Cell Phone Ban Recommendation

The National transportation safety Board said that texting, emailing or using a cell phone while driving has been proven to be too dangerous to be allowed anywhere, and recommends that all states impose a total ban, except for emergencies. The recommendation would also apply to hands-free devices, the federal safety board said.

The NTSB noted a recent deadly crash in which a teenager sent or received 11 text messages in 11 minutes before being involved in an accident.

The unanimous recommendation by the five-member National Transportation Safety Board noted that it would make an exception for devices deemed to aid driver safety, such as GPS navigation systems.

Read more from the official website here.

It's still autumn, can't you tell?

I just had to write something!  I have neglected this blog for close to 2 months now, and I apologize.  But, the weather hasn't changed much so it doesn't feel like it's been that long.

Speaking of weather, now is the time to be sure that you are ready for the long, cold months ahead.  Actually, that time was a few weeks ago.  But, Mother Nature has decided to give you a pass so far this year.

YOUR CAR:  Do you have an ice scraper?  What about a mini shovel?  Extra pair of gloves, boots, blanket, some hand warmers?  All of these items are inexpensive but can literally be a life saver if you get stranded in a snowstorm.  Don't think it could happen to you?  Think back to February 2nd of this year.  24 inches in 24 hours.  Chicago's Lake Shore Drive shut down and everyone was stranded.  Like the saying goes:  It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Also, now is a good time for a little vehicle maintenance.  A lot of us don't even think about our car's maintenance unless we're due for an oil change.  You should have your coolant system checked and possibly flushed if needed.  Then, there are the tires.  If you are low on tread (or air pressure) then you must address the problem.  I know tires aren't cheap, but a new set of rubber can keep you from leaving the road and entering the unknown.

YOUR HOME:  Have you shut off the water to your outdoor faucets yet?  Don't forget to bring in all of your outdoor items, furniture, decorations, etc.  Your furnace has probably been running for a little while now.  When is the last time you had that (expensive and incredibly important) appliance serviced?

Air ducts.  I just had a service come out to my home and clean all of the air ducts.  The price was reasonable at $300 for a 3 bedroom ranch.  The technician was there for about 6 hours and I was amazed at how much dirt, dust and pet hair he got out.  If you didn't know, all of that can pose a fire hazard and diminish your indoor air quality.  Believe me, I am breathing easier now that it's been done.

So, take a look around your house and do a 2 minute vehicle check to make sure that you and your family are safe for the winter season.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Referrals are like high fives

Referrals!  As a small business owner, I have come to realize the importance of referrals.  Advertising is expensive and usually amounts to a shot in the dark.  But, when I help somebody out and they are so happy with my service that they tell someone they know about me, I know I've done my job.  I get to meet a lot of neighbors and family members of clients and they are glad to meet an insurance professional who will sit down with them and take the time to listen.

So, why do I get so many referrals?  Simple.  Undeniably outstanding customer service.  It is the only way that I know how to treat people.  If you have a question, I have an answer.  Usually within 24 hours.  Not two weeks later or when I get around to it, but now.  If you have a problem, I have a solution.  If you call my office, I am the one answering the phone.  That is important to a lot of people.  My clients like to know that if they need to get a hold of me they can.  Whether it's about a claim, a billing question, to talk about the weather or to get my opinion of the Brewers season, I am always just a phone call away.  I work hard to make sure that I maintain a level of service that I would expect to get myself.

Now, I've "upped the ante".  I give my clients a referral reward!  If you are a client of Burdick Insurance Agency in Watertown and you send someone to me to get a quote on home, auto, life, business or health insurance, I will give you a $10 certificate.  It's usually a $10 gas card.  Or, if you are local to Watertown then it may be a Chamber of Commerce certificate.  I do this as a way to say thank you to the people who help make my business successful.  The person you send to me is not required to actually buy a policy from me.  I just want the opportunity to talk to them about their insurance needs, just like I did with you.

