New research from the ABI indicates that as global temperatures rise, so will the cost of property insurance and for the UK specifically, the insured cost of flood and windstorm damage could increase significantly.
The experts in climate catastrophe risks, AIR Worldwide Corporation and the Met Office, produced The Financial Risks of Climate Change for the ABI which examines the financial implications of the increasing temperatures on the insured cost of flood and windstorm damage in the UK.

Spettro have over 38 years of experience in dealing with claims for flood damage and are prepared for the oncoming gloom of climate change.  Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

This study brings to light a shocking potential rise of 14% in annual insured losses from river flooding and flash floods, based on a four-degree rise in global temperatures which could occur as early as 2060.  Windstorm losses are even more threatening with a possible rise of 25% due to changes in ‘storm tracks’, along which cyclones travel.

Mrs Middleton from Surrey points out how Spettro thinks ahead in practice: “I would like to say how pleased I was with the service provided by Spettro, in particular Kevin England who gave me some very helpful advice about what we can do to prevent flooding in the future.  You provided a far better service than the restoration company who were originally appointed by our insurance company, much needed at a stressful time!”

According to the research, the worst affected areas of the UK are likely to be Wales and the south-west regions; for the latter, average annual flood and wind damage insured losses could rise by 29% and 24% respectively.

A Spettro Franchise can put you in a position to take climate change by the horns and with 30 territories sold already, this franchise is a popular choice. Contact Spettro now to request a prospectus on 01883 621047.
 

Susan Massey has just launched Spettro (Bristol), Spettro’s 30^th franchise territory to go live!

 

Susan is married and has two grown-up children who have now left home and so decided now was the time to start her own business. Susan explains how she decided on Spettro as her new business, “I have previously managed petrol stations and a catering business and have sales and marketing experience but was looking for a franchise that would give me the opportunity to acquire specialist knowledge within the property market.”

 

“After carefully researching what would appeal to me I looked further into companies that were in the building insurance repair specialist market. Then, after spending a lot of time talking to these companies, I decided it was Spettro that I wanted to meet.”

 

“I attended an interview meeting with the directors at Spettro in February and I left feeling that this was the company who could help and support me in a new career in a specialist market. Tony recommended that I chat to some of the other franchisees before I made up my mind. Since then I have been on the initial training course and I have just launched this September.”

 

Spettro helps home and business owners deal with property insurance claims and the repairs associated with flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. The business is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) which allows them to mediate with all the major insurance companies.

 

With 32 territories already sold the Spettro franchise is a popular choice so why not contact us to request a prospectus?

Research published in June by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) reveals that almost a quarter of people admit to cancelling or not renewing their contents insurance to save money. Other insurances are also being ditched, despite the fear of being unable to cope with the unexpected being the biggest single concern for families in the recession.

The survey* highlights that:

• Nearly a quarter of people (22%) say that to save money in the last year they have cancelled or not renewed their home contents insurance. 17% say that they have cancelled or not renewed their buildings cover. In Scotland, the figures rise to 28% for contents and 21% for buildings.
• 13% have cancelled their life insurance.
• One in five (21%) say that they are seriously considering reducing or stopping saving.

This lack of cover is leaving many families even more exposed to their biggest fear in the recession: nearly half (49%) of those surveyed said that they currently worry about their inability to cope with a sudden event, such as a burglary.

With Government figures showing a 4% rise in home burglaries in the last quarter of 2008, the ABI warns that families who are tempted to save money by cutting back on their home insurance should think again.

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:
”Many families will be looking to trim their budgets as the recession bites but cutting back on home insurance is a false economy. Last year insurers paid over 6,000 claims, paying out some £7 million, every week, to burglary victims. Without insurance, becoming another crime statistic could plunge you deeper into financial trouble, from which it may take years to recover.

“The insurance market remains very competitive, so shopping around can help you get a good deal, while ensuring that you are not at the mercy of the unexpected.”

Consider and prepare for the unexpected

Businesses and homeowners battling through the recession are being hit by an increasing fire threat according to the most recent figures released.  The cost of fire damage in 2008 rose by 16% on 2007 to a record £1.3 billion –  £3.4 million every day.

The figures show that in 2008:

• Commercial fire damage cost £865 million, up 15% on the previous year. School fires alone cost £33 million, with a serious school fire occurring every month on average.
• Fire damage to homes cost £408 million, up 17% on the previous year.

