You need to know these 10 surprising Atlanta home insurance exclusions

Do you know what exclusions your home insurance has?

How well do you know your home insurance policy? Are you best buddies, or casual acquaintances that only talk when they need something from each other? The reason that we ask is that it’s important that you’re familiar with your policy. See, there are these things called exclusions, meaning things that aren’t covered by the policy. We encourage you to reach best-buddy status with your policy so that you aren’t surprised by any losses that aren’t covered. It’s better to know what isn’t covered before one of those not-covered things strikes.

We’ve come up with a list of ten things that aren’t usually covered in your home insurance policy. You might be surprised at some of them!

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What is personal umbrella liability insurance and why should you consider it?

Umbrella insurance provides additional coverage.

Umbrella insurance provides additional coverage.

You know how important it is to be insured. You have home insurance and car insurance. You’re happy with your coverage and your premiums. But have you ever considered if your limits of coverage on those liability policies are enough? What if there comes a day when you have a claim that blows those limits out of the water? That’s when you’d need a personal umbrella insurance policy.

What’s an umbrella policy?

Indulge us for a moment in a corny analogy.

Picture your home insurance (for example) as a raincoat. You wear it to protect you from any surprise rainstorms that could happen, so you’re covered. But what if it starts to pour all of a sudden and you’re trapped in a rainstorm that’s heavier than any you’ve ever experienced? Your raincoat might not be enough to keep you dry, and that’s why you’d want an umbrella to go along with it. It’s an added layer of protection against the unforeseen storm.

Umbrella insurance can protect you against big losses.

What would umbrella insurance do?

Umbrella insurance kicks in where your underlying policy left off if you have a claim that exceeds the limit on that underlying policy. Instead of you having to cover the leftover expenses from that lawsuit, your umbrella insurance can take care of it. You’d be protected. Don’t underestimate how expensive court costs and liability situations can be – the costs can skyrocket. Your umbrella insurance is there to take the fall for you – up to the limit on that policy, naturally.

How much umbrella insurance do you need?

To determine how much umbrella insurance is right for you, you have to consider your assets and your risks. For example, do you have a teenaged driver? Have a dog that could bite someone? Have a pool? (By the way, dogs and home insurance don’t always get along. Umbrella policies can help dog owners mitigate their risk.)  Basically, think of things that could put you on the receiving end of a lawsuit – in other words, personal risks that you face in your day-to-day life.

How much does umbrella insurance cost?

When you think about how much extra coverage umbrella provides, the extra cost to your premium is very reasonable.

Two factors that contribute to the cost are:

  • The value of the policy (premiums will usually go up by about $50 or $75 for each million)
  • Your personal risk factors. For example, do you have driving tickets on your record? What does your credit score look like? (Yes, your credit score can have an effect on your insurance.) The cleaner your record, the less of a risk you are to an insurance company.

Pro tip: To save money on your umbrella policy by possibly getting a discount, get your umbrella policy from the same company that writes your standard policies.

Get peace of mind with umbrella insurance.

Even though homeowners and auto insurance provide a certain level of liability protection, there are many disastrous situations that might completely exceed the coverage you currently have. Imagine the unimaginable. Would your current policy be enough to cover all the expenses? Or would you be left to foot a hefty portion of the bill? An umbrella policy will protect you from a major loss.

If you’re interested in getting a personal umbrella insurance policy, let us know! Just fill out our quote form or give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help you with any of your insurance needs. We want you to be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’re protected from any big disasters that come your way.

How much home insurance do I need for my Atlanta house?

Do you know how much home insurance you need?

Do you know how much home insurance you need?

Your Atlanta home is one of your greatest assets. A house is a big investment, but we know that it’s more than that. Your house is your home, your shelter. Sure, you might have the occasional maintenance issue, but you wouldn’t trade it for anything. And to protect your home, you need to make sure that you have the proper home insurance.

But that begs the question – how much home insurance do you need?

The answer depends on several things, but a lot of it comes down to how you choose to insure your home in the first place. You have different options. Let’s break it down into two parts – insuring the home itself (meaning the structure) and your personal belongings.

