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Cox Kimball Insurance, 1803 16th Street, Bedford, IN (2026)

09/21/2023

At this time of year, many things start to be added to our “To to-do list” to prepare for winter. Raking leaves, cleaning gutters, disconnecting hoses, and ensuring the snow blower starts are just a few. What about having your furnace inspected? Now is the time to schedule your appointment.

We’ve all seen the news reports about heating systems that go out and repair backlogs that occur with frigid temperatures.

Here are some benefits to getting your furnace inspected now.
1. Uncover minor problems.
Proper maintenance now is necessary to avoid expensive repairs in the future. If a small problem is detected now, the appropriate part(s) can be ordered and replaced promptly. If a problem occurs during the winter when you need your furnace most, hourly rates will likely be higher, and you’ll likely be more frustrated with the process. Here are some things an inspection could uncover.

Water leaks
Frequent shut-offs
Carbon monoxide leaks
Fluctuating energy bills
2. Maintain efficiency.
Like other mechanical items, a furnace has moving parts. A certified HVAC technician can inspect the moving parts and lubricate, clean, or replace them so your system runs as efficiently as possible.

3. Reduce heating expenses.
If a furnace is poorly maintained, it can work overtime. The more your furnace runs, the more you pay your utility company. A properly-tuned furnace will run more efficiently, thus reducing your heating bills.

4. Extends the life of the furnace.
After years of neglect, things break down. You may get the most out of your furnace by properly maintaining it. Let’s face it. If you have lived in your home long enough or bought an older home, this is one item you’ll need to replace. However, there’s no reason to replace it sooner than you have to.

Here are some furnace safety tips
1. Keep flammable objects away from your furnace.
This tip seems obvious. Nevertheless, if your utility room is anything like mine, things are shuffled around as we go through the different seasons, and it never seems quite big enough.

2. Make sure your exhaust flue is clear.
My exhaust flue is on the side of my house by the hose bib, so I always see it. However, if you don’t see yours regularly, make sure it’s clear of debris and other obstructions. It’s imperative to keep an eye on it during the winter months. Snowdrifts can pile up and prevent exhaust from leaving your house correctly.

3. Change your filter regularly.
Clean filters can help your furnace run more efficiently. Experts recommend changing your filter monthly.

4. Install carbon monoxide detectors.
Cars, water heaters, a furnace, and a fireplace produce carbon monoxide. If you don’t have one installed in your home, buy one. Experts recommend having one on every floor of your home. Carbon monoxide detectors range in price and can be plugged into a wall outlet.

Remember to test your smoke detectors and change the batteries if needed.

12/07/2022

This time of year, many give thought to supporting their favorite charitable organization.

Have you ever thought about the benefit of charitable giving through the use of life insurance? It allows you to multiply your contributions multiple times and gifting your policy to a charitable organization may also yield current income tax benefits.
Contact us at Cox & Kimball Insurance for more information. 812-675-0362

12/07/2022

A condominium insurance policy explained

Condo insurance explained Whether you’re buying your first home, looking to downsize, or retiring somewhere else, understanding condominium insurance coverage is important. Especially now with the impacts of inflation.

Master Policy Coverage

Most condo/homeowners’ associations (HOAs) have what’s called a master policy which provides coverage for the exterior of the building and common areas. Common areas may include hallways, elevators, gathering rooms, and pools. Losses covered by the master policy are storm damage, fire, and liability exposures like slip and falls in the common areas. The master policy won’t provide liability, structure, or contents coverage for you and your unit.

Structure/Dwelling Coverage

Condominium coverage is very different from Homeowners as the structure coverage doesn’t offer replacement coverage or have an inflation factor built in. As a result, you may not have enough coverage in a loss situation. If you’re wondering, what can you do, check your HOA documents to see what coverage the master insurance policy provides. Most common is either “bare walls in” (responsible from studs in) or “all in” (responsible for mostly just personal property). There are some variations to this which is why import for you to review the HOA. With this information you can have a conversation with your agent about getting the best coverage.

Contents Coverage

Contents is all the furniture, dishes, clothing, and anything else you have brought into your condominium. This is easily the most underestimated coverage. Most of us don’t realize how much it would cost to replace everything in our home, condominium, or apartment after a total loss. My recommendation when selecting this coverage amount is to think of buying everything without any sales, paying full price. When doing that don’t forget to include unique or expensive items like jewelry, artwork, musical equipment, and more.

Loss Assessment

All of us are looking for ways to save money and HOAs aren’t different. One of the easiest ways to reduce insurance cost is to take higher deductibles. HOAs are considering $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, or higher. What that means for you is after a loss you can be assessed for the cost. Good news is your condominium policy will usually come with some coverage called Loss Assessment, and you have the option to add more. Our recommendation is again to review the HOA’s master policy to decide how much coverage you should have.

