6 things you need to know about taking a home inventory (and why you should take one)

While taking a home inventory might seem like a tedious, slightly soul-sucking task that’s going to take forever, it’s extremely important when it comes to your home insurance. A home inventory is pretty much a list of the items in each room in your house, along with the estimated cost of each item. Taking a home inventory is fairly straightforward, but we’ll walk you through the benefits of having one and give you some tips for making sure you have a top-notch inventory.

What are the benefits of having a home inventory?

There are a few reasons why we’re advising you to spend a good bit of time wandering around your home with a clipboard and pen.

1. A home inventory will help you in the event of a claim.

If your house was destroyed in a fire or your home is burglarized, you’ll need to have a detailed list of everything that was taken to make sure that you can have everything replaced. Let’s face it – our memories aren’t perfect. We will forget things, especially in the aftermath of a trauma like a fire or a burglary.

2. Having a home inventory will help you negotiate with your insurance company.

It’s a sad reality, but insurance fraud is on the rise, which means that insurance carriers are often skeptical of claims. If you have a home inventory already prepared and ready to go, it’ll help you prove your case to the insurance carrier and make the claims process much smoother.

3. Your home inventory will help you find out if you have enough insurance coverage on your home.

A home inventory can help you find out how much home insurance you need. By taking stock of all of your possessions and their approximate prices, you’ll have an idea of how much coverage you’ll need to make sure that everything can get replaced by your insurance. You should have coverage that matches the cost of your possessions at today’s prices to make sure that your home can be restored as good as new.

Pro tips for taking your home inventory.

Pro tip #1: Be thorough.

Make sure that you visit every room on your home inventory mission, and record all of the contents of that room. Open drawers and cabinets and look in closets to make sure that you’re writing everything down. You don’t want to miss something important.

Pro tip #2: Include photos or video.

Like we mentioned before, insurance fraud is becoming a problem. Having photos or video footage of each room will help you prove your case to the insurance carrier, not to mention help you remember what you need to claim as lost.

Pro tip #3: Keep your receipts.

If you make a significant purchase for your home, like a new television or stereo system, you’ll want to hang on to that receipt and include it in your inventory. Again, this will help you know what you need to claim and how much it cost.

Pro tip #4: Pay extra attention to jewelry, artwork, and furs.

These items will need to be appraised regularly to make sure that you have an accurate representation of their current price. You don’t want to get $1,000 for a necklace that’s actually worth $1,500, right? Plus, you’ll want to make sure that you find out the best way to insure your jewelry, and that starts with knowing all of your pieces and their value. You may need to increase your coverage if one of your valuable possessions goes up in value, and that’s where these appraisals and your inventory come in handy.

Pro tip #5: Store your inventory somewhere safe.

When you’re all done with creating your inventory, make sure that you choose a safe place to stash it, preferably outside of your home. It really won’t help you if your inventory gets destroyed along with your home. Keeping the inventory in a safe deposit box at your bank isn’t a bad idea.

Pro tip #6: Update your inventory regularly.

Make sure that your inventory is up to date. If you’re not checking it and adding to it regularly, it won’t include new items that you’ve purchased. Plus, going over your inventory at least once a year will help you make sure that you’ve still got enough insurance to protect your personal possessions.

Having an inventory can really make a difference if you ever face a major loss related to your home. It will really help you if you have to file an insurance claim. With an inventory, you’ll know exactly what to claim and how much coverage you need. Set aside some time and work away at taking that inventory – you’ll thank yourself later.

To help you in your inventory-related endeavors, we’ve got a PDF of an inventory checklist for you to download and follow as a guide. Download our inventory checklist

Need insurance? We can help! Whether it’s home insurance, auto insurance, or renters’ insurance, we can talk to you about your specific insurance needs and get you a free quote.

Lights, Camera, Atlanta – Our film industry is booming!

What news?

Atlanta is known for more than just peaches and horrible traffic, people! Our film industry is growing. There are a lot of movies and TV shows that have filmed here, and we thought we’d take a look at what’s happening now.

What’s been filmed here that I’ve heard of?

Over the years, lots of popular movies and TV shows have been shot right here in our backyard. Some of the ones you’ve probably heard of are The Hunger Games and Allegiant. Atlanta’s also been making a name for itself in the TV industry, especially with popular shows like The Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead, and Stranger Things being filmed in the area. And the buzz won’t die down anytime soon – Stranger Things and The Walking Dead continue to film here, according to an Atlanta Magazine article.

What’s happenin’ now?

