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Has it been your lifelong dream to own a boat? If you feel you are now in the position to buy your first boat, you’ll want to make sure you get it right. If you are buying a secondhand boat, it’s best to start visiting and having a good look around the boatyards, and talk to other owners about their experiences and ask for the contact of recommended surveyors.

Like any important purchase you shouldn’t rush this research period, so spend lots of time seeing as many boats as possible and enjoy it. While doing your legwork think about the boat insurance implications your final choice will have, as it is all part of parcel of your financial commitment over time. Look to get a boat insurance quote for any model of boat you have on your list to buy before making any decision.

Have you weighed up the options yet between buying new or secondhand? Apart from the necessary legwork there are some valuable sources that you can research from the comfort of your own home, such as the Marine Directory article resources. Currently there are over 7000 PDF articles available which cover pretty much everything you will need to know.

For example there are around 600 buyers guides which specialise in various makes and models, and currently cost from 4.95 to download the PDF report. These can be found on the internet on Yachting and Boating World, Marine Directory. Of course there are also the boat shows to go to, from the second May bank holiday, 23rd to 25th May, there is the Brighton new and used Boat Show, in the Brighton Marina.

On the internet you can also visit relevant forums to see what people are saying, as well as asking questions. There are also some boat buyers guides which have a quick search facility that lets you put in the number of cabins, berths, length and width, fuel and engine types, with a ballpark of your budget, which will then return the suggested boats from different manufacturers. This can be a good starting point, and Motor Boats Monthly has this facility for motorboats.

When you are considering the boat insurance policy that you will need when you have bought your boat, be aware that not all boat insurance quote policies are the same. For both your purchasing decision and insurance purposes the expense of a survey may be worth considering, in the case of buying secondhand. Just like cars no two boats will have had the same care and attention, and their condition can vary substantially. From the survey you will find out about any remedial work that may need doing in the immediate or near future, which you can evaluate before making your final decision. The assessment of the degree of risk will also be done so if this is high in turn your insurer will have to charge you higher premiums.

Another consideration is that insurers will ask for repeat inspections, so you will need to research how frequently various insurers need these done, as this is another important cost factor to include in your calculations. Finally be aware that insurers will use the survey as a tool to assess the degree of risk but when it comes to a claim they will not pay out on defects which were not noticed by your surveyor. Naturally this reinforces the importance of finding a very good surveyor, and having a thorough survey done.Jackie de Burca is co-owner Creative Web Advertising, which is an International internet media consultancy. Creative Web Advertising specialise in Pay Per Click, SEO and web consulting. Before getting carried away on a wave find out more about boat insurance quote, cover and policies.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have underscored the need for people in employment to ensure they are covered with mortgage insurance. According to the latest data, an increasing number of people lost their jobs in the three months to April 2009 as the number of unemployed people and the unemployment rate rose.

Once out of a job, getting back into employment is an even more daunting task because the number of vacancies continued to fall during the same period, going down by 108,000 between December 2008 and March 2009.

There are only 29.11 million people in employment after the number of people with jobs fell by 271,000 over the quarter and down 399,000 over the year, highlighting the need for people to think of ways to have a fall back plan.

One way to go about this is taking out income protection insurance or an accident sickness and unemployment policy. These policies depending on the type of policy, will offer a source of income until a new job comes along.

In a recent article on Love money, expert Neil Faulkner recommended taking out income protection insurance ahead of any other type of cover such as home contents insurance, pet or mobile phone protection.

Where can I find out more about the different Mortgage Insurance options?
There are many was to find out about mortgage insurance but one to avoided is speaking directly to mortgage lender. Most mortgage lenders only offer mortgage insurance from one provider and this is unlikely to be the most competitive on the market. The best ways to find the cheapest mortgage insurance are either on the internet of via an independent financial advisor.

Via the internet
There are many online quotation systems available for customers to get instant quotes for mortgage insurance, with most offering a price guarantee. This should encourage the consumer to obtain at least three quotes and decide which firm they deal with based on service and not on price as they will match the price of the cheapest quote you find.

Via a financial advisor
Many independent financial advisors advertise their service on the internet alternatively the financial service authority and a detailed list of all financial advisors so you can find one in your area if you would like to speak to someone face to face. A financial advisor will complete a detailed fact find to establish you needs in priority and a monthly budget before making their recommendation. It is important to remember that you are not.Jason Haines is a protection and mortgage advisor at godirect.co.uk, one of the UK’s most trusted information site about personal finance. They have details of the latest deals on online mortgages and you can compare mortgage insurance online for the best buys on the web.

