Your Auto Insurance rates are rising, and you are wondering why… There are a number of factors that most insurance providers use to calculate how much you’ll end up paying for your auto insurance. The coverages you choose, where you live, the kind of car you drive, how your car is used, who drives the […]
Play it Safe and prepare for the worst. Disaster can strike at anytime so it is best to be prepared with some of the essential materials needed in case of emergency. Wether it is a fire evacuation or earthquake you can gather these items to better prepare you for disaster. Items in Disaster Kit: […]
A settlement has been reached between the state of Oregon and Oracle Corp in the state lawsuit against the technology company. It marks the end of a five-year debacle characterized by wasted tax dollars, incompetence, and dysfunction. The whole project began in 2011, when Oregon signed a deal with Oracle to build and operate Cover […]
The laws for drunk driving are pretty consistent across the United States, but regulations on driving under the influence of marijuana differ widely. Twelve states have zero tolerance policies, which means you can’t have any THC in your blood. Other states have their own standards for what makes you an impaired driver, but there’s one thing you can count on if you get a marijuana DUI: an car insurance rate hike.
Rising Car Insurance Premiums
You’re sure to be unhappy with the magnitude of the rate hike you see come renewal time if you get a driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) charge on your record. For first time offenders, California drivers had it worst with an increase of more than $1,500 per year after one DUID conviction.
Ohio’s increase was the smallest at $336 per year, still significant enough to be a severe penalty for any driver. If you move beyond one conviction and get a second DUID conviction, you’ll almost certainly see another spike of several hundred more dollars, and you up the odds that you’ll be dropped altogether from your car insurance company once you reach renewal time.
What if You’re Convicted?
If you don’t yet have a DUID conviction, be forewarned that there isn’t a lot of leeway for it. However, if you do find yourself with a conviction, it may be worth doing a little comparison shopping to see if there’s a car insurance provider that will offer you a lower rate on your policy than the company you started at.
Every insurance company is different, so there will be some that view accidents and violations differently, in a way that may favor you in your situation. Just remember that, as Benjamin Franklin used to say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and if you can prevent a DUID charge, you’ll find it a lot easier to stay with the car insurance companyyou prefer at a rate you like.
There are plenty of reasons to consider renovating your home. For one thing, you get to enjoy the improvements or additions whether that’s a remodeled kitchen or a new in-ground pool out back, for an improved quality of life.
It’s not all good news, however. Ignoring all the headaches associated with planning and implementing a home renovation project, there’s also the issue of your home insurance. It’s important to factor in how your home insurance premiums may change once you undertake a renovation of your home.
Bigger and Better Means Pricier
There are two main ways that renovations may cause your insurance premiums to go up. The first is when you expand your home’s square footage, because more house means there’s more to insure. Remember, your home insurance is calculated as a function of your home’s replacement value, or how much it would cost to rebuild the home. If you decide not to report the additional square footage, then in the event you suffered catastrophic loss, such as a fire that burned the home down, you wouldn’t have that additional space covered.
Of course, other renovations aren’t so much about adding space, but making the space you have better. Upgrading your kitchen with new appliances and light fixtures, for example, could increase the overall value of your house by thousands of dollars. To make sure that you’re covered, you’ll want to make sure your home’s contents coverage is sufficient to protect your possessions. Be sure you keep an active home inventory and update it after any renovations to reflect new upgrades or purchases.
Risky Business
In a few cases, additions to your home are actually considered higher risk to the home insurance provider. One of the best examples of this is the swimming pool. There more than 3,500 fatal drowning accidents between 2005 and 2014, which spells danger to insurers. The higher liability risk means higher premiums.
Does all this mean you shouldn’t renovate your home? Of course not! Renovation can improve your home’s resale value and make your family happy. The only caveat is to factor in how any renovation will affect your home insurance premium rate, so that you know you’re financially prepared on the other end of your renovation project.
Meet Brennan Agranoff
Brennan is the founder of Hoopswagg. A custom design sock company based in Sherwood, OR.