Tony Smith, the founding director of Spettro, is alarmed by the increase in insurance claims coming from property fires:
“These figures really highlight both the importance of fire insurance, and reducing and managing the fire risk. Research shows that arson tends to increase during an economic downturn. If it is a fire started on purpose to recover from financial difficulties it is important to remember that claims assessors use increasingly speciliased equipment that can invalidate a claim by proving arson but also that starting fires endangers lives. If a fire is started by someone intending malicious damage or to cover a burglary, it is important to be fully covered to recuperate losses.”

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

With 30 territories already sold, the Spettro franchise is a popular choice so why not contact Spettro to request a prospectus on 01883 621047.

* These are the findings from a national survey of over 2,000 adults conducted by YouGov, on behalf of the ABI.
 

For the past few years Graham Green has been dealing with the stock market but as things started to change he decided to look at a career which was less controlled by the economic climate. So now, when home and business owners wake up in Cambridge to find their buildings damaged by a burst pipe, extreme weather conditions or burglars then Graham can set their minds at ease.

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

“For the past few years, I had been working part-time as a business consultant with my main income coming from trading stock & shares. Given the heavy falls in stock markets around the world and the bleak outlook for the economy, I began looking at franchises that would use my skills in project management and required attention to detail,” explains Graham.

“Spettro attracted me because I have an interest in building materials and felt Spettro’s emphasis on building insurance claims management would prove to be less exposed to the effects of a recession than some of the other management franchises I looked at.”

“Having met with Tony and Kevin, two of the Directors at Spettro, a couple of times I was impressed by their helpful and knowledgeable support and this gave me the confidence to join the Spettro family even though it represents a new path in my business career!“
 
With 30 territories already sold the Spettro franchise is a popular choice so why not contact Spettro to request a prospectus on 01883 621047?

For nearly 13 years Wahid Murtaza has worked for the Carphone Warehouse, most recently managing a team of 1300 staff across the London division until the threat of redundancy loomed. So now, when home and business owners wake up in Leeds to find their buildings damaged by a burst pipe, extreme weather conditions or burglars then Wahid can set their minds at ease.

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

“After Graduating from Oxford Brookes University with BSc (Hons) Building Management, I started working for Carphone Warehouse. I worked for them for around 12 ½ years where I worked my way up to Divisional Manager. I have always wanted to set up my own business so when the opportunity came to take voluntary redundancy I opted for it,” explains Wahid.

“Before deciding upon Spettro I looked at many different opportunities and also investigated Spettro’s competitors. The thing that most appealed to me about Spettro was the professional, friendly and supportive way Kevin and Tony came across, as well as the focus they have on delivering the right service to the customer and therefore adding value to the customer’s experience.”

“Another deciding factor was that this is a relatively new business with good strong values and with the potential for massive growth. So I decided to invest in the three yellow page-sized territories of Leeds, Barnsley & Doncaster, and Wakefield & Huddersfield.“

After several years of few opportunities with the Royal Bank of Scotland, Phillip Broadbent has taken charge of his own future. So now, when home and business owners wake up in Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton to find their buildings damaged by a burst pipe, extreme weather conditions or burglars then Phil can set their minds at ease.

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

“After several years with RBS and limited progression opportunities, I was looking for a change of career. I had worked in my father’s restoration business and knew there was a lot of potential for providing a quality service for people following insurance claims, “ explains Phil.

“I responded to an advert for Spettro and went for an initial interview with the directors in Surrey. The initial gut-feeling was good and after further research, including contacting competitor companies and speaking with some existing Spettro franchisees, I decided to take the plunge.”

“I have now completed my training and with the support of Spettro’s head office team I feel like I’m on my way to cashing in on a successful future!”

Colin Lewis was a police inspector for the last 6 years, most recently providing the initial command and control for any spontaneous serious or major incidents Force-wide, including the deployment of firearms officers. He retired in September after 30 years with the police but now he will be tackling major incidents of a different kind with his Spettro franchise in Mersey.

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

“I was coming to the end of my career with the Police Force but still needed something to focus and challenge me, “ explains Colin, “I first started my research on franchising in Autumn 2007 looking at articles in the Daily Mail and I then went on to look at the BFA, Franchiseworld, Making Money magazine, the Business Franchise website and other associated magazines.“
 
“I eventually attended the January 2008 Franchise Exhibition in Manchester, where I looked at a number of franchises including Spettro and spoke to the individuals on the stalls. I went home and spoke to friends who run franchises in a number of different fields and their experiences gave me some really helpful insights.”

“When I later attended a roadshow laid on by the Royal Bank of Scotland in Leeds, their helpful guide on how to make your mind up about a franchise narrowed down my choices and I made the decision to take up the Spettro franchise. I went to speak with Spettro’s directors Kevin and Tony and their knowledge and enthusiasm firmed up my thoughts that this would be a business that would work for me and suit my skills.”