To get more information or a quote please contact Cox & Kimball Insurance.

09/14/2022

We Have Moved!

We are happy to announce that Cox & Kimball Insurance has moved to our new home at 1803 16th st Bedford IN across from the city pool

Please stop by and visit our expanded offices that will allow us to serve you better. Thanks for your support.

04/14/2022

Flood Season is Here

It's that time of year again, spring rains can bring widespread or localized flooding. Please remember that your normal Homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood losses.

You don't have to live next to a river or creek to get flood insurance and it may be inexpensive. Please call our office if you would like further information.

05/12/2021

ARE YOU BUYING A CAMPER?

With a worldwide pandemic, sales of travel trailers set records in 2020. Unfortunately, many buyers purchased units without knowing some important details and this resulted in some costly mistakes. If you’re considering buying a travel trailer, here are some important things to think about before purchasing.

1. Verify the max payload. Before searching for a trailer, verify the max payload/weight your towing vehicle can safely handle. Overloading a tow vehicle is dangerous and may wreck the vehicle or lead to a serious accident. To find this information, refer to the vehicle owner’s manual or contact the dealership where you purchased it. This will also help narrow down you trailer options. Don’t rely on the salesperson to know your specific vehicle.

2. Investigate hitch options. Once you’ve found the weight information for your tow vehicle, investigate hitch options. There are four main types of hitches for trailers:

Weight-carrying (standard hitch on most vehicles);
Weight-distributing;
Gooseneck; and
fifth wheel.
The type of hitch will depend on the tow vehicle and travel trailer you’re considering. The hitch will have a big impact on how the trailer travels on the road so having the correct hitch is very important. It can mean the difference between a white-knuckle, exhausting drive or a comfortable, pleasant drive.

3. Extend your view to eliminate blind spots. The standard mirrors on your vehicle may not allow you to see your entire trailer. Extended side mirrors can be permanently installed or you can use clip-ons and attach as needed. Both options will improve your view; which one you use is a personal preference of which cost may be a factor.

4. Contact your insurance agent. Before picking up your new travel trailer, contact your insurance agent. Make sure you purchase physical damage coverage before leaving the lot to protect your new investment. Remember, there’s no coverage until you contact your agent for coverage. Your agent can also tell you about any optional coverages that may be needed.

5. Practice. If you’ve never driven with a trailer behind your vehicle, it’s important to practice before embarking on a road trip. It’s recommended you go to a large parking lot and drive around to see how the trailer follows your vehicle and to practice backing. Having a large open area in which to practice will help you become comfortable safely operating your vehicle and trailer.

One last - and very important - item to keep in mind is that speed kills. When pulling a trailer, there’s a significant difference in stopping distance, even when the trailer has brakes. While it seems obvious, people can forget this in the rush of life. Plan for the travel time to take longer than normal. Be safe and enjoy the journey.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts; please share them in the box below.

07/28/2020

When does a Hobby become a Business

With busy lifestyles, it’s often hard to find free time for ourselves. Sometimes, however, we need to purposefully schedule relaxing time in the day or the week to enjoy a favorite pastime. It could be playing your favorite sport, enjoying an outdoor activity, taking pictures, or making crafts.

Some hobbies require an investment in equipment and supplies. That’s why it’s important to review your insurance policy to determine what coverage it provides for that equipment and those supplies. A standard homeowner, condo, or renter policy provides coverage for direct physical loss to property described in coverage C (personal contents) caused by specific listed perils. This means that if a particular type of loss isn’t listed, there would be no coverage.

If a cause of the loss isn’t on the list of covered perils AND it’s not specifically excluded, it may be a good idea to talk to your insurance agent to see if you can purchase additional coverage.

There are also certain types of personal property that can be scheduled for an additional premium. Examples include jewelry, cameras, coins, guns, and sports equipment. When property is specifically scheduled, the homeowners deductible would not apply.

What happens if your hobby becomes more than just a hobby? For example, you sell the crafts you make at craft fairs. How do you determine if your favorite hobby has become a business?

West Bend’s standard homeowners policy states:

Business means: A trade, profession or occupation engaged in a full-time, part-time or occasional basis; or any other activity engaged in for money or other compensation, except the following:

One or more activities… for which no "insured" receives more than $2,000 in total compensation

for the 12 months before the beginning of the coverage period.

When your annual income exceeds $2,000, your standard homeowners policy would no longer provide coverage since your hobby would be considered a business activity.

In that case, you should talk to your agent again to determine if your policy provides adequate coverage for your hobby or business exposure.

02/27/2020

Flood Season is coming, are you protected?

Forecasters anticipate a significantly elevated chance of flooding in the Upper Mississippi River and Red River of the North basins. While the Upper Mississippi River and Red River basins are at the highest risk for flooding this spring, the risk for flooding is elevated throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Remember to purchase flood insurance or to renew their flood insurance policy today.

