Prepping for Spring: Getting the Boat Out

Start off the boating season right by prepping your boat before the warm weather gets here. Having the boat ready to hit the water makes spring and summer much more fun, so here’s some things to check out before your boat gets wet.

Fuel System

Check for leaks, damage or signs of loose hoses. If fuel hoses feel too soft, or they show cracking or brittlenesses then it’s best to replace them. Make sure all fittings are tight and secure. Replace anything that seems damaged or worn before heading out.

Electric System

Clean the terminals of batteries, check cables for loose connections or corrosion and test the battery before recharging it. Having a fully functional electrical system will ensure the boat starts and operates the way it was meant to.

Safety Equipment

Boating can be dangerous, so ensuring that fire extinguishers, life jackets and emergency beacons are all onboard depending on where you are heading. If you have a cabin area, make sure there are working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to warn anyone in case of emergency. Often the Coast Guard will offer safety inspections for vessels heading out into coastal waters, and it’s always a good idea to take advantage of the offer.

Props and Hull

Making certain that the mechanical parts of the boat, as well as the integrity of the hull, are all in top shape is a top priority. A damaged propeller can cause disruptive vibration throughout the boat that can lead to issues with the drivetrain. The hull needs to be clean and free from damage before heading out, so as not to risk taking on water or contaminating the water when you launch. As always, be sure the drain plug is securely in place every time you get ready to put your boat into the water.

One of the best ways to protect your investment in your boat is to make sure you have adequate insurance as well. If anything goes wrong, having it covered by insurance can take a lot of the stress away, so be sure to call us (865-922-3111 or Toll Free 800-624-3339) and make sure your coverage is adequate for what you need.

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Prepping for Spring SeriesPrepping for Spring Series

Prepping for Spring Fun: Recreational Vehicles

With spring time approaching now’s the time to start thinking about getting ready for fun outdoors and traveling.  When it comes to recreational vehicles, here is a quick rundown of some of the most important things to remember follows:

Check the tires to make sure they are still good.

The winter break can leave them low on air, or if the tread level wasn’t checked before winterizing then it is a good time to be sure they are roadworthy. Along with the tires on the axles, be sure to check on the spare as well, as getting a flat and having a bad spare is a nightmare all of its own.

Do a maintenance check on the gas lines and appliances.

Gas is one of the most volatile parts of an RV, because any issues with the gas line or appliances could be explosive. Rather than risk taking your RV out on the road with a gas leak, make sure to check all of the lines and appliances before hitting the road.

Test your batteries.

Batteries aren’t known for their ability to hold a charge when they’re not in use, so testing the RV batteries where they can be charged if necessary is a critical checklist item. Along with recharging, some batteries need replacement water added as well. Check the water levels of any batteries that need it, and remember to replace the water after charging is complete.

Flush, clean and replace water throughout the water system.

If water has been sitting for awhile, or if an antifreeze was added to make sure the lines didn’t freeze in the cold months, then flushing out the water system is a good idea. Make sure that any drinking water is clean and safe to use, and top up the potable water tanks before taking off on your first trip.

Make sure all your registration paperwork, license plates and insurance is up to date.

The last thing you want to do is hit the road only to find out that your tags are expired or worse, that the insurance has lapsed. Being pulled over by the police for those items is not fun and can be very costly. Check out the registration and give your insurance agent a call to make sure everything is good to go so you can hit the road.

If you’d like to find out how Bob Johnson Insurance can help you find competitive rates for your RV coverage, or even if you just have some questions, please tell us how we can help you…


Prepping for Spring SeriesPrepping for Spring Series

Why You Need a Home Inventory

Why You Need a Home Inventory

As a homeowner, you make sure that you have insurance to cover your property from damage such as fire, environmental hazards, and flooding. However, while it’s relatively easy to determine the costs of repairing and rebuilding your home after such a devastating event, what happens when you have to replace all of your stuff inside?

According to a survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissions, only 41 percent of Americans have a detailed inventory of what’s inside their homes. This means that if the worst were to happen, you would likely get far less than what you need to reclaim your life pre-loss.

So, with that in mind, we want to go through the process of home inventory. It’s imperative that you have a detailed record of everything inside your property so that your claim will be sufficient enough to get it all back.

What is a Home Inventory?

Simply put, a home inventory is an itemized list of everything inside your house. Whether it’s furniture, clothing, jewelry, or electronics, all of it should be listed so that it can be included in your insurance claim.

