CNR Insurance Blog

4 Little-Known Insurance Facts

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:47:27 GMT

4 Little-Known Insurance Facts

Insurance, especially auto insurance, is a tangled web of confusion for most people. Far more concerned with their own professions and interests, most people are content purchasing their auto insurance and never considering it again.

But if these same people would take time to do even a little bit of research into car insurance policies, they would find that there are many things about auto insurance that they did not know. Here are four little known facts about car insurance that just might come in handy for the average car owner.

Personal items lost to vehicle theft are not covered by auto insurance. Personal items and possessions are instead usually covered by a homeowner’s policy. Make sure that expensive items stored in the vehicle, like a GPS or MP3 player, are listed in the homeowner’s policy, and that photographs of those items have been documented.
Purchasing a low-risk vehicle reduces premiums. Having a low-risk car directly translates to lower insurance costs. Typically low-risk vehicles are those with lower horse powered engines or those that are less likely to be stolen. To learn more, confer with insurance professionals for details about what constitutes a low-risk vehicle.
Auto Insurance can be tax deductible for business use. Any time a business uses a car to carry out their services, it can be tax deductible. Totaling the percentage of time for which the vehicle is used and deducting that percentage of the cost of the auto insurance policy from the yearly tax filing can save a business loads of tax money.
Use an occupation discount. Many insurance companies offer auto insurance discounts to those in certain professions. Talk with an insurance professional to see if your occupation can save you money on an auto insurance policy.

Insuring Your Mother’s Day Gift

Mon, 06 May 2013 20:36:09 GMT

Insuring Your Mother’s Day Gift

Mother’s Day will be here before we know it. In case you didn’t know, Mother’s Day is on May 12. You are most likely planning to get your mother something small and inexpensive for Mother’s Day; perhaps you’re planning on buying her some flowers or a nice card. But perhaps this is a special Mother’s Day, and you are buying your mom a more expensive present. Before you buy this present, however, it is important to think about the insurance options for the jewelry she already owns.

Why should your mother get insurance on jewelry she already owns? The reason is simple: things happen. Jewelry is very easy to misplace, lose down the drain, or leave behind somewhere. Jewelry is even often stolen out of the home of the owner.

What are you insurance options? Many homeowners insurance policies offer some coverage for jewelry. But what you need to do is make sure that you “schedule” your jewelry on the policy. Scheduling your jewelry means that you specifically list it on your insurance policy. It is important to know that you have to pay an extra premium for scheduling the jewelry, but there is no deductible and you will get coverage for that specific piece of jewelry beyond what you’d normally get with your homeowner’s policy.

Many people don’t think that scheduling their jewelry is worth the hassle. But won’t you think differently when your mother accidently leaves her wedding rings at a rest stop? Get insurance on your valuable jewelry today to avoid such pain in the future.

5 Ways to De-Stress Your Life

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:43:30 GMT

5 Ways to De-Stress Your Life

April is national stress awareness month. More than likely, you deal with stressors on a regular basis. Most of us deal with stress on a daily basis. It is important that you find ways to mitigate the effects of stress in your life to ensure that the stress does not take too much of a toll on your body. Stress can be extremely detrimental to your health and it is important that you understand how to calm yourself down when you start to feel stressed. Some common ways to minimize the effect of stress are…

Exercise – Whether you head out for a run or you need to punch a punching bag at the gym, it is important that you get out and exercise. Find a physical activity that you enjoy and let yourself enjoy the time that you are spending improving your health.
Laugh – It may sound ridiculous, but laughing can do a lot to help you calm down. It will improve blood flow throughout your body and even help your heart health.
Socialize – Sometimes it can be hard to go out and be around other people when you are stressed. In actuality, being around people that you love can be a great way to help you minimize your stress levels.
Write – Writing down your problems and keeping a journal of your stress can help you relive tension that you may be feeling. Working out problems through writing can help you solve problems that you may not have solved otherwise.
Show Gratitude – Take time to find things in your life that you are grateful for. Gratitude can help you put your stressors into perspective.

Stress can take a toll on your physical and mental health. If you are not already finding ways to relieve your stress, take the next few weeks to find some beneficial ways of relieving stress in your life.

