’s ‘passport for pets’ scheme) and take your family pet away with you on holiday. However, before you run off down to your local travel agent and book tickets for the whole family to that exotic seaside tropical location you have always wanted to visit but have to put off because everyone else at home didn’t want to leave Fido in the kennel, you might want to consider getting you and your family some travel insurance – including that all important travel pet insurance.

A number of leading pet insurance providers now offer pet owners travel pet insurance to give pet owners the comfort of knowing whether they are far away in exotic places enjoying the sun and sea or closer to home enjoying the cultural delights of Europe, their pet will be insured against any illness or mishap that may unfortunately befall them.



Typically, included in the travel pet insurance is:

- x-rays
- injections
- lab tests
- prescriptions
- costs while they stay at the vet and recuperate

Keep in mind, however, that as with other types of insurance, travel pet insurance usually comes with what is known as an excess. In short, what this means is that you – as the owner if the pet – will be required to pay a certain amount until a threshold amount is reached. Thereafter you can claim for a reimbursement against the insurance provider. However, unlike humans, travel pet insurance premiums are usually calculated on the type of animal you have and the age of the animal. As such, it is possible to leave arranging the travel pet insurance policy until the last minute, then purchasing this online once you have decided that you will definitely be taking your family pet away with you on your family holidays!

Moreover, as with human travel insurance policies, pet travel insurance can be purchased either as annual policy or as a one-off travel policy. If you get an annual pet travel policy, this means you can take your pet with you whenever you travel one of the 25+ countries outside of the UK which the UK government currently has arrangements for the ‘passport for pets’ scheme, or any of the European Union countries (which are all part of the ‘passport for pets’ scheme already). Alternatively, with one-off pet travel insurance policies you need to name the country you are going to visit and the dates you’ll be there and the policy will only cover you for the duration and place stated.

About the Author: Joseph Kenny writes for the Loans Store and offer more information on personal loans and other loan topics available on site.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

3 Steps to picking the right auto insurance

1. Avoid the rush

Very often with picking auto insurance coverage we go for a quick fix and a cheaap price. The auto insurance companies make alot of extra money off of us when we don't take the time to hunt around. So try not to get yourself in a position where you need auto insurance right away. In some cases this part is hard to avoid especially when we are in need of cheap auto insurance before we go to court for a driving ticket or the state has a "no tags, no coverage" policy.

2. Read your auto insurance coverage agreement.

Even though most of us don't understand insurance ocntracts. We should still take the time to read them. One of the things you can do is read it with a highlighting pen in hand. This is so you can highlight the parts you don't understand. Then when you go back to the auto insurance sales person just ask questions about the highlighted areas. If they can't fully explain them then you my want to speak with another company that can.

3. Weigh the cost.

Now that you didn't rush to get your insurance, and you fully understand the auto insurance agreements. this is the must important step in picking cheap auto insurance. Find what the coverage will cost you then compare policies. Most companies give you a FREE cost comparison. I personally wouldn't recommend it becaues they don't give any details on the auto insurance coverage plan from the competition, which is a "no-no" in step 1.

So to appropriately weigh the cost you must ask these 3 things:


A) What kinda of auto insurance does your state require?

B) What kind of driver are you and how much coverage do you need?

C) What price can you afford on your budget?

Once ou have done the 3 steps you should have a cheap auto insurance
policy that is good for you , your car, and pockets.

About the Author: Charlie Penn writes on aarp insure | cheapest car to insure

Your Car Needs Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is insurance that consumers and automobile owners purchase. It also goes by other names – vehicle insurance, car insurance, and motor insurance. This type of insurance primarily is used to provide protection against losses that a vehicle incurs because of traffic accidents, crashes, and mishaps.

Most companies that offer auto insurance have various types and scopes of ranges for their policies. In fact, auto insurance can actually cover the insured party, the insured vehicle, and third parties. However, not all companies offer such deals.

If you are wishing to purchase auto insurance for your vehicle, you can always do so. You can browse through the Internet or ask around for companies that offer good car insurance coverage. You see, most insurance companies actually provide discounts for good car grades. To know if you are qualified, you can ask the company. Also, there are some insurance companies that also give discounts for people who are taking their driver’s training program or other driver education programs. If you would like to take advantage of this promo, you can have a new teenage driver be the primary driver or the family driver since you could get lower rates.

Remember that various types of vehicles have also different auto insurance rates and quotes. You can check with insurance companies regarding their rates. You see, sports cars and other expensive cars have higher rates. Also, it is important that you know the crash safety rating for your vehicle. If your vehicle has a good and satisfactory rating, chances are that you would be getting lower insurance rates.


There are some bases for a car insurance premium charges. Aside from those previously mentioned like crash safety ratings, and the driver taking car and traffic education lessons, other criteria that insurance companies include in their computations are gender, the distance that the vehicle usually covers, and the color of your car.

Keep in mind that if you constantly keep you vehicle in good shape, chances are that you would be getting a much lower insurance rate. You can get new auto parts for your vehicle at Auto Parts Fast. It has top of the line Ford Truck parts and other vehicle parts. The company boasts of an impressive array of performance parts, and accessories that will surely help your vehicle perform well.

About the Author: As a former news correspondent for an auto-related website, Stacey has gathered extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. This 34 year old mother of two from Memphis is a genuine car lover.

Get Car Insurance Rate Comparisons Online

Auto insurance deductibles On my way to a company authorized seminar, a deer hit my car, causing considerable damage. As it was my personal car, not my company's, my auto insurance will be used to cover the damages. Free auto insurance rate quotes and new car prices direct. Auto policies are heavily regulated by the state you live in and most situations require insurance to pay no matter who's driving your car. Visit Answer Financial for car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, vehicle insurance, boat insurance, renters insurance and more. Flood damage to your car is also covered if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage.

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If you print them off, then you can sit back with your coffee and do a car insurance quote comparison of the rates. It is best to request at least three quotes so you can do a car insurance quote comparison when you get them. Now you can see why you get such a difference in the Car Insurance Quote by going to various companies. Get your car insurance quote online today. You could save even more by getting a free online car insurance quote. Opt for a car insurance quote, and the cover may not be so good. Fill out a request and get a quote for car insurance today. Get a great quote for car insurance today! Click here for a car insurance quote. Click here for a long term care insurance quote. One single enquiry through theidol.com will quickly provide the most competitive car insurance quote from a wide range of the UK's leading car insurers. Get an online car insurance quote today and find out if switching to Allstate could save you money.