What’s filming in the city now? As per usual, Atlanta’s film industry is busy, busy, busy. There are lots of movies being filmed and produced in and around the city right now. Some of them are…

  • The sequel to Bad Moms (starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn) – Comedy
  • The War with Grandpa (starring Robert DeNiro) – Comedy
  • Rampage (starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) – Action
  • Darkest Minds (starring Gwendoline Christie, Amandla Stenberg, and Mandy Moore) – YA Dystopia/Sci-fi

Well, and we have to give a shout-out to Spiderman: Homecoming, which is due to release this summer. It was also filmed right here in Atlanta!

As far as TV shows go, the following are still filming in our city…

  • The Walking Dead
  • Stranger Things
  • Lore (an Amazon show)
  • AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire

Keep in mind that these are only a few of the many, many movies and shows filming in Atlanta! This is by no means an exhaustive list.

So, there we have it – Atlanta’s becoming a star! Our films might not have the same budgets as some of the super Blockbusters, but we’re still doing very well for ourselves. The film industry is helping Atlanta’s economy, and it doesn’t seem like the filming progress will be slowing down anytime soon.

Need home, auto, renters, life, or small business insurance? We can help! Give us a call today or fill out our quote form and we’ll get you a free quote on your insurance!

Sources:

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/whats-filming-atlanta-now-bad-moms-christmas-pact-darkest-minds-stranger-things-break-down-filmla-report/

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/whats-filming-in-atlanta-now-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda-the-last-full-measure-darkest-minds-plus-looming-wga-strike-threaten-georgia/

http://www.ajc.com/business/employment/big-movies-filming-georgia-2017/ZoDbPauZeN6lPk19VCd0xM/ 

How to fight against mosquito bites in Atlanta (and win)

The pest control company, Orkin, recently released its list of worst cities for mosquito populations nationwide, according to an 11Alive.com article. The list, which Orkin releases once a year, is based on how many residential and business jobs or calls Orkin gets. Guess where Atlanta ranks on the list, for the fourth year in a row?

We’re #1. Oh, yeah. Bet you never would have – slap – guessed.

Out of the 50 cities on the list, 20 of them are located in the Southeast, so we’ve got regional company. Mosquitoes might just seem like an annoying, itchy nuisance that we have to put up with since we live in a hot, humid climate, but the truth of the matter is that mosquitoes are more dangerous than you might think.

Mosquitoes carry some very scary diseases, such as West Nile Virus, malaria, and Zika, which has been known to cause birth defects in babies born to mothers with Zika. The 11Alive article reports that many Americans are not overly concerned about these diseases or mosquitoes, a trend that they gleaned from a Gallup poll. But mosquitoes are a big deal. The CDC reports that they’ve seen more than 5000 cases in the United States since 2015 and that the virus has occurred in more than 20 states.

To prevent any mosquito-related diseases – not to mention itchy red bites that are enough to drive you crazy – there are a few things you can do. It might seem like a losing battle at times, but take heart! You can defeat the biting invaders that take over your lawn. Here are some tips from the EPA to help you prevent mosquito bites.

1. Destroy the home base of the winged monsters.

To turf the mosquitoes out of your yard for good, get rid of their hiding places. Mosquitoes are attracted to certain places that they like to call home sweet home, so get rid of their homes and you’ll be one step ahead of them.

To eliminate mosquito homes, you can:

  • Get rid of any standing water. This includes your gutters, buckets, toys, and other places that water can collect.
  • Take care of your bird baths, fountains, wading pools, and rain barrels by changing the water out at least once a week. You’ll get rid of any mosquito homes that are taking root.
  • Fill in any puddles or standing water on the ground with dirt.
  • Make sure your pool is filtering and cleaning properly (if you have a pool.)

2. Arm yourself with pesticides.

You might need to resort to pesticides to get rid of the buzzing beasts. You can always call an insect or pest control professional to help you out with spraying your yard.

3. Shield your home from intruders.

 

Your home should be impenetrable to the tiny pests. The only thing worse than getting bitten when you’re outside is getting bitten when you’re inside. To protect your home and up your defenses:

  • Take care of any cracks or gaps in your walls, windows, and doors. Seal the entrances.
  • Make sure the screens on your doors and windows work and aren’t broken or frayed.
  • If you have a baby, make sure that their carrier and bed are protected from mosquitoes by using netting.

4. Don your anti-mosquito armor.

If you know that you’re going to be outside and exposed to the buggy threat, try to wear long sleeves, pants, and socks. Tuck everything in (shirt to pants, pants to socks) to make sure there are no weak spots, like ankles, that could get bitten. Orkin’s website also points out that mosquitoes can still bite you if you’re wearing tight clothing, so wear-looser fitting clothes.

5. Find the right bug repellent for your needs.

For added protection, you can use an EPA certified repellent. Make sure to read the label carefully and follow the instructions to the letter. Don’t just spray nilly-willy. This stuff is strong.

For recommendations of EPA-approved bug repellents, you can visit the EPA website here and get a list based on what kind of pest you need protection from and for how long.

