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Unfortunately, many homeowners affected by devastating fires discover too late that they are underinsured.

Homeowners need to review and update their insurance policies to make sure their property and possessions are adequately protected from fire.

According to the Western Insurance Information Service, you should use the following guidelines when reviewing your policy.

** Find out if you have "actual cash value" or "replacement cost" coverage in your policy. Replacement cost coverage is your best bet because your insurance will replace damaged contents with new ones, rather than paying their current value.

** Base your insurance on the cost to replace your home and not the current market value. Consult your real estate agent, appraiser or an architect for average building costs in your area. The average cost can vary from $75 to $300 or more per square foot. You should also factor in the design and the quality of materials used in your home. For example, do you have hardwood floors or marble counters?

** Have enough coverage for the contents of your home. The contents of your home are covered up to 50-70% of your homeowner's (dwelling) coverage.

Review your policy. Make sure to include inflationary increases, costs for building codes, or any changes to your home such as a newly remodeled kitchen.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

COMPARE YOUR HOME INSURANCE COVERAGE
COMPLETE THE WORKSHEET BELOW
FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

Home Insurance available in all 50 states... The home may be a single family owner occupied dwelling (home), condo or townhome. This program may provide dwelling fire coverage, contents - personal property, loss of use, separate structures such as a detached garage or shed, premise medical and premise liability insurance. Additional coverage is available for jewelry, guns, stamp collections, china, picture or paintings and much more. Please complete the Homeowners Worksheet below to receive an insurance proposal.

We have other insurance program worksheets you can select from the InsuranceCompany.com main menu option or clicking on the InsuranceCompany.com logo to the right. If the property is a multi unit residential building (5+ units or more) please select the apartment building option. If the property is a mobilehome owner, rental or seasonal occupied please select the mobilehome option. If you are a renter and need personal property, contents or liability coverage please select the renter property option. If you need flood insurance coverage for your dwelling, property or business please select the flood option. If the you own residential rental income property (1-4 units) please select the rental property option. If the property is vacant please select the vacant property option. If you need a "stand alone" earthquake policy and the dwelling is not a mobilehome please select the earthquake option.

Where is the safest place you can imagine? If you said your home, you're wrong! The National Safety Council estimates that in 1990, 3.2 million people suffered disabling injuries at home while another 21,500 persons died in their homes.

The leading cause of home deaths are falls from stairs, ladders, roofs and trees. The second leading cause is poisonings from food, medicines and drugs as well as carbon monoxide poisoning from stoves, heaters and cars.

Residential fires are the next leading cause. Nationally, more that 24,000 people were injured or killed by fire during 1990, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The very young and those 64 and older remain the most at risk during fires, says the national Safety Council, not only because they can't help themselves escape but also because their lungs are more easily damaged by smoke inhalation.

Accidents in the home take a heavy economic toll on society. According to the National Safety Council, home accidents cost $19 billion in 1990 alone.

How can residents ensure "Home Sweet Home" is also "Home Safe Home?"
Here's a few tips that can make your home a safe haven:

* Common Accidents: Slipping in the bathtubs. To reduce the possibility of such an accident, place a rubber mat or adhesive strip on the tub floor. Also think about installing a rail to make it easier to get in and out of the tub.

* Suffocation from carbon monoxide fumes. Periodically check pilot lights on stoves, water heaters and other gas appliances. Since natural gas is odorless, most utilities add a chemical that gives off a "rotten eggs" odor. If this odor is detected, immediately call the gas company and notify the fire department of this hazard. Evacuate your residence and don't let anyone nearby light a match or smoke. This could cause an explosion if enough gas vapor has accumulated.

* Child-Proof your home. While home safety is a concern to all consumers, those with children face an even greater challenge. The National Safety Council reports that in 1990, 4890 children ages 14 and under died in home accidents. This accounted for 23% of all home deaths that year. Simple and effective methods of child-proofing your home include: ** Locking up cleaning items and other chemicals to avoid accidental poisoning. ** Locking up firearms. ** Installing outlet covers and keeping electrical cords well hidden or as short as possible. ** Keeping lighters and matches out of reach. ** Installing fencing around pools and second story balconies. ** Installing bump guards on furniture and appliances with sharp edges. ** Removing pillows from cribs to prevent suffocation.

There's alot of potential hazards in and all around your home. You can receive more safety information from various sources in your community including the American Red Cross, local hospitals and fire departments, and state and local consumer affairs departments.