Brennan founded HoopSwagg when he was just in middle school. Even before he made his first pair of custom socks he was exemplifying what it means to have an entrepreneurial spirit. No only has he gained a loyal customer base across the globe, but he has also given back to his community in a very respectable way through charities and fundraisers.
After sitting and talking to Brennan I noticed how much he actually cares about his business, and how it affects the people he works with. His story of raising money for one of his classmates who had fallen ill with Leukemia shows what kind of person Brennan is deep down. He is young and willing to work harder than most kids his age, and he truly finds pleasure in helping others when he can.
Brennan’s told me how grateful he is for his family and the help they have given him a long the way as he chases his dreams. He doesn’t take anything for granted. He is an all around great person that has a very bright future ahead of him.
Bisnett Insurance has had the pleasure of working with Brennan along this journey. Providing companies like Hoopswagg with the Business Insurance they need not only ensures the safety of their assets, but it also makes us feel good as we continue to support our surrounding communities with the peace of mind they deserve. If you are looking for Business insurance in Portland, or beyond don’t hesitate to call us. We want to help you too. After all it is what we do best!
For more on Bisnett Insurance you can follow us on Facebook or Twitter. We are constantly updating our feeds with fun, and relevant material for you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please give us a call at 800.303.0419 or email us at Info@bisnett.com
It’s finally fall!
Pull out your sweaters, scarfs, and get to the coffee shop immediately for that pumpkin spice latte. Here at Bisnett Insurance Fall is one of our favorite times of year. Especially in our Northwest locations that are already covered by red and orange leaves! Here are some of our favorite things to do in fall.
Going to the Pumpkin Patch!
While driving through Oregon there is no way you can miss the sea of bright Orange pumpkins consuming the country side. Just outside of Portland is a great area to start if you’re looking to begin your hunt for the perfect pumpkin. It’s always so fun to get together with family or friends on the weekend, grab a wheelbarrow, and search for the one that’s right for you.
Not only are there hundreds of pumpkins, but usually there are corn mazes, and fun events that happen every weekend. It truly feels like fall when you’re on the pumpkin patch. Bring some boots and get started on yours if you haven’t yet. It’s that time of year!
Football is back!
The long awaited college and NFL season finally started back up. Whether we are watching from our couch at home or cheering on our teams in the cold, crisp, air Football is back and it’s beautiful. Football Sunday is like a holiday that we get to celebrate every week. Here in our offices in Lake Oswego rivalries are forming. It’s usually Beaver against the Ducks with even a little Cougar talk thrown in there. We enjoy our sports here, and are so happy that the season has started back up.
Cool nights!
Summer is finally over, and it was a hot one this year! For all of us without AC this is what we’ve been waiting for. Finally we can sleep without waking up in a sweat. It’s nice to finally be able to bundle up and not have to worry about finding a way to cool down. Still, we know what’s ahead of us. Winter will be here sooner than we know, and then we will be asking for the summer heat to come back.
The Leaves!
The definitive characteristic of fall is the beautiful color of the changing leaves. Nothing signifies a changing season like the leaves turning from green to red and orange colors and then falling to cover the streets. The Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas during fall, and we are in love with how our environment changes.
Oktoberfest!
Nothing says fall like the seasonal brews at your local Oktoberfest. This year we are honored to sponsor the Pendleton Oktoberfest for the second straight year. The food and drinks accompany the weather to make it the perfect event for your family and friends. If there is an Oktoberfest in your area don’t miss out!
Halloween
What are you going to be this year? Fall means Halloween is almost back, and with that comes some great costumes and events. Halloween isn’t for everyone, but you will probably still get that trick-or-treater knocking on your door for candy. Don’t be the person that doesn’t answer the door for the little 3 year old Elsa. Just give her some candy! Or dress up like a witch and scare them. It’s all for fun at the end of the day, and who doesn’t like having fun.
Thanksgiving!
I’m full thinking about it! There is nothing like gathering around the table with your family and friends to enjoy some delicious home cooked meals. Even if they aren’t always home cooked it’s still a great time to get together and celebrate what you are thankful for. It’s going to be here sooner than think, so you better start preparing your stomach’s now for all that turkey and pumpkin pie!
