First Baldwin Insurance

When the Wind Blows

First Baldwin Insurance — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:46:03 +0000

Living here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, we all know about the power of the wind. We tell our life stories with reference points named Ivan and Frederic. And we certainly know what the wind can do to our community and to our homes.

When nature’s gust gets hold of our homes, roofs can peel off. Trees topple. Lawn furniture and garbage cans become dangerous projectiles. And the coastal paradise we love can quickly become a place of destruction.

So when you are deciding on home insurance, you owe it to yourself to work with a company that understands the unique needs that our community has for proper wind coverage. And here at First Baldwin Insurance, we understand. Our agents have lived and worked here on the coast for many years.

Like you, we enjoy living here on the coast. We love the beauty of the beach, the bays, the gulf. And with the right insurance coverage for your home, you’ll be ready to weather any storm that comes our way. And we’ll be right here with you.

Give us a call to learn more – (251) 943-6677 or stop by for a visit at 8154 Hwy 59 Suite 208 in Foley.

There’s No Place Like Home

First Baldwin Insurance — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:44:16 +0000

Your house. It is so much more than bricks and wood. It is more than the items you’ve collected over the years. It is your home, a place with meaning and value. And as such, it is a place that needs the protection of home owners insurance.

At First Baldwin Insurance, we work with you to find the right coverage for your home. We listen to your needs and research our network of companies to secure the policy that fits your specific needs.

When you turn to us for your home insurance, you’ll never get a one-size-fits-all answer. We’ll factor in all the details about your home and your family to make sure everything important to you is safe and secure. This custom approach takes a little more work that the traditional method. But it’s an investment we take pride in. We know your home is important and we’ll treat it that way.

Come find out how we can help you protect your home. Give us a call at (251) 943-6677 or stop by for a visit at 8154 Hwy 59 Suite 208 in Foley.

Boater’s Paradise

First Baldwin Insurance — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:34:08 +0000

We are truly blessed to wake up each morning in this coastal paradise. We live steps away from white sand beaches. We can enjoy fresh local seafood whenever we like. And we have lots of area waterways to enjoy.

Those waterways mean that many of us have decided to purchase a boat. Whether for fishing or just recreational fun, we love being out on the water with friends and family. It’s a sense of freedom and the views are stunning. You can visit secluded stretches of beach, watch dolphins at play, and have an amazing spot to catch the sunset.

If you have a boat or are thinking about buying one, you’ll want to make sure that you have the right insurance coverage for your investment. And we can help. Our agents are available to talk to you about your boat. We can work with you to find the right insurance to fit your needs.

We agree that it’s great to spend time on our waterways, and with the right insurance you can relax and enjoy the experience even more.

You can reach us via our website, Facebook, Twitter, with a phone call at 251-943-6677 or in person at our office in Foley at 8154 Hwy 59 Suite 208.

Time to Check your Smoke Detector

First Baldwin Insurance — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:19:02 +0000

These shorter days are a sure sign that the seasons are changing.

So, now that our Fall Back weekend has occurred, have you adjusted yet? Did you remember to change all the clocks, your watch, the clock in your car? Are you waking up earlier than you want to? And more importantly, did you remember to check your smoke detectors?

Twice a year when we change our clocks, we should take a few extra minutes to check all the smoke detectors in our home. All should be tested to make sure the alarms are working properly. And batteries should be replaced.

Now that the nights are cooler, we are using our fireplaces and space heaters more often. This means our smoke detectors are more important than ever to warn us of a fire. Your home should have a smoke detector on each level and one outside each bedroom or sleeping area.

We want you to stay safe in your home. And we want you to know that we are here for you to help you find the right home insurance. Give us a call at 251-943-6677.

Fireplace and Space Heater Safety Tips

First Baldwin Insurance — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:52:36 +0000

As we enjoy cooler evenings you may be relying on your fireplace or a space heater for warmth in your home. Because too often this time of year we hear sirens of fire trucks rushing to a house fire caused by unsafe heating conditions, we wanted to share some important safety tips with you.

