Summer is around the corner!

It's only a couple of weeks until school gets out, and it will be time for summer. Back yard barbeques, going to the beach, boating, riding motorcycles, camping, the kids playing baseball - these are all things that will occupy our summer hours. Now is the time to make sure you have all the insurance coverage you need so you can relax and enjoy these activites. Here's a checklist of some things to consider that you may or may not have already thought about:

1. If your kids play sports, have you thougth about an accident insurance policy? These policies are extremely inexpensive and they pay a benefit directly to you if you take your child to the doctor, dentist or emergency room within 72 hours of an accident - and they pay an additional benefit if the child has to have stitches, a broken bone set, or surgury. This extra money can help cover your health insurance deductible and copay.

2. Boat, RV, ATV and motorcycle insurance - did you cancel your policy at the end of last season when you were putting your "toys" away for the winter? Or would you like for us to take a look at your current policy to see if you have adequate coverage or if you are getting the best price? Also make sure your boat, RV or motorcycle policy has enough coverage for your personal belongings, fishing equipment, or extra equipment you've added to your motorcycle, this may be something you've not reviewed in a while. Also on your RV policy, check to make sure you have adequate coverage for your awning, a lot of times this is a seperate coverage and a sudden gust of wind can destroy it in a second, and they are very expensive.

3. June 1 is the beginning of hurricaine season - have you reviewed your homeowner's insurance lately to make sure you still have enough coverage to replace your home in case of a total loss? What about flood insurance? If you don't have it or you were told you are "not in a flood zone" you may still want to consider purchasing this valuable coverage - there is no such thing as "not in a flood zone" - as Nashville showed us all, torrential rain can cause a flood anywhere, at any time!

4. What about your valuables? Look at your homeowner's policy and make sure you have enough coverage to replace your jewelry, guns, and collectibles in case of a break in while you're on vacation. With vacations coming up, potential burgulars are looking for signs of homeowner's away from home. Here are some tips you can use to make it look like you're at home: buy an inexpensive timer at the hardware store to plug a lamp into in your living room and maybe a bedroom or 2 and time it to come on around dusk while you are gone so from the outside it looks like someone is home. Also, if you have more than 1 vehicle, leave one of them at home and ask a neighbor or family member to come over and move it around in your driveway once a day so if someone is watching your home it looks like someone's been there. Also ask that person to move your blinds up and down at different postitions at least once a day, and keep your mail and newspaper picked up and put inside the house in a location someone can't look into a window and see the pile of mail. Another tip, leave a TV or radio on or on a timer so when the potential thief comes up to the house it sounds like someone's there.

5. Install an alarm system: it can save you 10% to 20% on your homeowner's insurance premium and it doesn't cost much - our system is $36 per month, and it may prevent someone from breaking in. Most will also alert the fire department if a fire breaks out, this could save your home if you are away and don't know the fire has started.

6. If you have a backyard pool, make sure the filters have some kind of screen over them to keep small children from putting their hands or feet in them and getting stuck or hurt, and make sure children of your guests as well as your own children are always properly supervised and have on age appropriate life jackets or floaties depending on their swimming skills. Don't let children dive into your pool unless it is deep enough per the manufacturer and has a properly installed diving board. Also make sure your pool is property enclosed with a fence and it is locked at all times so neighborhood children won't be tempted to take a dip without permission.

7. If you're family is vacationing by car this year, pull out your auto policy and make sure you have towing and emergency road service on your policy. Better yet, consider buying a seperate Motorclub policy, it has much broader coverage than what comes with the standard towing coverage on your auto policy. We have a great policy that includes trip interruption coverage, towing, they'll change a flat tire, deliver gas to you, all for only $48 for 6 months coverage. A broken down vehicle could ruin your vacation but a Motorclub policy will have you back on the road to enjoy your vacation.

These are just a few tips to help you enjoy your summer and keep an unexpected problem from ruining your vacation plans. We're here to help with any advice or questions you may have, give us a call!