Most people know the importance of insurance protection. You don't want to be without it when problems strike. What many don't realize, however, is that protecting themselves with insurance isn't a once and done event. You don't wear the same pants you did when you were five years old because, besides no longer being in style, they simply don't fit. A Homeowners policy purchased when your house was furnished with bean bag chairs and bar stools is no longer going to "fit" once you're lounging on Italian leather sofas while watching television on your wall mounted plasma screen. Life is constantly changing, and your insurance policies should reflect that.
Does this mean that I have to immediately call my insurance agent every time I buy a new piece of furniture or my cousin Gwen moves in for six months? Not necessarily. Although more significant changes should be reported immediately (such as getting married or getting a new car), items such as improving your home entertainment system or upgrading your car's tape deck to an MP3 player, can be reported at your annual insurance review. Agents reach out to their clients because they want to make sure to check up on these changes and make help avoid any gaps in their clients insurance, however it's equally important to for a policyholder to reach out to their agent to make sure they are covered. Schedule your own annual review, and call your agent as you get your annual renewal. If one agent handles all of your coverage, this task is relatively easy. Jot down any changes that have occurred over the last year, even if you're not sure whether they are significant enough to mention. Doing so will ensure that all of your insurance policies are best suited to your current life situation.
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Some examples of changes that should be mentioned to your agent immediately are listed below. Ask yourself these questions every year:
Have I gotten married or divorced?
Have I had a new baby, or adopted a child?
Is anyone in my house a new driver?
Is anyone living with me who wasn't before? Will they ever be driving any of my vehicles?
Do I have a personal umbrella policy? Do I need one?
Have I purchased any new properties?
Have I started a home business?
Have I purchased new furniture, electronics, or fine jewelry?
These are just a few examples of life changes that are often picked up during an annual review. However, they are far from the only changes that can affect your coverage, so be thorough when documenting and reporting items to your agent.
Some of the above examples might seem pretty obvious. Most people know that if their teenager gets his license, they need to notify their auto insurance carrier. However, not everything is as obvious.
For example, take a couple who just had their first child. They decide that it's time to purchase Life insurance to provide for the child if something ever happens to them. This couple is doing the responsible thing. They understand the importance of buying Life insurance when starting a family. That significant step in planning for the future is taught to the general public quite effectively, in the form of commercials, television shows, radio spots, and the like. But what about five years later when little Ellie is born? Having child number two doesn't necessarily flip on the proverbial switch like the first time, shining that bright light on the right decision. Television shows don't show "made for T.V." couples updating their Life insurance policies for child number two. Advertisements don't highlight the importance of adding new children as beneficiaries. All anyone ever hears about through popular culture is the importance of getting Life insurance if you don't have it, especially if you are starting a family. If the Henderson family gets a Life insurance policy when their first little one is born, and four children later, mom and dad are hit by a logging truck on a trip to Alaska, only the first child gets the money.
Protect yourself, your family, and your personal belongings by making sure that each of your insurance policies gets an annual check-up. You'll rest much better once you do.
AVOID THE DAMAGE OF WINTER
Many disasters caused by winter weather conditions can be prevented by taking a few simple steps. Although it's hard to think about such things during warmer months, it's important to be prepared when the colder weather arrives. It's hard to predict the weather in the future. However, long periods of low temperatures frequently experienced throughout history have proven that it's important to be prepared.
Regular Homeowners policies provide coverage for ice dams, burst pipes, loss from fires and wind damage from snow or ice. When snow melts, it can cause serious damage to a home. One of the most common causes of catastrophic loss is winter storms. Although wind and hail are the most common causes of insurance claims, freezing and water damage follow close behind. It's important for homeowners to carefully review their insurance policies before winter arrives to understand what is covered. It's crucial to have ample coverage for rebuilding a home and replacing all the belongings in it. It's also helpful to consider purchasing sewer backup insurance.
There are several ways to prepare a home for winter and the damage it usually brings. Consider the following tips:
Clean out all gutters - It's important to remove all sticks, leaves and debris. This helps the melting ice and snow flow smoothly. It also prevents ice collecting and forming a dam, which can result in water seeping into the house's ceilings and walls.
Keep trees and branches trimmed - When branches hang over houses during the winter, they're likely to accumulate snow and ice, which might make them break. Branches falling on homes can cause significant amounts of damage. They might also hurt people who enter the property.
Use gutter guards - These guards are useful for preventing interference of water flow from debris.
Seal cracks and holes - Caulk all holes and cracks to ensure that melted snow and wind can't enter the home.
