Kathryn Smith

   Is your neighborhood filled with the sounds of delivery trucks? Mine definitely is. ‘Tis the season! I’ve seen delivery trucks in my neighborhood late in the evening and early in the morning. According to published reports, UPS, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are expecting another big holiday season. Here’s what each delivery company expects in 2017.

• UPS estimates 750 million packages will be delivered.
• FedEx expects to deliver 380-400 million packages.
• USPS estimates they’ll deliver 15 billion pieces including 850 million packages.

With all those packages being delivered this holiday season, it’s inevitable that some will be stolen from front porches or other delivery areas.

While there’s more to the holiday season than gifts, it’s frustrating if thieves target your house or neighborhood. Here are some tips that may help keep your packages safe.

1. Don’t let your packages sit. Monitor when your packages are expected to arrive. Leaving your packages on your porch or in your mailbox overnight or for a couple of days is an open invitation to thieves. This holiday season, my wife has been tracking our holiday packages very closely.

2. Talk to your neighbors. If you have neighbors who are home during the day, consider asking them to collect your packages on the delivery date. More than likely, they’ll be willing to help which can eliminate some holiday stress for you.

3. Ship to an alternate address. Depending on where you work, your company may allow you to ship your packages directly to your place of business. Check with management to see if this is acceptable. In addition, consider shipping your packages to a friend or relative’s home.

4. Ship to the store. Some retailers allow you ship to a store near you. While this isn’t as convenient, it does provide security and helps avoid long lines at the register. Some stores even offer special parking near the entrance.

5. Hi tech solutions. If you order numerous packages all year round, it may be wise to invest in technology-based solutions. Examples of this may include mobile apps, security cameras, or services such as Package Guard.

6. Install a package lockbox. If you have deliveries showing up daily you may want to consider installing a lockbox. These boxes can be bolted to your front porch. Once installed, share your code with your delivery service and you should be good to go.

7. Signature on delivery. Consider having your packages delivered only when someone is available to sign for them.

8. Insure your holiday packages. Because package theft increases around the holidays, it may be wise to insure your packages this time of year. This way, if your package is stolen, you can be reimbursed for your loss.

9. Ship to your local pack and ship store. If you have a UPS, FedEx, or other locally owned packing and shipping store nearby, consider sending your packages there.

I hope that implementing one of these safety techniques can give you peace of mind during this hectic holiday season.

Sources:
https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2017/pr17_066.pdf
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/26/ups-expects-to-ship-750-million-packages-this-holiday-season.html
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/industries/logistics/2017/11/02/fedex-holiday-surge-memphis-tn-jobs/825032001/

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Dec 12, 2017 9:00:00 AM

The holiday season is officially here! Now comes the hustle and bustle of the season, as well as fun family traditions. Families are venturing into the wilderness to cut fresh trees. Neighbors are spending time on their roofs trying to win the neighborhood-decorating contest.

Unfortunately, there are thousands of holiday related injuries every year! While there are plenty of funny holiday mishaps in the movies, remember that’s Hollywood. In real life, these mishaps could lead to a visit to your local hospital.

Holiday injuries can include:

• Lacerations;
• Strains and sprains;
• Bruises and abrasions;
• Fractures;
• Internal injuries; and
• Concussions.

Below are a number of resources that can prevent you from becoming a holiday statistic.

Six ladder safety tips to keep you safe during the holidays

Nine tips to stay safe in busy parking lots this holiday season

Tips to make your pet’s holiday travel enjoyable and safe

Five tips to keep your Christmas tree from going up in flames

Seven tips for getting your Christmas tree home safely

Winter holiday safety

SOURCE: WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Dec 5, 2017 10:00:00 AM

Insurance 101: You own it, you insure it! Most people understand that when they own something, they must insure it. When people co-own items, however, they often forget to mention this to their insurance agents or carriers and it can leave a HUGE gap in coverage!

Joyce Schuett senior personal lines underwriter, explains if you own something, in whole or in part, it’s vital that you’re listed as an “insured” on the insurance policy.

When something is co-owned, one party must add it to their insurance policy and list the other co-owner(s) as Additional Insured(s) because they also have ownership. If that co-owned item causes injuries or damages to others, only those parties listed on the insurance policy are protected if they’re sued for those injuries or damages.

For example, let’s say two brothers co-own a cabin. Brother #1 adds the cabin to his insurance policy, but doesn’t list Brother #2 as an Additional Insured. Someone is injured on the property and sues both brothers/owners, however, only Brother #1 is protected because he’s the only insured listed on his policy. Brother #2 doesn’t have protection and could be personally sued, thereby risking the loss of his home, investments, and other assets.

If that’s an Additional Insured, what’s an Additional Interest? An Additional Interest is a party who may be INTERESTED that an item is insured, but DOESN’T have any ownership in that item and therefore they CANNOT be listed as an Additional Insured.

