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The Importance of Contractors Insurance

The Importance of Contractors Insurance

Work accidents happen, it`s a fact. Protecting yourself and your business with contractor’s insurance is one of the many steps in getting a job successfully done. Here at C.H. Edwards, our commercial lines specialists help businesses customize a contractor’s insurance solution that is right for their business. Whether its small, midsize or a large commercial construction projects, we are sure to do it all.

So you might be thinking, well who needs contractor’s insurance. We have the answer for you. “General contractors, contractors, and subcontractors are commonly required to carry contractor’s insurance by the various laws and businesses they work for.” This is very important especially with the summer being known for an increase in construction.

There are a few things that you need to have in place to make sure you are covered. “Commercial General liability insurance, or CGL, is a fundamental part of a contractor’s insurance program. It provides protection for third party Bodily Injury and Property Damage. We here at C.H. Edwards understand that each contractor has its own set of exposures. We help put the best program together based on the Contractor’s Operations.

Some other additional insurance coverage you may need or consider are the following:
• Commercial Umbrella or Excess Liability
• Disability Coverage
• Workers Compensation
• Commercial Automobile
• Property Coverage
• Inland Marine (Contractors Equipment Coverage, Builder’s Risk, Installation Floater)
• Contractors Pollution Liability

When getting contractors insurance, there is many ways you can get the perfect package
Having the right coverage is crucial to your business and we are here to help you with all of your needs.

Written by: Sandra Costanzo

Open roads and motorcycle safety is always in style!

Open roads and motorcycle safety is always in style!

 

Blue Skies and open roads are finally here. Not only does that mean it’s time to get your motorcycle back on the road, but also to make sure you are riding with safety.  “While motorcycles are cool, they just aren’t as safe as cars. To some people, that’s part of the appeal. Living life on the edge and taking risks can be part of what makes riding a motorcycle rewarding.” In this blog, you will find many safety tips to make sure you have the best experience possible.

 

  1. Wear a helmet. A helmet can help reduce or prevent concussions, skull fractures, damage to eye sockets or other facial features, and traumatic brain injuries.
  2. Take a motorcycle safety course. http://nysmsp.org/, is one of the many places to offer both basic and beyond basic motorcycle safety courses.
  3. Check your motorcycle before hitting the road. Make sure the lights, horn, blinkers, brakes, and tires are in good working order before you even turn on the engine, especially if you have not been on your bike recently.
  4. Educate your passengers. Make sure to have a spare helmet ready for anyone else who will ride with you on your motorcycle, and talk them through motorcycle safety so you can drive distraction-free.
  5. Keep your hands firmly on the handlebars. Too many drivers take one hand off the wheel, especially to fiddle with the radio or answer their phone. Distracted driving is dangerous enough when you’re surrounded by metal and airbags – when you’re operating a motorcycle, all you have between yourself and hitting the pavement is your safety gear and your awareness. Keep your hands in place, steering your bike, and look out for other drivers.
  6. Look twice at every intersection. Look left, then right, then left again before driving through an intersection. Many drivers do not look carefully for stop or yield signs. A number of drivers involved in motorcycle accidents claim that they did not even see the rider before it was too late. This simple safety precaution can help ensure that you see them and that they see you before it’s too late.
  7. Leave enough space. As a motorcyclist, you will not have the benefit of a bumper if you hit the vehicle in front of you, and you could easily fly off your bike and seriously injure yourself.

 

Along with these safety tips, you should also make sure your insurance is completely up to date. One major detour / red light on your joy ride, could be not having proper coverage, including motorcycle accessory coverage. Here at C.H. Edwards, we make getting proper coverage as easy as cruising through green lights. Give us a call for your no obligation quotation.

Stay safe this summer with our pool safety tips!

Stay safe this summer with our pool safety tips!

Relaxing by the pool and enjoying the sun is one of the best parts of summer. While you are enjoying this fun filled summer activity, it is important to remember how crucial pool safety is. It is not only important to keep yourself informed but also your children or anybody visiting your pool. In this blog, you will find helpful pool tips from the American Red Cross.

  • Secure your pool with appropriate barriers. Completely surround your pool with a 4-feet high fence or barrier with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Place a safety cover on the pool or hot tub when not in use and remove any ladders or steps used for access. Consider installing a pool alarm that goes off if anyone enters the pool.
  • Keep children under active supervision at all times. Stay in arm’s reach of young kids. Designate a responsible person to watch the water when people are in the pool—never allow anyone to swim alone. Have young or inexperienced swimmers wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  • Ensure everyone in the home knows how to swim well by enrolling them in age-appropriate water orientation and learn-to-swim courses from the Red Cross.
  • Keep your pool or hot tub water clean and clear. Maintain proper chemical levels, circulation and filtration. Regularly test and adjust the chemical levels to minimize the risk of earaches, rashes or more serious diseases.
  • Establish and enforce rules and safe behaviors, such as “no diving,” “stay away from drain covers,” “swim with a buddy” and “walk please.”
  • Ensure everyone in the home knows how to respond to aquatic emergencies by having appropriate safety equipment and taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses from the Red Cross.

