Uncategorized | Boizelle Insurance Partnership

Tips For Your Next Viewing Party

Whip out the chips, dip and soda: it’s time for a viewing party!

Get ready for your guests: Rearrange furniture to avoid crammed spaces and be sure to create a clear pathway to the bathroom or snack table. If you choose to move your television, make sure that the cord is not stretched too far as it could pose as a tripping hazard. Stay on top of what the weather forecast will be. If the forecast is calling for snow, be proactive and shovel and salt your sidewalks to avoid slips and falls.

Let your neighbors know. If you reside in a condo or an apartment building, be sure to let your landlord know that you’ll be expecting company. Nobody likes too much noise and you definitely don’t want to receive a noise complaint. It really puts a damper on the party!

Test your tech. To avoid any mishaps or problems with your plans, make sure that you test your entertainment equipment before your guests arrive to ensure everything is functioning properly. Your guests will appreciate your proactiveness. Also, be sure that your router is secure to avoid the risk of being hacked. Having a secure password for your WiFi can ensure that your network remains private.

Prep your kitchen. Again, proactiveness is key when you’re hosting any event. If you plan to cook anything, especially for a lot of people, make sure that your cooking equipment is in good working order.

Know your host liquor liability. In most states, the host of any party is deemed responsible for what their guests end up doing when they get behind the wheel. Serve plenty of food for your guests and have non-alcoholic beverage options. If one of your guests has had too much to drink, do not hesitate to call an Uber.

Check with your insurance agent. Nobody likes to be in a situation where they thought their homeowners insurance policy covered something when that’s not the case. Give us a call at 301-948-2010 to review your homeowners insurance policy if you have any questions or concerns before your party begins.

What Is a Coverage Review and Why Do I Need One?

We’ve all been to the doctor for an annual check-up. Well, a coverage review is similar to a check-up, except that with a coverage review, you are reviewing all of your current coverages in your insurance policies to make sure you have sufficient protection in case of disaster striking.

Having an insurance agent that you can call is a sure-fire way to ensure that your policies are up-to-date with the appropriate coverages. And, as your life changes, so should your insurance policy. When you call your insurance professional, you will have the opportunity to add or subtract coverages depending on your current, specific needs.

When you call your insurance professional for a coverage review, you should be ready to tell him or her about any life changes that have occurred since your last check-in. These include but are not limited to: personal information (mailing address, phone number, email address, and all of the family members living in your home). Be certain to make them aware of any name changes due to marriage or divorce, or if you’ve recently had a new little addition to your family. When you have accurate, up-to-date information on your policy, it will help ensure there are no delays in the event of an insurance claim.

When you contact your insurance professional, you will need to inform him or her of any changes to the drivers covered under your policy. This could be a child about to get their driver’s license or someone living with your who makes regular use of one or more of your vehicles.

If you have upgraded your home in any way i.e. renovated your kitchen, remodeled a bedroom or finished a basement, you’ll need to report those changes to your agent. They will be able to update your policy to reflect these changes. Whenever you make major improvements to your home, it increases the value of your home. As a result, you may need in a higher limit on your homeowners insurance policy. If you fail to make these changes to your policy, you may be left with a coverage gap. Coverage gaps can leave you underinsured if you need to repair or rebuild your home if the unexpected happens. Guaranteed Replacement Cost is the perfect way to make sure that no matter what happens, your insurance will have you covered. With Guaranteed Replacement Cost, you won’t face financial ruin.

If you’ve recently purchased any new boats, ATVs, or golf carts, you may want a different insurance policy. While insurance may not be required for watercraft and off-road vehicles, they are still a significant investment that should be protected. The same goes for valuables such as musical instruments or jewelry. Be sure to send a copy of your home inventory to your insurance agent. With that information, they can help you determine whether or not you need personal valuables insurance.

If you have recently retired or if you are working from home, because of the fact that you’re not making that daily commute, you may be eligible for discounts on your auto insurance.

Safe Driving Discount: If you have a good driving record with little to no claims, you could be eligible for a discount on your auto coverage.

Car Safety Equipment Discounts: If your car is equipped with safety equipment like factory-installed air bags, passive restraint, anti-theft devices, and anti-lock brakes, you could get a discount on your auto policy.

Multi-car Discount: If ERIE insures more than one car that you own, you could get a discount. All cars on your policy must be owned by you and driven by only the drivers listed on your policy.

Multi-policy Discount: If you have a qualifying life insurance policy or home policy in addition to your Erie auto policy.

Reduced Usage Discount: If you do not use your car for a least 90 consecutive days during the policy period, you could be eligible for a discount.

Young Drivers: Unmarried drivers under the age of 21 who live with their parents may be eligible for savings on their auto premium.

Annual Payment Plan: If you pay your premium in a lump sum, you could get a discount.

