ALLCHOICE Insurance :: Blog

Today much of North Carolina was greeted by, literally, an earth rattling event.  That’s right!  North Carolina experienced shocks from the Earthquake in Virginia.  Granted, our country men and women on the Left Coast giggle and snicker at how we react to such an event, the truth is most Tarheels don’t remember the last “quake”.

Much like the quake around 2003 or 2004, this event got this Insurance Guy thinking.  If I were to take a poll around 10 AM this morning about insurance coverage for earthquakes, my guess is that 80% – 90% of those polled would assume that they have coverage under their Homeowner’s Policy.  However, once the quake hit and people let the hysteria take over, questions surely came about whether or not that would be true.

The fact is, damage caused by Earthquake is not a standard coverage under North Carolina’s Homeowner’s Forms.  The common NC Homeowner’s Form (HO-3 & HE-7) is what the insurance industry calls a “Special Form Policy”.  Basically, that means that things (the industry calls “perils”) are covered under the policy unless SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED.  If you were to whip out your homeowner’s policy right now (if you can actually find it), you will see numerous exclusions, and yes, you would find the Earthquake Exclusion.

The last time Greensboro, NC felt the effects of an earthquake I can remember feverioushly drafting a letter to all of my clients  letting them know that they didn’t have coverage for damage caused by an Earthquake.  After getting that letter out, I received a number of phone calls inquiring about this fact.  After those many calls, one client decided add Earthquake coverage to their Homeowner’s Policy.

Times have changed!  Today, I don’t need to draft a letter like that again.  I can simply put the word, much like I am doing right now.

What hasn’t changed during that time is the fact that YOU DO NOT HAVE EARTHQUAKE COVERAGE!  The other thing that hasn’t changed is that you can add this endorsement to your homeowner’s policy.  The price of the endorsement varies depending on the amount of coverage you have on your dwelling as well as the construction type (Frame or Brick).

I suggest contacting your agent as soon as possible to inquire about this coverage.  Remember, NC sits on a major Fault Line.  By now, you have probably even heard that the East Coast actually has the propensity to have farther reaching effects of an Earthquake as our “rocks” are millions of years older than the “rocks” of our brothers & sisters on the Left Coast.

Whether you purchase the Earthquake Endorsement or not, you would be well served to at least take a moment to learn a little more.

ALLCHOICE Insurance is proud to announce that it will be the School Sponsor for both the Football & Cheerleading teams of NW Guilford High School.

The sponsorship is in conjunction with Newbridge Bank’s 2011 Football & Cheerleading Jamboree.

When asked about the sponsorship, Jack Wingate (Founder & President of ALLCHOICE Insurance) stated, “As the leading provider of Home, Auto, Business, and Life Insurance in NW Guilford County, we feel that it is vital to give back to the NW Guilford County community.  The fact is, NW Guilford County has shown its support to ALLCHOICE since the beginning, this sponsorship is but a small token of our appreciation.  On a personal note, as a former football player and all around sports junky…it is also really cool to get All Access Passes to the Jamboree!”

For more information about the Newbridge Bank Jamboree, please visit: www.newbridgebankjamboree.com

For more information about ALLCHOICE Insurance, please visit: www.allchoiceinsurance.com or www.nwguilfordins.com

ALLCHOICE Insurance would like to congratulate Love That Music for being honored as Kernersville, NC’s business of the month.

ALLCHOICE Insurance is proud to be the Insurance Provider of choice for Love That Music, as well as Love family.

For more information about Love That Music visit their website: www.lovethatmusicstore.net or visit their Facebook Page

ALLCHOICE would like to extend its congratualtions to one of its own, Melinda Wingate, for winning the Facebook Fan Of The Day from 107.5 WKZL.

As I sit here on the back deck staring at an empty backyard, no sounds coming from the house (the kids are at the Grandparents’ & the wife is out looking for a new comforter), my thoughts are filled with both sorrow and joy.  I guess that is the way life works!

Last night Melinda & I had dinner with two very important figures in our lives.  Austin & AnnMarie Preik came into our lives a little over two years ago.  Granted, from a historical perspective, two years is but a blink of an eye, but from where I sit it has been a lifetime.  Two years ago my family was invited to attend River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons.

Before I go further, you should know one thing about me…I am a people watcher.  That Sunday, the Church’s Praise Band included a young lady with Red Hair and a fireball of energy that was undeniable.  From the first note of the first song, you could tell that she was filled with love for the Lord.  In fact, she was filled with so much love at it seemingly spilled over into “empty cup”.