Boating Safety Tips

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:31:41 GMT

Boating Safety Tips

Spring is upon us and with spring comes the promise of summertime fun. One of the best ways to enjoy the hot weather of summer is by taking the boat out of storage, cleaning it up a bit, and giving it a test drive on the lake.

Boating has long been an American favorite for summertime fun. But boating, like almost any other activity, comes with inherent dangers.

To avoid these hazards of boating and to enjoy a fun day on the water, boaters should brush up on their boating safety before firing up the old outboard. The first step towards safety is to perform a safety inspection of the watercraft before taking it out on the water.

A safety check should be made by professional and certified boater safety inspectors who will be able to determine the safety of the craft and any repairs that will need to be made to improve the crafts safety. Additionally, the owner of the boat will want to perform their own safety check every time before going out on the water.

Once the boat has been deemed safe for use, the boat owner can still do things to ensure their safety and the safety of others while enjoying their day at the lake. The first is to always have enough lifejackets for everyone on board and to wear them at all times while on the water.

Boaters can enjoy increased safety by checking weather conditions before packing up and heading for the lake. A change in weather can be dangerous for crafts on the water and for the people who are in them.

By having the craft checked for safety by professionals, by having a sufficient number of lifejackets on board, and by knowing the weather conditions beforehand, a boater and their family can enjoy a safe and fun day on the water.

3 Auto Insurance Myths

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:41:37 GMT

3 Auto Insurance Myths

As you are shopping for car insurance it can be hard to know who you can trust. When people find out that you are looking for insurance, they will probably have some “great” advice to give you, but sorting through all of the advice that you have been given can be frustrating. There are some common auto insurance myths that are widely circulated. We would like to clear some of them up for you…

Red cars will cost more money to insure. Fortunately, the color of your car is not a factor that is used when calculating your insurance rates. More than likely, the insurance company that you work with is going to ask you what year, make, model, body type and engine size your car is.
One speeding ticket will increase your auto insurance rates. There may be some instances in which this is true, but the majority of insurance policies are going to wait until you have two tickets to increase your insurance premiums. When considering whether to increase your premium rate, the insurance company may consider your driving history, the amount of time you have been with the company and the number of miles that you were going over the speed limit.
Cheaper cars will cost less to insure. There are a lot of old cars that cost a lot of money to insure. If your car weighs a lot, has a large engine or is an unusual model, you will find that your car may be more expensive than a newer car to insure.

Give us a call today if you have any questions concerning your insurance policy. We can help you understand all that you need to know about your auto insurance to ensure that you are perfectly happy with the insurance that you have.

National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:10:30 GMT

National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day

It is a far too common occurrence on America’s streets, highways and interstates. A car will slowly drift from their lane, hit a rumble strip marking a double yellow line, spring into action and over correct causing an accident.

Spectators of this generic yet frequent scene may have the initial thought that the driver must be intoxicated. But cause is not illegal judgment, like drunk driving is; rather it is simply the poor judgment to drive drowsy.

The sixth of April is National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day. This day has been designated as a day to remember those who have been victims of drowsy driving and a day to revitalize the nation’s efforts to drive alert and responsible.

Driving drowsy is the same as driving impaired by alcohol or any other substance because driving a vehicle while tired and sleepy has the same effects as if the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Just like drugs and alcohol impede processors in the brain from acting efficiently and quickly to avoid accidents, driving while drowsy or tired can limit a person’s ability to react to the hazards of the road.

By not being able to safely navigate the road because of their drowsiness, a sleepy driver puts themselves in just as much risk as if they were actually sleeping behind the wheel. A person can avoid driving drowsy by preparing for long drives with a full night’s sleep, and by choosing to never drive if they are sleepy or overly tired.

Spring Cleaning and Saving

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:52:25 GMT

Spring Cleaning and Saving

It is the nightmare of children everywhere and the looming task at the end of winter for homeowners and housekeepers across the nation. Spring cleaning has become a tradition both needful and loathed.

While spring time may bring bright colors, flowers, sunny days, and pleasant picnics, it is also known for its season of cleaning. But the needful yearly deep clean of homes around America does not need to cost excess money to be accomplished.

Spring cleaning costs are typically minimal no matter how big the cleanup job, but why not save money on spring cleaning if there is money to be saved? Saving on the yearly spring cleaning can be simple while still being effective.