"The next step of going to the bank to secure funding really surprised me as it was more about them accepting a business plan I put together than anything else. In the present economic climate they agreed that the Spettro business was financially viable and accepted my business plan very quickly. Now I have completed my training and I’m really looking forward to helping families and businesses across Merseyside.”

After 10 years of driving a black cab around Edinburgh, Frank Rudden has taken a change of direction. So now, when home and business owners wake up in Edinburgh to find their buildings damaged by extreme weather conditions or burglars then Frank can set their minds at ease.

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in rental property refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

“After being a self-employed taxi driver for the last 10 years I was looking for something new that would really motivate me and now I’m really looking forward to helping families and businesses across Edinburgh,” explains Frank.

“I had spent a year looking into all different franchises, but didn't want to just jump into the first one, I knew I needed one that I could feel passionate about. As soon as I came across Spettro I knew I wanted to do some research into the company and their competitors. Once I was satisfied with my research I then phoned Spettro's head office and travelled down to meet the directors Tony and Kevin and it went from there.”

“I have now completed my training and with the support of Spettro’s head office team I feel like I’m heading down the highway to success!”

At Spettro, we have collated some industry facts and figures to demonstrate how the franchise business is supported by the insurance sector.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders publish figures annually stating the total amount of mortgages in the UK including Northern Ireland. For 2007 70% of the population are recorded to have mortgages relating to home or business properties. The British population is approximately 60 million, which represents about 42 million homes or business properties with mortgages assigned to them. Anyone with a mortgage is obliged to have Buildings Insurance Cover in force on their properties by the mortgage provider to protect their financial interests. This mandatory requirement clearly creates a vast non-discretionary market and this, in turn, provides business for our Spettro franchisees as insurance claims are recorded.

The Association of British Insurers publish figures annually stating the total amount paid out by their members on buildings insurance claims nationally (published in October for the previous year). In 2006/07 these figures state that £18.3 million per day was paid out on both private and commercial properties. In 2005/6, insurers paid out £14.8 million per day, showing an increase over the last 2-year period of 23.60%!! This increased figure is primarily attributable to the devastating floods that occurred in Summer 2007 in Doncaster, Hull in the East, Oxfordshire in the West and the surrounding areas. In excess of 68,000 additional claims were registered last year pertaining to the flooding, resulting in an additional £2.7 billion being paid out on repairing insured properties in those flooded areas.

Spettro’s business and franchise network continues to grow despite fears of recession with 23 territories across the UK plus the central office running 2 additional territories. Spettro helps home and business owners deal with property insurance claims and the repairs associated with flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. The business is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) which allows them to mediate with all the major insurance companies.

This information will assist in making an informed decision regarding the great business opportunity that avails itself in purchasing a Spettro Franchise area. If there is any further information that you may require, please do not hesitate to contact the Directors of Spettro for further clarification, where we will only be too happy to assist you with your questions - contact us!

Richard and Ashley Manning have just completed their first week’s training at the Spettro head office and are now looking forward to launching their new business covering the Derby area at the beginning of October.

Prior to becoming involved with Spettro, Richard was working as a Recruitment Consultant and he and Ashley felt that they needed a more certain source of income whilst maintaining their work/life balance.

Richard explains how they decided on a Spettro franchise, “We went along to the British Franchise Exhibition at the Birmingham NEC last October looking for an alternative business activity that offered variety and regular revenue to become involved in. Following our visit to the show we started to receive a franchise magazine called ‘Making Money” and in one issue we saw an advertisement for Spettro. We have always had an interest in property, DIY and architecture and realised that working with Spettro would make use of my project management skills and provide experience of construction and property maintenance which would eventually lead to a move into property restoration and development.”

“Another key factor that we considered was that Spettro’s business activity is as recession proof as anything can be and it therefore looked to be a good proposition. Having investigated and visited the competition in the mean time, we met with the Directors, Tony Smith and Kevin England, at the beginning of June and by the end of the month, we’d signed up for the Derby area.”

For Ashley, the final thing that confirmed their decision was during their meeting with the Spettro team, “We were impressed by the openness, passion, care and involvement shown by the Directors, as well as their previous backgrounds, and felt that the level of support on offer was superb.”

Spettro deals with claims for flood, fire, storm, impact damage and burglaries. They also are involved in property rental refurbishments and detecting the origin of water leaks. Spettro Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) which allows them to loss assess and mediate with all the major insurance companies, a service which is free of charge to the insured.

Spettro’s pilot franchise turned over £240,000 in its first year, with a 65% operating profit and with 24 yellow page territories launched or soon to launch, why not request a prospectus: contact Spettro on 01883 621047