With both Melinda and I feeling that we had finally found a Church we could call home, we decided to join the Church.  Unlike many churches that I have been around, River Oaks actually requires people to attend 6 weeks of classes before joining.  We were one couple in a group of probably 30 couples.  One of those couples were our best friends, Jeannie & Jason Felten.  This was perfect (or so I thought)!  Melinda & I would be going through this 6 weeks with the Feltens. WRONG!  The church leaders came in a seperated the various couples into smaller groups.  As it happened, Melinda & I were seperated from Jeannie & Jason (more importantly…Jason & I were seperated).  I was devastated.

Now seemingly alone, Melinda & I started our classes with a leader who was both strange and intriguing to me.  Strange you might ask…well there was something “off” about him.  Quickly it came to light that this “off-ness” was simply the fact that he was CANADIAN!  As we progressed through the classes, each week we came to know and like our leader even more.  You could definately tell this guy “knew his stuff”.  Better yet, he was just a GOOD GUY.

Fast forward through the 6 weeks, Melinda & I becomes members of River Oaks.  Now Melinda says that we have to join a “small group”.  The Small Group at River Oaks is basically a Wednesday night Bible Study group.  Coming from a Methodist background, WE DON’T DO WEDNESDAYS!  Having said that, what the wife wants…the wife gets.  So, again I thought that we would join the Small Group that Jeannie & Jason were in!  WRONG!  Melinda stated that we had to join the Small Group that our class leader (Austin) headed up.

So we go to Small Group, and I was not happy!

Fast Forward 18 months to last night (Friday July 8th).  Melinda and I are having our “farewell dinner” with Austin (our class leader) and AnnMarie (the Red Head Singer) Preik.  That’s right, the person responsible for showing me River Oaks was the Church we could call home, and the person responsible for leading us through the our journey toward a closer relationship with the Lord we in fact MARRIED!  This wonderful couple had been called to uproot their life and move to Africa.

So back to my feelings of both sorrow & joy!  Obviously, the sorrow comes from the fact that such an important couple will be moving around the globe and we will not be able to see them every Sunday and Wednesday.  The joy?  Well in my opinion the Lord opens and closes doors for all of us.  When doors close, their tends to be sorrow.  It is if you are “losing” something or that something is “ending”.  The inverse however is the true power of the Lord.  The joy I feel is in knowing the power this amazing couple has in bringing the Lord into the lives of people.

If Austin & AnnMarie can change the lives of these two “lost” people…I can only imagine the LIVES that will changed in Africa!

Austin & AnnMarie…we love you and miss you!  Until next time we dine together!

You can stay up to date with the Preiks and their journey by visiting their blog: www.goodgreatgospel.com

ALLCHOICE Insurance will be closed in observance of the 4th of July Holiday.

ALLCHOICE would like to thank each and every person who has ever fought so that we enjoy freedoms that America has to offer.

It seems like only yesterday when I opened the doors to ALLCHOICE Insurance.  Now, in a little over a month ALLCHOICE will be celebrating its 7th Birthday.  Just like any successful business, ALLCHOICE can only attribute its success to YOU! That’s right!  We do understand that there would not have been a 1st Birthday (much less a 7th) without the faith and support that our customers have placed in us.

As a way to say thank you, ALLCHOICE is will be giving away a NEW Apple IPAD 2 to one deserving customer!

ALLCHOICE BIRTHDAY IPAD 2 CONTEST DETAILS

Contest Dates – July 1st – August 31st

How To Win – Refer Someone To ALLCHOICE Insurance (1 Referral = 1 Entry)  The more people you refer, the better your chances of winning!

How To Refer – Simply call our office (336.540.0463) or email (info@allchoiceinsurance.com) your referrals

Visit the IPAD 2 Details Page on our website www.allchoiceinsurance.com

As I write this “article”, “tidbit”, “diddy” or whatever you want to call it, I am sitting on my back deck.

Let me set the scene!  Currently it is approx 90 Degrees, the sun is on its descent, and there is little – to no breeze.  The tiki torches are lit, along with some citronella candles.  In case you can’t tell the “skeeters” are out in a big way.  Peyton (the middle child – 6 years old) is hanging upside down on the monkey bars.  Cooper (the youngest – 4 years old) is inside the house aggravating Artemis (9 month old Bullmastiff).  Caylee (the oldest 11years old) is at the beach.  Melinda (the best wife and mother a man could ask for) is in the kitchen attempting to understand the new stove that was purchased last weekend so she gets the tater-tots just right.

