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Funeral Insurance

I was recently talking to a prospective advertising customer that owns a Funeral Home in Longview Washington (WA) and the subject of Funeral Insurance came up when they said they sold Insurance that covers Funeral and other expenses when you pass away. I personally never heard of Funeral Insurance. So being the curious George that I am I thought I would look into it to see what Funeral Insurance was all about.

Reasons why Funeral Insurance should be a considered

1. Purchasing a Funeral Insurance plan clearly outlines how you want your Funeral conducted as it is outlined in detail within your Insurance Policy.
2. Purchasing Burial Insurance eliminates your family possibly overspending when they are trying to speculate what you may have wanted in your Funeral.
3. It is a terrific way to define if you want to be cremated or buried.
4. Purchasing a Funeral or Burial Insurance plan you have the option of choosing you own casket in the event you choose to be put to rest in the traditional manner of being Buried. With the decision of being cremated you can choose your own urn where your ashes will be stored.
5. It relieves the burden and the difficult decisions that need to be made by family members during this difficult emotional time. All the decisions are already made by you when you purchase a Burial or Funeral Insurance Policy.

When considering purchasing a Funeral Insurance Policy that covers the expenses of the Funeral and other related Burial expenses it is wise to take a family member or close friend along with you. You want someone close to you to be involved as when the need arises your wishes will be followed.

When electing to put in place a Burial or Funeral Insurance Policy be sure to make sure the Insurance Agent is licensed in your state. This might sound strange but make sure all the spaces are filled out and not left blank that anyone can fill out later. Keep the original copy of your Insurance Policy in your personal records. These records should be available to a family member or friend upon your death.

Here is a link to MSN Money article that I found to be a good resource of information:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Retirementandwills/Planyourestate/P43417.asp

This is just a quick post in response to CNN’s story published today October 3, 2008. It seems to be that the state needs additional funds to operate their schools, police department, and other social services.

I am probably going to get booed out of the concert hall here but maybe their is a lesson to be learned here. California has one of the largest illegal immigrant populations if not the largest in the country. Further more the state of California is also one of the most liberal states in the union. Maybe if they obeyed our federal immigration laws and moved to get the illegal immigrants off the shirt tails of hard working legal residents, maybe their coffers might not be so dry.

This is just a thought, but could we all learn a little from this?

Guse’s Gourmet Coffee is located in downtown Longview Washington at 1208 Commerce Avenue. A quaint little coffee shop in a building built in the early nineteen hundreds. A beautiful building that defies its age as it has been exceptionally maintained.

This Longview Washington Coffee Shop got its start in 1986 when Ken Guse retired from Weyerhaeuser. Ken wanted something to do in his retirement and was looking for a job when he met Alberto Miranda who was from Costa Rica. Alberto had a history and education in the coffee business. More so he had solid connections in Costa Rico and in other locals that grew high quality coffee beans. Ken and Alberto founded a good friendship and business alliance. Ken Guse learned to roast coffee in a coffee roaster that he himself built with Albertos help. The business got off the ground roasting coffee for locals in the Kelso/Longview Washington area. Ken Guse owned and operated the business until 2006 when his daughter Georgia took over the daily operations. Ken still has a hand in the coffee roasting business and visits daily to meet with some of his friends and enjoy a terrific cup of coffee in the morning.

Today Georgia Guse operates the business much the same way her father did. This gourmet coffee shop only uses organic coffee beans of high quality. I spent almost two hours talking to Georgia and walked away with a new found respect for quality coffee and what goes into it and more so what dictates what is considered a quality coffee. I also learned some interesting facts that were both enlightening and reinforcing in my appreciation of a good cup of coffee.

• A medium roast coffee has more caffeine than a dark roast. When roasting coffee beans from the time a bean is in its medium roast condition to when it reaches a dark roast a lot of oils and caffeine evaporates form the beans.
• When you think of coffee you think of what we see on television, plantation style. Quality coffee beans are grown in the shade of a treed canopy. This ensures the beans ripen slower and develop a richer smoother taste. Grown plantation style is good if you want to maximise the output of the coffee bushes. But when a coffee bean ripens too fast it gets bitter and does not have the time to develop a rich, smooth taste and aroma that is associated with gourmet coffee beans.
• According to coffee connoisseur’s when a coffee bean is grown with insecticides and artificial fertilizers they impart a taste into the bean. Guse’s Gourmet Coffee only uses organic beans grown in organic certified farms. A farm can only be certified after being insecticide free for five years.
• There are basically two types of coffee beans grown. Arabica and Robusto. Robusto beans are easily to detect as they are round. Robusto beans are of a lesser quality than Arabica coffee beans. By nature Robusto beans have a bitter taste.
• After a coffee bean is roasted, it has a shelf life of only twelve to fourteen days. After that the oils in the beans start to evaporate and it goes essentially stale.
• The practice of putting coffee in the refrigerator does little good in preserving the freshness of coffee. In fact when you roast and grind fresh beans you want the coffee to breath so the flavor and oils are readily available when you brew your coffee.

Today Georgia continues in the tradition and care delivering quality gourmet coffee not only to discerning consumers but to some of the Kelso/Longview Washington area’s finest restaurants. Judy’s Restaurant, The Masthead, The Kelso Theater Pub, Brits Restaurant just to name a few. They sell and deliver freshly roasted coffee’s to as far away as Pensylvania to the Brickhouse Cafe. She uses regularly over twelve hundred pounds of gourmet coffee beans in a month. That is a lot of roasting and grinding. Guse’s Gourmet Coffee is one of our Advertisers in The Kelso/Longview Washington Business Directory, LongviewBiz.com.

If you love a terrific cup of coffee stop by and see the difference, maybe take home a pound. They are open Monday through Saturday. They have WIFI available to you if you would like to enjoy a cup and maybe get some work done.

For some additional reading on the subject of Gourmet Coffee here are a few links:

http://www.sancafe.com/

http://www.deansbeans.com/

President Bush and his administration plan for “The Bailout” is taking shape. The 700 billion dollar financial rescue as congress is still working out the details. The Senate Democrats proposal is for our Government to hold ownership in the companies they are Bailing out. A provision being offered by the Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, who by the way is a Democrat would require companies who sell assets to Uncle Sam to give the government shares in that company. In a nutshell the plan is for the government to buy up assets and then sell them at a profit.

I as a citizen of this country have a few questions and concerns of my own that I have not seen as addressed.

1. Why is our Government willing to help the big businesses out like this while ignoring the rest of the population? Where is the government when small businesses are in trouble? If the government is so willing to help out big business, where are they when the mom and pop family businesses are having hard times such as the trucking companies when fuel prices went crazy? Where were they when the lumber companies were having hard times?
2. My next question is since when was our government a for profit agency? Are we to be led into a situation where we are paying our mortgages to the government. I believe this is closely approaching socialism. Our government in my humble opinion has no business interfering with private commerce. This is a capitalistic society where we are free to conduct business. What will happen to our laws and more importantly our lawmakers and politicians when the government is intermingled in private business?

