Fall is upon us, and I couldn’t resist sharing a few tips to help you navigate this season like a pro! 🍂
1. Embrace the Layers: Fall weather can be as unpredictable as a toddler with a candy stash. Layers are your best friend, so go ahead and perfect that sweater-on-flannel look!
2. Pumpkin Spice Everything: It’s officially pumpkin spice season! Whether it’s your morning coffee or an afternoon snack, don’t miss out on this seasonal delight. Warning: side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to visit a pumpkin patch.
3. Leaf Peeping: Fall foliage is nature’s way of reminding us how beautiful change can be. Find a scenic trail or park to enjoy the vibrant colors. Just remember, if you didn’t Instagram it, did it even happen?
4. Home Prep: Here’s the boring but essential part – time to prepare your home for colder months. Check your furnace, clean those gutters, and test the smoke detectors. Future you will be thankful!
5. Fun Fall Activities: From apple picking to haunted houses, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Just make sure to fit it all in before the snow arrives, and we’re all stuck indoors again binge-watching our favorite shows!
Wishing you a fantastic fall filled with cozy blankets, warm drinks, and plenty of pumpkin-flavored treats!
It’s that time again: swimming pool season! There’s nothing quite like a refreshing dip to get relief from the heat–and I thought it may be helpful to provide an insurance perspective on pools so you and yours can enjoy safe, poolside relaxation all summer long.
Here are some essential pool safety tips and considerations; feel free to share this information with any pool owners you know as well:
Safety First:
Constant Supervision: Always have an adult closely monitoring pool activities, especially with children around. A moment’s distraction can lead to unforeseen accidents.
Secure the Area: A fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around a pool can prevent accidental falls into the water by unsupervised children or pets.
Safety Equipment: With more than 6,000 children under 15 being treated in emergency rooms annually due to pool-related injuries, it’s critical to ensure the pool you’re using is equipped with life-saving tools, such as life rings, ropes, and a first aid kit. It’s also important for everyone to know where these items are and how to use them.
Something to keep in mind:Owning a pool increases liability risk. Should a guest or trespasser get injured in your private pool, you could be held financially responsible for their medical expenses and other damages. Here are simple ways to be proactive:
Review Your Policy: Ensure your homeowner’s policy is up-to-date and includes the liability coverage you need.
Consider Umbrella Insurance: For added protection, an umbrella policy provides extra liability coverage beyond what your standard homeowner’s insurance offers. It’s another safeguard against claims that could otherwise jeopardize your financial security.
By prioritizing safety and having the right coverage in place, you and your loved ones can enjoy pools with peace of mind, making your summer both enjoyable and safe.
Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year.
Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few years ago.
What’s driving higher home insurance costs
If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on building materials have gotten pretty expensive. Last year, the cost of building materials rose 4.7%, reflecting a particularly strong uptick in prices on things like asphalt shingles (16.2%), concrete blocks (18.5%) and drywall (20.4%).
To make matters worse, the home-building industry is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000 skilled laborers, which is driving up construction-related labor costs. Combined with the high cost of construction materials and historically low housing inventory, this has been making home claims much more expensive for insurance companies.
What’s driving higher auto insurance costs
Ongoing supply chain issues are driving a shortage of car parts and equipment, which were 22.3% more expensive at the end of 2022 than they were two years earlier. The overall cost of maintaining and repairing vehicles increased 18.4 % over the same timeframe – exacerbated by a growing shortage of car repair technicians.
The same issues depleted the supply of new and used cars during the COVID-19 pandemic, and inventories have not yet recovered. As a result, the average price of new cars has risen 20% since 2020, while used car prices have skyrocketed 37%.
Rising medical costs are another key factor. While the number of injuries and fatalities from car accidents has somewhat declined from its peak in 2021, the rising cost of medical care continues to drive higher claims costs. Between 2020 and 2022, the overall cost of medical care in the U.S. increased 6.8%
It seems more like winter now in Michigan but technically it’s
still Fall and we’re getting ready for Thanksgiving! We have this blog ready to
help everyone have the most prepared and easy going Thanksgiving that you’ve
ever had! This way we can feel prepared for Black Friday shopping without any
stress from the previous day.
We’re hoping to help you have a very relaxing holiday and we’ve
made a couple lists for you!
Ideas for an organized Thanksgiving:
Do as much delegating as possible. Everyone
brings a dish. Your family can help clean. You can put someone in charge of
decorations. There’s something for everyone and you don’t need to do it all
yourself.
Have a list of all the dishes and who’s bringing
what. Creates less confusion for you and serves as a reminder that everything
is taken care of. Also, this will make grocery shopping easier.
Do as much as you can prior to Thanksgiving Day.
Get everything ready that all you have to put the turkey in the oven and wait!
Have your black Friday planned so that you can
discuss that as well and have a game plan. If you have this ready then you don’t
have to worry about trying to plan that during the Thanksgiving festivities.