The House:

To make sure that you have enough insurance for your home, you need to check that you have enough coverage to handle rebuilding your home entirely if it were destroyed by a disaster like a fire. Now, you also have to take into account the cost of the contractors’ labor and building materials. This is your home’s replacement cost.

You need to take construction costs into account for your home insurance.

How do I find out the replacement cost of my house?

To figure out how much your home would cost to rebuild or replace, you need to consult a trustworthy builder. Find a builder that’s reputable to give you an estimate of what it would cost to rebuild your home, taking into account the materials it’s made of.

Will the replacement cost ever change?

Okay, so here’s the thing – you need to let your agent know anytime you make a significant change to your home. These could be home improvements, like an addition or renovation. By renovating or doing home improvements, you could be altering the value of your home and thus how much home insurance you need. You might be changing the value of your home enough to need to adjust your limits of coverage. Another time to consult with your agent is when you have a significant lifestyle change, like getting married.

It might be tempting to go with a lower premium for your home insurance, but it’s worth it to get robust insurance with plenty of coverage. Besides, there are other ways to lower your insurance premium while still keeping high levels of coverage.

Personal Property:

When it comes to insuring your personal property, again, you have options. You can insure your belongings for their actual cash value or their replacement value.

Actual cash value means that your home insurance company can reimburse you for the price of the items at today’s value, minus your deductible.

Replacement cost value means that you get reimbursed for the full cost of replacing the items, minus your deductible.

That might not seem like a big difference. But it is. You might want to insure your belongings for their replacement value because of depreciation. Basically, the value of your belongings might have gone down since you bought them, so the cost of replacing the item might be more than its current worth. With replacement cost, you’ll be able to replace the item with a new one without worrying about depreciation. With actual cash value, you might not get enough money to replace the item.

We recommend insuring your belongings for their replacement value.

The easiest way to further explain is with an example.

Say that you bought some furniture a couple years ago. At the time it cost $4,000. It’s nice. Your home gets burgled and the thieves take off with your furniture. The only thing is that it is only worth $3,000 today. With actual cash value, you could get the $3,000 (minus your deductible) … but it might not be enough to replace the items that were lost.

Now, depreciation depends on the type of possession and its age, of course, but things sometimes lose their value over time. You need to be prepared for that.

How do I know how much home insurance I need for my personal belongings?

Taking a home inventory is a great way to get an idea of the total amount of coverage you need. This will give you an idea of the value of all of your belongings.

Insuring Your Valuables:

Don’t forget about your expensive jewelry, silverware, furs, and antiques. You need to make sure that you have enough coverage for your jewelry and other valuables. They might exceed the limits on your home insurance policy, which means that you need to consider adjusting your insurance to ensure coverage for these items. You might need to get an extra floater or rider (basically an addition to your policy) to cover them.

To figure out just what insurance you might need, you have to have your treasures appraised. That way you’ll find out what they’re worth in today’s market and know how much they need to be insured for. Remember, you’ll need to have these valuables appraised every couple years to take changing prices into account.

Don't forget to get your valuables appraised when it comes to your home insurance.

Remember, the name of the game is making sure that you have enough insurance to cover everything, including the home itself and its contents. Peace of mind is worth it.

Insuring your home might seem like a headache. There’s a lot to think about and a lot of factors at play. But we can help you make sure that you have the insurance you need to protect your home and your family. Just give us a call or fill out our quote form and we’ll help you create a customized insurance plan that will protect your family from whatever life might throw at you.

Perils of the rainy season: Summertime severe thunderstorm safety

Severe thunderstorms have a high potential for damage.

Summer is prime time for severe thunderstorms. Hot and humid weather often contributes to the formation of storms. Hmm…hot and humid? Sounds like Atlanta, right? Severe thunderstorms can be terrifying, with the torrential rain and cracks of thunder that can shake a house. Only certain thunderstorms are declared “severe,” but if they are they can come with hail, 60 mph winds, and even tornadoes. All of which can be very destructive and cause some serious storm damage. The sheer power of thunderstorms is why it’s important for you and your family to know how to stay safe when summer storms hit.

Keep the following in mind next time you and your family have to weather a (literal) storm.

