One last look at the original Amway Arena…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

I’m feeling a bit nostalgic thinking about the implosion of the old Amway Arena this coming Sunday…If you have been in the Orlando area since January 29^th, 1989 then you probably remember the day well. That’s the day the Orlando Arena officially opened just south of Lake Dot in downtown Orlando. The project had been in the works since 1983 but had been delayed due to concern that the arena would be too much competition with the Orange County Convention Center located several miles away. But in 1986, with support growing for bringing an NBA franchise to Orlando, knowing that an arena already under construction would be critical for expansion approval by the league, the decision was made to move forward. Ground was broken in January 1987 and construction completed in 1989 at a cost of $110 million. The project was entirely publicly funded.

We have called it by several names; Orlando Arena, TD Waterhouse Centre, and The arena in Orlando, and most affectionately (and my favorite)… the O’rena. We have seen The Orlando Magic, The Orlando Solar Bears, The Orlando Predators, The Orlando Sharks, The Orlando Miracle, & The Orlando Seals all play there. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus entertained us as well as the PlayStation Pro event. The music concerts are too many to mention from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and, lest we forget, lots of local high school graduations.

The talk of renovating the arena started just 5 years after it was built. It lacked mid level luxury seating and lower level club seating which had become the norm in arenas. A study to determine the cost of implementing everything the Magic would want, put the cost at around $75 million which seemed unfeasible. In 2000, the Magic started pushing for a new arena agreeing to contribute to the cost of construction. However, with the Magic losing money and the events of 9/11 decreasing the number of tourists, the costs was an excessive burden. In 2006 the City of Orlando and Orange County agreed on a $1.1 billion improvement to the entire Centroplex including $480 million for a new arena. The new Amway Arena opened its doors on October 1, 2010.

On Wednesday the demo crew did a successful test run as they prep the building for demolition. The inside of the arena has been gutted and the doors removed. They will use about 200 pounds of explosives and the blast will only last 20 seconds. The dust may linger for up to an hour and some surrounding roads could be closed. The clean up is expected to take place until April or May and will make way for a “Creative Village, a place where high-tech companies locate; and employees of those businesses and other residents live, work, learn and play. The implosion is set to take place at 7:30 Sunday morning…

EarthCam webcam demolition of the former Amway Arena

Some important information if you live in the area of the implosion is here.

What’s your favorite memory of the old Amway Arena? Tell us below…

Sun Insurance Services is an Orlando Florida based independent insurance agency serving all of the Sunshine state. If we can help you with any of your FL insurance needs, please contact us today!

At Sun Insurance Services….We are all heart!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

It’s the day of the year when love is in the air. We want to insure that you have the very best Valentines Day possible so, we thought we’d hook (ok, link) you up! Let’s start with a little education… the history of Valentines Day. It’s not all pretty….

Just in case you are still looking for that perfect present, we have the top Valentines day gifts for you to pick up something nice for that someone special. If you are looking for the perfect place to give your lovely that awesome gift in the Orlando FL area, take a look and see what the perfect location might be

Amore doesn’t have to be expensive… If you are looking to stay within a budget, check out some of these last minute Valentines Day ideas on a budget. Maybe you are planning on a quiet evening at home with a home cooked meal and one of the top 25 romantic comedies. Just because times are tough, doesn’t mean you can’t make this special evening even better with one (or more) top 25 free valentines to give your love this year.

At Sun Insurance Services, a broken heart is about the only thing we can’t insure you for… contact us today, we know you will love working with us. It will make your heart sing…

Sun Insurance Services in Orlando FL has heart

Sun Insurance Services is located in Orlando, FL and serves the entire Sunshine state with personal and business insurance.

If your only concern about your Florida insurance policy is price, don’t call Sun Insurance Services…

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

The truth is, we are excellent at what we do, we KNOW insurance. We are a Florida independent insurance agency with access to lots of insurance options! For you, that means that we will provide the absolute best policy for your specific needs!

It is not by accident that SERVICE is part of our name. Our agency was begun with the focus on our customers. We are continuously educating ourselves in the industry, as well as searching for new products, technology, and carriers. This focus assures that we can serve you at the highest level!

In a nutshell:

We promise to listen to your needs.
We will help educate and inform you.
We will reach into our vast resources and present you with our best policy recommendations.
We will be here to serve all of your Florida personal and business insurance needs.
We will make attending to your insurance issues as much fun as possible!

We can’t promise you that the policy we suggest to you will be the cheapest but, it will the best policy at the best price we can offer!