The insurance company is totaling my car. An insurance company totals a car if repairs would cost more than it is worth. When you begin shopping for car insurance, look for a company that is reliable, secrure, and financially sound. The car insurance market is highly competitive and every company wants your business. When these older less valuable cars are stolen or damaged, the insurance company usually pays you the depreciated cash value of the car. So a letter telling you that your insurance company no longer will cover your home or car can be an unsettling experience. Work for an insurance company in some department that doesn't deal with car insurance. Should you be driving a car uninsured and crash, but your passengers have insurance, then their insurance company will have to pay out. If you are relying on credit card or over-the-counter insurance from a car company, your teen might not be covered. Many credit companies will not allow you to use their collision insurance if you purchase any from the rental car company. Low cost car insurance Alternatively, Insurancewide can find the car or breakdown insurance company that best matches your individual insurance profile. Please click to write your own UK car insurance company Buying insurance for a company car varies very little from purchasing it for standard vehicles.
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Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes Online

Auto insurance refers to the insurance which is used for insuring the automobiles against any kind of uncertain accidents that may cause damages to the vehicle. The main purpose that the insurance serves is to give protection against the losses incurred due to accidents. Auto insurance is a type of insurance that consumers must buy to protect the life span of their vehicles and also for any kind of damages that the vehicle may suffer in an accident. Auto insurance is used to insure many automobiles such as cars, trucks and any other kind of vehicles that may need it. Different kinds of coverage are available under these insurance schemes such as Third-Party Foreign Theft and Fully Comprehensive insurance, to suit the interest and the needs of the insured.

Before buying auto insurance, it is very important that the person requiring insurance analyses the companies that provide vehicle insurance quotes. Different companies offer different quotes for the insurance of the vehicle, so the consumer must look out for the best one, which suits his needs and which proves to be highly economical. Many companies also give different discount schemes to attract more and more consumers. The consumer can save a good deal of money while purchasing auto insurance by comparing the quotes of different companies and choosing the cheapest one which satisfies all needs.


Comparing the quotes of different companies on the internet for buying insurance provides a wider platform to the consumer, where they can compare quotes from several companies and choose one among them. The main thing about choosing a quote is that the quote need not necessarily be cheap but the company must be an established one which the customer can rely on should they have an accident.

The consumer should not only compare the quotes of different companies but also the company’s reputation and their way of service. While comparing, the consumer is more acquainted with the different kind of coverage that are available and can choose among them according to the needs. Buying insurance online is the most popular way of buying insurance because it is really fast and convenient, which suits to the busy life of people who have little time to phone around the various companies to relay the details of the insurance cover they are after over and over again. And the best part is that it is free of cost, i.e. no cost is involved in gathering the quotes online from different companies.

Auto insurances are needed because of the reckless accidents that happen on our roads day after day. These can only be reduced once the certainty of the accidents is reduced. The companies quote their prices for insuring depending upon various factors like the age of person to whom the vehicle belongs, the location where the car is bought and supposedly to be used and also many other factors like whether the driver already has points on their licence. The details regarding the car, like where it is being parked, whether or not it is kept in a garage (which is supposed to have less risk of being stolen) and also the mileage of the car are also deciding factors. If the car travels less than a specific limit of miles then such cars are likely to receive some kind of mileage discounts.

About the Author: Ideal Auto UK offers the opportunity to find information regarding car insurance and members can also sell used cars online. Be sure to read through some informative vehicle insurance articles also.

Compare Your Auto Insurance Quote Between Multiple Carriers In Your State

Compare your free auto insurance quote between multiple carriers in your state. An easy way to obtain these cheap auto insurance quotes is by going to a broker-style website and requesting a quote. I got an auto insurance quote really fast and secure. Follow this link to a site for a free auto insurance quote. Or click here for an auto insurance quote today. Click here to get a free auto insurance quote. *Complete each field below to receive a free auto insurance quote. We are your best source for auto insurance quote comparison. Quick and easy way to get you auto insurance quote FREE. After you receive your auto insurance quote, get a free no-obligation quote for homeowners or renters insurance. click to apply for an affordable auto insurance quote today! Get an auto insurance quote and save today. Fill out a request and get an auto insurance, health Insurance, or life insurance quote today. Requesting a higher deductible will help you get a cheap auto insurance quote.

We will also tell you what differences exist between one auto insurance company and another. You agree to pay the premium and the auto insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your auto insurance policy. It is a contract between you and the auto insurance company. Go to the NYS Insurance Department web site to read more information about auto insurance and see a list of insurance company codes. Learn what AIG affiliated auto insurance company is in your state. Responsiveness & AvailabilityIt's critical that your auto insurance company responds when you really need assistance.


Auto insurance deductiblesOn my way to a company authorized seminar, a deer hit my car, causing considerable damage. SR-22A form which must be filed by the insurance company stating that auto liability insurance is in effect for a particular individual. Each auto insurance company weighs the factors differently to come up with a cost so it's critical to compare auto insurance companies. Tell your old company in writing that you are canceling your auto policy and have obtained new insurance. You might think that your auto insurance rate would be pretty much the same no matter which company you choose. You should check to see if the damage is covered by your auto insurance company. But while we're all pretty much stuck with auto insurance, you needn't be stuck with a lame auto insurance company.

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The purpose of the articles in this section is to prepare drivers with the right auto insurance policy before it is too late. Public policy In many countries it is compulsory to purchase auto insurance before driving on public roads. Today, auto insurance is the most widely purchased of all property-casualty insurance, yet few drivers are familiar with the details of their particular policy. For changes to your AIG auto insurance policy or to ask customer service a question, call 1-800-241-1188. By taking one of these courses, you may be eligible for discounts on your auto insurance policy. After you have bought an auto insurance policy, you can service your policy online or through a customer service representative. The College's auto insurance policy may not respond to cover unauthorized drivers. A major reason why drivers overpay on their auto insurance policy is because they are not educated and don't look for auto insurance advice.

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Top 5 Factors Determining Your Car Insurance Rate

Auto insurance can be confusing and mind boggling sometimes and it’s hard to determine exactly why some individuals are receiving rates which are lower than others. There are many factors which contribute to the rate of auto insurance, some you have control over and others you don’t.

Below you will find valuable information regarding the factors which are compiled in order to determine the rate of your car insurance. These will help you understand important aspects of auto insurance and why some individuals receive higher rates than others. Here are the top five factors which auto insurance companies will consider when determining your rate of insurance:

1. Age – Your age will greatly affect the rate of your car insurance. Teenagers and individuals who are just beginning to drive will have higher rates for no reason other than their age. There is nothing you can do about this, as you get older and become a more experienced driver your rates will go down. Although they will go down, they will not stay down. When you reach a certain age your car insurance rates will go back up because you are an elderly driver and your eyes and coordination may not be as effective anymore.

2. Auto Insurance Companies – This is a factor which you have control over. Some car insurance companies offer lower rates than others for many reasons. It is up to you to choose which one will benefit you the most both now and in the long run.


3. Gender – Whether you are male or female will also affect the rate of your car insurance. This is yet another factor which you have no control over. Females generally have lower car insurance rates because according to insurance companies men are seen as potential dangerous and careless drivers who are more likely to be involved in car accidents.

4. Type of Vehicle – As much as we would all love to be driving a shiny silver Porsche Boxter all around town, the insurance rates for these types of vehicles are unreal. If you want your auto insurance rates to be low, I would suggest driving a car with a lower price tag. The more money your car is worth, the higher your car insurance rate will be.