BEFORE THE STORM HITS:

1. Create a disaster kit.

It’s a good idea to have an emergency disaster kit prepared to help you and your family get through a natural disaster. Having a stash of emergency supplies will help you out in case the power goes out or you have to hunker down for a while. For a list of items that you should include in your kit, visit The Red Cross’s website.

2. Take care of any dead or rotting trees or branches.

Trees and tree branches can cause a lot of damage. Make sure to keep your yard and trees maintained so that ailing trees won’t crash into your house during a thunderstorm. In heavy winds, a tree that’s not healthy might give up and fall over (but hey, even a healthy tree could be at risk.)

3. Know when and where to take shelter.

First of all, you have to know what the weather warnings you might hear mean.

Severe thunderstorm watch means that the conditions are ideal for the formation of a whopper storm. Stay tuned to news outlets like the radio, TV, or your NOAA radio.

Severe thunderstorm warning means a severe storm has been sighted in the area. In other words, you’re about to get pummeled by a serious storm. Take shelter immediately.

Don't hesitate to take shelter if a thunderstorm seems imminent.

If you’re outside and you see lightning, count to 30. If thunder booms before you get to 30, you need to hoof it inside. To shelter, find a sturdy-looking building. Avoid open areas and bodies of water. If you can’t get to a building, shelter in a hard-topped car. Don’t touch any metal or conductive parts of the car, however – if lightning touches down near you, you don’t want to get shocked. Stay inside until 30 minutes after the last boom.

Because lightning is so unpredictable, it’s very dangerous. It doesn’t have to be raining hard for lightning to strike, and sometimes strikes happen 10 miles away from any rain. There’s even a kind of lightning called “heat lightning”, which means that the storm is too far away for the thunder to be heard. However, this usually means the storm is headed your way, so be prepared.

4. Don’t leave your outdoor furniture lying around.

If you have outdoor patio furniture, you need to either move it inside or make sure that you’ve secured it in place. Outdoor furniture can get picked up by strong winds and thus turned into a missile that could damage your home.

5. Unplug electronics.

Unplugging your electronic devices can keep them from getting fried in a power surge (if one occurs.) Things like computers are susceptible to being toasted, as are AC units.

Before the thunderstorm hits, unplug your electronics.

6. Batten the hatches.

Shutter your windows and secure your doors. If your windows don’t have shutters, pull any blinds or curtains that you might have.

DURING THE STORM:

7. Don’t touch electronics.

When the storm hits, don’t use corded phones or devices. Basically steer clear of electrical cords and plugs. You don’t want to accidentally get electrocuted.

8. Avoid contact with plumbing fixtures.

Steer clear of plumbing fixtures during thunderstorms. They can also conduct electricity.

9. Steer clear of windows and doors.

These things are weak spots and they might break, allowing the storm to come inside. You’ll be safest in an interior room of the house in a room with no windows.

10. If you’re driving when you’re caught in the thunderstorm…

Do your best to cautiously and safely get off the road, pull over, and park. Turn on your hazard lights and wait out the thunderstorm – it won’t do any good to keep driving if you can’t see. Try to avoid touching any metal or conductive parts of the car. Lightning is scary.

11. Stay tuned to a battery-operated radio.

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration battery radio will provide you with the details you need to know about the weather situation and the thunderstorm. This should be part of your disaster kit.

Stay safe during summer thunderstorms.

Atlanta definitely sees its fair share of harsh thunderstorms, particularly in the summer months. Stay safe during storms and don’t take any chances. Take shelter and listen to weather warnings, even if the situation doesn’t seem that bad – yet. Storms can hit and worsen fast. Be smart and respect the power of thunderstorms.

If you’d like to get a free quote on your homeowners or renters insurance, great! We’d love to do that for you. All you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call and we’d be happy to go over your insurance needs with you and help you create a customized insurance plan.

Flood insurance FAQs: The truth about flooding and your insurance

Flooding isn't covered in standard homeowners policies.

 

Imagine this. It’s the Atlanta rainy season. It’s hot, humid, and pouring down rain as it’s wont to do in the summer months. It’s been raining heavily. You get home from work one day, eager to escape into the air conditioning after a muggy ride home, and burst inside. You put down your things and wander into the kitchen for dinner…

Only to find that your kitchen looks an awful lot like a bathtub. There’s water everywhere. The kitchen flooded while you were at work, and you’re looking at a lot of damage.

