July 2014 | Lakewood FinancialLakewood Financial

These last few years, Florida has been fortunate enough to avoid any major hurricanes. So as we enter this hurricane season, I can’t help but wonder if this will be the year our good luck runs out. During our streak of good luck, have we Floridians grown complacent? The peak of our hurricane season is just around the corner – from mid-August to late October.

Are you ready for a hurricane? Here are some basic steps to prepare for a hurricane. Please check out the complete guide here.

1. Do you have your emergency kit?
Your emergency kit should be one of the first things on your list, since the supplies can take a while to gather, and you don’t want to be fighting in the middle of Publix with someone over a loaf of bread. First and foremost, make sure that you have enough food (non-perishable) and water for at least 72 hours. You’ll also need a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, and a whistle to signal for help. Each emergency kit should be personalized to your family, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency released a family supply list that can help your family build an emergency kit.

2. What’s your Evacuation Route?
Learn your hurricane evacuation route so you know where you would need to go if you needed to evacuate. Having a set plan will help reduce panic if you need to leave your home quickly.

3. Is your home protected?
Make plans to secure your property. Have you heard that just putting tape on your windows can protect them? Well, that’s a lie. Tape can’t protect your windows! Permanent storm shutters are your best bet, but you could also board up your windows. Just have the wood cut to fit and ready to install. If you have storm shutters, make sure that you test them out to make sure that they work.

You should also look into securing flood insurance for your home. At Lakewood Financial Services, we’re always available to help you with any of your insurance needs. Give us a call today to speak with one of our local agents!

If you are thinking about purchasing a vehicle, you should consider giving your insurance company a call once you’ve narrowed down your choices. You can find significant differences when comparing similar cars so it’s definitely worth your time to see your rate would be for each car. If you’ve already purchased a vehicle, here are a few realistic changes you can make that won’t affect your coverage but can have a big difference on your bottom line.

Ask About Discounts!
There are tons of discounts out there from group insurance discounts to discounts for driving fewer miles than the average driver. It never hurts to ask, so make sure you do.

Pay Upfront
If you have the ability to, make sure you pay your premium up front. Most carriers charge an administrative fee to pay in installments. By making the decision to pay up front, you can save a decent chunk of change.

Avoid Lapses in Coverage
Don’t allow your auto insurance to lapse. It’s an easy mistake to make, but can significantly alter what you’re paying for insurance because it could disqualify you from receiving discounts!

Don’t Skimp on Car Safety & Security features
Cars with built-in safety and security features can qualify you for additional discounts. Fear not, you can always get a theft deterrent system installed if your car doesn’t already have one, but you might want to call to make sure you would receive a discount before you make the plunge. Keep in mind, ultimately, a theft deterrent system could prevent your car from getting stolen, so even if your car insurance company did not offer a discount for installing one, it still may be a good idea.

Multiple Policies
Multiple policies with the same company can result in big savings. By bundling your auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance or any other type of insurance, you may find even though one insurance policy costs more at Company A than Company B, your total insurance cost at Company B may be less overall.

Clean out your garage
Not that you really need another reason to, but cleaning out your garage can save you money! Many insurance companies offer discounts if you park inside a garage since those cars are less likely to be stolen.

Contact your Lakewood Financial agent today to discuss your car insurance premiums today!

Monthly Archives: July 2014

Are you Prepared for a Hurricane?

Real Things You Can Do to Lower Your Insurance Premium