The ash is still falling. The flames are still shooting skyward. And tired Southern California residents are wondering if they’ll see their homes when the thick smoke clears. Many who know their homes have been burned to the ground as a result of raging wildfires are getting ready to file claims or have already filed them.

Anxiety for homeowners continues with not only worries about insurance, but about rebuilding their homes. Losing your home and watching your American Dream reduced to ash before your eyes and then viewing it several times over on television, can be demoralizing.

Difficult as it may be to pick up the pieces and move on, it is absolutely important for homeowners to look very closely at their coverage, make a list of what they’ve lost and very importantly, contact their insurer right away. As with anything, there is good news and bad news.

The good news is that settling claims in this wildfire disaster could be easier and more straightforward than what consumers had to go through with Hurricane Katrina. While many insurance policies do not cover flooding, fire is covered by almost all policies. The bad news is that many homeowners may soon find that they did not buy enough coverage to rebuild their homes.

What will insurance cover?
According to an article in the Herald Tribune, lawsuits stacked up pretty quickly after the 2003 Southern California wildfires when consumers alleged that their insurers should have advised them to buy more coverage. But in April, the Times article says, the courts sided with the insurance company in a trial involving the first of those lawsuits. It doesn’t bode well for the others. This, in spite of the fact, that people who live in high fire risk areas already pay higher premiums than others.

Another interesting issue this article talks about is that in California, the law requires that insurers foot the bill for evacuations caused by the fires. In Katrina, people relied on the federal government to give them money for hotel, food and other daily expenses. But here in California, insurance companies pay for all that.

The Aftermath – What now?
The biggest challenge of course is for affected homeowners to get started on their insurance claims. Unfortunately, as with any disaster, certain people will try to take advantage of victims. That’s why consumers must be ever vigilant even at a time when they are tired and depressed.

Here are some tips for consumers, based on Bay Area lawyer Jonathan Stein’s recent blog:
- Document, in detail, all of your losses. Start with damages to your structure and property. Capture everything as you’regoing through it. If you’re using a video camera provide a running commentary or if you use still, take a lot of notes. Include everything – jewelry, gadgets, appliances and so on.

- Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Of course, they are going to be extremely busy with thousands of claims to deal with. Be patient and give them all the details you have. When your adjuster shows up, accompany him or her in the walk through telling them what was damaged. Provide a copy of the list you previously made. Ask for an estimate within 24 hours. And also check out your adjuster and make sure he or she is licensed through the California Department of Insurance. If you hire an attorney, verify his or her legitimacy through the California State Bar Web site.

- If you have structural damage, then you need to call a contractor. It’s absolutely important that you call only a licensed contractor. There’s an easy way to look up who’s licensed and who’s not – visit the Contactor State License Board Web site.

- Always compare your estimate with the insurance company’s estimate. You should definitely have a licensed contractor complete the repairs. Any difference should be paid by the insurance company.

- Again, if you get evacuated and are asked to move to a hotel, keep your receipts. In the state of California, insurance companies must reimburse you for those costs

- Ask for everything in writing. Don’t be intimidated by your adjuster. If they tell you something is not covered ask the reason why it’s not covered and make them put it in writing

- Finally, DO NOT sign on the dotted line until you fully understand what you’re agreeing to and are satisfied that you are getting the insurance benefits that you are entitled too.

Hiring a contractor
This can be tricky business especially when you are vulnerable and in a hurry to get back on your feet. The first step is to make sure they are licensed. The California Department of Insurance suggests that when you get someone soliciting business, you ask for their pocket license and other identification.

Do not rush into signing a contract. Collect business cards and interview many contractors, collect bids and most important of all, make sure you read the fine print. Always guard against contractors who encourage you to spend a lot of money on making temporary repairs.

Be cautious of any contractor that tries to rush you into making a decision. Be cautious of any contractor that suggests that there are ways to cheat your insurance company. Do not pay any money out of your pocket to “keep your place in line” with a contractor that says he will be able to get to your job sooner if he gets a deposit. Do not make an advance payment for materials.

Go local when it comes to contractors. If there are problems later, it’s easier to contact them. Again, put every small detail in writing. Be suspicious of door-to-door salespeople who lure you with low rates or try to push their services to you by using your emotional state. Also, federal law mandates a three-day “cooling off” period for unsolicited door-to-door sales of more than a $25 value.John Bisnar is a partner at Newport Beach Personal Injury Law Firm Bisnar Chase. The Bisnar Chase law firm has dedicated their practice to victims of serious injuries due to defective products, negligence and malpractice. Visit http://www.bestattorney.com or call 888-265-0161