Okay, you think. I’ll get on the phone and call my insurance company. So you do. You dial them up and explain what’s going on…and then they break the news.

Flooding isn’t covered in standard homeowners and renters policies.

You stare at your kitchen in dismay.

There’s a way to avoid the situation of trying to figure out how you’re going to afford all of those costly repairs and replacements. And that’s flood insurance.

What’s flood insurance?

Flood insurance is an additional coverage that you can purchase to protect your home and your belongings from damages or losses related to flooding. Since flooding is not covered under most home insurance policies, you have to purchase it separately.

What does it cover?

As we mentioned above, flood insurance protects the home itself and your personal belongings. You do, however, have to make sure that you have insurance for both the structure and the contents of your home – it’s important to make sure that everything’s covered. Taking a home inventory is a great way to make sure that you have enough coverage.

Flood insurance will protect you if you ever face a flooding loss.

Keep in mind that not all water damage is considered “flooding.” For a loss to be considered flooding, there has to have been two acres worth of flooding or two homes that have been affected (one of which is yours) from either tidal or inland waters or rapid and unusual accumulation. Basically, that means that there’s a lot of water on land where there’s usually not a lot of water.

Where can I get flood insurance in Atlanta?

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program, but you have to buy it through an agent. You can’t go directly to the NFIP and buy it yourself. And your community has to participate in the NFIP in order for you to be able to get flood insurance.

What if I don’t live in a high-risk flooding area?

You can still buy flood insurance even if you don’t live in a high-risk area. You never know when a summer flash flood could hit your home. Even low or medium-risk homes can be at risk for flooding – floods are a very common weather-related disaster in the US. Plus, the damage from just an inch of water can be extremely costly. Yikes.

What if I rent my Atlanta home?

You can still purchase flood insurance for your belongings. Covering the structure itself is up to the owner of the property – they take that responsibility in their own hands.

A flood watch was just issued for my area for the next week or so. Can I buy flood insurance and be good to go?

You can buy the insurance…but it won’t do you much good for the potential flood that’ll happen in the next week. Flood insurance policies typically take effect 30 days after they’re bought.

There's a time limit before flood insurance becomes effective.

Now, if you have to get flood insurance because your lender requires it for you to get a loan, or to increase, extend, or renew an existing loan, don’t worry. There’s no waiting period for that situation.

Hopefully we were able to answer some of the questions you might have about flood insurance. Your home is valuable, so consider securing your peace of mind with a flood insurance policy today. If you have any further questions about flood insurance, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’d be happy to help you with any of your insurance needs. If you want to get a free quote on your Atlanta home insurance, we can do that, too!

Source: FEMA

Summertime grilling safety tips (Or how to grill without burning the house down)

Now that we’re well into the summer, you might be thinking about having a barbecue and inviting your friends, family, and neighbors over for an old-school grill-out. You’ve bought the burgers, the chicken, the hot dogs, and, of course, the condiments (which, let’s face it, are the best part.) So grocery-wise you’re all set. You’re ready to fire up the grill and fill the air with that juicy, smoky barbecue smell.

Don't forget to be safe when you grill!

But before you start throwing on the burgers, it’s important to remember that grills – in addition to producing delicious food – are dangerous. Yes, something that allows you to cook a mouthwatering meal might seem innocent, but grills can turn on you if you don’t take the right precautions. An unsafe grill is a home insurance claim in the making.

So, we’ve put together some of those precautions so you can get to grilling!

1. Know your grill.

Do you have a gas or a charcoal grill? This is important because they’re meant to be used differently. Gas grills require propane whereas charcoal grills require, well, charcoal and fire.

Anyways. This is important because you should never put starter fluid on a gas grill. Starter fluid is only for charcoal grills.

2. Take care of your gas grill.

If you have a gas grill, you need to make sure that you don’t have any propane leaks. Check the spot where the propane tank and fuel line are connected and make sure there are no leaks. If you think you have a leak, turn off the gas and DO NOT light the grill. Instead, get it fixed by a professional before cooking anything. (On the bright side, this gives you a good excuse to impose on your neighbors – now they get to host the get-together!)

