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Protect Your Pets from Spring Risks

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Protect Your Pets from Spring Risks

Keeping your furry friends safe this spring.

As a pet owner, you want to do everything in your power to keep your four-legged friend safe.  This is why you need to watch out for common springtime risks.  Here are some of the hazards that you need to be particularly wary of.

  • Fleas and Ticks

If your pets like to play outdoors, then they are at risk for flea or tick bites.  Not only can these pests make your pets itchy and uncomfortable, but they can also infect them with serious diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and so on.  To protect your pet from these parasites, take them into the vet and have then apply a preventative treatment.

  • Fertilizers

During the spring months, you may be excited to get your garden back in shape.  However, common plant fertilizers can be very dangerous if your pets ingest them.  If you are working with fertilizer, then you should store it where your pets cannot reach it.  You should also consider switching over to fertilizers that are all-natural and free of herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides.  This way, if your pet does ingest the fertilizer, it will not poison them.

  • Snakes

With temperatures warming up, many poisonous snakes are coming out of hibernation.  Unfortunately, your playful pet might mistake these dangerous reptiles for a fun playmate.  To protect your pets from snake bites, check your backyard before letting your pets loose.  Additionally, if you see that your pet is distracted or investigating something on the ground, run over to make sure they haven’t uncovered a snake.

These are some of the serious springtime risks that you need to protect your pets from.  Are you looking for another way to protect your loved ones?  Then make sure you have the right insurance in place.  For assistance with all your personal insurance needs, contact the experts at James Page Insurance today.

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Precautions to Prevent Common Business Insurance Claims

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Precautions to Prevent Common Business Insurance Claims

Tips to protect your business against common insurance claims.

As a business owner, you want to protect your company from all the risks that it faces.  This is why it’s so important to have the right commercial insurance protection to fall back on.  That being said, most business owners would rather not access their insurance if they don’t have to.  If you want to avoid some of the most common types of business insurance claim events, then here are some of the precautions you should take.

Burglary and Theft

  • Install a security system– Installing burglar alarms and surveillance cameras and publicizing these security measures will reduce the chances of your business being targeted for theft.
  • Illuminate your business– Burglars prefer to work under the cover of darkness. By installing bright lights outside of your business, you can deter all but the boldest thieves.
  • Encourage anonymous reporting– Oftentimes, businesses are robbed by their own employees. By encouraging staff members to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior and setting up a system for anonymous reporting, you can catch and fire employees who are defrauding your company.

Slip- and- Fall Injuries

  • Clear walkways– To reduce the chances of employees or customers tripping and injuring themselves while on your business’s property, you should make sure that hallways and walkways are clear of clutter and other tripping hazards.
  • Install proper lighting– Dim lighting can cause an employee or customer to miss a fall risk. Installing bright lights throughout your business’s property can help you avoid this risk.
  • Clean up spills and fix leaks– If you have a leaky faucet or if there is a spill in a common area, then make sure you address these issues right away. This will ensure that employees and customers don’t slip and injure themselves.

Employment Practices Liability Issues

  • Train supervisors and managers– Everyone in a supervisory or management position should receive training on how to treat the employees working under them. This training should include appropriate modes of communication, how to handle employee complaints, and how to respectfully conduct themselves in a professional setting.
  • Plan for interviews– Before interviewing a potential candidate, you should check to make sure that your interview questions do not constitute discrimination or compromise the rights of protected classes.

These are some of the precautions that you should take to avoid some of the most common small business risks.  Remember, having the right commercial coverage is another way to keep your business safe.  For assistance with all your business insurance needs, contact the experts at James Page Insurance today.

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Reasons Why Life Insurance is a Good Idea

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Reasons Why Life Insurance is a Good Idea

Ways that you can benefit from having life insurance.

While most adults accept that life insurance is a necessity, they often overlook the fact that securing this coverage can actually come with major benefits.  Not convinced?  Then consider these reasons why life insurance is such a good idea for you.

  • It Can Protect Your Loved Ones’ Financial Future

In a recent study, it was revealed that four in 10 households without life insurance coverage would experience immediate trouble paying for living expenses if the primary breadwinner were to pass away.  If you do not want your loved ones to suffer as part of this statistic, it’s important that you secure adequate life insurance coverage.  By securing a policy, you can continue supporting your loved ones and ensure that they can maintain a sense of financial stability in the wake of your death.

  • It Can Act as a Source of Emergency Funds

Permanent life insurance policies have a special cash value component.  As you continue to pay premiums on these policies, they accumulate a dollar value that you can borrow against.  The cash value component of your life insurance can be used as an easy way to secure quick money to cover things like a down payment on a home, college tuition, or emergency situations.  Unlike traditional loans, when you borrow against your life insurance policy, you are subject to lower interest rates and do not need to go through the lengthy loan application and credit check processes.

