Will Your Spouse's History Haunt You?

I once heard a story about an unfortunate circumstance.

After 22 years of marriage, the woman's husband died.

When she contacted the insurance company to claim the death benefit from his insurance policy, she was shocked to learn she was NOT the beneficiary!

Nearly 30 years before, the man, who had worked for the same company his entire career, was married for a short time. When he was a new hire, he completed the company's insurance benefits paperwork, naming his then-current wife as beneficiary.

Out of sight, out of mind; he never thought to change the name of the beneficiary!

The ex-wife received a surprise windfall, while the widow had to contend with financial woes added to her grief.

Are ALL of yours and your spouse's/partner's insurance policies up to date?

Call your insurance agent to schedule a complete review.

Do you know of a friend or family member that could be in a potentially similar situation? If so, pick up the phone or e-mail this link. It shows that you care and you could be a financial life-saver for them. You just never know.

It's also important to make sure that you have enough coverage on your other policies as well.

If you need an insurance agent recommendation, here's two for you:

Karen Bastian

American Family Insurance

(513) 459-3063
kbastian@amfam.com

Charlie Weckman

Advantage Choice Insurance

(513) 321-1222

charlie@advantagechoiceinsurance.com

Make House-Hunting A Family Affair!

Just a quick note to let you know how I can help you or anyone you may refer to me.

Ted and Sharon's home was "bursting at the seams"! It seemed like only yesterday that their kids were small, but now at ages, 10, 12 and 14, they had friends, activities - and fights over the bathroom. It was too much for a 1,400 square foot home.

The first time I met with Sharon and Ted, I asked if the children would be part of the house-hunting process. The idea hadn't occurred to them. After all, the kids were very young when they bought their present home. I encouraged them to have the children make wish lists for what they wanted in a new home and to have conversations about what was most important, second most important and so on. Sharon and Ted made house-hunting a family event and now the family is settling into a new home that has something for everyone (including enough bathrooms)!

P.S. I love helping families! Which family do you know who's ready to make a move? Please contact me with their name to discuss how we can help them. Thanks!

Dan

Spring Into Projects With Proper Permits!

With spring finally here (except for the overnight lows in the 20s the next few days), many homeowners will begin planning a home improvement project. But before you load up with lumber, make sure you're not required to apply for a permit. Not doing so can expose you to a costly, financial loss - even years after you sell your home.

The most common areas where homeowners neglect to obtain permits are when building a new deck. However, kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations rank right up there with decks.

Every community has different rules and regulations determining whether you need a permit before beginning an improvement, so it's always best to check with your local building department to investigate what, if any, prohibitions you may run up against.

If you live in a homeowner's association, there may also be rules and regulations about what you can or can't do with your property. Check with your association to see if you need to get their approval before starting a project.

Homeowners, who don't obtain a permit might find themselves in a lawsuit, even after they sell their home, if the project causes a fire, an injury or other damage later on. It isn't worth the potential problems to ignore permit requirements, and not just for financial reasons, such as potential lawsuits or penalties from the county.