Oh, and one more thing – never, ever use matches to check for propane leaks. Fire + propane = not good.

Make sure that your grill is in good working order.

3. Keep the grill outside.

Don’t bring your barbecue into an enclosed, unventilated space, like your garage or home. This is a major fire hazard, but it’s also a carbon monoxide and smoke hazard, too. Carbon monoxide is not to be trifled with. It’s an odorless, colorless gas that can cause extremely serious health problems, so make sure to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

4. Respect the grill’s power of flammability.

Keep your grill away from things that could catch on fire. You should place it at least three feet from things like trees, outdoor furniture, and, oh, yes, your house.

Also, don’t grill on a wooden deck or porch. That could end up catching fire.

 5. Keep the kiddos and pets away from the grill.

Your kids and pets might wander too close and end up getting hurt, so keep them at a safe distance and don’t let them run around or play close to the barbecue. You don’t want them to get burned. Make sure that your home is sufficiently childproofed to avoid any mishaps.

Keep the pets and kids at a safe distance from the grill.

6. Have good food-safety habits.

When you prep and cook food, you need to make sure that you’re keeping everything clean and not exposing the food to bacteria and other icky things that can make people sick. Food poisoning is not fun.

A few Food-Prep 101 tips:

  • Wash your hands frequently (or use moist towelettes if you’re outside working the grill).
  • Keep raw food away from cooked food.
  • Don’t use the utensils you’re handling the raw food with on the cooked food.
  • Marinate the meat in the fridge, not on the counter. Meat needs to be refrigerated.
  • Cook the food thoroughly. Burgers should be cooked to 160˚F and chicken should be cooked to 165˚F.
  • Put the leftovers in the fridge ASAP. Don’t wait longer than two hours to refrigerate the leftover food.

7. Don’t invite carcinogens to the party.

Carcinogens, or substances that cause cancer, are also a risk of grilling. When fat from meat drips onto the flames or charcoal, the smoke produced rises to the meat and releases carcinogens.

To reduce the chances of releasing carcinogens:

  • Cook lean meats, like turkey burgers or lean cuts of beef. These have less grease. Also, cut the visible fat from poultry before throwing it on the grill.
  • Marinate the meat. Herbs can prevent carcinogens from forming because they have natural antioxidants that do so.
  • Scrub the grill with a wire brush after every use. This will clear the grill of any leftover chunks of food that could drip through the grates and release carcinogen-rich smoke.
  • Use nonstick cooking spray. This prevents food build-up from forming on your grill.

A clean grill is a happy grill.

So, there you have it – how to have that relaxing, casual grill-out safely! Now that you’re a grill-safety pro, you’re ready to invite the neighborhood to your place and have a feast. Let the hamburgers and hot dogs fly!

Need home insurance, auto insurance, or renters insurance? We’d love to help you out with all of your insurance needs! We can get you free quotes for your insurance. Just fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

10 fireworks safety tips for the 4th of July (or any time of the year)

Stay safe while using fireworks.

The Fourth of July is here, and with it, lots and lots of fireworks. You might be thinking about putting on a display to celebrate Independence Day. Yes, fireworks are part of the Fourth of July deal, but they’re also very dangerous. It’s important not to underestimate the damage that they can do. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 250 people go the emergency room for firework-related injuries every day in the month surrounding July 4th.

But guess what? We’ve got some tips that you can follow to help you stay safe this Fourth of July.

Tip #1. Keep the pyrotechnics outside.

Set fireworks off outdoors and make sure to choose your location wisely. That means staying away from things that are flammable, including people, homes, and trees or bushes.

Tip #2. Have water on hand.

Just in case things get out of control, it’s a good idea to have some water handy. Have either some buckets or a hose that’s ready to go nearby.

Tip #3. Carry and set off fireworks intelligently.

Okay, a few basic rules for handling the pyrotechnics:

  • Don’t carry them in your pockets.
  • Don’t set them off from a metal or glass container – bad idea.
  • Light them one at a time.
  • Never place any piece of your body over the device while you’re lighting it.
  • Back up to a safe distance after lighting.
  • After they’re done burning, dump a lot of water on the used devices before you throw them away.

Tip #4. Use the fireworks as they’re meant to be used.