These very helpful and informative tips can help keep your pool time as safe and fun as possible. You can find out more tips on the American Red Cross website, www.redcross.org. You can also go to www.HomePoolEssentials.org to take an online pool essentials course. This course describes steps that home pool owners need to take to prevent any accidents and keep their pool well maintained. Now it’s time to grab your sunscreen and pool float and enjoy the summer!

Water Conservation Gardening Tips

Water Conservation Gardening Tips

As the weather heats up, many homeowners will be heading outside to start planting their favorite flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

Along with efficient gardening comes extended and excessive water use. Here are some simple tips that will help you conserve water while keeping your garden in tip-top shape.

The right plants. The best water conservation strategies start and end with plant selection. Look for drought-tolerant plants. Many have gray or silver foliage. Others have thick, fleshy leaves and are called succulents. These plants naturally need less water.

Compost. Adding compost to your garden soil regularly, not only adds beneficial nutrients, but also helps the soil retain moisture.

Shredded Leaves. Shredded leaves make excellent mulch, and better yet, they are free! Spread them in the fall to insulate the soil and prevent frost damage of perennials. The shreds will eventually break down and feed the soil, just like a compost.

Drip Irrigation. If you want to water your pots more efficiently, use a drip irrigation system to put water in the root zone. You can even hook it up to a timer to automatically start and stop irrigation.

These are just a few tips to help you save on water this gardening season. So, get out there, get gardening and save while you’re at it too!

For more information on water conservation please visit http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/top-10-ways-conserve-water.

Written by: Amanda Haase

Selena Gomez lights up the stage at the Barclay Center.

Selena Gomez lights up the stage at the Barclay Center.

The lights dimmed and in a blink of an eye, the princess of pop had taken the stage. And yes, we are talking about Selena Gomez here. Last week, she had made a stop at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn as a part of her Revival Tour. DNCE and Bea Miller also made an appearance to kick off the start of an amazing show.

Selena performed a majority of songs from her most recent album, which is titled Revival. Some of the hits that she performed included, “Kill Em with Kindness”, “Good For You”, “Me & My Girls” and “Nobody”. She also performed some throwback tunes including, “Who Says” and “Come and Get It”.  From the glittery costumes to the dance routines, there was never a dull moment throughout the entire show.

Over the past few years, Selena has gone through many rough patches. Including her extremely public breakup and also being diagnosed with lupus. This tour meant a lot to her and her confidence had made it clear that this was in fact, her revival. “This show is so centered around me, and I mean that in a way of confidence, of strength,” Gomez says. “It has a beautiful feel to it, but it is about me, so if I wanted to come in one day and say I want to change [a song in the show] or add this, I can do that. That’s the first time I’ve ever really been able to do that in my life. And I feel, I feel great about it. It’s not me making sure I hit all the dance moves. There’s so much I want to prove to myself for this tour and it’s just based on me, it’s based on my voice, it’s based on what I say to my crowd,” she adds. “That’s all I really want.”

Selena is also taking this tour to bring awareness to lupus. She will be donating the proceeds from each ticket sold to the Alliance for Lupus Research. “Based in New York, ALR (Alliance for Lupus Research) is a national voluntary health organization whose mission is to find better treatments and ultimately prevent lupus. Gomez’s camp says ALR was selected because of its broad reach. Gomez revealed her lupus diagnosis in a 2015 Billboard cover story.” With the success of her current tour and with all of her future plans, Selena is definitely taking the world by storm.

Gina Rodriguez makes a high school student’s dreams come true!

Gina Rodriguez makes a high school student’s dreams come true!

Gina Rodriguez, the star of “Jane the Virgin”, is making a high school student`s prom dream come true. Jessica Casanova is a high school teen who dreamt of wearing her idol`s Golden Globes dress to prom. Gina Rodriquez saw her tweet and made her dreams come true.

“Rodriguez’s good gestures didn’t end there, as she paid for some alterations to the dress and even sent along a personal video, according to the Associated Press. In it she tells Casanova, “I love you, I’m so proud of you. I’m so excited for you. Dance like no one’s watching, have the time of your life. Enjoy every single moment. Make smart decisions and let loose, girl. You look beautiful.” After seeing this, many fans also got in on this action and started the trend, “Sisterhood of the Traveling Golden Globes Dress.” Gina plans on passing her dress along to other teens attending their prom.

This amazing gesture made by Gina Rodriguez is something that you can also participate in. DoSomething.org, OperationProm.org and BeccasCloset.org are just a few. Instead of having your dresses hanging in the closet, you can make someone`s prom dreams come true.

Don’t Get Caught Without Renters Insurance

Don’t Get Caught Without Renters Insurance

Homeowners and auto insurance are “no brainers” for most Americans. Well, why shouldn’t renter’s insurance be too?