We know you have lots of choices for your Florida insurance concerns. The truth is, there are lots of insurance companies that are only interested in your money. They use professionals like lizards, pigs, and deep voiced actors, to attract you. If that is truly all you want in your Florida insurance policies… we wish you luck. However, if you want an agency that truly cares about you, and all of your insurance needs, then Contact Sun Insurance Services TODAY!

Sun Insurance Services, We revolve around YOU...

A true and regrettable story of one of our long-term clients…

Donna, one of our sunny agents, worked with our client, who is retired and living on a fixed income, to find the best coverage for their home and auto. We provided them with a policy that had solid coverage, and was well priced, and we have reviewed it with them every year. When the latest auto renewal arrived, the price of the policy had increased a bit, like all auto policies in Florida. The insured balked at the increase and wanted to gut the policy thereby losing most of its value, to reduce the premium. Donna worked to convince them not to take drastic action. The client insisted on removing the collision coverage from his auto policy. He rationalized that he had not had an accident in over 40 years and was an excellent driver. His net savings from this change was $120 annually.

We received a call from this client last Wednesday telling us he had been in an accident. Thankfully, he was OK. His car, not so much. The other driver was at fault having run a red light, hitting him broadside. Unfortunately, without collision insurance he is now exposed to a potential loss of $5000+ in damage to his car, replacement car rental reimbursement of up to $900, and storage fees of $100 per day until the claim is settled. That’s a total of about $9,000 out of pocket. To save $120. And what if he has a repeat accident during the same policy period??

At Sun Insurance Services we will always do our best to give you the best advice, policy, and price, for all of your Florida insurance needs. All YOU have to do is take it….

Do you have/know a story like this? Share it with us below..

What the Dickens?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

Charles Dickens was born on this day in 1812… impress your friends & coworkers (or at least your kids) with a couple of interesting facts about the greatest novelist of the Victorian period! Leave us a comment below and tell us your favorite Charles Dickens story!

Did you know this about Mr. Dickens?

He helped popularize writing in a “series” as many of his original writings were published monthly keeping readers waiting to see what would happen next.
His entire family (sans Charles) were incarcerated in debtors prison when he was only 12 years old..
Charles worked 10 hour days to help get his family released (from prison) which had a profound effect on him and later founded his interest in reform of socio-economic and labor conditions.
He and wife Catherine Hogarth had 10 children whom he gave weird nicknames like “Skittles” and “Plorn.”
He was a practical joker.
He was OCD, combing his hair hundreds of times a day and rearranging the furniture so it was just right.
He visited the US in 1842 as a proponent of both the abolition of slavery and the advancement of copyright laws.
“Boz” was a pen name sometimes used by Mr. Dickens.
He died June 9, 1870 exactly five years to the day after he survived a deadly rail crash where his first class car was the only car not to plunge off of a bridge…

Sun Insurance Services. We revolve around you….

Sun Insurance Services is SUPER! We will BOWL you over with our WINNING Attitude!

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

It’s that time again! The Super Bowl is Sunday. What does it take to have a winning team and how does that apply to choosing an insurance agency?

Leadership & Coaching
Having a team full of talented people is only a part of the equation. Without leadership and coaching, you’d have a bunch of people running in all directions. At Sun Insurance Services, our success starts at the top. Mr. and Mrs. Sun set the example and call the plays. Their strong guidance ensures that the agency is always running in the right direction, calling plays along the way that put us in the end zone with a touchdown for YOU!

Teamwork
Every great team knows it is only as strong as the weakest teammate. Our team is dedicated to finding the best insurance solutions for you. We depend on each other and know each other’s strengths. Not everyone can know everything and we make a huge effort to “soar with our strengths” so there are no cracks for you to fall into!

Strategy
Our strategy is simple. Find the best Florida insurance at the best price to fit your needs the best! We use our independence to look around and make informed and educated insurance decisions to present to you.

Stamina
It’s important for every member of the team to have what it takes for the long haul. Our agency is prepared to do what it takes to not only earn your business but to make sure you never want to look elsewhere for your insurance needs. We are in it, to win it!

Health
Just like your team does, you need your insurance carriers to be healthy. That means a stable company with knowledgeable professionals you can trust and have confidence in! At Sun Insurance Services, we will always make sure your insurance policies are with the best carriers.

Strong Running Game
No doubt about it… you have to be able to get the ball in the end zone! Our agents will hold your insurance needs in their strong hands while running the field to score you a touchdown with the best policy at the best price for you!

Limited mistakes
Keeping your mistakes to a minimum is a must. We don’t claim (now that’s punny) to be perfect, but we promise that if we do make a mistake, we will recover quickly and do our best to move the ball forward!

