Wednesday, April 29, 2009

8 Very Easy Tips For Purchasing Cheaper Home Insurance

By William Hazelhurst

No one enjoys paying for homeowners insurance but unfortunately it is a necessary evil for most of us. That does not mean that you need to pay through the nose for it and here are 8 very easy tips to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance.

1. Shop around. By comparing prices from a number of insurance companies you will almost certainly be able to lower your premium payments by a substantial amount. This could seem to be obvious, but research suggests that a surprisingly large proportion of people either simply renew their existing plan or ask for just one or two quotes. Many insurance web sites automatically compare dozens of plans for you thereby making this one of the simplest ways to reduce your home insurance bill.

2. Purchase your insurance online. If you get your plan online you will often get a discount of up to 20% on normal prices because there are less administration costs involved and the savings can be passed on to you.

3. Combine your contents and buildings plans. Many insurance companies will allow you a discount when you take out both types of home insurance with them and this normally works out less expensive than buying the two plans from different companies.

4. Pay upfront. While the vast majority of insurance companies let you pay your premiums each month many of them will charge interest for this. So, if you are able to afford to pay a full year's premium in advance, then this will work out cheaper in the longer term.

5. Do not put in claims for small amounts. Making many small claims will frequently increase your insurance costs because your insurer might view you as a higher risk and increase your premiums. You will also lose any no claims discount that your policy accrued. Of course, you are entitled to claim for anything your plan covers but ask yourself whether making a small claim is worth the hassle and any consequent future increase in costs.

6. Consider arranging for a high voluntary excess on your plan. Policies feature something which is known as an 'excess' and this means that the policy will not pay out on claims under a specified value. On some policies when you choose to increase your excess your premium payments will be reduced.

7. Strengthen security for your property. Raising your home security with better door locks, window locks, lighting, and burglar alarm systems will normally lead to lower premiums.

8. Think about reducing your level of cover. Many policies include benefits that you might not need like cover for personal items while traveling or 'free' legal advice. Examine your plan and see what parts of it you really need.

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Homeowner Insurance -- Much Savings For These Difficult Times

By Chimezirim Odimba

Are you certain you seriously want cheaper rates? If your answer is "Yes" you must do everything within your power to learn as many ideas as as you can find for cheaper rates. I've got enough tips to help the greater majority save over 50% on insurance...

There are security and fire systems that are monitored 24/7. Not only will you get a big discount, you will also feel more secured bearing in mind that your house is always monitored. Although the discount this will attract will differ from one insurance company to another, you can expect to bring down your home insurance premium by as much as 25%.

Smoke and fire dectectors will will go a long way in reducing your home's fire risk. You will get lower rates especially if you have installed the right numbers for your size and type of house. If you have them, always remember to replace their batteries twice yearly.

With such detectors fires will be noticed on time and put off more easily before they can cause any real damage. And since the risk of fire in a house is important in working out home insurance rates, you'll spend far less by taking this step.

Do your best to place fire extinguishers at strategic points in your home. If you do NOT have any other place, ensure that your kitchen has one. It's important that the fire extinguisher be good enough for the point it covers.

And, do NOT forget that you must make them very easily accessible. Doing this will help you reduce your premiums.

Using the same insurer for more than one policy will get you discounts. This makes you eligible for a multi-policy discount. However, you might be better served by getting your policies from different insurers.

A group policy will cost you less. It is also good to verify from associations you are part of if they have any group discount from any insurer.

But before you buy check if you can obtain a cheaper home insurance rate with another company than that given by your association. For many reasons you may be better off NOT buying from a particular group's insurer. There is stiff competition in the home insurance sector and you can benefit from this to get lower premiums if you spend some time to do thorough shopping and comparisons.

If you are retired, you can pay cheaper premiums with a retiree discount. Since not every insurer offers this discount, find out from your agent before you pay for your policy.

Insurance companies who offer this discount know that burglars rarely go to houses where they know someone is always around. In addition, Fires will be quickly noticed and put off if somebody is always around.

You are entitled to a loyalty discount if you've stayed with an insurer for up to 3 years. Nevertheless, don't stay put with an insurer just for this reason. Make sure you are getting a good price to value.