According to a recent survey, 60% of renters do not carry renters insurance. Many people think that they can’t afford it, or it’s not important. Truth is, renters insurance is one of the most affordable and most important policies you can carry when being a renter.

More than half of renters without a renter’s policy reported that they didn’t think they could afford it. Prices vary depending on the level of coverage you choose for your policy. The average cost of a renter’s policy is about $15 a month! That’s less than what the average American worker would pay a month on coffee.

17% of renters without a renter’s policy said that they didn’t think renter’s insurance was important. Although that is far from the truth, it is very easy to think that a catastrophe won’t happen to you. In the United States, a house fire takes place every 90 seconds and break-ins occur every 15 seconds. When it comes to replacing everything you own in the event of a loss, the costs can add up very quickly. This is where renter’s insurance comes in.

If you are like the 16% of renters who choose not to purchase renters insurance and don’t fully understand what is covered, it is easy to think that you do not need it. In fact, many people assume that they are covered under their landlord’s policy or their family’s homeowner’s policy when renting at home. Your landlord’s policy only covers damage to the building, and your family’s homeowner’s policy will not cover your personal belongings, if you are over the age of 18.

Individual renter’s policies generally cover personal items that are lost due to fire, smoke, wind, hail, theft, vandalism and, in some cases, water damage.
Bottom line, avoid being the 60% of Americans that don’t have renters insurance.

For more information on renters insurance, please visit our website at www.chedwards.net

Written by: Amanda Haase

Calling all WWE fans!

Calling all WWE fans!

Are you a wrestling fan? Well I have some good news for you! There is a SmackDown mash up about to take place every week. The best part is that it will be live! Every Thursday, starting July 19th. This is considered to be the second longest-running weekly episodic program in all of television history.

 

The star-powered roster has never been stronger. This includes appearances from competitors from WWE NXT, and top superstars like John Cena and Seth Rollins. All of this excitement will be brought right to your living room every Thursday. Now with it being live, you’ll feel like you are actually there!

 

“WWE’s flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV,” WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon said. “This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around th­e world.” Don’t forget to tune in Every Thursday on USA Network at 8/7 C. WWE is about to be shaken up like never before and it’s something you won’t want to miss!

Get the inside scoop on Disney dining!

Get the inside scoop on Disney dining!

 

The only thing that can make a Disney vacation more magical is the perfect Disney dining. From character dining to quick service to even snacks. I am going to tell you my top favorites from Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.

Meeting the characters is always one of my favorite parts of any Disney trip. And what makes it even better is dining with the characters. My absolute favorite character dining is the Best Friends Breakfast at O`hana, in the Polynesian Village Resort. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel like you are on a Hawaiian roller coaster ride with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. This delicious breakfast is served family style and is loads of fun. My second favorite character dining is the 1900 Park Fare located at the Grand Floridian. The dining time depends on what characters will be there.  During the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, you’ll be joined by Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh. This all you care to enjoy buffet is filled with scrumptious treats such as fluffy pancakes, Mickey waffles, fruit, omelets and so much more. The dinner here is even more decadent as you dine like royalty. You will join Cinderella and Prince Charming as their guest of honor. Their royal friends are also sure to be in attendance. My third favorite character dining experience is the Crystal Palace located in the Magic Kingdom. You’ll feel like you are in the Hundred Acre Woods with Pooh and his friends. All of the food is fantastic but I must say, the mac and cheese is the best. There are so many other dining experiences that Disney World has to offer. It`s hard to choose which ones to pick for your visit.

            Next up is the quick service. These are perfect for an action packed day that leaves little room for a full sit down meal. The one quick service that I always make sure to do is at, Be Our Guest. This is my favorite quick service location in Magic Kingdom. The main dining room is absolutely gorgeous and it looks like the exact one from Beauty and the Beast. The meal that I always get is the Croque Monsieur. And you can`t forget to try the “grey” stuff because it`s delicious. No matter how many times I go there, I always leave singing Be Our Guest from the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack for the rest of the day. My second favorite quick service is also in the Magic Kingdom and that is, Casey’s Corner. This old fashioned hot dog joint is the perfect stop before catching the Festival of Fantasy parade. My favorite hotdog from there is the barbeque slaw dog. My third favorite quick service location is basically anywhere in the World Showcase in Epcot. But the Tangierine Café is definitely number one for me. The best dish there is the Shawarma Chicken and Lamb Platter.

 

Now on to the snacks! Everything is better Mickey shaped and at Walt Disney World you’ll find a lot of that. My all-time favorite snack is the classic Mickey shaped ice cream. Other amazing mickey shaped snacks are, the giant Mickey chocolate chip cookie, a Mickey pretzel and Mickey lollipops. Some other classic snacks include Dole Whip and turkey legs. With all of this amazing food at Walt Disney World, there is no way that you will ever be hungry.