In other words, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t deviate from the instructions or try and make your own. And don’t combine fireworks for a bigger boom – that’s just not a good idea.

Be sure to follow the safety instructions on your fireworks.

Tip #5. Keep the audience at bay.

Make sure that the people who come to admire the pretty lights are a safe distance away. Also, make sure that they don’t get too close to the debris.

Tip #6. Wear goggles.

Eyes are sensitive. Fireworks can be especially dangerous for your eyesight, so make sure that you’re wearing come protective eyewear when handling and setting them off.

Tip #7. Don’t drink and fireworks.

This is just common sense. Alcohol and things that explode don’t mix.

Tip #8. Don’t try to force a firework to light.

If there’s a firework that just won’t light, don’t try to relight it after it doesn’t ignite the first time. Give it about twenty minutes, then dunk it in a bucket of water.

Be sure to handle fireworks safely.

Tip #9. Don’t let small children near the sparklers.

Sparklers burn at almost 2000˚F. That’s really hot – hot enough to melt some metals. Small kiddos shouldn’t handle sparklers, and you need to supervise very carefully if there are older kids using them. Set some ground rules for sparkler fun, too – no running, throwing, chasing, etc.

Another note – don’t let the kids pick up the remains of the devices after the show. These could still be flammable or liable to explode.

Tip #10. Make sure you’re respecting all relevant rules and laws.

You need to check and make sure that fireworks are legal in your area. Does your area even allow them?

If your area does allow them, you also have to check about the type of fireworks you set off. What kind of fireworks are allowed? (You should stick to the ones meant for consumers.) Make sure that you use the legal ones, not the illegal ones. Check out the rules and laws about what fireworks are okay and which are not. And for the ones that are not – steer clear. Do not use.

There may also be also certain restrictions on where you can set off fireworks and what time of day. Make sure you check those out. Also keep in mind that your specific neighborhood or city could have its own ordinances about fireworks, so don’t ignore those.

Bonus: Tip #11. Think about your pets.

If you’re going to have a show near your home, make sure you keep your pets safe. The loud noises could scare them, so make sure that they’re comfortable in an interior room of your house. Don’t bring pets to the display. They don’t understand why things are suddenly going boom, so they might not like it too much. You don’t want them to run away because they get spooked.

Don't forget that your pets might get scared because of the fireworks.

Bottom line: fireworks are dangerous.

Stay safe while you celebrate the Fourth of July, and take extra care if your patriotic plans involve a firework display. It might be best to leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals. Plus, it’s a lot less work to kick back and enjoy the show rather than putting it on yourself!

Sources:

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fireworks.html

https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks

What are the risks of offering valet parking for your restaurant?

You might decide to hire a contractor to do your valet parking.

Atlanta is a car city, there’s no denying it. There are always lots of vehicles on the road, and that means that there are a lot of people in need of parking. To solve this problem for the customers who will visit your restaurant, you might be thinking about offering valet parking services. It makes life much more convenient for your guests if they’re able to pull up to your restaurant instead of having to circle Midtown or Downtown looking for a parking spot. But before you decide to go for it and start parking people’s cars, there are a few things you need to know about offering valet parking.

There are two options when it comes to valet parking, and both of them present their own risks. The first option is to hire drivers yourself, and the second is to bring in a valet contracting company. Now, even though both of these options have the same outcome—the cars get parked—there are different risks that you need to consider when weighing which route you want to go.

Valet parking isn't without its risks.

If you hire your own employees…

When you hire your own valet drivers, you take on the responsibility for your customer’s cars. Keep a few things in mind as you go through the hiring process:

Hiring practices are the best defense against risk.

You need to find people that you can trust to drive your customers’ cars, so you have to be pretty diligent in screening your applicants. Valet parking is a high-speed, fast-paced job, so you want to make sure that you hire careful, trustworthy people.

  • Look into the history and record of the applicant. This is the best way to see how much of a risk they represent.
  • Is their driving record clean, or have they had tickets or license suspensions?
  • Does their criminal background check look good? It would not be good if customer’s belongings started mysteriously growing legs and walking away.
  • Have they done a drug test?

Have a trial or training period.

During this time, have a seasoned valet employee ride with your new recruit. Your veteran valet can show them the ropes and make sure that they have good driving habits.

