How To Tell Legitimate Paid Online Surveys And Scams Apart

Paid surveys are one of if not the easiest way to make yourself a bit of extra money but it can be hard to find legitimate paid online surveys.

There are now so many scams around it is difficult to tell the two apart but here are a few simple tips that can help you find legitimate paid online surveys.

1. Make sure there is a source you can contact in case of difficulties. A provider of legitimate paid online surveys will have a good level of support and should reply to any emails within 2 days.

2. Check out how detailed the site is. If they've gone to a lot of trouble providing FAQ pages with in depth answers then that is one good sign. Also the site should only contain information on surveys anything else would just be a distraction to make the site look fuller

3. Check to see if there is a forum or blog so that users have a constant way to get in touch and find out any information.

This can be a long and tedious exercise though and you still may get tricked by a very good scam. There are review sites which will find and test those that claim to have a database of legitimate paid online surveys, in the long run this will save you a lot of time and effort. One such site is Paid Surveys Scam

If going through this route you will notice the majority of review sites will recommend a paid membership site than a free paid survey site this is because.

1. Many are scams that only want your personal details to sell on to third parties.

2. They will offer no support unlike a legitimate paid online surveys provider.

3. They will only have a list of around 50 companies compared to over 400 for providers of legitimate paid online surveys.

It really is a lot easier and more financially rewarding to sign up with a membership paid survey provider. Finding legitimate online paid survey providers can be made easier by a good review site as they will have tested them and know they are providers of legitimate paid online surveys.

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Can Get Paid For Free Surveys

If you are interested in making money online I recommend you to join some get paid for free surveys sites. You can get paid for participating free surveys online. It is a great opportunity to make some extra money in your leisure time and doing surveys are fun. These paid surveys are online divisions of market research companies and you can participate these surveys for free.

You can get paid for free surveys, which range from $1 to $100 or you can even get more for the completed one. Some of the survey sites also offer you to enter in to sweepstakes, which enables you, make more cash. Some other sites will provide you points that can be redeemed for cash. Majority of these get paid for free surveys sites are accepting members only from USA and Canada.

After joining a site on get paid for free surveys, you have to confirm the email address and then complete profile information about you at the survey site. You can fill the form fast by using the software Roboform and thereby you can save your time. Before joining a get paid for free surveys site you have to review your options as there are hundreds of sites online where you can find you paid survey jobs. You have to review the characteristics, types of surveys, payment performance and rates. Review these sites can help you in your decisions.

You can get started by choosing one or more companies for completing paid surveys. Ensure to check the due dates of the surveys to complete and the surveys on deadline. Make sure that the surveys are completed according to the provided instructions. You also need to understand the payment methods of the company. Being cautious a bit will ensure you get paid for free surveys!

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How to Get Paid to Review Movies on Your Blogspot or web

As an affiliate blogger you may have noticed, that the number of ways for you to monetize your blog to crank out some extra cash is limited only by your imagination. In fact, after re-reading Chapter 10 in Gobala Krishnan's, Super Affiliate Blogger manual, and Chapter 7 in Alvin Phang's Atomic Blogging, it occurred to me that by combining a little creativity with the points made by Gobala and Alvin on how to use and monetize a blog, the possibilities were indeed endless. Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.

I went to see the new Batman flick, "The Dark Knight" last weekend (Excellent movie, by the way). So, I guess I was more aware than usual of Batman-related headlines in the course of casual surfing. One particular headline that caught my attention was for an article that discussed the notion of there being a correlation between high volumes of traffic going to Batman-related web sites in a given week, and box-office receipts for the movie being high for the same week.

Of course, the old wheels began to turn as I recalled the points from my reading about the similarities between blogging and writing for a magazine. That's when it hit me...Movie Reviews!

What if there was a way to get paid for writing a review on your blog about a movie you liked or disliked? Well, guess what...there's a way to do just that!

All you have to do is take a page from Gobala Krishnan's Blog Paycheck, apply the techniques from Chapter 10 of Super Affiliate Blogger, and bingo!...You can get paid for writing movie reviews on your blog.