Home Field Advantage
Home playoff teams win about 71% of the time. If you’re playing at home, you are on a familiar field, and this is a huge advantage. Sun Insurance Services is your home field for insurance! Located in Central Florida and serving the entire Sunshine State means we are focused on the real issues that affect your insurance needs.

Strong Defense and Offense
Games are won and lost on these two things alone. Partnering with Sun Insurance Service for all of your insurance needs will give you both of these advantages. We will get to know you, and proactively search for the products and pricing that best fits you. We will also take a proactive role in defending your protection, and costs, against unfair practices.

Choosing our team is a win-win! Let’s get this relationship kicked off! Contact us now to play on our team!

Can Social Media Predict the Superbowl Winner?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

Guess we won’t know for sure until Sunday night… But a social media monitoring service called uberVU knows who the crowd is picking. Check out their prediction based on Social Media… Then help us make our own forecast based on votes in our poll below!Let’s do a prediction of our own…

Phil Up! On your Groundhog facts…

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

Click the pic to see a live stream at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

He is considered to be the world’s most famous prognosticating rodent. Most of the year you can find him living in the town library with his “wife” Phyllis. But tomorrow, February 2^nd, at 7:20 a.m. at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, you can hook up with Punxsutawney Phil while he observes the weather conditions and looks for his shadow. If he sees it, it’s a sign of six more weeks of bad weather and he returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and decides to hang out and party above ground! But who is this Pennsylvania woodchuck really???

Proportionate at 20 pounds 22 inches long, Phil is covered with coarse, grayish hairs (fur). His ears are short, as are his tail, and legs. Surprisingly quick, with jaws that are exceptionally strong, he eats lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables. Phil’s not much of a drinker, getting most of his liquids from dewy leaves. He’s as healthy as a horse with a crazy good immune system, thanks to his obsessive compulsive cleanliness. He loves to sleep, and hibernates all winter long! Waking up in the spring all bright eyed and bushy-tailed, he is ready to start courting! Most of his groundhog friends live 6 to 8 years, but Phil is over 100 years old! Each summer during the annual Groundhog Picnic, he drinks a magical punch, which gives him 7 more years of life!

Punxsutawney Phil is taken care of year-round by the Inner Circle, recognizable by their top hats and tuxedo’s. This select group, is responsible for planning the annual Groundhog ceremony. After making his prediction, Phil speaks to the Club President in “Groundhogese” (which only the current president can understand). The President then translates the grand Groundhog’s prediction for the entire world! Phil’s record is not too shabby either…. According to the StormFax Weather Almanac, and, records kept since 1887, his predictions have been correct 39% of the time!

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2^ndin the US and Canada. A tradition stemming from our European roots and associated with Candlemas Day. According to an old English song:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

Throughout his years of appearances, Phil has had some pretty cool experiences:

During Prohibition Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn’t allowed a drink.
In 1981 Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
Phil traveled to Washington DC in 1986 to meet with President Reagan.
In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
Phil appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1995.
In 2001, Phil’s prediction was shown live on the JumboTron at Times Square in New York City.
In 2010, a new text service was started to announce Phil’s predictions. Text the word “Groundhog” to 247365 and find out if there’s going to be more winter or an early spring.

At Sun Insurance Services… there are no cloudy days. Contact us today for all of your FL insurance needs.

Sun Insurance Services Florida

You may kiss the bride!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

I know. It’s not the most romantic element of planning a wedding. No one wants to think about the things that can go wrong with such a love, fun-filled event. The truth is, there are things that could make your day less than you hope.

Photo courtesy of Pilster Photography

Wedding insurance is financial protection against natural disasters, extreme weather (this is Florida), and more. Postponing a wedding may result in lost security deposits and cancellation fees. Add to that the extra you’ll pay to rebook your wedding elsewhere on short notice and you are looking at a hunk of change. Double check your contracts with your venue, band, etc. and you’ll most likely find that there’s no language to protect you financially.

Your wedding is an investment, and it’s always smart to protect your investment. A basic wedding insurance policy will cover the loss of gowns, tuxes, photographs, rings, and deposits, and it will probably be the least expense item on your wedding planning list! Really… it will cost you much less than the cake! On average, you can expect to pay about $300. Make sure to buy it early on, most insurers will require that the policy be purchased way ahead of any weather disasters (not when you hear about a hurricane on the news 4 days prior to your wedding).

Your policy can also cover you for vendor no-show, illness, or injury to the bride or groom, and even postponement due to military deployment! While you are at it, have you added your engagement ring to your Florida homeowners policy? It won’t be covered for loss or damage with your wedding insurance (the wedding rings most likely will be).