5. Driving Violations – This is another factor which you have control over. I know how tempting it is to race your friends the moment you get your license for the first time, but the amount of money you will pay in the long run hardly seems worth it. Any form of ticket you receive can potentially raise the rate of your car insurance. If you want to pay less for car insurance I would suggest abiding by the rules of the road.

Although these are the most important factors in determining your rate of car insurance, there are many other factors which also play a part in how much you will pay. Auto insurance is something we all have to pay for, but by researching and understanding the aspects of this form of insurance you are learning how to reduce your rate to your best ability.

About the Author: Bill Mason is a retired insurance agent who now writes as a freelance writer for insuranceguide101.com – a site that offers information on home owners insurance, auto insurance, low cost health insurance and more.

Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Auto Insurance.

Auto insurance is one of those must-haves in life. In most states, it is required by law that you carry at least the minimum coverage. There's no way around this, so you might as well take advantage of the money-saving tips below to make the most of your insurance experience.

Tip Number One: Consider Your Vehicle's Value

Let's face it, automobiles depreciate (or lose value) very quickly. When you drive your vehicle from the car lot brand new, the "new" value goes down suddenly to a "used" value. No matter how well you take care of your car, the value will decrease tremendously over a short period of time.

If you've paid off all debts owed on your vehicle, find out from your previous lender the estimated book value. If this amount equals the same or less than what your collision insurance premium is going to cost you, then there's no reason to carry collision coverage. You would basically be paying the total value of your car each year, whether you have an accidentor not. You can save tremendously on your auto insurance premium by leaving off the collision if this is the case with your vehicle.

Tip Number Two: Avoid Traffic Tickets

Speeding tickets or moving violations are the number one causes of high insurance rates. When you drive at high speeds or disregard traffic rules, you are considered an "at-risk" driver, and your insurance rates are raised for several years as a result. Driving safely and following the rules of the road will keep your insurance rates at a low and enjoyable amount.

Tip Number Three: Know Your Coverages

There are some coverages that may not be necessary, depending on where you live or the type of vehicle you own. For example, if you live in a large city where auto theft is common, then theft insurance coverage might be wise. However, if you live forty miles from the nearest town on a high mountain where theft is very rare, then there's no need to pay the additional premium for this type of coverage.



There are many coverages which are optional, but still helpful. You'll need to carefully examine each coverage to decide if it's needful or not. If your insurance company offers you "full coverage", find out exactly what's included. It might be cheaper to pay for only a few of the options separately if you don't need all of the included coverage. This will depend on your needs, car value, etc.

Tip Number Four: Auto Insurance Deductibles

Although high deductibles often get a negative response from consumers, they can actually work to your advantage and save you tons of premium money each year. The concept behind a deductible is to place more of the responsibility on the driver and less on the insurance company. In turn, your premium can be substantially less each year.

A $1,000 deductible amount seems extremely high, but if it saves you $200 per year on your insurance premium, it's well worth it! Keep in mind that the deductible will be due only if you do have an accident where insurance is needed. Otherwise, you get to enjoy the lower premiums year after year.

If you select a policy with a high deductible, you might want to put some of your premium savings into an emergency fund, so you'll have some or most of your deductible if an accident does occur.

Tip Number Five: Insurance Comparisons

Another way to save money is to make comparisons before signing on for insurance. You'll not only want to compare policy options, but also insurance companies and pricing.

Note of Warning: Be careful not to sign up too quickly if a very low price is being offered. Get some references if possible, or ask around to find out if someone else has had experience with the company. Some companies who boast low prices offer the worst customer service, and take a very long time to process claims, so use caution at all times.

Utilizing online resources is a great way to compare California insurance companies. You might also find discount offers online which provide additional savings.

When choosing an insurance company and selecting your coverage, use these simple tips to save money on the premium while also getting a great plan to meet your needs.

About the Author: Written by Kelly Jensen for CompetitiveAutoInsurance.com, where you can find information on cheap car insurance, and auto insurance quotes. The following article will also show you how to save on car insurance.

Types of Auto Insurance Available

Most people don’t fully understand why they need to carry auto insurance. But it is to protect yourself, your family and your vehicle. It is for these same reasons that the law also requires you to have auto insurance coverage on all vehicles you own and operate. Each state has different auto insurance requirements, for instance the state of FL requires you to carry at least the minimum requirements which is property damage at ten thousand dollars and personal injury protection at ten thousand dollars. Make sure you know and understand what your state insurance requirements are.

There are several types of auto insurance policies to choose from that will depend on the coverage you want and the coverage you can afford. But where do you start? It can all be very confusing at first but we are going to help you understand auto insurance policy basics to make your decision easier.

First, do you have enough auto insurance coverage in case of an accident? By law you have the minim required coverage, however there is another insurance coverage that is important, bodily injury. Bodily injury coverage is not required in all states. Bodily injury would cover you in the event you are at fault in the accident and the person in the other vehicle has injuries exceeding their own personal injury coverage on their policy. If you do not carry this coverage the injured party involved has the right to sue and the state can place financial responsibility on your vehicle report, which you then have to carry for three years. The financial responsibility is called an SR22.


Uninsured motorist is another insurance coverage type you may want to have. Uninsured motorist’s coverage covers you if the other party was at fault and you were injured in the accident exceeding your personal injury coverage on your policy and the driver that caused the accident doesn’t have bodily injury coverage. This coverage can be used to cover the difference in your injuries exceeding your coverage.

Comprehensive and Collision are two more important types of insurance coverage you may want to consider. Comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle in the event of theft, vandalism, natural disasters and the like minus your auto insurance policy deductible. Collision coverage covers physical damage to your vehicle, if you should be at fault of an accident, minus your policy deductible. Your insurance company would pay the cash value of your vehicle. Most vehicles that are financed require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage by the financing institution.

There are more options available to you, the list goes on but it all comes down to what you can afford and what you want. Keep in mind your life and your family are the most important and having the proper insurance coverage should be one of your main priorities. Use the internet to help you learn more about insurance requirements in your state. It is much easier to read and then ask questions and it allows you to pick a company you think will fit your needs with the least amount of hassle!

About the Author: Brooke, the owner of Get Car Insurance Now specializes in Auto Insurance and Car Insurance Quotes to help you save money and keep you, your car and your family safe on the road.

How to Lower the Cost of Your Car Insurance

Buying auto insurance is an important part of your overall financial planning. The auto insurance premium rate varies depending on the company and the type of policy coverage you choose to have. Here are some guidelines to lower the cost.

Shop Around- Compare the costs by shopping around at least four to five insurance companies and comparing the quotes. Take the help of your friends, relatives and yellow pages. Your insurance company should offer fair price and posses excellent service records. Check the financial ratings of the company as it indicates the strength and stability of the company.

Ask for higher deductibles- Deductible is the amount of money that you pay before making any claim for an accident. The collision and comprehensive coverage are sold with the deductibles. Higher the deductibles lower will be the premium rate. Increasing the deductible from $200 to $500 may reduce the cost by 15 to 30 percent.

Drop collision and comprehensive Coverage on older cars- If your car is worth less than 10 times your premium in the current market, consider dropping the collision and comprehensive coverage.

