What's News In Forest Grove?

Insurance companies–Progressive was the first– discovered several years ago that people who are responsible about their credit are usually responsible about other things, including  driving a vehicle. 

Believe it or not,  credit  is a remarkably accurate predictor of future driving incidents. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, your race, religion, where you live or your marital status. It just happens that people who pay their bills on time and are careful about their credit also tend to be careful about driving. They also tend to be more responsible home owners, protecting their investment by keeping up on a home’s maintenance needs and filing fewer insurance claims.

Since that discovery was made, most insurance companies have started including credit history–along with other factors such as driving history and type of vehicle for auto insurance, and a property’s characteristics and past claims for homeowners insurance – into their underwriting systems. It has become part of the formula companies use for classifying policyholders and setting insurance rates.

We encourage all our clients to be financially smart and savvy. This includes suggesting they check their credit histories from time to time to know how they rank and correct any errors. In the event that a person’s credit history has room for improvement, we can point you toward available resources.

Realizing that taking good care of your credit history is important. So too is recognizing that insurance companies differ widely in their approaches to credit, driving history and so on.  Us agents call these rating systems the ‘black boxes.’  Long gone are the days of simple, straight forward rate books and territories.   Today, all insurance companies mine their customers loss history to develop very complex rating systems. 

If you live in Oregon or Washington and want to see these company black boxes in action, go to our website.  In less than 10 minutes you can have quotes from:  Safeco, Progressive, Travelers, The Hartford, Allied and Mutual of Enumclaw.  

Questions or comments please give me a ring at 503-357-7111 x-7716 or send me an e-mail at brian@pacificinspartners.com

Thanks!

Insurance Fraud Hurts All of Us. What You Can Do to Help           

Insurance fraud is a significant challenge facing us today. Insurance fraud can range from such things as fabricated claims, exaggerated losses, or organized criminal rings, whose reach can include multiple insurance companies and span multiple states. 

And its not just insurance companies who suffer financially when someone commits a fraudulent act. The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates that the average American household pays over $950 a year in additional premiums to cover the cost of insurance fraud. Good customers are penalized as fraudulent claims contribute to an increase in all premiums.                 

Many insurance companies have special programs staffed with dedicated field investigators whose function is the identification and investigation of suspected fraud.  These investigators work closely with law enforcement agencies to stamp out insurance fraud.  Insurers spend a significant amount of time and money on the education of their claims staff, underwriting department and agents on identifying the red flags that signal potential insurance fraud.  We believe that doing our utmost in the fight against insurance fraud is beneficial for everyone. 

So how you can help fight fraud? 

If you suspect any of the following:

• Faked or inflated auto, home and business losses
• Intentionally set home, business and auto fires
• Staged auto and slip/fall accidents
• Phony or inflated medical bills, auto, home or business repair bills
• Misrepresenting the ability to work (claiming medical disability)

Call The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB®) hotline: 1-800-TEL-NICB / 1-800-835-6422 immediately.

There are a number of gadgets and devices available that can help keep water damage at bay. Some lessen the likelihood of a water problem from developing and some quickly alert you to a problem which can help to lessen its severity.

This is not an exhaustive list of what’s available but just a few ideas to get you started.

Reinforced Hoses for Washing Machines and Dishwashers
A washing machine does not have to be in operation to leak or have a hose burst. Actually, most of the worst washer-related home damage comes from burst hoses. That’s why it’s important to regularly inspect both the hot and cold water supply hoses for kinks, cracks, blisters or bulging and to replace them when they show any signs of wear

For both washing machines and dishwashers, consider using hoses that are reinforced with stainless steel braiding or mesh, rather than the rubber or plastic hoses that come from the manufacturer. The reinforced hoses only cost a few dollars more – a small price to pay for more peace of mind.

Hoses, whether rubber or reinforced, won’t last indefinitely and should be replaced every few years.

• Before changing your hoses, first unplug the machine.
• Then make sure the water to the appliance is turned off.
• Change out the hoses then turn the power and water back on, checking to make sure all connections are tight and dry.

Pressure Testing Gauge
One of the major causes of leaks and burst pipes in a home is stress and strain from water pressure that is set too high. When this is the case hoses, pipes and water lines can “crack under pressure” and create leaks or gushes that could cause thousands of dollars in damage.

At most hardware or home improvement stores you can find a simple, inexpensive device called a water pressure gauge. Simply attach it to an outdoor faucet, then turn the faucet on full force. The gauge will give a reading of the home’s water pressure. If it is above the recommended psi, it will need to be reset by installing a pressure reducing valve, also available at hardware, plumbing supply or home improvement stores. It’s a project that can often be done quickly by a do-it-yourselfer and can add years to the life to your plumbing.