For more on this subject here are some terrific links:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/19/news/economy/will_it_work/index.htm?postversion=2008091914

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/22/news/economy/the_threat_and_the_bailout/index.htm?postversion=2008092208

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/20/news/economy/bailout_proposal/index.htm?postversion=2008092109

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/22/ap/business/d93bsa3g8.txt

Internet Advertising and Online Marketing is the most cost effective form of Advertising

There are several avenues of Advertising medias at your disposal as a company trying to get your message out in front of the public view. Unfortunately times are changing, all the traditional avenues are on the decline in performance. That is a fact. More so the traditional forms of Advertising are also the most expensive. The Internet is coming of age and it definitely is here to stay. Let me take the time here to outline the traditional forms of Advertising and lay to rest why they are on the decline in value.

Television has lost its shine as a popular form of Advertisingbecause it is getting harder to find the viewers you are targeting. Ten years ago all we had were a few channels to view. Now we have hundreds and it is getting harder by the minute to target you audience. More so we now have Tivo! Now viewers can record their programs they choose to view and also chose to view them at their leisure. How many times have you recorded a show and when viewing it fast forwarded through the commercials? I do on a daily basis!

Newspaper Advertising. I am not going to take up too much time on this subject. Just Google http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2008/09/newspaper-sales-fall-record-3b-in-6-mos.html This will tell you how newspaper advertising is on a serious decline. Why? Simply people are not reading the newspaper anymore in the numbers they once did. What happened to the telegraph when the telephone came to be? You got it. The Internet is the resource of information in this day and age. I personally think in the very near future the larger newspapers will be folding for good and selling their presses to third world countries.

Yellow pages. When was the last time you or a family member used the phone book? I can do five to six searches on the Internet in the time it takes me to go get the phone book and look up a piece of information.  It truly is barbaric and outdated. Even the phone companies are getting on the band wagon of using the Internet as a form of Advertising. We have all heard of Dex online, this is a overpriced online form of Advertising. In fact it has little web traffic as it is not well received in conception and delivery. Here are some statistics from the Nielsen Ratings.

There are basically two ways of getting your company into the public view.

1. Contact a Website Designer to Design a effective Website. This is a terrific way of advertising as once the website is done and marketed properly it is working around the clock.
2. Advertise in a Business Directory, This is also a terrific way to market your business as a good Business Directory markets your business for you. Business Directories if they are well done have the marketing end of it down and can get you in the public view well. They also have the Internet traffic to display your company to even customers that are not even looking for you! Keep in mind there are two forms of advertising, point of sale meaning when running a ad you expect to see a return immediately. The second is to keep your name and the services and the products you sell in the public view all the time. Name recognition is more than half of Advertising.

Now how do we sum this all up and how does it apply to Advertising your Business in the Kelso/Longview Washington area? Well there is a quote I heard a while back and I may not get it 100% accurate but it goes like this “If you want to know who your competition in business is go to the Internet, your customers do” A major mistake that many business owners do is when we have a business market like we now have business owners and managers cut back on advertising. Major mistake. Let me ask you this if you were a farmer and times were tough would you plant less corn? I don’t think so, planting that corn is your main line of generating commerce. It is not logical to cut back on Advertising when times get lean. Advertising is a Business owners mainline to generating revenue.

There is no doubt that Kelso/Longview Washington has their fair share of Credit Unions. When first looking to Bank here in Longview I wanted to know the difference between a Bank and a Credit Union. This what I found out after researching about them on the Internet.   

Differences between a Credit Union And A Bank

Credit Unions

• Credit Unions are owned by their members.
• Must be eligible to join a Credit Union.
• Most of the earnings are returned to its members.

Banks

• Banks are owned by their stockholders.
• Focused on generating profits, remember stockholders)
• Anyone can become member of a Bank.

In 1937 the United States Congress voted to make Credit Unions exempt from federal income taxes. This was because of the unique business structure. They are owned by the members them selves. This tax exemption was voted on again in 1951 and once again in 1998. This is why Credit Unions wave the fact they offer lower interest on loans. They also say they have better customer service as they have no stock holders to answer to.

Personally after looking into the differences between Banks and a Credit Union we opted to use a Local Longview Washington Bank for our business Banking needs. We also belong to a Credit Union for our personal Banking needs.

 There are several different kinds of Accountant with their own specialties in Longview Washington. I have tried to outline the basic types of Bookkeepers, Certified Public Accountants or commonly called CPA,s and Tax preparers here and their duties. It is not all inclusive but it is informative. Some Accountants, and Accounting firms offer all of these services.   

                                                                                                                                                               Certified Public Accountants or CPA’s perform a range of Accounting Services for businesses and individuals. From preparing annual financial statements to acting as key adviser’s on long term estate planning, CPAs offer a range of services to their clients and must meet strict federal licensing requirements before becoming certified. CPAs often specialize in one or more of the following areas:

·         IRS Audits

·         Financial Reporting

·         Small Business Accounting

·         Savings and Investment Strategies

Bookkeepers perform many of the same functions as a Certified Public Accountant such as maintaining complete financial records and overseeing various data management procedures for individuals and organizations. Bookkeepers typically aren’t involved in tax preparation, but commonly oversee daily Accounting operations such as:

·         Daily Ledger Entries

·         Data Systems Audits

·         Invoice Tracking and Verification

·         Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Tax Accountants are usually either Enrolled Tax Agents who have passed stringent federal tests to become certified in complex Tax law or CPAs who specialize in federal and state tax regulations. These tax preparation experts typically work as freelance consultants or in retail tax preparation offices. Tax Attorneys often work closely with CPAs and other taxation specialists, and are available to assist businesses and individuals in sorting through confusing returns procedures or when legal representation is necessary to resolve tax disputes.

We thought we would take the time to give our readers of this Longview Washington Business Directory Blog a update as to the continued progress on the Longview Washington Business Directory website, LongviewBiz.com.

Up to this point we have been building this Business Directory Website and working the magic that is required to get the website gaining ground in the search engines. If all we were doing is marketing Longviewbiz.com it would be a simple matter. But this website is being built as a portal to Businesses in the Kelso-Longview Washington area. In a nutshell we feel our job is to market our advertisers. That is the sole job of a Business Directory is to put your Advertisers in a position of prominence on the Internet. At this point there are not as many Advertisers in the Directory as we for see in the future. There are three main ways of Designing a Website that has the purpose of being a Business Directory.

