Dairyland Insurance Company

I was recently asked to post a message so everyone can hear about the good things that our Company's that we represent are all about.  Dairyland Insurance is one of the Company's that we have been partners with for over 16 years.  They are always very helpful when it comes to claims and they are also very quick to handle your customer service needs.  If we do have any problems we can always contact our marketing representative and we get them handled very quickly.  Schrader & Murphy won an award this year for one of their top 50 agents in the NorthWest.  This is quite an honor since there are several hundred agents that do business in the North West.  Dairyland Insurance offers broad form policies and have electronically issued SR22-s so they are posted with the Department of Licensing within 48 hours.  That is a plus for the people who know how important it is to get the filings done so they can obtain their drivers license!  Dairyland Insurance does not charge a late fee if you happen to pay your payment late and they will allow you to have your policy reinstated if for some unforeseen reason you have to let it lapse. All in all they are a consumer friendly Company to work with and we can quote you up with them and prove it to you!  So come to Schrader & Murphy Insurance and we will give you a quote  on your insurance and mention Dairyland Insurance and we will give you $10.00 off of your initial down payment!  We are here to help you with all your insurance needs at Schrader & Murphy Insurance!

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to everyone from Schrader & Murphy Insurance!  I can't think of a better way of saying that we are always thinking of you!  We are always trying to find ways to save our friends and family money on Automobile and Home Insurance.  You can come to our office at any time and we can explain to you anything you have questions on about your insurance.  I see so many people out there that are getting pulled over and in to accidents and not having insurance at the time.  This is so expensive for you.  Not only will you get a huge ticket around 500 dollars for not carrying insurance but also if you are in an accident and you cause the accident you are out of luck when it comes to paying for it.  Yep, you will have to pay for it.  Maybe, for the rest of your life if you are really unlucky.  Yet, a payment of 65 dollars a month could really make your life a lot easier and give you some real peace of mind.  That is about what it takes to insure yourself in case you do cause an accident and you are not wealthy enough to pay for it out of your own pocket.  I am just saying, give us a try or tell your friends, and family members to give us a try!  We really can make your life easier! I promise! Oh, and by the way, we also can insure your life!  Yep we sell Life Insurance, too!

Happy New Year

Well, hello to everyone!  The holidays just flew by this year and now it is already 2012.  Can you believe that?  I am all ready to set some New Years Resolutions.  How about you?  I am sure that there are no resolutions that are made that have to do with your automobile insurance.  No one really wants to say, this year I am going to get more auto insurance or I am going to pay my auto insurance on time every month this year.  But, I can help you out by saying that this year we at Schrader & Murphy Insurance are going to make it our goal to improve our Customer Service to all of  our customers and to all of our potential customers. We are going to help educate you on what you have as far as insurance coverages and what you may need to add to your policy.  We are going to help you out by offering you our rental insurance that everyone that rents apartments or homes should have and we are going to make it a goal to insure your home that you own.  Did you know that if you pay rent to an apartment complex you should have some type of insurance to make sure if your home goes up in flames you will not have to pay for the damages.  If you don't have insurance they will come after you for as long as it takes to get the money back from you.  We are becoming more educated ourselves so we can then pass it forward!  If anyone has questions or suggestions you should feel free to call any of the local Schrader & Murphy Insurance Agencies in Spokane, Tri Cities or Vancouver.  We are here to help you!! Call 877-777-6600 and ask for a friendly Customer Service Agent at Schrader & Murphy Insurance.  Happy New Year to all of you reading my blogs!

Cold Cold Cold Alert

I am sure that there are not many people out there that do not like the cold as much as I do!  I am cold from November through April...I just know that this year maybe there can be a few things that I do to help eliminate the coldness from following me in to my own home!  Not only that, I am sure it will save us money on our Power bills through these cold months ahead.

 Window Insulation Film:You can buy window insulation kits from a hardware store. Kits usually include plastic shrink film that is applied to the indoor window frame with double-stick tape, then heated with a hair dryer to shrink the film and remove any wrinkles. Pros: Cheap and effective. Cons: Gives windows a cloudy, shrink-wrapped look.


 Rubber Weather Sealing:You can buy strips of self-stick rubber weather sealing at a hardware store. Cut long strips down to fit your window dimensions, then peel and stick to the frame to close any gaps and keep out drafts. Pros: Cheap, effective, minimal alterations to appearance of windows. Cons: When you peel away the rubber strips, they can damage paint or leave a sticky residue.

