Are YOU ready to get out of Citizens?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

Citizens was designed to be the insurer for FL homeowners who have no other options, not for insurance agents who have no other options! Currently, Citizens is talking about increasing premiums, decreasing coverage’s, and non-renewing policies!

Did you know that as a Citizens policyholder:

If Citizens sustains a deficit as a result of hurricane losses (or any other reason), your policy could be subject to surcharges as high as 45% of your premium?
Despite what you may have been told, Citizens Property Insurance is not supported by the full faith and credit of the state of Florida?

Based on information we have received from Citizens, we believe you qualify for coverage with one of Florida’s most prestigious, stable, insurance companies, Tower Hill Insurance.

If you would like to talk about better coverage, premiums and service, than you currently have for your home, contact us today for a quote with Tower Hill!

Sun Insurance, we revolve around you…

Our SUNny agents are ready to treat you right!

Call us 866.786.4615

Can’t text now, I’m driving…

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Tonia Brewer

We have all had it happen… someone pulls out in front of us or, doesn’t move when the light turns green or, backs out of the parking space as we are driving by. All because… the driver is on their phone! Distracted driving is a huge problem! In fact, there were over 3,000 deaths in the US last year directly attributed to cell phone usage. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving while texting has increased 50% in the last year and, one out of every 100 drivers is e-mailing, texting or web surfing while driving.

Sun Insurance Services Distracted Driving

Be safe... don't drive distracted!

This past December the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all states ban ALL talking and texting behind the wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), reports that ten states (and The District of Columbia) have already banned talking on a handheld device while driving, and thirty five states (and The District of Columbia) have banned all texting. While that sounds like a good fix, there is debate as to whether or not it will work.

Most of us know the dangers of distracted driving (The Post reported 88% of drivers understand the risks) yet A Third still use their phones for talking and texting behind the wheel. Even CTIA – The Wireless Association, has said it agrees that distracted driving is a dangerous problem and that it supports bans on texting and driving.

Take a look at the questions below. Answer them honestly for yourself…

Do you talk on your cell phone while driving?
Do you use a hands-free device?
Do you consider driving conditions when deciding to answer/talk on your phone?
Do you find it difficult when on a phone other than in your car (i.e. the office or at home) to listen to the caller while attending to other tasks?
Do you read and/or send text messages while driving?
Do you feel unsafe if you are a passenger in a car where the driver is talking on the phone?
Have you or a loved one ever been involved in a car accident resulting from a distracted driver?
Do you feel unsafe if you are a passenger in a car where the driver is texting?

Don’t think you are distracted?

Try playing this online game and see where you stand.

Please participate in our poll:

All of us at Sun Insurance Services are concerned for your safety and the safety of others. Please don’t drive while distracted…

Do your New Years resolutions go out one Year, and in another?

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Tonia Brewer

It’s that time of year again. I suppose it could be human nature or at least, conditioning, that at the end of every calendar year, we find ourselves reflecting on the passing of time. What did we accomplish this year and, more importantly, what did we not realize? This brings us to the next logical thought process. What do we want to achieve in the new year… Voila! The good ole new year resolutions list…

The dictionary defines the word “resolute” as “a firm determination”. Statistics show that as much as 80% of the people who make new year resolutions will fail. So much for determination! Being a positive person, I would rather focus on the 20% who find success. Therein lies some of the problem… research shows that many of the folks that fail in their plans, do so because they focus on the downside of not achieving their goals. For most of us, resolutions don’t work because we make them difficult or unrealistic. Marking a date on a calendar is not an appropriate catalyst for making these kinds of changes.

Success emerges from true breakthroughs that address the real cause, not the symptoms of our issues. If losing weight is on your list, focus on the bigger picture of living a healthier lifestyle. Find someone you know who looks and feels like you want to look and feel. What are they doing? Now do it. You will start to act and think like someone who is in better shape and your positive thoughts will lead you to better choices! Your best chance at effecting radical change, is to be motivated in a positive nature. Beating yourself up for eating something you shouldn’t, will not work. Rather, congratulate yourself for taking the stairs!

Here are a few things you can do that will improve your success rate:

Break your goals into smaller steps.
Reward yourself for achieving each step.
Tell your friends/family about your goals.
Keep a diary of your progress.
Focus on the benefits of success!

At Sun Insurance, we are positively prepared to assist you with improving your insurance goals for 2012!

Why nasty emails from your clients are a gift to you….