The easiest way to send a referral is to go to my website and click on the lower left corner of the homepage where it says "Refer a Friend".  Otherwise, just tell your friends, family and co-workers to mention your name when they call or stop in.  I will take care of the rest.

It really isn't everything

I read this quote today:

“Price always matters most in the absence of other reasons” –John Potthast

I often have this discussion when working with people on their personal insurance and finances. Some get it, some don't. When you are quoting and selling insurance, it's great if your price is lower and you can save the client money. But that's not why you should switch insurance. Learn about the carrier's claims service, billing system and financial strength. Research whether they've won any awards or industry recognition. Don't just switch because you like the commercials....

THE COMMERCIALS!!! My goodness, there are more insurance commercials on right now than any other industry. And most only talk about one thing = price. "Save 15%, save on average $462 a year, see cometitor's rates on our website" etc. They have been doing it long enough now that the average consumer is trained to only think about price. There are a few very good insurance companies out there to do business with who don't spend millions a day on national marketing, but can give you better coverage, better service and a better price. Do yourself a favor and do a little homework to find a company that you would be happy to have protecting what's yours.

Beyond that is the actual agent/agency. Most national carriers only sell their insurance through "captive" agents. This means if you want to buy ABC Insurance you have to go to an ABC agent, and that's the only company they sell.

Then, there's us: the independents. An independent agent has a significant advantage in finding you the perfect fit of coverage and price by offering a larger assortment of insurance products from several different insurance companies. Most of the insurance companies you will find at an independent agency are lesser known names (no national marketing). But, make no mistake, they are not inferior companies. They often provide better options and can custom tailor a policy to fit your needs. Many of these companies are regional, so they know how to insure a house in your area. So, ask around. You may find a local, independent agent in your neighborhood who can help you out.

Remember, price is important to everyone. But, it's not the most important thing and you shouldn't base a decision on price alone. That being said, I'm happy to say that I still do end up saving money for my clients close to 99% of the time. ;)

I didn't plan for this (or that)

It's been kind of a rough fall season so far. First, this happened -

I had to pay a tree service to cut down the tree since it was hanging (oh so precariously) over our garage. Then, had to pay them to come back and grind out the huge stump left behind. The tree service did a wonderful job. I highly recommend them. Click on the link to check them out.

I was able to recoup some of the loss since it was covered by my Homeowner's policy through Erie Insurance. However, I did not plan for the extra cost.

Then, the spring on our overhead garage door breaks. This is not a repair I wanted to tackle on my own. Again, had to call in a service. Consolidated Door of Watertown came out the same day and had the repairs done within 30 minutes. So, I am getting lucky with hiring some good companies to get things done. But, this is another cost I was not planning on.

Finally, I suffered a minor back injury earlier this year (see previous post). The bill finally came and it was a doozy.

As these "extras" started to add up it got me thinking about financial planning. HOLD ON! Don't fall asleep just yet. I only want to make the point that it is important to be prepared for life's little "extras". Everyone needs to have a financial plan. If your initial thought is "Well, I don't have any extra money laying around, so no need to think about investments", I get that. You owe it to yourself to at least have the conversation about your financial future. Life insurance can be purchased to protect your income if you don't live long enough, and an annuity can be purchased to protect your income if you live too long.

Take 5 minutes and google some information on these policies, or just visit this page.

I'm always ready to field a phone call to answer any questions you might have. And I promise I won't pressure you on anything.

In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else happens (at least until the christmas shopping is done).

I needed a new background. Do you need new insurance?

I switched the background for this blog due to some constructive criticism from my marketing manager. I liked the "rainy day" theme and thought it would relay to the insurance industry and how your policy comes through for you when things go wrong. I was told, however, that it was just depressing. So, a little more basic. I was going to go a full 180 degrees and make it bright sunny yellow. But, baby steps.

Do you know your agent? Do they know you?

