R&R Insurance Blog

Homeowners Insurance is an important aspect of owning a home. It is a must-have product for those who wish to be protected homeowners. The insurance can, however, be very expensive. Here are some great ways to save money on your homeowner’s policy:

1. Get a Home Security System

Home security systems are a terrific way of keeping your home and personal property safe from theft or any damage. If there is less theft or damage, there will be fewer claims. The cost of your homeowner’s premium will increase each time you file a claim. Certain companies offer up to a 15-20% discount on your homeowner’s premium for having a security system.

2. Extra Security Measures

Installing other security measures such as deadbolts and window locks can prevent theft claims. Additional protection measures such as fire, carbon monoxide, flood, and heat detectors can also help prevent natural disaster and home damage claims.

3. Have Good Credit

Most people don’t know this, but everyone has an Insurance Score that is loosely based on their credit score. Of course, there are other factors involved in this insurance score, such as driving history, employment history, and the number of risks on the policy, but credit score is a contributing factor. The better the credit score, the lower the homeowners premium.

4. Bundle Your Policies

If you get multiple lines of insurance, try to bundle the coverages as a “package policy." Almost every company offers up to a 20% discount on all policies included in the package. This is the most efficient and cost effective way to purchase insurance.

5. Get Multiple Quotes Before Purchasing Insurance

Getting multiple quotes from different insurance companies ensures that you are paying the lowest premium for the coverage you want. This is very easy to do with an insurance agent or broker, who often represent multiple insurance companies. Brokers, like R&R Insurance Services, will quote your policy with all their companies at one time to ensure you are getting the best deal on your policies.

6. Be a Loyal Customer

Many companies offer discounts if you have your insurance with them for a certain number of years. This discount can be anywhere from 5-15%.

7. Raise Your Deductible

Deductibles are what you will pay out of pocket for any losses before your insurance company pays for the rest of a loss. This is what you pay each time you file a claim. Most policies have a standard $500 deductible, but they can range anywhere from $250-$2500. Raising your deductible can save you up to 25% on premium. It is one of the easiest ways to lower your premium.

8. Organization Affiliation

Some Companies will offer discounts for being associated with certain organizations, such as Employment Unions and organizations, age associated organizations, or having a certain type of credit card. Ask your insurance provider for a list of organization affiliation discounts. You may be entitled to a discount through something you are already a part of!

Hopefully with these tips you can save gr-eightly on your homeowner’s policy! If you would like more information on what a homeowner’s policy is, or general information on having a homeowners policy, contact a knowledge broker here at R&R Insurance.

When going on a long road trip, your car will suffer some inevitable wear and tear. Before leaving, it's important to prep your car by doing the following:

• Check your tires for air pressure, tread, and general wear down. Tires are the most common cause of vehicle failure. While you can’t do anything about getting a flat tire, you can make sure your tires are safe to drive on. Have your mechanic check to see if your tires need to be balanced or rotated as well.

• Check your brakes. Take note of when the manufacturer recommends getting the brake pads changed. Also have your mechanic check out your brake fluid. If it needs to be changed, be sure to get the brake line flushed, cleaned and filled with new fluid.

• Get your suspension checked out. Shocks and struts can be expensive, but if you need new ones you will definitely feel the difference in your trip!

• The second most popular cause of vehicular failure is the cooling system. Having this inspected and cleaned will not only identify any leaky or weakened hoses, it is also a very inexpensive type of maintenance.

• You should definitely be having a mechanic look under the hood of your car before you go on a long road trip. Items to inspect include:
  • Your transmission. This is a serious and expensive part of your car, and can be very time consuming to get fixed. You don’t want to spend your vacation in the waiting room of a mechanic!
  • Check all belts for wear and tear. Failed belts are at best an inconvenience and could stop your entire road trip.
  • The exhaust system should also be checked out. If there are any leaks or holes in the system, it could be putting you and your passengers at risk.

• Finally, you should do any routine maintenance that you may have been putting off. Oil changes, filling the windshield washer fluid, and replacing the windshield wipers are all important aspects of your car that you may need during your trip.

