How to Choose the Right Restaurant Insurance Policy

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 27, 2018. It has 0 comments.

a restaurant in Charlotte, NC that needs a restaurant insurance policy

Owning a restaurant means you’re making a lot of decisions. Who works what shift, what’s tonight’s special, should you hire an extra person for the kitchen? The choices you make determine whether your establishment makes money and grows or not.

Your restaurant insurance policy is another important decision you need to make. It’s just as important as anything else, and if done right, it protects you from financial ruin. But if you don’t choose wisely, it can be the reason one bad accident puts you out of business.

Here’s how to pick the right restaurant insurance policy for your business.

Think of the Potential Risks

The longer you work in the food industry, the easier it is to imagine everything that can go wrong. Here are a few things that you might need to worry about.

  • Serving alcohol can lead to drunk patrons. If a patron gets hurt or hurts someone else after drinking at your establishment, you can be held liable.
  • Power outages spoil food which means you’ll have to pay to replace all of your food inventory.
  • Wet floors contribute to slips and falls.
  • Food contamination usually leads to food poisoning. Sick customers could sue you for liability.
  • Natural disasters or fires will mean you’re shut down for repairs which eliminates your income for a certain amount of time.
  • Delivery drivers can get into accidents and valet drivers may damage a customer’s vehicle. You’ll be held responsible.
  • Cyber thieves might still your customer’s credit card information, but you’re the one responsible for notifying customers and fixing the breach.

Look at Your Insurance Options

The best thing to do is to talk to an independent insurance agent about insurance options for your restaurant. We will take a look at your unique circumstances and suggest the policy options that offer the most protection. Different policies protect against different risks.

  • Property: Damage to or the loss of your building, furnishings, equipment, signage, food, and other items are covered.
  • Liability: When someone gets hurt on your property or while doing business with you, their medical bills and/or property damage is paid for.
  • Liquor Liability: Serving alcohol comes with a lot of risk. If a patron gets drunk and hurts other people or themselves, you could be held responsible for it.
  • Life Insurance: Some restaurant owners have a mortgage on their restaurant. This can pay the mortgage and help your family in the event of your death.
  • Loss of Business: When your restaurant has to be closed down for repairs because of a covered peril, you’re not making any money. This helps replace your lost income and pay your employees.
  • Food Contamination: Food contamination is every restaurant’s nightmare. If it happens, you can get the food replaced, as long you’re not at fault for the contamination.
  • Cyber Liability Insurance: If you take credit card information as payment or take online orders and payment, your restaurant is at risk of being hacked. Cyber insurance helps you notify customers, fix the breach, and get back to business.
  • Commercial Auto Insurance: Restaurants with delivery or valet service run the risk of accidents and damage every time someone gets behind the wheel. Commercial auto insurance protects your business when the accident occurs.

The best way to choose the right restaurant insurance policy is to work with an independent insurance agency who wants to protect your business as much as you do. Charlotte Insurance will put together a custom plan for your restaurant that fits your business needs. Request a quote today!

Avoid Getting Scammed on Cyber Monday

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 22, 2018. It has 0 comments.

people taking advantage of our cyber monday safety tips

Whether you shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, it’s important to know how to protect yourself. But while you have to worry about your wallet or your car when you’re out shopping, there are other things to guard against when you shop online.

Don’t get scammed this Cyber Monday, and protect yourself with these tips.

Avoid Questionable Websites and Deals

You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. During the holiday season, these “deals” are everywhere — email offers, coupons on Facebook, and even when you do a search on Google. You click on the link and instead of getting the deal, you’re asked to provide your personal information first. Why? Because it’s all part of a phishing scam to steal your information.

Here’s how to avoid it:

  • If a URL seems a little off, don’t click on it. Instead of target.com, it might say targ3t.com. That’s not the correct web address and if you click on it, your information may be compromised.
  • Go directly to a store URL and search for the deal instead of clicking the link from a questionable email, website, or social media post.
  • If you’re on a website, and there are typos or the layout is bad, it’s likely a fake site. Big retailers put a lot of effort into their websites and won’t let them look that bad.
  • When you click on that coupon “deal,” if it asks for personal information, sends you to a survey, or asks you to download an app, stop where you are and don’t click anything else.