Believe it or not, you will likely find an insurance provider that offers a more affordable home owner insurance or home renters insurance premium than what you are presently paying. Do shop extensively and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Get quotes from any good home insurance company you know you have never got one from and as well routinely get and compare home insurance quotes from up to 5 quotes sites about twice every year.

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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Arizona House Insurance Rate -- Paying Much Less

By Chimezirim Odimba

Everyone out there would be really glad to discover a way to enjoy affordable rates provided such a way will NOT put them at risk. Here are tips that will help you attract huge discounts with ease...

1. Dead-bolt locks on every exterior door will help you attract a lower rate. It's more difficult for thieves to break into homes that have these locks. The more fortified your home is against burglary, the lower the risk involved in insuring it.

2. Get an umbrella policy and cut down your homeowners' liability coverage. You pay a lot less for more extensive coverage from liability claims by doing this.

Don't forget what the liability part of your Arizona home owner insurance policy caters for: To protect you from losses you could incur due to injuries to people on your property. It should also cover lawsuits that might be occassioned by this. But like every other thing in insurance, there is a limit to the amount that is covered and your home liability coverage might even be totally inadequate.

On the other hand, an umbrella insurance policy generally offers enough coverage limits that can usually cover the craziest lawsuits for very insignificant premium.

3. Fixing a sprinkler will get you considerable discounts. This is so because a sprinkler system is good for putting off fires. It's slightly expensive so you will do well to ask your agent what you'll save if you have this fixed.

4. Bearing in mind that nothing stays constant, it's a smart idea to go over your Arizona homeowner's insurance policy from time to time to ensure you neither have too much nor have insufficient coverage. The value of a diamond ring might have changed considerably and therefore need that you adjust your coverage.

Reduce your coverage by the same percentage if it has dropped in value and this will help you save while maintaining enough coverage. But be informed that the opposite could also be the case where you would have to purchase additional coverage because it has risen in value. The interesting thing, in spite of all, is that whichever it is you will be the better for it.

5. Does your apartment have fire escapes? If you do then make it known to your agent and see what discounts this will get you. And don't fail to tell your agent even if they are as simple as rope ladders for rooms in the upper stories of your home. Ensure that you have a fire escape except you do not intend to benefit from this savings opportunity. And do not fail to find out from your agent what your insurance company sees as a standard fire escape because complying with that assures savings.

6. You can lower your home insurance costs by asking for and comparing quotes from at least five good insurance quotes sites.

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8 Easy Tips For Buying Cheaper Homeowners Insurance

By William Hazelhurst

Noone likes having to pay for homeowners insurance but it is a necessary evil for most of us. However, this does not mean you need to pay through the nose for it though and so here are 8 very simple tips to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance.

1. Take your time and shop around. By comparing prices from a number of insurance companies you will most likely be able to reduce your premium payments by a significant amount. This might seem to be obvious, but research has shown that an astonishingly large number of people either simply renew their current policy or request just one or two quotes. Many online insurance sites automatically compare dozens of plans for you therefore making this one of the easiest ways to reduce your insurance bill.

2. Purchase your insurance online. If you purchase your plan online you will often get a discount of up to 20% on normal prices as there are lower administration costs involved and the savings can be passed on to you.

3. Combine your contents and buildings plans. Many insurance companies will allow you a discount when you take out both types of home insurance with them and this normally works out less expensive than buying the two plans from different companies.

4. Pay upfront. While the vast majority of insurance companies let you pay your premiums each month many of them will charge interest for this. So, if you are able to afford to pay a full year's premium in advance, then this will work out cheaper in the longer term.

5. Do not put in claims for small amounts. Making many small claims will frequently increase your insurance costs because your insurer might view you as a higher risk and increase your premiums. You will also lose any no claims discount that your policy accrued. Of course, you are entitled to claim for anything your plan covers but ask yourself whether making a small claim is worth the hassle and any consequent future increase in costs.

6. Consider arranging for a high voluntary excess on your plan. Policies feature something which is known as an 'excess' and this means that the policy will not pay out on claims under a specified value. On some policies when you choose to increase your excess your premium payments will be reduced.