Okay I am just listing two ideas because they are cheap, effective and easy to do.  I am all for easy to do and if it works who cares what it looks like through the winter.  If you have to repaint in the spring I am sure it will be a wash for the money you will save on your power bill anyway.

I know I sound like a baby when I complain about the cold but there is no reason for me to complain if there is something out there that I can do to warm me up!! Safe, cheap, effective! 

Just remember if you are using space heaters to keep warm, do not leave them unattended and never leave them turned on if you are leaving your home to go out.  Get your renters insurance policy in place so if an accident happens with your fire place or heating device you will not be left completely out in the COLD!!!

Happy Winter Everyone!

Holidays Approaching

Today I was out shopping and noticed there were a whole lot of people out there doing the same thing I was.  Standing in lines, looking at our watches, wondering where we are going next and reading our lists to make sure we got everything we were after.  I notice a lot of people buying their cold winter clothing and I got chills just thinking about it.  The ice scrapers for our cars, the rock salt for the sidewalks, the sand bags for the back of the pick ups.  Gosh, didn't I just do this not to long ago.  Oh yeah!! That is the fun of living in the beautiful Northwest....Chills are now going up and down my spine thinking about it.  Let's get prepared and make sure that if anything unfortunate happens we are completely ready for it.  Check your homeowners or renters policies and make sure they are covered for ice storms or fires that are caused by Christmas lights or fireplaces.  Make sure you have your fire place checked and cleaned so the smoke goes up and not down.  Make sure your sidewalks are always shoveled and protected with salt for anyone who may pay you a visit.  Make sure if you need snow tires for your car you get them before it is to late.  Drive slow and contact your friendly insurance agent to make sure you are covered completely for any mishaps.  It is our pleasure at Schrader & Murphy Insurance to make sure you are all happy and well insured so please call us and let us assist you.  If we are not your agent, stop by anyway and we will be glad to explain to you what you do have in coverages and if you are in need of anything further to protect you.  Until we meet again have a safe holiday season and get your check list out!

Uninsured Drivers

Have you ever wondered how many drivers out there have no auto insurance?  Do you cringe at the thought of one of those drivers hitting you on the road and not being able to be compensated for their negligence?  Well, I have been researching this for a few days now and it is astounding how many drivers actually drive without insurance.  In the U.S. 13.8% of drivers have no car insurance even though the state they live in may require drivers to carry it.  That is 1 in every 7 drivers!  Not only that the number of drivers without insurance is higher then the unemployment rate!  Imagine that!  Who do you think pays for those drivers that are uninsured?  Yep, you guessed it right!  All of us insured drivers are paying for those that are not insured.  Doesn't seem right.  It also appears that most people responsible enough to carry car insurance also have uninsured motorists coverage so they can be protected by those who do not have it.  This is a good thing if you are worried about you being compensated for somebody elses mistakes.  It only costs about 12-15 dollars a month more for uninsured motorists on your vehicle so why not add that to your coverage and protect yourself from those who won't.  You can call us anytime at Schrader & Murphy Insurance to get a quote on adding this to your policy.  Just thought you might like some friendly advice and a chance to possibly protect yourself better in case you get caught up in the middle of an accident with one of those uninsured motorists.  Take care now and drive defensively!

5 STEPS TO TAKE AFTER AN ACCIDENT

It is that time of the year again where the weather is going to play a major role in your driving habits.  I have listed what things you need to do in case you have been in an accident and the order that they should be taken place.  I suggest that everyone slow down and drive safely.  Look out for the animals and for the children that are crossing the roads.  Keep these things in mind.

If you're ever in an accident, it's easy to forget what to do right away. Follow these five steps to ensure the safety of you, your passengers and everyone else involved:

1. Call the Police. Even for small accidents, call 911. Police will help redirect traffic and document the incident.
2. Avoid Additional Damage. Move your car from the roadway as soon as possible to prevent additional collisions.
3. Get the Right Information for the Insurance Process. You'll need the other driver's name, license, phone number, insurance information and license plate number.
4. Document the Accident. From taking pictures of the damage and the overall accident to interviewing witnesses and taking down their information. The more accident evidence you can gather for the insurance claim, the better.
5. File an Accident Report. File a state vehicle accident report (available at police stations and DMV websites) to help speed up the claims process.