  • It Can Provide Retirement Income

If you have a permanent life insurance policy, then your coverage can actually help you once you enter retirement.  When structured properly, your life insurance policy can actually provide a supplemental form of income via policy loans and withdrawals.  Additionally, if you and your spouse rely on your pension for financial stability, then your life insurance benefits can replace your pension income if you were to pass away before your spouse.

These are some of the reasons why having life insurance is good for you.  Are you looking for help with your life insurance coverage?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  We are ready to assist you with all your life insurance coverage needs today.

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Home Security Upgrades That Can Unlock Insurance Discounts

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Home Security Upgrades That Can Unlock Insurance Discounts

Making these home updates can help you save on your insurance.

Just because you have homeowners insurance doesn’t mean that you need to pay an arm and a leg for it.  While there are many ways that homeowners can lower their insurance rates, one money-saving method is making home upgrades that increase your safety and security.  But which upgrades can help you lower your home insurance rates?  Here are some of your options.

  • Fire Sprinkler Systems

Fire sprinkler systems are great options for homeowners who want to protect against their fire risks.  These systems respond to fires inside the home and quickly release water or other flame retardants to contain the damage caused by heat, smoke, and flames.  Having a sprinkler system can save your home for total ruin, especially if your local fire station is slow to respond or is located far away.  Oftentimes, home insurance providers will issue discounts to homeowners who install these systems in their homes.

  • Deadbolts

Having deadbolts installed on all your home’s points of entry is a great way to slow down even the savviest of home invaders.  This is why many home insurers offer discounts to homeowners who install deadbolts.  However, the types of deadbolts that you choose does matter.  When selecting deadbolts for your home, look for options that are labeled Grade 1 or Grade 2.  Avoid Grade 3 deadbolts as they are the weakest.  When installing deadbolts, make sure they extend at least an inch into the door jam and have a reinforced strike plate with three-inch-long screws.  These factors will make it much harder for an intruder to kick in your doors and ransack your home.

  • Storm Shutters

Storm shutters are protective coverings installed over a home’s windows to protect them from high winds and flying debris during a storm.  If you live in a part of the country that suffers from extreme storms, hurricanes, or tornadoes, then you should install storm shutters over all of your exterior-facing windows.  Because these shutters will lower your home’s chance of sustaining damage during a storm event, your home insurer may offer you a home safety discount.

These are some of the home upgrades that can help you save on your homeowners’ insurance.  Do you have additional questions about your home coverage?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  We are ready to assist you with all your homeowners’ insurance needs today.

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Try Out These Spring Cleaning Tips this Year

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Try Out These Spring Cleaning Tips this Year

Tips to get your home in order this spring.

With temperatures warming up, you may be thinking about your annual deep clean.  Not sure how to get started on your spring cleaning this year?  Then try out these suggestions to get your home in order this season.

Have the Right Supplies

Cleaning your entire home requires quite a few cleaning products.  The last thing that you want is to start cleaning only to realize that you don’t have the right supplies on hand.  So, before you begin the big clean, make a list of everything that you will need to get your home into order.  Common cleaning supplies include the following:

  • Vacuum cleaner and replacement bags
  • Mop
  • Broom
  • Garbage bags
  • Glass cleaner
  • Disinfectant
  • Multi-surface cleaner
  • Bleach
  • Paper towels
  • Sponges
  • Steel wool

Work in Stages

Trying to clean your entire house all at once will only cause you to rush and do a bad job.  This is why you should divide your house into various sections and try to tackle one of these sections a day.  While it may be annoying to stretch your spring cleaning over several days, this is the best way to make sure that you are doing a thorough job.

Hire Professionals for the Big Things

Many homeowners like to take care of bigger cleaning and maintenance tasks in spring.  If you want to clean your fireplace and chimney, flush out your water heater, power wash the exterior of your home, or take on larger cleaning projects, then you should hire a professional to handle these jobs.  Attempting to tackle these tasks on your own could be dangerous.

These are some of the spring cleaning tips that you should try out this year.  Want another way to take care of your home?  Then make sure you have the right homeowners insurance in place.  For assistance with all your home coverage needs, contact the experts at James Page Insurance today.

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Avoid These Major Life Insurance Missteps

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Avoid These Major Life Insurance Missteps

Don’t make these mistakes when it comes to your life insurance.

As you settle down and get ready to start a family, one of the things that you need to do is secure the right life insurance coverage.  Unfortunately, many people do not know the first thing about life insurance, and they end up making bad coverage decisions.  To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, here are some of the common life insurance mistakes you need to avoid.