Everyone at Bisnett wants to wish you a happy fall season. We hope that it is a time to be with your family and friends and have some peace of mind before the crazy months of winter. We hope you are as excited as we are for the sweater weather, Football games, Seasonal events, and holidays. Be safe and have fun!
October 19th through the 25th is National Teen Driver Safety Week.
The week is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to preventable teen deaths and injuries on the road. Teen drivers are, at an alarming rate, being critically injured or killed in automobile accidents. The question is… how can we work to prevent teen fatalities on the road?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
vehicle accidents are the number one cause of teenage deaths in the United States. This shocking statistic is why National Teen Driver Safety Week was established.
If you haven’t yet seen the numbers, these teen driver statistics should worry you.
Teen drivers are 1.6 times more likely than adults to be involved in a fatal crash. Teens are not driving safely, and are putting themselves in harm’s way more often than not. Why is this?
Many teens are driving late at night, intoxicated, and are not properly taking safety precautions such as using their seatbelt. It is also estimated that one in three teens are not licensed by age 18, but are still driving.
This is scary…
To receive your license you must pass tests, and study for a year in many states how to properly fit in on the road. Teens are also overly distracted while driving by their smart phones, and other devices that grab their attention.
These distractions and failure to safety have caused teen-involved crash fatalities to increase by 10% in 2015.
It’s time for a solution…
People always ask, Why are my teens driver rates are so expensive.”
It’s because the road is statistically not a safe place for teens.
Still, there are actions that can be taken to not only lower your teen’s driver rates, but also keep your teen drivers safe.
Good grades=low rates.
Engage your teen driver to study hard. Drivers younger than 25 can receive discountson their rates by making the dean’s list or honor roll.
receive a discount on rates
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Enroll your teen in a safe-driving course. After completing a program like Drivers Ed, teens will not only have lower rates, but will also have a better knowledge of the road. The more they know the safer they are.
Be a good parent or mentor.
Teach your teen the rules of the road and lead by example. Always put your seatbelt on, don’t text and drive, do not drink and drive. Show your teen driver how to be safe because you better believe their eyes are always on you. You never know, it may save their lives.
Now that you know the numbers will you take action?
Spread the word and help prevent teen fatalities. The number of injuries and deaths are too high.
Refer Someone to Bisnett Insurance for Rewards
Refer someone (or several someones) to Bisnett Insurance and earn valuable rewards! For each referral you must ensure that the person you referred verbally confirms that they learned about our company from you. To qualify, someone must contact one of our employee or insurance agents for a quote, and mention that you referred them to us. When this happens you are eligible to receive:
- – A $5 gift card (usually to Starbucks)
- – An entry into our monthly drawing (each month, we draw one winner from all that month’s referrals) to receive a $100 gas card!
- – An entry into our annual drawing (for our annual drawing, each referral you’ve given us throughout the year equals one entry for our November drawing) One winner receives a 42 inch flat screen TV or an iPod!
It’s just that simple! The people you recommended and refer don’t even have to buy from us in order for you to qualify. This is just our way of saying thank you for helping us spread the word about Bisnett Insurance.
BISNETT INSURANCE GIVES BACK
At Bisnett, we are more than insurance agents. We are proud members of the communities we serve. This is why our insurance agency regularly gives back to these communities through gifts, sponsorships and participation to deserving local schools, non-profits and events. Since we receive so many requests, it’s not always possible for us to donate on every occasion. However, we will personally review each and every request we receive and participate whenever it is possible within our budget and schedule.
If you would like Bisnett Insurance to donate to or participate to your cause or event, this is the place to make all such requests. Please be as specific as possible about your event and what you are requesting. Requests submitted at least six weeks before date of event are more likely to be approved. We will contact you regardless of our ability to participate at our earliest convenience.
If you have any questions, please contact Bisnett at info@bisnett.com
Bisnett Insurance
Phone: (800) 303-0419
Fax: 503-635-4585
Office Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:00pm
Weekends: By appointment
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