When planning a vacation, tourists are more concerned about the hotels, what sites to see and how much money to spend, rather than safety issues. But the fact is that crime against travelers is increasing at an alarming rate.

If you're going to travel this season, take precautions. The Western Insurance information Service offers the following tips for a safe vacation:

** Carry passports, tickets, credit cards and important papers on your person. Make copies and put them in one bag. Also leave copies with a friend or relative.

** Take inexpensive luggage and tag it with a business card to avoid advertising your home address.

** Check your homeowners policy to ensure it will cover cameras, videos and other valuables. Usually these items are covered up to 10 percent of the policy limit. Check your auto insurance policy to make sure you're covered in a rental car.

** Avoid using cash: use travelers' checks or credit cards.

** Always stay alert. Walk confidently and in safe areas.

** Don't wear expensive jewelry or flash large amounts of money. Carry your purse under your arm or put your wallet in an inside pocket.

** Use official sources such as policeman, mail carriers or firefighters if you are lost, need directions or help finding transportation. Don't just ask anyone on the street.

** Park your car in well-lit, secured lots or patrolled areas. Don't leave maps, cameras or other signs of a vacation on your dashboard.

** If you rent a car, ask for one without a rental logo because it can attract car jackers.

** If you are involved in a minor traffic accident, drive to a well-lit, populated area before getting out of the car.

For more information, WIIS has the following brochures available: "Bon Voyage: Tips for a Safe Vacation", "Home Security", and "Taking Inventory". For copies, please send a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to: WIIS, 3530 Wilshire Blvd #1610, Los Angeles CA 90010.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

Although a garage sale is a good way to earn extra money for unwanted items in your home, it could turn into a potentially damaging lawsuit if someone gets hurt while shopping on your property.

To determine whether you are adequately covered under your policy, use the following guidelines:

** If your garage sale is a one-time event for the sole purpose of selling unwanted items, your homeowners policy will provide liability coverage.

** If your garage sale is a regular money-making event, your homeowners policy may not apply.. because this is a business.

** If you are planning a neighborhood yard or garage sale and plan to make a profit, then you may not be covered. However, if the event is used to raise money for a charitable organization, the yard sale may by covered.

** If your garage sale is being sponsored by an organization with the intent to make a profit, you must first check the liability coverage of the organization. For example, a church is likely to be covered under its insurance policy. However, smaller organizations may not be covered.

** If you decide to sell your unwanted items at a flea market or swap meet, your homeowners policy probably will not apply. Check the liability coverage of the flea market or swap meet.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

Wildfires destroy thousands of homes annually in the western states. With careful planning you can help protect your home from the dangers of living in dry brushy areas.

The Western Insurance Information Service offers these tips for a beautiful and fire-safe landscape:

** Maintain a space of at least 100 feet as a firebreak around your home. This can include patios and walkways, or by planting succulent plants such as small leafed ice plant or cactus.

** Avoid planting highly flammable shrubbery such as acacia, bougainvillea, junipers and pampas grass. Eucalyptus, pine, cedar and cypress tress are also highly flammable.

** Farther away from your house, plant low-growing plants such as thyme, rosemary, ivy and geraniums are moderately fire resistant and can help withstand fires.

For a free brochure, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: WIIS, "Fire Safe Landscape", 3530 Wilshire Blvd #1610, Los Angeles CA 90010.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

If you rent an apartment or home to others and a fire occurs, will your Rental Property insurance policy fully cover your losses?

Landlords are urged to review their insurance policy to make sure they are properly protected in case of a fire or other catastrophic loss that could make a rental unit uninhabitable.

Standard landlord property insurance policies allow for 10 percent of the dwelling coverage for loss-of rents coverage. Loss-of-rents is the amount a landlord-owner loses while waiting for the rental unit to be rebuilt.

For example, if your rental home is insured for $100,000 and the property burns to the ground, your insurance company allows $10,000 for loss-of-rents coverage. In many cases, it can take up to 12 months to rebuild a rental home or apartment complex from a catastrophic loss. If a loss does occur, $833 would be the approximate amount available per month for loss-of-rents. If you are now renting the property for greater that this amount, you will have a shortfall in coverage.

CHECK OUT YOUR POLICY! The 10 percent automatic coverage offered by your insurance company might not be enough to cover your loss. We strongly suggest you review your policy to ensure that your coverage is adequate to cover your property in the event of a loss. The extra coverage cost is minimal and well worth the coverage protection.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages as your company grows with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

If you rent a home, condo or apartment and don't have renters insurance, you're flirting with financial disaster!