Another thing to think about is personal umbrella insurance. This policy can cover up to $1 million for accidents at the event (alcohol-related and not), and can cost less than $200. You’ll be protected if things get a little crazy and someone swings from the chandelier at the venue, or damage’s somebody’s car. Additionally, ask about supplemental policies that are inexpensive and will give you even greater protection and peace of mind such as:

Photography
Gifts
Medical coverage
Honeymoon

Just like every wedding, each insurance policy is different. It’s important to discuss the details with an informed and caring agent. We have several of those here at Sun Insurance. Contact us before you head down that aisle!

Get some green for being green!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

Sun Insurance is Green!

Sun Insurance is proud to “be green”. We recycle, re-use, and re-purpose everything we can. We don’t just do it, we think it! We encourage all of our family, friends, and clients to do what you can to help our environment.

In the late 1980’s the home building industry coined the term “green building” which refers to the incorporation of environmental considerations. When building or renovating your “green” house, you make certain deliberate choices such as:

Energy efficiency improvements such as high-performance windows and solar panels
Resource conservation using materials such as recycled building materials and engineered wood
Indoor environmental quality considerations such as low emission paints and carpets

Not only do green homes use 40 percent less energy but also, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, they use 50 percent less water than standard homes and toxin-free materials reduce indoor air pollution. The Insurance Information Institute says that people who are green-focused are less likely, for example, to neglect home maintenance, or smoke in bed — making them a lower insurance risk and that there is a “strong link in their behavior that reduces the risks of accidents and damage.”

It doesn’t appear that being green is just a fad either. In a recent survey of homeowners, as much as 75 percent said that they are more likely to buy a green home, or purchase green products in the coming years! If you are making an effort to be green, here are some incentives from insurance companies that you should contact us about today:

Travelers Insurance offers a 5 percent FL homeowners Insurance discount on green homes and provides additional expenses up to 10 percent of the loss amount (for homes without green features) to repair or rebuild with green methods and materials. Travelers Insurance defines “green” as “products, materials, methods, and processes that conserve natural resources, reduce energy or water consumption, avoid toxic or other polluting emissions or otherwise minimize the environmental impact
Farmers Insurance offers an eco-rebuild homeowners endorsement, which affords $25,000 for additional costs incurred to rebuild, repair, or replace damaged property with Energy Star-rated contents and materials. (The Environmental Protection Agency sponsors the Energy Star certification.) This endorsement also provides reimbursement for recycling debris rather than disposing of it.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance, a pioneer in this area, provides certified green dwelling coverage. Consumers with this coverage enjoy a 5 percent discount on their base premium.

It really is easy being green! How have you adapted green thinking? Leave us some of your tips below and we’ll share them!

Paying your Homeowner’s Insurance while in Foreclosure is the smart thing to do…

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but certain economic indicators seem to be hinting at better times. Retail spending was up this past holiday season and, unemployment is coming down. Unfortunately, here in Florida we are still dealing with a very high rate of home foreclosures. Florida has consistently been among the Top 5 states with the highest foreclosures rate since the subprime mortgage mess exploded. The combination of speculative buying and rising consumer debt have resulted in thousands of homes being abandoned.

Many people are unable to make their mortgage payments and are sitting tight waiting for the foreclosure process to reach their door. Others are opting to walk away. Times are tough and we are all looking for ways to cut back. While it might be tempting, one bill you should not skip is your homeowners insurance policy. You could find yourself in a much worse situation by letting your policy lapse or not renew.

The foreclosure process can be quite lengthy and until it is completed, YOU are still liable for what happens on the property. Let’s say you are not living in, or maintaining the home, and the pool turns dark green and a child falls in and drowns… or, a tree from your yard falls on your neighbor’s house… You are responsible. Just because you are not paying your mortgage or maybe not even living there, does not absolve you of your accountability. Moreover, do not forget, the policy is in place to protect you and your belongings!

Another downside to not paying or renewing your homeowners insurance, is that the mortgage company could opt for a Force Placed policy that could cost you 4x the average rate. This policy (paid directly to the lender) only covers the remaining loan balance and lacks two things you need…liability, and, contents coverage. If you cannot afford to pay your insurance, here are some things that could be done to assist you:

Alter coverage’s
Raise deductibles.
If you are not living at the property, it might be possible to lower your liability insurance.

It can be expensive to reinstate insurance and some companies may even require you to pay a year’s premium upfront if you have lapsed. Don’t be stressed or embarrassed. You are not alone in this situation! Sun Insurance is here to assist you! Contact us today; we will help you do the right thing!