Tips to Transform Your Big Move

by California Casualty | News | 0 comments

Summer is here and the moving season is on. If you are preparing for a new home or apartment you are not alone; the U.S. Census Bureau found almost 36 million people moved to a new residence between 2012 and 2013. Most wanted to find a new place to live, followed by relocation for a new job.

While it can be an exciting time – you get to pick the paint colors you love, there is a new yard to plan and you finally get that extra room you always wanted – preparing for a moving adventure can be a stressful experience.

Here are some helpful packing tips that can make it easier:

• Open all lotions, sprays and gels and place a layer of plastic wrap over the opening before putting the cap back on to prevent messy and costly spills
• Use a garbage bag liner in a box with numerous small items that could break; it will make clean up much easier
• Put necessities in a small suitcase or tote so they will be easy to find when you arrive at the new place
• Keep clothes on hangers, zip tie them together and wrap them in plastic for easier transition into a new closet
• Put fitted sheets on both sides of a mattress to protect it
• Use plastic foam plates between breakable dinnerware for better protection than newspaper
• Turn potholders into knife holders
• Pack bottles of wine in kids pool floaties to protect them from breaking
• Use duct tape to label electrical cords with the name of the corresponding appliance for hassle free matching
• Pack books in suitcases

Mayflower.com has a list of 10 essentials most often forgotten in a move. Did you remember?

1. To get copies of your family’s medical records and veterinary records for your pets, as well as copies of prescriptions you may need to transfer
2. An official copy of your child’s school records (needed to enroll them into a new school)
3. Valuables you had hidden around the house (jewelry, stamps, coins)
4. Important phone numbers and email addresses
5. The items you may have taken to the cleaners but hadn’t picked up yet (or the watch at the repair shop)
6. A copy of your new address
7. To leave some cleaning supplies for the after move clean up
8. To leave the garage door opener – many people forget to take them out of their vehicles
9. To open a checking account in your new city a month prior to the move
10. To gather all the keys to the house you have hidden or given to neighbors and friends

The time of year you move can save you money. In 2014, June and August were the most popular months to move. November and December were slowest, meaning more room for price negotiation.

Keep in mind there are other expenses to consider: hotels, meals out and establishing utilities, internet and cable or satellite TV at your new location. Moving.com calculated that people spend more money during the three months around the time of their move than non-movers spend in five years. When you add it up, relocating homeowners spent as much as $10,000 on furniture and accessories, apartment dwellers around $4,000.

Insurance is also an essential part of your move! While most renters and home insurance will cover your items before and after a move, very few provide coverage while your goods are in transit. It’s recommended that you purchase insurance from a moving company to protect your items from point A to point B.

You will also need to contact your insurance representative BEFORE-hand to get the appropriate coverage when you get to your new dwelling.

Just like preparing for a move, you need to plan ahead to make sure you get the best value in protecting your home and the valuables inside. Contact a California Casualty advisor today for a homeowners or renters policy comparison or review at 1.800.800.9410 or at www.calcas.com.

Sources for this article:

https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/moving-season-2014-in-numbers

https://www.moving.com/about-us/index.asp

https://www.hampdenmoving.com/forgotten-items.html

https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/tips/a2427/packing-hacks/

4 Reasons to Work in California Casualty Customer Service

by California Casualty | News | 0 comments

1) You’re looking for more than just a job.

For many companies, customer service is just a necessary expense. At California Casualty, it’s the very core of what makes us an exceptional company. It’s not just a job here – it’s a career. We back it up with educational and growth opportunities, benefits, and compensation that retains the best customer service reps in the industry.

2) You enjoy being challenged.

Customer service at California Casualty is vital to our ongoing success. You’ll be asked to counsel our customers on coverages, drive additional sales, and occasionally deal with some difficult situations. This job doesn’t get boring, and you’ll see the impact you make on the company every single day.

3) You want to be a part of something important.

We are a 100-year-old company with a very specific mission. We protect those who make our communities better. We take our responsibility to our customers very seriously. So seriously, in fact, we developed a Code to govern our actions.  Each interaction you have with one of our customers can have a profound effect on their lives.

4) You live to serve others.

Our customers, Educators, Firefighters, Peace Officers, and Nurses, have dedicated their lives to serving others. It’s our job to serve them. If you enjoy helping truly great people, you’ll fit right in here.

If you think you fit the bill – visit our careers page to see current openings. It’s time to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling career in customer service!