6. Stay indoors.

You can always hide inside, too. Sometimes you have to cede the territory to the bugs and try not to be outside in places where you know the bugs are bad. According to Orkin’s website, peak mosquito season is April through October. Mosquitoes like the warmer weather.

7. Change your outdoor lights.

Bugs like light. Mosquitoes are no exception. You can think about swapping the lights outside your house with yellow bug lights that will attract fewer mosquitoes. These lights aren’t repellents, necessarily, but fewer bugs means fewer bites.

So, if you find yourself slapping at more mosquitoes than usual, try some of the above tips. Be aware of the fact that we share our city with mosquitoes and take measures to reduce your chances of bites – and the illnesses that might come with them.

Need insurance? Great! Give us a call today or fill out our quote form and we’ll get you a free quote. Don’t be shy!

 

 

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/tips-prevent-mosquito-bites

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you

https://www.orkin.com/press-room/orkin-releases-top-50-mosquito-cities-list/

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/atlanta-tops-the-list-for-most-mosquito-y-city-for-the-fourth-year-straight/436191767

How to be prepared for an Atlanta summer as an employer

There’s a reason that Atlanta has earned itself the nickname Hot-lanta. Summers can be absolutely brutal, with temperatures skyrocketing into the upper 90s. We also have to combat the humidity, which is its own struggle. The constant state of feeling sticky and sweaty are occupational hazards of being an Atlantan in the summer. But the sweltering temperatures and heavy air aren’t just uncomfortable—they’re also dangerous. For people who work outside, the heat can become a killer if it causes heat stress.

If you’re an employer who manages employees who work outside, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that your employees are safe in the summer heat. Of course, it’s important to remember that even employees who work inside can suffer from heat sickness. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to provide a safe workplace for your workers. But that’s not the only reason to practice heat safety—as we said before, the heat can be fatal.

How can people get sick from the heat?

The body has natural methods of regulating its temperature. When the body gets too hot, it tries to cool itself down. However, if the temperature and humidity are high (as they always are during Atlanta summers) the body might not be able to cool itself off. That’s how people can get sick.

How bad is heat sickness?

There are different severities of heat stress. We’ll go over them from least severe to most severe. Note that any of these conditions warrant attention, if not professional medical treatment.

Heat rash: Heat rash is caused by sweating profusely. It presents as bumps on the skin, particularly in areas that sweat a lot.

Heat cramps: Cramps are caused when salt is lost from sweating. It presents as pain in the muscles. To treat heat cramps, get the worker to a cool place and give them a sports drink or water to drink slowly. Let them rest for several hours. If you know they have a heart condition, get them medical attention.

Heat syncope: Dizziness or faintness from long periods of standing. Dehydration can sometimes cause syncope. If one of your workers becomes faint or dizzy from the heat, let them rest in a cool place and give them water—but make sure they drink slowly.

Heat exhaustion: This occurs when someone loses too much water and salt through sweating. The symptoms are excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, clamminess, pallor, muscle cramps, and rapid/shallow breathing. If one of your workers presents with these symptoms, have them rest, drink water, and cool them off.

Heat stroke: This is a potentially fatal condition. It occurs when the body gives up the fight and stops trying to cool itself. The signs are hot/dry skin, hallucinations, chills, headache, confusion, vertigo, or high temperature. This is not to be taken lightly and requires medical attention immediately. Call 911, get the person to a cool or shaded area, and do everything you can to cool them down—you can use wet towels and fans.

What are some risk factors for heat stress?

It’s important to remember that heat illness affects workers who are indoors, too. Workers who are around machinery or objects that emit lots of heat or who come into contact with hot objects are also at risk. 

If your workers are required to wear protective clothing or suits, they can also overheat. A lot of the time, protective clothing doesn’t breathe. This can lead to heat stress. Be aware of what your workers wear on the job and take appropriate steps to give them enough rest and breaks.

What can I do to reduce the risk of heat-related illness?

Train your employees and supervisors.

Make sure that your employees and your supervisors can recognize the signs of heat stress in themselves and others. If they know what to look for, they’ll be able to catch it sooner. Training is also a good time to talk about how vital it is to drink plenty of water. Also be sure to emphasize that workers need to tell the supervisor about any symptoms of heat illness ASAP.

Allow for workers to have time to build up a tolerance to the heat.

Workers who are new to outdoor labor, who are returning to work after time off, or who are facing the heat for the first time in the season are especially at risk for heat illness because their bodies haven’t had time to acclimatize to being in the heat. Allow for new workers to take lots of breaks and start them off slow—let them increase their workload over time.

Provide lots of water.

OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recommends one pint per worker per hour. Water is your friend. Dehydration, not so much. Let your workers drink lots of water.