The basic idea is to put a twist on the process that I talked about in the article

How to Squeeze at Least $300 Out of a Brand New Blog Without Selling a Thing

Specifically, here's the rundown...

1. Establish an account with a Get Paid to Blog service.

2. Add code to your site that allows others to be paid to review your blog posts by selecting a Get Paid to Review button.

3. Post a movie review on your blog that others can be paid to comment on by selecting your Get Paid to Review button.

4. When someone selects your Get Paid to Review button and they submit their commentary on your movie review for approval by the Get Paid to Blog service that both you and your review reader are members of, when their commentary is approved, they get paid and so do you!

5. How about that! You've just become a paid Movie Reviewer on your own blog!

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Financial Planning - A Broken Model

If you make your living providing financial planning services for people, it is likely that your professional-and well-intentioned-advice cost your clients hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars last year. With typical investment strategies down anywhere from 30% to 60% as the global economic crisis unfolds, financial professionals everywhere are questioning the validity of their approach.

Of course, one might argue that these people weren't to blame for the economic morass that we're in, but your clients may not see it that way. They, in good faith, entrusted professional advisors with their hard-earned dollars, with the expectation that they would receive help and advice to preserve the wealth, and build more. When the opposite happened, who else could they blame?

The reality of course is that just about everybody got caught flat-footed when it came to the true severity of the current financial problem. In fact, traditional the wealth building strategies and the tools we use for wealth preservation-all based on financial instruments tied to the global economy-no longer work. Another interesting statistic is that despite the efforts of the financial planning community, less than 3% of the population has a written financial plan. Clearly it is time for financial professionals to rethink how they provide advice and services to their clients. And it's time for those clients to rethink what services and advice they really need.

The proper approach should be for financial planners to help people help themselves. The solution is a financial education that has no product bias or agenda vis a vis the typical conflict of interest and that is not designed to steer a prospect to products or services that make the advisor the most money. Everyone should have an education that will teach them how to arrive at objective strategies to help overcome financial obstacles and reach their future financial goals by themselves.

A financial planner who really wants to make a difference-while making substantially more money in the process-should show clients and prospects how to obtain this kind of unbiased financial advice. Clients should understand how to implement objective recommendations while avoiding middlemen in the process. At the same, consumers should be able to gain this knowledge independently of their advisors.

A consumer with a sound financial education will be able to create their own financial plan, and will therefore become responsible for it. The financial planner should help the client to implement and execute the plan, perhaps making suggestions for it, but should not assume total responsibility. For those seeking help with financial stress, the solution is to get a financial education, and to create their own financial security.

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Get Paid To Write Product Reviews Online - Learn How To Make Money Online As A Product Reviewer

The advent and the massive growth of the Internet have opened up a plethora of hitherto unknown earning opportunities for people. Among the online earning opportunities getting paid to review or getting paid to write are worthy choices for people looking for alternative ways to earn. The paid reviews sites are good as long as you use the authentic sites. If you select the wrong or fake review sites you will end up losing money. Never pay you join a so called paid to review website, because you can be almost certain that you will end up getting ripped off.

The pre-sales sites will not contain so much information and their main objective is selling. Also if the review site is helpful and offer information regarding paid surveys then it can be trusted. But beware of the so called dream merchant sites that promise a lot but delivers little. There is no shortcut way to success and getting paid to review is no exception either.

Another factor you need to consider is the frequency of update of the review sites. The authentic review sites update their references with time on a periodical basis. On the contrary, a sales site may refer a non existent review site in some cases. The proficient paid reviews sites also offer supplementary services and information on extra earning provisions.

There are many free to join paid review websites where you can simply open a free account, find a product listed on their website to review, write your review, and then earn money. It's all a very quick and simple process, you just need to be able to find a genuine paid review site to join in the first place.

