Your insurance agent is your best advocate. An independent agent considers their insureds as clients not just policy holders and they aim to keep their clients happy! Some people may think that buying insurance direct will be less expensive. That is a myth. Insurance rates are determined by risk. If service and value are important to you, an independent agent is your best choice. Here are more reasons why you should go through an independent agent to purchase insurance.
1.  A local agent will understand your neighborhood/local market and its unique risks better than someone in Ohio.
2.  An independent agent is not loyal to one company, so they will have many insurance companies, coverages and rates for you to choose from. They will guide you in the right direction because they are experienced, licensed professionals.
3.  A local agent wants to keep you as a client so they will move mountains for you in the event an issue comes up with your policy. They are working on your behalf and have a “go to” person to speak with directly if there is an issue. It is much harder for a policy holder to get things done on their own by dealing directly with a large company.
4.  If your rates go up, you don’t have to end your relationship with your agent. They can just re-quote your policy with other companies to get your a better rate while maintaining the same or better coverage.
5.  Local independent agents have ties in the community and it’s very easy to find someone who has done business with them before and can reaffirm their good business practices.
6.  They also work as your consultants and know you, your family and life changes. This helps them to ensure you are getting the best value, coverage, service and limit your risks as an insured.
7.  It’s a one stop shop. You can purchase auto, homeowners, life, commercial, motorcycle, boat, wedding, even golf cart insurance, all in one place. Now that is convenient. Not to mention you can take advantage of multi-policy discounts.
8.  If an unfortunate event occurs and you have a claim, they will work for you.
9.  We can put more money in your pocket today! One phone call or click on our website can save you money.

Call Freedom Insurance Group Inc. today and get the most value and outstanding service when it comes to your insurance needs . Your insurance is as good as your agent, why not have the best!

www.freedom4insurance.com

Here are some tips on how to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle in your home today.

1. Replace roof tiles with light colored tired versus shingles. Darker shingles attract the sun to your roof. In the summer this can save you money on cooling.

2. Replace outside lights with lights that have a motion sensor. This can save money on electricity as the lights will only go on when there is motion around your home.

3. Look into installing solar panals on your roof. The solar panals will utilize the sun to provide electricity to your home. Although the initial investment may be costly, you may save money in the future.

4. Install a storm door. This will keep the drafts in the winter to a minimum and keep cool air in, in the summer.

5. Replace your standard light bulbs with compact high effeciency fluorescent bulbs.

6. Install and/or use your ceiling fans in the winter and summer. Heat rises and using the fan in the winter will circulate the warm air throughout the room and may save money on your heating bills. In the summer the ceiling fans will circulate the cooler air as well as move the air around to reduce temperatures in the room.

7. If you haven’t changed your HVAC system in years, now may be a good time to install a high efficiency HVAC system in your home. Be sure to change your air filters, so the system runs at optimal performance.

8. Buy only high efficiency washer and dryers and if you still have old appliances consider investing in new ones.

9. Utilize a power strip for your computer areas and or entertainment areas. This way when electronics are not in use, you can shut the power strip with one flick of the switch and you may save money on your electricity.

10. If you have areas of your home where the sun comes in strong, look into window tinting. This could save you a lot of money in the summer. At the very least, make sure you have window treatments covering all windows in your home – to keep the heat in, in the winter and the heat out, in the summer.

11. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle. Take the time to separate your trash. Look into whether your city or town subscribes to recycle bank. There you can earn incentives to recycle. Your trash is weighed and you have the opportunity to earn points towards discounts, gift cards and coupons.

12. Buy green cleaning products. Today there are many organic products you can use to clean your home and laundry.

SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS

A home is one of life’s most important investments. Keeping it properly maintained can help reduce the risk of a loss and help insure the safety and well being of friends and family. Just in time for spring, Freedom Insurance Group and Travelers, a leading provider of auto and homeowners insurance, offer these maintenance tips to prepare your home for warmer weather and to keep it safe year-round:

Inspect your smoke detectors. Make sure that there is one on each floor of your home. Test them and change the batteries at least every six months, when you change your clocks.

Check the light bulbs in all your fixtures to be sure that they are the correct wattage as recommended by the manufacturer.

Replace lamps that use high-producing bulbs (such as halogen) with those that use fluorescent bulbs and operate at much cooler temperatures.

Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power source.

Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible that is filled and ready for operation.

Have your air conditioning system inspected by a professional as recommended by the manufacturer.

Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating.

Check your water heater for leaks and corrosion and keep surrounding area clear.

Clean and/or replace your furnace filter.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material or cloth.

Inspect the washing machine hoses and replace hoses that show signs of wear or leakage with stronger reinforced hoses. Turn off the water when not in use to prevent water damage if a hose breaks.

In your yard, remove all dead trees and keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires. Do not attempt to remove tree limbs from power lines yourself. Instead, call your power company to request assistance.

Safely store oil and gas for lawn equipment and tools in a vented, secured area.

Repair driveway and walkways that are cracked, broken or uneven to provide a level walking surface.

Established in 2003, Freedom Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including (AUTO, HOME, LIFE, MOTORCYCLE) For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit Freedom Insurance Group at 3308 Grant Avenue Philadelphia Pa 19114 (Grant and Academy Shopping Center) or call 215-673-0300

Did you know that by purchasing limits ABOVE the state required coverage, you may be getting a better rate and more coverage for your money? The following are Pennsylvania’s state required coverages when you buy auto insurance.

Medical Benefits — This pays medical bills for you and others covered on your policy, regardless of fault. The minimum limit is $5,000 of coverage.

Bodily Injury Liability — If you injure someone in a car accident, this coverage pays their medical and rehabilitation expenses for which you are found to be at fault. The minimum limit is $15,000/$30,000. The $15,000 pays for injuries to one person, while the $30,000 represents the total amount available for one accident.

Property Damage Liability — If you damage someone’s property (ex: auto, house, bike, landscaping, shed, mailbox) in an accident and you are at fault, this coverage pays for it. The minimum limit is $5,000 of coverage.

These are just the required limits, there are optional coverages to add onto your policy which will provide you additional protection. That is why it is important to speak with an experienced insurance agent who can help you determine the right limits for YOU based on how much risk you are willing to assume and your total financial picture including assets.

Freedom Insurance Group is a member of the Better Business Bureau, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Independent Insurance Agent and Brokers, and is a Trusted Choice agent. To learn more about why you should choose Freedom Insurance Group to protect you and your family click on http://www.freedom4insurance.com/why-freedom-insurance.html or call 215-315-3706 to speak to one of our agents today.

Here are 10 tips to keep you and your family safe during this holiday shopping season.

1. Shop during the day if possible, if not shop with a friend or family member when shopping at night.

2. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying a purse.

3. Try to use credit cards instead of cash. If you carry cash, keep it in your front pocket.

4. Always be aware of your surroundings.

5. Park in a well lit area and lock your car doors.

6. If going from store to store, place packages in the trunk or where they are not visible.

7. Try to avoid carrying large amounts of cash and keep money in your front pocket.

8. Be aware of anyone who tries to approach or distract you.

9. Have your keys in hand when you leave a store or the mall and try not to overload yourself with packages.

10. Try to wear comfortable clothing.

Give Progressive a Snapshot SM of your driving usage and you could earn up to a 30% discount on auto insurance. Snapshot SM is Progressive’s pay-as-you-drive program. If your driving is minimal, you don’t slam on the breaks often and you drive safely during the safer times of the day you could save Big! How does it all work? First you enroll in the program which is free. In 7-10 days Progressive will mail out the Snapshot device to you. Simply plug it in and drive. This device is tracking time of day usage and vehicle speed in order to determine miles driven. The device does not track if you are going above the speed limit or your vehicle’s location as it does not have GPS technology. In about 30 days you will find out if you qualify for a discount, (which is finalized upon your renewal) the best part is….your rate can’t go up. This is available for cars built in 1996 to the present. You can log into your policy to review your driving habits and get an estimate of a possible discount. The program is available in Pennsylvania and so far there is no technology fee assessed as there are in some other states. You can cancel at any time.

This sounds like a great program for Stay at Home Moms, telecommuters and retirees. Is this the new era of determining our auto insurance rates? This technology could override current underwriting guidelines in the future….we’ll just have to wait and see. Today the pitch is…. that this device is used for discount purposes only. So if you think this program is for you ….give it a try. Call your Freedom Insurance Group agent today to get more information at 215-673-0300.