Do you Need more or less Insurance for a Motorcycle?

When it comes to insuring your ride, be it a car or a motorcycle, it is always best to understand the limits of how much insurance you truly need. That being said, the amount of coverage needed is going to vary greatly between a car and a motorcycle and knowing the difference can make choosing your insurance far easier. For those in the Evergreen Park, IL area, the agents with Martin Insurance Team can help you to determine just how much insurance you need.

For those that ride a motorcycle, you might notice that the insurance is far cheaper than that for a car. There are a few reasons why this is. The first is that motorcycles are not a year round vehicle. This means you do not need to buy as much insurance for them as you would a car that you drive all year long even in inclement weather. Another reason that coverage is less expensive is that a motorcycle is going to do far less damage in a wreck than a car might.

For those that ride motorcycles instead of cars, you are going to need considerably less coverage than you would for a car. Another reason you might need less coverage is that your motorcycle is going to cost less to replace in the event of an accident than a car would. Overall, it is going to cost less to insure your motorcycle and you are going to need less coverage overall than you would for a car. Another thing you need to consider is the price of your motorcycle as well. The most expensive the cycle, the more expensive the coverage and the more coverage you need overall. For those in the Evergreen Park, IL area, the agents with Martin Insurance Team can get you the coverage you need.

Life Insurance is a Guarantee

Not many things in life are guaranteed. You never know what to expect. However, when you purchase life insurance from the Martin Insurance Team, which serves Evergreen Park, IL and the surrounding area, you receive not just one, but many guarantees. 

1. Guarantee There’s Money to Bury You 

You don’t want to leave your loved ones with the tab from your funeral. You don’t want to leave them wondering how they’re going to pay for your viewing, tombstone, funeral services, plot and other expenses. When you have a life insurance policy that adequately covers these expenses, you have a guarantee that your funeral expenses are covered.  

2. Guarantee Your Loved Can Pay Expenses 

You might leave your loved one with expenses such as unpaid loans and credit cards. If you have any type of debt, you don’t want to leave your loved ones with these expenses. If you have a mortgage that doesn’t have a clause that it’s paid off after you pass, you could leave your loved ones with an expense they can’t afford, and they could lose the house. You also want to leave your loved ones enough money to pay bills if you’re the breadwinner of the family. All of this will be guaranteed if you plan ahead and purchase insurance. 

3. Guarantee You Have a Legacy to Pass on 

Whether your family expects it or not, you want to leave them something to know you were thinking of them. Life instance is a guarantee your loved ones receive something after you pass. 

4. Guarantee Your Family Doesn’t Have to Worry 

After you pass, your loved ones have to worry about covering the cost of your funeral. They also have to worry about paying the bills and any other expenses you left behind. By having everything taken care of before you pass, you’re guaranteed your family won’t have any extra frets and will be able to grieve over your loss.  

5. Guarantee You Don’t Have to Worry  

Life insurance is also a guarantee you don’t have to worry about what happens when you’re gone while you’re still alive.  

To get a quote for a life insurance policy, so you have some guarantees in life, contact the Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen, Park IL, at 708-330-4404.

Are You as Ready to Launch Your Business as You Think?

Preparation is Key

Opening a new business may seem simple, but it usually takes blood, sweat, and a few tears before it becomes a reality. Success is not guaranteed just because you have the money to get the doors open. Developing a solid business plan before launch is one key to longevity. The Martin Insurance Team encourages you to keep in mind the best-laid plans are those with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. 

Take Your Time

Research is your friend when it comes to establishing a business that will survive the first year in Evergreen Park IL. It takes a couple of years to complete sufficient research on demand, price expectations, and competitors in your area. Once you have determined your brand will sell, make sure your price points are reasonable for your area.

An online presence should be established before launch to take advantage of sales or conversions that occur after the customer has left your physical location. Many people want to get a feel for what you offer, but may not be ready to commit onsite. Establishing a website and social media account is an integral part of modern marketing strategies.

Opening Day

To go big or go small, that is the question you must answer before opening day. A soft approach, with little fanfare, works beautifully for some businesses. This is especially true if you have tapped a market that is in high demand. Choosing to open quietly often means sales start out slowly, but build momentum as your brand gains recognition.

A grand opening with all of the bells and whistles works wonders if you do your homework. Building a community event involves a lot of advertising and footwork ahead of time. The Martin Insurance Team reminds you to make sure you have permits and insurance in place ahead of time. Anything tangible like food and door prizes is part of a bigger plan to introduce Evergreen Park, IL to who you are as a business.