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Cash - How and How Not to Use it As a Part of Your Investment Portfolio

CASH AS HERO

Cash. Find show me a person that does not like cold, hard, cash. We all smile when we find a 1 or 5 dollar bill in the pocket of an old coat that we haven't worn in awhile. If someone pays us for something in cash it feels loads better than a check because it's money we can spend or invest or do whatever RIGHT NOW! We like to have "a few bucks in our wallets" when we go out. When the economy hits a rough spot, like now, it allows us to sleep better at night when we have a little cushion there to pad us in the case of a job loss, or to purchase a big ticket item at a very low price. In more normal economies it's nice to have that same little cushion in case the hot water tank decides to burst at 3 a.m. and the next day you need to purchase a new one. With all of these great uses of cash it's hard to imagine...

CASH AS VILLAIN

Cash. What worthless crap. It's value has dropped like a rock over the past 30 years. It used to be pegged to an instrument worth something to everyone like gold, now the Fed just prints the stuff off whenever it feels like it. Inflation over time kills it. You have to pay out a ton of the stuff in taxes before you actually have the amount you get to keep , and to top it all off it doesn't even look official anymore because of all the colors they have to add to it so people don't counterfeit it, now it looks like monopoly money.

JEKYLL AND HYDE

After reading the above two paragraphs you might get the idea that the Halas dude has gone mad. Heck, he can't even agree with himself about whether cash is good or bad. But like in everything I write, I have a method to my madness which I will share with you. You see, cash is kinda like a gun, it's neither good nor bad in and of itself, whether it's good or bad is totally dependent on who is handling it, and whether or not it's being used properly. Used improperly it is sure to disappoint. Likewise, used properly, it could be the rock you climb upon when you find yourself in shark infested waters.

CASH'S PRIMARY AND PROPER USE: PEACE OF MIND

In order to remain sane and rational we all have a need to keep enough cash on hand to pay the monthly bills for a period of time, have a few bucks in our wallet, cover unforseenexpenses like the aforementioned hot water tank exploding, pay a car insurance deductible for an unforseen accident, pay a huge speeding ticket when the cop busted you doing 90 mph on the interstate when you were late for work, a high cell phone bill when you were yapping a tad too much to a new love that came into your life recently, or by far the worst thing that could happen, suddenly losing your job. Most financial planners recommend keeping 3 to 6 months of living expenses on hand to survive the above mentioned financial storms, and while this is merely a guideline, it's still as good a guess as any for an employee with a regular incoming paycheck. If you're self employed , 12-24 months of living expenses might make more sense as you are going to have periods where the money is flowing in hot and heavy, and other periods where income is a tad leaner or even non-existent. The investment vehicles for this money are limited to sure bets including FDIC insured bank savings and money market accounts, credit union savings accounts, and CDs.

If you're in the upper income brackets you might want to utilize a tax free money market account as the income from the short term bonds that the investment holds will not be subject to federal income tax. You can also divvy up the money within short term vehicles to get a better return on investment while keeping enough cash for emergencies. An example might be to keep one month of living expenses in your checking account, two months in a savings or money market account and do a CD ladder with the remaining three months worth of cash. As you spend down the checking, replace it with money from savings or your paycheck, as the CDs come due either utilize the money if needed by transferring it to checking or savings, or reinvest it in a CD at the "top of the ladder" (i.e. the CD with the longest maturity in your ladder.) Remember also to keep transferring excess money from the immediate account to the investment vehicles in your longer term investment strategy when ever they get too far above your target amount. If, for example, you settled on $15,000 as the amount to keep liquid, and that amount starts creeping toward $20,000 or more, shift the $5000 extra into your Roth IRA (a vehicle that I recommend to everyone that qualifies for one) because you get to invest it in longer term vehicles such as stocks PLUS you can access amounts up to the initial $5,000 any time you like. Leaving it in the short term vehicles because if fear of losing money leads to...

CASH'S IMPROPER USE: SAFETY AND SECURITY RUN AMUCK

While we layed out a sensible strategy for a short term safety net, many people have exactly the opposite problem. They utilize the short term vehicles mentioned above, as long term solutions. Actually both sides have their insensibilities. One side, will have little or no money in cash, when the stock market goes wild again, and it eventually they will want to buy every stock with a good story with their eyes glazed over and dollar signs in them, though this is a minority of people, they will want to heed the advice mentioned above as the market can take a quick downturn and leave them with a lack of liquid cash and securities that no one wants to buy at a decent price, kinda like what is happening to the large financial institutions with the crappy mortgages that they bought and are now stuck with when what they really need is cash. The flipside are the people that are 50 years old and younger and have all of their retirement money in short term vehicles because it's "safe," or "not risky like stocks."