Nothing beats the personal touch. We all love it when someone asks how our kids are, or remembers that we just took a vacation to Florida. It makes us feel special when someone cares enough to treat us as an actual person with a family and a life, rather than just another anonymous number in a huge machine.

That’s where your personal agent comes in. I'm the guy you see at the grocery store, or who you bump into on the sidewalk. You can keep up with me on facebook and twitter. And I genuinely want to know how the kids are doing, what you did on your vacation, and that your house repairs went off without a hitch. I want to know that you’re happy, and all is well.

But there are some advantages to having a big company behind you, too. Erie Insurance is a financially stable Fortune 500 company with more than four million policies in force. There’s strength in numbers.

With our agency, you get the best of both worlds. You get the hands-on interaction with an ERIE agent who knows your name, your policy, and your situation. And you get the comfort of knowing that standing behind every ERIE agent is a company that has the resources you need.

It's the most wonderful time of the year (for some)

Summer is winding down and you can almost feel a chill in the air. The nights are cool and breezy, the air is much drier and our Wisconsin sports teams are ready to win.

I have been a Brewers fan for my entire life and have thoroughly enjoyed the last 5 or 6 years of baseball in Milwaukee. I am very excited for this season and honestly think the Crew has a decent chance at going far in the playoffs. GO BREWERS!

Packers pre-season has started! The entire state is anxiously waiting for our Super Bowl Champion team to return to the tundra and prove that they are the team to beat this year.

Badgers football will be kicking off their 2011 season soon after an excellent season and Rose Bowl appearance last year.

What does this have to do with insurance? Not much, really. But I could tie it in by saying something about how you should have a "winning team" on your side to protect your finances. And with the Burdick Insurance Agency you will get just that. Superior service and the best policies and products available from only the best companies in the industry. Call me to find out more, or visit the website.

If you are not already a client, I invite you to be part of our team and help me to cheer on our Brewers, Packers and Badgers! ON WISCONSIN!

Let me be your guide

Have you ever gotten a hard sell? One of my least favorite things to do is car shopping. The next is probably furniture shopping. It’s not a good feeling, and I never want you feel that way when it comes to your insurance.

Think of me as your guide and advocate in all things insurance. I'm here to steer you to the policies that are right for you, not to pressure you into coverage you don’t need. I'm here to make sure that you get the money that you’re owed when you make a claim, not to bury you in mounds of red tape.

It’s because I take my job as your guide so seriously that Erie Insurance is consistently rated the number one auto insurer for new buyer customer satisfaction. Let us help you blaze a trail to the insurance services that are right for you. We promise not to lead you astray.

For more information, visit our website.

Making Waves? Protect Your Boat

Many people believe sailboats or powerboats are covered under their auto or homeowners policies. But, for most insurers, that isn't the case. Consider this:

• Typically, an auto policy won’t provide liability or physical damage coverage for a boat.
• Most homeowners policies provide a limited amount of coverage for physical damage to boats. They also restrict automatic liability coverage to low-powered boats.

Large, fast motorboats, yachts and personal watercrafts such as jet skis and wave runners require a separate boat insurance policy. Boat insurance offers coverage for things like:
• Bodily injury - for injuries caused to others, such as swimmers, jet skiers or other boaters
• Property damage - for damage caused to someone else's property
• Theft and vandalism – that can occur on land or in the water
• Medical payments - for injuries to the boat owner, family members and others who are injured.

Erie Insurance Boat Protector Policy

With a policy from Erie Insurance, you’ll get comprehensive coverage that covers many types of losses. It will cover, for example, damages resulting from a collision, fire or lightening. ERIE offers:
• Up to $500 in coverage for boating equipment and accessories at no additional cost
• Payments up to $250 per occurrence for emergency towing to the nearest marina, if your boat is disabled or stranded on the water
• $1,000 coverage of non-owned property
• $500 fire extinguisher recharge

For an additional premium or fee, ERIE also offers optional coverage such as uninsured boater protection. This coverage protects you should you be involved in a boating accident caused by a hit-and-run boater or a boater who has no insurance. Credits are available, too, for things like radars, built-in fire extinguishing systems and ship-to-shore radios.

