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Summertime and Teenage Drivers

Summertime and Teenage Driving

Teenagers are out of school during the summer months, probably driving all their friends around. Here are some great tips to help your insurance policy stay at the best rates they can be!

When choosing a car for your teenager, always try to find one with an excellent safety record and latest equipment. A four-door model can also help as well as an older model; this may deter thieves and car break-ins
Your teenager may also qualify for discounts such as being a good student, taking driver education courses, and keeping at a lower mileage.
Always discuss with your teenager the consequences of reckless driving, both physical and financial. Teaching them the value of what it means to be a driver is very important.
Contact us for more information; we can assist you and your teenager to become the best driver they can be!

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Teenagers and Reckless Driving

Local - Auto Insurance

Travel Insurance Policy

Many people are skeptical about purchasing an insurance policy on a vacation trip. Who wants to spend extra money on an expense like a vacation get-a-way???We understand the skepticism! Travel insurance policies are not suitable for every vacation you plan; and not all travel policies will cover simple travel nuances like flight cancellation or delays. However, some vacations planned are worth the extra protection for a piece of mind and security for your family and your wallet. ??Hurricane season is a volatile one, sometimes it starts in June and lasts till November, and other times it can start in May and go until October. Either way, many vacation spots are affected by hurricanes and many resorts or travel plans are ruined and are not refunded due to natural disasters.??Here are a couple of tips as to what you should consider when planning a vacation:?

Shop for the best policy that fits your needs. Travel policies are competitive, so make sure you can compare between all sources- Travel Agents, Airlines, and Travel Providers and your insurance agency as well.
When planing your trip, buy your policy early. If a storm is forming and you are potentially traveling somewhere near or in its path you will not be able to purchase the policy.
Always keep your receipts. This is one of the best ways to document your unexpected expenses- and file for reimbursements.
Stay flexible and open-minded. Cruise ship voyages are aware of potential stormy conditions and have contingencies in place for travelers. To avoid dangerous conditions at sea, travel plans can change and the cruise ship will dock somewhere other than what is on the itinerary.

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Purchasing an insurance policy

Many vacation spots are affected by hurricanes

Top 3 Car Insurance Myths Revealed

Car Insurance Myths

#1 “My car color is sure to affect the cost of my insurance rate, especially if it is a red or yellow.”

Although the make and model of a car can affect the rate, especially if it is a sports car, the color you choose for your car does not affect your monthly rate.

#2 “I have full coverage, I do not need to pay extra to tow my car or even rent one.”

“Full Coverage” does not cover renter’s insurance and towing. Those are extra add-ons that are usually added on separately with additional costs, which vary between insurance carriers.

#3 “My driving record is perfect and that is the only factor in my insurance rate.”

Driving history is very important to an insurance company, however depending on your age, sex and even credit score history is all taken into consideration that can affect your rate. Other factors include new car vs. an older car, where you park your car (garage, on street, or shared lot), and the neighborhood you live in. If you are a student with a certain Grade Point Average you can apply to receive discounts for a better rate as well. These are all factors that are calculated together to provide the driver with the correct rate to fit the situation.

Fatigue Driving

Americans are hard workers! We work long hours at the office, we multitask and our days are getting longer while our sleep hours are getting shorter. According to researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, "fatigued driving results in more accidents than any other behavioral risk factor." Researchers also suggest that if you are a fatigued driver your likelihood of crashing or having an accident goes up by 4 times! In a recent poll, 60% of drivers have operated a vehicle while tired or fatigued.

Here are a couple of tips; if you don't have access to quick rest stop, a good way to keep awake until you can stop for rest is opening all windows in the car, another tip is to play music or the radio louder than usual to help you stay awake until it is safe to stop.

Please be mindful or your driving habits, and take this into consideration.

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VTTI

Spring Cleaning Your Office

Spring Cleaning

Have you started your spring cleaning? Many of us only focus on our home, but you should also be sure to do some cleaning around your work space. Having a clean work space is important for staying productive and keeping yourself organized. The next time you have some free time, show some love to your work area and clean it up.

Clear your desk

You want your work area to be clear of clutter. Your desk can easily become a home for all of your notes and paper work. A simple way to clear the clutter is to get some folders and organize all of your work. This not only gets rid of a messy desk, but you won’t have to try searching through stacks of paper for a sing document.

Clean your computer

Many of us use computers everyday at work, and a lot of files can pile up on our desktop. Just like your physical documents, it is important to organize your electronic ones as well.

Don’t be scared to use the trash

Old pens, broken rubber bands, past sticky-note reminders, these are things that probably do not serve you much purpose anymore. Go through your drawers and get rid of things that are clearly not important or don’t work. Check any notes or paper before you throw them out and make sure there is no important information on them.

