Kathryn Smith

Is your boat out of storage? Maybe you bought a new watercraft? Now that boating season is here, it’s important to make sure your investment is properly protected before you take it out on the water. Kim Bechler, West Bend’s senior underwriter, explains what you should consider when deciding how to best insure your boat.
On West Bend’s Home and Highway^® policy, there are two ways to insure your boat with Physical Damage coverage: 1. agreed value and 2. actual cash value. Agreed value is typically available for boats 10 years old or newer. The value of the boat is verified and agreed upon by the insured and the insurance carrier. If there’s a total loss to the boat, the insurance carrier would pay the amount that was agreed to when the boat was insured on the policy.

Actual cash value is the replacement value of the boat minus depreciation. If you choose this method, you should review the value of your boat each year and adjust it on your insurance policy. This way the premium you pay reflects the boat’s current value rather than an inflated value, saving you money.

If your boat is older, you may not want to include Physical Damage coverage on your policy; however, because you could still be liable for damage to someone else’s property or injury/harm to another person, it’s best to include/keep Liability coverage. West Bend’s Home and Highway policy provides automatic Liability coverage for:

• All outboard boats regardless of the horsepower;
• Inboard/outdrives if they’re 50hp or less (except personal watercraft such as jet skis, jet boats, or wave runners); and
• Sailboats less than 26 feet in length.

Talk to your independent insurance agent to find out if your policy includes Watercraft Liability coverage. If not, you may wish to add it.

If you choose to include Uninsured, Underinsured, Fuel Spill, and Wreck Removal coverages on your Home and Highway policy, the Watercraft Liability form must be added even if Liability coverage was automatically included on your policy.

When reviewing your policy, another item to consider is the deductible. Most insurers offer deductible options. With a higher deductible, you assume more risk which means you’ll pay more if there’s a loss. At the same time, however, it will reduce your premium.

With advice from your insurance agent, you can rest assured you’re protecting your investment from an unforeseen loss. Enjoy your peace of mind and your summer on the water!

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Jun 2, 2015 1:30:00 PM

The news media spends countless hours reporting the devastation and destruction severe weather causes. Think of all the images you’ve seen in the last year for tornadoes, floods, blizzards, ice storms etc. Now pick which one you think creates the most damage.

My guess would have been tornadoes. If you agree with me, that answer is incorrect. Floods are the number-one disaster in the United States. The average flood claim from 2008 – 2012 was $42,000.

Unless you live near a river or lake, you probably don’t give flood insurance much thought. You may think a flood will never happen where you live. Yet, weather patterns can change quickly, bringing several inches of rain to your community. So are you covered when the water starts creeping up your driveway?

Property360.com published an article titled, “5 things you should know about flood insurance.” What I like about the article is they provide a comprehensive list of what’s covered and what’s not covered by flood insurance. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t provide coverage for damage caused by a flood. Auto insurance will provide coverage if your car turns into a raft and can be seen floating down the street.

Here are a few things that are covered.

• The building and its foundation;
• Major systems and appliances; and
• Curtains and blinds.

Here are a few things that aren’t covered.

• Decks, hot tubs, and swimming pools;
• Cars, motorcycles, four-wheelers, snowmobiles; and
• Money, precious metals, and other important and valuable papers.

Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968 to help protect property owners from the financial devastation of a flood. I understand that purchasing insurance isn’t fun or exciting. I also understand you probably feel you already spend too much on insurance. However, I challenge you to re-think this position. When you buy insurance, you’re transferring the risk from you to an insurance company. Personally, I don’t have $42,000 do pay out on a claim. Do you?

Talk to your agent to make sure you have the protection you need.

Sources:
http://www.propertycasualty360.com/
https://www.fema.gov/

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on May 26, 2015 12:31:32 PM

Severe storms containing high wind, hail, and lightning, can knock out power quickly. If this happens at your home, are you prepared?

Luckily for my family and me, we only lost power once for an extended period. Thanks to my collection of flashlights and the gas fireplace, we were fine. If it would have been out for a couple of days, however, we wouldn’t have been as prepared.

Ready.gov shares many tips for being prepared before, during, and after a power outage. Here are some of the tips I think are important.

1. Use flashlights instead of candles. Candles are nice for a special dinner with family and friends. Candles used in emergencies, however, can be extremely dangerous. Putting candles in places where your family isn’t used to having them can cause problems. A young child or an excited pet could knock them over. To learn more about candle safety, read “10 tips to help prevent candle fires in your home.”

2. Do you know how to open your garage door manually? If the power goes out and you’re late for work or an appointment, running out to your garage in a panic and not knowing how to open your garage door can make the situation worse. Practice disengaging your door on a nice calm day. This will help you become familiar with the process and help determine if you can open the door safely by yourself. If the door is too heavy, consider asking a family member or a neighbor for help.

Also, consider keeping a lockbox on your door with a key in it for your kids. My kids use the keypad to open my garage door. If the power is out, however, they won’t be able to open it and will be locked out of the house. If your kids are older and can be trusted with a key, have additional copies made.

3. Never use a generator in your home. All too often, you hear of families who perished due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Again, if you have a portable generator, practice using it on a nice day so when the power goes out, you don’t panic.

4. Disconnect your electronics and appliances. If you can safely access the power cords on your big appliances, consider unplugging them. The same goes for your electronics. Power surges can cause damage.

5. Don’t take a chance with unsafe food. If you experienced a power outage for several days, it’s more than likely the food in your refrigerator and freezer is spoiled. Here are some good tips to help you decide what to do with your food.

