Everyone can benefit when landlords ask or require their tenants to secure proper renter’s coverage. As an agent, you have a very important role to educate your clients of the benefits of securing this protection. Doing so can help you build long-term trust while providing the security that BOTH landlords and renters need! Many renters don’t understand why they need homeowners (renter’s) insurance. Some don’t even know if they have it or not. In fact, there are many reasons why renters don’t purchase renters coverage. Let’s review the myths driving the choice not to secure renters coverage, so you can help dispel some of these myths when reviewing coverage with your clients:

Myth #1: Coverage is Expensive

Renters or contents insurance is quite inexpensive. A typical Renters Policy is only about $100 per year. Many companies also offer a multi-policy discount if you bundle your Car Insurance and your Renters Insurance with the same company. This sometimes results in an annual savings on your Car Insurance of more than $100. 

Myth #2: Exposure is Already Covered

Many renters believe their personal property is covered by the landlord, when actually the apartment or building owner’s coverage is only for the building itself and the common areas for the apartment owner’s liability. 

Myth #3: Coverage is Unnecessary

Many uninsured tenants are younger adults who may not realize the high value of their clothing, furniture, computers, smart phones, valuable jewelry, and music collections.

Myth #4: Coverage is Narrow in Scope

The renter’s policy covers loss in the event of a destructive fire or another major type of loss. If a covered loss makes the apartment unit uninhabitable, the insurer would pay for the necessary hotel costs until the insured moves into another apartment.

If you are a Landlord, talk to your tenant about the importance of having a Renters Policy.

If you are a Renter and don't already have a Renters Policy, give us a call today.

Content for this article taken from original article "Reminder to Landlords and Tenants" from Lititz Mutual Insurance Company. 

The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department (NLCRPD) has reached out for assistance in spreading the word about an upcoming event they are hosting to help prevent the theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 4pm - 8pm or while supplies last

600 Park City Center, Lancaster, PA 17601

Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been the target of a TikTok social media challenge, which has put a spotlight on the vehicles' lack of an immobilizer. The challenge shows TikTok viewers how to hot-wire Kia and Hyundai cars with a USB cord and a screwdriver. This has led to many vehicles being stolen and resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities countrywide.  You can find more information from this CBS news article.

These car manufacturers are working on software updates for the vulnerable vehicles, but in the meantime, the NLCRPD is hosting an event to distribute 320 wheel locks free of charge to any Lancaster County KIA or Hyundai vehicle owner. The NLCRPD has asked if local agencies to share the information about this giveaway to our insureds. 

Anyone desiring one of these free wheel locks need only to show some proof of ownership of a Kia or Hyundai vehicle such as the registration card or proof of insurance. 

Questions can be directed to Officer Tod Neifert, Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department at 717-664-5909 (Office), 717-733-0965 (Station), or NeifertT@nlcrpd.org.

Are you stuck at home wondering what to do with all of your free time? Can You Name Every Item in Your Home?

Most people don't think about the many items they have collected over the years. Items are used every day, but often never thought about. Many items are replaced throughout the years, but no thought is given to the increased value of inventory. Creating and maintaining an inventory of items in your home can help ensure you have purchased the right insurance coverage. In the event of a loss, it can help you settle a claim faster, and put less strain on your brain in an already stressful situation.

How do You Create Your Home Inventory?

Creating and maintaining your home inventory is easy with available software. Now you can download apps right on your phone to create, maintain, and update your inventory. Having online storage will allow you to access your inventory anywhere, any time. You never know when a claim may happen, but you can be prepared with an up-to-date online home inventory.

What Should You Include in Your Home Inventory?

You should take inventory of everything of value in your home, and update the list as you acquire new items. Here is a list of some of the most common items:

• Electronics (TV, Gaming Console, Computer)
• Kitchen and Household Appliances (Washer/Dryer, Microwave, Oven, Refrigerator)
• Furniture
• Clothing
• Jewelry
• China
• Silverware
• Artwork
• Antiques
• Linens
• Books
• Guns
• Sporting Equipment

Some items like jewelry, antiques, and other special items, may need to be insured separately. Talk to one of the specially trained independent agents at Rutt Insurance to make sure you have the coverage that you need.

Security Tips for Remote Workers

As more employees work from home, basic security measures need to be taken to protect the individual and enterprise from cyber criminals who are taking advantage of lax telework security practices. The National Cyber Security Alliance offers these tips: Think Before You Click. Cyber criminals are taking advantage of people seeking information on COVID-19. They are distributing malware campaigns that impersonate organizations like WHO, CDC, and other reputable sources by asking you to click on links or download outbreak maps. Slow down. Don't click. Go directly to a reputable website to access the content.

Lock Down Your Login. Create long and unique passphrases for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. MFA will fortify your online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics or a unique one-time code sent to your phone or mobile device. 

Connect to a secure network and use a company-issued Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access any work accounts. Home routers should be updated to the most current software and secured with a lengthy, unique passphrase. Employees should not be connecting to public WiFi to access work accounts unless using a VPN.