When you consider the cost of replacing everything you own, it can be overwhelming to imagine that you might have to pay for most of it out of your own pocket. Having a detailed inventory list will ensure that you can get a reimbursement that will cover more than just the essentials.

Although a home inventory is ideal for any homeowner, you should pay careful attention to any big-ticket items that cost a lot. Jewelry, for example, should be insured separately. This is because most policies only cover about $500 to replace them, which can be substantially less than what you would pay.

Why is it Necessary?

There are two primary reasons that you want to get started on a home inventory as soon as possible.

First, you want to make sure that your policy reflects the actual value of everything inside your home. When determining a payout, it’s easy to estimate the cost of your property, as well as the expenses required to rebuild it. However, since your insurance agent doesn’t know what kind of stuff you have inside, they are going to draft a payout based on averages. In many cases, this number is far less than what you need.

Secondly, having a detailed inventory will make your claim much easier to file and process. So much time and effort is spent trying to figure out what has to be replaced, but if you have a list in place, you can streamline this process so that you can get paid faster.

Another benefit of doing a home inventory is that you can write off any losses that aren’t covered by insurance. For example, if you didn’t get your jewelry insured before it was lost, you can claim the difference on your taxes.

Unless you are independently wealthy, having a home inventory is going to make a substantial difference if and when you have to file a claim.

How to Do a Home Inventory

Fortunately, there are plenty of options available to you when you start your inventory. However, even just a pad of paper and a pen is preferable to having nothing written down. You can create your own list or use one of many different online tools to keep items organized.

To ensure that your inventory is always accessible, we highly recommend that you submit a copy to your insurance agent as soon as it’s finished (and every time it’s updated). It’s also a good idea to keep a copy on file in the cloud so that you can access it from any computer. This is helpful if you experience a total loss and any paperwork inside the home would be lost.

Home Inventory Tips

Taking inventory of your home is more than just listing everything on a sheet of paper (or an excel file). Since you could potentially list items that you don’t own, it’s imperative that you provide documented proof of ownership so that it can be counted in your claim.

Here are some things to remember when getting started.

Make a Video Recording

Pictures are also necessary, but they are easier to forge, which is why most insurance companies prefer a video recording instead. Make sure that there is a time stamp on the footage, and record yourself as well to prove that it was you making it. You don’t have to cover everything in a single shot, but try to get as much as you can in each take to make things easier for both you and the claims adjuster.

Group Items by Type

Although it can be helpful to list each product individually, it will take a lot more time to do. Also, most insurance policies will make an average number, so it’s not necessary to show every specific thing in your home.

For example, group clothing together by style and type. Shirts, pants, shoes, and accessories should all be clumped together. The only time you want to provide individual details is if the item in question is expensive or unique.

Update it Often

Every time you buy something from the store or receive a gift, you should take the time to update your inventory list. While you don’t have to resubmit it to your agent every time you do this, it’s helpful to provide him or her with an updated list every six months or every year.

Keep Receipts if Possible

While you probably don’t have receipts for a lot of the items you own right now, it can be helpful to keep them for future purchases. This is further documentation that can help you get a better settlement since you can put a dollar amount on each item.

Work With Your Agent

Once you have an inventory in place, then discuss what options you have with your agent. For example, if specific items (like jewelry or collectibles) have to be insured separately, you want to create a unique list for them and then develop a policy accordingly.

Bottom Line

Don’t wait until disaster strikes to take stock of your belongings. Having a home inventory in place will not only make things easier if and when something happens, but it will also provide you with peace of mind.

Even with a home inventory, it is important that you have the right coverage.  Doing an insurance review with your agent is an easy and great way to know your options and that your coverage fits what you need.  Tell us how we can help you…

Fireplace Safety

How to Keep Your Home Safe From Fire

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a warm, cozy fire in the fireplace.  It’s a place to create memories such as sitting around the big fireplace every Christmas Eve listening to the Christmas story and music.  It’s important, however, to keep your home and family safe by keeping your fireplace clean and properly serviced.

Here are some tips for a wood-burning fireplace.

