James just got a part-time job with a new company in Cincinnati that offers rides to patrons for a slightly cheaper fare than typical taxi services.  Patrons simply request a ride through an app on their mobile phone and James arrives to take them to their destination.  James uses his own car to transport the patrons.  With this new job his car became a care for hire.  One evening James had two passengers and was headed from a downtown bar to their home in Mt. Adams, oth...

So youre at the checkout, about to click "purchase" on your online order, when a box pops up asking if youd like to pay an extra $70 for an extended warranty. Youre splurging on a brand-new, $600 DSLR camera... so you hesitate. Should you buy the extra insurance? Is the $70 worth it? Probably not, say the experts. Heres why: New products rarely require repairs. According to Consumer Reports, research reveals that most products usually dont break during the two-to-three-year period...

Tis the season for lawn care! As you walk the aisles of Home Depot in search for a new lawn mower, you’ve probably come to realize it’s not as simple as just picking the one that’s on sale. There are so many options, and what’s best for you is dependent on a number of factors, including: Yard size Lawn topography Mowing frequency Your age/physical fitness level How “green” you are Not to worry; we’re breaking ...

If you’re like most of us, you probably use the same password for all your online accounts: banking, shopping, Netflix -- everything. While reusing the same password definitely makes it easy to remember, it also opens you up to safety breaches and in some cases, identity theft. Moreover, it’s not just about making passwords unique to accounts --  it’s also about creating a password that no one will be able to crack. Social media puts our private information i...

Happy November! Fall is a great time to review your insurance policies and make any necessary changes. And, when it comes to making changes or asking questions regarding your policy, nothing beats one-on-one human interaction. Customer service is key when it comes to insurance. Nowadays, there are lots of options for purchasing insurance online; but, as a recent J.D. Power Studies U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study reports, customers are happier and more satisfied when able to deal di...

As homeowners, raking leaves might be the most hated task. Unlike shoveling snow or mowing, raking leaves feels like a Sisyphean task that just.wont.end. But -- there may be good news! The Natural Wildlife Federation (NWF) actually recommends that homeowners ditch the rakes. Heres why: Dead leaves make a great wildlife habitat Butterflies and songbirds depend on leaf litter, says the NWF. "Over winter months, a lot of butterflies and moths as pupa or caterpillar are in the leaf ...

If the recent rainfall has you nervous about wet basements, backed-up lines or leaky roofs, youre not alone. Lately, Cincinnati could easily be mistaken as Seattle -- and many of us are probably lacking a key form of coverage in our homeowners policy: Flood insurance. Thats right -- Ohioans need flood insurance, too! Flood insurance covers physical damage to structures affected by flooding from heavy snowmelt and runoff following heavy rainfall. Your flood insurance policy will also co...

Summer breaks here, and more and more of us are likely hitting the road for vacation! And with increased driving comes increased risk for accidents. Before you hit the road, however, its important to be prepared in the event of an accident. That means having your car insurance agent on speed dial, and stocking up the glove box with the following: Insurance ID Card, Vehicle Registration Card, Medical Info Card, Emergency Contact Numbers, Pen and Paper, and P...

This week is National Teen Driver Safety week!  It feels like just yesterday your kiddo was born and today, they’re getting their driver’s license.  It’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time!  You have to trust that your child has listened to all of your words of wisdom, when they take control of that 3,000 pound vehicle/death machine.  Take a deep breath parents!   While no one can take away the concern you will have when you w...

  Why do you need homeowners insurance? What if your home were destroyed in a storm, where would you go?  How would you replace your home, clothing, furniture? A homeowner’s policy will provide coverage on your dwelling (home), and personal property along with offer liability insurance if anyone were to be injured on your property or cause property damage.  If you have a loan on your home your lender will require you to have insurance; they want to make sure that their fi...

We’ve had a very mild winter so far, but January is here and cold weather is sure to follow! When you are preparing yourself for cold weather you should also include your vehicle.  Follow these tips to help make sure you are prepared when the temperatures start dropping.   Important items to keep in your car. No matter what the weather there are some items that are always good to keep in your car.  Below is a list of items you should have in your car in the event of ...

Many times we receive the question, "Why is my auto insurance more expensive than my neighbors or friends?"  There are many different factors that go into insurance rates and no one is exactly the same.  Here are just a few of the components of auto insurance rating.  Insurance score- Each company has their own way to calculate your insurance score, but most follow this method. They calculate your score from information on your credit report, accident, and insurance claim h...