Having Business Insurance can Save You Money, Time, and More

Insurance can be a sore subject with some; it is definitely for one of those “what if” scenarios. If you wind up getting hurt, you will be glad to have medical insurance. 

Of course, it is possible to never have to use it and it just cost you money, but it is often regarded as being worth it. At Linton and Associates, we believe the same for business insurance and we have a local story to back it up.

A Reason to Have Business Insurance

A New Mexico state building was recently discovered to have an asbestos problem. Luckily, it was not life threatening. However, if you know anything about mold and such, asbestos is all around bad news and really could have endangered the lives of the 200 employees in the building. Luckily, it was discovered and is now scheduled for renovation.

Here’s the catch: the renovation is going to cost around $18 million. That is a lot of money and while the damages might not be as high with a local small business, it would still be a massive problem. So what do you do?

The Benefits of Business Insurance

Like other insurances, business insurance is important for those situations that, if they happened, could prove devastating.

 No business wants to have a day so bad that they get stuck repairing thousands of dollars in damages. 

However, it could happen and that is why we suggest all business owners get protection through business insurance, so that if what happened to the state building happens to them, they will be prepared.

Business insurance can protect you from all sorts of unwanted problems that tend to just happen with the age of a building not to mention the possibility of natural or unnatural disasters. 

All of these things maybe unlikely or considered to be a one in a million chance, but they can still happen and it is always best to be safe than sorry. 

Linton & Associates recommends that all business owners, local or not, call their local insurance provider and inquires about business insurance as it really could save time, money, and quite possibly even your business.

It provides peace of mind and has you prepared should anything occur. Thinking about the massive storm that is set to East Coast, this is a perfect example of something that could wipe out a business in less than 24 hours. 

That’s why it is important to have some type of business insurance to ensure your business can recover without the costs and damage weighing on your mind.

Homeowners Insurance is Rapidly Rising

Recently, you may have noticed a rise in your homeowners insurance. Maybe you were getting quotes for a new home for your first, second, or just another for your rental empire, or maybe you got your renewal notice and were shocked at the increase.

There has been talk that homeowners insurance prices are a lot higher than they used to be. As a homeowner or future homeowner, you might be wondering why the homeowners insurance costs are so high and continuing to climb.

Why Homeowners Insurance Costs are on the Rise

The costs associated with this type of insurance have been rising at an alarming rate because of an increased number of claims and the severity of the claims. Essentially, there have been a lot more claims made towards a homeowners insurance company and these claims tend to be on the larger scale.

When an insurance company has to pay out for these claims to fix the issue or problem, they lose money – not the optimum scenario for a business trying to sustain itself. 

Hence, due to the rise in these claims and the higher pay out that they have required, it has been costing many insurance companies the big bucks and forcing them to raise their prices for homeowners insurance.

Ways to Combat Rising Homeowners Costs

When it comes to figuring out how to combat such costs, it can be challenging because all companies around the country have been forced to increase their rates. So, what can one family do to help? There are a few ways to approach this challenge.

First of all, when shopping around, always get quotes and compare them with others. Most companies will honor the quote they gave you; if they don’t honor it, then you really should not give them business. Second, insure your house, but not the land. 

Of course, if you plan on doing a whole lot of landscaping and having a pool and such, you might want to make sure those get covered.

Another great and simple ways to help to lower your homeowners insurance is to use the same insurance provider for everything. They will see you as a loyal customer and that really goes a long way.

Finally, you can also improve it by improving your credit score; believe it or not, your credit score affects pretty much everything so it’s a good idea to start paying off those cards. 

Remember to always go with a local and reputable company who is willing to work with you and perhaps even give you discounts for no claims.

The Benefits of Fire Insurance

Nobody is going to want to hear this, but sometimes there is no good news. Recent polls have shown that some areas of Albuquerque are not as protected by the Fire Department as others. 

This isn’t because somehow the honest men working as firefighters aren’t good at their jobs; it is understaffing, pure and simple.

Take one look at the economy and you have already found the answer to ‘why.’ 

The standard response time for a firefighter is 8 minutes to 90% of the calls and ladder trucks need to be staffed with at least four firefighters.

So, even though Albuquerque’s firefighters will always work their fastest and hardest to save you, your family, animals and even belongings, it is always best to be prepared for the worst.

Prevention is the Best Preparation

It’s true that if there is no fire to begin with then it not only makes your own life easier but the firefighter’s as well. So, how can you do this? The answer is that you and your family need to practice fire prevention.

This could include anything from keeping paper products away from the burners on the stove to checking for faulty wiring can help. 

A combination of common sense, a working smoke detector, and the occasional look over of your home can go a long way in fire prevention.

Accidents can happen though and, in the event of a fire, be sure to quickly and calmly get everyone out of your home or small business. 

Do your very best to stay out of the fire department’s way and let them do their job to save your home. Finally, one last forms of protection is to have a fire insurance plan.

The Benefits of Fire Insurance

There are different ways that a fire insurance plan can be written up. The gist of it though is that under the unfortunate circumstance of your home or property burning down in a fire or even just receiving fire damage, you can be covered.

Insurance is a great way to have peace of mind. No one wants this to happen, but sometimes things just happen and it’s always good to be prepared for the worst.

Remember that prevention is the best preparation, but having a little extra protection in the form of a backup plan never hurt anybody. 

For more information on fire insurance and the services we offer, please fill free to contact us at Linton and Associates. 

Six Million May be Taxed through Affordable Health Care Act

Over the summer, the Affordable Health Care Act was found to be constitutional and was passed. While this Act ensures affordable healthcare to the vast majority of Americans, there is a small group that could be adversely affected by it and forced to purchase healthcare or pay a tax. 

This bill left a number of people disgruntled, believing that their rights were being imposed on; overall, however, the bill will help a many number of people.

Some people have been against the bill because of the fact that it mandates health insurance upon the American citizen. Originally, it was estimated that a mere four million people would be affected by this. 

However, recent speculation has that number at or above six million by the time the bill is fully in play in 2016 with many of these people being in the middle class.

The Bill Still Helps Millions of Citizens

Six million is a lot of people, but it is actually only a mere 2% of the country’s population. The other 98% of Americans are expected to not even notice a ripple effect from the Affordable Health Care Act. 

So, this begs the question:  Does the outcry of 2% of the American population matter when in the big picture so many will be helped?

In the military, there are acceptable casualties, so should this be treated the same? Is it not our civic duty to support this country? We all have different answers to these questions and it’s our own opinions so that is okay.

Remember though, in the end, the bill is constitutional and will help millions. After all, many Americans are already covered under employer health insurance programs, which have been made out to be more enticing to said employers through tax benefits.

Our children will be included on our insurance until the age of 26 to help them along until they can find employment that will help them cover their health costs. 

Medicaid and Medicare are also being revamped in order to make things better for the people of America. Many changes are coming to health care, and these are changes with regular people in mind.

What We Do

At Linton and Associates, we specialize in insurance and we strive to help families and employers. We do this by providing affordable insurance and standing by our word and promise to treat the customer like family. 

Here you will never be just a number; instead, you are a person with specific needs and unique requirements, and we understand and respect that.