If you’re like many people your closets are overstuffed.  Besides creating a hazard this can make it next to impossible to find anything that you really need.  Cleaning out your closet, however, can be a massive undertaking that can take weeks.  Instead of trying to tackle the whole project at once, try these tips to organize just a small part everyday until you’re done.

1. Start on the floor.  Clearing the floor will allow the doors to close and give you the room to reach the upper shelves safely.  Since larger items are usually kept down here, it will be easier to clear out the smaller stuff.
2. Assign a place for everything.  Think about what you want to store in the closet, then use sticky notes to label where everything should go.  As you work over the coming days, you’ll have the notes to remind you of your plan.
3. Group like items in baskets.  Filling a basket with smaller items will keep a small part of the closet organized.  Be sure to label the basket so that everyone else in your house knows what belongs there.
4. Clear one day, organize the next. If you separate the purging and organizing, you’ll be able to better judge what you need to get rid of.  By alternating days, you’ll be able to get rid of stuff one day, then re-evaluate your space needs on the next.

As you’re cleaning out your closets, you’ll probably come across some things you forgot you had, and get rid of a lot of stuff.  That means that you’ll need to change your insurance policy.  Call the agents at Advantage Insurance Network to make sure that your homeowner’s or renter’s policy is up to date.

There are so many things that need to be done when you think of spring cleaning. To make the process more manageable, you need a checklist. This is a checklist of some of the things that can easily be overlooked when you are spring cleaning.

Waxing and Polishing

• Wax Floors: Whether your floors are wood, vinyl, linoleum, tile, or stone, there is a type of wax that you can use to bring out the shine and make them easier to clean. Just make sure you get the correct kind for your floors.
• Wood Furniture: You would furniture should also get a good waxing or at the very least a good polishing.
• Polish Metal: Polish doorknobs and handles, kitchen hardware, and any other metal items in your home. This small detail will make your house look cleaner.
• Dust everything: Don’t forget to dust your entire home. This includes ceilings and walls, ceiling fans, window casings, and on top of your refrigerator.

Windows

• Clean your window glass. If they are really dirty, getting ammonia and mixing it with water can be effective. This allows you to control the concentration. It has a strong chemical smell, so you should only use it in a well-ventilated area.
• Wash window panes, trim, and screens with soapy water.
• Take down your curtains and wash them. Check the tag to see if they are machine washable. 
• If you have blinds, take them down and wash them in the bathtub.

Walls

• Wash your walls with soap and water or an all-purpose cleaner. If you use a cleaner, test a small spot first to make sure it is safe.
• Take down and clean your pictures.

Sping Cleaning is a great way to take care of your home, but you should also protect your investment with insurance. If you need homeowners insurance, get a free quote from Advantage Insurance Network.

 

There are far too many people who believe a natural disaster will never impact the Cincinnati, OH area in such a way that it will disrupt or devastate their lives. As a result, they often don’t create an emergency disaster plan for their home or family. The fact is, you can never predict what will happen and being prepared is the only way to make sure you and your family will come through the situation safely.

Inability to contact help

Regardless of if you are facing a blizzard, flood or strong thunderstorm, being able to call for help in these situations is essential. It is a good idea to purchase communication equipment that will work during bad weather. There are a number of devices available and without them you may not be able to receive the help you need during the time of emergency.

Inability to rebuild your life

Another consequence you may face if you fail to plan for a disaster is the inability to rebuild your home and life. Things such as insurance will provide you the ability to rebuild your life if disaster strikes. Without proper coverage you will not be able to rebuild after a disaster. This is why it is essential to purchase quality insurance coverage.

Your home and your family need to be protected. If you fail to see to this protection you may not know where to begin after disaster strikes. While being prepared takes work, it will be well worth it in the long run.

If you want to ensure you and your home is protected, then be sure to find home insurance through Advantage Insurance Network. This will ensure you are protected and ready to weather the storm, regardless of what may come your way. 

 

You always hear about ways to be prepared for when the power goes out, but very few times are these preparation tips actually shared. Below you will find five tips that will help you if you lose power so that you can last for hours or even days.

Have Flashlights

When the power goes out, you aren’t going to be able to turn on lights. This is why it’s a good idea to have flashlights as well as backup batteries. Everyone in your home should be able to have their own flashlight so that they can safely move from room to room.

Have a Means of Heating up Water

Water needs to be heated up for purification, sanitation, and even doing laundry. Since you cannot use your electric stove, you may want to think about an outdoor rocket stove, a solar oven, or even a gas grill.

Stock the Pantry

Stock the pantry with items that don’t need to be heated. You want to choose high protein items that your entire family will enjoy. Jerky, Spam, protein shakes, peanut butter, granola bars, and other items are all good choices.

Freeze Water Bottles

Keep bottles of water frozen in your freezer at all times. If the power goes out, these can help to maintain the temperature for longer so that your food doesn’t spoil.

Purchase the Necessities

Various necessity should be purchased so that you always have them available – such as an emergency radio, a solar charger for your cell phone, and battery-powered fans.

At Advantage Insurance Network we are here to help you stay safe within your home in Cincinnati. Call now and one of our friendly agents can guide you through the process of purchasing the right policy, including getting quotes from some of the best insurance company that issue policies in Ohio.

