Homeowners insurance consumer guide offered
The Consumer's Independent Guide to Homeowners Insurance, a free guide aimed at helping first-time homebuyers -- or anyone who owns a home -- protect their investment is available from the Independent Insurance Agents of America.
Flood and earthquake policies, inventory and property coverage for home-based businesses, ways to lower your premium and insurance for renters are some of the topics covered.
"Most homeowners have purchased homeowners insurance, but our recent consumer survey shows that three out of five Americans don't always understand what they bought," said Peter van Aartrijk, a spokesman for IIAA. Mr. Aartrijk encourages homeowners to read their policies and ask questions about what they don't understand.
Linda Golodner, president of the National Consumers League, said, "Consumers need to read and understand their policies to make sure they are adequately covered -- before they have a loss, when it's too late." Dozens of insurance-related terms are also included in the guide which can be ordered by calling (800) 991-7722.
O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ranked 14th largest
O'Conor, Piper & Flynn Realtors has been ranked 14th nationally by Real Trends, an industry publication that listed the country's 250 largest residential real estate brokerage firms, which it said controlled more than 1.4 million residential sales transactions in 1994.
During 1994, Timonium-based O'Conor completed 16,120 transactions, which include both sales by its agents and homes it listed but which were sold by agents from other firms. The top two brokers on the list were Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of California and Weichert Realtors of New Jersey.
O'Conor, Piper & Flynn is the region's largest locally owned and managed independent real estate company with 46 offices and 1,400 sales associates throughout Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Enterprise Foundation establishes consortium
The Enterprise Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation recently established the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management to provide training for low-income housing nonprofit housing providers.
CHAM will design training programs aimed at improving the asset, property and people management skills of nonprofit housing organizations.
The new group will also establish an information clearinghouse, promote a better understanding of nonprofit housing operators' ownership needs and advocate public policy that supports nonprofit housing management initiatives. Roland C. Diggs will serve as managing coordinator for CHAM.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Chapel Valley Landscape Co. of Woodbine is one of 16 firms around the country to receive a biennial National Landscape Award from the American Association of Nurserymen. Chapel Valley was recognized for "outstanding environmental enhancement through landscaping" for its work at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
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