Use Credit Cards or Mobile Payment Apps

It makes sense that you want to use your debit card. You avoid interest charges, and you only spend what you have. But if your information is compromised, either through a phishing scam or because the retailer is hacked, your debit card makes you more vulnerable. Once someone has direct access to your bank account, they can take every penny you have and may be able to access your personal information. Of course, most major banks will refund fraudulent purchases as fast as they can, but if it’s your checking account, you have no money until the refund is processed.

If you’re shopping in a store, use a mobile payment app like Apple Pay or Google Pay. This can be linked to any account you want, and the information is encrypted. This means that if the retailer is compromised, the hackers won’t get your credit card or debit card information. Use this on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or any day you shop.

Secure Your Devices

Before you shop online, make sure your phone, tablet, or computer are all secure. This includes updating the operating system and any apps as needed. Most of the updates, especially the annoying ones that seem to pop up all the time, are for security reasons. When you use the most current version you decrease your chance of being hacked.

Make sure you have a good quality (not a basic free version) anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer or laptop. These should catch any scams before you go too far and enter personal information. Also, avoid downloading coupon deals and browser extensions. Some are legitimate deal finders, but others exist only to get your personal information.

The hackers and scammers who want to get something for nothing and steal your data are the criminals. But we don’t need to make their job any easier than it already is. Stay vigilant while you shop this holiday season, and when in doubt, avoid that “good deal” that seems too good to be true because, well, it probably is.

Social Host Laws and Holiday Planning

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 21, 2018. It has 0 comments.

charlotte nc social host laws

As holiday season approaches, so too does holiday party planning. While it’s understandable that you want your party to be fun, relaxing, and memorable, you need to think about your liability as a host if you plan on serving alcohol. Here’s what you need to know before you plan your holiday get togethers.

Understanding Social Host Laws

In North Carolina, if someone is injured by an intoxicated driver, they can sue the driver and the business or third party who provided the alcohol. Businesses like bars and restaurants are governed by dram laws. Hosts of parties have to worry about social host liability. To seek damages, the injured person or their estate has to show three things:

  1. You served or provided the person who caused the injury alcohol.
  2. You knew or should have known the person was intoxicated.
  3. You knew they would be driving after being served alcohol.

Unfortunately, all three elements are too common during and after holiday parties. Hosts know to remind everyone to have a designated driver, but what you say doesn’t help in a liability claim. It’s what you do that matters most.

Planning Your Holiday Parties

When you plan your holiday parties this season, you have two choices: don’t serve alcohol at all or take precautions when you do offer alcohol. If the threat of someone getting hurt or causing an accident is too much to bear, you can throw a dry party and eliminate the potential liability. Yes, plenty of people can have fun without the alcohol.

But if not serving alcohol isn’t an option you want to take, you’ll need to make several preparations for your party.

  • Take keys from party-goers and arrange transportation. You can have a friend or family member act as a designated driver or you can use Uber or Lyft to get everyone home.
  • Have intoxicated guests stay the night. Plan for this ahead of time by knowing where everyone can sleep and having plenty of blankets and pillows. The more reasons for going home you can eliminate, the better.
  • Stop serving alcohol after a certain time. Maybe you only serve wine and beer with dinner or offer a cocktail before dinner and switch to coffee and tea after dinner. But don’t serve alcohol from start to finish.
  • Make food and other non-alcoholic drinks available. The food can help decrease the effects of alcohol and some people will choose a soda or coffee if it’s available.
  • Check your North Carolina home insurance liability limits. Even with the best precautions, accidents can still happen. Make sure you have plenty of insurance coverage before the party in case someone gets into a bad accident on the way home after the party. You may want to consider an umbrella insurance policy, too.

You can still throw your big holiday bash and serve wine at your holiday feast. You simply need to be careful and plan accordingly. Planning ahead of time means you have less to worry about during the festivities.

Not sure you have enough liability insurance coverage? Looking for an insurance policy that will actually help you when the worst happens? Contact Charlotte Insurance today for a free quote on a new home insurance policy.

Giving Back to North Carolina Children

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 19, 2018. It has 0 comments.

At Charlotte Insurance, we are proud of every employee who works with us. They’re hard-working, dedicated, and passionate about helping our clients. But that’s not all they care about. We’re proud of all they do in the community and the organizations they help. Recently, Karla Combs, director of the Charlotte Insurance Private Client Group, gave back to the community and helped countless North Carolina children.

Volunteering for Children’s Hope Alliance

Karla Combs spent November 1 and November 3 giving back to the community that has brought her so much. She participated in the Extreme Makeover event for the Barium Springs Home for Children, a home that’s part of the Children’s Hope Alliance.

