Author: AgentInsure

Organize your closet in ten minutes a day

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If you’re like many people your closets are overstuffed.  Besides creating a hazard this can make it next to impossible to find anything that you really need.  Cleaning out your closet, however, can be a massive undertaking that can take weeks.  Instead of trying to tackle the whole project at once, try these tips to organize just a small part everyday until you’re done.

  1. Start on the floor.  Clearing the floor will allow the doors to close and give you the room to reach the upper shelves safely.  Since larger items are usually kept down here, it will be easier to clear out the smaller stuff.
  2. Assign a place for everything.  Think about what you want to store in the closet, then use sticky notes to label where everything should go.  As you work over the coming days, you’ll have the notes to remind you of your plan.
  3. Group like items in baskets.  Filling a basket with smaller items will keep a small part of the closet organized.  Be sure to label the basket so that everyone else in your house knows what belongs there.
  4. Clear one day, organize the next. If you separate the purging and organizing, you’ll be able to better judge what you need to get rid of.  By alternating days, you’ll be able to get rid of stuff one day, then re-evaluate your space needs on the next.

As you’re cleaning out your closets, you’ll probably come across some things you forgot you had, and get rid of a lot of stuff.  That means that you’ll need to change your insurance policy.  Call the agents at Advantage Insurance Network to make sure that your homeowner’s or renter’s policy is up to date.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

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There are so many things that need to be done when you think of spring cleaning. To make the process more manageable, you need a checklist. This is a checklist of some of the things that can easily be overlooked when you are spring cleaning.

Waxing and Polishing

  • Wax Floors: Whether your floors are wood, vinyl, linoleum, tile, or stone, there is a type of wax that you can use to bring out the shine and make them easier to clean. Just make sure you get the correct kind for your floors.
  • Wood Furniture: You would furniture should also get a good waxing or at the very least a good polishing.
  • Polish Metal: Polish doorknobs and handles, kitchen hardware, and any other metal items in your home. This small detail will make your house look cleaner.
  • Dust everything: Don’t forget to dust your entire home. This includes ceilings and walls, ceiling fans, window casings, and on top of your refrigerator.

Windows

  • Clean your window glass. If they are really dirty, getting ammonia and mixing it with water can be effective. This allows you to control the concentration. It has a strong chemical smell, so you should only use it in a well-ventilated area.
  • Wash window panes, trim, and screens with soapy water.
  • Take down your curtains and wash them. Check the tag to see if they are machine washable. 
  • If you have blinds, take them down and wash them in the bathtub.

Walls

  • Wash your walls with soap and water or an all-purpose cleaner. If you use a cleaner, test a small spot first to make sure it is safe.
  • Take down and clean your pictures.

Sping Cleaning is a great way to take care of your home, but you should also protect your investment with insurance. If you need homeowners insurance, get a free quote from Advantage Insurance Network.

 

A Little Helmet Safety Goes a Long Long Way

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The spring weather brings with it more bicyclers on the roads. As motorists we must be aware of these newcomers on our local roads and welcome them into a safe environment.

Wearing a helmet while bicycling is an all-important indicator on whether or not a cyclist will survive an accident where head injury occurs. As you make your pitch to your children to wear their helmets this spring utilize some of the tips below:

  • Helmets ARE cool.  With some creative research and a few extra dollars for shipping and handling you can have just about anything under the sun added to your child’s helmet. Whether it is a special decal or having the helmet sport a favorite character, it is all yours on the web.
  • Be a good role model. When your family takes to the trails, show them that wearing helmets are safe for everyone – Mom and Dad included.
  • Make Sure Your Head is on Straight – Ensuring the proper fit of your bicycle helmet is key to safety. An ill-fitted helmet may not provide the right protection in the event of an accident. Take the time necessary to follow the manufacturer guides to ensure proper fit and usage before you invest in the headgear for you and your family.

The beautiful spring weather and venturing out into the great outdoors reminds us of clearing out the old and bringing in the new. This is an awesome time to reevaluate your insurance needs. Whether it is auto, life, personal, or home insurance the confident and reliable staff at Advantage Insurance Network can help you make great decisions regarding your insurance needs. Just like that bicycle helmet, you know it’s there if you need it. Peace of mind is priceless. 

Ways To Improve Your Rental Home

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Being a renter can be tough, especially when you want to make updates to the property you are renting. You may want to personalize the home or really just improve upon it. Unfortunately, you cannot do this as a renter if the changes you plan to make will be permanent. There are ways that you can improve the rental home while you are residing there so that both you and your landlord are happy. Follow these tips to get started and make sure no lines are crossed. 

