You’re going on vacation and renting a beautiful property for the week. You’re not expecting anything to go wrong, but what happens if something does? What if you break something, or if you get injured? What if your stuff gets damaged or stolen?
Read on to find out the answers to common questions about insurance coverage for vacation rentals. Knowing what to expect before your vacation will help you make sure you’re covered.
What if something happens to my stuff?
You went out to dinner and came home to find your stuff stolen—a vacation surprise no one would want. Fortunately, your homeowner’s policy or a renter’s policy (at your permanent residence) can help. Your policy will cover your property for 16 named perils or occurrences (i.e. fire, theft, explosion) subject to special limits. However, if your property is damaged because you dropped it or your child spilled juice on it, there is no coverage.
Personal property coverage is that part of your policy that protects your possessions. If they are stolen, or damaged by fire/smoke or other covered “perils” anywhere in the world, your policy will pay for them. That’s true whether your belongings are at your primary home, in your car, or with you on vacation. There are dollar limits for certain items such as money, jewelry, and firearms, so check with your insurer. For personal property coverage on a homeowner’s policy, you typically get 50 or 75% of Coverage A, the total amount of coverage for your home. Renters get to choose the amount of personal property coverage.
How will you be compensated? It depends what you selected for your policy: replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV). ACV is the amount the item is worth, minus depreciation for its age. It will cost a little more for a policy that provides replacement cost since that is higher than ACV. You will get reimbursed minus the amount you have chosen for your deductible, the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company pays a claim. That’s why all of these decisions when you set up a policy are so important.
What happens if you get hurt at your vacation rental?
Maybe you were minding your own business, and preparing snacks for your day at the beach when a loose tile in the kitchen caused you to trip and fall. As a result, your vacation included a visit to Urgent Care. In this case, the owner of the rental property might reimburse you for your medical bills under Coverage F – Medical Payments To Others of their Property Policy. At California Casualty, we pay the necessary medical expenses that are incurred or medically ascertained within three years from the date of an accident. This coverage however does not involve negligence or liability. After all, the rental property owner didn’t know about the loose tile.
Pro Tip: Because the rental property owner’s policy is the one that would cover medical expenses, make sure that they have coverage.
What happens if you damage the property during your stay?
Let’s say you accidentally put a hot pan on the kitchen counter and the resulting mark doesn’t come off (oops!). You’ll need to pay for the repair. It’s the same if you place the plan there and intentionally caused the damage. The only time your homeowner’s policy will pay for a place that you rent, and do not own, is for property damage caused by fire, smoke, or explosion. Of course, it cannot be intentional.
Are you insured for vacation homes outside the country?
Your homeowner’s or renter’s personal property coverage protects your belongings when they are with you wherever they are. Similarly, your homeowner’s or renter’s liability coverage protects you from damage that you may cause to others or their property anywhere in the world.
When should you file a homeowner’s insurance claim?
If the damage is greater than your deductible, you may wish to file a claim. If it’s not, or if the difference is not much, you may to decide to pay out-of-pocket rather than going through insurance. For example, if the damage if $1,500 and your deductible is $500, you could file a claim. However, if the damage is $750 and your deductible is $500, you may decide to pay the difference. Know that filing a claim can cause your premiums to rise over time.
In addition, some vacation rentals charge a security deposit to cover any damage. Check with your prospective rental so you’ll know going in what to expect.
Finally, talk to your insurance agent and do a policy review to make sure you are fully covered for your vacation rental and other summer fun.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
If you’ve ever sat down to read a declaration page on an insurance policy, you know there’s a lot that goes into the documentation. This information is clearly important, but there’s a lot of paperwork. Do you really need to keep it all, and for how long?
Here’s a quick reference guide for your insurance paperwork, including how to organize it, store it, and for how long.
Insurance Policy
Whether you have home insurance, an auto policy, a renter’s policy, or another type of coverage, you will be issued a document that spells out the insurance coverage. This main policy document is multiple pages. It includes all the details of your policy, including coverages and limits, discounts, and endorsements. It also is a resource with definitions of insurance terms and explanations of the claims process. If you are bundling your coverages, such as with home and auto, you will have an insurance policy document for each.
