Maybe during a casual evening cooking hot dogs on the fire, a typical Minnesota thunderstorm starts rolling through and you think, “Gosh, good thing we have insurance.” That may be true, but do you know for sure what is covered?

Generally, if your cabin gets water damage because a tree crashes through a window, your damages will be covered. However if that same thunderstorm causes the nearby river to crest and your cabin becomes flooded, those damages will probably not be covered unless you have specifically purchased separate flood insurance.

What is that same thunderstorm causes the tree to crash through your roof, instead? Most folks would be correct in thinking that insurance would cover such damage. What you may not realize at the time, however, is what will be replaced. In this case, you can expect to be covered for the replacement of your roof, minus any depreciation. So if your roof costs $5000 to replace and is 10 years old, you will be reimbursed only a portion of that money. The exact number will be spelled out in your claim documents and by your claims adjuster.

What about frozen pipes? Given the extreme weather we have in Minnesota, frozen pipes can be quite a problem. Whether or not your insurance covers this varies from carrier to carrier. Generally, you can expect the damage to be covered if you have done regular maintenance on the pipes and kept them in good repair, and the event or disaster was not anticipated and could not be prevented by your actions. Every situation is different, so if you have the unfortunate experience of your pipes freezing, it is best to contact your insurance agent immediately to explain the circumstances so you know what your options will be.

Another point to remember: Make sure for you “toys” at the cabin, your boat, jet skis, canoes, etc. have the right amount of liability insurance in case of an accident.

Owning a cabin can be your little piece of tranquility. If you currently own a cabin, or are looking at purchasing one, give us a call and we can help you find the best coverage for your budget and answer any questions that you have.

The Numbers are Disturbing:
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, an estimated 600,000 drivers use their cell phones or other smart device while driving during the day. However when it comes to distracted driving, texting is only a part of this problem. Many drivers also participate in other behaviors that are also considered just as dangerous.

Other Behaviors that are Distracting Drivers:

• Texting or Dialing
• Talking on Your Phone
• Checking Emails or Voicemail
• Eating and Drinking
• Talking to Passengers
• Changing the Radio Station and/or Volume
• Putting on Make-up or Combing Your Hair

But, You Can Multi-Task, You Say?:
The reality is that you can not multi-task when you drive. Anything that occupies your mind is taking a percentage of your concentration off of the road and will inhibit your reflexes. The few seconds that you are looking at your phone instead of the road are the same as if you have your eyes closed and possibly cause an accident.

Putting Your Best Skills (and Brain) Forward:
Although sometime distractions can not be avoided, try to use common sense the best you can. If that email to message can wait for 15 minutes, why not wait until you arrive safely at your destination to read it and reply. If you feel it is an urgent matter that needs your attention quickly, then safely find a parking lot, gas station or perhaps some other area that you can drive to and park. This way, you can give the message the attention it needs without sacrificing your safety or the safely of others on the road.

Do You Have Additional Questions?
Please feel free to give us a call to discuss your insurance needs: 651-739-9684!

Do Research Before Purchasing a Car:

Already Own Your Vehicle? …Reduce Your Coverage or Increase Your Deductible:
If you have owned your vehicle for any length of time, consider lowering the coverage to help with costs. Find out it’s current value to see whether or not you still need to be using the high amount as a figure for your actual coverage.

If you can afford it, consider a higher deductible to save some cash. Even increasing your amount by $200 can really impact your insurance premium. If you elect for an even higher amount, be sure that you have enough money saved in the event that you are in an accident and need to have your vehicle repaired. The deductible is the amount of money that you must pay up front before the insurance coverage kicks in for repairs.

Do Some More Shopping:
Get at least three quotes from different companies. If you have note shopped for auto insurance recently, you will be quite surprised how drastically prices can vary.

It can be beneficial to talk to friends and family for their recommendations. They may have some insight and invaluable information about a company that you are researching for insurance quotes.

Be aware that insurance companies sell their products several different ways. Some companies sell their insurance only through their agents, so you are better off in dealing with an independent insurance agency such as Lindeman Insurance. They can offer you policies from several companies, giving you the best options for your particular needs.

Do Some Bundling to Save More:
Are you already paying for Homeowner’s Insurance? Check with your current insurance agent and see if you can get a lower auto insurance rate if you bundle it with your home insurance. Many companies offer these types of programs so it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Are You a Senior?
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers an 8-hour class to people 55 years of age or older. It is designed to help individuals improve their driving skills. By taking this course, you can save money on your car insurance premiums and become a better driver! Minnesota law requires insurance companies to offer you up to a 10% reduction for three years upon completion. The course is two sessions of classroom. It includes a video, work book and class discussion – NO DRIVING AND NO TESTS. Attendance at all 8-hours is required to receive credit.

How Good is Your Credit Score?
Most insurance agencies use your credit history in preparing an insurance policy quote. Maintaining a good credit score will increase your chances of getting lower quotes prices for your insurance.