Buy auto coverage from your existing insurer- Buy insurance coverage from your existing carrier. This may help you to reduce the cost. Sometimes low rates are available for the longtime customers.


Avoid double health coverage- If you think that you have enough health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record- Insurers are using the credit history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically,the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car- Cars that are expensive to repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate. Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer might come up with discounts for such a car.

Take advantage of the low mileage discount- Obtain some discount on premiums by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Consult about group discount- Sometimes you can get some discounts on group plans provided by your employer, or a business groups, or other associations. Find out whether such a plan is available.

Seek Car Safety discount- Some insurers offer discount if you keep your car equipped with air bag, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, automatic seat belts. Take advantage of this.

About the Author: Evan T. Smith is a contributing author for http://www.ampminsure.org

Your Auto Insurance

Owning and purchasing a vehicle is one of the most expensive investments that a person could spend on in his or her lifetime. That is why most owners opt to spend on car insurance so as to alleviate any further costs in cases of loss or damage of the vehicle.

Vehicle insurance is also known as auto insurance, car insurance, or motor insurance. And this type of insurance is actually purchased for various automobiles like cars and trucks. Primarily, its purpose is to provide protection against great losses that could be incurred as a result of traffic accidents or crashes. However, there are various types and ranges of coverage that these auto insurances have.

Car insurance is actually determined by many factors although, of course, there are basic things and information that an insurance company asks for when it comes to determining the price and rate of car insurance. Most insurance companies that offer car or auto insurance would ask interested parties about their driving record. The more reckless a person is when driving, the higher the rates. This is primarily because a reckless person is more likely to get into crashes and accidents compared to those who are careful drivers.

Usage of the vehicle is also another factor used by insurance companies in determining a vehicle’s insurance. The more you use the vehicle, the higher the rates. The same principle as per a driver’s record is used here and for most of the factors used by insurance companies.


Other factors as well as drivers and driving information include how many drivers would be using the vehicle and how old they are, how many vehicles you own, the kind and extent of coverage that you want, the area where you live in, and your payment history. The color of the car that you drive is also included as well as your insurance credit score, your occupation, and your mileage.

Vehicle manufacturers and brands, like Dodge, have a tradition of keeping their vehicles filled with safety features. The more safety features that a vehicle has, the lower the rates that the auto insurance would have. Continuing this kind of tradition in providing and keeping passengers safe is Auto Parts Deal and it is one of the trusted stores when it comes to supplying Dodge parts and Dodge Truck parts.

About the Author: As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield,Massachussets, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast.

Insuring Your Future By Letting Properties

Buy to let property is a fantastic way to ensure your future. Why are there so many people interested in purchasing properties? Instead of investing your hard earned money in the stock market some people recommend that you buy properties to let because it can be a much safer and stable way to earn money on your investment. In fact, those people that formerly relied on the dividends provided by shares to build up their pensions are now turning to this type of investment.

Michael Flannagan, a property owner explains why everyone is interested in buying property: “I can trust that my properties will be worth something in the future. It’s not like shares where I don’t have any guarantees and nail biting is common.”

People are buying up property as fast as they can because the return on the investment is far more reliable than any other short or long term investment. Becoming a landlord is an excellent way to earn a decent return on your investment—once the mortgage is paid in full, all of the income associated with the property you let will be profit; less tax and the cost of property maintenance of course. If you do things wisely, the money earned from the property you let can actually pay the mortgage. Unlike the price of shares which can fluctuate wildly, the value of property rarely declines. Clearly, the act of letting properties is based on the safety of the investment.



Nevertheless, when you start buying properties to let there are a few things that you will need to consider. First, being a landlord is not always a simple task: at least it is not as simple as it first sounds. As a landlord, you will be legally responsible for the property and will be governed by various legislation that applies to letting properties. The best person to advise you about your rights and obligations as a landlord would be a solicitor—one knowledgeable about properties and property letting.

You will also need to consider that there may be times when the property is vacant between tenants so good accounting needs to be applied. Remember, if you are counting on the money you get for letting the property to pay the mortgage you won’t necessarily have the cash immediately available. Clearly, if you begin buying properties with a view to letting them, it would be better that you have a contingency to cover the mortgage during the periods where you will find yourself without a tenant.

Another thing to consider as a landlord is that not every tenant is going to be the perfect tenant. In fact, some tenants may damage the property and you may be forced to make repairs to the property before you are able to let the property again. Again, having a cash reserve for such occasions is warranted in order to be truly prepared for whatever mishap may come your way. Better yet, investing in building and contents insurance is a must if you plan on letting any property—insurance should help you cover some or all of the damage to your property.

When you decide to invest in property you will want to buy in an area that has many resources for the potential tenant. In fact, the more resources available for the potential tenant or tenants the better—resources such as nearby shopping areas, recreational facilities and schools all make the property you plan to let particularly attractive. By purchasing property that is surrounded by resources, you will find that you will have a much easier time in letting the property. This is an important forethought when choosing your property.

Experts also advise that you keep the property you purchase for the long term if you really want to gain better returns from your purchase. Ken Derby, a property agent states it well, “Be prepared to hold on to the property you purchase for the long term. Don’t be in a hurry to make a fast turn around and don’t panic if the property prices drop suddenly. Property prices will rise again and your investment will be fine if you don’t panic.”

Don’t expect to rake in the cash once you purchase a property. Remember, like shares, purchasing property is an investment in the future, one that can make you a considerable capital profit over time. Only after the mortgage is fully paid off will you begin to see a significant turn around in terms of income but on the other hand, you can establish a regular moderate income by letting properties that are geared correctly—where the rent is more than the mortgage payment—of course, you won’t want to set the rent too high as it could deter tenants in a competitive market.

There is money to be made buying properties and letting them as long as you buy the right property and are willing to hold on to your initial investment as well as being properly prepared for the “down” periods. For all intents and purposes, the buy to let trend is replacing the market in shares investment because there are far fewer risks associated and buying a property to let can be a more stable environment for your hard earned cash.

About the Author: Diane Newsom writes for the UK search portal Usewho. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a buy to let mortgage.

Looking After Your Dog, Part Six - Dog Health Insurance

Pet health insurance is not a novel idea by any means. The concept has been around for 15-20 years. Many people believe that having medical insurance for a pet is not justified, and is rather something that depicts indulgence. However, the truth is that pet health insurance has nothing to do with being lavish. It purely depends on how much you care for your pet. It is the question of whether you consider your pet a part of your family, and therefore, would want to have it insured.

Pet health insurance plans take several aspects into consideration before awarding an insurance cover. The decision may be based on several considerations - species, age, pre-existing health conditions and lifestyle of the pet (i.e. a docile one compared to one of a sports dog). A few of the pet insurance companies don’t have an age limit. However, it’s easier to get pet health insurance if your pet isn’t too old. Therefore, insurance schemes typically start off at an early age of around 6 weeks for a dog.