 

 

3 Great Reasons to Make a Home Inventory

Documenting your personal property via a home inventory is the best way to keep track of what you own and its value. A home inventory can serve many purposes to include the following:

Documentation of Personal Effects

A home inventory is a great way of keeping track of your personal effects and their value. In addition to making a list of your goods, you should photograph expensive items such as heirlooms, costly paintings, and antiques, posh jewelry, furs, electronic equipment, etc. to document their value. Keep all receipts from the purchase of expensive goods as well as any documentation proving an item’s historical or cultural value. Your inventory should include a detailed description of personal effects that are important to you. In the event of theft, damage or loss, you will have a written account of your goods and a good idea of their intrinsic value.

Estate Planning

A home inventory can be extremely useful in estate planning as it provides you with an up to date current of your personal assets. You can use this inventory when making decisions on what items to bequeath to family or friends upon your demise or what to donate to a good cause. A home inventory can help streamline the estate planning process.

Insurance Claims

A home inventory can help simplify an insurance claim in the event of damage or loss of valuable goods due to fire, theft, flood, etc. Providing written (and photo) documentation of lost goods and their value to your Martin Insurance Team agent in Evergreen Park, IL will help facilitate your claim and enable you to receive a fair settlement.

Learn more about how a home inventory can aid in making an insurance claim by talking to a Martin Insurance Team representative in Evergreen Park, IL today. 

3 Auto Insurance Myths

On the surface, the idea of auto insurance is straightforward. You, the policyholder, pay a company a monthly fee. In turn, that company pays the bill if you get in an accident. However, many nuances play into what you are covered for and how much you pay for the coverage.  

Because of the complex nature of insurance, many myths are accepted as truths. The Martin Insurance Team will clear up some of these myths for residents of Evergreen Park, IL.

Car Color Matters

Red cars are more likely to be pulled over than any other cars. While true, this phenomenon does not affect your initial insurance quote. Other seemingly insignificant aspects of your car, though, do affect your quote. Make and model matter as do engine size and likeliness of theft. Interestingly, these things mean new cars are not always more costly to insure.

Credit Score Does Not Matter

The Martin Insurance Team factors in a policyholder’s credit score when setting premium rates. This practice is not allowed in some states, but it is in Evergreen Park, IL. Your credit-based insurance score does not factor in your job, income, or gender to determine a score. Statistical research shows that policyholders with higher credit scores are less likely to be involved in accidents. Thus, these people qualify for lower premiums.

All Claims Raise Rates Drastically

Many people worry a single claim will raise their rates drastically. The main things auto insurance companies look at when determining rate increases are driving history, accident severity, and fault. If the policyholder has a clean history and the accident was minor, rates may only increase slightly. Furthermore, if the accident was the other driver’s fault, rates may not rise at all.

Insurance School: Learning the Basics of Home Insurance

Though most homeowners insurances have standard policy coverage to protect the structure of your home, personal items in the home, and liability for those injured on your property, you are also able to include optional add-ons, in order to protect the things that are most valuable to you. At the Martin Insurance team, serving the needs of Evergreen Park, IL, we aim to construct a policy that suits your specific needs to a tee.

In understanding of the fundamentals of home insurance, you must first recognize the coverage of a standard policy. Speak to your agent at Martin Insurance Inc. to make sure that you are covered for the most basic things. The first, and arguably most important, is the dwelling (or home structure itself), which protects against damage done to the physical structure- the roof or walls for example- of your home. Other physical structures, like a shed or stand-alone garage, on the property should be covered as well. Possessions in your home may be stolen or damaged during extreme weather circumstances, so they must be protected by a standard insurance policy. Additionally, liability insurance covers the cost of another person’s suit or damages if he or she is injured on your property. The medical expenses for guests in your home who injure themselves there should also be covered under this liability insurance. Ask your agent if there are additional portions to your policy that cover the cost of things like hotel stays in the event that you must relocate during a period of time that your home is uninhabitable.

Additional coverage can be added onto this basic homeowner’s plan for things like identity theft protection, flood protection, and additional umbrella coverage. Consider the weather trends in Evergreen Park, IL, and determine what additional coverages, if any, suit your needs.

Try A LIttle Tendeness: Keeping Critters Out Of Your Engine And Away From Your Deductible

Martin Insurance Team agents serving the residents of Evergreen Park, IL and the surrounding areas have superior experience in dealing with the auto insurance needs that their clients may have. In addition to auto insurance we specialize in many other types of insurances that may assist you in keeping your own personal ducks in order. 

Speaking of Ducks and Other Critters…

Small vermin or critters in your engine can cause a myriad of problems aside from the foul odor they create. Your engine can be ruined resulting in your car being totaled. If you have found a deceased critter in your engine you have thought about what would happen if it found itself in a smaller crevice of your car. It is not a bad idea to speak with an agent about how and if your car insurance would cover such a loss if it were to occur. 