1. Business Directory with free submissions allowed, This is the easiest way to build a Website. As a Website Designer it is very easy to build a Website and offer free submission to their Directory and categories. The whole point is to get Businesses to add their information for free. The benefit to the Website Designer is that they get content added to their Website for free. The main problem with this type of Business Directory is when you do offer Advertising to prospective clients, what are you really offering? Bottom line you are not offering them nothing. Why would any Business Owner or manager pay for Advertising in a Business Directory that also has every Business in town also in there for free! It is a insult to their intelligence. I have been in Business for myself for over twenty five years and learned the hard way to Advertise to a captive audience and don’t throw myself into the bullpen with dozens of other Advertisers. Your advertising budget is only being diluted.
2. Building a Business Directory as addition to a existing Website. This is another way of building a Website. We at LongviwBiz.com believe a Business Directory should be just that, a Business Directory. Advertisers at that point just get thrown in to the Website wherever it may fit. As a consumer and avid Internet user when I want information I don’t want to sift through a mess to get to the information I require. A Business Directory should be clean and simple to use. Information in the Website should be easy to navigate to and retrieve. Value for a Advertiser is heavily diluted when their advertising budget is spent on advertising sporadically put where ever it may fit. Question, when you go to the phone book and look for restaurants do you look? Just where ever? No you go to the restaurant section and you find the information you want. When you are in the restaurant section do you see advertising for Doctors, no!
3. The third way to build a Business Directory,is to build a Website that is engineered and Designed to be a clean and simple Business Directory that is easy to navigate. We at LongviewBiz.com subscribe passionately to this philosophy. We believe that we must be loyal to our Advertisers and not allow their Advertising budget to be diluted by putting their ads in with free ones. Our Longview Washington Business Directory is designed to be easily navigated. There is no fluff in our site and never will. But most importantly is our dedication to marketing our Advertisers on the Internet. This Kelso-Longview Washington Business Directory has the job of marketing our Advertisers and getting them seen by the residents of Cowlitz County Washington, that’s it. Although this Business Directory is young the proof is in the pudding. We run analytics on the site every other business day and to be quite honest we are happy with the statistics at this point.

Statistics for the Kelso-Longview Washington Business Directory

• 1100 LongviewBiz.com visits per month. This means that this Business Directory had over 1100 visitors that used this website in the last 30 days to find information on Businesses in the Kelso-Longview Washington area.
• 5405 page views in the Business Directory. This simply means that the visitors to this Business Directory went to 5405 pages in the last 30 days.
• 5.40 pages visited. The visitors that used this Business Directory went to a average of 5.4 pages while in this Business Directory. If a visitor was looking for information in the website they also went to additional categories. Great exposure for our Advertisers.
• 3:45 Average time in this Kelso-Longview Business Directory, This simply means that for our visitors it took them a average of 3 minutes and 45 seconds to go in and get the information they needed. We like this statistic as it is showing how easy it is for our visitors to navigate.
• Loyalty 46%, This is a real time indicator who is using our Business directory. 46% of our visitors are return visitors, our site is quickly becoming the standard for residents to find information in the Kelso-Longview Washington area. We are doing our job and our advertisers are happy, but just important is the fact we are achieving the goals we set for LongviewBiz.com…..to be the Business Directory you want to be in, and use.

We are currently in the process of developing some other facets of our Business Directory. As a continued commitment to establishing LongviewBiz.com as a asset to the residents of Kelso-Longview Washington and of course our Advertisers we are developing three more sub-websites that will be available in the near future.

1. Restaurant Menu’s online. This will be a well recieved addition as it will offer the residents of Longview Washington the opportunity to view restaurant menu’s via our website.
2. Real Estate focus online. This will be a excellent opportunity for Real Estate Agents to have another avenue to Advertise and show their listings. Real Estate Agents will be able to post their listings into their own pages within the Longview Washington Business Directory themselves.
3. Classified section of LongviewBiz.com. We will be adding a Classified section to our Directory as a avenue to advertise things residents have for sale, garage sales, auto’s and the like. We are very excited about this addition.

Here are some other Blog Posts on the progress of LongviewBiz.com, the Kelso-Longview Washington Business Directory.

http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/08/longview-washington-website-design-for-business-application/

http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/07/progress-on-longview-washington-business-directory/

Website Design and Marketing for Businesses in Longview Washington

I have been involved with Internet Marketing for over eight years and still feel the pain of the Website Design and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) trials and errors. I had the for thought and the need years ago to market my business nationally as that was the industry trend and a requirement to be successful. I can still remember my first Website I had Designed!! I was so proud of it. It was cool, flashy, and it seemed what my customers would want. The Website was Designed by a Graphic Artist who had all the right answers to my questions. He knew a few terms and phrases that impressed me as to his knowledge. Terms like Search Engine Friendly, Search Engine Optimized, Search Engine Optimization, Flash, Java Script, Html, PHP, Dynamic and the such. It took me about a year to figure out after much reading that my Website Designer, or commonly called a “Webmaster” didn’t know jack-diddly! Sure he Designed a Website that was pretty, and it was eye appealing but it was not Engineered to be a Marketing tool. You couldn’t find it on the Internet with a shovel. It was hard to navigate, meaning it wasn’t easy to move from page to page and information was not easily found. A properly Designed Website for Business is a marketing tool. It should be easy to find the information you want in its contents. A Business Website is a valuable source of information. The purpose of a Business Website is to give your prospective customers information about yourself, your company, and the services or products you are offering to your customers. I started studying Website Design and Website Search Engine Optimization and then I figured out my current Webmaster not only was amateur, but took my money and delivered a Website that was basically useless. Anyone can Design a Website that will show up in the Search Engines when you type in the company name. Even a out of the can Website you can get from some Webmasters will do that. A properly Designed Website that is Search Engine Optimized should show up in the Search Engines for the Keywords that are relevant to the services or products you are offering your customers. That is where Website Marketing comes in. Sadly enough in my experience with working with several Webmasters very few of them know anything about Website Marketing or Search Engine Optimization. Through the years I have learned the basics and have with the help of my Webmaster learned to Market my Websites on the Internet both on a national and local level.

Effective Website Design for businesses in Longview Washington, is it needed?

Research has shown that in some sectors of business up to 80% of searches for products and services are done on the Internet. Even though at this time my Website www.longviewbiz.com is young in its development it is being used by over 1100 individual residents in Cowlitz County a month. I expect it to exceed over 4000 per month in a year. It is also being used by residents in surrounding communities. I suspect it is a combination of people using the Internet to find businesses that have a service or product they might need prior to shopping in Longview Washington. Some I am sure are tourists or people on business trips staying in one of our hotels while in town. That is a lot of traffic to a Business Directory in this size of a community. These are viable people looking to spend money. There is a saying that I know to be absolutely true. If you want to know who your competition in business is look to Google, because your customers are! I am amazed at the number of businesses in Longview Washington and surrounding communities that do not have a Company Website, not to mention the number of businesses that have a Website that is not properly Designed or Optimized.

 Why Businesses in Longview Washington would benefit from having a Company Website

1.  Gaining prominence in the business community.
2. Make your business information more available to the Cowlitz County residents.
3. Very cost effective Advertising, once a Website is live it works 24-7 around the clock.
4. You don’t miss the interest in the products or services from customers that you are marketing. Remember the explosion of customers using the Internet as a resource.
5. Not only as a effective advertising tool, a properly Designed Website offers your customers information they desire and need to make purchases. Think of the time spent on the phone with customers. What if 20% of those customers got their information from your Website rather than keeping a employee or yourself on the phone. The growing number of customers actually would rather get their information from the Internet. This fact is substantiated by research. This is the computer age, even here in small communities like Longview Washington.

