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710 Miami Springs Dr., Suite 120
Longwood, FL 32779

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Steps to Take if Your Car Has Hail Damage

Hail damage to a vehicle is very frustrating. One, it causes a lot of damage to a vehicle and, two, there is nothing that can be done in order to prevent it from happening. The damage is so drastic in some cases that the federal government will help with the costs if it is a particularly big storm. Unless you live in an area with a lot of thunderstorms, this is probably not an issue for you. If you do sustain hail damage to your vehicle, here are the steps that need to be taken. 

Contact Your Insurer Immediately – Don’t waste time in reporting damage. In many cases of hail damage, the damage happens to a lot of people in the region, meaning there will be a lot of claims. You want to get in early so you don’t have to wait too long to get your car fixed or get your settlement check. The longer you wait to report the damage, the longer you wait to hear back about your claim. In areas of substantial damage, this could be an extremely long waiting period. 

Take Pictures – Be sure to document the damage in order to have proof if the claim is disputed. This usually isn’t an issue with most insurers like Express Insurance in Longwood, FL, but it never hurts to be completely prepared. 

The most important thing that you need to do is make sure that your car is properly insured against hail damage before anything happens. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true if you live in an area where this is a high probability. Most insurers will recommend the coverage as part of your plan when you shop with them. 

How to Make a Claim On Your Home Insurance

From a burst water pipe in the basement to a tree falling on your garage, knowing how to make a claim on your home insurance is important. It is something not everyone has experience with, so you may not know how to go about making such a claim. At Express Insurance, we want to ensure your Longwood, FL home is not only protected but that you understand how to make a claim on your insurance policy should the time ever arise. 

Contact the Police

Unlike an auto accident, the chances of you needing to contact the police are usually rather slim. However, if your home is broken into you will need to file a police report. This is a serious matter the police need to investigate. After contacting the police, you’ll need to report anything stolen. 

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you needed to contact the police make sure you have the police report number on hand. Your home insurance company will need to contact the police to verify some information. If you did not need to contact the police, you could simply contact the insurance company first thing. Report the issue to your insurance agent. They will tell you what to do next. 

Home Visit

Depending on the situation you may need to set up a home visit. This way the insurance provider can identify the potential cost of making repairs to restore the damaged area of your home (this is especially true if it is damaged during a storm). 

At Express Insurance we are here to assist in all your home insurance needs. If your home falls victim to a robbery, is damaged during a storm or suffers another form of damage, you now know how to make a claim on your Longwood, FL home insurance policy. 

Helpful Tips for Spring Cleaning

Since winter is almost over, spring is on its way. For many homeowners in Longwood, FL, that means it is time to start spring cleaning. While some people enjoy doing this, most people do not but it is something that must be done. Before you get started, be sure to check out these spring cleaning tips from Express Insurance 

  • Dust everything. Before you get started on anything else, you should take the time to dust everything inside your home. A lot of dust can build up during the summer months and now is a great time to get rid of it. 
  • Consider one or two projects. You may think you have a lot to do around the home this spring but you may not be able to get to everything. When you are making your list of things to do, limit yourself to one or two projects. If you finish everything and still have the time and energy to do more, then go ahead and work on something else. Just do not set yourself up for failure by putting too much on your plate. 
  • Ask for help. You do not have to do all of this alone. Ask for help from family and friends. Not only will it get done faster but you will also have more fun while you are doing it. 

Once you have completed your spring cleaning, next is making sure your home is well protected. The best way you can do this is by having a great home insurance policy. If you do not already have one in place, now is the perfect time to do so. Be sure to contact Express Insurance, serving Longwood, FL. They can help you find a great policy that also meets your budget needs. 

Should I Agree to Driving Monitoring to Lower Insurance?

A trend that has been increasing in the insurance world involves customers voluntarily agreeing to restrictions in their behavior that inherently reduces risk for the insurance provider. For example, health insurance policies have been giving Longwood, FL customers bonuses for quitting smoking, exercising or reducing their weight. In terms of auto insurance, the most common restriction/benefit offered is one where the driver agrees to have a monitoring tool installed in the vehicle to track speed and general driving location. According to Express Insurance experts, If the driver agrees and follows a voluntary restriction of driving slower, safer and avoiding specific hazards, he or she then gets a reduction in a related insurance premium the following billing cycle.

The fear of big brother watching, the idea that the government or some large entity is invading a person’s privacy, has always been a counter-argument. However, it’s important to understand that any kind of insurance monitoring on a vehicle is voluntary and agreed to by the customer. Unlike justice programs that require monitoring for penalties, the insurance monitoring only "watches" the car’s performance and specific measurements, like speed of travel. And a customer can end the monitoring as well when desired. Granted, the rate cut benefit then disappears as well. The two go hand-in-hand. That said, a good number of customers who have tried the monitoring agreement have found it was pretty simple, no great conspiracy, and a convenient way to save some hear-earned money on a regular basis.

To find out more about what sort of monitoring programs and rate cut benefits are available in the Longwood, FL region, car drivers can give the folks at Express Insurance a call or email. They can provide the details on which insurance company offer the option with car insurance and how it works. And a little bit of knowledge can go a long way toward adding some savings in the bank account.