The Great Reads of 2015

by California Casualty | News | 0 comments

For many of us there is nothing better than reading a good book. Whether you’re like me (a traditionalist who loves the feel of turning pages), or you prefer to use your e-reader, getting a recommendation on a great read is always appreciated. Here are some of the best summer books of 2015 from the staff at Publishers Weekly:

• Modern Romance: An Investigation, by Aziz Ansari
• The Argonauts, by Maggie Nelson
• Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald, edited by Suzanne Marrs and Tom Nolan
• Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays and Other Writings, by Shirley Jackson
• The Silenced, by James DeVita
• Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith and Second Chances, by Rachel Anne Ridge
• Finders Keepers, by Steven King

Esquire magazine has also compiled their list of great summer reading recommendations:

• Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, by William Finnegan
• Speak, by Louisa Hall
• Love and Other Wounds, by Jordan Harper
• As If! The Oral History of Clueless As told by Amy Heckerling, the Cast and the Crew, by Jen Chaney
• Bull Mountain, by Brian Panowich

Personally, I am finishing up a couple great books: Hope to Die, the latest Alex Cross mystery from James Patterson, and Dan Brown’s, Inferno.

And of course, readers are clamoring over the release of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman.

Whether it’s to escape to another land, solve a mystery or learn about someone who inspired you, what’s the best book you’ve read this summer? We’d love to hear.

And speaking of good reads, when’s the last time you reviewed your auto or home insurance policy? Make sure everything has a happy ending; call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.

Sources for this article:

https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/summer-reads-2015/top-10#book/book-1

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g2214/july-book-roundup/

10 Reasons to Work at California Casualty

by California Casualty | News | 0 comments

by Thomas Brown

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to work at Calcas? Have you ever thought of applying to work here? Below are some of the things we think set California Casualty apart from other companies.

1. Celebrations

Our employee celebrations have delicious food and occur almost every month! Recently, we’ve had phenomenal barbecue lunches as well as tacos and other fantastic food.

2. Holidays

If a holiday occurs on a weekend, you still get your extra day off the Friday before! Enjoy more time with your family or just relax and have some time to yourself.

3. Cheerful Atmosphere

Work will always be difficult and at times a little dull, but at Calcas we are always cracking jokes, laughing and having a good time.

4. Locations

We have offices in California, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas. Whether you’re a fan of the mountains or the desert, chances are you will like where you work.

5. Support

The people here are very supportive and encouraging. We are always collaborating on projects and giving constructive feedback on each other’s work.

6. Comfort

We have a very casual and comfortable work environment, allowing for a relaxing, calmer workplace. Spacious desks, comfortable office chairs and a double-screen computer help make work as easy and efficient as possible.

7. Interesting Work

Insurance is more exciting than you may think. Whether it is coming up with a clever marketing idea or trying to close an important sale, there is always something interesting going on.

8. Gratification

We specialize in giving quality insurance to educators, law enforcement, firefighters, and nurses. By working with us you will get the opportunity to offer the highest quality product to those that serve our country.

9. History and Experience

We recently celebrated California Casualty’s 100th anniversary, meaning that we have been around longer than nearly all of our competitors. In those 100 years, we have learned what works and what doesn’t and how we can become the best company for our customers and our employees.

10. Choices

One common misconception is that the only jobs at an insurance company involve selling insurance. In reality, there are many different jobs for you to apply for, including sales, claims, customer service and marketing.

10 Random Acts of Kindness

by California Casualty | News | 1 comment

It’s been a bruising year for police officers in the United States. Imagine their gratitude if someone were to walk up, smile, and say “thank you officer for what you do.” Or, how about buying a cup of coffee or hot chocolate for one of the men and women in blue. These simple acts of kindness  not  only make the recipients feel good, but numerous studies have found that unselfish acts are good for the givers too. As we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 9-15), we thought we’d offer some easy ways to show gratitude to others; making the world just a little better!

1. Rake a neighbor’s leaves or shovel snow from their sidewalks
2. Donate blood or become an organ donor
3. Smile at five new people each day
4. Let another vehicle into your lane of traffic
5. Give directions to someone who is lost or confused
6. Let someone in line go ahead of you at the store
7. Return a shopping cart
8. Be a designated driver
9. Thank a soldier, nurse or first responder for all they do
10. Let a teacher know how much you appreciate him or her

Of course, this is just a small sample of hundreds acts of kindness anyone can do.  You can find plenty more at randomactofkindness.org.

Let us know the random acts you have done, or if have you been the recipient of one. Maybe we can share and make this year better for everyone.

And, here’s another act of kindness you can do – tell an educator, law enforcement officer, firefighter or nurse about California Casualty. They could qualify for special benefits and competitive auto and home insurance rates not available to the general public. It’s a wonderful time of year to save money and it’s worth a call today at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.

Sources for this article:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com

https://randomactsofkindness.org