While it is safe from market risk, it is not safe from inflation risk and tax risk, and so brings the big "achilles heel" of cash, taxes and inflation. This dynamic duo makes up the worst team of thieves ever, they put Bonnie and Clyde to shame, but because of their stealth operations, they are forgotten by far too many people, and like most thieves, cash is their favorite target. The more money you make and realize the more you get whacked by taxes. Everyday that goes by the dollar is worth less and less. Imagine the person that retired in 2000 and was counting on paying $1.79 per gallon of gas, fast forward a few years and he obviously didn't have a very good 2008, as gas prices crested just north of $4.00 per gallon. Standing up to inflation and taxes is cash's big weakness, so don't rely on it to fund your dreams and plans more than five years out. Keeping money you plan on using in about 20 years is just plain foolish, as the stock market, for example, has NEVER lost money in any rolling 20 year period of time.

Money, as it was once said, makes a wonderful servant yet a terrible master. Use this article as a guide, and lay out your protection plan for the next time the sky comes crashing down, it will allow you to be calm, cool, and collected when everyone else is losing their head. By the same token, don't rely on it to provide long term security (ten years or more) as its loss in purchasing power is sure to disappoint. Cash is good, cash is bad, but it's never anything in between.

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Loan Modification Can Stop Foreclosure

Loan modification is a major player in a lot of foreclosure cases these days. They have become popular because millions of foreclosures are happening each year, and many people who have invested a lot of money in their properties are now scared of losing their homes. This is not surprising - losing a home for most people is a lot like losing a sense of security and stability for most of them.

Usually, homeowners who have temporary job losses, illnesses, rate adjustments, and other short-term hardships avail of loan modification. Most bankers also suggest that you modify your loans during the early stages of a possible foreclosure. It's best to nip the bud at its very early stages to avoid serious damages in the long run. Therefore, if you feel that you are already heading towards an impending foreclosure, it is best to go to the bank as soon as you can in order to discuss your loan.

There is a reason to this. Foreclosure proceedings take quite a long time to process. Typically, it starts as soon as you miss your payment even for a day. However, it will not be officially declared until you are 3-4 months due and the mortgage company has hired a legal attorney to file the foreclosure paperwork in the court system. This entire process depends on where you live. Some may take as little as 21 days, while others may even go for as long as a year. It all depends on your State's Foreclosure laws, so it's best to acquaint yourself with its mandates as much as you can.

In addition to this, make sure that you do not exceed 30 days. Usually, once you reach past this mark, the mortgage company will not accept your past due payments without your current one. So, if your typical payment is $1,500/mo. and you are 45 days past due, they will want you to pay you $3,000 ($1000 for your past due payment plus $1000 for your current one). They are quite strict on this, and they will send back your payments if they are not complete.

Always remember that you can choose not to lose your home. Don't be scared of seeking the advice of bankers and lenders about loan modifications. Their guidance might prove to be the most valuable one in getting your home back where they belong.

A Computer Engineering student and loves to travel. Reading current news in the internet is one of his past times. Taking pictures of the things around him fully satisfies him. He loves to play badminton and his favorite pets are cats.

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Loan Modification - What to Do After the Approval

You've waited a long time. Now, you have the good news -- your loan modification has been approved. You can't wait to tell your family and friends about it. And in the rarest of events, you even plan to call your mother-in-law to discuss the good news.

But wait. Before you put all your loan modification documents inside your closet and dream your life away, make sure that you keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Don't forget that you have crossed out only one problem for now. The next step is to make sure that you keep that problem away for good. Try to follow these four simple principles to make the transition easier for you.

First, know your loan modification terms by heart. The document was given to you for a purpose. It's not meant to become a secondary paper weight. It's meant to be read. While you're exercising your optic nerves, take note of the following things: your next due date, the payment changes, details that are highly significant to your current loan, and other adjustment periods. They are important to remember at all times.

