Home Insurance Rates are on the Rise in Indiana

Home insurance rates are on the rise in Indiana after a period of losses for the insurance carriers.  Our in house expert, Realty Group Insurance says to expect a 15% increase in your rates.

This is going to translate to a lot more out-of-pocket expenses when you file a claim.  There have been years of losses in the Indiana property and casualty segments.  An unusually high number of hailstorms brought an avalanche of claims....  and I know I saw a lot of new roofs happening in our our neighborhood!

Here are some of the changes you will see (or feel!):

*  Cash value for a damaged roof rather than the replacement cost
*  Higher deductibles for those that file more than one claim during a particular time frame
*  Higher premiums for anything other than basic coverage.  Be sure to look into "cosmetic damage coverage".  (affects the appearance but not the structure)

You may not even receive notification of some of the changes.

A higher deductible might help to avoid a higher premium.  If you drop that cosmetic damage coverage, you could even get a discount. Maybe. Home insurance rates are on the rise in Indiana, and some customers may be asked to implement a form of loss mitigation, some might be asked to increase their deductible, or the ultimate - non renewal.

They  say most insurers will allow one weather claim in a 3 year period.  So - say your prayers between hail storms!

Property and casualty insurance has been a losing proposition for many insurers - just not as severe as in recent years.  What insurance policies do you see the most commercials for? It's all about the car - right?  My favorite is the baby in the garage.  Because auto insurance is traditionally a money-maker.

And don't even get me started on Flood Insurance - yikes!!!  That is a whole other fear factor topic.

Talk to our in house expert for more insight, detail or a quote here:
  Home insurance rates are on the rise in Indiana - so talk to Realty Group Insurance

A New Twist on "Window Treatments"

What do windows provide - light for the inside and a view of the outside, right?
  But - we also want privacy when needed and it has to look good.

So - here is something else to consider for a variety of purposes - Window Films!

For this blog - I am highlighting one provider in order to plant an idea.
Emma Jeffs' window films are made in the U.S. from environmentally friendly and run around $78 per treatment.
You can find all their products HERE

When selling a home - having rooms with light is important to show off their size and make it feel inviting.
These window films can provide privacy while still allowing light.  AND they are easy to remove.

When buying a home - they can provide the needed privacy (versus hanging sheets) until you can get your permanent window treatments.

There are styles that are opaque, some that have a peek-a-boo feel, even kids themes!

I have a bathroom window that I am constantly rolling a blind up and down - no more!!  I've just placed an order so I will still have the light - but not the possible embarrassment!!!

November Events throughout Indiana - No Excuses!!

After you get all your leaves raked, are you out of ideas for what to do in November?  Just because the weather is turning colder, there are still plenty of activities to keep your blood warm, stomachs full, brain inspired and many of them are free!!!

Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Tri-state Gun & Knife Show	11/1/13 11/3/13	3	Fri	Evansville, IN
Boonville Gun Show	11/2/13 11/3/13	2	Sat	Boonville, IN
Saint James Craft Fair	11/2/13	1	Sat	Lafayette, IN
Iu Kokomo Staff Council Arts & Craft Show	11/2/13	1	Sat	Kokomo, IN
Delta Theta Tau Gift & Hobby Show	11/2/13	1	Sat	Shelbyville, IN
Decatur Central High School Ptsa Craft Fair	11/2/13	1	Sat	Indianapolis, IN
Homespun Holiday Craft Show	11/2/13	1	Sat	Elkhart, IN
St John Lutheran Art Craft Fair	11/2/13	1	Sat	Vincennes, IN
The 64th Annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show	11/6/13 11/10/13	5	Wed	Indianapolis, IN
Central Indiana Gun Show	11/9/13 11/10/13	2	Sat	Kokomo, IN
Muncie Gun & Knife Show	11/9/13 11/10/13	2	Sat	Muncie, IN
St Lukes Holiday Bazaar	11/9/13	1	Sat	Indianapolis, IN
Sheek Treasures For You Llc	11/9/13	1	Sat	Indianapolis, IN
Bloomington Handmade Market	11/9/13	1	Sat	Bloomington, IN
Annual Christmas In Pendleton Open House	11/9/13	1	Sat	Pendleton, IN
Holiday Extravaganza Fort Wayne, In	11/10/13 11/12/13	3	Sun	Fort Wayne, IN
Holiday Handcrafters' Showcase & Marketplace	11/15/13 11/16/13	2	Fri	Muncie, IN
Central Indiana Gun Show	11/16/13 11/17/13	2	Sat	Lafayette, IN
Tipton Gun & Knife Show	11/16/13 11/17/13	2	Sat	Tipton, IN
Winter Jam Vendor & Craft Fundraiser	11/16/13	1	Sat	Merrillville, IN
Name	Date	Days	Start Day	City
Winter Jam Vendor & Craft Fundraiser	11/16/13	1	Sat	Merrillville, IN
Holiday Craft Boutique	11/16/13	1	Sat	Indianapolis, IN
Holiday Craft Fair	11/16/13	1	Sat	Avon, IN
Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair	11/16/13	1	Sat	Plainfield, IN
2nd Annual Holiday Affair Vendor & Craft Show	11/17/13	1	Sun	Schererville, IN
2nd Annual Shopping Affair Vendor & Craft Event	11/17/13	1	Sun	Schererville, IN
Holiday Craft & Food Bazaar	11/22/13 11/23/13	2	Fri	Noblesville, IN
Central Indiana Gun Show	11/23/13 11/24/13	2	Sat	Alexandria, IN
Holidaze Art's And Craft Show	11/23/13 11/24/13	2	Sat	Valparaiso, IN
Dhc Holiday Kick-off Celebration: A Tribute To 'a Christmas Story'	11/23/13	1	Sat	Hammond, IN
Westfield Band Booster Annual Holiday Craft Show	11/23/13	1	Sat	Westfield, IN
Harrison Band Booster Craft Show	11/23/13	1	Sat	West Lafayette, IN
Feeding Hope Vendor Fundraiser	11/23/13	1	Sat	Merrillville, IN
Christmas Bazaar	11/23/13	1	Sat	Noblesville, IN
South Haven Christian School Craft Show 2013	11/23/13	1	Sat	Valparaiso, IN
Answers For Autism Holiday Bazaar	11/23/13	1	Sat	Indianapolis, IN
Orange Co 4-h Christmas Bazaar	11/23/13	1	Sat	Paoli, IN
Evansvilles Christmas On North Main Parade	11/24/13	1	Sun	Evansville, IN
Bridgeton's Country Christmas	11/29/13 12/8/13	10	Fri	Bridgeton, IN
37th 'that Something Special' Art & Craft Show	11/30/13	1	Sat	Beech Grove, IN

Top Ten Fall Foliage Destinations in Indiana - plus one

And the survey says.................................................   Indiana surveyed Hoosiers asking the best places to soak up a little color during the Fall and here is how the voting came in:

10.  Notre Dame campus and area - South Bend

9.  McCloud Park - North Salem (I hadn't even heard of this one!)

8.  West Beach - Portage ( I need to get out more)

7.  Spring Mill Park - Mitchell  (Super October destination - but reserve early!)

6.  Nashville - a fun town all year round

5.  Indiana University - Bloomington ( I have to agree, it's a beautiful campus even when the trees are green)

4.  Turkey Run Park - Marshall (awesome park all year round)

3.  Clifty Falls Park - Madison (another favorite )

2.  Indiana Dunes - Chesterton (I did not expect this one - is sand coloful?)

1.  Brown County - that southern, rolling landscape is an easy winner

And here is an interesting addition for you from me personally - Crown Hill Cemetery - Indianapolis
They are KNOWN for their variety of trees, and it is a beautiful property.  So if your kids ever have a leaf collecting project - this is the place, they even have tree maps.

Move For Hunger - Serving your local food banks!

I wanted to introduce you to an organization that the Relocation Department will be partnering with soon.....

1 in 6 Americans are facing hunger at any given time.  1 in 7 Americans are moving at any given time.  

By teaming up with relocation companies across the country, Move For Hunger is creating one of the nation’s largest year-round service programs.  Their movers offer to pick up the unwanted, non-perishable food items from those who are moving and deliver it to their local food banks.

As you may be aware, many people throw out a good deal of “stuff” when they move.  Unfortunately, a lot of this “stuff” is food that could be delivered to a family in need rather than thrown away.  That’s where they come in …

If you are moving now, in the future or know someone who is moving - we encourage you to go to their website HERE and find what local movers work with Move For Hunger in your area.  You can get a quote to move the stuff you are keeping and they will provide a box for the food to be donated.  They will pick it up and deliver it to the local food bank.  You DO NOT have to get a quote or use them as a mover.  They will still provide boxes, pick up the food and deliver it.  You may also drop it off at their offices if desired.