So, if you have a boat or are thinking about getting one, give me a call. I will review your coverage and help ensure that your boat is properly insured. Call 920-261-3255.

You’ve Got Mail! You’ve Got Mail! You’ve Got Mail!

Have you ever gotten onto one of those e-mail lists that you just can’t seem to get off? Maybe you’d even like to hear from the company every now and then, but not the hourly barrage of e-mails updating you to every new thought they have.

Yeah. I hate that too. That’s why I make sure that you set the ground rules for how often you want to talk to me. If you really like to be kept in the loop, I love talking to you and keeping you up to date with every change in your policy, every new blog post, and everything else I think you should know.

But if you’d rather have a “don’t call us, we’ll call you” kind of relationship? No problem. Just let me know, and I won’t bother you. I’ll still be keeping an eye out for you, of course, making sure that everything’s still going smoothly with your policy and claims. But you call the shots.

You also have a choice of how to be contacted. Prefer e-mail? Great (though I’ll keep the private stuff offline, to keep you safe). Like phone calls? Perfect. Still like good old-fashioned postal mail? I'm happy to oblige. Just let me know. Any questions about Identity Recovery Coverage available on your homeowner's insurance policy? Check out this overview of why you might want to insure with Erie.

Reduce Basement Flood Risks

Rain showers might be dandy for your garden but not for your basement.

Wet basement problems may be solved simply by repairing an obvious gutter or downspout leak, but other water problems may have causes that are difficult to identify or expensive to fix.

The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety offers three steps to help you reduce the risk of repeated basement flooding. If you cannot determine the source of the problem yourself, contact a professional.

Step 1 - Evaluate the risk by considering these questions:

• Does the basement flood every year at approximately the same time?
• Does the basement flood during random intervals?
• Where is the basement flooding?
o Is it at the top of the basement wall?
o At the bottom of the wall?
o Through a floor drain?

Step 2 - Inspect the location where water is entering and consider these solutions:

• Reshape the landscaping around the foundation of the building or home. If water is entering near the top of the wall in one location, an improperly sloped landscape angled toward the building could be the cause.
• Extend and re-direct the downspouts away from the foundation wall.
• Caulk any cracks on the exterior and interior of the wall around where the water is entering.
• Consider hiring a licensed contractor to install a waterproofing membrane. If the entire wall is damp or water is entering through multiple wall surfaces, this may be a sign of a faulty or missing exterior water proofing membrane.
• For an unfinished basement, consider applying an internal sealant that can be painted on interior surface of basement walls. These products typically require constant maintenance or they will stop working.

Step 3 – Try other location-based solutions:

If the water appears to be entering the home or building near the foundation or through a floor drain, consider installing a French drain or a sump pump.

The French drain could be installed around the perimeter of the building, diverting the water away from the foundation. A sump pump should be installed in the basement floor with a battery backup system. Before you begin, consider hiring a licensed contractor for help.

Check your insurance coverage

As with any type of insurance, it's important to know what your policy does and doesn't cover. All basic homeowners insurance policies exclude flood and certain types of water-related damages. Only flood insurance will cover losses in the event of a flood.

Flood insurance can be purchased from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program, and from some private insurers. Erie Insurance works with American Bankers Insurance to offer flood coverage. There is a 30-day waiting period for the policy to go into effect, so it’s important to start the process before severe weather strikes.

Contact me to determine what is covered under your insurance policy and learn more about flood insurance coverage. I can help you review your current coverage and help customize a policy that’s right for you. Call (920) 261-3255.

We're Proactive (so you don't have to be)

We love seeing our clients. We love it when they drop in to chat about their policies, or when we run into a client at the grocery store. It’s always great to catch up on how they’re doing and what’s new.