Next, cut out all unnecessary expenses. Remember those cool, alligator shoes you bought yesterday at $450? Or maybe the great date you had with your girlfriend at this exclusive bar in Beverly Hills. The question, however, is this: Do you actually need them? And another follow-up: Do you actually need to spend so much on these things? Remember that you're saving to make your payments. Spending up on unnecessary things will make it much more difficult for you to budget your money.

If this is hard for you, make a set of your priorities, and try to see which you can live without. Also make sure that you include "payment for loans" on your top three list. When you see that, you will be more motivated to cut back on your spending.

After this, think of the amount you plan to save every month. The rule of thumb in savings is usually to deduct 10% from your salary. So if you are a marketing manager and your monthly salary is $3,500, then you should take away $350 from it. Of course, it's just a rule. If you want to deduct 20%, then go ahead. More is definitely better in this case.

Lastly, create a budget plan that you can follow. I am highlighting the phrase, "you can follow" here. Make sure that proactivity occurs after you write it on paper.

There you have it - simple and effective. Waiting for you loan modification is a stressful period; however, maintaining it takes up even more demands than anything else. Try to follow these guidelines, and you will wake up one day and realize that your home is right where you want it to be.

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Insurance Companies Use Unfair Claims Settlement Tactics to Decrease the Value of Your Claim

Unfair claims settlement tactics by design - Unfortunately, most insurance claims settlement negotiations are not patterned to provide you with a fair settlement. More often than not, insurance claim settlement tactics are inherently unfair, and are designed to pay out the lowest amount possible.

Insurance companies use time to affect claims settlements.

Time can manifest itself as an untimely delay to wear you down, or as pressure point to force you to settle. While time delay tactics are the more typical expectation, insurance companies likewise recognize that there are specific circumstances where they are more likely to keep settlements low if they can make an offer to you soon after your loss. The company will gamble - usually successfully - that in the immediate time frame after your loss, you are more likely to accept less than before you can consider your options. Consider the following situations.

Expect a lowball claim settlement offer before you have the opportunity to research the fair market value of your claim.


If your loss involves a serious disruption in your life, fighting with the insurance company is not on the top of your list at that point. Expect your turmoil to result in a serious devaluation of your claim.

Resist the first offer of settlement

In either of these examples, resist the first offer of settlement. Your time is well spent researching the fair market value of your loss. Check value sources online or obtain independent repair estimates from reputable repair professionals. If you are seriously injured, consider consultation with an attorney.

Recognize that if you do reject the initial offer, it is likely that the insurance company will utilize a delay of your legitimate claim to enhance your dilemma of uncertainty. Time is costing you money. Insurers are willing to gamble that this uncertainty will pressure you to such an extreme that you will agree to reconsider your previous settlement rejections.

Be persistent

Be persistent with your adjuster, but beware of follow-up offers. Adjusters are authorized specific settlement ranges to make it appear that they are fairly negotiating your claim. Understand that the adjuster's entire range is likely below the actual value of your claim.
In fact, most everyone who settles within the ranges offered are settling for less than the value of what the claim is worth.

Know your rights

The purpose of insurance is to indemnify. This means you are entitled to a return to your condition prior to your loss. You cannot profit from an insurance claim, but you are entitled to a fair and equitable settlement for your damages.

Initial solutions for your insurance claim

Consider these initial steps to preserve your rights and to protect yourself from unfair claims settlement tactics.
Commit your adjuster to an explanation justifying the offer. Insurers are bound to provide you with a reasonable and accurate explanation of a compromised settlement.


Unfair insurance claim tactics often include an adjuster presenting himself as an "expert" in all matters relating to your claim. You must establish evidence that this is not the case.

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The Inner Workings of an Insurance Company

Students taking conducted tours through the offices of insurance companies are often surprised at the number of different operations which have to be performed. Regardless of their interests, students are almost sure to find some job that appeals to them.

Almost all professions and skills are represented, with the possible exception of ministers. In addition to employing specialists in all phases of business administration, the insurance industry employs graduates from schools of engineering, law, medicine, agriculture, and journalism.