The event was a community service project to refurbish and improve the grounds and social areas for the children who live their full-time. Volunteers came together to build the courtyard, firepit, outdoor grills, and the outdoor volleyball court. “The experience was a true blessing, especially seeing the happiness from the children when they saw the changes. No matter how tired you are after, it’s forgotten the second you see their smiles,” Karla said about the event.

“All the volunteers worked as a team, bonding together through laughter, sweat, and dirt. The sense of fellowship and service were powerful. We all got to know each other and enjoyed seeing the immediate results of our efforts,” she continued. “I was honored to take part and glad to be of service to the organization and the children.”

About Children’s Hope Alliance

The Children’s Hope Alliance is a charity organization that offers children safe homes and more hope in their life. They do three very important things for North Carolina children in need: healing the hurt that’s been inflicted, providing a safe home where they can thrive, and encouraging a healthy start in life. Children’s Hope Alliance does this by providing foster home and adoption services, as well as education and developmental programs, and much more. They help children and families from all walks of life.

In 2015, they helped over 3,600 children. In North Carolina, every year over 200,000 children need the services Children’s Hope Alliance can provide. Only half ever receive help. Children’s Hope Alliance works hard to close the gap so that every child who needs help in North Carolina will receive it. The Extreme Makeover event was a community project to make their home nicer and something they could all enjoy even more.

Black Friday Safety Tips

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 19, 2018. It has 0 comments.

a group of people following our black friday safety tips

Black Friday is supposed to mark the start of the giving season, a time when we cherish our families and spend time together. But in reality, for many of us, Black Friday can feel more like a bare-knuckle brawl to find the best deals and get the perfect presents.

If you’ve ever witnessed how bad a Black Friday can be, you already know it’s important to take care of yourself and stay safe. From data breaches to fist fights, remember these important Black Friday safety tips for your shopping adventure.

  1. While in crowds, keep your purse close to your body so it’s difficult to grab or keep your wallet in an inside pocket so it can’t be easily taken.
  2. Wait until the cashier asks for payment before taking cash or credit cards out of your wallet.
  3. If possible, use one credit card for all your purchases. If a data breach happens in a store, you’ll have fewer compromised cards, and it’ll be easier to keep up with the activity on the card.
  4. Hold onto all receipts and monitor the activity on your accounts to make sure they match up.
  5. When shopping with children, have a plan if you get separated. Set a central meeting place and make sure everyone knows who to approach if they need help — police officer, security officers, store employee, etc.
  6. Be patient and careful in parking lots. Slow down and keep your eyes open for pedestrians and other cars.
  7. Take your time backing out of parking spots to avoid collisions.
  8. Park in well-lit and well-populated areas, especially if you’re shopping before the sun comes up or after it’s gone down.
  9. While walking through the parking lot, hold onto your keys. They can be an effective weapon if someone thinks you look vulnerable.
  10. Store your purchases in your trunk (the ideal spot) or simply out of site. Keep a blanket or tarp in your vehicle to help hide your bags from view if needed.
  11. Avoid confrontations with other shoppers. The hot item everyone wants isn’t worth getting into a fight.
  12. Make a plan for where you want to shop and the things you want to buy before you arrive. This can help you map a route, avoid the largest crowds, and prioritize which must-have items you want to get.
  13. Drink plenty of water and eat when you’re hungry. If you don’t want to stop while the deals are hot, bring snacks with you.
  14. Rest and take breaks as the shopping trip winds down. Making yourself sick isn’t how you should end a (hopefully) fun and exciting time out.
  15. When you shop online, only use websites that have the security lock in the browser and whose URL begins with https — this means their website is secure.

While the Christmas season should be a time of joy and fun, dishonest people and our impatience can lead to accidents, theft, and other safety concerns. Take necessary precautions and keep yourself and your family safe on Black Friday.

Best of Charlotte: Turkey Trots and 5Ks

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 16, 2018. It has 0 comments.

lacing up shoes for a Charlotte, NC turkey trot

What better way to begin a holiday that focuses almost completely on eating than by running and walking? That might not be the real reason Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving 5Ks exist, but it’s a great reason to participate. Whether you’re an avid runner or walker or you want to bank a few burned calories before you belly up to the table on Thanksgiving, here are some 5Ks you can enjoy first.