For example, a condominium association would have an INTEREST in all unit owners within the complex having insurance. If a unit owner is responsible for causing damage to the main buildings, the association’s insurance shouldn’t have to pay for it. A unit owner would list the condominium association as an Additional Interest on their condo policy. The association would receive a copy of the unit owner’s policy, as well as notification if the policy cancels. Being listed as an Additional Interest, however, does NOT provide any coverage to the association because the association doesn’t own the unit; they simply have an interest in the unit owner having insurance.

The misuse of Additional Insured vs Additional Interest in the insurance industry is sadly much too common. Insureds, agents, and companies often don’t understand the differences, don’t clarify ownership of items, or don’t ask enough questions to confirm that who/what they’re adding to an insurance policy will be properly protected.

For instance, one insured can’t sue another insured on the same policy so incorrectly adding a party as an Additional Insured could make suing a responsible party impossible.

This example illustrates. A homeowner hires a contractor for a major renovation project and the contractor asks to be listed as an Additional Insured on the homeowner’s policy. The homeowner contacts the agent who sends a request to the insurance company to add the contractor. No one asks any other questions and the change is processed.

The contractor loosely installs a railing on an elevated deck. A friend who’s visiting the home leans on the railing, it gives way, and the friend falls and is injured. The homeowner’s insurance carrier covers the injuries under the home liability but then tries to recover appropriate damages from the contractor’s insurance since they were responsible for the loose railing. The contractor, however, can’t be sued for damages because of being listed as an Additional Insured on the policy even though the contractor didn’t have any ownership in the home and had no right to be an Additional Insured. Instead, the contractor should have been listed as an Additional INTEREST on the policy because the contractor only had an INTEREST in the homeowner carrying insurance.

So anytime someone asks that others be added to a policy, ask questions about who has ownership and why a party should be listed. This will ensure accurate insurance coverage.

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Nov 28, 2017 1:03:37 PM

Each year in November, I receive my home and auto insurance renewal policy. In my house, my wife looks at how the premium changed and then leaves it on the counter or nightstand for me to review. Because I have been in the industry for over 20 years, I do take a peek.

What do you do when your policy arrives? My guess is if you’re like most people, you take a quick glance and then file it away until it’s needed.

Because life is constantly changing, it’s wise to review your policy more frequently. Here are some times when you should review your policy.

1. Policy Renewal.

When you receive your renewal, ask yourself the following questions.

• Is there any documentation from the insurance company that indicates a coverage change?
• Does it make sense to increase my deductible in an attempt to save money?
• Do I need additional policies such as flood, earthquake, or an umbrella policy?
• Do I qualify for discounts? At West Bend, we offer discounts for
  • Safe and accident free drivers;
  • New and updated homes;
  • Multi-car families;
  • Resident students; and
  • Anti-lock brakes.

2. Do it yourself projects (DIY).

If you’ve lived in your home for a while and decide, it’s time to make some upgrades to your home, don’t forget about how those changes could affect your insurance. Kitchens and bathrooms are often the focus of many DIY home remodeling projects. Expanding the size of them or installing materials that are more expensive could cause your home to be underinsured if it’s a total loss.

In addition, don’t forget about improvements outside your home. In my neighborhood, gazebos, pergolas, and hot tubs are popular. In addition, a new shed may be needed so you have room to store new toys in your garage such as a boat or motorcycle.

Lastly, a new roof is a big investment. Many insurance carriers charge more for homeowners insurance if a roof is older. Replacing the roof could change your coverage from actual cash value to replacement cost. Replacement cost provides the coverage you need to replace your roof, while actual cash value provides coverage for the value of the roof at the time it’s replaced; it takes into account depreciation of the shingles.

All these changes should be reported to your insurance agent.

3. Other improvements made to your home.

If you’ve updated any major home systems i.e. heating, plumbing, or electrical, contact your agent. In addition, if you’ve installed a fire/burglar alarm system that’s monitored by professionals in a call center, discounts may be available.

 

4. Lifestyle changes.

Is life throwing curve balls your way? Kids leaving or returning home after college or elderly parents moving into your home can affect your insurance policy. In addition, so can a recent marriage, divorce, or sudden death of a spouse.

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Nov 21, 2017 8:00:00 AM

It’s happened to all of us at one time or another, whether we’re in a hurry to get to work or on a family road trip. All of a sudden, a vehicle warning light turns on.

Depending on the light, it can bring instant panic. Thoughts of being stranded and what to do next can fill our heads. Hopefully some help from roadside assistance can resolve serious issues. On the other hand, some lights can simply be a notification that something is working, but not 100%. With winter right around the corner, now is a good time to become acquainted with some of these warning lights.

Warning lights and what they mean

If you see a light appear on your dashboard, don’t panic. Symbol lights can appear in different colors.