 

 

Having a business in Cincinnati that is in your home requires specific types of insurance. While you likely have a homeowner’s insurance policy, this coverage is likely not going to extend to your business. This means it is important to know about the coverage that is available so that you can build the best possible policy.

Business property coverage: this is the kind of coverage that can protect against computer and merchandise loss, as well as any other property that is business related.

General liability coverage: liability is important because you may have clients visiting you at your home. This kind of coverage can provide protection against lawsuits, particularly claims of negligence, injuries, and more.

Employment practices liability coverage: this kind of coverage is needed when you start to hire employees. It can provide coverage in the event of facing allegations for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and other issues.

Business interruption coverage: your business may be interrupted as a result of cover losses, such as fires or tornadoes. This coverage can provide business income throughout the interim so that you are not facing a complete financial loss.

Running a business out of your home is just like driving a business car around. Even though you have auto insurance, it is not necessarily going to provide full coverage because you are using it for business, not for pleasure. Your home is not being used solely for living – you are operating a business.

Call us at the Advantage Insurance Network today to learn what kind of business is needed for your home-based business, based upon what is unique to you as a homeowner and business owner. We will work to help you get the most affordable premiums and provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have sufficient coverage.

 

 

When your kids are at home in the wintertime of Cincinnati, it’s important to know more about the indoor fun you can have. Knowing some of the activities that are fun can ensure no one gets bored and starts to complain. There are quite a few ways to have fun, even when cooped up indoors.

Create a Board Game

Forget about the same boring board games that the kids have been playing forever. Instead, let them create a new game to play – and they can borrow from some of the games you may already have.

Make Salt Dough

Whip up a batch of salt dough using salt, flour, water, and oil. It can be colored and formed so kids can create an array of statues, figurines, ornaments, and more. Most recipes even allow you to bake the goodies so they never have to go back into a baggie or can.

Write a Story

Let the kids run wild with their imaginations and write a story. Each kid can write their own or you can suggest that they collaborate on one. It can be a great way to keep them busy for hours, especially if you encourage them to illustrate the entire story as well. You may end up with a new holiday tradition at the end of this winter.

Have a Dance Party

Many times, kids get restless and therefore you need some way of making sure they get some exercise. A dance party kills two birds with one stone because they get their exercise and they have fun in the process. Invite some kids over, crank up the music, and let them go to it.

At Advantage Insurance Network we’re prepared to help you find homeowner’s insurance in Ohio. Call today and learn about the different coverage options, and more.

 

 

When you live in Cincinnati, it is important to follow a variety of car care tips throughout the year. In the fall especially, there is colder weather and various things you may need to be concerned about. The weather may bring snow, ice, and various other issues on the road. Following a few tips can ensure that you and your car are able to proceed.

Check the Battery

The battery should be checked before the weather gets too cold. Your battery is not going to deal with the cold weather very well and therefore connections need to be tight, clean, and corrosion free.

Inspect the Tires

Inspect the tires for tread depth as well as tire pressure. This will have a significant impact on your ability to drive down the roads, especially as weather gets worse. A gauge should always be kept in your car so that you can check tire pressure on your own.

Schedule an HVAC Inspection

Schedule an HVAC inspection with a mechanic so that you can make sure that the heating system is working properly and that your defroster is capable of clearing the windows.

Make Some Replacements

Now is the perfect time to replace a few things within your car. You may want to replace the cabin air filter so that you are more comfortable. The wiper blade should be replaced so that they can clear away snow, ice, and anything else that may land on your windshield. If you experience a lot of snow and ice where you are driving, specialty tires may need to be placed on your car as well, allowing you to grip the roads better.

At Advantage Insurance Network, we’re here to help you find affordable auto insurance in Cincinnati. Call today and let one of our agents guide you through the process, answering any questions you may have along the way.

 

 

 

 

Think you don’t need renters insurance? Think again! There are a variety of reasons why people don’t take out the coverage they need, but many of these ideas just aren’t true. Here are a few things to consider about renters insurance.

Your Landlord Isn’t Responsible for Your Belongings

When surveyed, most people who rent a home or apartment mistakenly believed that their landlord was responsible for their personal items in the event of a catastrophe. The truth is that the person (or company) that owns the building where you live is not responsible for your items. This means that you would have to personally pay to replace that flat screen television set you purchased last year and your grandmother’s fine china if there was a theft, fire, weather event, or some other loss scenario.

For many people, replacing every item owned would be a costly endeavor that they just could not afford to do. By having renters insurance, these items are able to be replaced much more easily and cost effectively. Furthermore, many policies even offer a provision that pays for temporary housing while your landlord fixes any damage to your dwelling that makes it impossible to live in.

Renters Insurance is Actually Quite Affordable

One of the biggest fallacies about renters insurance is that it is expensive. In fact, this is the number one reason why many tenants opt to skip this type of coverage. Most policy premiums are only a few dollars a month and many carriers offer additional discounts for pairing it with your auto policy. In fact, in some circumstances, it is actually cheaper to have auto insurance and a renters policy versus just car coverage alone.

To learn more or to receive a no-obligation quote, please contact our team at Advantage Insurance Network today.