I had lunch with a friend of mine the other day; we’ll call him Bill, not his real name. He needed someone who’d listen and provide some feedback to make sure he was on the right track. The conversation started with him letting me know he’d just gotten laid off from a managerial position he’s had for several years. The pain was obvious as we talked.
Technology has made our lives easier, more connected, and even safer. It continues to evolve and change at an incredible rate. A decade ago the only smartphone was a Blackberry which gave rise to mobile email. We now have access to thousands of apps to help us plan menus, shop, take pictures, read books, and connect. Technology has entered our homes too. We have programmable thermostats to manage our power usage, smart home systems that can turn on lights before we arrive, record shows and sporting events when we’d rather watch something else, and washing machines that help us use less water.
Last Monday I introduced David and Deb (not their real names). They’re a couple who just purchased a home in east Dallas they plan to completely renovate. The home was originally built in 1962 and has never been updated. They’ll gut it and bring it up to date in a contemporary style befitting the original vision the architect had when it was first built.
Did you catch the story last week about the toddler who bought a car on eBay with her dad’s smart phone? Sorella Stoute, a 14 month girl in Portland, Oregon, was playing with her dad’s smart phone. She opened the eBay app on dad’s phone and submitted the winning bid on a 1962 Austin Healey.
I’ve had a couple of interesting discussions with clients about their car insurance renewals. In both cases, their car insurance rate increased and both wanted to know why. Most of the carriers systems don’t give me a clear reason, so I called each company and we reviewed each client’s policy together. Most of the factors that led to rate increases were understandable and one was a surprise.
You’ve been watching HGTV and pouring through copies of This Old House Magazine and you’ve become inspired on what you want to do with your home. Or maybe, you’ve found the perfect home to buy that matches the vision you have for it and nobody else can see past the dated kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring. Congratulations! I can’t say I have that gift and am amazed to see what friends and clients have done with a home that looked one way and made it uniquely theirs.
There have been a number of DUI related items in the news over the last 8 months. Most of the news items have come from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with its recommendations and its Reaching Zero program.
Do home insurance policies cover everything? No! There are coverage holes in every home policy as to what they cover and what they don’t cover. In last week’s post, I introduced 3 Items No Home Policy Covers, http://50.87.248.161/~wiseinsu/3-items-no-home-insurance-policy-covers/, including:
On a cloudy day in March, I went by the post office to drop off some items and pick up my mail. There was the normal mail, a bill or two, a movie and a large envelope from D Magazine. I almost threw the D Magazine envelope away thinking it was a solicitation for a new subscription but didn’t. I was pretty amazed to learn I’d been selected as one of the Best Home and Auto Insurance Agents in Dallas 2013.
Identity theft, and the fraud associated with it, is a growing problem in the US and across the globe. Out of 2.06 million complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission, 370,800 were identity theft related. In Texas, the rate of identity theft complaints rose 17% from 2011 to 2012, or 28, 299 up from 24,162.
Subscribe to my newsletter by filling the form below.
A confirmation email will be sent to your mailbox: please read the instructions to complete the subscription.