30th Annual Turkey Trot

Officially the biggest Turkey Trot in Charlotte, the Southpark Charlotte Turkey Trot begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Southpark Mall. All finishers receive a medal. You can participate in the 8K, 5K, or one-mile fun run. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Tuff Turkey Challenge and run both the 5K and 8K races. Sign the little ones up for a 26 year tot trot so they can join the fun, too. Anyone can participate in the costume contest! Registration fees start at $35.00 per person, based on the race you enter and your age. Register here. 

Turkey Dash Charlotte 2018

Join runners and walkers from Charlotte in the Turkey Dash at The Village at Robinson Farm on Thanksgiving Day. You can sign up for a four mile run/walk or a one mile fun run/walk. Everyone will receive a medal but if you register in time, you’ll also get a t-shirt. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration fees start at $26.00. Register here.

5th Annual University City Turkey Trot 5K

Want to get a run or walk in and help a great cause at the same time? The 5th Annual University City Turkey Trot is sponsored by and benefits the Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas. Join other runners and walkers on Thanksgiving Day starting at 8:00 a.m. You can do the 5K race or the one mile fun run. Registration fees start at $15.00 each. The race location is 3024 Prosperity Church Road (formerly The Fresh Market). Register here. 

Turkey Trots and Races Close to Charlotte 

If driving all the way into Charlotte for a race doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving Day races near Charlotte.

Belmont Turkey Day 5K — Belmont, NC

Laurel Park Turkey Day 5K — Concord, NC

Mooresville/Lake Norman 5K Turkey Trot — Mooresville, NC

2018 Baxter Village Turkey Trot — Fort Mill, SC

Skybrook’s 4th Annual Turkey Trot — Huntersville, NC

The Turkey Trot at Millbridge — Waxhaw, NC

Once you’re done with your Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, enjoy your turkey, stuffing, and the rest of the holiday with friends and family!

Don’t Be a Turkey: Put the Deep Fryer Away

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 15, 2018. It has 0 comments.

a dangerous deep fried turkey

The holidays are nearly here which means one thing — it’s time for turkey! Whether you’re feeding a huge crowd or just the two of you, turkey is the main course of choice for many people. In recent years, deep frying turkey has become extremely popular. Unfortunately, it’s also extremely dangerous.

If dealing with a fire and a ruined meal isn’t your idea of a good time, here’s what you need to know.

Why Deep Frying Is a Bad Idea

It might be fun, interesting, or exotic to say you fried the turkey this year, but let’s take a real look at what that might mean — especially if things go wrong.

  • You or someone else might get splattered with hot oil. The sheer amount of oil required to fry a turkey plus the moisture make splatters inevitable. If the splatter is a big one, the burn will be very bad.
  • If the oil gets too hot, and there’s too much moisture, you could literally set your turkey and your deep fryer on fire. Fireballs at Thanksgiving aren’t as festive as you might imagine.
  • You’ll be cooking outside, in the cold weather, at the end of November or December. And you can’t take your eyes off the fryer for even a minute! If the oil begins to smoke, and you don’t catch it in time, the next step is a fire. So you’re either freezing the entire time or you’re starting a fire.
  • Clean up can be a pain. Deep fryers have a lot of equipment and use a lot of oil. You can’t even begin to clean everything up until the oil is completely cool.
  • Your turkey might not be as tasty as you want it to be. Sure, the skin is crispy but the bird is usually dry after being fried.
  • In case it wasn’t clear from our earlier warnings, people have and do accidentally set their homes on fire while frying a turkey.

It’s okay to want to do something different for the holidays. But don’t do anything that could set your house on fire.

Other Ways to Cook Your Turkey

You can cook a whole turkey or just the bits and pieces — the breast is popular, but turkey legs are an option, too. You can brine it, stuff it, and season it anyway you want. But instead of deep frying your turkey, try one of these methods.

  • Oven-Roasted: This is the classic way to cook a turkey. When you see a picture of a beautifully browned turkey, it’s been roasted. You do have to be careful with how long you cook it or it can get dry.
  • Crock Pot: You can’t cook a whole turkey in a Crock Pot, but if you’re just working with the breast or leg, it’s a great option. You won’t heat up your whole kitchen, and it’ll be moist and tender when it’s time to eat.
  • Instant Pot: That’s right, the latest, greatest cooking tool can cook a turkey, too! The length of time will depend on the size of the bird, but if you’ve got it, why not use it!
  • Smoked: Got a smoker? Pop your turkey in it for an out-of-this world flavor that guarantees some of the best next-day turkey sandwiches you’ve ever tasted.
  • Grilled: If you’re determined to cook your bird outside, why not grill it instead? You can grill a breast or a whole bird. The important thing is to make sure your grill can maintain a steady temperature so that it cooks the turkey all the way through.