  • Update a kitchen quickly by updating the hardware. This is an inexpensive and fairly easy way to personalize the kitchen and make it better. Just make sure you keep all of the old hardware where you can replace it before you move out. 
  • In a room that you want to make a bit larger, use a mirror in a corner. This will give the appearance of a larger room and is also a cheap way of making the space look even bigger and better.
  • Consult with your landlord about painting options. Some let you paint as long as you make sure the color is back to its original upon move out. If this is the case, consider painting an accent wall in a room or two and add some pops of color. 
  • Place some plants around the home. If you do not have a green thumb, you can use fake ones. Either way, these will add life to any room. 

As you can see, there are many ways you can improve your rental. These are simple and inexpensive as well. If you are renting your home, you should have renters insurance to ensure all your belongings are protected. Contact Advantage Insurance Network serving Cincinnati, OH for more information. 

Six Ways to Prevent Motorcycle Theft

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Motorcycle riders in Cincinnati need to remain wary of thieves. Criminals can steal these vehicles far more easily than cars; sometimes they just pick up a motorcycle and take it away in a truck. These tips can help prevent such crimes:

1. Park your motorcycle in a highly visible area, preferably with a surveillance camera nearby. Don’t place it in the shadow of a taller vehicle. If possible, choose different parking locations from time to time.

2. Connect the bike to a fixed object, such as a large tree. It’s best to accomplish this using a U-lock and chain. Don’t let your lock lay on the pavement; this enables thieves to break easily it.

3. Store your motorcycle in a garage whenever possible. Keep the door shut so criminals can’t see it. You may also use a cover to hide it and make theft a bit more time-consuming.

4. Put a unique, permanent marking on your bike. Take a photo of it with a camera or cellphone. This way, you can report the special marking to Cincinnati police when your bike goes missing.

5. If you have a heavy bike that’s difficult to pick up, consider installing a security alarm and an ignition lock. Thieves will find it much harder to start the engine.

6. Think about outfitting the bike with tracking equipment. Three out of four stolen bikes are never seen again. However, this technology significantly increases the odds police will be able to find your motorcycle before criminals sell it or disassemble it for parts.

Theft can’t always be prevented, so insurance is vital. Please contact the Advantage Insurance Network to review your existing coverage or sign up for affordable motorcycle insurance. You can reach our independent agency in Cincinnati, Ohio.
 

Why You Need to Prepare Your Home for a Disaster Slug

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There are far too many people who believe a natural disaster will never impact the Cincinnati, OH area in such a way that it will disrupt or devastate their lives. As a result, they often don’t create an emergency disaster plan for their home or family. The fact is, you can never predict what will happen and being prepared is the only way to make sure you and your family will come through the situation safely.

Inability to contact help

Regardless of if you are facing a blizzard, flood or strong thunderstorm, being able to call for help in these situations is essential. It is a good idea to purchase communication equipment that will work during bad weather. There are a number of devices available and without them you may not be able to receive the help you need during the time of emergency.

Inability to rebuild your life

Another consequence you may face if you fail to plan for a disaster is the inability to rebuild your home and life. Things such as insurance will provide you the ability to rebuild your life if disaster strikes. Without proper coverage you will not be able to rebuild after a disaster. This is why it is essential to purchase quality insurance coverage.

Your home and your family need to be protected. If you fail to see to this protection you may not know where to begin after disaster strikes. While being prepared takes work, it will be well worth it in the long run.

If you want to ensure you and your home is protected, then be sure to find home insurance through Advantage Insurance Network. This will ensure you are protected and ready to weather the storm, regardless of what may come your way. 

 

Do children need to have life insurance?

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Every parent is familiar with the deluge of mail that arrives after their child is born.  a new baby brings joy, but it also tends to bring a lot of offers for everything from formula to diapers.  Buried in all those advertisements, however, are usually several offers for life insurance. 

Typically, life insurance is recommended to people who have loved ones who are dependent on their income.  In many cases, this means new parents should strongly consider purchasing a life insurance policy. 

Children, however, rarely have anyone who is dependent on their income.  In fact, hardly any of them even have an income.  On the surface, that would seem to indicate that buying life insurance for a baby would be a bad idea.

There are some cases, however, in which purchasing life insurance for a child might make sense.  In many cases, the death of a child might mean a lot of missed time from work and significant funeral expenses.  Because of this, many families with a low amount of savings decide to purchase a small policy that would cover these expenses.

In other cases, children born or diagnosed with a serious condition may need to have life insurance policy purchased for them while they are young so that they can qualify for life insurance after they become an adult.  Because it’s easier to renew a policy than to start a new one, this is a good strategy for families that know about a lifelong medical condition.