For any Internet marketing or Website Design and marketing questions feel free to call me at 360 431 8082 and ask for Jim, my e-mail address is Jim@longviewbiz.com or you can view our Longview Washington Business Directory by clicking the link.

For some additional reading about the progress of Longviewbiz see: http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/09/kelso-longview-washington-business-directory/

We here in the Kelso-Longview Washington area are fortunate to have the quality and number of Dentists we have. Most cities the size of Longview or Kelso Washington do not have as many Dentists, or the Number of Quality Dentists we have. Dentists are the unsung heroes of the medical profession. If you want a exact number, 85% of people hate to see the Dentist. But never the less, visiting the Dentist at least once a year is paramount to maintaining your health. Not only can a Dentist guide and facilitate good oral health but having oral health problems can effect other areas of your health as well. I have compiled 10 reasons why we should be visiting our Dentist at least once a year. Having your teeth cleaned once a year is a terrific way to be seen by your Dentist. Having your teeth cleaned and getting an annual exam is the first step in maintaining good oral health. If you do not have a family Dentist already, in this Longview Washington Business Directory there are listed some very good Dentists, and they are all in the immediate vicinity of Kelso-Longview Washington.

10 Reasons To Visit Your Dentist At Least Once A Year

1. To be screened for Oral Cancer, Statistics from the Oral Cancer Foundations website, oral cancer is responsible for death in the United States every hour of the day. That is a huge number and not to be taken lightly. While seeing your Dentist, your Dentist is screening your mouth for signs of cancer. Oral cancer is curable if diagnosed early.
2. Maintaining good physical health, Studies have shown that poor oral health and hygiene is strongly linked to heart attacks and strokes.
3. To aid in preventing gum disease, Gum disease leads to loss of teeth. Gum disease is a infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place. Without treatment it leads to premature tooth loss. Gum disease when diagnosed, is reversible.
4. To diagnose and treat dental problems, Your dentist will be able to diagnose and treat early signs of dental and gum disease early. Having problems detected early is a good way to prevent serious conditions. If oral health problems are detected early you can avoid treatments like root canals, tooth removal, and gum surgery.
5. Keeping your teeth, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Regular dental exams performed by your Longview Washington Dentist is paramount to detecting issues that effect you overall oral health. Keeping your teeth means better better chewing function, not to mention a nicer smile!
6. Detecting dental problems early, While getting a oral exam your Dentist can detect small cavities, broken fillings, and as already mentioned gum disease. These all lead to dental problems that can worsen with time.
7. Maintaining good oral health, Your Dentist can help and guide you in the right direction to you maintaining good oral health. They review your previous dental exam and its findings to compare it to how you are doing then.
8. Get good use out of your dental plan, Dental Insurance usually pays for all if not all of your dental exam. Take advantage of the benefits you pay for. Having your Dental Plan pay for your annual checkup prevents more serious issues that are more costly.
9. Creating a treatment plan, When diagnosing any minor dental issues, your Dentist will usually devise a treatment plan to get your dental health back on the right track.
10. To correct and prevent bad breath, bad breath is a sign of bad oral health. Studies have shown 85% of people with bad breath also had bad oral hygiene. Having regular check ups and exams promotes good oral hygiene and overall health. Your Dentist can advise a treatment plan that addresses this issue.

I might add it is a very good idea and practice to use, and maintain a good relationship with a Kelso-Longview Washington Dentist.  The main reason that is quite evident is that in the event of a dental emergency, your Dentist is close by. We all have heard stories of a major tooth flair up Friday night! By Monday you are in agony if a Dentist is not available. Most Dental offices have emergency phone numbers you can call. If you have a good relationship with a local Dentist, chances are you will be seen quickly if not immediatly. Who wants to drive or be driven 50 miles to get treatment when in pain?

Purchasing Health Insurance in Longview Washington or anywhere else in the state in a nutshell is a expensive proposition. In the event you do not have Health Insurance available to you through your employment, or are eligible for Medicare or other Health Insurance program, your needs may dictate shopping for Health Insurance  through a independent Insurance Agent.

There are two basic types of private Health Insurance available in Washington

The two basic types of Health Insurance that is available to us in the Longview-Kelso Washington area are:

1. The first type of Health Insurance we all know as a household word (HMO) Health Maintenance Organizations. This type of Insurance requires that you use their health care providers that are on a list given to you when you obtain their Health Insurance Policy. Your primary care doctor usualy is required to provide a referral before you obtain the services of a specialist, or visit the hospital. There are lists of primary care doctors that you may see and they are under contract to provide care to their subscribers.
2. The second type of Health Insurance available is referred to as Preferred Provider Health Care Insurance. This type of Insurance offers you the option of obtaining the Health Care you need from one of their contracted Health Care Providers. If you choose a Preferred Provider Insurance Plan, you pay less if you use their care providers. You will pay more if you elect to go outside their network of Health Care Providers. Plans vary from Insurance Company to the next. They may use different co payment systems. Co payment means when you have a doctors visit the amount you have to pay upfront prior to treatment.

In almost all Health Insurance Plans you have to pay in full if you recieve service not covered by your plan, allways check with your provider prior to treatment.

Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions

Most Health Insurance Policies have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions that you may have prior to purchasing the Insurance Plan. Nine months is the norm. If you may be switching Insurance Plans, there is a credit you may receive when signing up for your new policy. Check with your local Kelso-Longview Health Insurance Agent as to the particulars when switching plans.

Low Cost Health Insurance Plans

 These Health Care Insurance Plans are for people who are not in the position to purchase Health Insurance in the normal individual market. Below are some of these plans available to residents of Longview and Kelso Washington and the entire State as some of these programs are state funded.

1. Alien Emergency Medical (AEM) Insurance Plan, This program is for individuals of Washington State who are non-citizens. This Health Insurance Plan will help pay for health treatment and bills associated with your health care. There are asset and income guidelines that they use to qualify you. Here is the information for contacting them. Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 1-800-865-7801 or you may contact DSHS on their website http://www.dshs.wa.gov
2. The Washington State Basic Health Plan, commonly called (BH). Washington state has a Health Coverage Program that is administered by Private Insurance Companies. It is a very comprehensive Health Coverage Plan that is available to residents that do not qualify for Medicare, or attending school full time. Kelso and Longview Washington residents may contact the following website for more information: http://www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov

Another terrific website to reference is Washington State Insurance Commisioners site.

I hope this post has been informative. It is not intended to be all inclusive. Any Insurance Agents whom may have more information not covered by this post feel free to add to it via a comment. Comments are always welcomed by the professionals in the Kelso and Longview Washington Business Sector.

Mount St. Helens prior to the eruption of May 18, 1980 was 9,677 feet tall at its peak. This made it only the fifth largest peak in Washington. The top of the mountain rises 5,000 feet above its base. At its base it is 6 miles across, and the pre-eruption timberline was 4 miles around.