If you insist on deep-frying your turkey this year, check your home insurance coverage first. In case of a home fire, you need to have enough insurance to help you fully repair or rebuild whatever is destroyed.

Need more coverage or a better policy? Contact Charlotte Insurance for a free quote.

Preparing to Care for Elderly Parents

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 13, 2018. It has 0 comments.

a woman caring for her aging mother

No one wants to think about getting older, and we certainly don’t want to think about our parents aging. But it’s happening, slowly but surely. If you’re facing the reality that your parents are elderly, more frail than before, and facing new health problems, it’s time to start preparing for how they’ll be cared for now and in the future.

Here are some tips to help you get ready now.

Talk About It

Not facing the reality won’t keep it from happening. The worst possible scenario is needing to make decisions for a parent after they’ve had a stroke or need long-term health care. The sooner you can have this conversation with your parents and any siblings you may have, the better.

Find out what your parents want from best case scenario like aging in place at home to worst case scenario such as what to do if they need constant care and supervision. Ideally you’ll be able to follow their wishes exactly, but their future health may prevent that. Talking about it now lets you set expectations and be as realistic as possible.

Get Access to Information

When the time comes to care for your elderly parents, you’re going to need to know a lot of information. Even if your parents are healthy enough now, knowing where to find this information is the first step. It’s time for them to share the details of their lives in a new way:

  • Doctor names and medical conditions
  • Medications
  • Insurance information — health, home, auto, life, long-term care, etc.
  • Housing information
  • Social Security benefits information
  • Bank account information — what banks, type of accounts, etc.

This may also be the time to talk about what, if any, will they have in place and who their attorney is.

Figure Out Future Housing

Most people want to be able to age in place, stay in their own home, and take care of themselves until the very end. This may be the best case scenario if your parents are currently healthy and active. But it’s best to look into other options, and if your parents’ health is already failing, you know staying at home might not be the best solution.

Discuss these options and begin researching facilities that can help you and your family:

  • In-home care
  • Living with a family member and receiving care
  • Nursing home for constant medical care
  • Assisted living facility — offers both independent living and medical care as needed

Who Will Make Key Decisions

As long as your parents are healthy and of sound mind, they should be free to make their own decisions. But who will be the one to take responsibility if they’re unable to do it themselves?

  • Living will. Your parents need a living will to determine how their care will be handled in emergency situations. Do they want to be resuscitated? Is there a point where medical care should be stopped? If they can’t give consent to treatment, their living will declares their wishes.
  • Power of attorney. Who will make medical and financial decisions for your parents when they can’t? It could be you or another family member. By figuring this out early, you can prevent a lot of stress later.

Dealing with the Emotional Toll

Thinking about taking care of your parents is difficult. You don’t want to imagine them getting sick or dying. Whether they’re already ill or simply starting to slow down, thinking about their future care is emotional — for you and for them. You might not want to think about it, but the sooner you take care of this, the better it will be for everyone.

You may never need your worst-case scenario plans, but it’s best to have a plan. Trying to make the agonizing decision on your own later will be even more difficult. Be honest with yourself and your parents about how hard this is, but also remember how important it is. Being prepared now will help you give your parents the end of life care they want and let them maintain their dignity.

As part of your preparations, talk to your parents about long term care insurance. This will help get the medical care they need, either at home or in a facility, in the years to come.

Contact Charlotte Insurance today. We can discuss your long term care insurance options, including cost and coverage types whether this is still decades in the future or something you know you have to face in a few years.

Home for the Holidays: Traveling Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Travel

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 12, 2018. It has 0 comments.

luggage representing holiday travel tips

Getting ready for the holidays, especially when you know you’ll be traveling, is stressful enough. Which means the last thing you want is a stressful drive, too. Before you get on the road this holiday season, do a few things to make the entire trip easier on you and your family.

Try our tips to reduce your holiday stress.

Get Your Home Ready

The holidays are a time when home break-ins increase which can be a source of worry while you’re traveling. Before you leave, make sure all of your alarms are working. If you have a home security system, make sure you have access through your phone or a web browser. Ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home and to pick up your mail or newspaper. A pile of mail is a tell-tale sign that your home is empty.

