New Jersey homeowners who want to live more sustainably have many options: conserving water, using energy efficient appliances and using renewable energy are all good ways to start going green. As a bonus, viewed from a financial perspective most green alternatives are less expensive to run than the traditional devices that they replace. Installation of some facilities like solar panels may attract state and federal subsidies, and installing solar powered intruder lights may be considered by an insurer to be a security enhancement. Homes with good quality security features may qualify the householder for reduced New Jersey homeowners insurance premiums.

Here are a few of the ways you can make a difference to the amount of energy your household consumes.

• Install solar outdoor lights – solar lighting uses electricity generated during hours of sunlight and stored in a battery ready for use after sundown.
• Use energy efficient light fittings such as low wattage compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Conserve water when washing dishes.
• Choose energy efficient Energy Star appliances when replacing electrical equipment.
• Avoid using clothes dryers in warm weather. Dry clothes naturally in the fresh air and sunshine.

Going green doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” thing: starting to conserve water and electricity are steps in the right direction and are infinitely preferable to doing nothing. Don’t forget to speak to your agent or insurer about New Jersey homeowners insurance products that may interest the environmentally conscious home owner.
 

*

Tis the Season for Holiday Parties… and Food Poisoning

Make sure you’re protected through your NJ homeowner’s insurance

The fall and winter holidays are just about here, which means cooking that Thanksgiving turkey, then stringing up the lights, and eventually dashing through the snow. The holidays also mean lots of fun, festive parties to celebrate the season. These celebrations usually feature an array of delectable foods and tasty drinks that are not only dangerous to your waistline, but if you’re hosting a party, you have more to worry about than added pounds or lumpy gravy.
 
According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated one in six people in the United States come down with food poisoning every year. And whether you’re preparing the food and drinks for your party yourself or purchasing them, you could be liable if your party guests get sick. Food poisoning doesn’t just happen to bad cooks either. Foods, such as bagged spinach — that’s supposedly pre-washed and ready to eat — can contain E. coli, which is undetectable to even the most well trained chef.
 
Fortunately, most homeowner’s insurance policies cover food poisoning situations in which your guests incur medical expenses or endure “pain and suffering” (i.e. missing work because they’re hovering over a toilet bowl). There are limits to both of these coverages and intentional poisoning is not covered (so don’t try slipping something into your pesky aunt’s pumpkin pie), but most policies provide protection from unintentional food-borne illness.
 
The best way to avoid a food-poisoning claim is to take the proper precautions when preparing your holiday fare. Here are some tips to ensure your guests leave with leftovers and fond memories, and not food poisoning.
 
1. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or poultry.
2. Use an anti-bacterial cleaner to wipe down any surfaces, including counters and cutting boards, that come into contact with raw meat or poultry.
3. Check the expiration date on foods before using them to cook or offering them to guests.
4. Wash all produce, even the kind that’s “pre-washed,” before using it.
5. Avoid cross-contamination by using separate utensils to stir raw and cooked food.
6. Make sure all foods are cooked to the appropriate temperature. This rule doesn’t apply to just meat and poultry either. Eggs, seafood, and even potatoes can cause illness if they are undercooked.
7. Don’t leave foods that require refrigeration or freezing out for more than two hours.
8. When in doubt, throw it out. If you’re unsure about any food – raw or cooked, prepared or homemade – don’t use it.
 
If you have questions about whether your homeowner’s policy covers food poisoning or any other party-related risk, any of us at the Bogle Agency will be happy to answer your policy questions. We can be reached through our state-of-the-art website at:  www.bogleagency.com, or by calling us at 201-939-1076, or toll free at 1-877-453-7358.

We hope you enjoy a safe and enjoyable holiday season and be sure to look for other safety tips and even some tried-and-true recipes to delight your guests on on Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bogle-Agency-Insurance/171280236234707

Many homeowners in New Jersey are choosing to rent out their homes rather than sell at a loss. Before you turn the family home into a rental property you may need to inform your local authority, mortgage lender, and New Jersey homeowners insurance provider about your plans to rent out your house. You may also want to consider making a few cosmetic changes that could attract tenants who are prepared to pay you a higher rent.