 

The Latest Home Safety Devices: Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, and More

The latest and greatest innovations in home safety devices provide advanced features for increased protection of you, your loved ones, and your home. Alerting you about smoke progression, fires, and carbon monoxide infiltration, these handy safety devices have been around for over a 100 years. Through the years, the features have changed, but the concept remains the same – signal systems of danger. With all the high-tech devices on the market, you can find one to fit and address your needs, so let’s clear the smoke and dive into some alert systems.

When looking for a defense against fire and smoke, you’ll find some of the most cutting-edge smoke detectors and fire alarms for your house. Now, there’s a difference in the mechanics and functionality of these two systems. A smoke detector checks for the presence of smoke, and a fire alarm provides heat sensors and sprinklers. For latest types of smoke sensors, you’ll find Ionization, photoelectric, and dual-sensor devices. Ionization models provide peak testing of minute particles usually found in fast, flaming fires. Photoelectric styles test for larger particles associated with heavy, more dense and smokey fires. Dual-sensor protectors combine the abilities of both of these models for small and large particle detection. Whether it’s a smoke detector or fire alarm, you can connect these types of systems to your mobile or Internet-accessing device – a techie feature.

So how do these fire detection systems provide you with mobile fire alerts? These systems are integrated with the world of app connections, so you receive these signals from a downloaded app linked to your alert device. With an app link through a mobile device, phone, laptop, or desktop, you get a whenever and wherever connection to the alarm activation. Other features not to be missed are digital functionality with a link to a monitoring service that notifies the police, fire department, or your phone; and voice alarm systems. Along with these defenses against fires, there are devices that detect silent, odorless, but highly dangerous carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide detectors check for the existence of this lethal gas. A toxic substance that is the top cause of death due to poisoning in the United States. This gas is released from the burning of gasoline, natural gas, wood, propane or charcoal. The most advanced devices function in one of three ways through a biomimetic sensor, metal oxide semiconductor, or electrochemical sensor. Some more advanced features include a digital screen showing gas levels and Smart detectors that sync with apps to provide alerts to the end user. And, of course, the best of both of these detection worlds merges the capabilities of a smoke and carbon monoxide system into one device.

So, whether it’s a single or dual safety device for the home, there are now more sensitive and reliable sensor devices to detect smoke and carbon monoxide. With these latest technology systems, you get advanced capability to defend you, your loved ones, and your home. Keep it safe with the most current detection devices, and let Express Insurance, serving Longwood, FL, protect your risk of damage to or loss of your home with insurance coverage. Having both home safety mechanisms and home insurance, you’re protected on both ends in the event of a covered fire or carbon monoxide leak.

How Home Insurance Keeps Longwood Residents Safe

The people of Longwood, FL care about their homes, there’s no doubt about this. However, home insurance is often overlooked or not discussed as one of the primary ways it keeps people safe. Express Insurance has been in the business long enough to know that it has a lot to do with safety, and we want you to know more about why.

Sending the Right Message 

Even if you have the best possible home insurance, that doesn’t mean that a criminal won’t decide to target your house. However, what home insurance does do is give you (and the people in your neighborhood) a means to fix the damage that does happen right away as opposed to leaving it for months on end. The better a street and neighborhood is maintained, the more criminals get the impression that they will not only be not welcome in the area but likely be seen or caught because people look out for one another.

Keeping the House on Solid Ground 

Homes that have the right foundation stay upright, even during bad storms in Longwood, FL. There are so many potential dangers on a property that you may not even notice. Express Insurance knows that one dying tree can cause a lot of damage to the house if it falls unexpectedly. These are just a few ways that homes stay safe when they have home insurance, and there are so many other ways that it protects you. If you’re looking for a quality home insurance policy that will benefit both you and your neighbors, then give our agency a call today. We have agents and experts who can assist you, so contact us for more information or a quote on your property in Longwood.

Distracted Driver Facts

Safe driving campaigns often focus on the dangers of drinking and driving. Although driving while intoxicated is a serious risk, distracted driving incidents account for 80 percent of crashes, according to a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study. Now, many areas, including Longwood, FL, are passing laws to prevent distracted driver accidents.

Types of Distractions

What causes a driver to lose focus on the road? Distractions are broken down into three basic categories: manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions force your hands away from the wheel. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road. Cognitive distractions cause your mind to wander off the task of driving.

The following are the most frequent driver distractions:

  • Texting
  • Mobile Phone Calls
  • Mobile Web Browsing
  • Eating and Drinking
  • Using Dashboard Devices (Radio, mp3 player, GPS, etc.)
  • Talking to Passengers

How Serious Is the Problem?

In 2014 alone, the U.S. Department of Transportation attributed over 3,100 fatalities and 431,000 injuries to distracted driving. Each year, the number of accidents caused by text messaging and cell phone use is steadily increasing. More than 28 percent of all vehicle crashes can now be traced back to mobile phone use.