Have your conversation starters ready so that
you’re not anxious beforehand and also so that you’re not stressed in the
moment. (see below).
Thanksgiving Conversation Starters:
What will we do with all the leftover turkey?
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?
What’s your least favorite Thanksgiving food?
What are you MOST thankful for?
What were your top 5 favorite things that you’ve
done in the last month?
Do you like Black Friday shopping? Anything in
particular that you’ll be looking for?
Is your Christmas shopping done already or are
you just getting started?
What will you be doing for your next vacation?
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
What’s your favorite season?
What’s your favorite dessert?
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving Tradition?
Do you like to start Christmas before or after
Thanksgiving?
Did you watch the parade this morning?
Did you go hunting at all?
Wishing you a very safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Fall is here and times to transition our lives for the
season change! We’re putting away summer clothes, getting out the winter
clothes, prepping our homes for winter, and setting up holiday décor. It’s time to update your insurance policies as
well!
Do you have a vehicle to put in storage or take out of
storage? Do you want to add coverage to your vehicles for the winter months?
Have you double checked your home insurance coverages to make sure you’re okay
in the event of a loss? Have you prepped your home for winter? Do you need to
add drivers to your policy? It’s always better to be prepared for the worst so
you can have peace of mind if an accident occurs. Call your insurance company
to review your policies before winter hits!
If you’re wondering what to do to prep your home for the
winter months, we’ve made a quick list for you! This list will vary based on
your home but these are just some things to be considering during this time of
year.
Check your heating system.
Paint, caulk, and seal everything. This is
Michigan and you don’t want water, snow, or cold air getting in anywhere.
Clean your gutters.
Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Clean chimney and order/chop wood.
Shut down pools and sprinklers. Drain outdoor
faucets.
Prep lawn, gardens, and trees for winter months.
Make sure attic is clean and sealed to prevent
critters from sneaking in there.
Prepare for snow. Get the garage cleaned out and
the snow blower ready.
Summer seems to be in full swing here in Michigan and we’re
living for it! After the extreme winter weather that we experienced, this
sunshine has been welcomed with open arms from us Michiganders!
August is upon us and it’s almost back-to-school season. This
is just your friendly reminder to update your home and auto insurance policies!
New school year brings new changes that you’ll want to address, here are a
couple of examples:
You have a child getting licensed that needs to
be added as a driver
You’re purchasing or selling a vehicle
You have a household member moving out or
someone else moving in
You have a college student and are eligible for
the good student discount
You’d like to add or remove any vehicle
coverages
It’s always good to contact your insurance agent when you’re
making any changes to your household. If you have anything new going on just
give us a call to make sure that your insurance is accurate!
We’ve also put together a short list of back to school items
for those of you who are looking forward to sending your kids back to school!
Pencil and pens
Highlighters
Binder
Notebooks
Index Cards
Folders
Ruler
Calculator
Planner
Backpack
Lunch Box
EXTRA CREDIT – it’s always kind to bring some extra supplies for the
classroom too. Tissues, dry erase markers, colored pencils, staples, etc. There
are many classroom essentials that the state no longer provides and teachers
are responsible for getting. Many hands make light work, if everyone pitches in
and donates a little to the classroom then your child’s classroom environment
will be a much more positive place. This way the teacher can start off the year
right and your child can get the education they deserve!
For those of us in Lowell, be sure to check the school website for all events coming up!
It’s the start of busy season and we want to be prepared! http://www.lowellschools.com/
We’re finally starting to see some sun in the state of
Michigan, thank goodness! Everyone is getting more excited and more proactive
as the weather warms up. We’ve got a big holiday weekend coming up here that’s
going to be the start of Michigan’s outdoor season! This is when we break out
our tents, RV’s, and recreational vehicles for the summer months.
Along with this means it’s time to update your insurance
policies. You need to make sure you have the correct vehicles on the road and
the correct vehicles in storage. You have to have all of your recreational
products insured to verify that they’re safe to be driving on the trails. If
you have a pool or trampoline, make sure you’re covered for those on your home
insurance and ask your agent about an umbrella policy to guarantee that you’re
covered for everything.
Remember, this weekend is going to be a fun time with
friends and family. Safety is the key to a good three-day weekend. Always keep the
nearest hospital in mind when settling down in an unfamiliar area. Make sure to
review fire, boating, and camping safety tips prior to engaging in the
activities.
Have a great weekend everyone, and drive safely on the busy
roads!
April showers bring May flowers, right? Maybe not in
Michigan because it still snows half of the time! Regardless of whether we have
snow or flowers, the storms will come. The thunder, lightning and wind are
going to “rain” down on us again! If we know that every Spring, the storms are
on their way then we should prepare for them as best as we can in order to
avoid any unfortunate events.