You need to know the coverage that you have, but you don’t necessarily need a hard copy of your policy document. If your insurer offers digital access on their website, you can toss the paper version. Either way, you will want to keep a hard copy of the declarations page.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
This document is the summary of your coverage. Its format is easy to scan and provides a quick look at your coverage details. It’s especially useful to share with lenders who require proof of insurance if you are financing your home or car.
Keep a copy of your certificate of insurance for as long as the policy is active. It is your proof of insurance. When you renew your policy, you can throw out the old COI.
Insurance Claims Documents
Accidents happen, and things get damaged and stolen. You may file a claim with your insurance company when this happens. If your claim is for an auto policy, you will get an accident report. You also may have medical reports and bills. If your claim is for home damage or theft, you will have an inventory of damage. You also will have repair bills, receipts, and other paperwork. If it’s a third-party claim, where you caused injury or loss to another person, you will receive documentation as well.
Claims can sometimes take years, especially if medical bills are involved. As long as your claim is open, keep all of the paperwork. Only throw it out after you have received the payment.
Vehicle Insurance Card
Your auto insurance card fits in your wallet or glove compartment, which is where it should be kept. That way, you have a hard copy even if you have access to a digital version. Hard copies are useful in case you are pulled over by law enforcement or need to exchange the information with another driver in the event of an accident.
Keep the hard copy of your auto insurance card as long as your policy is active. You may dispose of it when the policy renews and you receive a new card.
Billing Statements
You will receive regular billing statements from your insurer, usually monthly. These may be by mail or online.
Keep your billing statements for tax purposes if you have a home business or you use your car for business purposes. If you’re audited by the IRS, you may need to show your bills for the last 7 years.
How to Store Documents
If you’re keeping paper copies of documents, you want to make sure that they remain in good, readable condition. Here are some recommendations to keep them that way:
Keep your documents in a safe container in a climate-controlled space to reduce the possibility of mold and fading.
Store papers in a waterproof and fire-resistant container. Consider a home lock box or safe or a filing cabinet.
Consider digital storage as well, as a backup. You can store copies of papers on a flash drive. For a small fee, you also can store them in Dropbox and on iCloud and other services.
Pro Tip: Use plastic page sleeves for your documents for added protection. You can slide your documents into the sleeves and then file them in a binder or box.
How to Dispose of Documents
The general rule is that once a policy is done, you don’t need to keep the paperwork. (See the exceptions for claims documents and billing statements above.) But your insurance documents have personal information that could lead to identity theft if not disposed of safely.
Always shred any old papers. Use a crosscut shredder that cuts in two directions to produce confetti.
A small home shredder will work or you may find a free shredding event in your community.
Local banks and other companies also may shred your papers for a fee.
Remember to permanently delete old digital copies as well.
Going Paperless
Did you know, you can access your account online with California Casualty? Once you’ve signed up, you will have quick access to your policy(ies) at any time and from anywhere. You simply “Sign In” in the same right-hand corner where you created your account initially. And easy, secure access to this policy portal gives you the flexibility to:
Download/Print ID Cards
View/Download Your Declaration Pages
Pay Your Bill Online
Make Some Changes to Your Policy (Manage Drivers, Manage Vehicles, Manage Lienholders/Mortgagee)
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Written by Casey Jeffers, Owner of Fair Winds Teaching & MSEA Second Grade Teacher
Setting up your classroom library can be a daunting task. Whether you are a brand new teacher or a teacher switching grade levels (this is a big deal because not all books are appropriate for all ages). Here’s my guide to collecting books from multiple locations without breaking the bank!
My favorite website to buy classroom books is Scholastic Book Clubs! Check out the best ways to earn points and FREE books year-round. Then you also can’t beat the deals that they have each month, a lot of them being only $1 a book!
Earning BONUS POINTS – Always fill out your back-to-school form to update your class size to earn your 100 points each year, save ALL the emails from Scholastic throughout the school year to build up coupon codes for your next order, and have a notebook to write down codes when they come up on the Scholastic IG/Facebook pages. I collect so many points throughout the year to earn so many FREE BOOKS and school supplies! If you don’t have a Scholastic Book Club account yet, use this link to earn a FREE 250 Bonus Points from me!