Give lots of breaks.

Workers need time for breaks in cool, shaded, or air-conditioned places so their bodies get to rest from the heat.

Pay attention to the heat index.

The heat index calculates the outdoor temperature and humidity. This is especially important in Atlanta—if you’ve ever experienced an Atlanta summer, you know that the humidity is absolutely brutal. In a humid place, sweat can’t evaporate and leave the body like it’s supposed to. Make sure that you’re aware of the risk of heat illness by understanding the heat index and taking precautions.

Make the workplace more comfortable.

Use air conditioning and ventilation systems. Fans and exhaust ventilation for super hot or humid areas will also help. You can also use reflective shields. It’s also important to make sure there are no places for steam to leak.   

Use protective clothing that allows for cooling.

You can get protective clothing that’s tripped out to keep employees cool. For example, there are jackets that have compartments for ice packs.

Respect the power of the heat. Take measures to combat it and don’t underestimate how severe heat sickness can be. Atlanta is both a hot environment and a humid one, and those things together are a recipe for disaster when summer hits. Be mindful of how hot it is outside and take care of your workers.

If you have any questions about your business insurance, we can help! We’ll take the time to understand your business’s specific risks and insurance needs. We’ll even get you a free quote. Call us today or fill out this form and we’ll help you out!

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/prevention.html#workpractices

http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/employment-law-and-human-resources/heat-stress-osha-regulations.html

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/about.html

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/prevention.html

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/index.html

Watch your step – Snakebites on the rise in Georgia for 2017

Take care, Atlanta residents, and watch your step this summer – you don’t want to accidentally tread on someone! Well, more accurately, somesnake. According to an 11Alive news article, snakebites have been on the rise in Georgia since the beginning of the year. With the number of snakebites that have been reported to Georgia Poison Control this year—55 between January and April—we’re on track to break a record.

The 11Alive article reports that Gaylord Lopez, Director of Georgia Poison Control, said that 55 people were bitten in January to May alone, which is a 50% increase over the number of snakebites for that time frame in 2016. In 2016, Lopez said, there were 500 snakebites total—but we’re well on our way to beating that number this year.

With these troublingly snakey stats in mind, let’s talk about what you need to know about snakes and snakebites.

How bad are snakebites from venomous snakes?

Plenty of people aren’t the biggest fans of snakes, but in the article Lopez pointed out that snakebites rarely kill people. There have been only two deaths from snakebites in the past eight or nine years. However, snakebites are not cheap to treat. Antivenom vials can run from $15,000 and $20,000, and most patients need between four and six vials.

In case you were wondering, there are six venomous snakes that live in Georgia: The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, the copperhead, the Pigmy Rattlesnake, the Timber Rattlesnake, the Eastern Coral Snake, and the cottonmouth (aka water moccasin).

Why are the snakes biting now?

Lopez points to the warm, mild winter we had this year. Snakes don’t like cold weather, so when it’s warmer they like to come out and slither around. Most snakebites occur in wooded areas or areas near water, but you can still find snakes in the Metro Atlanta area.

Why my house?

Snakes are most attracted to homes with low, thick ground cover like ivy. In an AJC article, Jason Clark of Southeastern Reptile Rescue recommended that homeowners remove low shrubs and leaf piles if they are worried about snakes. He also cites homes with birdfeeders as attracting snakes—squirrels and mice like to hang around birdfeeders, and snakes are looking for a meal. Also, water sources around the home can attract snakes.

In the same article, John Jensen of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section said that nonvenomous snakes are actually very important to the ecosystem, as they keep invasive species in check by eating them. So, you might want to think twice about beheading the offensive creature that’s wandered into your yard. Jensen also reminded us that killing a nonvenomous snake is actually illegal in Georgia.

What should I do if I see a snake?

Jensen said that the best thing to do if you encounter a snake, venomous or not, is to get out of the snake’s space. Just stay calm and put some distance between you and your slithery friend. The snake most likely won’t pursue you, and so long as it’s not threatened it’ll probably leave you alone.

What should I do if someone around me gets bitten, or if I get bitten?

Lopez advised getting a snakebite victim to the hospital ASAP. An AJC article entitled “Boo Hiss to Venom: Snakebite Prevention and Care in Georgia” notes that even if you’re pretty sure that the snake that bit you wasn’t venomous, you still need to go to the hospital for treatment, as the area could get infected.

The Mayo Clinic has some snakebite do’s and don’ts:

DO stay calm and move the victim out of range.

DO take off jewelry or clothing that’s tight-fitting — the area might swell a lot.

DO try to get the victim positioned so that bite is at or below the level of their heart.

DO clean the wound, but don’t flush it out (the doctors will want to know what kind of venom is affecting the victim). Instead, cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

DO NOT use ice or a tourniquet.

