by Pintler Insurance | Jul 22, 2024 | Ideas, Safety Tips, Tips
Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family for outdoor parties and celebrations. However, it’s important to prioritize safety alongside fun to ensure everyone has a great time. Here are some essential tips for hosting safe and enjoyable outdoor gatherings during the summer season:
1. Plan for Weather: Check the weather forecast before your party and plan accordingly. Make sure you have adequate shade, such as umbrellas or canopies, to protect your guests from the sun. If rain is in the forecast, have a backup plan for indoor space or provide rain gear.
2. Food Safety: Keep food safety in mind when preparing and serving food at your outdoor party. Store perishable food in a cooler with ice or ice packs to prevent spoilage. Avoid leaving food out too long, especially in hot weather, to prevent foodborne illnesses.
3. Stay Hydrated: Provide plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages for your guests to stay hydrated, especially on hot days. Consider setting up a hydration station with water and other refreshing drinks to encourage everyone to drink enough fluids.
4. Check for Hazards: Before your party starts, thoroughly check your outdoor space for any potential hazards. Remove tripping hazards, such as toys, hoses, or cords, and ensure your outdoor area is well-lit to prevent accidents.
5. Pool Safety: If you have a pool at your party, take extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. Install barriers, such as fences or pool covers, to prevent accidental drowning. Assign a designated adult to supervise the pool at all times and have life-saving equipment, such as a life ring or shepherd’s hook, readily available.
6. Bug Protection: Provide insect repellent for your guests to protect against mosquitoes and other insects. Consider using citronella candles or torches to help keep bugs at bay. Provide screens or netting around food and seating areas to minimize bug intrusion.
7. Fire Safety: If you plan to have a bonfire or use a grill, ensure they are set up in a safe location away from flammable objects, and follow all fire safety guidelines. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and designate a responsible person always to monitor the fire or grill.
8. Parking Considerations: Plan parking arrangements in advance to avoid parking-related issues. Ensure there is ample parking space and provide clear instructions to your guests on where to park to prevent any inconvenience.
9. Be Mindful of Noise: Consider your neighbors and be mindful of noise levels during your outdoor gathering. Keep music and other noises at a reasonable volume, especially in the evening, to avoid disturbing those around you.
10. Have a Plan for Emergencies: Be prepared for emergencies by having a first aid kit readily available and knowing the location of the nearest hospital or medical facility. Have emergency contact information easily accessible and designate someone to take charge in case of an emergency.
By following these safety tips, you can host a fun outdoor gathering while ensuring the well-being of your guests. Prioritizing safety will help you create lasting memories and a memorable summer party. Have a fantastic and safe summer celebration!
by Pintler Insurance | Aug 24, 2023 | auto, Ideas
Auto insurance is necessary for anyone who owns and operates a vehicle. It is required by law in most states and provides essential protection for you and others on the road. In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of auto insurance and how it can protect you and others on the road.
1. Required by Law
In most states, auto insurance is required by law. You could face legal consequences if caught driving without insurance, including fines and license suspension. Understanding your state’s requirements and ensuring adequate coverage to avoid legal issues is important.
2. Protection for Your Vehicle
Auto insurance can provide coverage for your vehicle in case of damage or theft. If you’re in an accident or your car is stolen, your insurance policy can help cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
3. Liability Protection
Auto insurance also provides liability protection, which means that if you’re at fault in an accident, your insurance policy can help cover the cost of any damages or injuries you cause to others. Without liability protection, you could be personally responsible for these costs, which can be financially devastating.
4. Medical Coverage
Many auto insurance policies also provide medical coverage for you and your passengers in case of injury in an accident. This can help cover the cost of medical bills and related expenses.
5. Peace of Mind
Auto insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected in an accident or other event. It’s one less thing to worry about while on the road.
In conclusion, auto insurance is important for protecting yourself and others on the road. It’s required by law in most states and provides protection for your vehicle, liability protection, medical coverage, and peace of mind. When selecting an auto insurance policy, make sure to consider your personal needs and budget, and shop around to find the best coverage and rates for your needs.
by Pintler Insurance | Jun 8, 2023 | Ideas, Tips
If you own a vehicle, you should own an auto insurance 
policy. Have you ever wondered how the cost of your policy is determined? There are a number of different factors that impact the cost of your auto insurance. While not all companies use the same parameters, we will help you understand what commonly determines the bottom line of your auto policy.
First, your driving record – The better your record, the lower your premiums. If you have been in accidents or had serious traffic violations, it is likely you will pay higher premiums. How much you use your car is also considered while determining the cost of your premium. The more miles you drive, the more chance for an accident. Even where you park is taken into consideration. Do you park in a secure garage? Or do you park on a street?
Other factors taken into consideration while determining your auto insurance costs are: your age, the car you drive, and the amount of auto insurance you wish to carry. Mature drivers generally have fewer accidents than beginners. The cost of your car and the amount of insurance coverage you want to carry are major factors in the cost of your policy as well.
There are many different factors that go into determining the cost of your auto insurance policy. Some factors can vary from one area or state to another.