Again if you have had the experience of a critter in your car, you should try a little tenderness in removing it. A scared kitten snuggling in the cold for warmth in the cockles of your engine can be coaxed out with soothing tones as opposed to loud clangs on metal. Some auto part stores carry different engine covers or you can use a piece of wood or plastic strategically placed to prevent direct entrance near the windshield. 

Contact us today in person and feel free to come in if you are in Evergreen Park, IL or in driving distance away from our South Pulaski Rd. location. The professional staff at Martin Insurance Team Agency are here to keep the critter of confusion about what is covered by your auto policy far and away from your mind.   

How Does an Insurance Company Verify The Number of Auto Accidents and Tickets You Have?

When you are signing up for auto insurance, an insurance agent will ask how many accidents and tickets you have had over the past three to five years. It is important that you are honest with them, or your rate could increase when they discover the truth, and they will discover the truth. But this can leave you wondering how an insurance company can determine this information. Here are a couple of the ways an insurance company can determine how many accidents and tickets you have.

Insurance Reporting System

Insurance companies use a reporting system that any insurance agent or broker can access. This reporting system allows an insurance company the ability to see if you have filed any auto insurance claims and what for. The amount of the repairs and who was at fault are just a couple of the things that this type of system reports. This system only works if insurance companies report accidents. Fortunately, most companies use this system both to report accidents and check driving records, though tickets do not appear in this system.

Department of Motor Vehicles

The other way that insurance companies determine how many accidents or tickets you may have is based on your driving record with the department of motor vehicles. You are required to report all accidents, and police officers report your tickets. This is currently the best way to determine the driving record of an individual. This is also the method that employers use when they are hiring you for a driving record.

If you are in need of an insurance company, contact Martin Insurance Team in the greater Evergreen Park, IL area. We can help get you the best insurance policy for your needs regardless of whether you have accidents and tickets or not.

Can DIY Home Upgrades Put You at Risk?

Homeowners insurance is designed to provide financial security in the event of a loss. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you have coverage when something goes wrong. In these difficult economic times, many people try to save money by bypassing professionals and tending to their own home improvements. Unfortunately, sometimes trying to save a few bucks can become a costly mistake. At Martin Insurance Team, our professionals are committed to helping members of the Evergreen Park, IL community remain properly insured. Please consider these common DIY upgrades that might put you at risk of having a claim denied.

Plumbing Upgrades

Fixing a leaky drain or replacing a dripping pipe are common homeowner chores. That’s why you have a tool box and list of tasks. But there’s a significant difference between small fixes and projects like installing a new bathroom or a major pipe replacement. If proper permits and building codes are not followed, you could risk a claim denial if something bursts. Keep in mind that water damage can also be accompanied by mold growth. Remediation costs are very expensive.

Electrical Work

Faulty electrical wiring is a major contributor to home fires. For this reason, building codes have evolved over the years to include specially designed outlets around high risk areas such as water. Even minor changes to your electrical work should be handled by a licensed professional. Trying to cut corners could cause a fire, putting you and your loved ones in harm’s way. If your untrained electrical work caused the blaze, you could be looking at a claim denial and a devastating financial and personal loss.

It’s imperative to work with licensed professionals on any significant home repair or improvement. If you have already made changes, it may be wise to have them inspected. At Martin Insurance Team, we are available to help members of the Evergreen Park, IL community with homeowners policies that provide security.

Interesting Facts About Car Insurance

Let’s Address The Most Interesting Fact About Car Insurance

  • Insuring your young adult children on your policy must be done correctly

The agents who make their employ at Martin Insurance Team are just that – a team! However it is important to bear in mind that we are a team of professionals. There is not an amateur on the team. In addition to that we are people who reside in the community. We are parents, we are sons and daughters. We remember back to that time when we first  hot the road, new license at hand. It is with this in mind that we issue this warning. Insure your young adult driver properly. Make certain that they are listed on the policy in the appropriate capacity. Let your agent know what car your young adult driver will be using primarily and for what purpose, whether it is to drive to school or work, during the weekend or during the week. 

Interestingly enough many people don’t add their young adult to the policy as a driver.  

The Martin Insurance Team of Evergreen Park, IL is in business to know how to deliver the detailed insurance product you desire to protect your automobile, your life and the lives of others you may encounter on the road. Unlike direct purchase policies we are are able to provide personal service and answer all of the questions you may have about auto insurance as well as other insurance products. Feel free to contact us in person by stopping by our office in Evergreen Park, IL. If you reside in other areas that we serve in the surrounding counties we are worth the trip if you require personal service or we are easily accessible on the internet, by phone, fax, or email.