From liberal arts colleges, companies employ mathematicians and psychologists. The multitudinous functions performed in a life insurance company are organized into divisions, departments, and sections, toward the end of assuring that every operation essential to the business will be performed in an efficient manner.

The principles of administration of an insurance company are no different from those in any other business organization. There must be a clear definition of responsibilities and a delegation of authority. As in any other company, four types of organizational patterns are available; line, line and staff, functional, and committee.

Usually, the structure in actual use in a given company is a hybrid combining several of these four basic types. This results from the fact that business seldom consciously selects any one type of organizational structure. Instead, organizational patterns develop as a matter of evolution. There is no standardized organization chart adaptable to all types of life insurance. There are, nevertheless, a few basic departments which are common to most companies. These will be discussed later.

In an insurance company, as in any type of business organization, authority moves downward, while responsibility moves upward. The primary source of authority is the stockholders in a stock company and the policyholders in a mutual company. They have the final official say on all matters relating to the administration of the company.

This authority, however, is usually delegated to the board of directors, who will in turn retain some of it and delegate the rest of it to a number of executive officers. These officers, appointed by the board, actually run the everyday operations of the company. They, of course, will delegate authority. The number of levels of authority varies from company to company, depending a great deal on the size and scope of company operations.

Stockholders in some companies, policyholders in others, elect the board of directors. The board is usually organized into committees designed to formulate policies on certain phases of company operations. The board meets periodically to hear the reports of these committees.

The most common committees are the Executive Committee, which occupies itself with general questions concerning lines of life insurance rates, territories, public relations, and employee relations, and which assumes full powers of the board during the periods between meetings; the Finance Committee, which determines the over-all investment policy of the company; the Auditing Committee, which audits the company accounts (the actual auditing is done by a firm of public accountants which reports to the committee); and the Underwriting Committee, which studies matters relating to risk selection and determines the underwriting policy of the company.

Additional committees may be found among the companies, their nature depending upon the special needs of the company or, often, upon the special interests of certain members of the board. Board committees must not be confused with administrative committees of the executive officers.

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Insurance Myths For the Real Estate Investor

Insurance is the one thing for which we pay that we never want to use. However, in the event you need it, you certainly want to be properly protected. The points presented here should hopefully allow you to grasp a few of the pertinent insurance issues for whatever your real estate endeavor may be.

Myths (presented in no particular order):

1. Insurance is mutually exclusive of estate, tax, and financial planning...

Actually, insurance inter-relates to each of these, as they should work in harmony with one another. You attorney, accountant, financial planner, AND insurance advisor should certainly know what each of the other has planned specific to your goals. As such, excluding one from the others is contradictory to efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Consider these four folks as your "trusted team of advisors" and encourage them to consult one another as necessary.

2. Being named as an "additional insured" on the existing homeowner policy will protect my interests in a subject-to deal...

This could do much more harm than good, in reality, if you (or your entity) own, or have a financial "stake" in the property, be the "first named insured". The first named insured is the primary recipient of any potential claim benefit or liability protection. An "additional insured" will garner liability protection only. A "loss payee" will have its interests protected in the event the property itself is damaged. (A mortgagee is inherently BOTH). If you decide to keep the "homeowner's" policy in place and be named as the additional insured, be advised. If it is discovered that the ex-owner, the first-named insured in this case, no longer owns the property, expect the insurer to deny based upon the fact the policyholder no longer owns the property. Even if you manage the claim to be paid, you are not the entity to receive the proceeds, as you are not the first-named insured. If you did attempt to be added as a loss payee as well, chances are the insurer will question the necessity for you being named as such. When the insurer discovers you now own the property, they will need to write a new policy.

3. Buying a property in your personal name and using your homeowner's policy liability is fine...

I can't think of any reason that exposing your personal assets to the risk of real estate investing makes sense. If this is the only option your current insurance person suggested, then either find one that is more real estate investing-savvy, or take the time to help them understand more about what you do. The last I want to do is tie-in "my stuff" to the exposures of my real estate investments. Asset protection strategization inherently is a combination of insurance, entity creation, and "compartmentalization".