Keep steps and handrails safe - It's important to ensure that steps and banisters are sturdy. If they accumulate snow or ice, they can contribute to serious injuries.
Use insulation liberally - Homeowners should add extra insulation to basements, attics and crawl spaces. When heat escapes through the roof, it contributes to ice and snow melting faster. As the moisture melts, re-freezes and accumulates, it can cause a roof to collapse.
Maintain a warm temperature - It's best to keep the thermostat at 65 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. The temperature in the walls is always colder than the temperature in the house.
Call the professionals - The heating system should be checked and serviced every year to prevent fires. It's also important to ensure that smoke alarms are working. Carbon monoxide detectors are another valuable safety feature that should be placed in every home. In addition to this, homeowners should have a contractor evaluate the home for structural damage. It's best to identify and repair minor problems before they become a disaster.
Be familiar with shutting off the water - Homeowners should know how to do this, and they should know where their pipes are located. When pipes freeze, it's imperative to act quickly. When going away for an extended time, it's best to have someone look after the home or have a service professional drain the system.
Add an emergency pressure release valve - By adding this to a current system, homeowners will have a system that is protected against increasing pressure from frozen pipes.
DON'T LET DRIVING EMERGENCIES TAKE YOU BY SURPRISE
There are two golden rules to remember when driving - expect the unexpected and be ready for anything. Many agencies, such as the National Safety Council, have compiled listings of the most common road emergencies and the ways that drivers can best handle them safely. Let's look at six of them:
1. Blown Tire. Don't over-steer, but do maintain a firm, steady grip on the wheel to keep the vehicle going in the desired direction until you're able to slow it down. Keep in mind that a front blown tire will cause the vehicle to pull toward the blowout's side, while a rear blown tire will cause the vehicle's rear end to weave. Apply your brakes smoothly and slowly enough that you can pull the car to the side of the road at a safe speed. Never immediately swerve to the side of the road or jam on the brakes as you could lose control.
2. Blown / Malfunctioning Headlights. Slowly brake and come to a stop on the right shoulder. Try to get as far away from passing traffic as possible. Turn on your emergency flashers, if they're still operational, and place road hazard markers or flares at least 300 feet from the rear of your vehicle. If you don't have a cell phone to call for roadside assistance, then you can open the hood and try to scrape the battery cable's lead terminal posts and the inside of connector lugs. This might provide a better connection and enough intermittent light to make it to a phone. As a last resort, you could use your emergency flashers as an intermittent light source if they're on a separate circuit.
3. Skidding Vehicle. Remove your foot from the gas. Steer into the direction of the skid until you feel your rear wheels get traction again. Now, straighten the wheel. Never jam on the brakes or over-steer during the skid. To avoid skidding to one side when you need to come to a sudden stop, you can rapidly jam and immediately release the brakes. For those with anti-lock brakes, keep your foot on the brake and continue firm pressure while steering.
4. Engine Failure. Turn your right signal on and let the vehicle's momentum carry you to the shoulder. If this isn't a possibility, then remain in your lane or along the right side. Pump your brakes and turn your emergency flashers on to let other drivers know you're in trouble. Once you've come to a stop, you'll ideally exit the vehicle on the side without traffic flow. You can alert other vehicles by placing reflectors or flares; keeping your taillights on; and placing a white cloth around your handle, spoiler, or antenna. Use your cell phone to call for help or flag down a law officer. There might be an emergency call box on long bridges.
5. Stuck Accelerator. Turn off the ignition and apply the brakes. Keep in mind that your power assist feature will no longer work and braking and steering will be more difficult. Never lean down to handle the gas pedal, but you can try to lift the pedal with your toe if the pedal and throttle linkage have a positive connection.
6. Brake Failure. If your brakes still functioning properly, but you have a system light indicating a brake failure, then you should slowly take the most level route to a service station or mechanic shop.
If your brakes don't feel normal, but are still offering some resistance, then pump them rapidly. This action could build enough hydraulic pressure to slow your vehicle down. You might be lucky enough to have a clear road and be able to coast to a stop or roll and apply your parking brake. Use your horn and flash your lights to alert pedestrians and other vehicles. You might need to carefully sideswipe hedges, snow banks, parked cars, and/or guardrails to help your vehicle stop if your on a downward, steep roadway. Never swerve to the left of a vehicle in your path unless it's your only choice. If you're headed straight for another vehicle, firmly press the brakes; head for a shoulder, ditch, or open ground on the right side; and try to alert others with your horn.
Driving emergencies are hard to think through as they're happening. For the best outcome possible, you'll need to know what the potential emergencies are, know how to safely deal with them ahead of time, and make the subjects part of your family's safety discussions.