Mount St. Helens is located in Skamania County, but the best access is through Cowlitz County. Longview and Kelso Washington are known as the “gateway to Mount St. Helens“. The closest community to Mount St. Helens is Cougar which is 11 miles form the peak. The forest surrounding Mount St. Helens is the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

George Vancouver has the distinction of being the first European to document seeing Mount St. Helens on May 19, 1792. At that time he was charting the area of Puget Sound. Mount St. Helens was not officially named until October 20, 1792 when he saw it as his ship was passing the mouth of the Columbia River.

The Lewis and Clark expedition later saw Mount St. Helens when they came up the Columbia River in 1805 and 1806. There descriptions of the conditions of the Sandy river, which is near Portland Oregon, suggested that it had recently erupted. Later documentation suggests that Mount St. Helens erupted in 1800.

Mount St. Helens is a young Volcano by mountain standards, developing only 40,000 years ago. Streams that getting their start end up in the Columbia River via three major rivers that drain the valleys surrounding Mount St. Helens. The three rivers are the Toutle River, the Kalama River, and the Lewis River. Mount St. Helens receives a average of 140 inches of water comprised of rain and snow in a year.

Mount St. Helens Eruption History

Mount St. Helens is a potentially very active and quite dangerous volcano. During the last 500 years or so it has had 4 major eruptions, and numerous eruptions of lesser proportions. Two of the major eruptions  only spanned two years apart. One of the largest documented eruptions of Mount St. Helens was in 1480 A.D. when it erupted with a force 5 times greater than the eruption of May 18, 1980.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens came as no surprise as it is the most active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range. It has been studied more closely and thoroughly than any volcano on earth. Its oldest known eruption deposits have been found to be over 50,000 years old and has has a intermittently active life since.

Mount St. Helens May 18th, 1980 Eruption

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was preceded by over two months of activity that was signified by more than 10,000 earthquakes. Hundreds of small steam emissions were recorded. What is better known as the north bulge  continued to grow. What triggered the eruption of Mount St. Helens is a earthquake of 5.1 magnitude. Within seconds of the earthquake, the largest landslide in recorded history took place. The entire north flank bulge slid down the mountain. Temperatures in side the blast reached 300 degrees Celsius. Minutes later the plume reached 19 kilometers in the sky, being carried across much of the western United States.

There is a lot to do while visiting Mount St. Helens, from simply taking a turn out to view the Mountain to hiking and biking. Please view the links below, as it is terrific reading, and very informative. Tourism is very active on the mountain, and the surrounding area around Longview Washington.

• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
• A beautiful Picture of Mount St Helens
• US Forest Service Website
• The Many Faces Of Mount St. Helens Website
• Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
• GORP Informational Website
• Mount St. Helens Eruption

 Some of the activities you may find entertaining and is available on or around Mount St. Helens are:

• Mount St. Helens Hiking
• Mount St. Helens Camping
• Fishing Aroung Mount St. Helens
• Biking on Mount St. Helens
• Taking A Drive To And Around The Mountain
• Having a Picnic On Mount St. Helens

After my Fiance’s father had a stroke while covered by Medicare Insurance, he and his wife found out they did not qualify for any extended in home care. At that time we all did some research into Medicare Insurance and found out that those types of benefit’s were not available to him due to the type of Medicare he was signed up for. We also found out that it costs around $4,000.00 to have an in home nurse come in and take care of him while his wife was at work. I thought I would compile a short version of the different types of Medicare Insurance coverage and policies available.

The Original Medicare Insurance Programs

1. Part A, If you are receiving Social Security at the time you become eligible for Medicare and if you are qualified for Part A and not paying a premium you will automatically be signed up for Part A and Part B. Three months before you are eligable for Medicare Benifits you will receive Medicare Insurance information and your card. In the scenario you are not receiving Social Security Benefits when you become eligable for Medicare Insurance you must apply for benefits. Applying for Medicare is easy and can be accomplished by going to your Local Social Security Administration office (SSA). In the Longview Washington area the address is 1145 14Th Avenue, Longview Washington 98632. You are eligable to enroll three months prior to turning sixty five years old.
2. Part B, Medicare Medical Insurance or commonly known as Part B, helps pay for Physicians services and outpatient care. It is also designed to pay for necessary services and most supplies that Part A does not cover. Hence extended in home care. Note Part B is supplemental and optional and has a premium attached to it. If you are Qualified for Part A, you are also qualified for Part B.

Supplementing Original Medicare Insurance

The original Medicare Insurance both Part A and Part B, do not cover all of your costs for health care. Be advised if not warned there are other ways available to fill the gaps that Medicare does not cover. Just a few of your choices available to you to supplement your Medicare Insurance are as follows:

• Employment Based Plans
• Medicare Supplemental Insurance Coverage
• Medicare Advantage Plans see part (C)
• The Medicare Prescription Drug Program see part (D)

When considering these options to supplement your Medicare Insurance, the best information can be provided by your Insurance Agent, or contact an Agent here locally in Kelso or Longview Washington.

Here are a few additional links for more information concerning Medicare Insurance or Supplemental Insurance that is available.

Washington State Insurance Commisioners Website http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/medicare/Your_Medicare_Choices.pdf

Medicare  http://www.medicare.gov/

Medicare Advantage Plans http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

Longview Washington SSA-Medicare Insurance Information http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Social+Security+Services/S-WA/T-Longview/

Home sales are rebounding according to the article written by Andre Stepanowsky in the Longview Daily News in last Sundays paper. This was coincided with a firm offer my fiance received on Friday. Vicki has been trying to get her “extra” home sold for over a year with no results till she listed it with Coldwell Banker, Flaskerud Realty. The Real Estate Agent she has been using is Liesel Filkowski. She has had the listing for only a few months.

According to article in the Daily News the median price of homes that sold in Cowlitz County rose to $199,425.00. This was a rise of about $4,000.00 over homes sold last year at this time. Real Estate sales are still lagging behind last years numbers. the surplus of homes on the market is still large. There are not a lot of buyers out there. Homes in the higher price range see to be moving faster. According to the listing service 64 homes sold in July in Cowlitz County. Down about 30% from last year at this time. This year 419 Homes have been sold so far, down significantly over the numbers of 2007 when 614 Homes were sold through July.

For the article in The Daily News here is a direct link: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/10/area_news/doc489f12d0f2271300429521.txt

For the home page link to The Daily News: http://www.tdn.com/

Commercial Insurance or commonly called Business Insurance  

Commercial or Business Insurance in Kelso and the Longview Washington area is not hard to obtain. Your Insurance Agent who supply’s your Home Insurance or Auto Insurance usually can advise and obtain a quote for you. As a owner of a Commercial enterprise or small Business, you have several options for purchasing a Commercial Insurance Policy.