Without renters insurance, you have no protection for your valuables if they are stolen or damaged by fire or other disasters. Approximately 54 percent of renters today have no insurance to protect their possessions.

To understand why renters insurance is a wise investment, simply add up the total cost of everything you own. If you can't afford to replace these items at a moment's notice, you should consider purchasing a renters insurance policy.

Renters insurance will cover most of your personal belongings against fire/smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosions and other disasters, as well as additional living expenses if you are forced to move. Finally, it will provide liability coverage if someone is injured in your home. It also includes legal costs in the event you are sued for this injury.

Unlike other personal property policies, renters insurance is relatively inexpensive, depending on the type of coverage, amount of coverage and where you live.

With an estimated 1.2 million people tying the knot this year, the average couple will spend between $16,000 to $20,000 on their wedding. With this price tag, few can afford to absorb the cost of a major nuptial disaster, like a caterer who doesn't show or a cancelled ceremony due to bad weather.

The Independent Insurance Agents of America encourages brides and grooms to protect their weddings from potential disaster with wedding insurance.

Wedding insurance policies can provide coverage for non-refundable deposits, wedding photographs, attire, gifts and jewelry, damage to rented property or serious disasters that may delay a wedding, such as a death or illness of a family member or member of the bridal party and all types of natural disasters.

These policies typically cover up to $500,000 in personal liability if the couple becomes legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage during the wedding or reception. If the happy couple should get cold feet, cancellation coverage can help regain deposits up to $3,000.

Wedding insurance is generally offered in pre-set packages or can be designed by couples on their own. A standard package policy could cost less than $145.

Here's some extra wedding tips:

** Protect your wedding presents. When presents begin to arrive, consider raising your homeowners or renters insurance coverage. A wedding present "floater" can be written the day gifts arrive and remain in effect up to 90 days past the wedding date.

** Take an inventory of all gifts with supporting photos or videotape. Keep the gift list and the persons name giving the gift. You never know when you'll need to ask them the cost of the gift.

** Insure your rings. Most homeowners and renters policies require additional documentation to insure valuable jewelry.

** Some type of disasters may already be covered under homeowners insurance policies or by the vendors themselves. Ask you vendor if they have some type of disaster insurance.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...

WEDDING PACKAGE COVERAGE:
Cancellation or Postponement ($3,000.00)
Premise Liability ($500,000.00)
Base Premium: $ 215.00

Cancellation or postponement coverage will pay up to the coverage limit that you select and subject to a $250 deductible, the nonrefundable expenses incurred when the rehersal, rehersal dinner, wedding or private event, reception or honeymoon, must be cancelled or postponed for certain reasons beyond your control (excluding Change of heart).

These reasons include but are not limited to sickness or injury to the bride, groom or anyone essential to the wedding, damage or inaccessibility to the premises where the wedding is to be held, loss or damage to the bridal gown, corporate or military foreign posting and job loss.

Also covered are any weather conditions which prevent the bride, groom or any relative whose presence at the wedding is essential or, the majority of the guests from reaching the premises where the wedding is to take place.

The weather coverage is available only if the policy is purchased 14 or more days from the date of the event. "Failure to show" of the caterer or the person engaged to perform the ceremony is covered for Cancellation or postponement. Closure of the ceremony site or reception site due to "financial failure" is also covered for Cancellation or postponement.

Additional expense coverage will pay up to 25% of the limit that you select for coverage #1 for any additional expenses necessary to arrange alternative services to avoid a covered cancellation or postponement of the wedding

If a disaster struck your home, would you be able to report exactly what you lost to the police or your insurance company?

The Insurance Information Institute reports that an up-to-date inventory of your personal belongings can help identify what was lost and settle your insurance claim quickly.

Here are some helpful hints when taking inventory in your house:

** List major items in every room.

** Note serial numbers (usually found on the bottom or the back of major appliances), purchase prices, present value and dates of purchase where possible.

** Attach any available receipts.

** To back up your written inventory, photograph each wall with closet or cabinet doors open. On the back of each picture, write the date, the general location and contents shown.

** Store your inventory and photos in a safe place away from home.

** Keep copies of inventory and negatives of photographs at home for inventory updates. Remember, the more thorough your inventory, the more valuable it will be to you in case of a loss.

We recommend you take the time to review your policy coverages with your agent or broker. It's also important to shop your insurance premium and coverages to see if you have the best available...