Having an organized work space can truly help create a more productive and relaxing work environment for yourself.

If you’re a business owner and would like to talk about your insurance needs, such as business auto, liability, or group health, contact Johl & Company today to speak with an agent.

Bike Safety

Spring is officially here! As the days get longer and the weather improves you may want to get your bicycle out and enjoy the outdoors. Before you start riding, be sure to keep these simple safety tips in mind.

What you should do before

Wear bright clothes (especially at night) and always wear a helmet
If you need to take anything with you, be sure to use a book bag to hold your items
Make sure your shoes are tied so the laces don’t get stuck in the chain

What you should do while you are riding your bike

Always ride your bike with the flow of traffic
Obey street signs, road markings and signals.
Keep your eyes on the road, and avoid distractions such as texting and listening to music

If you are riding on the sidewalk

Make sure it is legal for you to ride on the sidewalk
Watch for pedestrians and pets
Watch for vehicles pulling out of driveways
Stop and look before crossing any intersections or across streets

EPL Insurance: Protecting Your Business from Lawsuits

Does your business have employment practices liability insurance? EPL insurance helps protect businesses from employee lawsuits. According to Travelers Insurance, it is not uncommon for the legal fees in employment practices cases to cost $250,000 or more. Without the right insurance and protection in place, those kinds of fees could damage a small business owners finances and possibly even force a business to close.

An employee, or even someone you’re interviewing, could potentially sue your business for discrimination based on sex, race, disability, age, wrongful termination etc… To protect your business, you want to make sure you:

Create an employee handbook detailing all aspects of the company and your policies.
Only conduct in-person interviews with the people you know are suitable for the position.
Layout a job description that explains exactly what that employee will be doing.
Schedule performance reviews to let your employees know how they are doing and any areas they need to focus on.
Speak with your insurance agent about purchasing employment practice liability insurance.

It is important to protect your business, no matter the size. If you are a business owner that does not have employment practice liability insurance and would like to learn more, be sure to contact Johl & Company to speak with an agent today.

Easy DIY repairs that you can do around your home

We all want our home to remain in the best shape, but, with everything, things break, clog, peel, and wear. Some issues may call for an outside company to repair, but there are many household issues that you can do yourself cheap and quickly.

Clogged Drain

You can buy a drain-clearing tool from any hardware store. It is shaped like a thin stick with barbs.
Place the drain-cleaning tool down the drain and pull out whatever is causing the blockage.
Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar.
Allow this to sit for 10 minutes then pour a pot of boiling water down the drain to clean the drain.

Peeling Wallpaper

If you notice wallpaper that is beginning to peel, here is a simple fix that you can do to treat this problem.

Place wallpaper paste onto a small knife and wipe the paste onto a piece of paper.
Rub the paper on the underside of the peeling wallpaper
Press the wallpaper against the wall.
Slide the paper out from the wallpaper and wipe away any bubbles with a clean cloth.

Tough to Treat Tub Stains

If you are having trouble removing stains from your tub or shower, this may help.

Use an equal amount of baking soda and cream of tartar.
Mix with lemon juice and mix till it becomes a paste.
Rub the stain with the paste using a cloth.
Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then wash away.

For those unexpected events that happen to your home, having the right homeowners insurance can help protect what’s important to you and your family. Contact an agent at Johl & Company.

Protecting identity during tax season

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-protection-tips

Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your social security number and files a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. Tax season is here and we would like to share some information with you to help keep your identity safe this year.

Emails

Many scammers will send e-mails or reach out to you on social media claiming to be with the IRS. The IRS does not reach out to taxpayers via email or on social media.

Phone Calls

You may also receive a call from a scammer claiming that you will be punished if you do not immediately pay, do not fall for these calls. Another phone call may be from someone pretending to be with the IRS asking for financial information to send you your refund, be sure to report these calls to the IRS.

Websites

Websites that do not begin with www.irs.gov but claim to be associated with the IRS are not real.

Protect Your Social Security Number

Any document that has your social security number on it needs to be kept in a secure, safe spot. You should always avoid carrying your social security number with you unless necessary.

For your insurance needs, personal and business, be sure to contact Johl & Company in Westwood, NJ.

Space Heater Safety

Did you know that 25,000 house fires are caused by space heaters each year? Space heaters are a great way to keep warm, but you need to make sure they are being used properly. For everyone who uses space heaters, be sure to follow these safety tips to keep you and your home safe.

Placement

You want to keep your space heater on a hard, level surface. It should not be placed on or next to flammable objects. Keep it clear of things such as curtains, bed sheets, and your furniture. Space heaters should also be kept out of children’s room. Even if it is located in the proper spot, kids may accidentally touch it and burn themselves. You should also keep this in mind if you have pets.

