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.