Helena Talbot's blog - Protecting Your Assets Before an Emergency Strikes

From superstorm Sandy to the tornadoes of 2011, severe weather events have taken their toll on homeowners across the country over the past several years. Such natural emergencies not only impact our personal well being and living space, but our financial health as well. 

According to asset protection lawyer and author Hillel L. Presser, preventative steps should be taken in advance to avoid a financial crisis in the wake of a natural disaster. He offers these tips for safeguarding your assets now:

• Protect your assets from lawsuits. One way to do this is by protectively titling non-exempt assets. Exempt assets vary by state and may include such things as your primary residence and personal furniture; make sure to check your specific state exemptions – those items generally should not need any extra protection. However, non-exempt assets, such as bank accounts, recreational vehicles and the like, should be titled in the names of corporations, limited partnerships, domestic trusts and other entities.
• Have adequate insurance. In fact, over-insure your assets! Those include - but are not limited to - your car, home, and other valuables. You never know what you could lose in a natural disaster.
• Safeguard your paperwork. Collect and copy all paperwork and have it accessible in the event you must evacuate. Give the second copy to a trusted financial advisor, attorney or trustee for safekeeping. Take a video of every room and keep an itemized asset list with your paperwork. That way, you’ll have the documentation to present to your insurance company when filing a claim. Photos and videos, as well as receipts and documents showing the value of those assets will help.
• Safeguard your business. Create a plan of action to implement in the event of a natural disaster, and practice implementing it. Hurricane Sandy illustrated the problems business owners faced in trying to resume operations during widespread power outages and equipment destroyed by floodwaters. Do you have a generator? Can you utilize cloud computing? Keep a record of all payrolls and business documents remotely so that if you don’t have access to your business dwelling, you can still access copies of all important business documentation.
• Make sure your estate plan is up to date. Everyone should have an updated estate plan, including minor children. Choose one trustworthy person to be the executor of your estate. This person should have a hard copy of your financial account information and list of your assets, including intellectual property and passwords that you can access in the event of a natural disaster.

I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia. 

I have over 25 years experience in the real estate industry.  As a Broker/Owner with Exit Realty Talbot and Company, I bring special tools and solutions that enable me to exceed the expectations of my clientele.  If you are considering listing your property in Loudoun County or the nearby areas, ask me about our latest internet marketing systems.  I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.  I am experienced in listing and selling short sales.  For information on the short sale process, please visit  www.LoudounShortSaleSolutions.com.

My past awards and designations include – 2003 President of the Dulles Association of Realtors, 2003 Dulles Area Assoc Realtor of the Year, Salesperson of the year 2000 Dulles Area Assoc of Realtors,  Top Producer awards from both the Dulles Area Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.  I am a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network.

I have lived in Loudoun County since 1979.  I am married with two grown children and two grandchildren.  My son in law is my business partner in real estate.  I love to jog in the mornings and spend time relaxing on my Trawler during the summer months.

Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales and Solutions – Helena Talbot, Broker. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in the Northern Virginia area to include Loudoun County and surrounding areas including Fairfax, Clarke, Fauquier, Prince William  Counties.  Our local neighborhoods include Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Potomac Falls, Brambleton, Broadlands, Lansdowne, River Creek, Belmont Country Club, Beacon Hill, Shenstone, Waterford, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Round Hill and Bluemont.                        Cell 703.727.9885    Office 703.574.3800   www.facebook.com/LoudounCountyConnect  www.twitter.com/ExitAshburn  www.Linkedin.com/in/HelenaTalbot