Riders and Endorsements, If you operate your Business out of your home or if your Business is small, you can possibly just add a endorsement or Rider to your existing Home Insurance Policy. For example a home office that does website work or marketing such as we do can put a endorsement on our Homeowners Policy. This a option that your Insurance Agent has the information for as all Insurance Companies have their own Policies on such Riders.

Commercial or Business Insurance Options

• Securing a Separate Commercial Insurance Policy, The small Business Owner or Shopkeeper can purchase Commercial Coverage in separate Policies to cover the needs of the specific nature of Business it may be doing. You may buy the different types of Insurance from different Insurance Agents, but usually if you feel comfortable with your present Insurance Agent they can write you Policies that address all the Liability you may incur.

Types of Commercial Insurance Available

1. Business Property Coverage,The buildings and property that your Business is operating in needs to be covered if owned by you or not. The fixtures and equipment with in the property can be covered against, fire, theft, vandalism, and other natural disasters. Earthquake and Flood Damage are usually written as a separate Policy. See http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/08/guide-to-homeowner-insurance-in-longview-washington/ for more information on Flood Insurance and Homeowner Insurance. In Longview and Kelso Washington we don’t need to worry about Earthquake Insurance too much, so I wont go into depth on that subject but feel free to talk to your Insurance Agent about any concerns you may have.
2. Business Interruption Insurance, If the case ever arises when a fire or other loss interrupts, or makes you close your Business until the issue is rectified, this Insurance Policy will pay your fixed expenses. This would include payroll, rent or mortgage, or other ongoing expenses you may have until you reopen your Business.
3. Commercial Auto Insurance, Most Auto Insurance Policies do not cover Business operations in that vehicle. Meaning if you use your personal car to do business errands it may not be covered under your Auto Insurance Policy in the event of a accident or other issue. Check with your Insurance Agent concerning this matter as it is a serious issue.
4. Business Liability Insurance, This type of Commercial Insurance covers any legal fees that may incur should someone make a claim against you for injury, or property loss. This would cover you in the event any work you did causes any damage to property or persons and there is a claim a claim of loss against you.
5. Professional Liability Insurance, This Insurance Policy covers you in the event of a negligence claim against you. It is sometimes referred to as Malpractice Insurance, or Errors and Omissions Insurance. Lawyers, Doctors, professionals and even Insurance Agents and Brokers need this type of insurance.
6. Employee Benefits Packages, Insurance options for employees can make your workplace a environment that keeps your good employees from looking elsewhere for work. Most employee benefits plans must meet the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974. Before you instill or layout a employee benefit package refer to the Labor Employee Benefits Administrations website at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/ These links can be very useful to guide you in the right direction as to the law here in Longview Washingtonof nationwide. Another terrific Website in Washington State is the Insurance Commissioner of the state of Washington.  This site has good information for Commercial or Business Insurance for reducing your liability in Longview Washington or any other city in Washington.

          Washington State Insurance Commissioner http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

          Commercial Insurance Washington State with pollution as a concern website

           http://www.plia.wa.gov/ust/reinsurance.htm

As a Business owner in Longview Washington, I was concerned about Commercial Insurance for our Business, Hence this Post. It is not meant to be definitive, rather enlightening. Any Insurance Agent that has more to add feel free to post a comment to this Blog.

Understanding Your Homeowner Insurance Policy 

 Your Homeowner, or Home Insurance Policy for all residents of Longview Washington, and Washington State in general is a contract between yourself and your Homeowners Insurance Policy issuer. It should define exactly what the Insurance Company agrees to compensate you for in the case of a loss, in exchange for the premium that you are in contract to pay. The Homeowners Insurance Policy is divided into two main sections. The first is a declarations page and the second section is the Insurance Policy. This of coarse should be read in its entirety prior to signing as well as fully understanding what you coverages are under the Homeowners Insurance Policy.

The Declarations Page, This section of the Insurance Policy should include details of the contract. Information in this section should be checked for accuracy, as to the dollar amounts of coverage, and any specific additional coverages are fully outlined. In the declarations page of your Homeowners Insurance Policy, it will outline the following information.

• Name of the Homeowner insured
• Name of the Insurance Company
• Location of the Home that is covered by Insurance
• The Homeowner Insurance Policy number
• Policy period
• The location and the specifics of the Home covered
• A detailed outline of the individual coverages outlined in this Insurance Policy
• The limits of liability for each coverage in the Insurance Policy
• Any applicable Deductibles and their amounts
• And lastly your premium you will owe

The actual Homeowners Insurance Policy, The second section of the contract is the Insurance Policy itself. Your Homeowners InsurancePolicy will outline and describe the property covered and the losses it covers. Here in Longview Washington we really don’t need to worry about Earthquake Insurance, but in some areas of Kelso And Longview Washington Flood Insurance is a issue, some mortgage companies will mandate Flood Insurance if your Home is in a Floodplain. Meaning that the Home is in a geographical area that is prone to flooding. This part of the policy will include:

• The insuring agreements (Remember this is a Contract)
• The Conditions of this contract
• All the definitions of terms used in the Insurance Policy
• The Liability Coverage, outlining any or all coverage against claims someone might make against you or the property.
• Medical insurance if you elect to include this in your Homeowners Insurance policy. This pays for the damages if someone might slip and fall on your property. Remember here in Longview Washington it rains a lot and gets slippery!

The Types Of Homeowners Insurance Coverage

There are a wide variety of Homeowner Policies available. Be sure to read the Policy your Insurance Agent prepares for you prior to signing. A Homeowner Policy is designed to be a package providing coverage the dwelling itself, personal property, and possibly other structures on the property such as detached garages, storage sheds, barns and the like.

• Dwelling or Home Coverage, This part of of the Homeowners Insurance Policy outlines the coverage provided by the insurer in the event of a Fire, Theft, or any damage from storms. This coverage will pay for the loss, meaning it will either repair, or rebuild your Home in part or entirely to put you the Homeowner back to the condition it was in before the loss. Most Insurance Company’s offer a Policy to replace the home at actual replacement cost. This is even if in the event of a loss, it will cost more to replace than the Insurance Policy was written for. Meaning if it was above the Policy limit.
• Other Structures Also On The Insurance Policy, This part of the Policy covers structures like detached out buildings, garages, barns, and shops. Most Insurance Company’s set a limit to around ten percent of the main building allowed to be covered. If it exceeds that it will usually need a separate Policy.
• Personal Property Insurance, This section of your Homeowners Insurance Policy covers the Personal Property contained in your Home. Most Insurance Companies limit the coverage allowed to around seventy percent. The amount of coverage is usually limited to the ACV, or actual cash value at the time of loss. Yes this means basically garage sale prices! You may elect to put Replacement Cost Insurance on your contents. This means that the Insurance Company will have a adjuster, with your help determine what it will cost to replace the items at today’s value. It is usually advised by most Insurance Agents Kelso and Longview Washington to document your items and contents. Take pictures and keep receipts of the larger items.
• Flood Insurance Policy’s, Your Homeowners Insurance Policy in Longview Washington will not cover Flooding. Separate Flood Insurance can be issued by your Insurance Agent. It will provide coverage and cover the loss due to , Flooding, Flood related erosion, Mudslides, and abnormal tide surges. Once again if you reside in a area that has a high likelihood of flooding like in a floodplain your Mortgage holder will make it mandatory to carry Flood Insurance. You may go int this website http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/ for more information on Flood Insurance and where the Floodplains are inKelso and Longview Washington areas. Here is a Cowlitz County website with more information on the floodplains in our local area, http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/buildplan/planning/floodplain.html

Another Post in this Blog that you may find interesting is http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/08/auto-insurance-agents-in-longview-washington/

 For more information on purchasing Homeowners Insurance in Washington State feel free to go to the Washington State Insurance Commissioners website. http://www.insurance.wa.gov/index.asp

This Blog Post is not represented to be definitive, only as a source of information and hopefully good reading!

