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Showing posts from October, 2018

Should I buy the “loss damage waiver” (insurance) for my rental car?

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This is a question that most insurance offices get on a regular basis and unfortunately you will find many different answers so I thought it would be helpful to break down some of the reasons that this is a complicated question and how to help you answer, “Should I buy the insurance?” First, I want to clarify that you are not actually buying insurance for the rental vehicle. In actuality you are paying the rental company to waive their rights to come against you for any losses they sustain due to damages to their vehicle. It is often called insurance, even by the rental car companies, but if you read the fine print you will find that it is in fact a waiver. Think about it, in order to sell insurance in the state of Michigan, you need to be licensed, they are assuredly not licensing all the counter people at the rental car companies. In Michigan rental vehicles are typically included in the definition of non-owned auto and therefore are usually covered under both Liability

10 Tips to Stay Warm

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The chill is in the air. While you are busy carving pumpkins, getting together your Halloween costume and taking trips to an apple orchard remember these cold weather tips to stay warm. 1. Wear a hat Don’t skip out on the winter gear. Keep heat in by wearing a hat, scarf and gloves. Send an extra pair of mittens to school with your kids. 2. Layer Up Wear an extra layer of clothing before stepping out in the cold or turning up the heat. 3. Block drafts There are several DIY ideas to block drafts. Remember to block drafts on the basement door if you have one. 4. Program your thermostat Stay warm on a schedule and save money by setting your thermostat. Home sweet home will be warm and toasty when you get home from work. You’ll save money on your heating bill too. 5. Update your car emergency kit As the seasons change it’s a good idea to restock and change items in your emergency kit. Here is the CDC’s recommendations and checklists for winter weather. We

My Fire, Your Fence

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Often when we think of home fires, we think of damage to the house, but home fires frequently occur in detached structures and even in outdoor spaces with no buildings in the immediate area. Fires can start in junk heaps, leaf piles, wood stacks, trash cans and wooded areas. If you leave tires, oil pans, paints or other flammable items outdoors, you could be creating a fire hazard. Even mulch spread around your home or fence can be a ready fuel source. Fires can start from wafting ash or embers from a fireplace or fire pit, a cigarette butt, a lightning strike, or even spontaneous combustion. In fact, heaped mulch and grasses, such as straw and hay, build considerable internal heat, as do bagged oiled rags. If you are composting, holding mulch or grass for later use, or saving cloths soaked with gasoline or oils, keep other flammable items far from these to reduce the likelihood of combustion. If you have planned well enough to keep your own house and structures saf