The decision to have pet health insurance also depends a lot on your pet’s current health. If, God forbid, your canine is suffering from a fatal ailment, then there is no point having him insured. Moreover, getting insurance in such a case is all the more difficult to say the least. Pet health insurance costs vary widely owing much to the broad variety of insurance packages available. Comprehensive pet health insurance schemes cover the costs of annual checkups, vaccinations, routine care and preventive medications, and spay/neuter surgeries. Partial plans only cover accident and illness costs.



Insurance schemes are not for everyone. It might be the case that your dog’s current health condition does not satisfy the requirements of the insurance company. But you should not be disheartened in such a scenario. Some medical facilities offer pet wellness packages, which allow you to avail vaccinations and pet health checkups at discounted prices. You could go ahead for one such scheme.

About the Author: Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about many aspects of dog health insurance. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info.

UK Mortgage Insurance - Need for Mortgage Insurance

Insurance is a great way to safeguard your self from the uncertainties in life. Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance is designed to protect you from getting into debt or missing the mortgage payments due to unemployment. If you are living in a country like UK mortgage insurance is extremely important to protect your self from getting into ever increasing debt. In case you are not able to make the mortgage payments on account of various reasons like unemployment due to ill health or old age etc, having the Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance or mortgage insurance really helps.

Earlier, the government used to pay the interest on the mortgage if you were unemployed. In the UK mortgage insurance was recommended by the government to the home owners. For millions of people in UK mortgage insurance is now becoming an essential part of their financial planning.

In UK mortgage insurance was brought into the market as a substitute to government help. The intention is to cover the mortgage payments in case of non-ability of the insured to make the monthly mortgage payments. Just like any other policy, the insurer has to pay a monthly premium depending upon the mortgage amount. In case of unemployment, the mortgage insurance company will make the payments on your behalf. There a many mortgage insurance policies available in the market. Many UK mortgage companies provide you with mortgage insurance. If you want to go for a mortgage insurance of your choice, then you can approach another mortgage insurance broker independently.


Choosing the right mortgage insurance.

There are many mortgage insurance policies available in the market. Choose the one that suits your needs and requirements perfectly. A mortgage insurance policy that covers a wide range of circumstances for accepting claims should ideally be picked. The mortgage insurance companies offer all kinds of covers like life insurance, handicap, ailment and severe illness.

The mortgage insurance policy should be carefully scrutinized. Read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of the policy properly. There can be various conditions and clauses under which the mortgage insurance company is not liable to pay. Majority of the mortgage insurance companies do not pay out in the initial three months. Even afterwards, most of the mortgage insurance companies take around 60 days for a payout. So you will have to make arrangements for the mortgage payment during that period. Some UK mortgage insurance companies take around 90 to 120 days for a payout. Such mortgage insurance companies can be avoided.

The Premium

The premium for a mortgage insurance policy depends on the clauses and conditions it has. In the UK mortgage insurance quotes vary from £2.45 to £9 per £100 of the covered amount. The Association of British Insurers recommends a premium of £4.50 per £100 of the amount covered under the mortgage insurance. There are various deals and offers from the mortgage insurance companies all year around so you should do some research work before choosing a mortgage insurance policy.

Some mortgage companies offer a complimentary mortgage insurance policy along with the mortgage. Many people take the offer as they don’t have to pay any premium during the initial period. Although it might be beneficial to some extent, it should not be the deciding factor for choosing a mortgage insurance policy.

About the Author: Please visit our website: UK Mortgage Insurance
www.uk-insurance-online.com

Monday 19 November 2007

Medical Coding as a Home Based Business

If you’re looking to start a service based business from home, are smart, eager to learn and can invest a bit of time in training, a medical coding business may be an option for you. Medical coders work with hospitals, doctor’s offices and more to code documents for insurance filing purposes.

Unlike what “opportunities” you may find listed on the web may tell you, a medical coding business will require you to be trained in medical coding (assuming you plan to do the coding yourself and not hire a staff of employees to code for you while you handle the marketing and obtain clients alone).

Medical coding is a booming field and one that is expected to grow larger over the coming years. The U.S. Department of labor predicts that the medical coding field will be growing much faster than average from now until the year 2014, due in part to the rapid growth of the medical industry as a whole due to medical advancements, longer life spans and more procedures and tests being available to the public.

With the median salary for a medical coder being $25,590 in 2004 (with the top ten percent of medical coding specialists earning $41,760) and the possibilities of working from home, it’s no wonder that many women and men looking to work at home are exploring this career choice. By owning the medical coding business yourself, you can expect to earn higher profits with a successful business then you could as an employee of a medical coding firm or hospital setting.


But keep in mind that growing a medical coding business is not as simple as getting trained and throwing up your shingle. Running a medical coding business will require the same hard work, long hours and investment (both time wise and financial) that any other professional business with clientele will require.

In addition, medical coding is an acquired skill that will require training and certification to have success. Training can be acquired through college programs or specialty programs for medical coding. But, be wary. There are a ton of scam artists out there who would love to convince you that medical coding is an easy job that can gain you work from home just buy buying their equipment package. This simply isn’t true.

Before attempting to wade through all of the available information on medical coding, you may want to check out the Medical Coding Career Guide book ( http://www.medicalcodingcareerguide.com ) which gives an excellent overview on the medical coding field, what the job entails, how to get training, all about certification and standards – as well as information about finding a job from home as a medical coder or starting your own business.

Once you know how to avoid the scams and whether or not you’re interested in pursuing a career in medical coding with gusto, you can take steps to get involved in the various communities and associations involved with medical coding, such as the American Academy of Professional Coders and the AACCA.

Starting a medical coding career isn’t the easiest route, but it can be one of great satisfaction and terrific income opportunities for those who know what is involved in the medical coding career and business management aspects of owning a medical business and choose to go after it with all they have.

About the Author: Audrey Hoffman is a successful entrepreneur who owns several online and offline businesses – including http://www.speedy-incorporation.com – a site that offers information about incorporating online as well about forming an LLC across the nation.

Everything You Need to Know About Piano Moving

Moving can be a very stressful time in a person’s life, especially if he or she has not hired appropriate help to move their furniture. Piano moves can be especially stressful, because the mover needs to have special knowledge and skills to safely move the piano. In this article I have outline a few frequently asked questions about piano moving in order to help understand what is involved in moving a piano and prepare you with the information to choose the right mover. At the end of the article, I have listed some questions that you can ask to help you choose your piano mover, as well as the information that you should have ready in order for the mover to be sufficiently prepared for your move.

Why do I need to hire a professional piano mover?

Many of you may be wondering why you would need to hire a professional piano moving company to move your piano, rather than using the household mover who is moving the rest of the contents of your house. The main reason for hiring a professional piano mover is that many household movers do not have adequate training or equipment to properly move a piano.

The average upright piano weighs between 400 and 900 pounds. Grand pianos can weigh between 650 and 1300 pounds. The value of a piano can vary from a few hundred dollars to 500,000 dollars depending on the make, model, age and condition of the piano. The majority of piano moves involve moving the instrument through a tight space such as a small door frame or staircase. In some cases, the piano may need to be dismantled in order to get it out of your house. Using and experienced professional piano mover will drastically minimize the risk of damage to the instrument and to your home.