Changing Your Deductible: Generally, you can lower your insurance premium by raising your deductible.

Defogging Your Windshield

You can’t drive if you can’t see. Safe driving stars with clear visibility. When it comes to maintaining good visibility behind the wheel, drivers should pay attention to their windshield wipers. Inspect them closely to see if they need to be replaced. If it’s raining and you notice that your wipers are not working as effectively as they usually do, it might to time to replace them.

Fog can be a real menace to your safety if you’re not careful. Depending on weather conditions, your windshield could become foggy in an instant.

What causes your windshield to fog? Well, when the difference between the temperature and moisture of the air inside your vehicle is dramatically different from inside your car, fog appears. This is because cold air does not retain as much moisture as warm air does. If it’s cold outside, the warm air inside your vehicle likely contains more moisture, thus resulting in your windshield fogging up.

How can you defog your windshield? Try these tips.

Use the “defrost” mode.

Manually adjust your climate settings.

• Turn up the heat. Set your heat to a high level and turn the defroster fan up to its highest speed.
• Turn on the air conditioning. Your air conditioning system will remove humidity from the air coming through your vents.
• Turn off air recirculation. The symbol for this button mostly likely looks like a U-turn arrow inside an outline or your vehicle. When it’s on, the car will recirculate the warm air that is inside your vehicle through the vents. When it’s turned off, your car is able to draw the cold, dry air from outside to help the defogging process.

Crack your windows. The air from outside your car can quickly reduce the humidity inside your car.

You may think that wiping the fog from your windshield is a quick and effective way of improving your visibility. It may be quick, but it’s not effective. When the condensation returns, it’s likely to leave streaks on your windshield, actually making visibility worse.

If windshield fogging is a common occurrence for you, you can purchase certain products at various auto parts stores to combat the problem. These products are specially designed to add a protective barrier to the glass that prevents tiny water droplets from sticking. Applying this solution and then wiping it away should greatly reduce your fog problems.

Tips for a Safe New Year’s Eve

Every new year, we all have new hopes and new goals that we want to achieve. Whether it’s paying closer attention to our physical health by watching what we eat or by joining a gym, a fresh start is something we all want for ourselves and our loved ones. As 2023 draws to a close and we approach the coming new year, we all want to put ourselves in the best possible position for lasting success and prosperity. While all of this sounds wonderful, none of it matters if something bad happens to us on New Year’s Eve. Here’s everything you can do to ensure that your New Years remains safe and fun for yourself and your family.

Consider your liquor liability: If you are planning on hosting a gathering where alcohol is to be served, take it upon yourself to make sure that no one who chooses to consume alcohol drives a car afterwards. In many states, you could be held legally liable for any personal injuries sustained or damage to vehicles if the person who left your party drunk gets into an auto accident.

Plan your activities: Games and activities for your guests are a great way to make sure that your party runs smoothly.

Serve plenty of food: Planning a menu is a great way to maintain your own peace of mind and to reduce stress levels. Procrastination is a real stress activator. Consult with your guests about food allergies before making your menu for your party. Having plenty of options for your guests, along with non-alcoholic beverages is a sure-fire way to ensure that your evening remains safe and stress-free.

Keep your guest list small: The usual saying when it comes to parties is “the more the merrier”. This may not be the case if you have people in your home you do not know very well or that you do not trust.
Again, in order to maintain that peace of mind and joy throughout the evening, be sure to keep your guest list to those with whom you have a close relationship and those whom you can trust.

Have a designated driver: Encourage your guests to have a designated driver for the evening, so that when the evening concludes, everyone can return to their homes safely. Other options could include Uber and Lyft, but the point is to not allow anyone to drive home drunk.

Shelve the fireworks: Fireworks are a potential hazard and can lead to house fires. They are especially risky when alcohol enters the equation.

Going out to celebrate the new year?

If you choose to go out for the evening to celebrate, follow these tips to make sure you get back home safely:

Choose a designated driver: Driving under the influence of alcohol creates a dangerous situation for yourself and other drivers on the road. Whether it’s Uber, Lyft, calling a cab, or having a friend not consume alcohol for the evening, we all want to stay safe. Do not drink and drive.

Celebrate with friends: You’ve seen a football team gather into a huddle to call the next play at a game. Well, gather with your friends and make sure that everyone looks out for each other during the evening.

Charge your phone: Make sure your phone has a full battery before leaving your house for the night. Having a dead phone makes it a lot more difficult to get a safe ride home if you need to.

Eat before you leave: Any food that you’ve consumed before leaving your house will help slow the effects of alcohol.

Don’t leave your car overnight: Leave your car in the driveway or in your closed garage. Don’t forget to lock the doors. New Year’s may be a time to celebrate with loved ones, but it’s also an opportunity for criminals to do what they do.