Birthday Coupons – In the beginning of each school year, you get an offer to buy a class book of b’day coupons. Each pack comes with 30-32 FREE book coupons and they are each worth up to a $5 FREE book. That is upwards to $160 worth of books, for a cost of $30.00! I have bought these for my students in the past and handed them out for their birthdays. They are to take them home and select their book with their family online. I don’t do that anymore because most of them lost the coupon or forgot to log on and redeem their book. Instead, I have them work with me on their birthday to select a $4-$5 book (no less than that- getting the best value) to buy a book with the coupon code on my account to add to our classroom library. Then when it comes in the mail, that student gets to present it to the class as a gift! They get to put their name in the book as a donation, it makes them so happy. That stocks my classroom with 32 new books each school year for $30!
Family Book Orders – Making the Scholastic Book flyers available to your families helps build your points so you can buy some classroom books for your classroom as well. Here are some of my favorite tips for boosting family orders!
Let families know that every order, no matter how small or big, earns FREE Books for your classroom. Use this pack to help boost sales and recommend your families! This gets families involved by sharing your Class Code for online ordering and letting them know they can choose a FREE $5 Book with every $25 online order with code READS.
Share photos of all the FREE Books and resources your class has earned. A picture is worth a thousand words! I even do #BookBoxDay unboxing videos for my students and families!
Send home reminder armbands with the due dates and their wish lists, both of these are available in this pack!
Family/Friends for Donations
The second place I go to collect books is simply by asking family and friends. I use my personal and professional social media platforms to post about a need for used or new classroom books. You would be surprised how many households are sitting on dozens of children’s books that they don’t use anymore. I’ve had families with high schoolers now that hadn’t gotten rid of any of their elementary-aged books and simply had them sitting in a box in their garage. They were happy to donate and get them out of their space. It never hurts to ask! I especially reach out to my retired teacher friends! Then I go through the books and then any repeats I have I offer to other new teachers or give to the students to take home to start their library.
Visiting Your Local Public Library
Have you ever been to your local public library? Did you know they are always getting rid of books that are now out of circulation? My grandmother used to volunteer at our local library and she would say that books that weren’t checked out super often, had too many copies, or were a little damaged would be taken out of circulation. These were always donated but sometime she would be able to bring some home to be (knowing I was a classroom teacher). It is always good to ask or give them your contact information in case they have books to get rid of.
Amazon Wish-lists (#ClearTheList)
Have you heard!!?? Celebrities, companies, influencers, and so many other people are helping to #ClearTheList of teachers’ Amazon wishlists! If you haven’t made one yet, it is your time to take a second and add classroom books and other amazing supplies!
How to make a list:
Login to your Amazon account
Go to “Account & Lists” at the top right corner
Click on “Your Lists”
Create a list (make sure it’s public)
Add items or books that you find on Amazon (if you want some classroom list ideas, check my favorites out here!)
If you want to share it with friends & family, click “Invite,” copy the link, send it out, or share it on your social media pages.
Sponsors
If you make your Amazon wish list, reach out to some local companies or popular businesses online and see if they would be willing to help out and donate. I use Twitter and Linkedin to reach out to a lot in my local area. Write them a letter introducing yourself, telling them a little about your school and students, and then tell them how they can help.
Thrift Stores/Facebook Selling Groups-
One of my favorite summertime activities is strolling through a good thrift store. Whether it’s a GoodWill, Wonder Book & Video, ReStore, or any local company, you can find gently used books for a very cheap rate. Make sure to save your receipts so you can write them off your taxes!
You can also join your local Facebook teacher groups (mine is called Teachers Sell Stuff (city, State) and see if anyone has books available for purchase.
As you are selecting books for your classroom make sure you gather a wide variety of books. I try to have some leveled books, picture books, just for fun books, magazines, comics, graphic novels, chapter books, maps, and much more. Get creative, the kids love a diverse set of things to get their hands on.
Other Helpful Classroom Library Tips and Tricks:
Make sure to have book bin labels for your students to be able to find and organize their books. Here is the set I use to label my 2nd-grade classroom. Hang some signs to help students to select their “Just Right Book,” grab this FREEBIE here. I also make sure to label ALL books that come into my classroom so I don’t lose track of them. I use these mermaid ones on Avery shipping labels (30 per page).
Where to buy your bins?? My favorite places are Storex, Dollar Store, The Target Dollar Spot, Walmart, Ikea (have the kids decorate them), or the DIY option, start collecting cereal boxes now! Simply save larger cereal boxes and cut them down like the pictures below. Cover them with paper, spray paint them, or leave them with the kids’ favorite cereal pictures.