7. Strengthen security for your property. Raising your home security with better door locks, window locks, lighting, and burglar alarm systems will normally lead to lower premiums.

8. lower your level of cover. Many plans include benefits that you may not need like cover for personal items when you are traveling or 'free' legal advice. Study your policy and see which sections of it you really need.

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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Ways To Cheap Colorado Springs Home Insurance Rate

By Chimezirim Odimba

You will obtain cheap quotes and end up paying the most affordable Colorado Springs home owners insurance rate possible for your profile if you understand and implement a few things. I'll share a number of you have to do if you want considerable discounts that won't put you and yours at risk...

1. You'll pay cheaper premiums if you elect to pay your premiums annually and not monthly. A strong reason for this is the cost an insurer incurs for sending you 12 bills instead of just one each year.

If you include the fact that each check you make out is seen as a transaction by their bankers, you'll see that they still pay some more on transaction charges for each check you pay in. They pay transaction fees 12 times instead of once a year for monthly premiums. And, if you really come to think of it, these extra overheads are ultimately built into your Colorado Springs home insurance rates.

Therefore, you'll attract cheaper premiums if you choose to pay your premiums yearly. What you'll save could be as much as 8.5% of your total monthly payments over the course of just one year.

2. You'll get cheaper Colorado Springs homeowner insurance rates if you have motion-sensitive lighting for your home's exterior. Thieves generally don't like to operate in any place they could be easily seen or caught. Your Colorado Springs home owners insurance rate will be reduced once you've reduced your home's risk of burglary with such lighting.

3. You'll enjoy cheaper Colorado Springs home insurance rates if you build with the right materials. Frame houses are more resistant to earthquakes while brick homes are more resistant to high winds. So if you reside in the East, you will attract more affordable rates if you own a brick home. For those who live in the West, they'll pay more if they have a brick home. Expect to save a minimum of 5% if you opt for a building with the preferred material.

4. If you get a sprinkler you'll be eligible for a discount. Sprinklers are very useful in putting off fires and by extension reduces fire damage. Ask your agent the discount you'll get for doing this before you get yours because they are very expensive. You can pay back over several years thus reducing the difficulty in paying the amount involved in such a project.

5. It's more expensive and needless to insure the land on which your house is standing. Those who ignorantly do this pay for more insurance than would be of any benefit. They just insure their home for its full value without deducting the land's cost.

If you made such a mistake, you need to re-evaluate your home insurance coverage and check it again with your agent. Deduct the land's cost and you'll discover that you'll need far less coverage.

This means you'll get a more affordable homeowner insurance rate. No matter what you do and who you meet, remember that the only things you insure are things that can be lost or destroyed and your land is not one of such.

6. You can save much by visiting a minimum of five home insurance quotes sites. If you do this, you'll get the lowest quotes available because five sites will present up to 25 quotes altogether.

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Low Cost Homeowner Insurance In Richmond Virginia

By Chimezirim Odimba

There are a good number of options open to anyone who plans to enjoy low cost Richmond Virginia homeowner insurance. But while many of them may reduce your cost, they could leave you with inadequate coverage. I don't generally approve of such options since they make nonsense of the main purpose of a Richmond Virginia homeowner insurance policy in the first place. Therefore, I'll only show you suggestions that will as well leave you well covered in spite of saving you much. Here they are...

1.Your rate is partly determined by your credit history. Those who have very good ratings spend far less than people who have low ratings. What your credit rating shows is how you treat your bills and it speaks badly about you if it is a poor one. This is a behavior that most insurers believe will play out again in the way you pay up your premiums. This makes you a bigger risk and therefore attracts a higher rate.

It'll, therefore, be a good step to do something about improving your credit rating. Apart from the other benefits in doing so, it will ensure you get cheaper homeowners insurance Richmond premiums.

2.Maintaining a government homeowner's insurance policy could be making you spend a lot more on your home insurance than you would private companies. Natural disasters in certain places made it very difficult for those there to obtain home insurance coverage. Most folks in those regions had just an choice: Government homeowner's insurance sold by a government agency. But this has changed in some areas as some private insurers have braved it and found a means of giving insurance to such places.