Ask whether or not the applicant can comfortably drive both manual and automatic cars.

You want to make sure that your valets are able to easily drive both a stick shift and an automatic car. It would be a bit awkward if no one was able to drive a manual car left in your drop-off lane.

Make sure you’ve got the right insurance coverage.

If you’re in charge of your valets, you need to make sure that you’re protected from all of the risks that come along with valeting your customers’ cars. The people dining at your restaurant are trusting you to bring their vehicle back in exactly the same condition that they left it.

The coverages you should consider are:

  • Garagekeepers: This covers any damages that might happen to a customer’s car while it’s in your care.
  • General liability: This protects you from the damages that you’re legally obligated to pay if you cause harm to someone’s person or property.
  • Employee dishonesty: This covers you from any stunts that your employees might pull, like stealing.

You might decide to hire a contractor to do your valet parking.

Talk to your insurance carrier to see how offering valet services will affect your coverage. They’ll be able to help you make sure that you have the right coverage to protect you from all of your risks.

If you use a contracting service.

If you’ve decided that you don’t want to worry about the risk of hiring your own valet drivers, you might consider getting a service instead. Before you do, there are a few things that you should pay attention to:

You don’t control who the company hires.

When you contract out the valet work, you’re giving up a measure of control over the service. You don’t have any say in who the contractor hires, so make sure that they have safe and thorough hiring practices. Make sure that you can trust their employees.

Safety should be their priority.

Make sure that the company is reputable and has a strong reputation for safety. You don’t want them to hurt your business’s reputation. The valet is associated with your restaurant, though they don’t technically work for you, so they should be a good representative of your business.

The contracting company takes on the risk, so they need to have proper insurance.

One good thing about hiring a valet parking company for your restaurant is that you free yourself from risk, as the company takes on responsibility for their employees and the cars. However, you need to make sure that they have the right insurance coverage so that if something did happen, they’d be covered.

Don’t leave anything up to chance. Do some research before making any decisions.      

  • Check that the company has proof of insurance.
  • Make sure that you won’t be responsible for any damages.
  • Call the valet company’s insurance carrier to double check that everything’s in order.
  • Be aware of any risks or gaps in the coverage they could leave you open to risks.

If you hire a valet parking company, make sure that they're insured.

Valet parking is a convenience for your Atlanta customers who would otherwise struggle to park in Midtown or Downtown, but it also presents you with some significant risk. Before you start valeting any cars, make sure that you fully understand the risks and responsibilities, and think about whether hiring your own employees or hiring a contracting valet service is best for your business.

Want to talk more about insurance? Great! Give us a call or fill out our quote form. We’d love to chat with you about any of your insurance needs.

8 tips for what to do if there’s a power outage

Living near Atlanta, we’re lucky that we’re not faced with too many natural disasters. We get the odd tornado warning (and actual tornado – remember 2008?) and sometimes some ice during the winter, but we typically don’t get hit by hurricanes, mudslides, wildfires, and the like. But even so, we’re not immune to power outages. Though we may not get hurricanes, we still get severe storms with heavy rain, which can knock out the electricity. We also have very hot summers. The heat puts a strain on the power supply as the air-conditioners blast away, and that strain can also cause a power outage.

Anyways, the point is that you need to be prepared for what to do if the power does kick off all of a sudden. It’s important to stay safe and be prepared – there are some things that you should and should not do if you’re suddenly plunged into darkness when a power outage strikes.

1. Don’t play with matches.

Use flashlights. Repeat: use flashlights. Candles have a nasty habit of getting knocked over and catching things on fire, as if you didn’t already have enough to deal with! You don’t want to risk any singed fingers or hair. Plus, candles are messy.

2. Power down.

If the power goes out, it’s a good idea to unplug your electronic devices. This might seem counterproductive. The power’s already out, so why bother unplugging things or turning them off? Well, you want to protect them from potential frying from a power surge.

3. Keep the fridge shut tight.

To keep your food cool and edible for as long as possible, keep the doors to your fridge and freezer closed. Try to avoid opening them if you can. The goal is to keep your food fresh by trapping the cooler air inside.