Source: https://www.iii.org/article/what-determines-price-my-auto-insurance-policy
by Pintler Insurance | May 24, 2023 | Ideas, Tips
While learning how to jump start a car can be easy, there are risks in it if done so incorrectly. As your insurance agent, we care about your safety!
Watch these steps for jump starting a car from Safe2Drive.
What do you need to jump start a car?
Before you can recharge and get going, you need a few basics: jumper cables and a power source – either a portable jump battery (a jump box) or another vehicle.
Jumper cables are long, thickly insulated cables with toothy clips on one or both ends. These clips are called alligator clips. The clips are distinguished by color, usually red and black, to indicate positive and negative polarity. The red clip is positive. The black clip is negative.
Jump boxes are portable batteries used to jump start a vehicle without connecting to another vehicle and come with special jump cables. These cables connect the jump battery directly to the dead car battery. Road side assistance usually uses a jump box when helping stalled vehicles.
What do you need to know about car batteries to jump start a car?
Car batteries have two larger nubs, called terminals. There is a positive terminal and a negative terminal. Each should be clearly marked. Connecting cables to the right terminal is important to completing the circuit and gives power to the dead battery.
- Positive terminal – The positive terminal is usually the bigger of the two terminals. It is marked with “POS” or “+”. It will connect to the positive clip on the jumper cable, which is usually red.
- Negative terminal – The negative terminal on the battery is usually marked with “NEG” or “-“. This will attach to the other clip, which is usually black.
CAUTIONS WHEN JUMP STARTING A CAR:
- READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL. Some cars are not recommended for jump starting because they have sensitive circuitry
- DO NOT JUMP corroded, cracked, leaking, or visibly damaged batteries
- DO NOT JUMP frozen batteries
- DO NOT JUMP dry batteries
- DO NOT TOUCH CLIPS together. This is true when connected, but get in the habit by never touching the clips together.
Protect the donor battery
A quick test that there is enough voltage for the donor, be sure that the car giving the jump start headlights are steady and bright when the car is started. If the headlights dim, that can signal that the battery is low.
How do you use jumper cables to jump start a car from another vehicle?
- CHECK BATTERIES: Make sure that the battery giving the jump has enough voltage and is a matching voltage system type (12V, 6V, etc.)
- READY CARS: Put both cars in park or neutral, turn the ignitions off, and put on the parking brake.
- OPEN THE HOOD of each car.
- ATTACH ALLIGATOR CLIPS to the terminals in the following order:
- Red to Dead – Connect red, or positive, clip to the positive terminal on the battery of the dead car.
- Red to Donor – Connect the red, positive, clip to the positive terminal on the donor battery on the other car.
- Black to Donor – Connect the black clip to the negative terminal of the donor car.
- Black to Metal – Connect the black clip to an unpainted metal part of the dead car that is not directly next to the battery. One of the metal struts that hold the hood open is a good place to clip the second black, or negative, clip.
- START THE DONOR CAR so that the battery can supply power to the dead battery.
- IDLE the donor car, allowing it to run for a few minutes.
- TEST the interior light of the car being jump started. If it goes on, there may be enough power.
- START the dead car.
After the car is jump started:
Unclip the clips in the reverse order you connected them:
-
- The black clip on the unpainted metal
- The black clip from the negative terminal
- Red clip from the donor car
- Red clip from the dead car’s battery
If the jump works and your car starts, don’t shut off your engine! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to recharge your battery. If the car won’t start the next time you use it, the battery isn’t holding a charge and needs to be replaced.
Source: https://www.idrivesafely.com/defensive-driving/trending/how-jump-car-simple-steps-bring-your-car-battery-back-lifeand https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/how-to-jump-start-a-car/
by Pintler Insurance | Apr 24, 2023 | Ideas, Tips
There’s no excuse not to wear a life jacket on the water, and as your insurance agent, we strongly encourage you, and the passengers on your boat to wear one when you are on the water. Boaters enjoy the feel of sun and spray. So, it’s tempting to boat without wearing a life jacket. Regardless of your swimming ability, its important to wear a life jacket.
Life jackets are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Many are thin and flexible. Some are built right into fishing vests or hunter coats. Others are inflatable and compact as a scarf or fanny pack until they hit water, when they automatically fill with air.
Things to Know:
- The best life jacket is the one you will wear.
- Life jackets are designed to keep your head above water and help you remain in a position that permits proper breathing.
- Some styles of life jackets are not intended for weak or non-swimmers (read the label and be honest).
- To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a recreational vessel must have a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket for each person aboard.
- Adult-sized life jackets will not be suitable for children.
- When worn correctly, a foam filled life jacket will fit snuggly, and will not allow the life jacket to rise above the wearer’s chin or ears.
- Foam filled life jackets should be tested for wear and buoyancy at least once a year. Waterlogged, faded, or otherwise damaged life jackets should be discarded.
- Inflatable life jackets should be maintained per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Most adults only need 7 to 12 pounds of buoyancy to keep their heads above water.
- If you are boating with your pets, you should have a life jacket for them as well.