Hopefully this list will help you prepare for your Spring Break extravaganza. Have a safe trip!

Buying a new home for the first time can be a very scary experience if you don’t know how to prepare yourself for some of the difficult issues that can come up during the process. If you are thinking of buying a new home asking yourself these 7 questions can be a good way to avoid speed bumps further along in the process:

1. How is my current credit score?
Credit score can be a big factor in whether or not you have the ability to purchase a home. If you do not have a good credit score, it will be more difficult to receive a loan for your new home.

See also: How to Raise your Credit Score 100 Points in 45 Days

2. What does my savings account currently look like?
You should always have a considerable amount of savings put aside for home emergencies when you are a home owner. These funds should be reserved for emergency home fixes, such as a broken water heater, or a flooded basement.

3. Have I considered all of the costs that come with purchasing a home?
There are many additional costs that come with purchasing a home. In addition to your mortgage payments and taxes on your home, you should account about 1-4% of your home’s value for maintenance each year.

4. How secure do I feel in my current job?
Because of the added costs I mentioned above, you should get into a stable and secure career before purchasing a home. A loss of income could mean foreclosure on your home in this economy. You should also ask yourself: how will I pay my mortgage if I lose my job?

5. Am I committed to the location and surrounding area that the home is located in?
If you don’t like the location of your home and the surrounding area, you won’ t feel strongly tied to the home. Check out the surrounding school systems if you plan on having children. Try the local restaurants and see which stores and attractions are nearby. Checking this out before you purchase a home can have a large impact on which home you ultimately decide to purchase.

6. How long do I plan on living in the home?
Purchasing a home should be considered a long-term investment. If you are looking to live in one place for only a few years, home buying may not be the best option for you. Typically, a homeowner should stay in their home for at least five to seven years before reselling the home. When thinking about this question take into consideration the following:

• Will I be changing jobs anytime soon?
• Do I want to start a family, and how big do I want that family to be?
• Am I going to get married (or divorced)?
• What other types of unknowns may occur within the next 5-10 years?

7. Am I mentally prepared to be a homeowner?
There are additional factors to consider other than just the financial aspect of buying a house. You should be emotionally as well as financially invested in purchasing a home. If your heart isn't in it, it may not be the right time to buy. Owning a home is akin to being in a “long-term relationship” that has no easy way out. It will be a painful and drawn out process to resell the home once you have purchased it, so make sure you are ready for the long term commitment.

So now you're ready to purchase your home? Congratulations! (Don't forget to speak to your knowledgebroker about having the proper insurance coverage!)

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About the author: Lauren is an R&R Insurance intern learning about the insurance industry through sales and service experiences.

Staying organized has always been a struggle for many homeowners, especially when it comes to keeping homes up to date on safety issues, cleaning, and ensuring that their homes are safe year round. Well fear the disorganized chaos no more, because I have a checklist for you!

The following link provides a great tool for keeping yourself organized, and your home clean and safe on a month-to-month basis.

http://www.womenhacks.com/homemaking/homeowners-yearly-checklist/

This list provides a number of helpful hints on when to clean and check on certain items in your home. The list is printable, which makes it easy to hang on the refrigerator, or someplace you wont forget! I have already used some of these great hints around my own apartment!

So click on the link above and become the organized homeowner you have always dreamed of being!

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About the author: Lauren is an R&R Insurance intern learning about the insurance industry through sales and service experiences.

There comes a time when we all have to buy a used car, and it seems that every used car comes with baggage. That being said, you should always thoroughly inspect a used car that you intend to buy. There are 6 major aspects of a used car that are important to inspect, both inside and outside the car.

Before you get in the car, take a look at:

1. The Tires
New tires can be expensive, so you should check to make sure that there is no unusual wear and tear on the tires. Inquire to the seller when was the last time they replaced the tires. You can also double check this by looking at the miles to see if they match the wear on the tires. For example, if the car has low miles, but the tires are very worn down, it could indicate that the tires came from another car or the odometer is incorrect. Neither of these situations is ideal.