National surveys have shown that 90 percent of all drivers recognize the risk of driving while using a cell phone. However, three out of four drivers admitted to talking on the phone while driving and one in five acknowledged texting and driving. High school students are particularly high risk for distracted driving behaviors. In 2013, the CDC reported two out of five high school drivers stated they drove and sent out a text or email within the last 30 days.

Drivers must use common sense while on the road and put down the devices. Any distraction that takes their mind or body off of operating vehicle should be ignored. Driving safety is not only important for your well-being but your insurance rates as well.

Contact an agent at Express Insurance today to learn more about how we are helping serve Longwood, FL area drivers.

Fall Home and Fun Checklist

Getting ready for winter means winterizing your home, preparing for holiday guests, and conducting an annual insurance review with your agent at Express Insurance to make sure there is adequate insurance, especially if there have been any life changes during the past year.

There are plenty of maintenance chores to do in fall to get ready before the winter weather comes.

Besides having things you must do on the home checklist for fall, be sure to include some of these fun things:

  • Decorate pumpkins and toast the pumpkin seeds
  • Go for a hay ride
  • Snuggle by the fire
  • Bake an apple pie
  • Visit a farmer’s market
  • Enjoy a scenic drive
  • Jump into a pile of leaves
  • Visit a haunted house
  • Go fruit picking
  • Bake cookies
  • Make pumpkin bread
  • Enjoy hot spiced apple cider and eggnog
  • Fly a kite
  • Go on a scavenger hunt
  • Make caramel apples
  • Have a tailgate party at a football game
  • Make popcorn balls
  • Knit a scarf
  • Use scented candles
  • Go to a spooky graveyard
  • Bundle up and go for an early morning walk
  • Make hot chocolate
  • Enjoy a weekend getaway at a bread and breakfast
  • Take a holiday family photo
  • Adopt a new pet from an animal rescue facility
  • Decorate your porch and front yard with holiday decorations
  • Make s’mores and Rice Krispies treats with the kids
  • Enjoy movie night with homemade popcorn and caramel corn
  • Toast marshmallows over a fire pit
  • Make blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup
  • Enjoy the season premiers on television
  • Go for a walk in the rain and splash in the puddles
  • Make mulled wine
  • Build a tent fort for the kids in the living room out of blankets
  • Have a pillow fight
  • Enjoy a costume party
  • Go caroling house to house

Be kind, enjoy life, and be thankful.

Reasons to Review Your Longwood Company’s Insurance Yearly

One of the primary goals for every business is to grow and increase market share. Generally, as your business grows so does its revenue and assets, and such growth can lead the company to expand its operations, expand its offerings, and even search for a larger location. Just as the company itself does not remain static from year to year, neither does its insurance needs. As your company changes it is highly recommended that you continue to adjust your insurance coverages in order to reflect the company’s ever-changing needs.

Below we will review some reasons your company should review its insurance coverages annually:

Business needs change – As your company grows and prospers it will naturally expand into additional products and services and possibly even larger premises. Every change your company undergoes could create a corresponding liability, which may best be addressed by increased or modified insurance coverage. It is best to speak with your insurance agent at least once per year in order to discuss how your business has changed over the past 12 months, and to review if your current coverages are adequate.

Society changes – Just like your business needs will evolve over time, so will the societal factors which take place in and around your company.  For example, if you own a company with a storefront location and which employs delivery drivers, you may wish to increase your coverages if a daycare were to open up next door. Your insurance coverages should be reviewed periodically to ensure they reflect the current societal factors which may affect it.

Environment changes – From year to year environmental changes can take a toll on businesses.  Longwood, FL area businesses should review their insurance every year in order to make reasonable adjustments to coverages which may help mitigate unexpected or particularly harsh environmental cycles.

If you are a Loongwood area business and you have not reviewed your insurance coverages recently, contact our agents at Express Insurance for a review today.

 

Am I Covered For A Hit & Run?

Living in Miami Beach can be a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous on the roads. If you are involved in a hit and run, you want to make sure you have sufficient coverage for auto insurance. This means taking a good look at your policy and potentially adding on coverage.

In the state of Florida, you are required to have bodily injury as well as property damage liability insurance. If you are still making payments on your car or you are leasing, you may also be required to have collision coverage. Collision is always a good idea in the event you are involved in a major accident – such as a hit-and-run.

Then, you have to look at other forms of coverage that you may or may not have on your policy.

Do you have uninsured motorist coverage?

If you don’t know the person who hit you, they are going to fall under uninsured motorist. Having this coverage will provide bodily injury as well as property damage to help cover some of the medical bills, lost wages, and repairs to your car.

Do you have medical bills coverage?

The amount of medical bills involved can be high and you don’t want to pay anything out of pocket you can get away with it. Having this coverage can be very helpful.

Do you have PIP?

Personal injury protection is going to cover medical bills as well as potential lost wages that you have experienced as a result of the hit and run. It can be a very affordable form of coverage time to your policy.

Hit and runs can be expensive. Contact us at Express Insurance today and one of our agents can find auto insurance coverage that can provide protection in Miami Beach that is also affordable. We’ll get the quotes and more.