Usage and Other Tips

You should only use a space heater when you are in the same room and be sure that you turn it off before you go to bed, even if it is in your room. It is a good idea to check your smoke detectors in your home as well. In the event something does happen you want to be alerted and get to safety.

For those unexpected setbacks in life, having the right insurance can help make those situations a little easier to deal with. If you are in the market for personal insurance, such as home or auto, or a business owner looking to protect your company, be sure to contact Johl & Company and speak with an agent.

Removing ice from car

How to properly remove ice from your car

The last thing anyone wants to do before leaving their house is spend time cleaning their car of snow and ice. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence for many of us living in New Jersey. The next time you have to start scraping off ice, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Clear off the snow from the vehicle using a brush, using things like a snow shovel can scrape the paint.

Before you start scraping off the ice, start your car and turn on the defroster. Just make sure your car is out of the garage and in an open area. If the exhaust pipe and radiator grill are not clear, do not start the car.

It may seem like a quick way to melt the ice, but do not pour hot water on any of the windows. The hot water can cause the windows to crack.

Make sure that your windshield wipers are free of any ice. If you turn on the wipers and they are frozen to the windshield it may damage the engine or the windshield wipers.

We hope these tips can help you protect your car and also get the ice off your car a little quicker!

If you are in need of personal or business insurance, be sure to speak with an agent from Johl & Company in Westwood, NJ.

Snow shoveling safety

Nobody enjoys shoveling their driveway after a heavy snowfall, however, many of us do not think much about taking precautions before we begin shoveling. Below are some safety tips that you should know the next time you grab your shovel to clean up the driveway.

You should have a shovel that is specifically designed for shoveling snow. This will decrease the amount of bending you need to do.

Try not to lift, rather, you should push the snow. Lifting can increase the strain on your back and may cause injury.

Try to shovel once the snow has stopped. If the snow sits, it can become wetter and heavier as time goes on.

Even though it may be cold out, make sure you have water with you. You can build up a sweat and it is important to stay hydrated.

For more information on shoveling safety as well as snow blower safety, visit the National Safety Council’s website.

http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/news-and-resources-snow-shoveling.aspx

Are you in the market for personal or business insurance? Contact Johl & Company today to speak with an agent.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuel does not burn properly. Things such as wood, gasoline, coal, natural gas, oil, methane, and propane can all be potential sources of carbon monoxide. It is important to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, but there are also some other safety tips that you should be aware of.

Make sure carbon monoxide detectors are installed around your home, especially outside of sleeping areas and on each level of the home.

Know the number to call if the carbon monoxide detector sounds. Your local fire department will be able to inform you of the correct number.

Be sure to test your alarms at least once per month.

If the alarm goes off, get everyone outside, keep the windows/doors open and call for help.

Never let a vehicle or generator run in your garage, even if the garage door is open.

For more safety tips on carbon monoxide, view the National Fire Protection Agency’s website.

Are you in the market for personal or business insurance? Contact Johl & Company today to speak with an agent.

Second home safe during winter

Winter Weather

Do you travel to warmer areas during the winter months? When you go on vacation there are certain steps you take to secure your home. During winter, however, because of the temperatures and snow, there are some things that you should do to prepare your home before you travel.

Unplug all your electronics

Besides the fridge, make sure all other electronics are unplugged before you leave. You may also want to consider getting timers on your lights to make it look like you are still home.

Turn down the heat

Around 50 degrees is a good temperature to leave your home at when you are away. If you have any pets or plants that will be in your house make sure to set the temperature accordingly. You should also lower the temperature of the water heater to save money.

Remove the snow

Ask a family member, friend, or hire a service to shovel and salt the driveway while you are away.

In the event that something does happen to your home, having the right home insurance policy can protect your possessions. If you would like to get a quote or learn more about home insurance coverage, contact Johl & Company today.

Fireplace Safety

Who doesn’t love sitting in front of a fire on a cold day? In order to protect you and your family, we would like to share some safety tips to keep in mind when you decide to get a fire going in your chimney.

Make sure the damper is open

Also referred to as the “flue,” this allows the smoke to travel up the chimney out of your home. When this is not open, the smoke will begin to pour back into your home. You want to make sure it is open before the fire is started and until all the embers are out.

Use smaller pieces of wood

Smaller chunks of wood produce less smoke and burn faster.

Have a professional check the chimney

There are times throughout the year animals can make nests inside the chimney, which would block the smoke from escaping. You want to be sure that there is nothing in your chimney that can cause problems for the smoke leaving.