2. The Paint Job
The main thing you should be looking for is rust. Rust is fairly easy to spot if you look closely for it. Also look for waves or ripples in the paint, this should indicate that a paint job was done on the car. Another giveaway that a paint job was done is sticky residue from paint tape where the body panels meet. If there appears to be a paint job done, you should ask the owner why there was a paint job done. The car could have been in an accident.

3. Under the Hood
There are three things under the hood that you should be checking when buying a used car. First, check the engine to make sure that there are no cracks or leaks anywhere. Next, check all fluids in the car using by checking the dipsticks. You should also ask the seller when they last refilled their fluids/got an oil change. Finally, you should check that all of the hoses and belts are in good condition. This means making sure that there are no cracks in the rubber or that the hose is not too soft.

Get behind the wheel and take a look at:

4. The Dashboard
Check over the dashboard to make sure that no engine lights or other problematic lights come on. If there are lights flashing on the dashboard, ask the seller about them. Also check out the odometer. You shouldn’t buy a used car with too many miles, or you will end up putting even more money into fixing the car. However, if you are looking for a very cheap car and there is nothing initially wrong with the car, high miles on a car may not be of concern to you.

5. The Mechanics
Make sure all the “extras” in the car work. This means checking the lights, windshield wipers, the windshield wiper fluid, air conditioning, etc. works in the car. The brake lights and head lights are especially important to check, as they could be a safety hazard if not working properly. Air conditioning and heat may not be a priority for some buyers, but you may need these things to de-fog or de-frost your windshield during those cold Wisconsin mornings. The windshield wipers and windshield fluid is very important because they are a safety hazard if they do not work. It will be difficult to drive your car through a thunderstorm without them!

6. The Brakes
This is the most important aspect about the interior of the car to check. Ask the seller if you can test drive the car to test the brakes. Chances are if they say no to a test drive, you don’t want to be buying this car anyways. Check to make sure the regular brakes and the emergency brake works also. No, this doesn’t mean you can drift a car while on a test drive. Try parking on a hill and engage the emergency brake.

If you check all 6 of these things when buying a used car you should definitely still bring the car to a mechanic to check over the vehicle. Sometimes it takes an expert’s eye to catch something that may be wrong with the car. Take the car to a mechanic that you can trust. Happy used car shopping!

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About the author: Lauren is an R&R Insurance intern learning about the insurance industry through sales and service experiences.

Transportation has changed quite a bit in the past decade, particularly in the taxi industry. With the rising prices of taxis and other public transportation, rideshare services like Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar have changed the transportation industry. Unfortunately, any changes in the transportation can also mean new dangers for passengers.

Ridesharing is a convenient service where drivers that live in a certain geographical area will drive their own cars to pick up clients. Clients use the company’s app to request a driver to their location. The drivers will then get a notification on their cell phones telling them when and where to pick up the client. These drivers originally used their own insurance for their vehicles because the vehicles were primarily for personal use.

This became a serious problem for both the drivers and the clients they were picking up. Personal auto insurance has an exclusion of coverage for any delivery that a vehicle is making. This means that when a driver is giving someone a ride for any type of profit, their vehicle is not covered by their personal insurance. If a driver were to get in an accident with a client in the vehicle the driver is susceptible to a lawsuit, and there is no coverage for any medical expenses from the accident. Accidents were happening quite frequently due to the fact that many drivers were using cell phones while driving to get notifications for clients. (See related article: Distracted Driving Causes 8,000 Accidents Every Single Day!)

Only recently did certain companies require commercial vehicle insurance for drivers. There are also some states that require this as well, though not all states require this.

If you are considering using any rideshare company for transportation, be sure to check on the following things:

1. Make sure the company requires its drivers to have commercial vehicle insurance.
2. Tell the driver when you get in that you do not condone driving and cell phone use at the same time. The driver should not be on his or her phone while you are in the car.

If you are thinking of becoming a Rideshare driver, check with your potential employer on the following aspects of your job:

1. What kind insurance, if any, do they provide for their drivers?
2. If you need a certain type of insurance, where can you get the insurance from?
3. What are the specifications needed for the insurance?

If you verify all of these questions with the company or your driver, you can get to where you need to go, save money, and stay safe!

