Long Distance Riding – Follow These Tips Before Your Motorcycle Trip

Maybe it’s the excitement of heading somewhere new or just the knowledge that you’ll be spending some time riding with the wind, but a long distance motorcycle trip is always exciting. However, if you want your road trip to go smoothly, you’ll need to do some planning. Follow these tips before you head on a long distance trip on your motorcycle.

Tip #1 – Get the Right Riding Suit

You never know what kind of weather you will encounter, and being cold and wet isn’t any fun. Make sure you get a waterproof, comfortable riding suit before you head out on your trip to ensure you’re protected from the elements.

Tip #2 – Do a Motorcycle Checkup

Since you are going on a long trip, you need to do a thorough checkup before you leave. Have a routine tune-up done before the trip and check the lights, fluids, oil, and tires so you don’t end up breaking down and ruining your trip.

Tip #3 – Think About Luggage

A backpack is not going to be a good choice for a long trip on your motorcycle. A good luggage rack is a great idea and it doesn’t cost much. It will make it easier for you to take along everything you need for the trip.

Tip #4 – Pack Layers

On a long trip, you’re going to spend a lot of time exposed to the elements. Temperatures can change quickly on your trip, so pack layers so you can dress for any weather.

Before heading off on a long distance motorcycle trip, make sure you’re properly insured. Find out more about your options by contacting Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc today.

 

Benefits of Umbrella Insurance in Pismo Beach, CA

There are a number of reasons to get umbrella insurance if you live in Pismo Beach, California though it all depends on your particular situation. Of course, many people don’t know what umbrella insurance is or how it is helpful so this helpful guide has been created below to explain the umbrella insurance policies to you. If after reading this you do elect to get this type of insurance coverage, consider using a local broker like Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc, who serves the local Pismo Beach area and offers competitive rates.

WHY GET UMBRELLA INSURANCE?

There are a few main reasons to get umbrella insurance. First, it covers any gaps in your existing home and auto insurance policies that they may not cover. Next, it will protect you against lawsuits that people who you are in a car accident with or if someone gets injured on your property turns around and tries to sue you. Umbrella insurance also protects you from slander or libel, as these are an example of those things that aren’t covered by your home or auto insurance policy.

HOW MUCH DO THESE POLICIES COST?

Most of these policies range between $100 and $200 per month depending on how much coverage you need. Remember this is extra coverage so it will give you about one million dollars of additional coverage for this amount per month.

DO I REALLY NEED IT?

That’s a question you will have to ask yourself because every situation is different when it comes to umbrella insurance policies. Do you think you will be vulnerable to lawsuits in the future that would otherwise be covered by an umbrella insurance policy? Obviously it is hard to predict the future but if you regularly do things that could yield a lawsuit or have a lot of interaction with strangers on your property (like if you’re a business in Pismo Beach) then an umbrella policy is probably a good idea. 

 

How to handle flooded conditions when on the road

The best way to drive through flooded streets is not to do so. Six inches of flowing water can knock you off your feet. A foot of water will float a car. Two feet of water can sweep a car and all it contains away. If you happen to be somewhere when stormy weather is causing flooded conditions, consider delaying your trip.

If you have to go somewhere, you should take some sensible precautions. Some smartphone apps and internet sites will be able to tell you where the streets are flooded. The weather report on the radio should also give you up-to-the-minute information. You will be able to plan your trip accordingly.

If you come to a flooded section of road, do not try to cross. Your personal safety and keeping your car dry are more important than getting to where you’re going on time.

If for any reason you have to cross a patch of flooded road, take note of how other cars are driving through it and judge the depth of the water accordingly. Drive slowly and steadily until you get to dry pavement. Test your brakes.  If they are too wet to stop the car, keep pressing them with your left foot while driving very slowly with your right foot until they are dried.

If you are stalled in high water, get out of the car and go to higher ground if you can do so in safety. If not, call 911 on your cell phone or call for help from a passerby.

For your insurance needs, contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc. serving Pismo Beach, California.

Increase Closet Space With These Tips

Whether living in a small, one bedroom apartment or a five bedroom home, chances are you wish you had more closet space. While renovating for more closet space likely isn’t an option, it doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tricks available for you to take advantage of. At Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc, we want you to take full advantage of your living space, so do so with these different closet space saving tips within your Pismo Beach, CA home. 