DO NOT cut or suck on the wound.

DO NOT give the victim alcohol or caffeine, as this will cause their body to absorb the venom faster.

DO NOT try to apprehend the snake. It could bite again if it feels threatened.

So, there you have it: a crash course in snake-ology. Snakes are a part of life in Georgia, as we have lots of them around. So, if you’re planning to be outside this summer, you might want to take some extra care to avoid being bitten by something with fangs.

 

Want to get a free quote on your insurance? Great! We can get you a quote on home insurance, business insurance, life insurance, renters’ insurance, and auto insurance – take your pick! Just fill out our quote form or call us today and you’ll be on your way.

Sources:

http://www.ajc.com/classifieds/homes/snakes-are-most-attracted-these-kinds-atlanta-homes/LVQCTev81DllKUNbc2WNZI/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-snake-bites/basics/art-20056681

http://www.11alive.com/news/info-you-should-know-if-you-spot-a-snake/438949715

http://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/health/boo-hiss-venom-snake-bite-prevention-and-care-georgia/Awin33kwMc7nuoq65nZUkM/

Protect your online accounts: The Google phishing scam

You might have heard about the latest hack going around – a GoogleDoc link that comes through email. It’ll read “So-and-so has shared a document on GoogleDocs with you.” The body of the message might say that that person has invited you to view something on GoogleDocs. It looks something like this:

DON’T OPEN IT! DON’T CLICK THE BLUE BOX!

Sorry, that was probably a bit much. You’ve probably already heard that this is going on and are aware that bad things will happen if you click that link, but still. We wanted to say it again just in case you haven’t.

So, here’s the deal: Basically this GoogleDoc link connected to an account called hhhhhhhhhh@mailinator.com was going around. If you open it, you’re sent to a Google page and asked to allow “GoogleDocs” to access your contacts or account details. The only thing is that it’s not actually GoogleDocs, even though it looks totally real. It’s an app that was created to use Google to access to people’s accounts. So, the victim’s contact info gets swiped and they’re at risk for having their account compromised by a hacker. The email would then spread itself through the stolen contact list.

According to a BBC article, Google said that they had stopped the attack through getting rid of the bogus pages and apps. They moved quickly to stop the problem, which began on Tuesday night. A PC World article recommends that people who are affected check what third-party apps have access their account and to take access away from any that look suspicious. This can be done by running a Google security check up.

Another way to protect your account is to turn on Google’s 2-Step Verification, which asks you for a code when you try to sign in with your password. The code will be sent to your phone, usually by text or call. You enter the code and you’re in. So, if someone did ever steal your password they’d have a harder time getting into your account. It might not be a complete failsafe against all hack attempts, but it does provide extra security to your account.

If you have a home computer that you use frequently, you can tell it to not use 2-Step sign-in again if you’re confident that your computer is safe. It’ll still be needed on other computers, though, so it’ll still catch any strange sign in attempts that happen. That way you won’t have to get a code every single time you try to sign in, but you’re still protected.

Anyways, the moral of the story is don’t open any emails or click any links that look like they could be suspicious. Be careful about what you’re opening and be cautious about your Internet security. You don’t want anyone to get into your account and steal your personal information. That would be a real mess! Be careful to protect your email and other accounts and use strong passwords for them. And when in doubt…don’t click!

Need insurance for your home, car, rental property, business, or life? We can help! Fill out our quote form or call us today and we’ll get you a free quote. We’ll help you find the best coverage at the best possible rate.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39798022

http://fortune.com/2017/05/03/google-docs-scam/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3194366/security/sneaky-gmail-phishing-attack-fools-with-fake-google-docs-app.html

Looking for a new way to get around Atlanta? Try the Relay Bike Share Program!

For all bicycle lovers living in the Atlanta area, we’ve got some great news! Relay, Atlanta’s bike-sharing service, recently expanded in a big way.

The program went from having 100 bikes at 22 locations scattered around the city to having 500 bikes at 65 locations! The program has been able to expand into new locations and different parts of the city, bringing convenient access to bikes to more people.

This continues a trend of growth that the program has enjoyed. When the project launched in Downtown Atlanta less than a year ago there were only 100 bikes at 10 locations. The program has really taken off, which is great for Atlanta’s citizens and the environment!

An article in the AJC reported that an event about the Relay program took place at Piedmont Park and that Mayor Reed was in attendance, eager to spread the word about the bike-share program.

If you’re interested in trying it out, there are different ways to go about getting a Relay bike.

Option 1: You can visit their website and find a station on the map. The site will tell you how many bikes are available at that station. You tell it that you want to rent a bike from that location, then carry on from there—it’ll prompt you through the rest!