Water Detectors
Did you know you can buy devices that detect water where it’s not wanted in your home? Many water sensors are inexpensive, battery-powered styles you can place on sump pumps and there are other models to put on floors near plumbing that could leak. You don’t need any tools, and installation is often simple.

Other electric styles, either plug-in or hard-wired, vary between self-installation or require a professional. The purpose of any unit is to sound an alarm when it detects water. Alarm transmitters need to be placed where they will be heard if they activate.

Check batteries and power sources regularly, just as you should on those for smoke detectors and other safety-related units that use them.

Water shut-off valves and sensor/shut-off devices
With water shut-off valves you can go with something that’s manual or automatic or a combination. At the very least, consider an inexpensive manual shut-off valve to your washing machine’s water supply. It’s about as basic as can be: a valve, lever or handle that lets you shut off the water to your washer when it’s not in use. This reduces continuous pressure on washer hoses that over time could cause them to burst.

Try to make it a habit to shut off the water to your washer any time you’re not using it. And always shut it off when you leave for a weekend or longer so a hose burst does not go undetected for days or weeks.

More sophisticated (and costly) water-sensor systems automatically shut off the water supply to a specific appliance or to the entire house when a leak is detected. The price and installation of these electronic systems can vary. Some can be installed by a home owner; for others, a plumber must install the special valves and an electrician must wire the sensors. Keep in mind these costs are in addition to the price of the hardware. Some of these systems are available only through professional installers, others at plumbing supply stores, online retailers and a few at hardware or home improvement stores.

Here are just a few online retailers. We don’t specifically recommend or endorse their products but provides them to give you an idea of what’s available.

http://firstdetection.com/waterbug-home-leak-sensors.html

www.protectedhome.com

Every day, more people become victims of identity theft. Here’s some important information you should know about this fast-rising crime.

Take the Identity Theft IQ Test

http://www.privacyrights.org/itrc-quiz1.htm

If you haven’t seen Disney’s A Christmas Carol yet, it will be at the Forest Theater on Pacific, 12/5 at 2pm for just 2 bucks. We were really pleased to be able to sponsor this event for Forest Grove kids again this year. Hope everyone has a great time!

My good friend, Christian Geffrard, is opening the restaurant many of us have been eagerly waiting for. There’s no name yet, but the concept is rock solid. Great food and wine. Locally sourced ingredients. Affordable prices. Casual country atmosphere. Friendly, professional service.

The restaurant will be located at the old Deli in the Grove at 2014 Main Street. Demo starts tomorrow and will likely continue for two months as the tired old interior is transformed into a comfortable European country space.

Christian has a long track record of success in Portland. His last restaurant, Casanis, met with rave reviews before he closed it in 2005 to spend more time with his young family.

Check out the two old reviews I could find online:

Willamette Week- November, 2003
“…there are few better places to contemplate the French paradox than the lovely Bistro Casanis…”

Food & Wine- March, 2004
“Casanis is another kind of classic; it’s a bistro that’s French in style, substance and ownership, with standards like pâté de maison and rabbit stew….”

Christian’s chef will be Mark Cuneo, the prior sous chef at Fratelli in Portland.
So expect more than just typical French cuisine. In fact, the menu will likely have a heavy Italian bent.

Check back often for updates. I intend to post updates and pictures regularly as construction progresses and the new restaurant (insert name!) gets closer to opening.

Insurance companies discovered several years ago that people who are responsible about their credit are usually responsible about other things – including driving a vehicle. It’s a remarkably accurate predictor of future driving incidents. It doesn’t matter how much money they have, nor what their race or religion might be, nor where they live, nor their marital status. It just happens that people who pay their bills on time and are careful about their credit also tend to be careful about driving. They also tend to be more responsible home owners, protecting their investment by keeping up on a home’s maintenance needs and filing fewer insurance claims.

Since that discovery was made, most insurance companies have started including credit history–along with other factors such as driving history and type of vehicle for auto insurance, and a property’s characteristics and past claims for homeowners insurance – into their underwriting systems. It has become part of the formula companies use for classifying policyholders and setting insurance rates.

We encourage all our clients to be financially smart and savvy. This includes suggesting they check their credit histories from time to time to know how they rank and correct any errors. In the event that a person’s credit history has room for improvement, we can point you toward available resources.

Realizing that taking good care of your credit history is important. So too is recognizing that insurance companies differ widely in their approaches to credit, driving history and so on.
If you live in Oregon or Washington and want to see some of these comparative quotes for yourself, go to our website http://www.pacificinspartners.com/get-a-quote.php.