As a piano mover, I have come across many cases where a customer has hired a household piano mover to move their piano and has had to make an emergency call to us because the household mover could not get the piano out of his or her house. In other cases, I have received calls from customers who had hired a non-reliable piano mover because their price was much lower, and had to book an emergency move with us, because that piano mover did not show up to move their piano or call to explain why they were not there.

How are pianos moved?

When you hire a professional piano mover, you can expect 2-3 people to come to your home equipped with piano skids, moving pads, ramps, slings, and the knowledge of how to move your piano safely. They will use special techniques to maneuver the piano out of your house. When the piano is put on the truck, it will be safely secured to the vehicle in order to avoid damage during transport. In the most difficult moves, 4-6 people may be used. Generally when a piano is moved by someone other than a professional piano mover, this equipment, knowledge and these safety precautions are not employed. While hiring a professional piano mover does not completely eliminate the risk of damage, it will drastically reduce this risk. Furthermore, a good piano mover will assess the situation and inform you if there is a chance of damage before he or she begins the move, and will give you the option of proceeding or not.

Are all professional piano movers equal?

Unfortunately, as in any trade, each piano moving company varies in their level of quality and experience. Some piano movers are better equipped and more prepared than others and act with more care and integrity than others. The best way to find a good piano mover is to call around to your local piano stores, piano technicians and piano teachers to find out which company they use. Piano stores in particular have a high stake in ensuring that they use reliable, high quality piano movers who have the least risk of damaging their instruments and are properly insured in the event that the unforeseen does happen.

Are all piano movers similarly insured?

Sadly, the answer to this question is no.
There are 3 types of insurance to consider when hiring a piano mover:
1. Commercial/automotive insurance: Is the company insured against damage to property and or vehicles?
2. Cartage/content insurance: Is the company insured against damage to the piano?
3. Workman’s Safety Insurance: Is the company insuring its workers against injury?
Some piano moving companies are insured for 1 or 2 of these types of insurance, but not all 3. It is the buyer’s responsibility to make sure that he/she is properly insured, not the moving company. It is a good idea to ask about these 3 types of insurance when you are phoning piano moving companies, and also to ask what amount of insurance your piano will be covered for. A properly insured moving company should provide you with a Bill of lading, which is a legal document stating what is being moved, the names of all parties involved in the move, where the piano is being moved from and to, and the full declared insured value of the instrument. The Bill of lading should also include the moving company’s terms of cartage. As a legal document, a proper bill of lading helps to ensure that the piano mover will repair any damages that were incurred during the move (unless a damage waiver was signed). It is also important to note that any damage caused to your piano or your property must be noted on the bill of lading to ensure that you have proper recourse if any action is needed.

Why is worker injury important to me?

You may be wondering why it is important that you ensure that the piano mover you hire has Workman’s Safety Insurance. When you contract a moving company, they are considered your employee for the time that they are working for you. If you hire a moving company that is not covered for Workman’s Safety Insurance, you are accepting full liability for any employees who are injured while working for you. Your liability will extend to medical bills, lost wages and possibly civil law suits. A company who is covered for Workman’s Safety Insurance will take care of most of these problems for you. Some companies do not pay their required insurance premiums and are therefore not covered for all injury insurance claims. You may ask the company that you are hiring to provide you with an up-to-date workman’s safety insurance clearance certificate, in order to ensure that you are properly covered. To be absolutely sure that the moving company’s coverage is up to date, you can contact your local Workman’s Compensation or Workman’s Safety Insurance board to check on the company’s status.

Does moving the piano affect the sound of my piano?

The actual move of the piano does not affect the sound or tuning of a piano. Generally piano tuning is affected by changes in temperature and humidity which cause the wooden and steel parts of your piano to expand and contract. You will probably need to tune your piano a few weeks after moving it, after it acclimatizes to its new location. Other factors that may affect the sound of your piano are the size and acoustics of the room in which the piano is located. Carpet absorbs sound, while hardwood reflects it. Sound reinforces in small spaces, seeming louder, while in large spaces the sound gets lost, seeming quieter.

How much does it cost to move a piano?

Piano moving is generally billed in one of two ways:
1. The household mover way – hourly rate, with a minimum number of hours (usually min. = 3 hours)
2. The professional piano mover way – flat rate based on the following factors:
a. Type (upright, grand) and size of piano
b. Distance being moved
c. Difficulty level due to stairs, grass pulls, tight turns etc.
d. Time restraints place on the move
e. Waiting time that might be incurred.
The advantage of a flat rate system is that, barring any unforeseen events, you be able to get an accurate idea of what the move will cost you before the movers arrive at your house and it is often less expensive than the hourly rate.

How much notice do I need to give the Piano Mover?

The amount of notice needed will depend on when and where you need the piano to be moved. Most piano movers book their deliveries on a first come, first served basis. If it is a high traffic time of year, you may need up to one month’s notice. In a lower traffic time of year, you may only need one or two day’ notice. Generally, if you need your piano moved on a specific day, you should book the delivery well in advance to make sure it’s available to you.

Below are listed some recommended questions to ask when you are looking to hire a piano mover:

1. How long have you been moving pianos?
2. Do you have any references?
3. Do you have full-time, trained staff moving pianos for you?
4. How do you charge for moving, and what are your rates?
5. What days of the week do you move pianos, and what is your availability?
6. Are you covered for Commercial/automotive insurance, Cartage/content insurance, and workman’s safety insurance?
7. Will you provide me with a copy of your workman’s safety insurance clearance certificate?
8. What amount will my piano be insured for during the move? What does this insurance cover?
9. What are your terms of cartage? Will you provide me with a copy?
10. Will I be provided will a bill of lading when my piano is moved?

Listed below is the information that you should have prepared when you book your piano move:

1. What type of piano is it that you require to be moved? (Upright or Grand Piano)
2. What size of piano is it? (upright pianos are measured by height [floor to lid] and grand pianos are measured by longest length [keyboard to curve in bow end])
3. Where is it being picked up from? (Have full address including postal or zip code)
4. Where is it being delivered to? (Have full address including postal or zip code)
5. Are there any stairs that the piano needs to go up or down (inside and outside)? If so, how many? Are they straight, spiraled or curved? Based on what you tell the piano mover, he/she will tell you how many people they believe it will accomplish your move. Missing important details or difficulties, or miss-estimating your move based on the information you have provided could mean that your piano move might not happen that day, and could incur you more charges.
6. When are you looking to have the piano moved?
7. Are there any time restraints involved? (As time-restraints tend to hamper the efficiency of the mover’s day, placing a time-restraint on the mover could more than double your cost.)
8. Inform the piano mover of any problems that you can foresee ahead of time.

The more information you can provide the piano mover, the more accurate your quote will be. If you are vague and provide few details, do not be surprised if you incur extra charges for your move. A good, reputable piano mover will make the process as painless as possible for you and usually be the highlight and most stress-free part of your whole moving process. They key is ensuring that the mover meets all of your requirements and providing them with the information they need to help you properly.