Option 2: Or you can download the Social Bicycles app (available through Google Play and through the Apple Store) that will help you find a Relay bike and manage your account.

Once you have located and secured a bike, you will use a 4-digit PIN code to unlock your bike and away you go! You cruise around the city and when you’re done you return the bike by locking it into a station. Pretty simple!

Now, how much might this cost? Getting a bike from Relay is affordable. There are different plans that you can choose. If you’re visiting the city or you’re just out for a ride to enjoy the beautiful day, you can choose a Pay as You Go plan. If you live in the city and want to ride, you can choose either a Monthly Pass or a Yearly Pass. There’s also a student plan, a corporate plan, and a low-income plan. Check out more about the payment options on Relay’s website.

So, bottom line, the Relay bike program could be an option for you to get around town—and avoid the headache of sitting in Atlanta traffic! You might even consider using Relay to bike to work. If you’re looking for a way to beat traffic and get some exercises, Relay’s something to explore.

Need insurance for your home, business, car, rental property, or life? We’ve got you covered! Fill out our quote form or call us today and we’ll be happy to help you with any of your insurance needs.

Sources:

http://www.ajc.com/news/local/city-atlanta-expands-relay-bike-share-program/ymjG1RinYFiEIS26Q4oYUL/

http://relaybikeshare.com/#findbike-anchor

Atlanta traffic woes – and a possible solution

If you live anywhere in the general vicinity of Atlanta, you’ve heard about all of the disasters that our roadways have been facing over the past month. For kicks and giggles, let’s go over them all again:

Good grief.

On the bright side, the Georgia DOT says they’re on-track with repairing I-85. Plus, GDOT has announced that they’re repaving it while the road’s out of commission anyways, according to a WSB article. That’ll be nice when the highway does reopen.

The good news: an ABC News article says that GDOT estimates I-85 will open again on June 15th*. The bad news: it’s only the end of April.

So, what are we all supposed to do until then? That’s two months’ worth of horrible traffic that we can all look forward to. With disasters hitting the city’s roads left and right, it’s time to take action to do what we can to thwart the worst of the traffic. Not beat it, perhaps, but we can try.

An app called Waze provides traffic updates and reports to help you find the best route to get to your destination. It works be creating a community of drivers who share each other’s pain and allowing them to connect with each other to share data about traffic.

It’ll give you route options and estimate how much time it’ll take you to get to where you’re trying to go, so you can pick your battle when it comes to the traffic. All you have to do is open the app while you drive, and you’re contributing lots of valuable traffic info to the community.

Plus, other users can help by sharing about routes or tricks that you might not have known about or considered before. You can share traffic info, tips, and updates through the app, and, likewise, you can see what other people have talked about, so you have a heads-up about any areas in particular that you may want to avoid. The app will even give you a new route if it senses that there’s a better way to go while you’re commuting.

Interested in learning more? Watch this video about the Waze app! Or you can visit the Waze website to read all about what the app can do for you. Ready to download? You can get Waze through Google Play and the Apple App Store if you want to start outsmarting the traffic.

For more help with combating the Atlanta traffic, check out this article about tips for surviving a rush hour commute. The key is to lower your stress level. The traffic isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean that it has to ruin your day.

Need insurance for your car, home, small business, or rental property? We can help! Contact us today through our quote form and we’ll be happy to help.

*Article updated on 04/27.

 

How to handle Atlanta rush-hour traffic

home insurance in atlanta

If you live anywhere in the Atlanta area, you know how awful the traffic gets near the city. No ifs, ands or buts. It seems like it’s hardly safe to venture out on the roads any time from about 6:30 – 9am or 4:30 – 7pm, the peak rush-hour crunches. No matter how much you love Atlanta, it only takes sitting on 400 or 85 once to realize that you have to learn to accept how much Atlanta loves cars. 

It’s kind of scary to take a look at how much time Atlanta drivers spend stuck in traffic. We might not want to know that Atlanta’s ranked fourth-worst in the country and eighth-worst in the world for traffic (yikes – sorry to have to be the one to tell you.) 

With all the time that we spend dealing with traffic, what can we do to be safer during our lengthy and often very frustrating commutes? According to drive-safely.net, one in four accidents occur during rush hour. The sheer number of cars, slow movement of traffic, and distractions all play a part in this statistic.

Since the congestion isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, here are some tips to survive the chaos that is Atlanta traffic.

Tips to survive Atlanta traffic.

1. Have the right car insurance.

First things first: you need to make sure that you’re protected financially in case you get into an accident. In which case, you would need your insurance. And besides, you’re legally required to have car insurance. (And if you want to save money on car insurance, we can help. Your Atlanta Insurance agent can shop your rates so you can compare coverages and pricing, and we make car insurance easy. Get started with your car insurance quotes with our online form or by calling us today.)