  • Buying the Wrong Amount of Coverage

One of the most common life insurance missteps is buying too much or not enough coverage.  If you do not have anyone else depending on your income, then you probably don’t need very much coverage at all.  However, if you have a family and are the main breadwinner, then you will need a considerable amount of coverage—at least seven times your annual salary.  If you are a stay-at-home parent, you do not need as much coverage as your family’s breadwinner, but you do need to carry enough coverage to pay for childcare, housekeeping, and other services that you normally handle.

  • Delaying Life Insurance

Most people put off getting life insurance when they are young and healthy.  However, this is obviously risky because it leaves your loved ones in a financially vulnerable state.  Delaying life insurance is also a mistake because you will have access to the cheapest rates when you are young and healthy.  So, if you have young children or are about to become a parent, then don’t wait to secure your life insurance policy.

  • Relying on Life Insurance Through Work

Today, many employers include life insurance coverage as part of their employee benefits package.  However, if you have a family relying on your income, then the life insurance benefits your work offers probably isn’t enough.  This is because most employer-offer life insurance policies only offer coverage for one to two times your annual salary.  As breadwinners should carry life insurance adding up to at least seven-times their salary, this employer-offered life insurance simply isn’t enough.  This is why you should secure a personal life insurance policy and treat your work policy as an additional benefit.

These are some of the major life insurance mistakes that you should avoid.  Do you need help securing the right life insurance policy to protect your loved ones?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  We are ready to get you the coverage that you need today.

 

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What You Need to Know About Insurance for Unlicensed Drivers

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What You Need to Know About Insurance for Unlicensed Drivers

What unlicensed drivers need to know about auto insurance.

If you don’t currently have a driver’s license, then you may assume that auto insurance is out of the questions for you.  However, this isn’t actually the case.  You do have some options when it comes to securing the car coverage that you need.  Here’s what you need to know about securing auto insurance as an unlicensed driver.

Why Unlicensed Drivers Need Insurance

First, it’s important to understand that there are several reasons that someone without a driver’s license might want auto insurance.  Here are some of the most common reasons why unlicensed drivers need to secure car coverage:

  • You own a vehicle and want to protect it because other people are driving it.
  • You want to protect others as they drive you around.
  • You own a vintage or classic car that you don’t drive but want to protect.
  • Your license was suspended as a result of DUI charges, at-fault accidents, or other issues. So, while you can’t currently drive, you do not want a gap in your car coverage.
  • Your license expired, and you didn’t renew it.
  • You never went through driver’s training or received a driver’s license.
  • You are learning to drive and have a provisional license or learner’s permit.

Applying for Auto Insurance Without a Valid License

When you go to apply for auto insurance, you will find that many auto insurance providers ask you for your driver’s license number.  Even if they don’t ask for your license directly, auto insurance providers will go to the DMV to request a copy of your driving records.  When the DMV cannot find your record because you are not registered with a license, then the auto insurer might deny your application.

However, you still have ways to get the coverage you need.  Here are some of your options:

  • Secure a policy with someone else listed as the primary driver– This is the easiest way to secure auto insurance without a driver’s license. This option is the best avenue for people who do not intend to drive but want to protect the vehicle they own and the people who chauffeur them around.  When choosing this option, make sure you list the address of where the car is normally stored rather than the primary driver’s address (if they are different).
  • List yourself as an excluded driver– Another way to secure car insurance is by listing yourself as an excluded driver on an auto policy. When you list yourself as an excluded driver, you are waiving your right to coverage.  This means that if you operate the vehicle and get into an accident or experience another claims event, then you are responsible for covering the claim, not your insurer.
  • Secure SR-22 insurance– If you have a license, but it is suspended due to several DUI charges, at-fault accidents, or other incidents, then you can secure SR-22 insurance (FR-44 in Florida and Virginia). SR-22 insurance is a form of high-risk auto insurance that is actually required to have your license reinstated.  Please note that insurance providers will turn you down if you are unable to prove that you are officially licensed.
  • Insurance for novice drivers– If you have a learner’s permit, but have not been officially licensed, then you can still get an auto insurance policy. Some insurance providers will offer this option, so long as you receive your license in a short period of time, usually 30-45 days.  Additionally, you may have to have a driver with a valid license co-sign the policy with you.

This is what you need to know about securing auto insurance without a valid driver’s license.  Do you have additional questions about your car coverage?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  We are ready to assist you with all your car insurance needs today.

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Tips for New Female Business Owners

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Tips for New Female Business Owners

Try out these suggestions to get your business off the ground.

With International Women’s Day coming up on the 8th, you might be feeling inspired to accomplish your dream of opening your own business.  Ready to get to work on building your business empire?  Then try out these suggestions to help with your launch.