In most cases, it takes 30 days for a flood insurance policy to go into effect.

Remember: anyone in a participating community can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP. They do not need to live in or own a structure "in the floodplain." For a complete list of participating communities in your state, go to the Community Status Book. The NFIP suggests you recommend flood insurance to all customers who live in or own a structure in a participating community.

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. 1-inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage.

12/10/2019

Winter driving tips for new teen drivers
Posted by Scott Stueber on Dec 10, 2019 9:30:23 AM

Share this with the teen driver you love.
Cox & Kimball Insurance

Letting your new teen driver navigate the roadways alone for the first time, is one of the scariest things you’ll do as a parent. Compound that with winter weather, and it’s even harder to let your teen go. Of course, you know your son or daughter isn’t concerned in the least.
Every year, the first snowfall brings numerous accidents on our roadways. Even the most experienced drivers can find winter driving challenging and nerve-racking.
However, with coaching and practice your teen driver can be prepared for what’s to come. Here are some tips to keep everyone in your family safe.

1. Take it slow. When the roads aren’t dry, it’s critical to slow down. While this seems like common sense, it’s easy to forget that defensive driving maneuvers don’t happen as quickly in the snow.

2. Brake properly. Recently, my daughter asked me if she should pump the brakes in the snow. Even though we’ve had this conversation before, I told her “No, never pump the brakes.” If your car has ABS (anti-lock braking system), you should press on the brake pedal and not let off. The purpose of the ABS is to prevent the wheels from locking in an emergency. By preventing the wheels from locking, you can continue to safely steer the car.

3. Invincibility is a myth. Inexperienced drivers often think that nothing’s going to happen to them. Unfortunately, nothing’s guaranteed, and accidents can happen in a split second.

4. Don’t be overconfident. Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems allow for great traction in the snow. However, they don’t eliminate the science of physics. If you’re driving too fast for the current road conditions, you’re bound to lose control.

5. Don’t rely solely on technology. Great technological advancements have been made with vehicle safety features. However, it’s important not to rely on them 100% of the time. Slippery conditions can occasionally outsmart the systems.

6. Keep a safe following distance. Experts recommend keeping at least three car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you. If another car squeezes in front of you, back off.

7. Don’t pass snowplows. Getting stuck behind snowplows can be frustrating. However, passing snowplows can lead to deadly consequences. Remember, they’re trying to make the road safe for everyone. Here are some things to be aware of:
If you pass them, the road in front of you hasn’t been cleared. This can lead to much more treacherous driving conditions.
They may be taking up more of the road than you realize.
Their auxiliary snowplow blade may be extended.
You may enter a whiteout situation.

8. Pay attention to road surfaces. Paying attention to road surfaces can provide valuable information. When other vehicles pass me, I look at their tires to see what’s happening. If the road looks wet, tire spray should be coming from the tires. If there isn’t tire spray, there’s a good chance the road is icy. Also, don’t forget that bridges and overpasses freeze before the roads do. Let off the gas before driving on them.

9. Follow the path of least resistance. If snow is accumulating rapidly on the roadways, it may be difficult for the snowplows to keep up. If possible, try to drive in the tracks of the car in front of you. If the tracks go into the ditch, then it’s time to make your own tracks.

10. If you don’t need to go out, stay home. It’s not always possible to stay in the safety and comfort of your home. However, if weather forecasters are predicting life-threatening conditions, consider making alternative arrangements.
If you or your teen driver would like to practice winter driving in a safe environment, consider enrolling in Road America’s Winter Driving School, sponsored by West Bend.

The instructors at Road America teach techniques for handling different winter driving conditions. Those techniques include:
Skid control and prevention
Braking with ABS and without
Collision avoidance maneuvers
Proper vision skills
Lastly, if you don’t have roadside assistance, now may be a good time to check into different plans available.

11/12/2019

Share

Did you know that November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month? In 1983, president Ronald Reagan created this important observance which is still recognized today.
If you have family members or friends who’ve suffered from this disease you’ve seen the devastation it has on them. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects more than five million people.
Unfortunately, there are no medications or cures. However, there are treatments that can slow down its progression.
Risk Factors
There are a variety of risk factors that may contribute to the disease.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
The disease causes memory, thinking, and behavioral problems which can make daily life difficult.
Stages of Alzheimer’s
The progression of Alzheimer’s varies but gets worse with time.
Insurance Coverage
Nick, senior Personal Lines underwriter, has experienced the impacts of the disease firsthand. His grandfather Don has been in an assisted living facility for many years. When Nick’s family came to the realization that Don needed additional care, they had so many difficult questions, including:

Cox Kimball Insurance

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