Could your "hobbies" be considered an in-home business?

A friend of mine once worked with a man who had a great hobby:  restoring old furniture.  Out in his detached garage he would work for hours each evening, perfecting antique furniture that people brought him to restore.  He even made a good bit of money while doing it. 

What he didn’t realize, was that his “hobby” was actually an in-home business.  Moreover, because his business was conducted in a detached garage, none of that antique furniture would have been covered by his homeowners insurance policy in the event of a loss.  He could have been liable for antique furniture worth thousands of dollars.

Could your “hobby” be considered an in-home business?  If you make money with your hobby, it might be.  Some examples could be having frequent and regular garage sales, selling items frequently on Ebay, in home day-cares or classes, etc. 

If your hobby brings in extra income, it could be considered an in-home business.  Often, all that is needed for such a venture is an endorsement on your homeowners policy.  Don’t take the risk of exposing yourself to a loss that may not be covered with a standard homeowners policy.  Give us a call today to make sure that all of your “hobbies” are covered!

Tornado Safety

Spring is here!  And while that means sunshine and warm weather are on their way, it also means that the possibility of tornadoes is coming, too.  Prepare yourself and your family by reviewing the following information from FEMA.gov.

Tornadoes are dangerous weather phenomenon, and at times may strike quickly, with little or no warning.  In the South, they are most common from March through May, and generally move southwest to northeast.  The majority of tornadoes occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and may not be easily visible due to cloud cover, rain, or lack of dust and debris in the air.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

If your area is under a tornado watch, tune into local radio or television stations for the latest weather updates, and look for approaching storms.  Some signs that a tornado might be in your area are:  a dark, greenish sky, large hail, a large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating), and a loud roar, similar to a freight train.

If you are in a sturdy building while a tornado is in the area, go to a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest part of the building. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows. 

If you are in a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside with no shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.  Be aware of the potential for flooding.  Do not get under an overpass or bridge.  You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Of course, if your house or vehicle sustains damage during a severe thunderstorm, be sure to give us a call!

Source:  http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm

Travel Insurance

Imagine you’re headed to Cancun for a week of sun, sand, and relaxation.  You plan to melt into a lounge chair on the beach, and never get up.  As the date for your vacation draws near, you become worthless at work; you spend countless minutes lost in daydreams of palm trees and undulating ocean waves.  You’re ready.  You’ve packed your bags with swimsuits, sandals, and sunscreen; you can almost taste the piña coladas.

But are you really ready?  Nobody wants things to go awry on a vacation, but there’s always a chance something might.  Maybe your flight is canceled, or your belongings are stolen.  Worse yet, you get sick or have an accident, and have to be admitted into a foreign healthcare system.  

Don’t panic.  Travel insurance can cover missed trips due to illness, injury, death, labor strikes, bad weather, auto accidents, or layoff.  It can also provide assistance with issues such as lost or stolen passports or money, medical quarantine, and natural disasters.  If your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged, don’t worry.  That will be covered too, as will any emergency medical expenses.

Instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong on your vacation, let someone else worry about it for you.  Get travel insurance for your vacation, and go back to daydreaming about those palm trees.