How is Your Driving?
Finally, one of the surest bets in getting the best insurance prices is by having a good driving record.

If you have any further questions, please give us a call or contact us and we will help you in any way we can!

Pool Maintenance Helpful Tips:

• Keep areas around the pool free of hazards such as loose boards, protruding nails, toys or bottles. Also check the metal and other supports for rust or deterioration making them insecure.
• Check the ladder and handrails into and out of the pool to make sure they are in working order and strong for someone grabbing and using them.
  Store your pool chemicals in a safe locked area away from easy access. Keep any and all instructions and user manuals from the manufacturer with them as well.
• Inspect the water pumps and electrical cords used to make sure they are in proper working condition and away from any water sources.
• Keep entertainment items such as speakers that have electrical cords and plugs well away the pool area.
• Make a point of regularly checking the inside liner of the pool for any wear and tear where hoses or items may have punctured through.
  Check all drains and covers for broken or missing parts.

Safety Tips for Swimming Pools:

• First and most importantly, secure your pool with a locked fence around the entire area. Use self-latching gates if possible.
• Keep life preservers, rings, rescue hook and a rope with easy access close inside the pool area itself.
• As a rule, never let anyone swim in the pool by themselves, especially children. Always have someone close by that has basic swimming and life-saving skills in the event of an emergency.
• Only allow diving in a pool that is deep enough, and keep the area of the pool that is acceptable for diving clearly indicated and marked.

If you are interested in more information about pool safely, we recommend reading from the American Red Cross: Home Pool Safety

If you would like more information about insurance for your home, please give us a call at: 651-739-9684 or visit: https://www.lindemaninsurance.com

There are some great benefits with driving a motorcycle, including spending less for gas and the ease of finding great parking close to your destination, however driving a motorcycle is entirely different than driving a car. There are different skills as well as new rules and regulations. If you are considering purchasing a new bike, you need to do a little bit of homework in advance. Let us at Lindeman Insurance help you figure out if motorcycle ownership is the right decision for you.

First, are You Physically in the Right Condition?

Motorcycles are often missed by regular drivers in blind spots. As a motorcycle driver, good vision is essential. Riding also requires you to have good coordination and balance. Being aware of the other drivers around you, along with road and weather conditions are much more important to your safety. A motorcycle does not give you the same protection in an accident than an automobile does. A wrong decision in calculations of your bike or the conditions around you can mean whether or not you survive.

Secondly, are You in the right Mental Condition?

Take a look at your current driving habits. Do you talk or text on your cell phone while driving? Are you a bit aggressive towards other drivers at times? These statements may sound harsh, however if you are someone who tends to take these type of risks, than bike ownership is probably not for you. Driving a motorcycle requires extreme caution and focus at all times to be safety-minded.

Third, are You Willing to Invest in the Time and Money for Good Safely Habits?

In additional to the cost of the bike, you should be willing to spend money on other items such as a proper protective helmet and safety gear. You should learn about maintaining the motorcycle properly, and invest in a respected safety training class before venturing out on the road.

If you feel that you can commit to these points, have a good understanding of what is involved with motorcycle ownership, and still feel that it is a good fit – give us a call. We can discuss your options for motorcycle insurance as well as suggestions for safety classes and instructions.

Here are other resources for motorcycle safety:

• Motorcycle Safety Foundation: http://www.msf-usa.org
• SMARTER: http://www.smarter-usa.org
• Safeco Insurance motorcycle page: http://www.safeco.com/motorcycle-insurance/do-more

We understand when severe weather happens, it can have a devastating effect on families as well as a whole neighborhood and communities. This is when even small things can really mean a lot. Call us to discuss your particular questions and insurance needs.

Research shows that most homes are in fact under insured, leaving the owner at extreme risk in the unlucky event that severe weather causes home damage. Many houses may be short at much as 20%.

Do a Home Insurance Check Up:

To research whether or not your home has the proper amount of insurance coverage, you need to know the actual replacement cost. Don’t rely on the various web sites on the interest to be accurate, as many of them are not. Your best bet is to contact your agent and have them figure out the correct figures for you.

Make sure your home is listed correctly on your policy including the accurate square footage, type of flooring that is listed, as well as the age of the home itself. If you have done any remodeling on your home, make sure that these are recorded and reflected correctly.

Educate yourself on what is exactly covered, and just as important, what is not covered in your policy. Most of these contracts do not include flood damage, so if you live on a flood plain, or simply wish to be covered in the event of a flood, you will most likely have to purchase this type of supplemental coverage.

If you are concerned with the dollar amounts that will be covered in the event of weather damage and need to file a claim, you can ask your agent about purchasing extended coverage.

Once you have gone through these steps for a home insurance health check up, put a reminder on your calendar to do this again every couple of years. There are also things that may change and it is a good idea to know that you have done your home work and are comfortable with the home insurance coverage that you are paying for.

