Protect Your Family During Severe Weather
Did you know that March is Severe Weather Preparation Month?
While it may still feel like winter outside, it won’t be long until spring arrives. And with it comes spring storms! Is your family prepared?
First things first, make sure you have designated a safe place to go to if the weather gets bad. It could be a basement, closet, or room with no windows or outside walls. Make sure this space is cleared out enough that you could easily get your family inside if needed. (You don’t want to be clearing out the closet if there is a tornado!)
Next, put together a small emergency kit. What would you need if the power was out? Consider putting in flashlights, extra batteries, canned food, and plenty of water. (Don’t forget supplies for your pets too!)
Keep emergency phone numbers in your cell phone contacts, including the all our phone numbers
Office: 816-795-5977
Jon’s Cell: 816-304-1614
Claims: 800-435-7764
You could even save a note in your phone with your policy numbers too!
While we can’t prevent bad weather, it’s always great to be as prepared as possible. Take care of your family first and know that we’ll be there to protect your belongings.
Are Your Christmas Gifts Covered?
This time of year, most of us are doing a lot of shopping! Christmas gifts and holiday sales mean that everyone is buying a little bit more than normal. So what does that have to do with insurance?
Let’s look at some common purchases and how you can make sure they’re protected!
Electronics – Did you purchase a new flat screen TV or Xbox on Black Friday? Maybe a new laptop or some high dollar headphones?
All of these items are covered for theft or fire (or any other covered peril) by your Homeowners or Renters Insurance, but they are subject to your deductible.
However the BIG problem is that when someone has a major fire or burglary, they FORGET what they have! It’s hard to remember every item in your home.
That’s why we recommend that you keep a Home Inventory of high-dollar items. Save your receipts, take photos, or just keep a list. Keep this info in a safe place (like a file backed up in the cloud), so that you can access it in case of a claim. This isn’t required, but you’ll be glad you have it!
Guns, Jewelry, & Art – If you purchase high dollar, custom, one-of-a-kind, or collectors items, you need to contact us as soon as possible! These items will be covered by your policy, but may be limited to an amount much less than what they’re worth. If you contact us, we can review your policy and tell you exactly how much coverage is available and if you need to add these specific items to your policy.
And what about all of those gifts sitting in your car trunk? Yes, it’s a great place to hide presents from the kids but here is the bad news – your auto insurance DOES NOT cover the contents of your vehicle. That means that if someone breaks in and steals everything, it’s only covered by your Home or Renters policy. And if you have a large deductible, you could be out of luck! Get those presents into a safe location quickly and don’t keep them stored in your vehicles.
’Tis the season for lots of shopping! Call us to make sure all of your possessions are properly protected!
Insuring Your RV, Boats, & Summer Fun
Summer is on its way. Before we know it there will be Memorial Day barbecues and long weekends at the lake.
That’s why now is a great time to review insurance coverage on all of your summer toys. Read below for things to consider (and review with us) before the big items come out of winter storage.
RV – Your motor home or travel trailer needs insurance coverage, especially if you’ll be driving or pulling it this year. Even if you don’t have a loan on your RV, you will want it covered for theft or damage. Whether they are parked on a lake lot for the season or driving cross country, we offer several RV policies to fit your needs. Just call us for a quote.
Boat – The same thing goes for your boats and jet skis. You’ve made a big investment and it’s important to protect them. Not only should you worry about damage to your boat, but also make sure you have the proper amount of liability coverage. Don’t forget your life jackets!
Motorcycle – Ready to hit the road for a long drive? Remember to brush up on your safety skills and always wear a helmet. Don’t forget to make sure your motorcycle has liability coverage just like your vehicle! We can help you determine what coverage you need. Especially important is uninsured, under-insured and medical payment coverage.
Swimming Pool – If you own a pool, then you need extra liability coverage including a Personal Umbrella Policy. Why? Because there is a lot more risk of someone being injured when you have a pool. Don’t skimp on your coverage and make sure you have the pool area secured and safe.
Summer is a lot more fun when you know that your high price recreational items are properly insured and protected. Take 15 minutes to call us for a quote or to review your current coverage.
Jon Olson Agency-Farmers Insurance 