Separate your network so your company devices are on their own WiFi network, and your personal devices are on their own. Keep devices with you at all times or stored in a secure location when not in use. Set auto log-out if you walk away from your computer and forget to log out.

Use company-approved/vetted devices and applications to collaborate and complete your tasks. Don't substitute your preferred tools with ones that have been vetted by the company's security team. 

Update your software. Before connecting to your corporate network, be sure that all internet-connected devices ‒including PCs, smartphones and tablets ‒ are running the most current versions of software. Updates include important changes that improve the performance and security of your devices.

Source: staysafeonline.org

Day 1

Here are three tactics that can help with ice dams: 

• Blow in cold air. If the leak is clearly ice dam related, get into the attic and place a box fan under the leaking area. This can help cool the area down, re-freezing the water and stopping the leak.
• Use a roof rake (carefully!) A long handled roof rake, used from the ground while standing safely out of the way of any falling snow, can pull snow off the roof and remove the hazard.
• Targeted ice melting. Another option is to deliver a targeted dose of ice melt right at the location of the ice dam (and the leak). Fill a semi-porous material (pantyhose work nicely) with ice melt (not salt) and place it perpendicular to the ice dam, crossing over it and overhanging the gutter. This ice melt will eventually melt the ice, giving the trapped water a way to run off.

• Have mail/newspapers collected daily - have a person, neighbor, friend, or family member do this daily.
• Arrange daily checks for leaks or other maintenance issues. Spotting any issues early – and within a certain window of time from their start – will be a great help.
• Ensure that the check-ins are documented. The best way to do that is to use a cellphone camera to take photos or videos of the property. It’s important to document visits even if everything looks normal. If something breaks tomorrow, it can be vital to show it wasn’t broken today.

A week or so before leaving:

• Connect a few lights to a timer and set them to go on every day after dark. This will keep the property from being totally dark – a sure giveaway that no one is home.
• Don’t close blinds and shutters or install new perimeter lighting. Changes like these make it obvious that a property will soon be unattended, which can make it a target.

Right before leaving:

• Turn the heat down to no lower than 55 degrees. Don’t turn it completely off during the winter; as the temperature drops, the risk of frozen pipes goes up dramatically.
• Lock the house. That includes pet doors, garage doors, and windows that might normally be left open.
• Throw away any perishables if the trip is planned to last more than 3 days or so. It’s no fun to come back to a rotting mess in the fridge!

• When the storm arrives, stay put if possible. The best way to keep safe in a big snowstorm is to avoid exposure to the hazards entirely. Stay with supplies, sheltered inside a building, unless you find it absolutely necessary to go out.
• If planning to remove snow from the roof, be safe. Removing the weight of heavy snow from the roof can help prevent a possible roof collapse, but only if care is taken to remove that snow in a safe manner. Never step out onto a roof covered in snow; instead, use a snow removal roof rake.
• Heat the home safely. Read and understand all instructions for heaters and other sources of warmth. Make sure that no heat source is ever too close to anything flammable. Never leave a fireplace or other open flame burning unattended.

• Have the fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected once a year. This step is important whether the fireplace sees regular use, or burns just once a year.
• Keep the area around the fireplace clean. This area needs to be free of debris, especially anything flammable. The walls and floors around the fireplace should made of (or covered with) a fire-resistant material like stone or metal.
• Keep the mesh screen closed at all times. The mesh screen helps keep embers from escaping the fireplace and causing a fire hazard. If a fireplace does not have a mesh screen, buy one and use it.

The holidays are about many different things, but for a lot of people, food is one key ingredient that makes the season special. But when it comes to cooking food - and especially some of the hearty dishes that we often see in winter - it's important to do so safely. In particular, it's key to know how to handle a grease fire if one should start.

Grease Fire Dos

• Put on oven mitts for hand protection.
• Eliminate the heat source by turning off the stove or grill.
• If possible, put out the fire with an extinguisher.
• If no extinguisher is available, cover the pan with a lid. If it’s a grill, shut the lid.
• As a last resort, cut off the fire’s oxygen supply by smothering it with baking soda or salt.

Grease Fire Don’ts

• NEVER throw water on a grease fire. It will actually splash and spread the flames, making a fire harder to control.

• NEVER use flour or sugar to smother a fire. Rather than helping put out the flames, these can actually cause a powder explosion and do even more damage

Today we're going to take a quick trip back to a topic we've already discussed: ice dams. Today we'll look at what can be done to prevent ice dams, rather than dealing with spotting and removing them after they've formed. The key to preventing them in the first place is to get temperatures even across the entire roof - rather than warmer inside and colder on the eaves. 

• Insulate the attic. Insulation keeps hot air from rising up and heating the roof.
• Ventilate appropriately. Make sure that ridge and soffit vents are placed appropriately, and make sure that baffles are installed at the eaves to keep the airflow path clear.
• Seal lights, hatches, and ductwork. All those little things in the attic give off heat! Make sure they’re appropriately weatherstripped, sealed, and insulated.