Good luck and happy building up your library! 🙂
Casey Jeffers is a second-grade teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary in Frederick County, Maryland. She was recently recognized as the national winner of the NEA Foundation’s 2021 Teaching in Excellence Award. Casey is the proud owner of the Education Resource Blog, Fair Winds Teaching, and loves to connect with her education community through her TeacherPayTeacher’s business.
When the weather is hot and dry, and conditions are just right, wildfires happen. They are more common in some parts of the country than others, but it’s important to remember a fire can break out anywhere. And when it does, your home and your family are at risk.
Know whether your home is located in a high-risk fire zone and what to do to protect it.
What’s your zone?
A fire hazard zone is a region that has characteristics that put it at higher risk for wildfires, such as:
A history of fires in the region over a 30-50-year period
Dry, hot, and windy weather that cause fires to spread faster
Forests and vegetation that act as fuel for fire
Steep slopes where fire often burns faster
The potential for fires to burn through the top layer of foliage
Millions of homes are located in or near fire hazard severity zones. U.S. states most impacted by wildfires include California, Oregon, and Arizona. California has classified its fire zones as moderate, high, and very high. These areas are mapped by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The zones help property owners and builders better protect structures in areas at high risk.
Other states also affected by recent wildfires include Washington, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Alaska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Florida. There’s been a population boom in these drought-sensitive regions, which means there’s an increased risk of human activity sparking a fire.
The nonprofit, First Street Foundation, has an online risk factor tool where you can search for your region’s fire risk. You also can find information from your state’s Department of Forestry. If your home is in a fire hazard zone, make sure that your community is an active Firewise USA® site working with local foresters to reduce risks.
How can you protect your home?
In addition to your community working to reduce risk, there are steps you can take to help better protect your home from wildfires.
The USDA Forest Service has divided your home and property into three zones based on research into how homes ignite. Addressing each of these zones will help to reduce the risk of a fire on your property.
Immediate Zone (Less than 5 feet) – your home and the area immediately surrounding it
Seal your windows and doors to reduce the risk of embers getting inside your home. (Embers are burning pieces of wood that can be carried by winds for more than a mile.)
Use insulated glass, which can hold heat longer than standard glass.
Avoid acrylic skylights that could melt.
Paint decking with fireproof paint.
Consider other fireproof materials, from siding to roofing to metal or fiber-cement doors.
Emergency vehicles need driveways that are 12 feet wide and have a vertical clearance of 15 feet. Check that your property can accommodate them.
Extended Zone (30-100 feet) – the vegetation and land that extends 30 feet past your house
Keep trees at least 12 feet apart (between canopy crowns) within 30-60 feet of your home. Keep trees at least 6 feet apart within 60-100 feet of your home.
Pick up debris and dead plant material.
Remove vegetation that is near storage sheds or other structures.
Make sure your home and street are clearly marked for first responders.
Finally…
Clean your home with fire safety in mind so that you don’t accidentally cause a fire.
Make sure you have home insurance that protects against damage caused by natural disasters such as wildfires. The right insurance provides peace of mind in the event of a fire.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
It’s summertime and the living is easy—or rather it will be with these clever summer hacks.
Here are our all-time favorite tips and tricks for entertaining, keeping the bugs away, summer fun, and staying cool and comfortable in the summertime heat.
Entertaining hacks
#1:Cupcake liners for popsicles: Insert the stick of a popsicle or ice pop through the center of a cupcake liner and voila! There are no drips and no mess. The liner catches it all so your hands stay clean and dry. (Keep some extra cupcake liners for the tops of open drink cans to keep the bugs out!)
#2:Quick ice-cold drinks: Forgot to chill the beer, wine, or soda? No worries. Wrap a wet paper towel around the bottle or can and put it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Have more time? Fill some water bottles halfway with water and lay them on their side in the freezer. When they’re frozen, fill them up with your beverage of choice. It will stay chilled for hours.
#3. Condiment carrier: Don’t throw away that cardboard six-pack carrier! Repurpose it to carry your mustard, ketchup, napkins, and fixings. Reinforce it and make it fancier by adding some contact paper to the sides and bottom.
