American real estate

One of the new “games” to play in reputation management is to suggest your business is in some way friendly to the environment. An increasing percentage of the population believes you run a better business if it is more sustainable and “green”. In this, there’s actually an ironic benefit. Insurance companies also believe you should run your business in ways that reduce risk. This means keeping all your policies, processes and procedures under review to ensure they are safe. If you find ways to reduce the risk of claims, the insurer will respond with discounts. So, for example, your business may benefit if both the public access and the employee-only parts of your premises are redesigned in a more environmentally friendly way. If you use paint that does not fume and has reduced levels of toxicity, this reduces any risk of allergic reactions and illnesses.

Using natural light wherever possible, fitting LED lights and generally using power-efficient equipment reduces heat and the risk of fire. It also makes the premises more comfortable and popular with customers. Ask your insurer whether there are incentives to upgrade the building by fitting energy-efficient systems. If you comply with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the Insurance Information Institute reports that, as from 2010, there are more than twenty insurers offering up to 10% discount on premium rates. One of the factors you might want to consider is the use of solar or wind power. Ignoring the capital cost to produce enough electricity to allow you to “go off the grid”, one of the main worries is the risk of outages. Some insurers are now offering specialized business interruption coverage to boost confidence.

When it comes to the vehicles used in the business, some of the commercial auto insurers offer discounts if you buy or lease hybrids. Even though you may not be impressed by the claimed threats of global warming or climate change, the insurance industry is firmly on the side of reducing emissions. The better the fuel-economy of your fleet, the lower the premium rates are likely to be. Similarly, the idea of pay-as-you-go will both save you money on the premium rates if you reduce milage to the absolute minimum and persuade your employees to drive more safely. The more safely and efficiently you run the fleet, the lower the premium payments. It also makes an excellent add-on to your marketing to show how much you care about the environment and that you are committed to reducing America’s dependence on imported oil. If you build environmental factors into your current risk management system, there’s a real chance of improving your bottom line, negotiating discounts on your business insurance rates, and giving yourself some marketing copy that will enhance your reputation with green customers. In this instance, there’s no reason why your skepticism about climate issues and other environmental factors should stand in the way of improved profits. Talk this through your your business insurance advisor to find out what your state’s insurance industry has on offer if you do decide to become more eco-friendly.

The world is beginning to change with more states now either considering the legalization of gay marriage or actually allowing it. No matter what your views on the institution of marriage and who should be allowed to marry, there remains one unalterable fact. Even though the marriage vows quite clearly intend the couple to stay together for life, the majority of marriages end rather earlier. Some relationships end and the couple lives apart. Others get into the business of divorce and all the decisions about who pays for what and who should end up with the pet snake are written down and rubber-stamped by the judge. This is the way the world works and, to protect ourselves, we should all think about the auto insurance cover during the break-up period.

The insurance industry works by predicting the odds of an accident. When the risk of a claim is high, the premium rates rise. So, when it comes to insuring the family vehicles, it’s fundamental for the insurer to know the who, when and where: who will be driving, at what times of the day, and where most of the driving will be done? If there’s to be any significant change, you are required to tell your insurer. If you fail to do so and a claim is later made, the insurer can cancel the policy and refuse to pay out. So as soon as you separate, you should notify the insurer of change of address and whether this will affect who drives the vehicles.

Most states have a requirement you notify insurers within 30 days of a divorce. The reason is simple. Most insurers offer between 5 and 15% discounts to married couples. The risk profiles show married couples are more responsible drivers, particularly when they are driving their children around. The majority of couples also bundle their cover. They may have multiple vehicles on the same policy or have both a homeowners and an auto policy with the same company. On average, these bundles will be saving you 10%. So the moment you have two households and park the vehicles in different ZIP code areas, all your rates will change. Unfortunately, failure to notify your insurer almost always means your auto insurance is going to be cancelled the moment the company finds out. Trying to recover premiums paid is a nightmare. Always keep your insurer informed.