If you are like most people, automobile problems never occur at a convenient time. If you do have issues, you probably don’t always have the proper equipment to get yourself back moving on the road again.

Spending a few dollars a month for a emergency roadside assistance type option on your insurance policy may just be the extra piece of mind that you are looking for.

You may think that this is something extra that you are paying for that you won’t use. However, it only takes one time having a flat tire, or your battery won’t start one early morning as you are taking the kids to school and call for roadside assistance. At that moment you actually realize how valuable of a service it really is.

So What Do Roadside Assistance Options Typically Cover?

This option does vary by your insurance, so be sure to check with your agent as to the particulars of your policy:

• Flat Tires: As mentioned above, there is never a good time for a flat tire. Having a professional do the job not only assures that your replacement tire is put one properly, but you may be located in a dangerous location with traffic.
• Battery Jump: Especially living in our Minnesota winters, perhaps you don’t have jumper cables available, or you are not sure of how to handle them. Having a professional jump your vehicle is not only the smart choice, but the safest one.
• Out of Gas: It has happened to all of us at one time or another in our lifetime. Sometimes it may not be because we forgot to refuel, but because of a malfunction with the computer or gas gauge itself.
• Lock Outs: Most of these services offer some sort of locksmith service, which can be very handy when you have misplaced your keys or the key fob malfunctions. This is much more convenient, and less embarrassing than having to call the local police for help.

If you are interested in more information about roadside assistance programs, or would like to inquire about adding it to your current insurance policy, give us a call at 651-739-9684 and we will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.

Spending the holidays with friends and family is a great time to appreciate the aspects of life that come without a price tag. But now as we enter the New Year, it might just be the perfect time to take stock of your material possessions.

Did you get a great gift for the holidays? Maybe a diamond ring, a new musical instrument, or a beautiful watch? All of these items should be insured, and just as importantly, added to your home inventory list.

What is a home inventory list, you ask? Once created, it will be the most valuable item in your house.

The first step is to write down every item in your house that you would want and expect to be covered by your insurance. This list should include your computers, TVs, jewelry, antiques, china, art, furniture, gardening equipment, tools and many other things. Include serial numbers if you have them, and take pictures of each item. Mark down the item’s condition, and how much you paid for it (including a receipt image would be ideal).

Another way to approach the home inventory list is to create a home inventory video. Videotape all of the valuable items in your home, making sure to zoom in on the smaller items. You should still document, whether by video or in an accompanying report, their serial numbers and other identifying markers.

The more specificity you include, the more likely you’ll be able to get a claim filed quickly, and at the right amount, should anything ever happen to your stuff.

In addition, there are several Home Inventory software programs available. However you choose to make your list, it’s important to back-up this information and store it in a secure offsite storage facility, just in case your home is severely damaged.

This is an opportunity to learn the real value of your items, especially art and jewelry, and serves as a reminder to get them appraised often. The value of these types of items can go up over time, so you should also make sure they are insured for the right amount. Be sure to check with your agent that your policy covers all your belongings, even the most personal and valuable items.

Contact Us!

At Lindeman Insurance Agency, Inc., we can work with you to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (651) 739-9684 or send us a note at info@lindemaninsurance.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what’s important to you is protected!

Content provided by Safeco Insurance®

Check all your holiday lights and extension cords carefully: Decorative lights are the cause of many Christmas free fires. Always inspect your lights and cords, especially old ones that have been packed away for a year or maybe more. Also, don’t overwhelm any outlets with too many plugs – buy extra power strips if you are not sure as it is always better safe than to come home to an electrical fire that could have easily been prevented.

Check your roof to prevent ice dams: Ice dams form during the winter when heat from your house rises up into the attic area while the outer edges remain cold. If you have snow on the roof the rising heat melts the snow which drips and then refreezes. If you like you can read more basic tips for preventing ice dams.

Take steps for avoid frozen pipes: When our temperatures drop, water left in pipes can freeze and eventually burst, causing a lot of damage that can be very messy as well as costly. Be sure to winterize your home by draining outside pipes, pool lines and sprinkler hoses. Unheated outside buildings such as tool sheds should also have proper insulation on all water pipes. You can read more helpful information about frozen pipes.

Don’t put those beautiful wrapped gifts in highly exposed areas: Nothing is more helpful for an opportunist thief than to advertise your beautiful large wrapped packages. Keep gifts away from windows and away from doorways where they can easily be noticed.

Don’t toss large gift boxes on the side of you recycling bin (This is probably one of the best tips you will read): After all the gifts have been opened, take the extra time and be sure to destroy or break-down any large boxes from electronics, especially large ones like from a new flat screen tv and dispose of them inside of your garbage can. Nothing is easier for a potential burglar than to drive around your neighborhood simply to spot recycle bins with a large sign announcing that you just got a “brand new 60 inch television, so come one in.”

Some of these tips may take you a little extra time, however the payoff is immeasurable compared to the aggravation and money you may save yourself during this holiday season.