The first place that a homeowner can save money when performing their spring cleaning is on the cleaning supplies themselves. Cleaning supplies can be pricey if they are bought on a whim.

Homeowners should consult their local department store’s catalog of coupons to find deals on cleaning supplies and materials. By shopping for cleaning supplies before the deep cleaning season of spring and by using coupons for their purchases, a homeowner can immediately save on their cleaning costs.

Another money saving aspect to cleaning is to remember that that old mop works just as well as that new expensive one in the store. Not only mops, but any cleaning apparatus can be used for years with the same effectiveness, so try not to buy the latest model every year.

By cutting expenses wherever possible, a homeowner can save useful money on their annual spring cleaning.

Preparing For a Natural Disaster

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:45:15 GMT

Preparing For a Natural Disaster

If you live in an area where natural disasters are common, having a plan is essential. If you have a plan for when disaster strikes, you will minimize injuries, cost, and chaos. Here are some tips on how to best be prepared in case of a natural disaster.

Talk with your family about a communications plan. It is important that everyone in your family knows what to do and who to call should a disaster occur. Find someone who lives out of town, preferably a family member or friend, who everyone can contact in case of an emergency. Make sure that your kids know the last name, phone number, and address of this person.
Make sure that each family member knows of an alternate route to get home. If a natural disaster occurs, the roads you normally use may be blocked. Discuss ways to get home that aren’t on typical and mainstream roadways.
Designate a meeting place in case you can’t return home. If a serious natural disaster occurs, your home may be damaged or destroyed. If this happens, you’ll want a pre-designated meeting place so everyone knows where to go. Pick a park or open space as your meeting place.
Assemble a 72-hour kit. Make sure that the kit has enough food and supplies for every member of your family to survive for 72 hours. Even if you may not be able to get back to your house to pick it up, there is still a chance that you might make it. Making the kit is safer than not making the kit.
Have a reliable insurance policy. If you have reliable home insurance on your home, you need not fear. Your home and possessions will be compensated for.

In the event of a natural disaster, it is important to be prepared so everyone in your family can stay safe. Follow these tips in order to be prepared for a natural disaster.

Real Estate Agents - Let Us Serve You!

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:11:21 GMT

The first thing someone should do after buying a home (after eating a big pizza on the empty kitchen floor to celebrate) is insuring that their investment is going to be taken care of in the years to come.

CNR works hand-in-hand with Real Estate Agents to give their clients fantastic insurance policies. Since CNR is a brokerage and not a direct writer, they have plenty of possiblities to find you the right insurance to fit your individual needs.

You can read a whole blog post on the difference between a brokerage and direct writers, but the main point is that a brokerage can shop around and a direct writer can't. We find great insurance policy for your clients from lots of companies, not just one.

To work with CNR Brokerage, contact us or sent your clients to our quote page. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Car Stolen, Now What?

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:29:10 GMT

It is a personally tragic scene that plays out several times a day across the nation. A person walks outside, rummages through their purse or pocket to grab their keys, heads towards where they know they parked their car, and find only a pile of shattered glass.

Having one’s car stolen can be one of the most invasive and heartbreaking events in life. Feelings of anger, frustration, betrayal, and violation can often cloud judgment in the few moments following the discovery of a missing car.

Because of this, there are many who may not know how to handle the situation. Understanding what to do immediately following a vehicle theft will greatly aid you in coping with the traumatic event.

First, don’t give up on hope. It is possible that you have simply forgotten that you parked in a different location or that the vehicle has been towed. Look around you to try and find the vehicle or a towing company’s sign and call their number to see if the car is in their lot.
Second, call the police. Calling the police to report the car stolen as soon as possible offers the best chance at getting the vehicle back. The sooner the authorities are aware it has been stolen the sooner they can begin their search.
Third, if the car is equipped with a gps or other service like OnStar, call the service provider and have them shut the car down remotely or give you the location of the vehicle. Often, if the car is equipped with this technology, the police will do this for you, but it never hurts to do it yourself.
Fourth, contact your insurance company and inform them that the car has been stolen. They can then begin working on filing your insurance claim and get you the insurance money you are entitled to.