About the Author: Jason Martin is the owner of Braymore Delivery Service, the largest piano delivery and storage company serving Southern Ontario. Braymore Delivery Service has been in operation for 25 years. For more information on Braymore's services, visit their website at www.braymore.ca .

Considering Travel Insurance? Okanagan, B.C. Man Loses Kidney In Costa Rica Hospital!

For all the future travelers that have the opportunity to read this story, I would hope that after you finish this article, you would highly consider Travel Insurance!

As a former travel Agent, when I read sad stories about travelers that have bad medical experiences abroad, it starts to make my stomach turn because I would quickly check all my client files to make sure they have all purchased some form of medical and/or cancellation policies from me prior to their travel.

However, when he awoke in the Costa Rica hospital where he had admitted himself, he quickly found out that his kidney was removed! This young man’s jaw was never fixed and the medical doctor in Costa Rica claimed several of his internal organs were damaged, and out of all the organs that were injured, they had to remove one of his kidneys. Makes you go Hmmm!

Now in my professional opinion, I would classify Costa Rica as a popular destination that I would recommend to many of my past clients to visit for their ecotourism and exotic vacation appeal. The problem is that when we suggest these destinations that are glorified as paradises, we sometimes forget to tell them that these vacation destinations don’t have medical facilities that are comparable to North American standards, and also not all facilities operate in the best faith.

All the facts about this incident are not proven yet, but the truth of the matter is in this incident, having the proper travel medical insurance coverage could have been the difference in this gentleman coming home safely with a fixed jaw and his kidney intact.


How Does Medical Travel Protection Policies Eliminate Situations Like This, You Ask?

Keep this in perspective due to the nature of the incident. The facts are still coming in about this mans occurrence Costa Rican hospital, and I’m not totally certain he did not have travel coverage, but in my professional opinion, if he did have a reputable comprehensive travel medical policy, I truly believe this situation would not have happened.

Here is my explanation that you can apply to having quality medical coverage. When you visit your travel agent, or decide to book your vacation online, many of the agencies and online companies will offer you an insurance policy that is designed specifically for your travel protection while away from your originating country. Due to a large percentage of your medical costs that may not be covered by the country you live in, travel medical emergency policies are there to protect you from the additional costs that your country will not be covering.

Let’s take this one step further. While you’re away on vacation, the Travel Medical/Cancellation Company you purchased your policy from now has a vested interest in your physical and financial protection. However, they also have a reputation and a financial interest in their company! By saying this, they must make sure that claims that are paid out are legitimate, and are not abused by many of the un-regulated foreign medical facilities that treat patients for emergency situations.

To control these illegal practices, most, if not all, travel insurance providers (including online Insurance companies) establish worldwide relationships with a great number of medical facilities in the tourist areas, and in this relationship, the selected Travel Insurance Company regulates them with very strict rules and guidelines.

This is why it’s important to read the policy terms and conditions, and understand what is required as the policyholders must follow these terms for their own protection under emergency situations. What many conditions state are that the people who get injured due to an unexpected situation, must contact the insurer prior to admitting themselves to a hospital, or a large percentage of their claim may not be paid.

Now I know many of you may be saying that if you were not conscious at the time you were admitted to a hospital, that’s beyond your control, and you’re right! However, upon becoming aware, you must at your earliest opportunity advise the Insurance Company where you are, and if it’s not a regulated hospital on their list, they will make arrangements to remove you to their preferred medical facility.

Why Does A Travel Insurance Company Go To All This Trouble?

This is where we continue from the story about the young man that had his kidney removed. Again, I’m going by my own opinion and no one else, and like I mentioned prior I don’t have all the facts, but in my profession I strongly believe that if this person had coverage with a reputable Travel Insurance Company, he would have more than likely contacted their toll free worldwide number, and talked to professional staff that are trained in the medical field.

He would have been directed to the correct hospital, and when he arrived, upon the instructions of the Insurance staff, he would have passed this information on to the medical staff at the Costa Rican hospital. This does one of two things, it gives the Insurance Company the power to regulate and make sure that only the necessary surgeries are taking place, and because they’re paying the bill, they will ensure that every situation is medically documented for any future liability.

I can’t guarantee that having the medical coverage would have avoided this situation, but I have to say when you eliminate all the risks by working with the Medical Insurance provider, you have a better opportunity in walking out of that foreign hospital with the peace-of-mind that you’re not going back home without all your valuable functioning organs.

About the Author:

About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) - William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com Not only a great source for Discount Caribbean Vacations, but also providing important Travel Insurance information to protect your vacation investment! We encourage you to visit our website to read many of our informative articles and tips on how you can make your vacation safe and worry free!


Pros And Cons Of Refinancing Loans

Refinancing a loan is simply the process of paying off your current loan with a new loan plan, which has a lower interest rate.

How can you negotiate to get the best borrowing rate? First, it starts with a strong credit score. You can achieve this by paying your bills on time, cutting back on borrowing and maintaining a low loan balance by as much as 30% of your limit.

Moreover, by using the equity of your home in refinancing the existing loan, you gain two significant advantages. One, because you made your home the collateral, you will be able to secure a bigger loan, and second, your interest fees are tax deductible.

Which of the two types of refinancing should you consider? A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit, wherein your credit limits are the maximum amount you are entitled to borrow at any one time.

A second mortgage closed-end loan, on the other hand is a loan you where you receive all the funds once the loan contract has been signed. You repay the loan defined by a set amount over a fixed period of time.


You can make a better decision on which type of credit to choose by first gathering all the information you have available to you: theterms and conditions of the home equity credit line- derived from the annual percentage rate (APR), and the costs associated for securing the loan and prepayment penalty, if there is one. Then compare this data with the second mortgage APR, including any other charges presented in the financial papers.

The fees outlined below are some of the most common charges:

Loan Application Fee This fee is required for the initial processing of your loan request and for checking your financial and credit history, the house’s equity, and any other information that the lending institution finds valuable. In addition, if you are not borrowing from your original lender, you will have to submit documents concerning your present mortgage. Some of these items are common documents to submit: information about your current lender, outstanding mortgage balance, amount of your monthly payment, status of your property tax and any insurance payments.

Loan Origination Fees and Points. This fee is paid to the lender for evaluating and preparing your mortgage loan. A point refers to the prepaid finance charges imposed by the lender at closing to increase the lender's yield beyond the stated interest rate on the mortgage note.

Escrowed Funds - funds set aside to for payment of taxes or insurance that is due.

Prepayment Penalty. This is the practice of a lending institution charging the borrower for an early pay off. Always check your contract to see if the clause exists.

Title Search and Insurance
This is meant to ensure you are receiving a “marketable title”. You may get a price break by opting to buy a combined lender/owner policy or "reissue" policy.

Finally, consider refinancing your current mortgage if the following seems applicable to you:

Are the savings to be generated from refinancing the loan significant? If your mortgage’s current interest rate is at least 2 percentage points higher than the prevailing market rate, then you should avail of a refinancing loan. For this is the acceptable safety margin, in balancing the costs of refinancing your mortgage against the savings.