Red – indicates a potentially serious problem or safety issue and should be taken to your dealer as soon as possible.

Yellow/Orange – something needs to be serviced or repaired soon.

Green/Blue – indicates that your system is operating. You may see this color scheme when your headlights are on.

If a light is flashing, contact your local dealership or trusted mechanic.

1. Check Engine or Malfunction Indication Light: There are a number of reasons that light may appear. Some of them are:

• Your Oxygen (O2) sensor needs replacing;
• Your gas cap is loose, damaged or lost;
• Your catalytic converter needs replacing;
• Your mass airflow sensor needs replacing; or
• Your spark plugs or wires need replacing.

These items all affect how efficiently your car runs. The light does not mean your engine is going to explode or is low on oil.

2. Coolant Temperature Warning: This warning light indicates that your engine is overheating due to lack of coolant. If this light comes on, pull over immediately and turn off your car. An overheated engine can cause significant damage. Before checking your coolant level, let your car cool down 30 – 60 minutes before removing the radiator cap to prevent burns from steam buildup inside the radiator. While you’re waiting for the engine to cool down, look under your car to see if there are any leaks. Your car may be fine but the coolant is low based on the intervals in which the coolant has been filled up last.

3. Oil Pressure Warning: This light identifies a loss of oil pressure. Immediately and safely, pull over and turn off your car. Low oil pressure could lead to serious engine problems. The easiest check is to pull out your dipstick and wipe it with paper towel or cloth. Then reinsert the dipstick and remove it to check oil level. If your oil is low, you could be over the recommended oil change interval or have a leak. Don’t drive it until you put more oil in.

4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): This light signifies that a tire pressure is low. It could be low due to a change in temperature, or damage to the tire. Maintaining appropriate tire pressure is important. Driving with under or over inflated tires can be dangerous. If your car begins driving poorly, pull over immediately. Driving on a flat tire can damage your rim and lead to more expense.

5. Battery/Charging Alert: This light indicates that your battery’s voltage level may be below normal level. This could be the result of an old battery or other deteriorating parts such as the starter, corroded battery terminals, or an alternator.

6. Traction Control or ESP: This light illuminates when your vehicle is experiencing slippery or treacherous conditions. Systems in use could be your traction control, anti-skid, or electronic stability control. If you notice this light on please slow down and drive appropriately for the conditions Mother Nature is throwing at you.

7. Brake System: This light indicates that your parking brake may be on, or there is a problem with your braking system such as low brake fluid or issues with your ABS. One of the most important feature on your car is your brakes. Make sure to get this checked out right away.

For additional information on your car’s warning lights, please review your owner’s manual.

If you don’t have roadside assistance, now may be a wise time to check into it. As part of West Bend’s Home and Highway^® policy, TravelNet^® can provide assistance for towing, flat tires, gasoline delivery, battery jumpstarts, lockouts, and other minor repairs at the site of disablement.

Do you have any tips or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.

Source:
https://www.autozone.com/landing/page.jsp?name=vehicle-warning-indicators#batterye:

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Nov 14, 2017 12:00:00 PM

Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to prepare your home for the cold weather like putting on the storm doors, cleaning your gutters, and tuning up the furnace. And don’t forget your garage! Did you know most garage fires occur in January and February?

According to U.S Fire Administration, each year there are 6,600 garage fires in homes that result in an average of 30 deaths, 400 injuries, and $457 million in property loss.

Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of garage fires. These fires start because of shorts in wires, damaged wires, and overloading electrical outlets. Garage fires can spread farther, go undetected longer, and lead to more injuries and dollar loss than fires that originate in other areas of your home.

Wendy Wagner, senior personal lines underwriter will share some safety tips for your garage or detached outbuilding.

Safety Tips

•  Store oil, gasoline, paints, propane, and varnishes in a shed away from your home.
• Keep items that can burn on shelves away from appliances.
• Plug only one charging appliance into an outlet.
• Keep the garage tidy and remove clutter.
• When powering or charging appliances, avoid using an extension cord.
• Avoid using carpets or rugs on the garage floor.
• Do not fill portable gasoline containers inside your garage.
• Install a heat alarm, rather than a smoke alarm, in your garage. The heat alarm will sound if the temperature rises too high. Smoke alarms in garages can sound because of a change in temperature and humidity, as well as dust, fumes and insects. Heat alarms are not affected by these conditions.
• Do not use or install solid-fuel burning devices (wood, pellet, coal) in garages, workshops, or detached outbuildings and anywhere gasoline and other flammables vapors may be present. (Per NFPA code 211, location of Appliances 12.2.4 solid fuel burning appliances shall not be installed in any garage.)

Following these easy steps is a sure way to keep your home and possessions safe throughout the year!

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Nov 7, 2017 10:03:04 AM