Depending on where you live, though, you might still have no other choice but to use government homeowner's insurance. However, this is not always the case as you may obtain better coverage at a lower price from some private insurance companies.

3.Having a smoker in your household will raise your premium considerably. And statistics have it that over 23,000 residential fire every year could be traced to smoking. You'll spend less on your Richmond Virginia homeowner insurance policy if nobody in your household smokes. For people who smoke, note that you're entitled to a downward review in your rate once you've quit smoking for more than 12 months. If your insurer refuses to lower your premiums after you've stopped, look for another insurance company.

4.Fit your home with shatter-proof windows and you will get more affordable rates. If you stay in place with high winds and hail storms get your windows upgraded to these and you'll be eligible for reasonable discounts. You can as well discuss with your agent first before undertaking the upgrade as he or she would be in a better position to show you how to save the most.

5.Do you know all your home insurance policy does not include? They're things that the policy doesn't give you coverage for.

While paying affordable homeowners insurance is interesting, it is only when the lower premiums don't have you compromised. No matter how inexpensive a policy is, it isn't good enough if it doesn't provide with adequate coverage. All it will cost you is studying the policy to avoid unpleasant surprises on the long run.

6. You can reduce your Richmond Virginia home insurance premium by asking for and evaluating quotes from at least five reputable quotes sites.

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Ways To Attract A Cheap Arizona Homeowners Insurance Rate

By Chimezirim Odimba

People who have discovered the right steps to take don't find it difficult enjoying the best Arizona home owner insurance rates without compromise to the quality of coverage they get. Go through this article if you would like to be part of this special group who are paying very low Arizona home owner insurance rates while enjoying adequate coverage...

1. Electing to pay your premiums monthly results in more expensive premiums than you would spend if you choose to pay annually. A strong reason for this is the cost an insurance company incurs for posting you twelve bills instead of just one each year.

If you add to the fact that each check you send is considered a transaction by their bankers, you will see that they still spend extra on transaction fees for each check you pay in. twelve checks are 12 transactions which attract 12 different transaction charges. These and other costs so incurred by your insurance company are eventually passed over to you, the insured..

As a result, you will get cheaper rates if you choose to pay your rates anually. You could save up to a month's premium in just a single year.

2. Motion-sensitive lighting lowers your home's risk of burglary and, as a result, makes it easier for you to get cheaper home insurance rates. Your home becomes less attractive to thieves as they'll be noticed easily. Since thieves avoid houses with such lighting, you reduce your home's risk of burglary and, consequently, your Arizona homeowner insurance rates.

3. The material you use in building your house goes a long way in affecting your home insurance rate. For instance, brick buildings are best in locations with high winds while frame homes are better in earthquake regions. This implies that people who reside in the East will save if theirs is a frame home. For folks who live in the West, they'll pay more if they have a brick home. Expect to save a minimum of 5% if you choose a home with the right material.

4. Installing a sprinkler will get you considerable discounts. Sprinklers are very helpful in suppressing fires and by extension reduces fire damage. Ask your agent what you will save by doing this before you get yours because they are quite expensive.

5. It's more expensive and needless to insure the land on which your home is standing. A good number of people spend much more than they should on home insurance on account of this mistake. You have made same mistake if you insured your house for the cost you bought it without finding out the cost of the land it's built on and deducting it.

If you made this mistake quickly call your agent and review your home insurance policy. Lower your coverage to the cost of your house and its contents minus the land's value.

With such a review you will reduce your premiums by a huge margin and still have sufficient home insurance coverage. Because insurance is for things that can't afford to lose, insuring the land which can neither get lost or damaged isn't right.

6. You can save much money in home insurance if you get and compare home insurance quotes from insurance quotes sites. You'll realize savings if you use just one of such sites. But keep this in mind, you'll get more by using at least five. The simple logic in this is that you'll get many more home insurance quotes from a wider range of insurance companies. This increases your chances of receiving better offers.