Ditch What You Don’t Need

This is step one in clearing out your closet and increasing space. You probably have all sorts of items i your closet you no longer need. It is time to sift through the closet and streamline everything. Look at the clothing you have hanging up. Think about the last time you wore it. If you can’t remember, it means you don’t wear it enough to actually warrant saving it. Donate the clothing or sell it to a second-hand store. 

Take Advantage of the Door

The door is an area of your closet you need to take advantage of . Pick up a shelving unit for the door and it instantly increases your closet space. This includes shoe racks to hangers and hooks. You can decide what you need to place on the door, but whatever it is, you’ll substantially increase your closet space. 

Use the Corners

The corners of a closet are often lost and wasted space. Instead, use a corner shelving unit for this. Plenty of smaller items can go right here without trouble. So, if you have smaller jewelry boxes or items you want easy access to, make sure to grab a corner shelving unit. It will make your closet storage life much easier. 

Step Onto the Road: Safety Tips for New Drivers

For the new teen driver, here are a few safety tips that will serve you from the first time you get behind the wheel until you’re ready to take on Mario Andretti in a speed trial.

Scout the Path

Most of our driving takes place from frequent destinations. Before you take a trip on your own, have an experienced driver show you the best line to follow. It also helps to research your local area for any particularly tricky traps created by poor urban planning.

Know Your Vehicle

Take the time to learn the particulars of your car before you take it out on the real road. The best way to do this is to find a practice track to get a feel for the acceleration, braking, turning, and so forth.

Remove Distractions

Phones, tablets, and other digital devices are great to have on hand in case your car breaks down or you get into an accident, but you don’t want them drawing your eye off the road. Tuck yours somewhere safe and out of sight, and don’t bring it back out until you are parked.

Don’t Drive While Tired or Impaired

Not getting behind the wheel while inebriated from alcohol or drugs is a fairly common sense proposal, but your reaction time and senses can be just as dangerous. A driver who is dozing off to slumber or overcome by a sneezing fit can suffer a momentary loss of control that might lead to an accident.

Always Have Insurance

Accidents can find anyone, even with impeccable attention to the road and proper driving technique, and the only protection against the damage to property and person is automobile insurance. If you (or your parents) don’t have insurance or are looking for a better provider, contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc for a quote.

What to Consider When Buying a Used Car

So you’ve decided to go for a different vehicle, but you don’t want to pay the higher prices on a new car. Used cars do offer valuable options while also allowing you to save money along the way. Before buying a used car, there are a few different variables you need to consider. As long as you do this, you should land an excellent car for a great price. When you purchase the vehicle, whether you live around Pismo Beach, CA or anywhere else in the region, just give Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc a call. We can help make sure you have the right coverage for your vehicle. 

Dealer vs. Private Seller

With a private seller you receive a better price but with a dealer you’ll have an establishment facility with a provided warranty and often financing. Due to this, you need to consider what is really best for you and your budget. If you want a car for a few hundred to a thousand dollars, going the private selling might be the way to go, but anything higher than that and a dealership simply provides peace of mind. 

Mileage

Mileage of the vehicle does matter. While the make, model and year play a part in how important mileage is, always consider it. If a vehicle seems to have a lower price tag than what it should, it likely either has high mileage or there’s something else wrong with it. 

Kelly Blue Book

Know what the vehicle is valued at before going in. KBB gives you an overall estimate as to what the used vehicle should sell for. This can help in your negotiations for the vehicle. 

Number of Owners

If a used car has had a large number of owners, that usually means it runs into problems. A solid car is not going to have a half dozen owners. This might be a clear sign there’s an issue. 

Homeowners’ Spring Cleaning Tips

The arrival of Spring offers the perfect opportunity for some home maintenance and spring cleaning. It is always wise to use preventive measures to help maintain your property and home the whole year. Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc., serving Pismo Beach, CA offers a few suggestions to help make this spring a safe one.

Outside your home:

  • Repair uneven, broken or cracked walkways and driveways to avoid falls
  • Trim all bushes and trees so they’re safely away from utility wires
  • Cut down any dead trees on your property
  • Clean out all downspouts and gutters to avoid debris accumulation
  • Store all gas and oil for tools and lawn equipment in a locked, vented area

Inside your home:

  • Use fluorescent bulbs instead of high-intensity bulbs. 
  • Make sure that all the light bulbs in your fixtures are the right wattage suggested by the manufacturer
  • Inspect all smoke detectors, and make sure that you have a detector on every floor. Change batteries annually, and test them every month
  • Remove all lint, dust, and fabric material from under your dryer and in the dryer exhaust duct 
  • Replace or clean your furnace filter
  • Make sure you check the water heater for corrosion and leaks
  • Make sure a professional inspects the air conditioning system like the manufacturer recommends
  • Fill and have accessible a fire extinguisher, and check it to make sure it is ready for operation and filled
  • Make sure your extension cords, fuse boxes, and outlets aren’t overloaded. Check for potential fire hazards such as loose fitting plugs or frayed wires.

