Teen Drivers

Let's Talk About Teen Driver Safety

According to the CDC, six teens ages 16 to 19 die every day from motor vehicle injuries. 

Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. As a parent of teenagers, those are very scary numbers!

  

When people call in about adding their teenager to their policy, we tell them part of the reason it is so expensive to add a teen driver is because of the risk associated with new drivers. It isn't a matter of if they get into an accident. It's a matter of when.

Inexperienced drivers struggle with judging the space needed to change lanes in traffic, driving safely in poor weather conditions and making turns safely. Your child may be a very conscientious driver, but it isn't just their driving you have to worry about. More experienced drivers know how to drive more defensively. They know to look at how others are driving to avoid accidents. New drivers assume everyone else will drive the same way they will. Now of course I am talking about conscientious drivers. We all know those kids (and some adults!) who think they (1) own the road and (2) are immortal. There was a kid who drove a white jeep in our neighborhood. When you saw that jeep coming you were automatically on guard! You do not want any of your children to be that kid!

The National Safety Council says that at least half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before they graduate from High School. Half! They strongly suggest parents drive with teens even after they get their license. Teens who drive with their parents in the car decrease the probability of causing a crash. So I know for many parents it seems a very stressful and harrowing experience to be a passenger in their parent care, so think of it as a way to pass your experience and knowledge onto your young drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsors Teen Driver Safety week each year in October. This week actually! 

So there are some tips for some rules before letting your teen take off in the car.

NHTSA reminds parents to set the rules before the teens hit the road with "5 to Drive":

·         No cell phones while driving

·         No extra passengers

·         No speeding

·         No alcohol

·         No driving or riding without a seat belt

Parents must be involved in teaching their young drivers! Safety!Safety!Safety!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Winterizing

Winterizing Your Home 

Can Save You Money!

A little work now can save you when winter hits.

What can you do?

Install Weather stripping and Caulking

Stand in front of your window and door frames. Do you feel any cold air coming through? If so, you have found a place you will want to seal better. Home insulation will make a big difference in your energy costs. Seal these spots with caulk or weather stripping. You may want to consider using an insulating film on windows. It isn't only about keeping cold air in. You want to prevent the warm air from getting out also.

Buy a Programmable Thermostat

Newer homes come with these, but older homes may need to replace them. You want to program the thermostat to turn down when you are not in the house and come back on right before you return. (especially if no one is at home during the work day!) This can save you quite a bit of money!

Run Ceiling fans in reverse 

Heat rises, so reversing your ceiling fans to turn clockwise will push the hot air down. This will circulate warmer air through the room which will lower the time the heater will kick on.

Install a "Chimney Balloon"

You can lose quite a bit of heat through your chimney flute. You can insert a chimney balloon and blow it up until it fills the chimney walls. If you want to use the fireplace, simply let the air out and pull the balloon down. Re-insert it when you are done using the fireplace.

Turn Down the Water Heater Temperature

Most water heaters are set up at 140 degrees, but you can reduce the temperature to 120 and save money on water heating costs. Experts suggest running your hot water for 3 minutes and testing the temperature. Do this on 2 days to see if the temperature is consistent. If it is over 120 on both, you could lower your water heater temperature.

Insulate Water Pipes

You should always insulate outdoor faucets and pipes. You also want to look at pipes that may be exposed indoors as well (basement, attic, under sinks). You can wrap them with a towel and tape or buy foam covers at a hardware store. This can save you thousands of dollars on avoidable damage from burst pipes!

Most of these fixes are inexpensive and can save you money for years to come!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Identity Theft

Prevent Child Identity Theft-

Freeze Your Kid's Credit!

Identity theft is a constant threat these days. With the number of major data breaches that have occurred in the past few years, such as the unprecedented Equifax breach in 2017, you’ve probably experienced some form of financial fraud by now.

You might keep a close eye on your own finances for just that reason, but there’s someone else who is especially susceptible to becoming an identity theft victim: your kid.
Fortunately, a new law went into effect on Sept. 21 that lets you freeze your credit ― a helpful preventative measure ― for free. Here’s how and why you should freeze your child’s credit, too.

Child Identity Theft Is A Growing Problem
A study by Javelin Strategy and Research found that more than 1 million children were victims of identity theft in 2017. Two-thirds of those victims were under the age of 8.