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Michigan Homeowners' Insurance -- More Tips

By Chimezirim Odimba

Even though you've the choice of insuring against every imaginable peril, you actually do NOT need to. The likelihood of certain perils in your location is too low to make buying coverage for them necessary. You can almost say with confidence that some perils are not possible in certain states going by their history.

Make sure your home is insured against all all losses that have a good chance of occuring. At the same time, you might just be burning your hard-earned cash if you purchase coverage for a peril that has never happened in your state's history. You will only purchase necessary coverage if you secure yourself against real potential perils. This will help you pay only the right amount you should.

Statistics show that dog bites lead to over $1 billion in liability claims yearly (That's about 33% of all liability claims annually). Dog owners, therefore, should get ready to attract higher rates on theirMichigan homeowners insurance. You can save yourself such high rates by ensuring your dogs are generally kept at locations where they can do visitors to your house or passersby no harm.

What you pay as premium is partly determined by your credit rating. People who have excellent ratings spend far less than those who have low ratings. What your credit rating reveals is how you treat your bills and it speaks badly about you if it is a poor one. An insurance company takes this to mean that you are financially irresponsible and will likely default in paying your premiums. This makes you a bigger risk and therefore attracts a higher rate.

Therefore, it will do you much good to pay all your bills promptly. You will get more affordable home owners insurance premiums if you do.

You may be paying a lot more if you've got a government homeowner's insurance policy. Natural disasters in certain places made it very hard for those there to get home insurance coverage. Some folks in those regions had just one option: Government homeowner's insurance sold by a government agency. But this has changed in some areas as some private insurance companies have braved it and found a means of giving insurance to such places.

Many may still have little or no other way of obtaining home insurance coverage apart from a government homeowner's insurance. But if your area is now serviced by some private insurance providers you could make considerable savings by switching to them.

Some security and fire systems are monitored 24/7. Apart from the peace of mind you will have in knowing your home is always been watched by committed professionals, you'll enjoy cheaper home insurance premiums. Even though the discount this will attract will vary from one insurance company to another, you can expect to lower your home insurance rate by as high as 25%.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Need For Homeowner Insurance

By William Hazelhurst

Buying an insurance plan for your valued assets is extremely important. Many people have health insurance because they know that medical problems have to be given immediate attention because their health is vital to them and, in exactly the same fashion, most people also place a lot of importance on their home which they view as being another especially valued asset.

Home owners insurance, also referred to as hazard insurance, is a kind of property insurance that protects privately owned dwellings. This type of insurance policy protects you in the event of the loss of your home as well as the loss of things like furniture, appliances and your other personal possessions.

Precisely what a homeowners insurance plan will cover depends on your particular insurance contract but an important thing to remember is that a lot of policies only cover your home if it is your usual residence. If the property is vacant or unoccupied you may need a special type of insurance often called a dwelling plan.

Also, how much you will have to pay for home insurance depends largely on the property being insured and the amount of the loss which would be incurred in the event of the destruction of your home. It will also depend to a degree on the extent of cover which you wish your insurer to provide and various other factors, like whether your property is secure.

The principle factor will however be the value of the property and this means that it is especially important for homeowners to ensure that they have an up-to-date valuation for their property which truly reflects the current market value. For instance, in a lot of regions home prices have dropped significantly in the last few years and if this applies to your own home then you have to ensure that your insurer knows this and amends your insurance homeowners plan costs accordingly.

In the same way that making sure that your loved ones have adequate health insurance, it is also essential to ensure that you are able to maintain a roof over the heads of your loved ones by making sure that you have sufficient property insurance.

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Landlord insurance is an important element to your life if you are a full time landlord. Ensure you're insured for any problem.

By Aimee H Buckley

Landlord insurance comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and is very important for a variety of reasons. Landlord insurance is important because it'll protect you against any unforeseen circumstances while you own property.

There are many types of landlord insurance so you'll have to decide what applies to you and what you think you need. Landlord insurance is very important so if you are a landlord and you don't have any insurance you'll need to get something sorted.

The most common form of landlord insurance is buildings cover which will cover you for any buildings issues as stated on the policy. Obviously, you'll need to read your policy documents before you sign anything to ensure you are covered for what you need.