  • Give Your Vision Focus

Before jumping in headfirst, you need to have a clear idea of what your business will be.  Just because you can do a little bit of everything doesn’t mean that you should.  Rather than stretching yourself too thin, think objectively about what you are good at and what you would like to devote your life to doing.  Once you have a solid idea of what your business will specialize in, this will guide all your other business decisions.

  • Know Your Weaknesses

Many entrepreneurs try to handle everything on their own.  However, this isn’t reasonable or sustainable.  One of the first things that new business owners should learn is how to delegate and outsource.  While many women feel like admitting their weaknesses is a sign of failure, it’s important to look at the big picture.  By hiring other people to handle things you aren’t good at, you can save yourself time, effort, and avoid serious mistakes.

  • Focus on Creating Positive Customer Experiences

When your business is small, you can’t realistically think of competing with big-name, national corporations.  However, there are some advantages of being a smaller operation.  By being responsive, polite, and ready to go the extra mile, you can attract a base of loyal customers.  This can help you generate a stable income that will help your business grow and succeed.

These are some of the suggestions that aspiring female business owners should try.  Remember, having the right commercial insurance is another way to set your business up for success.  For assistance with all your commercial coverage needs, contact the experts at James Page Insurance today.

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Ask Your Agent These Commercial Insurance Questions

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Ask Your Agent These Commercial Insurance Questions

Understand your business insurance by asking questions.

As a business owner, you are an expert in your industry.  However, this does not mean that you are an expert on your business’s insurance needs.  This is why it’s important to work with a reliable insurance agent who specializes in commercial lines.  To help you make informed coverage decisions, ask your agent these questions about your business insurance coverage.

  • What are the essential types of coverage?

General liability, commercial property, and workers’ compensation are the most basic business insurance options.  However, your business will need more coverage than these base policies can offer.  Your coverage needs will differ depending on the type of business you operate, your business’s location, and other important factors.  So, speak to a qualified agent to ensure that you have the comprehensive commercial coverage that your business needs.

  • When is it appropriate to file an insurance claim?

Filing too many insurance claims in a short period of time will raise your insurance rates and can even result in a policy cancelation.  This is why you shouldn’t file a claim for every little issue that your business faces.  For instance, you should only file a claim for damage events that exceed the cost of your insurance deductible.  If the damage costs less than your deductible, then you are better off paying for repairs out of pocket.  Please note that you should always file claims for liability and workers’ compensation issues.  Even if these problems seem low-cost, they can quickly lead to expensive lawsuits.  Failing to file a claim as soon as the issue arises would leave you stuck covering all your legal and settlement costs out of pocket.

  • How much will my insurance cost?

The cost of your commercial insurance is dependent on a variety of factors.  The type and amount of coverage that you have, the number and type of risks that you face, and the location of your business are just of few of the many factors that can affect the cost of your coverage.  To ensure that you aren’t overpaying for your coverage, make sure you compare quotes from several different insurance providers.  Additionally, ask your agent about ways to save.  Business owners can usually save on their insurance by increasing their deductibles and employing safety measures in their workplaces.

These are some of the important commercial insurance questions you should ask your agent.  Do you need help with your business insurance?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  Our dedicated team is eager to assist you with all your coverage needs today.

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How Your BMI Affects the Cost of Your Life Insurance

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How Your BMI Affects the Cost of Your Life Insurance

How your weight can affect your life insurance rates.

When you apply for life insurance, you will have to answer a series of health questions and undergo a medical examination.  As part of your examination, your body mass index, or BMI will be measured.  But why are life insurance providers so concerned with this measurement?  Here’s how your BMI will affect the cost of your life insurance.

  • What is BMI?

BMI is a measurement that factors in your weight respective to your weight.  To calculate your BMI, your weight in kilograms is divided by the square of your height in meters.  A healthy BMI is anything that falls between 18.5 and 24.9.  Anything under 18.5 is considered underweight, and a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.  A BMI of over 30 is considered obese.

  • How Does BMI Affect Your Life Insurance Rates?

Life insurers look at your BMI because being severely underweight or obese makes you more susceptible to serious health complications.  This means that if you have a very low or very high BMI, then life insurance providers will likely charge you more for coverage.  Please keep in mind that being slightly under or overweight is not enough to make your insurance rates spike unless it is coupled with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

  • How to Save on Your Life Insurance

If you want access to lower life insurance rates, then you should focus on getting healthy and getting your BMI into the accepted range.  If you are able to get to a healthy weight and maintain it, then your life insurance provider may reward you by lowering your premiums.  If you are currently at an unhealthy BMI, do not put off getting life insurance.  It’s better to pay more for coverage temporarily than risk leaving your loved ones exposed to financial hardship.

This is how your BMI affects your life insurance rates.  Do you have additional questions about your life coverage?  If so, then contact the experts at James Page Insurance.  We are ready to assist you with all your personal coverage needs today.

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