Kathryn Smith

During the year, popular events may come to your city or a nearby city. These events may bring thousands of visitors to your area, causing a run on hotel rooms.

Every year in Wisconsin, we have events such as Summerfest and the EAA Airventure Oshkosh. This year the PGA Championship is also coming to Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI.

With these events coming to town, many people have made the decision to rent out their homes. If you haven’t rented out your home this year, but are considering it for a future event, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Talk to your insurance agent. If you plan to rent your home for one-two weeks a year for a special event in your area, it’s important to understand how your current insurance policy covers this situation.

West Bend’s Home and Highway® policy would still provide coverage for the perils of fire, wind, hail but with some exceptions. There’s an exclusion in the policy for the property of roomers or boarders. There’s also an exclusion for contents coverage when the residence is not occupied by you (the insured) so there would be no theft coverage during the time your home is rented to others.

There is an option to purchase extended theft coverage for a residence premises occasionally rented to others or to add on the special personal property endorsement on your policy.

2. Create a contract. Even though this is a short-term rental, having a contract is a good idea. Contracts identify the expectations and responsibilities of each party involved. A contract can make both parties more comfortable with the short-term rental because each party will understand what’s expected up front.

3.Talk to a local accountant/CPA. There are different tax implications based on how long you rent out your home. If you rent your home 14 days or less per year, you don’t need to pay tax on your rental income.

4. Consider working with a rental company. While you may have to pay a commission or listing fee, the expertise they provide may be worth it (i.e. marketing your property, handling the rental agreement, etc.).

I’ve personally rented homes through an online website and had good experiences. The owners/brokers were friendly and informative, and the process was easy.

5. Store your personal belongings. As mentioned earlier, there’s no theft coverage for your personal property. So pack up your belongings and store them in a locked area of your home or at a friend or family member’s home.

6. Collect a security deposit.

7. Don’t share the property location. Don’t share your address or provide keys until you’ve received full payment for the rental term. It’s okay to share pictures since they’re important in marketing your property.

To learn more about renting your home, visit Community from Home Away.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 14, 2015 8:31:00 AM

During the summer, weather patterns can change quickly, bringing in torrential downpours. As a result, visibility can be significantly reduced and large amounts of rainwater can collect on our roadways.

During rainy conditions, hydroplaning can occur. Hydroplaning is a function of speed, inadequate tire tread, and standing water. Hydroplaning occurs when water on the road causes your tires to lose contact with the road. This loss of contact results in a loss of steering and braking.

Why is hydroplaning so dangerous? When people realize they’re hydroplaning, they panic and start overcorrecting. Overcorrecting too much can send your car veering out of control.

Tips to avoid hydroplaning

1. Don’t use cruise control in the rain. Cruise control is a nice feature, especially if you’re taking a family road trip. In the rain, however, cruise control should not be used. If you’re not paying attention to your speed, hydroplaning can occur.

2. Make sure your tires have adequate tread. Many people mistakenly believe tire tread is for traction. Tire tread actually moves snow or water away from the tires. If tires were all about traction, you’d want a smooth tire.

If you watch NASCAR or the Verizon IndyCar Series, you’ll see the tires don’t have treads. That’s because cars handle better at higher rates of speed when more rubber connects with the road.

3. Rotate your tires. Rotating tires at recommended intervals can maintain even tread wear and help you get the maximum life out of your tires. Again, the better the tread, the more effective your tires will be at pushing away snow and water.

4. Don’t wait until your tires are on their death bed to replace. Tires are expensive and not particularly fun to buy; however, driving on your tires past their useful life puts you and your family in danger.

5. Avoid standing water and puddles.

6. Drive at a safe speed. The faster you drive, the harder it is for your tires to push water away.

7. Pay attention to the cars in front of you. The car in front of you can help you understand the condition of the road. If you see excessive amounts of water coming from their tires, they may be driving in a lane that’s holding excessive water. In this case, you may want to slow down or make a lane change.

Tips to handle hydroplaning

1.Stay calm. Hydroplaning doesn’t last for an extended length of time.

2. Don’t hit the brakes.

3. Don’t over steer. Only tiny steering inputs may be needed.

4. Gently lift off the gas. This will naturally move the weight to the front of the car, bringing back control.

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jul 7, 2015 1:03:38 PM

Ahhh … summer! Warmer days and cooler nights. At this time of the year, it’s fun to end the day by sitting around a campfire with relaxing conversation and delicious s’mores. Fire pits, however, can be dangerous. Theresa Meyer, West Bend senior personal lines underwriter, recommends keeping these safety tips in mind.

Fire pit safety tips

1. Check the weather forecast. If the wind picks up, your friendly campfire can be out of control with sparks flying everywhere before you know it. Those sparks can land on your home or garage and suddenly a fire is blazing.

2. Pay attention to combustibles. It’s so important to pay special attention to the combustibles in your yard and surrounding area when you’re planning the construction of your fire pit. Your safest plan is to have at least 15 feet of clearance between the pit and any dwelling, garage, outbuilding, or wood deck.

Pick up leaves and other debris around your fire pit to prevent the fire from accidentally spreading to these flammable materials.