What is considered an acceptable length of time to live in your house before you can realize significant savings? Some financial experts have determined three to five years. It doesn’t make much sense to realize 2 years into your home occupancy, and you will find a harder time finding a lender who will work with you.

Remember, the safe bet to consider before you opt to refinance is to do your financial research. A little due diligence goes a long way to big savings.

About the Author: Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR.
Ben works for a web design and marketing company named Labworks Design.Com. Labworks specializes in all aspects of online marketing, branding and professional web design.

Insuring Your Small Business

The number of small businesses starting up in the UK increases every year. The people starting a new business do it for a variety of reasons, to follow a dream; the need to stay at home combined with the need to work, redundancy, the list is endless. The growth of broadband Internet has fuelled this growth in many sectors. Some of these businesses will need financial backing from a venture capitalist and some will not; but all will need a business plan.

You might never need to present this business plan to anybody, even if you don’t it is still wise to have one. This will act as an aide memoir when you feel everything is collapsing about you; or when everything is moving so fast it can get your feet back on the ground.

However enthusiastic or skilled you are in the business you plan to start you are probably not skilled in business practices so your business plan, when presented to a business expert, will highlight the missing knowledge. Without it they do not know what you do not know about business. Anybody you ask to help you finance or support your business, whether it is a bank, stock suppliers or a venture capitalist, will want to see a business plan before even considering investing in your idea.


But what do you put in a business plan and how is it structured. Well you have to show that you have researched the market thoroughly and understand the competition you may face. It has to be well presented and show a severe attention to detail. The plan should reflect a sense of professionalism, with no spelling mistakes, realistic assumptions, and credible projections of cash flow. If you find all this daunting there are web sites, companies and associations out there to help you.

One thing you must remember, the better you plan your venture the better you are capable of solving problems that may occur. The failure rate of small businesses increases year by year, but this is because inadequate time was put in beforehand finalising a business and financial plan for the venture.

You may or may not need financial backing for your new venture. When sitting down and planning out your dream you should work out the finance you need for stock, business supplies, advertising, equipment and wages for the first few months while you build up custom.

Do not forget insurance. Business insurance is for the big boys you might think, not for you sitting at home behind a computer running an Internet marketing concern, cleaning windows or making wedding dresses. The law sees you in the same light as the IBM’s and Fords of this world. Your personal and home insurance will be invalid in most cases.

Some companies offer a special small business insurance package or will tailor make a business insurance package to suit your requirements. Whatever it is you need it will not cost a fortune, it will enhance your business standing and confidence and could save you a fortune. These days it only takes one litigation claim against you to force you out of business and end your dream.

The mainstays behind any small business insurance package are public liability insurance and product liability insurance. It is often a requirement that before you can work on or visit third party premises that you have public liability insurance. This provides cover against death or bodily injury to the public and loss or damage to property not owned by you or in your custody or control. Product liability will cover you against the supply of goods to someone else which through your negligence causes injury or damage. It includes solicitors’ fees, all costs and litigation expenses, damages and claimants costs for which you would be legally liable.

One thing to be reassured of when starting up a new business, nobody wants you to fail. There are companies and associations out there who want to help you. Some are free such as the local chamber of commerce who can provide you with a wealth of information including employment laws, local companies who might need your services and useful addresses. There is the Federation of Small Businesses which has local groups who meet regularly to discuss topics that are affecting them or to see presentations from service industries. On top of these there are local business support agencies, banks, venture capitalists and many more. They are all in business to help their customers as much as you are in business to help yours.

About the Author: Diane Newsom writes for the UK search portal Usewho.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Insuring Your Future By Letting Properties

Buy to let property is a fantastic way to ensure your future. Why are there so many people interested in purchasing properties? Instead of investing your hard earned money in the stock market some people recommend that you buy properties to let because it can be a much safer and stable way to earn money on your investment. In fact, those people that formerly relied on the dividends provided by shares to build up their pensions are now turning to this type of investment.

Michael Flannagan, a property owner explains why everyone is interested in buying property: “I can trust that my properties will be worth something in the future. It’s not like shares where I don’t have any guarantees and nail biting is common.”

People are buying up property as fast as they can because the return on the investment is far more reliable than any other short or long term investment. Becoming a landlord is an excellent way to earn a decent return on your investment—once the mortgage is paid in full, all of the income associated with the property you let will be profit; less tax and the cost of property maintenance of course. If you do things wisely, the money earned from the property you let can actually pay the mortgage. Unlike the price of shares which can fluctuate wildly, the value of property rarely declines. Clearly, the act of letting properties is based on the safety of the investment.

Nevertheless, when you start buying properties to let there are a few things that you will need to consider. First, being a landlord is not always a simple task: at least it is not as simple as it first sounds. As a landlord, you will be legally responsible for the property and will be governed by various legislation that applies to letting properties. The best person to advise you about your rights and obligations as a landlord would be a solicitor—one knowledgeable about properties and property letting.


You will also need to consider that there may be times when the property is vacant between tenants so good accounting needs to be applied. Remember, if you are counting on the money you get for letting the property to pay the mortgage you won’t necessarily have the cash immediately available. Clearly, if you begin buying properties with a view to letting them, it would be better that you have a contingency to cover the mortgage during the periods where you will find yourself without a tenant.

Another thing to consider as a landlord is that not every tenant is going to be the perfect tenant. In fact, some tenants may damage the property and you may be forced to make repairs to the property before you are able to let the property again. Again, having a cash reserve for such occasions is warranted in order to be truly prepared for whatever mishap may come your way. Better yet, investing in building and contents insurance is a must if you plan on letting any property—insurance should help you cover some or all of the damage to your property.

When you decide to invest in property you will want to buy in an area that has many resources for the potential tenant. In fact, the more resources available for the potential tenant or tenants the better—resources such as nearby shopping areas, recreational facilities and schools all make the property you plan to let particularly attractive. By purchasing property that is surrounded by resources, you will find that you will have a much easier time in letting the property. This is an important forethought when choosing your property.

Experts also advise that you keep the property you purchase for the long term if you really want to gain better returns from your purchase. Ken Derby, a property agent states it well, “Be prepared to hold on to the property you purchase for the long term. Don’t be in a hurry to make a fast turn around and don’t panic if the property prices drop suddenly. Property prices will rise again and your investment will be fine if you don’t panic.”

Don’t expect to rake in the cash once you purchase a property. Remember, like shares, purchasing property is an investment in the future, one that can make you a considerable capital profit over time. Only after the mortgage is fully paid off will you begin to see a significant turn around in terms of income but on the other hand, you can establish a regular moderate income by letting properties that are geared correctly—where the rent is more than the mortgage payment—of course, you won’t want to set the rent too high as it could deter tenants in a competitive market.

There is money to be made buying properties and letting them as long as you buy the right property and are willing to hold on to your initial investment as well as being properly prepared for the “down” periods. For all intents and purposes, the buy to let trend is replacing the market in shares investment because there are far fewer risks associated and buying a property to let can be a more stable environment for your hard earned cash.

About the Author: Diane Newsom writes for the UK search portal Usewho. Please visit us for more information on websites giving a buy to let mortgage.