If your tenants cause damage to your property then you can also get landlord insurance which will keep you covered in this sort of situation. You should definitely get landlord insurance to ensure that you're covered for anything you may be worried about.

There are lots of different landlord insurance options available but the most common forms are buildings insurance and buy to let insurance. While you have a buildings insurance policy you will be covered for any damage to your property due to weather or other aspects.

It isn't always the landlords responsibility to get contents insurance but you are able to get that sort of cover if you want. You will need to think about several things while you're sorting out your landlord insurance options.

You will firstly need to consider what kind of landlord insurance cover you need depending on your circumstances. You will need to think about what you are able to spend on your landlord insurance each month or on a yearly basis.

You have to make sure you are covered for the appropriate things if you are a full time landlord - landlord insurance is essential. Many landlords aren't aware of what cover is available when it comes to landlord insurance and this causes problems.

You will need to do a lot of research to make sure that you are covered for all the situations that you may run in to. There are many kinds of landlord insurance options available so make sure that you are covered for all you need to be covered for.

Before you buy any landlord insurance you'll need to make sure you have done some research so you can get the best deals. You should definitely search the web for landlord insurance deals because most of the best deals are online.

You really do need to ensure you're covered for any insurance claims you might need to make - landlord insurance is so important. You shouldn't have any problems finding what you need in terms of landlord insurance - it's easy to find, easy to understand and easy to buy.

Overall, as long as you do your research you shouldn't have any problems finding what you need in the way of landlord insurance. Landlord insurance is very important so make sure that you are covered with high quality insurance options from a reputable company.

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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Five Considerations for First Time Homeowners to Know About Insurance

By Amy Nutt

Congratulations on the pending purchase of your first home! Besides the mortgage and taxes you will now be paying, you are also going to need to fork out some money for homeowner's insurance. This Canada insurance option is required by your mortgage lender, so make sure you understand what you are buying and how to use it if you should need to someday.

Why Homeowners Insurance Is Needed

Homeowner's insurance is necessary to cover damages to a property for unforeseen events. Your lender will require it, because without it they could lose all of the money they invested into your home if you had a fire or other disaster. You need it because it protects your home and items within the home from damage or theft. It also protects you from liability for injuries that happen on your property.

Some insurance policies also cover living expenses if your home should become unlivable after a disaster. For instance, if you are forced to move to a hotel after a fire, your insurance policy may cover that cost, as well as some of the cost for the food you eat while repairs are underway.

How to Find Coverage

To find homeowner's insurance, talk to your favorite Canada insurance provider. Most of them will offer homeowner's policies. However, do not purchase a policy from the first lender that you find. Take some time to shop around, because the cost of home insurance varies tremendously from provider to provider. You can also talk to your mortgage broker or real estate agent to see if they have any good ideas about insurance providers. Friends and family who are homeowners may have names for you as well.

What Is Covered?

Most basic home insurance policies cover the same things. A basic policy will cover your belongings and your home against damages due to natural disasters, accidental fires, and theft or vandalism. These types of policies typically carry exclusions, including things like floods or earthquakes. To have these situations covered, you will need to purchase additional coverage or a rider to add this policy.

Discounts Are Available

In light of closing costs and the other expenses that surround a new home purchase, insurance is not typically a big expense. However, there are many things you can do to lower the cost of your premium if you need to. One is to increase your deductible. Canada home insurance providers always lower premiums when a deductible is increased. Choose a deductible amount that you could pay if you had to, but make it as high as is feasibly possible if you need to lower your insurance cost. You can also get a discount by installing a home security system in your home to deter thieves. Insuring your home with the insurance provider that also carries your car insurances or some other insurance product will also earn you a discount.

Always Check Maximum Payouts

When shopping for home insurance, make sure that you check the maximum payouts on the policy. For instance, your garage may be covered, but it may only be covered for up to $2,000 worth of damage. You need a policy that has adequate coverage, because if you do have to make a claim someday, you do not need to be left holding a substantial bill. You will have many other expenses after a disaster to deal with, so make sure your insurance covers what it covers adequately.

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