3. Don’t move a portable fire pit too soon. Portable fire pits are popular, partly because they can be moved and stored after each use. Please keep in mind that these units stay warm for a long time after the embers burn out. If the pit is moved near a house or garage after a fire, the heat can cause the siding to melt and even start a fire. Wait until a portable unit has cooled (at least the next day) before you move it next to a structure.

4. Be aware of burn bans. Lack of rainfall can lead to dry conditions. Be aware of the conditions in your community. Burn bans can make it unlawful to light a fire and can result in a fine.

5. Select the appropriate wood to burn. It’s not wise to burn wood that’s laying around your yard. Some of it may be treated with chemicals that shouldn’t be inhaled. Also, soft woods, like pine can crackle and pop, throwing sparks outside the fire pit.

These precautions will help protect your property and ensure a safe and enjoyable campfire!

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jun 23, 2015 9:56:50 AM

In 2012, 726 bicyclists and other cyclists were killed and an additional 49,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes, according to a National Highway Traffic Association report.  Iowa has 3 deaths in 2012, 5 in 2011 and 8 in 2010 according to the report.  Bicyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities and made up 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year.  During 2012, 9 percent of the cyclists killed in traffic crashes were 5 – 15 years old.  Biking is the most dangerous sport, based on estimates of injuries treated in hospital emergency departments complied by the National Safety Council.  In 2012, 547,400 people were treated for injuries sustained while riding bicycles.  According to a survey by the National Sporting Goods Association, 36 million people rode bicycles in 2013.  Bicycles are increasingly being used for more than recreation.  The share of Americans commuting by bike grew by 62 percent from 2000 to 2012, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the League of American Bicyclists.  In total there were 864,883 bike commuters in 2012.  Bicycle theft is also on the rise.  The FBI reports that 194,549 bicycles were stolen in 2012, up by 3 percent from 2011.  The average value of a stolen bicycle was $384 in 2012.  Follow this link http://tiny.cc/w32txx for information on Bicyclists and other Cyclists from NHTSA.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has released its 2011/2012 Auto Insurance Database Report, including calculations for average annual auto  insurance premiums for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.  The NAIC Property and Casualty Insurance Committee directed the Casualty Actuarial and Statistical Task Force to develop the report, which is intended to help states assess their insurance markets.

Iowa ranks as the second lowest state to purchase car insurance with an average premium of only $656.43.  We were edged out for the top spot by Idaho with an average premium of $639.19.  Following Iowa was Maine, Wisconsin and South Dakota.

The highest priced states were New Jersey with double the cost, $1,334.54, Washington D.C. at $1,289.49 followed by Louisiana and New York.

The 262 page report is an interesting read with a ton of data including loss ratio.  It can be downloaded for free at http://tiny.cc/8s2txx.

Nothing puts a damper on a family outing quite like stop-and-go traffic. Budding excitement and anticipation all but disappear when orange “Road Construction” signs and flashing arrows indicate changing traffic patterns and delays. If you’re proactive, however, there are ways to limit the Road Construction Blues this summer. These tips can help you brave road construction season and enjoy all the fun things you planned.

I recently talked to Sean Wolf, vice president of Wolf Paving, of Oconomowoc WI to get an insider’s take on the road construction season, as well as his recommendations for motorists. Here are three tips he shared with me.

1. Stay Informed

Most of the frustration with road construction occurs because motorists don’t expect it. Travel plans don’t always take into consideration construction projects along the intended route. To avoid this frustration, stay on top of road construction projects in your area.

Follow your state’s construction projects by visiting your Department of Transportation’s website. This way you can plan an alternate route to avoid construction, or just know that you may hit some traffic slowdowns along the way. Also, look at local city or community websites, as well as major attraction websites. They often post the most current travel information for potential visitors and tourists.

DOT Websites

Iowa

Illinois

Indiana

Minnesota

Wisconsin

2. Be an Advocate For the Road

If you run across a pothole, there’s a pothole app for that. As an example, in the City of Milwaukee, you can use an app to post pictures and locations of potholes that require repair. In addition, many local communities offer hotlines or online submission pages to report concerning road conditions. Sometimes it’s as easy as snapping a photo, tagging your location, and posting it directly to the local public works department for repair consideration.

The key takeaway here is you can be an advocate to help improve the roads. Municipalities can’t fix what they don’t see. If you see a road issue, be an advocate and report the problem so it can be repaired.

3. Stay Positive and Think Safety

At Wolf Paving, they love road construction and are proud of the work they do, but they understand most motorists don’t share those feelings. Road construction for motorists means orange cones, blocked lanes, and slow traffic. But remember, the contractor’s job is to keep the roads safe for you, your family, and your vehicle. They repair deficiencies in the road, lay new smooth surfaces, and help make your travel easier in the long run.

So as you travel this summer, think about the long term positives of road construction and about the safety of road workers. They’re passionate about their jobs and they want to work in a safe environment each day. As a motorist, this means you should always follow road speed signage and traffic pattern changes, and overall, be cognizant of worker safety.

SOURCE:  West Bend Cares, West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Apr 28, 2015 9:54:47 AM