In 2014 - we hope to have boxes at all our offices where you can pick them up or just drop off the food you would like to donate.

We wanted to provide some awareness about hunger on a more local level also...

When most people think about hunger, they think of a starving child in a third-world country. Or perhaps they think of a long line of homeless people waiting outside an inner-city soup kitchen.

The truth is: hunger is a HUGE problem everywhere in the United States, but it’s not always easy to see. In a country known for its wealth and prosperity, 50 million Americans struggle to find their next meal.

                          1 out of 6 people in your life is hungry

The face of hunger has changed. No longer is it just the homeless man on the street reaching out for a helping hand, but every day millions of people are struggling to feed their families. No one is a stranger to the economic hardships of today.

                                  Who are these millions?

They are all around us! Hunger is not limited to a single demographic or geographic region of the country. It is not a problem only affecting the homeless or the poorest of the poor. Hunger is everywhere, and the numbers are staggering.

As the economy continues to put a strain on our wallets, people are being forced to make extremely difficult decisions. What does hunger look like, you might ask?

·         It is your father-in-law who just got laid off and now struggles to pay his mortgage and put food on the table.

·         It is your elderly neighbor who must choose between buying groceries and heating her home.

·         It is your child’s classmate who goes to school each day without lunch and is too embarrassed to ask for help.

                                           What are the effects of hunger?

Adults who suffer from hunger live shorter, less healthy, and less happy lives. They are more likely to be obese, more prone to mental illness, and more susceptible to deadly diseases. Hunger is terrible for adults, but it’s so much worse for children.

                          1 in 5 U.S. children go to bed hungry each night

Hunger and malnourishment go hand-in-hand, and kids who miss out on essential nutrients during their critical years of growth will be dramatically disadvantaged for the remainder of their lives. 1 in 5 American children go to bed hungry each night.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, hungry children have compromised immune systems and are two to four times as likely as nourished children to develop health problems—ranging from the relatively minor to potentially fatal. Childhood hunger also impairs cognitive development. Kids who don’t have enough to eat do worse academically, do worse socially, and risk becoming so impacted—even by only temporary food insecurity—that recovery becomes impossible.

www.moveforhunger.org

You can even get more involved by organizing a food drive.  Move For Hunger will gladly help to provide promotional materials!  Stay tuned as we become more involved!

Union Privilege / Union Plus Real Estate Discount for Members

New offering!  AFL-CIO members and family can cash in after closing through Real Estate Rewards.
This program is being administered by SIRVA - a Relocation Company with trained, pre-screened agents.
We are proud to be a preferred broker with SIRVA.

You can receive $50 for every $10,000 in home value after closing when you use a Union Plus Real Estate Rewards agent to buy or sell a home.  This cash-back offer is NOT available in all states.

Check your Union Plus website for more details about the program - you can even click right HERE.
Or you can contact the SIRVA administrator by calling 1-800-284-9756.

There are also connections on the Union Plus website for movers and lenders.

Get moving today!

Easy Kitchen Upgrades

Some fairly simple ideas from This Old House that can pack a big bang for the buck.

1.  Try an open plate rack for cottage charm.
If you have colorful or beautiful dishes - why hide them behind a cabinet door?  An easy way to add a pop of color to the kitchen that is also functional!

2.  Turn a piece of furniture into a kitchen island.  A desk, sideboard, bureau can be transformed.  Paint it to match or contrast with your cabinetry.  Top it with butcher block ...and voila !!!!  Obviously, be conscience of size - needs free clear space all around.  If you have a large central area, you could even overhang the butcher block to create a breakfast bar with a stool.

3.  Coat a wall with chalkboard paint.  Perhaps one of those cabinet side walls?  Turn it into a family message board, a running grocery list, menus etc.

4.  Swap out plan cabinet knobs for something with some pizzazz and personality.  Be sure it harmonized with your kitchen style and decor.

5.  Install a pull-down faucet.  No previous plumbing experience needed!  And it certainly improves the functionality of your sink.

6.  Install a pendant light over your kitchen sink.  This can transform a common workstation into a focal point.

A last note - I live in an older home and it has old formica counters that are white with flecks of pink and blue.  Our price point doesn't really justify granite counters - so we are trying a do-it-yourself granite paint finish.  I've heard rave reviews from several other Realtors, so my hubby, being the crafty one in the family is going to try it.  Stay tuned - if it is successful, I will post pictures and recommendations!!!!