2. Keep calm.

Yes, traffic is frustrating. It can really raise your blood pressure when you look out your window and realize that you could walk faster than your car is moving. It’s important to stay relaxed and calm while you’re driving so that you don’t get distracted and lose your focus. Keeping a level head reduces the chances of an accident. Take a deep breath and try not to get upset by the actions of other drivers (even if they do cut you off.)

3. Plan for the traffic and give yourself lots of time to get to work if you’re driving during peak traffic hours in Atlanta.

Yes, it’s a drag to get up earlier, but giving yourself more time will really help you reduce your stress level while you’re commuting. It’s easier to handle traffic when you’re not worrying about getting to the office late. Traffic is one of those things that’s both predictable and unpredictable. You know when it will happen, but not how bad it will be. Some days are worse than others due to accidents or lane closures, but if you’ve got extra time you won’t be stressed about it.

4. Do not get distracted.

Phones are extremely tempting distractions. Resist it. Stay strong against the urge to check your phone, text, or even call anyone (and remember, Georgia passed a Hands-free Driving Law, so it’s illegal to hold or support a cell phone while you drive.) The same goes for food. It’s important to stay focused on the road, as even a momentary lapse of attention can lead to an accident. Eyes on the road. Remember, texting and driving can cause accidents. Not only can people get hurt, accidents can lead to your auto insurance rates going up…and you don’t want to be in that situation. 

5. Map a different way to get to work.

If you can figure out a new way to get to work that avoids the worst of the traffic, try it out and see how it goes. Maybe you’ll find that it’s a less stressful way to go, even if the distance is slightly longer. While your new path might not be as the crow flies, it may end up saving you some time if there’s less traffic. 

Be conscious of safety while you’re thinking about a new route. If there are any dangerous stretches of road, turns, or intersections that make you nervous, try to avoid them.

6. Increase the fun.

Huh? Commute? Fun? Yes. Believe it or not, they’re not mutually exclusive. Bring along your favorite music, podcast, or book on CD to help pass the time.  Your day will be much better if you have something you enjoy to cheer you up, and it’ll keep you calmer as you navigate the Atlanta traffic. Do something to make yourself happy.  

7. Make sure to take good care of your vehicle.

Choose a car that has strong safety ratings. You want a car that will protect you if you ever get into an accident. Make sure that you take good care of your car and keep it in good repair. Having something go wrong with your vehicle while you’re commuting could be extremely dangerous, especially where the brakes and gas are concerned.

8. Stick with the middle lane, but know where you have to get off.

Chill out in the middle lane on the highway. The right lane is usually stop-and-go because of merging and the left lane is used for passing, so neither of those are ideal. If you’ve got some distance to cover, stay in the middle.

Be aware of how close you’re getting to your exit. The more time you give yourself to change lanes to get off the highway, the less stressed you’ll be—and the safer you’ll be.

9. Be aware of when you’re driving.

The sun is not your friend when it’s shining right in your eyes. Commute time is at sunrise in the morning and sunset at night, so chances are you’ll get stuck driving with the sun in your eyes. So, get a pair of sunglasses to make it easier to see.

Also, condensation can be a major obstacle in the morning, when the temperature is cool but the day is starting to warm up. Make sure your defrosters work properly and clear the car of any condensation before embarking on your adventure.

10. Take extreme care when changing lanes.

Lane changes are a very hazardous thing. The chances of an accident are higher when you’re shifting into the next lane. Remember that your turn signals aren’t just there to look pretty—use them. Even if no one else on the highway uses them, use them. That way other drivers know what you’re going to do.

Be aware of any blind spots your vehicle has. There are usually spots at the rear corners where cars behind you can unintentionally hide, so be careful of those spots while you’re looking to see if it’s safe to change lanes.

11. Remember that you’re not the only driver on the road.

Well, if you were that would make the traffic a lot better. Be alert to what the cars around you are doing—rush hour makes people do strange things as they’re driving.

Make sure to give plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. If they have to brake suddenly, you’ll be able to stop safely and avoid a rear-end accident. Plus, if you were to get rear-ended you wouldn’t go flying into the car in front of you.

There are lots of things to love about Atlanta. Traffic is not one of them. These tips will help you make the commute more bearable and help keep you safer while you’re getting to and from work. The trick is to reduce your stress level as much as possible and to drive safely.

Need insurance? Great! We love insurance. Let us know how we can help you by giving us a call or filling out our quote form – we can get you a free quote for your auto or homeowners insurance!

Sources:

http://www.11alive.com/traffic/new-study-ranks-atlanta-congestion-among-worst-in-the-world/409821836

Source 2

Source 3

Why you should bike to work and how to stay safe while you do

Commuting to work can try anyone’s patience, especially with all of the road problems Atlanta has been facing lately. Atlanta traffic can be really awful at the best of times, and that traffic can be costly in terms of gas and car repairs. But we’ve got a solution to this problem that will help you be healthier and save money.