4. The "personal" dwelling fire policy is sufficient ("cheap") to cover my non-owner occupied rental...

Those that usually promulgate this attitude in the insurance industry either don't have commercial-type carriers/markets and/or proper knowledge. Not only does the dwelling fire policy require liability to be extended from your homeowner's policy (see #3), many coverages that are vital to a true "rental" property are either missing or need to be purchased over and above. Though the basis of a completely different presentation, some of the highlights of the "commercial policy preference" are the inclusion of rental loss coverage, unit limitations, and pollution exclusion issues.

5. I have a personal umbrella policy (PUL), so I don't need commercial insurance...

Like most insurance polices, your personal umbrella protection contains much exclusion. One of the most glaring for the real estate investor is the "business pursuit" exclusion. If your real estate investment(s) aren't a "business pursuit", then you need to consider divesting! In other words, your PUL is designed for "personal" exposures. A commercial umbrella over and above the liability in your commercial package policy is appropriate.

6. A claim that occurred before I (or my entity) owned the property shouldn't affect MY insurance rate...

The insurance industry not only underwrites "you", they also underwrite and rate based upon the claims history of the property itself. A CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report will detail the claims that have occurred at a certain address (as well as other criteria). Have your insurance advisor run a CLUE on your next property BEFORE you make an offer. The insurance rate can certainly affect your ROI...

7. "All-risk" insurance covers everything I need...

By definition, "all-risk" simply means that unless something is excluded, it is covered. "Named peril," means just that, in order for a loss to be covered, it's cause must be named in the policy. So, even though "all-risk" is a more comprehensive form, it does not mean that "everything" is covered. Take a look at your policy exclusions. Not that many of these exclusions can't be purchased back, but they usually generate a pretty long list.

8. Self-insurance is too risky...

A deductible is technically self-insurance. As a rule-of-thumb, consider the lowest claim amount you would file with the insurance carrier, then double it. This is the minimum deductible I would suggest you carry. There is a point of diminishing return, however. In other words, though you may not file a $5,000 claim, if the premium savings it (versus, for instance, a $2500 deductible) is negligible, then you may as well go with the lower. In the long run, statistically, the premium savings by carrying "higher than usual" deductibles usually pay for themselves. Remember also, that completely self-insuring a known amount, such as a property with an arguable repair or reconstruction value, can be a consideration. However, self-insuring unknown amounts, such as liability claims, may not be the best idea.

9. I need "builders risk" coverage for a vacant or rehab project/deal/property...

Unless the rehab is "considerable" (definition varies by insurer), there are policies specifically designed for the rehab property. In our area, Diamond States, AMIG (American Modern), and Foremost all offer such contracts. If an insurance agent advises that they cannot find coverage for your rehab property and offers the Ohio Fair Plan, chances are they simply don't have they contracts with the carriers mentioned. The Ohio Fair Plan should be the last option for the property, not the first.

10. It is worth it to hire the "handyman" to do work on my rentals...

Don't get caught up in the great bid to do work in/on your rental property or rehab project from the "fly-by-night" handyman-type help. Chances are, they not only do not carry liability insurance (puts the risk back on you as the owner), they also probably don't carry worker's compensation (WC) protection. It isn't worth the risk to save a few bucks to not hire the "legitimate" contractor for such endeavors. Even the tenant who cuts the grass for reduced rent potentially exposes you to WC and liability issues. Always require contractors to provide certificates of insurance (COIs) for both their liability and WC coverages.

11. (Bonus) Cheaper is better...

The cliché rings true: you get that for which you pay. Work with an insurance advisor that understands the idiosyncrasies of real estate investing. They can be an independent or a "captive" agent. As long as they have a recognition of the challenges that face your investing endeavors, and have access to a carrier (or carriers) that fill your needs (in conjunction with the strategies discussed here), challenge them to get you the best VALUE for your insurance, not the cheapest rate.

Insurance is a gamble. The insurer is betting you won't need it, while you bet that you will. With the help of a professional insurance advisor, gain enough knowledge to make cognizant decisions on your specific needs. As part of an asset protection plan, it is vital that you are comfortable with your coverage and protection BEFORE you need it. I sincerely hope all of your premium dollars go to waste!

