Newsletter

The Holidays are upon us, and if you have been to any department store, the sounds of Christmas are ringing out. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 400 homes are destroyed annually by causes related to Christmas tree fires. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission hospital, emergency rooms treat over 12,900 people each year for injuries such as falls, cuts, and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. Before you put up the lights or cut down the tree, we wanted to provide you with a few safety reminders to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.
Between 2016 and 2019, there was an annual average of four deaths and $18 million in property damage related to Christmas tree fires. During this same time period, Consumer Products Safety Council (CPSC) received reports of about 130 deaths and 260 million in property losses related to candle fires.

The Tree

• Keep Christmas Trees Fresh; water regularly.
• Keep trees away from heat sources.
• Take Christmas trees down before January.
• Do not burn the trees in your fireplace.
• Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments, or ones with small detachable parts, on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant”.

Lights

• Only use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Never string together more lights than are recommended by the manufacturer.
• Make sure extension cords are rated for the intended use.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
• If you use a timer for your outdoor lights, make sure it is rated for outside use.
• Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)

Ladder Safety

• When putting up holiday decorations, always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places. Don’t stand on chairs, desks, or other furniture.
• A straight or extension ladder should be placed one foot away from the surface it rests against for every four feet of ladder height.
• Use ladders with slip-resistant feet.
• Never stand on top two steps.

Enjoy the season with family and friends, and never drink and drive.

Thank you for your business throughout the year, and we wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season from all of us at Martinez & Associates Insurance Services

Your local criminal is getting ready to do some Christmas shopping and he wants your gifts. In California, for example, there were 22,400 burglaries in December 2019, (the latest statistics available) 18% more than the average month.
When you leave your home, keep lights on, close your drapes, and never leave packages on your front porch.  Thieves will follow delivery trucks waiting for an opportunity to strike. Most online retailers send emails and text messages so purchasers know almost immediately when a package has been delivered.
It is important to have the right homeowner’s insurance in place in order for these kinds of claims to be covered. Call us for a free review.
Prevention Tips

• Get a security system
• Stop your mail and newspaper if you are traveling
• Limit landscaping close to your house
• Don’t advertise your vacation on social media
• Leave lights on when gone
• Always lock your garden sheds and garages
• Use a variable light timer to activate lights inside your home
• Lock your doors and windows
• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.
• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.
• If you gone, arrange for your lawn to be mowed
• Have adequate exterior lighting

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)  
 

• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

 
Theft From Vehicles
While you are in the store, criminals are in the parking lot looking for easy ways to get into your vehicle.  Keep all packages in the trunk; always lock your car, park close to the store, and in a well-lit area.

All of us at Martinez & Associates Insurance Services appreciate the trust you have placed in us to handle your insurance, and we hope for many years to come!
 

In today’s world, the most valuable asset owned by people is their home. And when considering any size home improvement project, protecting this investment should be a top priority.
If you are planning for renovating or remodeling your home and facing difficulty in finding the proper contractor, here are some tips to be keep in mind while selecting a contractor for your home improvement project.

How to find a Qualified Contractor:

One source for locating a qualified, experienced contractor is from other people who have had similar remodeling work done. When talking with contractors, request references, and take the time to check them out.
Check with a service that keeps track records of various contractors.
You can also use online resources and directory for locating a qualified contractor in your area.
You can also use sites like LocalContractorBids.com, where you can submit your project so that contractors can place a bid on your project. After reviewing all the bids, you can select the most appropriate one.
Hire only a home improvement contractor with strong referrals and high rankings. Depending on the type of project you are planning, you may need to deal with any of the following professional contractors:
Architects are designers of homes, buildings, and home improvement remodeling projects. You may want to consult one if your project includes new construction or structural changes.

