Month: May 2019

Do you have an important company event coming up? Whether it’s a company anniversary picnic, fundraiser, conference or reception, you can be opening your business up to specific liability exposures when hosting a corporate event. There is a type of liability insurance specifically designed to cover this exposure. It is called event liability insurance or special event insurance.

Even though you want your event to go off without a hitch—you know accidents are bound to happen. A speaker can fall off a podium; special lighting can fall and injure event attendees; or a fight could even break out among your guests. Although it may seem unlikely to you, any of these unfortunate mishaps and more can occur at your company event. (We all have heard some crazy office holiday party stories and you may have a few of our own to tell!)

Event liability insurance covers you for these types of bodily injuries or property damage that can happen to third parties who are attending your event. This is a relatively inexpensive coverage and it allows you to host your event with peace of mind. Just one thing—you must purchase event liability insurance in advance of your company function.

Another consideration for a small business that does not have general liability coverage: many venues will not allow you to use the venue without liability insurance. This is where an event liability insurance policy can help. You certainly don’t want to pay for any claims out of your own pocket.

In some cases, you can even have a cancellation clause written into an event liability insurance policy that covers your losses (lost revenue, lost deposits, etc.) if the event has to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances such as a weather event or a key performer declining to show up at the last minute.

If your company is planning a special event, we’ll be glad to discuss your event liability insurance options. http://test.social5.net/

In the market for a new home? Purchasing a home is definitely something we don’t do every day. So it’s easy to make mistakes, and when it comes to home buying, mistakes can be costly. Here are some of the most common errors made by first-time buyers, as well as those who already have purchased a home or two before.

Shopping before getting pre-approved. Pre-approval is essentially a commitment from a mortgage company to provide you with a home loan up to a certain level based on your financial circumstances. Without consulting with a mortgage company first, you aren’t going to know how much house you can afford. And if you find a home you want to buy, most sellers today may disregard offers from buyers who aren’t pre-approved by a mortgage company. Get pre-approved before you start looking at homes.

Looking for homes on your own. Don’t go it alone. You’ll want the experience and knowledge of a real estate agent on your side. An agent can provide another perspective on the home you are thinking about buying and help you avoid common home-buying mistakes.

Using up all your cash on a down payment. Many buyers want to put as much as possible down on their home purchase to lower their monthly payment and/or to reduce or eliminate mortgage insurance premiums. Just make sure you have enough cash remaining for unexpected expenses after you’ve bought your home.

Skipping the home inspection. Never (ever) skip a home inspection when buying a home, if at all possible. A quality home inspection can reveal critical information about a home’s condition you’ll want to know before you sign on the dotted line.

Buying things. Hold off on purchases of items such as furniture before you complete your home purchase. Your home loan pre-approval is dependent on your current financial situation. This isn’t the time to be adding more financial obligations or draining your savings account.

When it comes to putting a home on the market, are you ready to put your best foot forward? Many homeowners think they have to spend a fortune to make their properties more inviting to home buyers. Not true! In fact, two of the most important things you can do before you list your home don’t cost much at all.

The No. 1 pre-selling task? De-cluttering. Getting rid of the clutter is so important because home buyers are turned off by it. Broken toys, piles of magazines, books and mail, lots of knick-knacks and crowded countertops — they all detract from the ability of a buyer to envision themselves in your home. And don’t neglect the areas behind closed doors! Go through your closets and shelves. Home buyers look in there. This is a great time to haul out the dumpster and get a load ready to donate to a worthy cause. But if you can’t bear to part with all your stuff, renting a storage unit can be a great way to go.

After you’ve de-cluttered, it’s time for a big cleaning. That means baseboards, walls, the inside of your refrigerator and especially your bathrooms. Steam clean the carpets. Clean and polish wood furniture. Make sure to have your windows cleaned. Home buyers form opinions about dirty homes, windows included, and it isn’t a good one.

Don’t forget to clean the outside of your home. When was the last time you cleaned your front door? If you aren’t raking up leaves and keeping your yard clean and tidy, prospective home buyers may wonder whether you are keeping up with routine maintenance and repair of your property. You’ll want to make sure your entryway is clear and creates a warm, inviting feel for prospective buyers.