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!

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…

Our first bright idea for 2012

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Dee Brandt

We’ve spent a lot of time over past couple of months thinking about how we want to be better in 2012.

I’d be hard-pressed to think of another time in my life where the future seemed more promising. I know, the economic outlook in the U.S. is not rosy, but I refuse to be discouraged by that. To me, 2012 is brimming with potential. We’ve come up with a dozen ideas to make Sun Insurance a stronger, more successful company. “12 for ’12.” They’re not rocket science, but they make sense for us, and I challenge you to make your own list. Heck, I’ll even spot you the first one: Make the world a better place.

This is on my mind today because one of our long-time clients, Laura Pita, was just featured on NBC News for work she’s doing for pediatric cancer patients in South Florida. She makes tutus and super hero capes for the kids in the hospital. You can’t help but be inspired by her story: Tutu Lady Transforms Kids into Superheroes

Laura, Josh, and Emmy

Laura formed a charity, Emmy’s Heart, named after her mother who had just died of cancer. Laura’s son Josh is currently under treatment for leukemia at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. Take a minute to watch Laura’s story. I guarantee you’ll be inspired.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. “ –Leo Rosten

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!

The Sun Shines After Cancer

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Dee Brandt

I have a yearly routine of how I start Thanksgiving week and the holiday season: I have my annual checkup with Dr. Jennifer Tseng, my medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
In the past six years, I have probably made between 75 and100 visits to MD Anderson, but the visits with Dr. Tseng and her nurse practitioner, Leslye Roy, are my favorite.
Once again this morning, Dr. Tseng came into the exam room and gave me the big thumbs up that all was well. My cancer remains gone. And then we chatted and compared notes on families and friends for the remainder of the visit.. In a matter of minutes I was at the front desk scheduling my next appointment for Thanksgiving week 2012.
I opened Sun Insurance on May 1, 2003 and I was diagnosed with cancer July 25, 2005. My strategies for success for these two were exactly the same.
I drew up a very specific road map, I planned for every possible contingency, and most importantly, I set very short-term goals. I knew I needed to build success upon success to find my way through these challenges.
There was another important element of my strategy, and I do not take this lightly. I embraced my belief in superstition and good fortune. I became repetitive in my actions so as not to jinx the moment. For example, on each trip to MD Anderson, including this morning, I did the exact same things.
1. I always schedule morning appointments. I want to start the day by tackling life head on.
2. I use the same door every time to enter the cancer center. I need a constant path.
3. I always wear a “happy” shirt. It could be an LSU National Championship shirt or a golf shirt bought on a past trip to Hawaii, but I want to be reminded of good things. Bad things cannot happen to me with positive reinforcement.
4. Most importantly, I always hold hands with Mrs. Sun as we enter the center together. We are a team and I need the good vibes of my teammate; this is a journey we take together.
I am a firm believer in luck, or Karma, or whatever else you want to call it. To me it is the icing on the cake of strong planning.
Today I am thankful for many things, including good health and wonderful family, friends, employees and clients. All of us at Sun Insurance Services hope that you and your friends & family have a happy, safe, and a lucky holiday season.

Jim Brandt is the president and founder of Sun Insurance Services in Orlando, Florida. He would love to talk with you.

Allstate Removes Florida Homeowners Alarm Credits

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Dee Brandt

Earlier this week, WFTV reported that Castle Key, Allstate’s Florida insurance carrier, is removing the alarm credits from all of its homeowner’s policies. This change could result in an increase in premium of 10% – 20%. If you currently have a Florida h omeowner’s insurance policy with Allstate, check your renewal to see if your policy has been affected by this adjustment.

If you have been affected and would like to talk about better options, contact us today. As an independent insurance agency based in Orlando and serving all of Florida, we have access to dozens of homeowners’ carriers that have not removed the alarm credit…

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!