While these encounters are usually fun and light-hearted, we also see many of our clients on the bad days. The days when your car skidded into a tree, or when the roof started leaking. When a client calls us about a claim, we know that the last thing they want to worry about is whether or not the insurance company is going to make it hard for them to get it taken care of.

And that’s where your agent comes in. No one likes having to file a claim, but your agent is there to make sure the process is as smooth and easy as possible. We can help you find a repair shop, make sure that an adjuster gets to you quickly, and above all, make sure that your claim is processed as soon as possible so you can get back to living your life.

These are just a few of the ways that your Erie Insurance agent can help you. Just relax. We’ve got this.

Storm Checklist

We had some very strong storms come pass through Wisconsin yesterday, so now might be a good time to evaluate your property and your policy to see if you need to take action.

First dig out your insurance policy:

-- Check your coverage

-- Make sure you've got claim-reporting phone numbers

-- Put your policy in a safe place

If you've planned ahead, you know your best friend might be a camera, according to insurance experts:

-- Inventory your household items in photos or video

-- Keep those photos in a safe place

If you wake up to storm damage, it’s time to take some pictures again.

Take pictures, take videos, show the insurance agency and the company what really happened to your property.  You've probably already protected your property by covering windows, putting your vehicles into a garage, securing the boats, but don’t forget to take grills and patio furniture indoors.

After the storm:

-- Cover holes in roofs or windows quickly so wind and rain doesn't cause more damage

-- Get two repair estimates

-- Keep all receipts

Report all damage to your insurance company or agent as soon as possible and remember, if your home is flooded, that’s a special situation. Unless you have special flood insurance, you may not be covered.

Most homeowners’ insurance policies and commercial insurance policies do not cover flood. That requires separate coverage under the national flood insurance program.  Again, talk to your insurance agent, talk to the company, get the facts, there may be something they can do for you.

Something else to note: your homeowners’ insurance policy may not cover damage to trees, but it may pay to remove the debris if it caused damage to a structure covered by insurance.

If you have any damage to your home or vehicle, give me a call today.  I can help you to determine if a claim is necessary and how to get it done quickly and correctly.

No Brainer

I want to make your life easy. Let’s face it, you have better things to do than spend your time worrying about your insurance coverage. So let me help.

One of the easiest ways to help me help you is to bundle your coverage with us. When you’re in a car accident or your home’s electrical system was fried by lightning, you don’t want to be hunting through your phone for numbers and struggling to remember who your Agent is. Let us be your trusted advocate in the insurance world. Then you only have to remember one number when disaster strikes and then know that it’s all taken care of.

Besides being convenient, bundling your auto and homeowner’s insurance can be incredibly cost-effective (25% off, anyone?).  Convenient and affordable? Bundling’s a no-brainer when it comes to your insurance.  Did you know you can also bundle your Life insurance policies for even more discounts and savings?  It's true.  Find out more at http://burdickinsuranceagency.com/Life.aspx

This is... Spinal Health!

Hopefully you got the movie reference.  If not, your dials do not go up to 11.  I would like to say a quick work about chiropractic care.  This may pertain to your health insurance policy, so I guess it fits into the parameters of this blog.

I recently suffered (yes, suffered) a back injury and sought care.  This was my first experience with a chiropractor.  I had been a skeptic for years, but recently had learned of the many benefits of seeing a chiropractor.  I can say that it has been a great help in managing pain and speeding up recovery.  I had a torn muscle and pinched nerve in my lower back due to lifting something way too heavy.  While it has been a frustrating slow recovery, seeing Dr. Ben was a great idea (thank you, Carmen).  I urge you to look into seeing a chiropractor if you don't already.  It can mean a big difference in your quality of life.

So, don't ask me to help you move anytime soon.  However, I can help you find a great doctor in the Watertown area.