6. Don’t call 911 for updates. Remember 911 is for reporting life-threatening emergencies. Talk to your kids about this so they know when to call 911. To receive updates, listen to a portable radio, or if you have battery power left, use your smartphone to find information.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on May 12, 2015 8:43:22 AM

Most workers’ compensation acts set these criteria for compensability:

• There must be an employment relationship.
• The injury must be accidental.
• The injury must occur in the course of the employment.
• the injury must arise out of the employment.

Determining the employer-employee relationship is not as straightforward as you would think.  The two most common misconceptions about independent contractor status are exclusion of the worker from the employer’s payroll and the existence of a written agreement between the parties that states the worker is no an independent contractor.  Neither of these insulates the employer from the responsibility of providing workers’ compensation coverage.

Once the worker has proven that he/she was providing work or services for the employer at the time of the injury, the burden shifts to the employer to prove that the works was an independent contractor and not an employee.  Courts will generally find in favor of the worker, barring any statutory exclusion.

The primary test in most jurisdictions is whether the employer has the right to control the details of the employee’s  work.  Secondary criteria includes evidence the employer exercises that right, how the compensation is paid, whether the employer furnishes equipment or tools for performance of the work, and whether the employer has the right to terminate the employment relationship.

Here are the highlights from the statutory criteria for determining independent contractor status.  Please keep in mind this is not all-inclusive:

IOWA

In determining the employment relationship, the two most important indicators are the degree of control and the degree of independence.  The evidence of the degree of control falls into three categories: 1)  Behavioral control – Employer’s right to direct and control the work, including when, where, tools and equipment used , and where to purchase supplies; 2) Financial control – The extent to which the employee can realize a profit or gain, the extent to which the employee assumes responsibility for expenses, and the extent of the employee’s investment; and 3) Relationship of the parties regarding the permanency of the relationship and any benefits provided, such as pension, sick pay, insurance, etc.

SOURCE:  West Bend, The Trend, January-February 2015

Insurance is generally purchased to protect against building loss, loss to contents or liability losses.

Unfortunately, it is in the intangible exposures that we do not see and do not prepare for that ultimately can have the largest impact on our businesses.

Often the key to effectively recovering from a catastrophic event is loss of income coverage.

When making your insurance purchases, don’t forget to inquire about business income coverage.  This coverage can insure against loss of earnings,  rents and extra expenses you incur during the time it takes to restore your building back to its operational condition.

Added business income coverage can be obtained through optional endorsements.  these endorsements can protect you from a business income loss that may have occurred due to an off-premises utility service failure or damage to a property of another company that you depend on to operate your business.

To have your business fully protected, business income coverage should be considered as part of your insurance package.

SOURCE:  Auto-Owners Insurance Update Volume 8, Issue 2, April-June 2014

From genetically modified crops to the environmental and health effects of pesticides, more and more Osceola residents are questioning whether they should grow what they eat.

 

Wherever you stand on the issues surrounding today’s food supply, however, there are several good reasons to start your own garden:

• You’ll know exactly where your food was grown, and what went into growing it.
• You and your family can enjoy great-tasting vegetables — better than store-bought, some believe.
• Many people find gardening provides both physical and mental benefits and gives them an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
• Finally, there’s that sense of satisfaction that comes with eating food that you have grown yourself!

 

Clearly there are plenty of benefits to gardening. But, how do you get started?

 

Here are some important tips from the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, which, like similar services around the country, provides helpful community resources on agriculture and other topics.

 

Pick the Right Site

 

“Choosing a garden site is as important as selecting the vegetables to grow in it,” according to the OSU Extension website. “All vegetables need sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil, and they will contract fewer diseases if the site has good ventilation.”

 

Here’s what to consider before marking your garden plot:

• Sunlight. Look for a shade-free site. Vegetables need a minimum of six hours of sunshine a day.
• Soil. How is the natural vegetation? If weeds and grass are healthy on the site, the soil will probably be good for vegetables, too.
• Surroundings. The roots of trees and large shrubs can suck nutrients away from your vegetables.
• Proximity. Make it easy on yourself, with water access nearby. Otherwise, you might be less enthusiastic about caring for your garden.

 

Choose What to Plant

 

Check with a local gardening organization or search the Web for what vegetables are best for your specific situation and climate. Here are three factors to keep in mind when you’re getting ready to plant, according to the OSU extension:

• Season. Plant your seeds at the right time to avoid damage from temperatures that are too hot or too cold. Follow the instructions on the seed packet.
• Depth. If you plant your seeds too shallow, they can wash away or dry out, but if they’re too deep, they might not come up at all.
• Spacing. Each plant needs its share of sunlight, nutrients and water. Don’t make them fight for it! Putting seeds too close together usually results in smaller vegetables, too.

 

Water Wisely

 

The best way to water is by monitoring your garden, rather than simply adhering to a set schedule. Follow guidelines for your specific plants, and avoid these common problems, as noted by the OSU Extension website:

• Frequent, shallow watering. This can promote root development in surface layers of the soil, making plants very susceptible to stress and damage.
• Overwatering. Yes, you can “drown” plants; too much water can leave little to no oxygen in the soil.
• Postponing watering. Check your plants regularly. If they appear to need water, don’t wait.

 

For more specific advice on gardening in Osceola, check with the local university extension program. And, don’t worry; you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy homegrown food. You just need to be willing to put in a little time and effort — and get your hands dirty!

SOURCE:  http://www.safecoagentnews.com/articles/articles-to-share