Service Your Car 

Before you get on the road, make sure your vehicle is ready to go. Get an oil change, check your fluids, and if you’re driving through cold, icy weather, make sure your vehicle is ready for it. Also make sure you have an emergency kit in your trunk: a spare tire, carjack, jumper cables, and a first aid kit. 

Plan Your Route Before You Leave 

Of course, GPS may be your go-to when you drive to see family, but before you go, you should have an idea about the route you’re going to take. Knowing ahead of time can make it easier to follow the GPS instructions. You’ll also want to know what possible alternate routes you may need to use if traffic, weather, or construction slows you down. 

Be Prepared for the Ride 

When you get in the car, make sure you have at least one phone charger. If you get lost or break down, you want to be able to make a call and get help. Also make sure you have the number of your preferred roadside assistance company saved in your phone. If you have comprehensive auto insurance, your insurance provider may offer it as part of your coverage.

Make Plans to Stop

Ideally you’ll want to stop every two hours or every 100 miles. This helps you stay alert and gives you a chance to stretch your legs. It’s also a good idea to give the kids a way to break-up the ride and let your furbaby stretch their legs, too. Each stop doesn’t have to be very long, but give yourself a moment to rest your eyes or switch drivers before continuing down the road. 

Check Your Auto Insurance Before You Travel

Even if you do everything right before you leave and while you’re on the road, accidents happen. Before you travel, check your coverage limits for your auto insurance. If the worst happens, and you cause a big accident, you need to know that you have enough liability coverage.

Contact Charlotte Insurance before the holidays arrive. Keep your stress down and make sure your auto insurance will protect you.

 

 

Ladder Safety Tips

Written By Charlotte Insurance on November 9, 2018. It has 0 comments.

a ladder following ladder safety tips

More than 90,000 people go to the emergency room every year because they fell off a ladder, and more than 80 percent of construction workers fall off a ladder on the job according to reports from U.S. Product Safety Commission reports. Ladders are convenient and necessary to get a lot of jobs around your home done, but when used improperly, they’re also dangerous.

Before you pull out a ladder to clean the gutters or paint around your home, make sure you know and follow these safety tips.

  1. Read the label of your new ladder. Manufacturers put all the information you need to know about how to properly use your ladder on the labels and stickers, including safety information.
  2. Maintain three points of contact at all time while on the ladder. This can be two hands and one foot or both feet and one hand. Anything else can unbalance you and increase your chances of falling.
  3. Don’t use a ladder that’s too short. Your ladder should extend three feet or three rungs above where you want to reach whether that’s the roof of your house or a platform.
  4. Never stand higher than three rungs from the top. You increase the chances of losing your balance and falling when you step higher than that level.
  5. Position yourself in the middle of the step and only paint, clean, or work as far as you can reach without leaning. When cleaning gutters or painting walls, most people avoid going up and down the ladder to move it a few feet at a time and just lean over.
  6. Never use your ladder as a bridge, scaffold, or shelf.
  7. Make sure your ladder has a firm, level surface to rest on. Uneven or rocky ground makes the ladder less stable and can cause a fall. If the ground is too soft or uneven, place a board under your ladder.
  8. Open your ladder completely before stepping up. This is very common in step ladders and can keep you off-balance, causing you to fall.
  9. Wear slip resistant shoes.
  10. Don’t place the ladder on top of anything other than the ground. It shouldn’t be placed on top of a table, another ladder, chair, or anything else.
  11. Don’t carry your tools while climbing the ladder. Use a tool belt or have a helper hand items up to you, as long as you don’t have to lean down to grab them.
  12. When you’re working with multiple tools or higher than a few feet, have someone hold your ladder steady and spot you from the ground.

Ladders are necessary tools for doing jobs around your home. Make sure you have the right ladder for the height you need to reach. While an eighteen foot ladder is common for many households, most single story homes need a 24 foot ladder to safely reach the roof. Using a short ladder and not following basic safety guidelines can lead to injury and accidents.

Want to protect yourself and your home in other ways? Make sure you have the right home insurance policy. If you haven’t thought about your policy limits since you bought your home, it’s time for a quick review. The cost to rebuild a home has gone up over the past few years, and your home insurance policy needs to keep up with those increases.

Contact Charlotte Insurance today. We can review your current home insurance policy to make sure you’re covered or get you a free estimate for a new policy that fits your home and your life today, not a decade ago.