FIREWORKS—Be Safe, Sane and Well Insured

Fireworks and the 4^th of July go hand-in-hand, but one must remember that fireworks can turn harmless fun into a disastrous, harmful and costly accident—especially for homeowners.  We’ve all heard of the slogan “Safe and Sane” as it pertains to the Fourth, but we should add “Liable and Well Insured” to that saying.  The fact that there are more structural and vehicle fires reported on the Fourth of July more than any other day of the year proves that more precaution needs to be taken (and promoted).

Insurance speak can be a real buzz-kill when looking to get your Fourth Fun On! But if you are a property owner, know that you are personally liable for any property or fire damage done to your home as well as your neighbor’s property in Las Vegas and/or Henderson Nevada (and probably everywhere else in the US.)  You are also liable for any bodily harm done. So if your Fourth of July celebration includes fireworks, make it a point to check with your insurance agent first to discuss your policy’s coverage and personal liability limit because even the most well planned fireworks displays can have unforeseen incidents.

Furthermore, if you are still planning on lighting some Fireworks, please use caution and common sense.  Here is a list of Firework safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses or flammable materials such as dry leaves or grass.

• Make sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

• Never ignite fireworks in a container.

• Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fireworks emergencies.

• Do not relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Instead, soak them in water and throw them away.

• Do not place any part of your body over a firework while lighting it.

Myself and Westside Restoration Las Vegas wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July celebration.

If you experience any Fire Damage in Las Vegas or Water damage in Las Vegas, visit http://www.westsiderestoration.com.

HOW TO REDUCE BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING TO GOOD PROPERTIES

Let’s face it, when it comes to properties, bad things happen.  Whether it’s a home or commercial property, there are always going to be unforeseen events that cause property damage.  So let’s focus on the areas that can be controlled to lower the risk of potential property damage.  Mary Girsch-Bock of PropertyManager.com compiled a list of effective risk management strategies.

• REMOVE THE RISK. It may sound elementary, but remove anything that looks like it may cause harm, risk or liability. If you visually see rotting wood, sinking ceilings, raised floors, dead trees etc… Remove them. By removing the risk, this alone will greatly reduce the likelihood of further damage. Although, removing the risk is the most permanent solution, frequently it is not possible.

 

• CONTROL THE RISK. While we can’t control the weather, we can certainly plan for the possibility. Emergency plans can be implemented and provided to all tenants upon move-in, with reminders given once tornado/hurricane season starts. While controlling the risk will not eliminate the possibility of a tornado or hurricane or other adverse event affecting your property, both you and your tenants will be better prepared for it.

 

• REDUCE THE RISK. Part of the success of pro-active risk management is the ability to handle adverse events when they happen. Unfortunately, there is no activity that will eliminate risk 100 percent of the time. However, by implementing proactive practices such as annual inspections of furnaces, roofs, stoves, and other appliances, the rate of adverse events is likely to drop to a manageable level.

 

• INSURE THE PROPERTY ADEQUATELY. While the first three items on this list directly affect the incidence of risk, insuring your properties adequately against these events can play a large part in managing to stay financially solvent. Again, while you can caution tenants against turning on their stove, and then falling asleep, you can’t be in their unit, ensuring that they are in fact wide awake while cooking. Having adequate insurance coverage will not eliminate adverse events, but it will make sure that your home and/or company will be able to absorb the costs of the loss in the most effective manner.

By accepting the fact that bad things can and will happen, and planning accordingly, property managers can reduce the effect that these events have on both the property and the bottom line.

Westside Restoration is available 24/7 to provide emergency service in the event of fire damage, water damage, wind or storm damage.  Visit the Masters of Disasters at http://www.westsiderestoration.com.

INSURANCE GIANT MOVING JOBS OVERSEAS

In an effort to reduce expenses, American International Group (AIG), the largest commercial insurer in the US, is moving jobs overseas to the Philippines. The plan is to move thousands of jobs by 2015 to more cost efficient locations which not only include the Philippines, but also Bulgaria and Malaysia. Besides relocating overseas, some positions will be shifted from high-cost cities like New York City to less-expensive United States cities including Texas and possibly Kansas. This relocation of jobs is in addition to the 1500 jobs being cut by the insurance giant. As another cost-saver, the global company is also putting forth a new system to manage claims more efficiently.
AIG is a leader in insurance and financial services. Based in New York, the company operates in over 362 cities all over the world and has approximately 64,000 employees.

Visit http://www.westsiderestoration.com blog for more news you can use.  Westside Restoration Las Vegas is available 24/7 for any Las Vegas water damage cleanup, repair and restoration.

THE REASON WHY CUSTOMERS SHOP FOR A NEW INSURANCE COMPANY

While insurance companies spend billions of dollars a year in advertising to attract new potential customers by offering big savings, surprisingly, the policy price is not the number one reason customers switch-over to a new insurance carrier. According to JD Power 2014 U.S. Insurance Shopping study, the number one reason customers shop for a new auto insurance carrier is due to a negative experience they had with their current insurer, ultimately causing them to shop for and switch to a new company.

The study noted that customers whom had a poor experience with their current insurance provider switched to a new company more that twice as much as a customer whose premium increased. Of course, price is still important to customers but it will usually not drive them away. Rate increases seem to be expected / tolerated to a certain degree. Though, it appears that a rate hike of approximately $200 is the magic number that gets a policy holder to jump ship.
Overall, Insurers that achieved high satisfaction scores by providing excellent customer service retained a higher percentage of their customers. The study ranked Erie Insurance the highest among auto insurers with satisfied customer experiences. Metlife and State Farm tied for second, while American Family and Ameriprise tied for fourth.

Westside Restoration Las Vegas believes in going beyond expectations when it comes to customer service.  Visit http://www.westsiderestoration.com if you have Las Vegas Water Damage, Las Vegas Fire Damage or need Flood cleanup, repair and restoration.