If you’re considering purchasing a life insurance policy, call the agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency.  They have years of experience helping people throughout Boise, ID.

 

Deer are Dangerous to Motorcyclists

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There is an explosion of the number of deer in and around Cincinnati. Deer accidents with vehicles and motorcycles have increased. The deer crossing the roads at night are especially dangerous to motorcycle riders who are thrown from their bikes when hitting a deer.

Recent news reports from WLWT television, say that bow-hunting allowed for deer, has not reduced the amount of the deer sufficiently. Normal deer herds are good when there are about twenty deer per square mile. The deer population has grown in some areas to be over two hundred animals per square mile.

Government officials plan now to use sterilization methods to reduce the deer population. The sterilization is a three-year research project in the areas of Edgewood Grove, Mt. Storm, and Rawson Wood.

Safety Tips for Motorcycles:

  • Avoid riding on motorcycles in forested areas, especially in the early morning or evening when deer are more active.
  • Use extra care when driving during the months from October to January when it is deer mating season.
  • When driving in the mountains or rural areas, especially at night, drive a bit more slowly.
  • Be cautious when going around turns.
  • Use the high beam headlight as much as possible to look far down the road ahead.
  • Honk the horn for a long time when seeing deer in the road and brake without turning to let the deer jump out of the way.
  • Deer like to follow each other. One deer jumping into the road means more will follow.
  • Take the yellow warning signs of deer crossings very seriously. These are areas where many previous accidents occurred.

Summary
Hopefully, the deer sterilization program will reduce the deer population sufficiently to decrease the number of accidents.

Be sure to get good motorcycle insurance coverage from Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati.

Independent Insurance Agents at Forefront of American Freedom

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As is true in most industries, insurance has companies that conduct business with little regard for the needs of the individual people and businesses in Cincinnati, OH. In effect, clients become mere numbers on an actuarial table that help the main headquarters, located somewhere else, pay its board members extravagant annual bonuses. Yes, it is unfair to the average person in Ohio. For this reason, and others, independent insurance agents remain at the forefront of salvaging American freedom.

Independence Means Freedom

Insurance provides policyholders with the resources to withstand life events that could otherwise prove crushing. Disasters that destroy homes, devastating road collisions and liability for workplace injuries are just a few ways that people can find themselves needing financial help to remain solvent and with a roof over their heads. The independent agents at Advantage Insurance Network help provide the level of coverage needed to survive such unexpected calamities.

Independent agents remain free to give a client an objective analysis of their particular situation. There is no product that the home office requires selling. Instead, people know that when they purchase an Advantage Insurance Network policy, it is what they need for family, home or business.

Moreover, independent agents offer real choices. They are not beholden to any particular brands. Clients receive a variety of options and quotes to choose from.

Stay Free by Dealing With Independent Insurance Agents in Ohio

In so many ways, Americans witness their freedoms eroded each day. Buying insurance, which is a virtual necessity, does not have to be one of those times. Just contact the independent agents at Advantage Insurance Network, serving Cincinnati, OH, for more information on options or use the easy online quote feature today.

 

 

The Rennaissance of Norwood, Ohio

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Those who lived and worked around Norwood, Ohio and the Cincinnati area in general refer to that day in 1986 as “Black Wednesday”. It was the date General Motors announced the closing of its Norwood General Motors Plant. Less than a year later, on August 26, 1987, the plant produced its last car, and a whopping 4,300 people were estimated to have lost their jobs.

It couldn’t have been a darker time for what was then, a very blue collar community. Norwood and its residents appreciated its independence from its large neighbor to the south, but it was facing potential bankruptcy. But the community and its leaders dug in. A deal was worked out for GM to demolish the giant plant and donate the land to the city. In 1990, the Central Parke revitalization began. New roadways were built. Then came the Rockwood Pavilion and Rockwood Commons. The area began attracting younger, more upscale families who gave a boost to the housing prices in the area. In 2006 the Linden Point project got underway and the progress has continued. Norwood and its 45212 zip code has been the subject of national news articles on its rebirth, including a not so pleasant eminent domain case that the community has put behind them.

The Renaissance of Norwood has been amazing, and the community has never looked back. It is an area where businesses and residents want to be.

If you are a business owner in the area, we would appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your commercial insurance. Our independent agents can get quotes from multiple companies to get you the best price possible without sacrificing coverage.

See for yourself with your personal insurance. Visit our website to get a comparative quote on your auto or homeowners insurance. For business insurance quotes, contact us.

We are the Advantage Insurance Network and we are proud to serve the resilient Norwood community. We would be pleased to serve you.