Failure to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) or life jackets remains one of the largest contributing factors associated with boating deaths. 78% of boating incidents occurred during recreational activities such as fishing or power boating. Help keep yourself and those on your boat safe and enforce that everyone wears a life jacket!
We love to spend time on the water with our family, friends and pets, but safety comes first. Taking time to review these safety precautions about life jackets, might just save a life! We are looking forward to providing insurance coverage for all your boating needs.
Source: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php and https://pleasurecraftoperatorcard.info/in-2000-boating-incidents-accounted-for-one-third-of-the-water-related-deaths-in-canada-147-out-of-a-total-of-472/
by Pintler Insurance | Mar 24, 2023 | Ideas, Tips
If you own a home, then chances are at some point you will need to hire someone to do repair work on your home. At (Agency Name), we know that hiring a contractor or handyman to perform work on your home often comes with risks. Below are nine things for you to consider before you hire a contractor.
- Get recommendations. Ask your friends, family and neighbors if they have recently used a contractor, handyman, plumber, heating/air company, or an electrician and, if so, would they use that person or company again. Ask your friends and family whether their project was completed on time and within their budget. Find out whether the contractor’s estimates were accurate.
- Consult the internet. Internet reviews from satisfied, or unsatisfied, customers can tell you a great deal about a potential contractor. Review several websites that rate contractors and see what others have said about contractors you are considering. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against potential contractors.
- Ask for references. Request the names and phone numbers of some recent clients for whom your contractor has completed a similar job. Ask the references if they were happy with the finished product. Ask whether anything has come up since the job was completed and if the contractor addressed the issue. Find out whether the final cost was reflective of the contractor’s estimate and whether the job was completed on time.
- Find out if your contractor is licensed and insured. You want the contractor to be insured ad to show you proof of insurance. If they aren’t insured, refer them to us for an insurance package!
- Get Multiple Estimates. Get two to four estimates from different contractors. Remember the old adage; you get what you pay for. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hire the most expensive contractor, but if one estimate is significantly less than all of the other estimates, that is a red flag. That contractor may plan to use less quality materials or cut corners. The contractor may have also intentionally underbid the job in an attempt to obtain your business, only to increase the price later.
- Get it in writing. Never pay a contractor before you have a written contract outlining everything the contractor is going to do to your home. The more specifically the work is identified, the better. The contract should also specify the cost of all materials that will be used and provide start and completion dates. Find out whether the contract price is an estimate, which may change during the course of the project, or a total cost for completion. If the contract price is an estimate, then make sure the contract specifies that the job cannot exceed a specific amount. Additionally, specify in the contract that no changes can be made, except in writing. Make sure the contractor is providing a warranty on labor and materials and that it is spelled out in your contract, including: who you need to contact to make a claim under the warranty; any limit on the amount of the warranty; and the length of the warranty. The contract should also spell out all of the contractor’s duties. For example, if you are having flooring replaced, then the contract must specify whether the contractor will be moving furniture and putting it back once the job is complete. You will also want to specify whether the contractor is responsible for clean-up and disposal of all construction materials at the conclusion of the project.
- Set a payment schedule in the contract. You never want to pay a contractor more than 50% up front. Depending on the size of the job, your initial payment is ideally going to be no more than roughly 30% of the total cost of the project. The contract should specify that each subsequent payment is only due after certain phases of the project have been completed and set out a time frame for each such phase to be completed. If a bank will be providing a construction loan, make sure you have the right to approve each disbursement. If the time comes for your next payment, or your contractor demands a subsequent payment from you, but the previous phase has not been completed, then you have the right to refuse payment until the contractor completes the phase for which you have already paid. Always pay your contractor in a way that is traceable, i.e. with a check, credit card, or debit card. Do not make the final payment to your contractor until you have verified that all work has been completed and is acceptable.
- Extras. Be aware that when you ask for upgrades or additional work, you are going to have to pay for that additional work. Often, once a project gets started, it is tempting to ask for upgraded materials or some extra work to be done. If your contractor agrees, then you should find out how much the extra work or material is going to cost and get it in writing before the work is done.
- Maintain good records. Keep a copy of your contract, all payments you have made, any additions or edits to the contract, and all correspondence with your contractor. Even if you have had a conversation in person or over the phone, make sure you document that conversation with an email or letter to you.
Hiring the right contractor will ensure that your project is completed successfully, as well as on time and on budget. All-together, this process can seem daunting. However, the time you spend searching and the detail you put into your contract will be reflected in the final product. It would be a headache to work with someone you can’t rely on. You could find yourself with an unfinished remodel or a maxed-out budget. Allow yourself the time to do your research and ask the necessary questions.
We insure many local contractors, and we would be happy to refer you to them. Just let us know what you are looking for and we can provide the reference. Once you have the updates complete, please let us know so we can update your insurance as well.
Source: https://hutchenslawfirm.com/blog/civil-law/smart-homeowners-9-tips-you-hire-contractorand https://seacoastconstruction.net/7-tips-for-hiring-a-reliable-general-contractor/and https://www.thespruce.com/tips-for-hiring-a-contractor-4156976