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Tonia Brewer

Recently, Mr. Sun forwarded me an email from a client. Well, not exactly an email. It was more like a reply from an email the client had received from us. Well, not exactly an email from us. Really, it was an “e-card” scheduled, in our email marketing system, to arrive in his inbox on his birthday with good wishes for a great day from Sun Insurance, his independent insurance agency. Timing is everything…

Upon receiving our “wishing you all good things on your birthday” e-card, Mr. Client decided to take advantage (thankfully so) of the occasion to reply to the happy card and let us know in two little words, (not appropriate for our G rated blog) that he wasn’t very happy about the recent rate increase he had received for his homeowners insurance policy. I replied to Mr. Sun and said, “What a great opportunity!” He then had one of our awesome personal lines agents give Mr. Client a call…

Mr. Client was not too pleased about the call at first. Nevertheless, our agent persisted with skill and conviction, feeling confident in our ability to provide this client not only with a better homeowner’s insurance rate but, also, to communicate that at Sun Insurance we really do care about our clients! Thankfully, Mr. Client was receptive and our agent leapt into action! In the end, we were able to save Mr. Client over $2100 on his homeowners policy! Not a bad present for the holidays! In an email from the agent to Mr. Sun, she says, “needless to say, he (Mr. Client) was very happy”. Not nearly as happy as we are…

We now have a client for life! Not because we saved him $2100 but because we cared enough to get outside our comfort zone and address the concerns of an unhappy client. As unpleasant as it sometimes is to deal with upset, or angry clients, we are very thankful to have had the opportunity to create a better relationship. Mr. Client could have just gone away silently (statistics show that the typical company hears from only 4% of its dissatisfied customers, 96% of unhappy customers just walk away, and 91% of those never come back.) and we would have lost him forever. So, the next time you get a nasty email, or phone call, or FaceBook post, be thankful, and see it as the gift that it is…

“A person who commits a mistake and doesn’t correct the mistake is committing another one.” ~Confucius

This is going to BLOW you away!

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Tonia Brewer

Do not stop reading this if you are a Florida homeowner. Last week, our Orlando agency saved a client $2148 on his homeowner’s policy. Yes, you read that right $2148. Come on!….That is impressive! How did we do this you ask? Well, first, we educated him about his policy and then, we encouraged him to get a wind mitigation inspection for his home! As of March 1, 2002, the state of Florida mandated (Florida statute 626.0629) that insurance companies reduce rates for buildings that have specific wind mitigation features that enable them to better withstand storms.

Ninety percent (90%) of all homes built in Florida between 1980-2001 are eligible for this premium savings. Homes with a new roof after 2002 will benefit as well. That more than likely means your home. Some of the money saving features of wind mitigation includes:

Roof Covering
Roof Deck Attachment
Roof to Wall Connection
Secondary Water Resistance
Roof Shape
Roof Shutters
Type of construction

Making sure that your home has these features will not only provide for significant savings on your Florida homeowners insurance, it will also increase its market value! You can learn a few DIY tips for protecting your home against wind damage with this short video. To get the full benefit on your homeowner’s policy, you will need to do three things. First, you need to contact us at Sun Insurance Services! We will review your current policy and use our independence to provide you with the best rate and coverage you can buy! Then, you will need to hire a professional to provide you with a wind mitigation inspection and certificate (this will run you about $100). Knowing exactly how your home is constructed gives the best chance for a larger discount.

Lastly, you will need to decide what you will do with an extra $500-$800 a year in your pocket (or maybe $2148)! Don’t wait, it’s the perfect time of year to give yourself a gift that keeps on giving!

Saving Time…

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Tonia Brewer

This weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings Time (DST). Most of us will wind our clocks back an hour at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday morning. Why do we do this? How did it all come about? I think you will find several interesting facts in our journey…

Did you know?

No federal rule mandates that states or territories observe daylight saving time? In fact, federal law only states that the switch back to standard time take place at 2a.m. on November 4, each year.
The U.S. Naval observatory in Washington D.C. sets “standard time” in the U.S. through the maintenance of atomic clocks but they have nothing to do with DST.
The overseeing of DST first resided with the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1918 (they were the only federal regulatory agency that existed at the time) then, in 1966 Congress gave that responsibility to the newly formed Department of Transportation (DOT).
The DOT overseeing time dates way back to they heydays of railroads. When the railroads came along, it became apparent that some sort of standardization was necessary so schedules could be published!
1883 the US railroad industry established official time zones with a set standard time within each zone. Congress signed the time zone system into law in 1918.

Part of the Act of 1918 legislated for DST nationwide but that was repealed the next year and given back to local jurisdictions. We then nationally observed DST during WWII but not uniformly after the war. In 1966 Congress passed The Uniform Time Act, standardizing the start and end dates for daylight saving time. It allowed for states to remain on standard time if their legislatures permitted it. Arizona, and Hawaii are the only two states that don’t observe DST along with the American territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and America Samoa.

Why DST? The reasoning for DST was to allow for daylight hours when most people are awake and moving about! The research has shown that more available daylight increases energy savings while decreasing the number of traffic accidents, traffic fatalities, and incidences of crime.

So, don’t forget to set your clocks back this Sunday! It’s also a great time to change your batteries in all smoke detectors and check your vehicles tires for the correct inflation pressure! Did you know that the correct pressure will not only help optimize tire performance and fuel economy but that proper pressure also stabilizes the tire’s structure, blending the tire’s responsiveness, traction and handling, keeping you safer on the road!