You can ride your bike to work.

The benefits of biking to work:

There are lots of reasons that biking to work is a good idea. Sometimes being on two wheels is just better than being on four. It’s not a bad idea to consider digging your bike out of the garage or storage room and dusting off your old helmet. Here are 4 reasons that you might want to bike to work.

1. Biking to work can save you money.

It’s true. Biking to work is more economical than driving. When you take your car to work, you face gas expenses (which go up the longer you have to sit in Atlanta traffic.) You burn through a lot of fuel when you’re crawling along.

You can also save money on parking costs. It’s hard to find parking in the city. And when you finally find that coveted parking spot, you might be dismayed at how much you have to pay for it. You might need to rent a space in a parking deck downtown, which gets extremely pricey. Even public parking lot costs add up after a while. Save yourself the trouble of trying to find a parking spot. And the trouble of having to pay for it.

You’ll also save money on car repairs and maintenance. If you give your car a much-needed rest, you’ll put less wear and tear on it.

2. Biking is better for the environment.

Have you ever been driving to work and noticed the haze of smog hanging over Atlanta? Air pollution is a huge problem, and cars are a major pollutant. Atlanta’s really in love with cars, meaning that tons of gross emissions and gasses are being pumped into the air. These emissions lead to smog, and smog makes it hard to breathe. Bikes are emission-free, and if you bike you’ll contribute to cleaner, safer air.

3. Biking is great for physical fitness.

It’s nice to get a workout in without having to go to the gym. Most of the US population lives within a five-mile radius of where they work, which by bike isn’t really that far. To do some quick math: if you bike at 10-12mph, you’ll get there in about half an hour. Not bad, considering that you get to exercise for close to the same amount of time that you’d be stuck in traffic. Biking is nice and healthy for your body, and you can set your own pace. There’s no need to be an Olympic cyclist on your way to work.

Stay safe while you’re biking to work.

If we’ve convinced you to try biking to work, it’s important that you stay safe. We’ve put together some safety tips to help you have a smooth ride to work.

1. Wear a helmet.

Seriously. Helmets are cool. Here are some things to keep in mind about your head gear:

  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission even took the time to create standards to regulate helmet safety—that’s how important helmets are. So make sure your helmet has a fancy CPSC sticker or proof of approval from the CPSC. Your helmet should cover your forehead and you should always buckle up your straps.
  • To improve the effectiveness and life of your helmet, have a place to store your helmet. Don’t toss it around when it’s not on your head.
  • You can also make yourself more visible to drivers by putting reflective stickers on your helmet.
  • If you’re in a crash or if you have a fall, you may need to replace your helmet. It might have been damaged, so if you were to have another accident it might not do its job and protect you.

2. Try to stick to bike paths/routes as much as possible.

Map out a route that allows you to stay on bike paths. This will keep you safer than if you have to share your space with drivers.

3. Practice your path ahead of time.

Once you know the route you want to take, give it a try, preferably on the weekend. It’s best to be familiar with your route.

4. Learn the laws of the land.

You’re subject to the same rules of the road that drivers are. Follow the rules so that you lower your risk of a crash.

5. Brush up on your hand signals.

It’s important that motorists know what you’re planning to do. Know how to signal a turn or a stop, and get into the habit of using these signals.

6. Dress to impress.

First, wear bright colored clothing. Drivers can see you more easily if you’re wearing bright or reflective clothing. You can always bring a change of clothes to work.

Second, wear sneakers when you bike. Bring along your work shoes and stash your sneakers under your desk.

Third, don’t wear loose clothing or let the straps of your backpack fly around. You don’t want anything to get caught on your bike, as this could cause you to fall or spiral out of control.

7. Be aware of your surroundings.

That means keeping an eye on the cars around you. Make eye contact with drivers to make sure that they know what you’re planning. If you come to a busy intersection, hop off and walk your bike through it instead of riding. 

Also, look at the road ahead of you. Make sure that the road’s clear. It wouldn’t be fun to hit a bump or pothole. You could end up airborne. Not good.

8. Don’t try any stunts.

Keep your hands on the handlebars.  Make sure that you keep control of your bike. Steering is important.

9. Bring H20.

Make sure to stay hydrated by bringing water with you for your ride, especially if the temperature is going to be hot or humid—does that sound like a city you know?

Biking to work can save you money, help the environment, and help you stay fit. Even if you don’t bike to work every single day, planning to bike a few times a week is good for you. But remember—safety first.

Got insurance questions? Want a free quote? Our agents can help. Give us a call today—we’re at your service.