Finally, Don’t get caught without the level of homeowners insurance coverage you need. Contact us at Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc. today to learn about more ways to protect your home and your family. 

Watch Out Pismo! Avoiding Bicyclists on the Road

You don’t need fear bicyclists on the road, even though the consequences of an accident can be dire. It’s entirely possible to practice smart safety on the road if you follow these suggestions.

Ditching the Distractions 

Our radios, phones and conversations seem to take center stage when we’re driving, which leads to countless avoidable incidents on the road. If it hasn’t rained for a while or if our windows are fogged up, we may not take the necessary precautions which jeopardizes our visibility and increases our odds of losing control of the car — and potentially hitting a cyclist. Simply being aware of this can be enough to train yourself to be a better driver. Or you can consider doing something more drastic like putting your phone in the trunk or committing to leave a few minutes early so you have time to warm up your car. Pismo Beach can get a lot of fog, so you don’t want to compromise your drive to work by not being able to see out the window. Sometimes you need to do something out of the ordinary to help drive the point home, and you should do it now before there’s a problem. Doing so can mean that bicyclists and you stay safer on the road. 

A Safer Experience for Everyone

Having the right insurance can also put everyone at ease when you’re on the road. At Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc we can help you determine what type of coverage will safeguard against every type of event you may encounter. Being able replace what you’ve lost is a priceless comfort when something unexpected occurs. We serve Pismo Beach, CA so give us a call today for a quote or simply to talk to one of our agents. 

Better Safe Than Sorry

A disaster isn’t going to avoid you just because you’re not ready. That’s why it’s best to prepare in advance even if a severe weather event isn’t expected in your area. Truly when it comes to disasters, it’s better to be safe than sorry, even if it does inconvenience you for space in your home. 

1. Lighting 

At any point in time, your electric may go out from a storm or from somebody running into a pole with their vehicle. It may even be from an issue with your circuit breaker. You don’t want to be searching around in the dark for a flashlight or candle that doesn’t have a designated spot. For this reason, you should have a flashlight or battery-operated lantern in a specific spot where you’ll know where it is in case of a total power failure. Have a pack or two of batteries on hand beside the flashlights. You may want to place a battery operated light in every area of your house where you or a family member will more than likely go to during a power failure. 

2. First Aid Kit

You should always have a first aid kit in your home that has the necessary medical supplies for burns, cuts, skin tears and stings. You can opt to create your own by purchasing the essentials like baking soda, band aids, gauze, alcohol prep pads and antibiotic ointment. You could also opt to purchase a premade kit that doesn’t require you to find a variety of healthcare items when one with the same items is available for you to purchase without hassle. 

3. Food and Water

You should have a supply of food and water that gets you through at least three days. All food items should be non-perishable.

Be safe rather than sorry by having insurance in case of a disaster. Contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services today. 

Reduce the Chances of Motorcycle Theft While on a Road Trip

As a motorcycle owner, the last thing you ever want to experience is walking out of a restaurant, hotel or even your home and find your bike is nowhere to be seen. It is a stomach-sinking feeling. At Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc, we not only offer motorcycle insurance, but want to make sure you never have to deal with having to deal with your bike stolen, either in Pismo Beach or anywhere else you might travel. 

Out of Sight

When parking for the night, keep it as out of sight as possible. Naturally, you won’t have garage access or anything like that, but don’t just park it readily visible to anyone who drives by the hotel. Additionally, a bike cover is a nice investment. It blends in with the night and almost camouflages it. 

Lock it Down

Make sure to lock your motorcycle down when inside. Even if you are just stopping for lunch it only takes a few minutes for skilled motorcycle thieves to steal a bike. By locking it down, those looking to lift a bike will be more inclined to leave yours alone. A lock helps secure the wheel to a stationary object. If at all possible, have the lock elevated in the air, as this makes it more difficult to break it open with blunt force. 

Pick the Security Camera

Don’t just park your bike between cars, as this gives thieves cover to steal your bike. Instead, park it in the open and make sure you are by a security camera. Motorcycle thieves do not want to be spotted, and having a camera above head makes it less likely that someone will even attempt to touch your bike, let alone go and steal it.