#4. Unstick marshmallows: If you’ve bought a bag of marshmallows only to discover they’re stuck together, you’re not alone. Luckily, you can make them “s’mores ready” with this trick. Add at least 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to the bag and shake it. It will absorb the moisture and unstick your marshmallows. Store them in a container for easy use.
#5.Clean your grill with an onion: Cut a raw onion in half. Stick a BBQ fork into the rounded part and rub the cut side along the grill grates. The onion’s juices will create steam and help to remove the bits of food residue.
BONUS TIP: Instead of putting out a whole spread to entertain your guests, try some simple Jarcuterie!
Keeping the bugs away
#6. Coffee grounds prevent ants: Coffee’s high nitrogen content actually burns bugs. Sprinkle some coffee grounds outside entrances to your home or other places where ants might enter. They won’t walk across it.
#7.A fruity bug repellent: Limes or lemons and cloves make a great natural mosquito repellent as well as a great table decoration. They also work for wasps. Simply slice the lime or lemon in half and press a few whole cloves into the inside. The scent will help to keep mosquitos away from your table, too.
#8.Burn sage or rosemary on your fire: The scent of sage and rosemary helps keep flying bugs of all sorts away. Buy a bundle of one or the other from your local grocery store. Both herbs will catch fire easily. You can put them on your fire pit or even on your barbecue.
#9.Debug your car: Summer often means sticky, smashed bugs on your car’s windshield and grille. Give your car a spritz of nonstick cooking spray and wipe them off easily.
#10:Take the plunge: If you’re searching for a place to hold the citronella candles that keep bugs away, look no further than your local plumbing store. A toilet plunger is the perfect candle holder. Simply put the plunger handle in the ground, and the candle in the rubber top. Use a new plunger, and then you can keep it for its usual use later.
Summer fun hacks
#11.Applique your kiddie pool: Kiddie pools can be slippery. Make them easier to navigate for little feet with bathtub appliques. Add some to the sides, too, for places to grip. Your kids can even help you to apply them!
#12.Camping trick for toilet paper: Bring an empty coffee can container along for your next camping trip. It’s the perfect size to store toilet paper and keep it dry, in high humidity or when it rains. It works for canoe and boat trips too.
#13.Brush off your beach chairs: Use a large clean and dry paintbrush to remove sand from your beach chairs, toys, and even the kids! Do it before you get in the car and you’ll have a lot less to clean up.
#14.Firefly collection hack: Kids love to catch fireflies. Instead of piercing holes into the metal lid of a jar, cut a 6-inch square from old pantyhose. Attach it with a rubber band. This will let plenty of air in and out, and be easier when it’s time to let the bugs go.
#15.Makeup blender sponge for sunscreen: Use a makeup blender sponge to apply sunscreen to young faces. This will help for a more even application and keep sunscreen out of their eyes.
#16.Change direction for your ceiling fan: Make sure your fan’s blades are rotating counterclockwise in warmer months. This will help push cooler air down.
#17.Make your own dehumidifier: Since lower humidity feels cooler, a dehumidifier will allow you to reduce the use of your air conditioner, thus reducing your cooling costs. Though not as effective as a dehumidifier, you can try DIY versions:
A basket or can of charcoal briquettes can absorb humidity in a room. Replace it every 2-3 months.
Rock salt or kitty litter also absorbs moisture in the air. Take two similarly size buckets. Drill holes in the bottom of one. Stack the drilled bucket inside the other bucket – making sure to leave a gap. You may wish to put an object in between the buckets to create that space. Fill the top-drilled bucket with salt or kitty litter. Then, check it every few days. Water will collect in the bottom bucket. Empty as needed.
#18.Freeze your pillow: Bunch up your pillow. Put it in a plastic bag and place it in your freezer for 10 minutes. You can also save some space and just freeze your pillowcase. Keep some extra pillowcases in the freezer if you want to switch them out.
#19.Window dressing: No air conditioning? Hang a damp sheet in front of an open window. The hot air will evaporate the water in the sheet and the result is a cooling breeze.
#20.Trade-in your ice pack for a rice pack: Ice packs are great but condensation can create dampness where you may not want it. Instead, fill a clean sock with rice and put it in the freezer. Bring it out whenever you need a cold pack that’s moldable to your body.
Have a favorite summer hack that’s not listed here? Share it with us!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