Note: If anyone in your family takes medication that needs to be kept refrigerated, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist ahead of time about what you should do if you have a power outage. Next time you’re at an appointment, try to remember to ask them.

4. Be smart with your generator.

First rule: keep the generator outside. Generators can throw off carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. Don’t put it in the house.

Second rule: be safe when you’re using the generator!

5. Stay informed.

Use a radio that’s powered by battery to listen to any updates about the power outage. 

6. Mind the weather.

Power outages tend to happen at the least opportune times. Do what you can to stay comfortable even if the weather is not great.

7. Take care of the pets.

Your pets still need clean, fresh water and kibble. Make sure to give them what they need during the power outage – they’re probably confused by the commotion! Fido will thank you.

8. Keep things fun.

If the power goes out, remain calm. Don’t panic at the loss of electronics. Believe it or not, there are fun things to do that don’t require electricity or wi-fi – who knew? When the power goes out, break out the old board games and have at it. You can dig out a book you’ve been meaning to read and use a flashlight. You can draw or doodle. You can do crafts. You can play charades. You’re not going to waste away from lack of computers and cell-phones. These devices will betray you and run out of battery sooner or later.

If you live in Atlanta, you know that power outages happen. When everything goes dark, don’t panic. Stay safe. Try to keep informed about what’s going on, don’t light any candles, and don’t bring the generator inside. Use the time to have fun and bond with your family. You’ll find a way to stay entertained.

Got home insurance questions? We can help! Give us a call today to talk to our agents about finding the best insurance at the best rate. We like free things, so we’ll even get you a free quote if you fill out this form.

Source:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/11/kostigen-column-blackouts/16983135/

Rodney Cook Sr. Park project underway in Atlanta’s Vine City

Who doesn’t love a nice, peaceful day at the park? Fresh air, birds chirping, greenness everywhere. Well, my friends, if you’re a park-lover, you’re in luck! The city recently broke ground for a new park in the Vine City area. Rodney Cook Sr. Park is due to open late this year or early next year.

According to an AJC.com article, the park is named for Rodney Cook, a former city alderman and state representative who backed several anti-discrimination causes during his time in and out of office. He served from the 1950s to the 1970s. One of the park’s goals is to honor the neighborhood’s Civil Rights history with 18 monuments to civil rights leaders and peacemakers. It will also have the library of civil rights leader C.T. Vivian and a 110-ft peace column.

The Atlanta Watershed article about the new park explains that the park is intended to help with the flooding that the Vine City area often experiences when the city gets heavy rain (which happens, you know, quite a lot.) This magic will happen with the addition of a pond system that will collect rain water. Based on the rainfall of the past six years, the pond will collect 37 million gallons of water from 150 acres of land. That’s a lot of water! The park will include green infrastructure to make the flood relief happen, and the flood measures are intended to reduce the strain on the city’s sewer systems.

The park is also intended to be a place for community gathering and recreation, giving city-dwellers more green space to enjoy. The park will be located by Joseph E. Boone Boulevard near-ish to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the 16-acre park will eventually be connected to the Beltline. The Atlanta Watershed article also pointed out that the park will provide the opportunity for job training and educating people about the environment.

The $45 million park will be funded by the city, businesses, and various non-profits. Major players in the park project are the City of Atlanta, the Trust for Public Land, The National Monuments Foundation (which will be in charge of the monuments we mentioned earlier), and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Living in the city might make us feel a little disconnected from nature and the environment. The Rodney Cook Sr. Park will benefit the city in many ways – it’ll control flooding, provide a community space, and honor the history of the Vine City neighborhood all at the same time! Talk about multitasking! With the Rodney Cook Sr. Park, we will have another place to get some fresh air and enjoy nature. For more information about the park, you can visit their website.

Need a quote for your home, life, renters, auto, or small business insurance? We’d love to help you out with that! Give us a call today or fill out our quote form and we’ll get you a free quote.

Sources:

http://www.ajc.com/news/local/ground-broken-launch-new-park-atlanta-westside/K1h3BjlUqRIpK30qqeY4wM/

http://www.atlantawatershed.org/projects/cook-park/

http://www.ajc.com/news/rodney-mims-cook-former-alderman-and-state-representative/sdDKz9lWQFITAR19HihVVI/