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Check Out Caravan Insurance Companies Online

The cost of insuring your caravan can vary greatly so it is a good idea to check out caravan insurance companies online before taking out a policy. You can get a great deal of information online and it is important to remember that the policy is only as good as the company that is offering it.

If you choose a reliable insurance company to take out your insurance with you know that they are not going to disappear overnight and leave you with nothing but a worthless piece of paper. If you go online to a specialist insurance broker you will be able to search with some of the leading insurance companies in the UK.

The cost of insurance would vary depending on the car insurance companies, the type of policy you choose and what they offer. The policies you compare could also vary considerably in what is included in them. Some providers will throw in many extras which other providers might ask that you pay extra for. Therefore comparing the policy terms are essential. You also have to check to ensure that you compare like for like.

Some providers will offer new for old in their insurance policy and this would provide you with brand new replacements for items if they were to be stolen or destroyed. Other providers could take wear and tear into account and this would make the policy cheaper.

If you were to take out fully comprehensive insurance this would provide the most cover for your own caravan. It would usually protect against fire, theft, accidental damage, loss of personal belongings, recovery and breakdown and legal costs, among many other things. These are just the basics of course and you could also get windscreen cover included and European cover. However if you do not plan on traveling outside of the UK then European cover would not be needed so look for a policy that does not include this as standard if you want to save on the cost of your insurance.

When you check out caravan insurance companies also check to see if they would provide you with a brand new replacement for your caravan if it should be written off by them. Usually insurance providers will state certain criteria that you would have to meet. Usually your caravan would not have to be over a certain age and not have traveled over a certain amount of miles. Again you would need to check the small print to determine these.

When you check out caravan insurance companies online you can get some helpful hints and tips on how to make savings on your policy. For instance check out the amount of excess the provider asks for in the policy.

All providers will state the minimum amount of excess which is the sum you would pay out of your own pocket before the provider will pay the rest. If you offer to payout more excess the premiums for the insurance can work out cheaper. However you would have to bear in mind that the excess would have to come out of your own pocket as a lump sum.

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All I Want is an Insurance Quote!

In this day and age we live at a fast moving pace. We have news and information at our finger tips. Either we can use the internet or we are receiving updates via our mobile phones. With the power of all of these tools we are able to save us money for all the things we purchase. From choosing a new TV to buying life insurance, or even critical illness insurance.

Now I have spent many an hour reviewing my finances to reduce my spending. One area that I have spoken to quite a lot of people about is the area of life and critical illness insurance. Some of my friends have told me 'I just want a quote for my insurance online and I don't want to speak to a broker' I always have to ask them 'Why would you want to do the work yourself?'

I must admit I like to use a broker for things like life and critical illness insurance. I sometimes call two of them in order to get the best deal for myself. My friends tell me things like 'I don't like to be sold to' or 'I don't trust salesman'. I tell you two things. I don't like to be sold to and I don't trust anybody! But I'd rather someone else do all the work for me and I don't even have to pay. I agree they are trying to sell me something but if that is something I need at the best price then I'm happy.

But as long as the price is correct and the insurance company they have suggested then why not. It saves me from trawling through the web trying to fill out forms for a quote. Only to find out I am filling in a request to speak to a broker, then I have to start the whole process again.

One major benefit about using a broker is filling in the form correctly. If you are not used to filling in forms, applying for life and critical illness can be quite daunting. With horror stories of insurance companies not paying out, making sure the form is filled in correctly is vital. Insurance companies invest lots of money to ensure we don't miss out anything in regard to our health history when we apply for life and critical illness insurance. However having a broker who fills out forms day after day will help you not to overlook any important questions.

So next time you or anyone you know are looking to save some money on your life and critical illness insurance online, think of a broker. You may want to get an instant quote, but as quick as you could fill in the online form, a broker could be running your details through their system looking at a number of different insurance companies. As I have mentioned, getting two brokers competing ensures you getting the best deal. All without even typing a thing.

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