Fireplace

Your chimney or wood stove should be inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
Keep the area around your fireplace clear of flammable materials. This is especially important to remember during the holidays when you are decorating your home.
The type of wood you burn matters. You should use only seasoned hardwood, because it burns cleaner and reduces the creosote buildup.
Never leave a fire unattended. If you are leaving or going to bed, extinguish the fire.
Keep your roof clean and trim back any low-hanging branches.
Make sure you have a working smoke detector on every floor of your home. Check them monthly and change the batteries once a year.

Space Heater

For electrical heaters, check the cord. Look for any wear or damage. Do not use a heater with a worn or damaged cord.
Keep all flammable materials at least three feet away from the heater. This includes curtains and bedding.
Occasionally check the plug. If the plug feels hot, it could a sign of faulty wiring. If you have a hot plug, contact a qualified technician.
If you use a fuel-filled heater, use only the recommended fuel. And when refueling, make sure the heater is off and has cooled off completely.

If you have questions about your Home Insurance, we’re here for you via our website, Facebook, Twitter, with a phone call at 251-943-6677 or in person at our office in Foley at 8154 Hwy 59 Suite 208.

Get to Know First Baldwin Insurance

First Baldwin Insurance — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:28:08 +0000

Maybe you’ve heard the term “independent insurance agency” before but don’t really know what it could mean for you. At First Baldwin Insurance being an independent agency means our focus can remain squarely on your needs. We don’t work for an insurance company and that makes all the difference.

We work for our customers. That means we start by listening to their needs. We ask questions. And then we get to work to tailor the right policy to fit those needs. It means that you have someone on your side, someone who will provide the level of personal service that is sorely missing in so many parts of our lives today.

When you are insured with First Baldwin Insurance we’re here for you. We respond to your emails, your phone calls. We’re here when you have questions and when your needs change. And if you ever face an unfortunate event, you won’t face it alone. We’ll be here with you, every step of the way.

If you are already a customer, thank you. We appreciate your business. If you are evaluating your insurance needs, we encourage you to contact us for an independent conversation. You can reach us via our website, Facebook, Twitter, with a phone call at 251-943-6677 or in person at our office in Foley at 8154 Hwy 59 Suite 208.

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

Welcome to the First Baldwin Insurance Blog

First Baldwin Insurance — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:25:27 +0000

By Martin Swant — The Birmingham News

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Although Tuscaloosa was one of the cities hit hardest by the April 27 tornadoes, public participation in the Affordable Homeowners Insurance Commission’s hearing Monday night was sparse.

The Tuscaloosa hearing at the University of Alabama was the third of five hearings around the state. Last month, more than 700 people attended a previous hearing in Mobile with many expressing anger over the price of their property insurance.

John Caylor, a member of the commission representing northern Alabama, expressed the importance of having better turnouts at the hearings.

“We do need to hear the public’s input. This is the public’s government, and we are to respond as best we can to the public’s views,” Caylor said.

One person who did speak Monday was Johnny Chaney of Fairhope. He dropped homeowners insurance in 2005 when his annual premium was $2,400, he said, because he hadn’t had much damage from past storms and decided it was too expensive to keep. However, now that his home is paid for, he worries about what could happen if a storm does hit his house sometime in the future.

“I’m at the mercy of FEMA if a storm does come through and destroys my home,” Chaney said.

Alabama’s Affordable Homeowners Insurance Commission was set up by Gov. Robert Bentley to study and improve Alabama’s homeowners’ insurance market.

The 31-person commission, chaired by Baldwin County Probate Judge Tim Russell, is comprised of insurance company representatives, state legislators, community members and others from across Alabama. At each hearing, members listen to the public’s concerns regarding the cost of insurance.

The plan is to take what the commission learns from the public and through discussions and make a series of recommendations as to how the Alabama legislature can reform property insurance to make it more affordable. Michelle Kurtz, one of the commission members, said she hopes the outcome of the commission’s work will be something that “parallels” what the people feel.

“There should be a binding document–I call it a living document–between this commission and the people,” she said in an interview after the hearing.

The commission was originally meant to address the insurance market woes experienced in coastal Alabama, but Bentley expanded the focus to the entire state following the spring tornadoes amid fears that insurance rates could rise and choices decline.