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About the author: Lauren is an R&R Insurance intern learning about the insurance industry through sales and service experiences.

With winter fast approaching, there are so many things to do to prepare for the holiday season. Many common preparations, if overlooked, can be dangerous for you and your home. If you are in denial that winter is coming, such as I am, here are some easy to remember tips that will ease you into the winter spirit for keeping your home safe and warm this winter.

For outside your home:

1. Inspect your roof

Climb up on that ladder and check out your roof! Look for any damaged shingles, weak spots, or possible leaks. If your roof is over 10 years old, any of these things could cause a problem for you during the winter. Heavy snows, melting snow, and freezing could cause a number of problems with your roof. If you have to do any repairs, I highly recommend you spend a little money now, to save a lot of money later.

See also: How to Prevent Ice Dams

2. While you’re up there—check out your gutters!

Clear out your gutters of leaves and debris. These items can get stuck in your gutters and cause major blockages, which could lead to roof and water damage. Check the gutters for any leaks that could lead to dangerous ice and icicle buildups. It is also recommended that you add extensions to your downspouts that lead away from the foundation. This could prevent any freezing of drainage water at your foundation, and therefore prevent further damage in the future.

3. Additional outdoor tips

• Mulch leaves into your lawn instead of raking them- this helps to nourish and maintain your fantastic-looking lawn even when it is covering by snow.
• Turn off all outside water faucets- this can help prevent freezing of these water sources, and could prevent bursting of pipes during those deep-freezes.
• Drain any lawn irrigation or sprinkler systems- this will save you the trouble of thawing out your sprinkler system in the spring!

For inside your home:

4. Reverse your ceiling fans

Don’t give me that look like I am nuts, this actually helps keep your house warmer! If you are looking up at the fan, during the winter it should be rotating clockwise. This way, the fan will push down heated air that has risen to the ceiling. This could also even allow you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees, which could save you some money!

5. Check all windows and doors for drafts

Keep the chills away and outside by sealing off any drafts in your windows and underneath doors. Any drafts you do find can be sealed off using caulk or storm windows on the windows, and draft stoppers at the bottom of doors. This could also save you money, as it should keep your house warmer as well!

6. Clean out your chimney

Before you make any fires this chilly holiday season, make sure that all of your chimney vents and passageways are clean and free of any blockages or soot buildup. This can help to prevent chimney fires and Carbon Monoxide leaks. (Speaking of Carbon Monoxide leaks; if you don’t already have one, invest in a Carbon Monoxide detector!)

Equipment maintenance—keeping you and your tools warm and operating:

7. Schedule a furnace inspection

Have a professional come and take a look at your furnace. Get the furnace cleaned and inspected to ensure that it will work properly throughout the winter. Stock up on furnace filters and replace the filter monthly. This will ensure maximum performance of your furnace through the coldest of winter days. Also, as a precaution, remove any flammable substances or fabrics away from the furnace, just in case!

8. Prepare with weather-specific equipment

At the end of your lawn-care days for the year, drain the gas tanks of lawn mowers, weed whackers, and other gardening or lawn equipment. This will prevent the freezing of the gas over the winter, which could lead to irreparable damage when the winter is over. Make sure to service or replace any snow removal equipment. This includes snow blowers, shovels, ice-melt, sand, and ice scrapers. This will ensure you are ready to take on the snow with a vengeance until the summer months return. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this, as these items seem to disappear out of any and all stores after the first snow storm of the year.

See also: How to Avoid Snow Blower Injuries & When Was Your Last Furnace Tune-Up

9. Check and change batteries in all smoke detectors

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths are a result of fires in homes with inoperable smoke alarms, or no smoke alarms are present. Be sure to change or check the batteries in your smoke detectors (you might as well check those Carbon Monoxide detectors I mentioned earlier, too!). Do this at least twice per year. I would recommend doing this now, while you are preparing for fall and winter, and again when doing your spring cleaning.

All of these tips can help you conquer the winter with no problems! So after this list is done, bundle up, keep warm, and wait out the winter until spring gets here!

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About the author: Lauren is an R&R Insurance intern learning about the insurance industry through sales and service experiences.