  • Before making a fire:
    • Open the glass doors (if you have them), open the metal screen, and place your kindling and logs inside.
    • Open the damper and a window (just a few inches). Check to make sure smoke will go up the chimney by lighting a match in front of the fireplace, blowing it out, and watching the direction of the smoke.
  • What to burn:
    • Burn only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods in your fireplace.
    • Buy your wood in the spring and store it off the ground and protected from excessive moisture.
    • It takes 6 months to a year for green firewood to be seasoned enough to burn.
  • What NOT to burn:
    • Never burn any materials that are not approved by the fireplace manufacturer.
    • Never burn plastic or Styrofoam.
    • Do not burn trash because it can create a fire that you cannot control or possibly release dangerous poisons into your home.
  • When burning a fire in the fireplace:
    • Use your fireplace for short-duration fires, 5 hours or less.
    • Safety Screen
      • Opening a window will help air flow up the chimney and will keep your house from getting smoky.
      • If your fireplace has glass doors, make sure to keep it open so air is drawn up the chimney.
      • Keep your metal firescreen closed to keep sparks from popping out on the carpet.
    • Never use flammable liquids (such as gasoline) to start a fire.
    • Never leave a fire unattended, especially when children are in the house.
    • Never use your hands to handle burning logs. Use appropriate fireplace tools.
    • Ensure that you wait at least 30 minutes after turning off your fireplace, insert, or stove, before touching it for any reason. The surfaces retain heat.
  • Keep your family safe.
    • Keep track of children and the infirm around your fireplace.
    • Children should not be allowed to play near the fire or to play with fire tools and equipment.
    • You may want to have additional barriers, like baby gates around the fireplace to ensure that the children cannot get near the fireplace.
    • As soon as they are old enough to understand, teach your children about fireplace safety.
  • Prepare your home.
    • Keep a non-flammable rug or other material in front of the fireplace to protect from flying sparks.
    • Be sure your home is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Check them regularly to make sure they work properly and have working batteries. Each level of your home should have detectors and there should be detectors in or near sleeping areas.
    • Equip your home with a fire extinguisher and know how to use it properly. Teach your family members how to use it properly.
    • Flammable materials should be at least 3 feet (or more) away from your fireplace.
  • Keep your chimney in good condition.
    • Keep your chimney clear. If animals nest or debris accumulates and blocks the chimney, it can cause carbon monoxide to flow into your house.  Be sure to have an appropriate chimney cap to protect against blockage and water damage.
    • Use a spark arrester on your chimney to prevent from sparks flying out which can potentially start a fire on your roof or lawn.
    • At least once per year or after approximately 80 fires, have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep. Ask him to show you hazards to watch for.
  • After a fire:
    • Cleaning the Firebox (area where logs burn)
      • During the months that you use your fireplace, clean the firebox when ashes build up and at least once per week.
      • Leave about an inch of ash because it helps the coals to heat faster and retains heat easier.
      • Keep the firebox completely clean during months you do not use the fireplace.
    • Remove the ashes.
      • It can take up to 3 days for fireplace coals to completely cool. Always wait that long before you remove the ashes.
      • Close the damper to reduce excess dust.
      • Wear a dust mask and open a window in the same room as the fireplace (to prevent negative air pressure).
      • Shovel the ashes into a metal container. Store the container far away from any combustible materials, surfaces and floors.
      • Never use a vacuum to remove or clean up ashes because they could contain live coals.
    • You can shine your brass fireplace tools with Worcestershire sauce and a toothbrush.
    • If you have glass doors, you can clean tough stains (from flames and heat).
      • Make sure they are cool and then use a razor blade to scrape off tough gunk deposits.
      • Clean the rest of the stains off with a cleaning solution. Spray or sponge the cleaner on and wipe it away with a newspaper (which is lint-free).  Three possible cleaning solutions include:
        • Add a squirt of liquid dishwashing detergent to a bucket of warm water.
        • Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water.
        • Purchase appropriate fireplace glass cleaner at a fireplace store.
      • Cleaning your exterior hearth
        • A slate hearth should be washed, dried and coated with lemon oil every six weeks to make it shine.
        • A brick hearth should be cleaned with a brick cleaner purchased at a fireplace shop.

How to Keep Your Home Safe From Fire Series

How to Keep Your Home Safe From Fire Series

How to Keep Your Home Safe From Fire

In 2016, there were 352,000 residential fires. These resulted in almost 3,000 deaths, 11,000 injuries, and over $6.5 billion in damages. Although these numbers have been getting lower over the last decade, they paint a harrowing picture.

Don’t be a statistic.  Read these articles to help you keep your loved ones safe from a house fire.