Questions you should ask to Possible Candidates:

How long have you been contracting? What licenses and certifications do you carry? How many projects have you completed in the last year; what were they, and who were they for? How many years have you been working on home improvement projects? “What references do you have? Will, there be any subcontractors, and if so, what are their credentials? What insurance coverage do you have? What permits are required for my project?”
Also, check with the appropriate government office to see whether or not there are any unresolved complaints against the contractor before making your final selection.
Call all references and ask questions such as: Was the project completed on time, and were you happy with the results? How well did the contractor communicate with you throughout the project? Were there any cost over-runs?
Also ask if the contractor employees were on time, courteous, and whether or not they cleaned up the home improvement site when they were finished?

Please feel free to contact our office at 432-580-8750, as I am sure we know some contractors we can reccomend. Also, as we head into Fall please keep us in mind for any coverage changes you might want to make such as reducing insurance on your summer toys.
 

Home Schooling Tips

Many schools may not be opening, or you may be doing online school as a result of COVID. Some parents may be thinking of homes schooling their kids rather than enrolling them in school this fall.
At first, opting for home schooling is such an overwhelming matter. Most parents thought that it is impossible to teach a child through home schooling method.
On its basic concept, home schooling refers to the alternative way of educating children. It differs from the usual type of schooling because the learning process is done at home, and the teachers are usually the parents themselves. They only use a particular type of teaching method that can be obtained in different institutions that provide home schooling programs.
For parents who find home schooling a bit of an overwhelming task, here is a list of some tips on how to get you started in home schooling your child:

1. Arrive at a decision
The problem that most parents encounter when opting for home schooling is the fact that they find it hard to finally decide whether to home school their child or not. This is because deciding on this kind of thing is relatively important, especially because the future of the child is dependent on it.
However, the choice should be based on the capacity of the parents to conform to the requirements in home schooling their child. They should be able to wholly participate with whatever items that were entailed in the program in order to provide the best education for their children.

2. Keep in mind that home schooling is a process
Since home schooling is a process, parents who want to home school their children should take things one at a time. For instance, if they have a pre-school child, they should focus more on what pre-school students should learn. They should not delve more on how to teach higher levels of education that are fit for students in higher levels.

3. Know your state laws regarding home schooling
In the United States, each state has its own laws regarding home schooling. Hence, it is best to know what your state asserts about home schooling so that you can provide the best education for your children in conformity with the law.

4. Look for a support group
Home schooling should not be the sole responsibility of the parents. That is why it is important for the parents to find a local support group wherein they can mingle with other homeschoolers who can provide them with additional pointers regarding the process. Each member in the support group can help each other regarding the best technique in teaching their children.

5. Do your homework
Nothing can get you started on the right track than doing your homework first. In this way, you will be able to know the important details you need to be familiar with in order to provide the best education for your children. Knowing what you have to do will give you the best guidance in home schooling.

6. Identify your child’s learning manner
It is best to assess your child’s learning manner first before you choose on a particular home schooling method. Conforming to your child’s learning manner will provide the best way on how to home school your child.
There are many choices available when teaching your child through a home school program. Though it is still best to always pattern the program that you will choose on your child’s learning style.

7. Organize the things needed in home schooling
Just like a typical school, home schooling your children would also need different materials and a proper place where they can easily and comfortable learn new things each day.
Hence, it's best to organize the place first by providing them with adequate space for their learning. Most children would respond to the process easier if they were comfortable with the place where their classes are held.

8. Have a budget for home schooling
Some parents tend to overindulge with the materials needed in home schooling. It does not necessarily mean that because you have lowered your expenses because you have opted to home school, as compared to sending your children into a typical public or private school, you can spend more.
It is still a must that you have to set a budget for home schooling. There are many books and other materials that can be found on the Internet which are definitely priced cheaper.
Indeed, home schooling is not just a process but also a lifestyle. Its something that parents should be best acquainted with in order to give their children with the best education they need.

As summer draws to a close all of us at Martinez & Associates Insurance Services would like to thank you for your continued business.