Read the rest of the story from the Huffington Post...

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Fall Lawn Care

Secrets of Fall Lawn Care

Autumn is a great time to spruce up your lawn. This easy guide shows you how.
Take advantage of cool fall weather to fertilize, control weeds, and improve the health and appearance of your yard...






Read the rest of the story by Better Homes & Gardens

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Pride of Ownership

Looks Do Matter!  

Before                                                 After

What? Why?

If you have ever sold a home, I bet you have heard the term Curb appeal. As the prospective buyers drive up, you want them to see your house in the best possible light. There is even an industry position for Staging the interior of homes as well. Looks do matter when selling your home. As part of the inspection process, most carriers will ask the inspectors to state if the home shows Pride of Ownership. 
What are they talking about? And why does it matter if I already bought the home? 
Why do carriers care what my house looks like?

What is Pride of Ownership?

Pride of Ownership refers to how well your home is maintained. Is the yard kept neat? Is the paint peeling? Are the windows cracked or foggy? Do your trees hit your roof or the side of your house? Is your fence in need of repair? Is your pool clean and filled? These things point to you as a responsible homeowner (or not!). You don't have to have magazine type style to keep a neat and well cared for home  and yard. I'd be in serious trouble if that was the case! 

Why is Pride of Ownership important to my insurance carrier?

When you are house hunting, are you naturally drawn to homes that look good and are maintained well? Of course! Unless you are looking to do a great deal of work, you want a house that is built well and kept well. Why? Because you know it will last longer.  Carriers want to know the same thing. They don't want to take on a risk that is likely to have a claim sooner rather than later. Most claims are sudden and accidental, but if the home is not maintained, the risk of claims is higher. And if the owner shows very little pride in how the home looks, what kind of pride will he/she take in how the home is maintained? A poorly maintained home is generally a riskier home to insure because it isn't well taken care of. 

So Looks do matter?

Yes! But little things can make a difference. Trim over grown trees and bushes, especially if they are touching the roof or sides of the home. Replace big hard to control plants with easier to maintain box plants. Paint. Sometimes a touch up will do, but other times you will need to repaint the entire set of stairs, or window panes or whatever it is that is scratched and peeling. It may not take much at all to make your home look good, even if you bought it a little Rough!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

energy makeover

The Energy-Efficient Home Makeover

No demolition required. A few small tweaks to each room could dramatically shrink your carbon footprint.

It’s no secret that Americans have one of the world’s highest per-person carbon emissions rates—or that much of your personal carbon load can be traced back to a little place called home. In other words, the climate change battleground is even closer than your own backyard. It’s in your bathroom, the kitchen, and the basement, too. So if you’re serious about doing your part to fight climate change, that hybrid or electric car in your driveway is a good start, but it’s not enough. Take a good look at the fixtures and appliances in your home. By making some upgrades or tweaks, or simply by changing the way you use them, you will reduce your emissions―and save on your energy bills, too.

Read the full article from NRDC...

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Home renovations

6 Home Projects That Cost Less Than a TV

Giving your home a little extra “umph” doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. In fact, you can dramatically improve the looks of your home for less than the cost of a new TV. Ready to find out how? Keep reading to discover the six projects that are sure to make your home pop — without busting your budget.

1. Revamp your entryway.

A stylish entrance is an important part of any home’s decor. Begin your upgrade with a new welcome mat and house numbers. These simple upgrades are cost-friendly and have an immediate impact on your home’s entrance. You can also arrange potted plants — like easy-to-maintain succulents — around your entrance for an eye-popping aesthetic. Flowering plants, while slightly more difficult to maintain, can complement the color scheme of your entrance or act as a standalone focal point. You can also spruce up your home’s entrance with a quick color update to your front door. A new shade will complement your entryway décor and spruce up the overall look of your home’s exterior. Chic doorknockers, updated doorknobs and alluring porch lighting are the perfect finishing touches for your 

home's entrance.

.

Expected costs:
Welcome mat: $2
House numbers: $6 per number
Succulents: $37 for pre-potted kits
Flowering plants: $30

Door knockers: $35
Doorknobs: $125
Porch lighting: $50
Front door color updated: $100-$300

Read the rest of the story from HomeAdvisor...

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683