Speaking of Insurance

Everyone’s passionate about something. For some it might be painting, writing the great American novel, or open heart surgery. But all Erie Insurance agents are passionate about one thing: insurance. It can seem a little strange, I know, but I love reading about insurance, learning more about insurance, and telling other people about insurance.

Sometimes it may seem like you need an interpreter to understand your insurance. Luckily, all ERIE agents are fluent in insurance, and I'm here to help you translate. Got a question? No need to go hunting through your policy to find the answer, just let me know, and I’ll get you the answers.

You have enough going on in your life without having to become an expert on insurance, too. You just want to know you’re covered when the unexpected happens. But with an ERIE agent, you can relax and know that there’s someone there – just a phone call away – when you have questions.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes, really?  He's going to talk about snow?  It's April, I don't even want to think about snow for a long time.  Don't worry, it's just a metaphor.  Read on...

We all know that no two snowflakes are alike. But since snowflakes tend to melt pretty quickly, it’s more important to remember that no two people are alike. For instance, some people love to talk on the phone, while the mere thought of a phone chat makes others turn green. Many people prefer to do everything on the computer, while some like an old-fashioned face-to-face meeting.

And that’s cool with me. You can get in touch with me any way you want. I'm always here for you, to answer questions about your policy, make a change to your coverage, or file a claim. Personalized attention is never more than a phone call away.

But if you prefer a cruise down the information superhighway instead, I can help with that, too. Erie Insurance agents can be reached via e-mail (but remember, never send me private information this way). If you prefer to the do-it-yourself route, you can file claims online at http://www.erieinsurance.com, look at Frequently Asked Questions, get an auto quote, or pay your bill with a few clicks of your mouse.

You should never dread getting a call from your insurance agent. So let me know: how can I contact you? I’ll listen.

Achieving Excellence in Customer Service: The Brands That Deliver What U.S. Consumers Want

A report released February 2011 by J.D. Power & Associates listed Erie Insurance as one of the top "Customer Service Champions" among 800 companies analyzed.  This report examined companies from several different industries, from financial services to utilities.

For the full report:  http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/Corp/Store/DocumentDownload.aspx?PDFFile=11-US-ServiceExcellence-SR-sample.pdf&Category=SpecRpt

Some excerpts: 
Despite this period of record-level uncertainty, some companies have successfully weathered this storm. They recognize that a reputation for high-quality service is a powerful market differentiator in the face of changing economic conditions.

Five critical-to-customer features, or the J.D. Power 5 PsSM are key to achieving excellence in customer satisfaction and advocacy. Companies, regardless of the industry, must outperform their competition on some or all of the core areas in order to retain and attract customers.

Insurance in the "News"

I have MSN.com as my homepage, and I don't know why.  I guess I like the layout and random tidbits of information to quickly glance over.  More recently, I have become a little frustrated with the site.  Mainly because of the articles they link to from MSN Money or wherever.  I troll common sites to find articles to share on facebook (or here) that contain interesting or pertinent information which my clients could find useful.  Lately, all it's been is "10 things your insurance company won't tell you" or "Top 10 most expensive vehicles to insure".  The latter usually contains exotic sports cars which you and I will never drive, let alone own or insure.  But the first example is where my frustration stems from.  The writers of these articles do little research and offer less insight or helpful information.  Sometimes they just paint the entire industry as legalized theft.

You may have noticed by now that I take insurance seriuosly and I want you to also.  A wise consumer should investigate their company and agent to make sure they are getting the best value for their money.  Don't believe everything you read on the internet.  If you have a concern, talk to your agent.  If you have a concern about your agent, talk to the company.  If you have a concern about both, talk to your state's Department of Insurance.  They have a direct line phone number.  I've called them and they answer the phone.

What I'm really saying is find an agent or agency that you trust and really want to do business with.  Ask your friends, relatives or neighbors.  Personal recommendations go a long way with me.  Your agent should be interested in you and how to best protect what's important to you, not how to profit from you.