Longview Washington Auto Insurance Agents have many types of Auto Insurance available to motorists. Some are optional and some are mandatory set by Washington State law, governed by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Below is the types of coverage that are available through your Insurance Agent.

• Liability Insurance, Washington State requires this this type of Insurance for your Automobile. This covers damage to property and bodily injury that you may cause due to a accident while operating your vehicle.
• Personal injury insurance, This Insurance coverage a very limited amount of hospital and medical costs, loss of income, The amount of coverage and the limits are set forth and defined in the Policy.
• Medical Payments, This type of Insurance coverage is not offered by all Insurance Companies. This type of Policy covers medical and funeral expenses in the event of a accident.
• Uninsured/under insured Motorist bodily injury Insurance, This type of Policy covers injuries an under insured or insured motorist causes to a motorist who does have coverage.
• Uninsured/under insured Motorist property damage Insurance, This type of Policy covers property damage an under insured or insured motorist may cause to your vehicle in the event of a accident.
• Comprehensive Coverage commonly known as “Comp Insurance” This covers damage to your vehicle in events other than a Collision. A example of this is if a tree should fall on it, or vandalism.
• Collision Insurance, This is the part of a Insurance Policy that covers your vehicle in the event of a collision due to a accident.
• Gap Coverage, This is the Auto Insurance available from your local Insurance Agent here in Longview Washington that pays the difference between current market value of your vehicle and the amount you still owe the bank for your vehicle. This type of Insurance is optional. Sometimes when you purchase your Car or Truck the dealer can offer you this type of Policy and tie it into your payments.
• Death, dismemberment and loss of sight Insurance, This type of Auto Insurance covers death and certain injuries to passengers and drivers named in your Auto Insurance Policy due to an accident. 
• Car rental expenses, In the event you have a accident caused by you or another motorist it covers the costs involved in renting a car while yours is being repaired or replaced. Check your Policy to see the limits of this type of Auto Insurance. Your Insurance Agent can advise or write this type of Policy.
• Emergency road side service, This type of Auto Insurance Policy covers the costs of towing in the event of a breakdown or accident. Your Auto Insurance Agent in Longview Washington can advise you as to your coverage and limits.
• Custom equipment Insurance, This type of Insurance policy covers accidental and direct loss to custom parts, or equipment. This is the type of Auto Insurance Policy you may need if you have a custom car or truck. This is also the type of Policy you may need to cover expensive stereos, and other expensive equipment you may have in your vehicle.

As you can see there are as many types of Auto Insurance Policies as there are Auto Insurance Agents here in Longview Washington. All Auto Insurance Agents In the state of Washington are required to be licensed by the state. Washington State currently regulates approximately 85,000 licenses. Auto Insurance Agents either are associated with a Broker.

There are three types of Auto Insurance levels you need to know about to make a informed decision as to who writes you a Policy.

1. Prefered Market Insurance, This type of insurance writes the lowest premiums and is usually only available to very low risk drivers with good driving records.
2. Standard Market insurance, This type of Insurance refers to the average driver who does not drive high horsepower vehicles, and has a good driving record.
3. Non Market Insurance, This type of insurance  is the most expensive type of Insurance Policy as it is available to young drivers, people who have a lot of tickets or accidents, or a DUI on their driving record.

Auto Insurance offered by Agents in Longview is a sophisticated market and it is advised that you shop for any coverage you may need. Take the time to address all the types of Coverage that is available and what you may want. Auto Insurance cost is a major concern to all residents in Washington. Longview Washington is no exception.

Insurance Companies are allowed to rate all licensed operators of vehicles. They can and do take into account all licensed members of a household when figuring the cost of a policy. This can include roommates and children who may be able to drive the vehicles.

When factoring a rate for Auto Insurance coverage these are the things that are used by your Agent to give you a quote.

• Age, including all members of the household.
• Sex.
• Marital status.
• Driving Habits, as your record will reflect!
• Claims history.
• Credit history.
• Location, meaning where your primary residence is located.
• Model, Make, and the year of your Auto.

When you shop for Auto Insurance remember Insurance Companies factor and use this information differently. Here is Longview Washington Auto Insurance Agents give you a quote based on this location. How is this factored in? In Longview Washington compared to like Seattle we have less theft, less traffic so the risk of a accident is lower. Interesting I thought.

Age has a great deal to do with the rates we pay for Auto Insurance. The statistics show drivers under the age of twenty five simply have more accidents than mature adults of twenty five or older. Statistics also show senior citizens also have more accidents due to loss of vision and reflexes.

Washington State Insurance Agents can and do use your credit score as a factor in your Auto Insurance quote. Here is a link that can explin it better than I can, http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/credit/credit_scoring.pdf

For more info concerning Auto Insurance offered by Agents in Longview Washington and other cities for that matter in Washington here is a link, http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

LCC, Longview Washington, we hit the map in online enrollment in classes this year. Normally online class enrollment goes up around 15% a year. This year it went up 216%. Lower Columbia College now has 235 students who are actively taking their classes online. That is 110 more than last year. Nationwide online course enrollment has been steadily growing. Community Colleges are seeing the largest growth.

The Typical student years ago was the individual who wanted to bone up on a few subjects that were work related. Working full time does not leave you with much time to go to School, especially if you have a family.

It does take a lot more self discipline to take online College courses. You must develop and maintain good study habits. Self motivation is key to being successful in working toward a degree on the computer.

LCC unlike many Colleges offer Biology and Language classes. The college also offers some courses completely online such a program for registered nurses. But most students at Lower Columbia College take online classes to supplement their in class courses.

According to the Washington State Board of Education the cost of gas is a major influence in students opting to take online courses at LCC and other colleges in Washington. Students can save a great deal of money not having to drive to College everyday. This gas crunch seems to be effecting us in more ways than one.

LCC, Lower Columbia College has risen to the increased needs. By updating classroom technology and training more instructors in teaching classes online, it seems to be doing well at LCC. The way we get educated seems to be changing in this fast paced world, even here at LCC in Longview Washington.