How to prep your home and yard for storm season: Make sure you’re completely ready for the
powerful rain and the wind gusts of lake effect storms! Make sure your roof is
up to date and that none of the shingles are curling at all. Loosing shingles
in a storm is messy to clean and hard to replace. Keeping an updated, quality
roof over your head is going to be key if you’re living in Michigan! Also, make
sure any large or leaning trees are removed if they’re even remotely close to
your home or any outbuildings. Getting these removed ahead of time will cost
about the same as it would to remove them but without the stress or damage that
they would cause if they came crashing down. For further help on how to prepare
for storms and wind, check out this guide!
What to do when a storm starts getting out of hand: Make sure you have an EAP (Emergency Action Plan)
for your household. Whether it’s simply going down to the basement or
designating jobs to people to ensure that everything is okay, it’s always best
to have a predetermined plan in the event of an emergency.
What to do if damage occurs: If you think that you have a potential claim on
your hands then call your insurance agent. Give them as much info as you can
and make sure you’re able to describe damages. You should have an idea as too
how much the fix should cost and also how much your deductible is. Filing
claims on your home is risky business so it’s best to stay well informed. A
claim has to be sudden and accidental, so keep that in mind when assessing the
damage. If there’s a ton of damage and it seems to be urgent then it’d be best
for you to call your agent asap. If your agent isn’t available then call the
company directly so you can get everything taken care of, make sure you still
report it to your agent as the earliest convenience. You’ll want to take lots
of photos of the damage no matter what. If it’s damage that doesn’t need
immediate attention then it’s best for you to have an estimate done so you can
better determine if you’d like to file a claim or not.
What does it mean to file a claim on your Home Insurance: When determining whether or not you’d like to file a claim on your home, first find out the cost of the damage. You’ll need to subtract your deductible from that total amount and then decide if that’s an amount that you’re able to pay to fix or if you’re going to need some help from your insurance company. Home claims are okay if it’s only 1 or 2 within a 3 year time span but any more claims could cause your home insurance to drastically increase and/or nonrenewal from your company. So it’s important to be cautious and informed when filing a home claim.
Last Week Michigan got hit with some of the coldest temperatures and LOADS of snow and ice. Everyone was stuck inside with a lot more down time than we had planned, and you should stay inside to be safe! Most of us were somewhat unproductive during that time, posting on Facebook, eating, watching movies, etc.… but we have a couple of things that you can do during a Polar Vortex to help you get ahead! You may even be looking forward to the next polar vortex!
Update your schedules: I’m sure we all have plenty of times that we’ve “made plans” with someone and then not followed through. Now is the time to sit down and analyze your calendar. You want to be spending time with friends and family so schedule them in! Make your doctor/dentist appointments too while you’re at it! We can always stand to get our eyes checked or our teeth cleaned.
Clean: You have an entire home to clean and all of the supplies with you! Get to work! You’ll function better with a clean home and you don’t have much else to do when stuck inside.
Restock your home: I do this about every other week. It keeps me relaxed so that I’m not running out of random things. I just go through and make sure that I have all of the basics (toothpaste, deodorant, plastic bags, etc) and then I double check that I have a spare of everything.
Family time: What a great time to have some family fun! Break into the game cupboard or bake desserts together! This is the perfect time to take advantage of the bad weather and use it to build stronger bonds with family.
New recipes: I’m sure we all have a couple of fun things saved that we’ve been waiting to make! If you have extra time then you can make one of those recipes that takes longer than usual and master something new!
Call your insurance agent: It’s always good to review your coverages and make sure you’re completely up to date. Especially with this crazy Michigan weather, make sure your vehicles and home are covered properly!
Pay your bills: We all dread doing this task but if you get this done on a cold day in then you’ll feel accomplished and prepped for the rest of the week!
Do your taxes: It’s that season! We’re all working so hard and yet we HAVE to make time to do this. Sooner is better than later and once it’s done you’ll instantly lose the stress that this puts on you. It’s best to get it done now instead of putting it off until the last minute!
Make a budget: This is a great way to get organized and get productive! Everyone should have a budget so if you don’t have one then now is the time to make it! If you already have one, then you should update this every year and tax season is the perfect time to get it done!
Online shopping: We all do this with our spare time already, there’s no shame in online shopping when it’s too cold to go out. Find those things that you’ve been wanting and have them delivered! We all love this activity and it’s easy to lose track of time while filling up your cart.
I was nervous since our old agent had left the company but wasn’t informed. But once I got ahold of the agency, Sean built my confidence back in the agency. He has made the process very easy when making changes and most recent when we bought a new home and needed insureance. He ran the coverages with multiple carriers and got us the same coverages at s better rate! Thank you, Sean Pullen, for being quick to answer questions and making the process so easy!
-Julie F
Excellent experience! Sean was VERY responsive and answered all of my questions to my satisfaction. I was very impressed by the whole experience and will highly recommend your organization in the future. Thanks! Ben Cok
-Benjamin C
The process was very simple and Christian did a fantastic job. I've already referred a friend to AF&I. I appreciate what the company stands for and the involvement in the community.