So you know what everyone else is doing, I guess I should probably give you some details on what I am up to.  Today marks the end of another jammed packed week in the life of this “Insurance Guy”.  The insurance business is funny.  Every day offers new challenges and opportunities.  This week our agency achieved the highest Tier possible in Erie Insurance’s “Commercial Blitz” (with over a week left until the contest ends).  For those who aren’t insurance geeks, basically we have written a ton of new commercial insurance policies.  Most seem to be in the construction arena.  Maybe we could take that as a good sign that the economy could be turning around?!?!?!

Today was definitely hectic for this guy!  Starting the day off I knew I was going to have to leave the office early (we’ll get into that later).  Anytime, I know my day will be short, it seems that things just don’t seem to run as smooth as I would like them to.  Honestly, nothing horrible took place.  I actually got the majority of the stuff that was cluttering my desk taken care of.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Trish’s (ALLCHOICE’s Customer Protection Specialist) day went quite as well.  Again, nothing too much out of the ordinary.  However, Trish & I had an impromptu conversation about how we could increase our organizational efficiency.  She did say something very odd to me.  She said that she always gives me ideas about how to improve things but that I never listen to her.  I find it amazing that both my wives (my marital wife and my work wife) seem to make the same story up about me.  I think they both need professional help!

Enough of that!  Now down to the real action.  I had to leave the office at 2:30 so I could make it to Winston Salem by 3:20.  Peyton has been in theater camp all week and today was the conclusion of said camp.  The camp culminates with a Theatrical performance of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.  Peyton had the role of “Dopey”.  I must say that all the kids did a great job.  They were all exceptionally adorable.

After the performance I started to head for “Mi Casa”.  While driving, I thought that it would be a good idea for me to go ahead and get dinner figured out.  You see, in the Wingate House 99% of the marital tension can be traced back to one thing….”What’s for dinner?”!  I went ahead and headed for Harris Teeter.  When I called my wife to ask her idea for dinner, she only offered up that Shrimp sounded good.  Well, in my book, Shrimp does not make a full meal in themselves.  I typically like to couple grilled shrimp with some form of beef.

My first thought was to find a nice looking Flank Steak to join the shrimp with.  To my horror, Harris Teeter had no flank steak.  Always quick on my feet, I pivoted from the original plan and grabbed some burgers and brats.  I thought, we could do burgers and brats tonight.  Then I could grab a nice flank steak from Costco tomorrow and we could have our shrimp and flank tomorrow night.  BOOM!  I had just taken care of dinner for two nights.

As I sit here enjoying the deck, I am grilling hamburgers and shrimp!  Bet you didn’t see that one coming!  I know I didn’t.  So much for having dinner taken care of for two nights!  No points for me!

Well!  I think that about wraps it up.

From the back porch, this is just my perspective on things!

PS – I am pumped about last nights return of Burn Notice

PPS – I am just as pumped about watching Friday Night Lights tonight

ALLCHOICE is pleased to welcome announce we have helped another local Dry Cleaner save money on insurance!

Located in Kernersville, NC this Dry Cleaner has a long family history in the Dry Cleaning business.  Before joining the ALLCHOICE Family, the business had been insured with Nationwide Insurance.

In reviewing the business’s Risk Management Program (or lack there of) ALLCHOICE uncovered the need for a Commercial Umbrella Policy.  The Commercial Umbrella Policy is a little used Rick Management strategy in most small businesses.  In dealing with the Protection Programs of countless small businesses, the overwhelming reason for a lack of adoption when it comes to Commercial Umbrella Policies comes down to two factors:

1st – Small Business Owners assume Umbrella’s are too expensive

2nd – Most Small Business Insurance Agents do not take the time to explain and OFFER this important protection!

Once ALLCHOICE explained “why” the Umbrella was important showed this Small Business Owner how much an Umbrella actually cost (more importantly what it doesn’t cost), this savy business owner was eager to add this protection to his Risk Management Program.

Of course, just like every Small Business Owner, at the end of the day, he/she wants to have the very best protection(s) at the very best value.  In the case of this Dry Cleaner, ALLCHOICE was able to save him over $1,500 a year (approx 22%) over what he had been paying with Nationwide!

ALLCHOICE is pleased to welcome another member to the family!

A Denton, NC family saved 13% on their auto and home insurance by switching from State Farm.