Lower Columbia College is located at 1600 Maple Street, Longview Washington 98632 their phone number is 360 442 2311 LCC’s Online class schedule web address is http://lowercolumbia.edu/nr/exeres/B9A09900-A5CA-403A-8F4D-3B30801B48E8

The former Reynolds Aluminum Plant site in Longview Washington could be the future home for a glass recycling facility in the future. It would take glass gleaned from garbage and process it for the new Cameron Glass Packaging plant being built in Kalama Washington. Reynolds Aluminum used to produce cable on this property.

Cameron Family Glass Packaging plant is being built in Kalama Washington and will be using recycled glass not only from this area but also from the Portland Oregon area as well to produce primarily wine bottles for the wine industry. This is just another example of how one industry can spark new businesses to spring up to support businesses that already exist. Not only is this good for local business but it also is good for the environment, surly this will help with the burden of finding solutions to processing garbage at the land fills.

Personal Injury Attorneys or sometimes called Lawyers are usually your best source of information on what you should to do to protect you rights in a court of law. There are some very specific things that need to be addressed after an Automobile accident. Here in Longview Washington we have several Personal Injury Attorney’s that can advise you.

After a Auto Accident seek medical help

If you have been injured in a Auto Accident as soon as possible seek medical help. First of all your motivation should be your health. Often times immediate medical care will minimise any damage done in a Auto Accident. Secondly, if there are any injuries when involved in a Auto Accident they need to be documented by a medical professional. The care needed to restore you to as close to prior to accident health as possible needs to be documented as well. If you need to file a legal claim against the responsible party, the doctors documented reports and follow up care are vital to substantiate your claim. Injuries incurred in a Auto Accident can often times be life changing, you may need long term care, possibly never being able to work at your chosen profession again. An Longview Washington Attorney specializing in Auto Accidents and Personal Injury claims can guide you through the court system and protect your rights to being compensated for your loss.

Not only the driver in an Auto Accident can be liable

Often times not only the driver in a accident is liable for your damages. If you are injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident, there may be other parties that hold some liability in a court of law. Take for example if the driver at fault was intoxicated at the time of the accident. In the event the drunk driver was drinking at a bar, the establishment that was serving him could be liable if he was visibly intoxicated at the time of being served. Washington State has a Dram law that in a nutshell holds the business that served the driver liable for his actions. Personal Injury Attorneys can sift through the evidence to advise you of your legal rights.

If there was a defect in the automobile prior to the accident that contributed to the accident the manufacturer of the vehicle could be held liable. Possibly someone may have left debris in the road that contributed to the accident, they also could be held liable. More than one farmer has been sued for damages when his livestock gets out and causes a accident. If a person lets someone who is not qualified to operate a vehicle drive their car, they too can be held liable for personal injury in a accident.

If you have Auto Insurance Questions

There are a lot of situations that may need a Personal Injury Attorney that is experienced in Auto Accident claims to advise you about the laws involved in these types of claims. What is the at fault driver does not have insurance? What if you don’t have insurance? What if the at fault driver’s insurance coverage is not enough to cover the loss? If the insurance company offers a check immediately, do you take it? There are a lot of questions that need to be addressed when in a accident concerning insurance coverage and the insurance companies liability in these cases. Only a Attorney experienced in Personal Injury cases and Auto accidents can properly advise you as to your legal rights to compensation.

Longview Washington Attorneys

Longview Washington has quite a few Attorneys and Lawyers experienced in protecting your rights in a court of law. Unfortunately when injured insurance companies and responsible parties don’t just come to your rescue! Most often a experienced Personal Injury Attorney is needed to first of all advise you as to your rights to compensation. They are also needed in negotiating a settlement with insurance companies after a loss due to a injury. They are professionals when it comes to minimising damage to themselves when they are wrong or liable. Only a Lawyer/Attorney knowledgeable in the laws governing Personal Injury Claims can properly guide you through this process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Useful Links

http://www.nsc.org/ The National Safety Council, a nonprofit organization, provides links and articles on topics like seat belt use, safe driving for teenagers and reducing motor vehicle crashes.

http://www.dot.gov/
The Department of Transportation is a federal agency focusing on policy and lawmaking to ensure safer US travel.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ The NHTSA is a government agency dedicated to making American roads safer for travelers.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/  Washington State Department of Transportation

http://www.dmv.org/wa-washington/automotive-law/personal-injury.php  Unofficial site with a lot of terrific info concerning Auto Accidents and Attorneys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_5bmnnRy5M Here are some terrific you tube videos concerning Personal Injury Attorneys and insurance companies.

http://www.washingtonaccidentbook.com/ Washington State Accident Book. Great book on the ten biggest mistakes people make after a accident.

Longview Washington Real Estate Agents have a tough time of it now with the economy and the housing market the way it is now. After interviewing a few Real Estate Agents in the Kelso and Longview Washington area, I thought it would be informative to give a quick synopsis as to the daily life in the job of Real Estate Agents trying to sell our homes or find our next dream house. From the outside it may look like all they do is sit at a desk and do paperwork or drive around showing homes. But with a inside look at the hours and endless searches Real Estate Agents put into their jobs, I can attest they earn their commission.

There is a lot of time spent behind the scenes that no one ever sees when you are a Real Estate Agent. When you list a home the prospective seller needs to know how much their home is worth. They do what is commonly known as comparisons. Agents look up the homes that have sold in the area which your home is in. Then the Agent does a comparison of homes that have the same statistics as yours taking into account the square footage, age of the home, the number of bedrooms, baths, special amenities such as pools or shops. When this is all calculated into the equation the Real Estate Agent comes up with a good idea what your home will bring on the market. With that in hand they will discuss with you what your asking price will be.

Once an Agent and you come up with the asking price the Real estate Agent will usually have a meeting with the Real Estate Broker to come up with a game plan as to how your house will be marketed. Some of the options that are available are Newspaper ads, magazine ads, and online advertising options. Most of the time it will have a Real Estate Agent only tour, to show the house to other Agents so they have a feel for the home and what it offers to their clients that may be looking for a home like yours. Then there is of course Open House Showings we all see. They are usually on the weekend as this is when people seem to have the time to go look for a home.

Once your home is listed and advertised by a Longview Real Estate Agent, offers may come in and you will be contacted. A Real Estate Agents job is to advise you if the offer is a good one or not. You as the seller of the home have the right to refuse the offer or counter offer. Your Agent will be doing all the paperwork involved with the negotiations. There will be conversations between both your Agent and the other Real Estate Agent involved in buying your home. Sometimes counter offers are refused and you will be starting from scratch. Keep in mind the Real Estate Agent and the Real Estate Broker are not getting paid any extra for this, it is just part of the job. Sometimes a home is on the market for a few months and is involved with many showings and negotiations before a home is sold.

When you are purchasing a home and using the services of a Real Estate Agent here in Longview Washington or elsewhere, their job is a little different as they will then be looking for a home for you. Once they find you a home you are interested in they perform a comparison of the homes that meet the same criteria as the home you are interested in to see what a realistic offer would be. The negotiations begin when a formal offer is submitted to the