Stand across the street from your house and try to see it from a stranger’s perspective. Does the paintwork look dusty, is the garden overgrown, or is the gate hanging off its hinges? Things like these are the first impressions your house gives, so it’s important to attend to any weak spots in the presentation of your home. Doing this may not require you to spend a lot on paint or repairs; for example, if paintwork is looking tired, you may be able to bring back its sparkle by cleaning with a pressure hose.

Next, look at each room in the house and consider what you can do to improve its appearance without breaking the bank.

• Inexpensive new light fittings in a bathroom or kitchen can give an impression of spaciousness.
• A coat of paint can transform kitchen cupboard doors. (You can even paint over melamine if you first apply a spray treatment to the smooth surface.)
• Freshen up tired-looking wall surfaces by washing down with sugar soap.

Simple cosmetic changes like these have the potential to transform your home’s appearance and appeal. Having made these changes and spoken to you agent about any necessary changes to your New Jersey homeowners insurance arrangements, you’ll be ready to start advertising your home as a highly desirable rental property.
 

*

Having a blocked sewer line is an unpleasant experience that is very disruptive to your daily life; it can also be costly to fix.  New Jersey homeowners insurance may compensate you for the cost of drain repairs in some circumstances, but the best way to avoid a blocked sewer is to be careful about what you put down the drain.

A simple way of preventing insoluble materials from getting into your drains is to fit strainers over drains in your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to catch food, hair, and other debris that could clog a drain.

Hardware stores sell chemicals that can be used to clear drains, but with a little care you can avoid such measures. For a more gentle approach:

• Pour hot water down your drains regularly. Running hot water down the drains helps to melt oil or grease that could clog drains.
• Use lemon juice to neutralize odors. Lemon juice helps to neutralize any bad smells, but remember to use only juice; slices of lemon will clog the drain.
• Help your drains flow more freely. Use a sink plunger to loosen debris that may be collecting in the drain. Mild clogs might be cleared by putting a few tablespoons of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) down the drain followed by a cupful of white vinegar; the soda and vinegar react together to disperse particles clogging the drain.

A little gentle treatment has got to be better than using harsh caustic substances to clear your drains. Even better, prevent unwanted waste from getting into your drain and avoid the disruption of major sewer blockages and the drama of related New Jersey homeowners insurance claims.
 

*

The whole of the East Coast of the United States is vulnerable to storms that come in from the Atlantic Ocean, and homes in the densely populated states along the Atlantic seaboard are at risk of severe damage from wind storm. The home and contents portion of a standard New Jersey homeowners insurance policy may provide some financial against losses resulting from wind storm and other disasters.

New Jersey is one of the 18 states where special hurricane deductibles apply. These deductibles were established with the aim of making insurance coverage more accessible in high-risk areas without driving up premiums in areas that are less vulnerable to hurricane damage. Hurricane deductibles are usually expressed as a proportion (typically between 1 and 5 percent) of a home’s insured value. This means that a policy holder whose home is insured for $200,000 and has a 3% deductible pays for the first $6,000 of hurricane damage. 

Purchasing insurance protection for wind damage is a sensible precaution. Safety authorities recommend that residents of regions that are vulnerable to severe wind storms take steps to protect their properties from damage. Your home is better able to survive a wind storm if you have added a layer of protection to keep out wind and water, so consider installing storm shutters and reinforced garage doors.

Make sure that you understand how your percentage deductibles for wind storm damage in New Jersey differ from the dollar deductibles for other losses such as burglary and fire. Talk to your insurer or agency if you’re unsure how your New Jersey homeowners insurance policy protects you.

Announcing the Return of Bogle “Refer A Friend” Rewards

Refer a friend to our agency and get a complimentary gift card!

Here at the Bogle Agency, we’re looking for new business, and we are willing to pay you to help! 

If you refer a friend, who activates a new personal or commercial policy with us any time in November, we will send you a $25 Visa Gift Card as a reward. It’s that simple, but there will be a limit of one reward per household, and it must be on a new policy, not a renewal or existing policy. 

This is just our way of saying Thank You to the best clients in the business and we hope you’ll share that opinion with your family and friends.

To claim your reward, just make sure your friend mentions this program when they call the office for a quote at 201-939-1076 or 1-877-453-7358.  They can also e-mail us at: jrotonda@bogleagency.com or send us a message via Facebook on our Fan Page, and while you’re there, make sure to LIKE us too!

At Bogle, we strive to give our clients the best possible service at the best possible price.  That’s what we’re here for, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you!