Category: Home Insurance

When it comes time to get ready for work in the morning, it can feel like you’re really crunched for time. This makes it all the more frustrating when you walk into your closet and are met with an absolute disarray of clothes, shoes and accessories. After all, who wants to waste their precious time wading through their closet in the morning? 

To help save you time (and stress!), we’re here with some easy organizing tips that will help you get your closet in order. 

Install Shelves or an Extra Rod

You can never go wrong with adding a few shelves in your closet, as long as you have the vertical space for them. These shelves are perfect for baskets to store those odds and ends that don’t really have a place elsewhere. You also could use them for keeping your shoes organized. Likewise, take advantage of any vertical space by installing an extra rod. This will literally (and very easily) double the amount of clothes you can hang in your closet. 

Use Pegboard to Hang Miscellaneous Items

You’d be amazed at how much better your closet will look once you get all those purses, scarves and belts in line. These items tend to be thrown around loosely, which makes them hard to find and leaves your closet looking messy. You can mount a pegboard to the back of your closet door or on a wall to create easy storage for hanging items. Just add hooks and rods and you’ll have a convenient place to hang all of your stuff.

Fill Your Closet With Ready-to-Wear Clothes Only

There’s no need to have all of your sweaters on-hand in your closet in the middle of July. The clothes you store in your closet should be ones that are ready to be worn now. Any out of season items can be hidden away in under the bed storage or in the basement. This creates more room in your closet and keeps it from looking like it’s bursting at the seams. 

Replace the Closet Door With a Curtain 

Having a closet door that swings open can make an already small room feel even tighter. If you’re lacking space in the bedroom, consider swapping the closet door for a curtain. It will add a few extra inches of space to your closet and it creates a unique look. 

Is it time to review your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy? Call Oliver Insurance and make an appointment with one of our agents. We’ll go over your policy with you to make sure you have the right coverage for your home. Contact us today to get started!

With spring comes new life. It also brings about the perfect time to clean your home and transform it into something fresh. Spring cleaning in your Canby, Oregon home doesn’t need to be one long, drawn out chore after another though. At Oliver Insurance, we understand your time is valuable, which is exactly why we want to give you these spring cleaning tips that take no time to finish at all. 

Wash the Fabrics

This is beyond your clothing. This includes the bedspread, the mattress pad, the curtains and the bath mats. Wash the heavier items first, then toss in the fabric curtains and bath mats on a gentle cycle. It’s amazing how much dust and dirt these objects collect throughout the year. If your shower mat isn’t fabric, look towards swapping it out for a new one. 

Easy Dusting

Dusting doesn’t need to be a chore. Wiping every corner down with a paper towel just takes way too long. Pick up a duster with an extended handle. This way, you can clean off the TV, bookshelves, ceiling fan and everywhere else without reaching for the paper roll. It is a green way of cleaning and it is done on the fly. 

Start Fresh with the Fridge

Most of the odd smells in your home come from opening the fridge and exposing older items. If you don’t use the items, toss it. You can keep most of your condiments, but everything else, it is time to start fresh. A clean fridge is much more satisfying to open, and it makes it easier when returning from the grocery store. 

Wash the Cans

Your trash can needs washing too. After holding garbage for the entire year, the plastic does absorb some of the aroma. Take it outside, hose it down, then let it dry. It will be like a new can. 

Boats are vehicles, so they must adhere to specific regulations just like any other vehicle. Boating regulations vary by state, and there are also local regulations put in place to help protect people on the water as well as the water itself. Before you go out boating, make sure you know your local boating regulations. Here are a few tips to make your boating experience safe, legal, and fun.

What kind of boat can you own?

While you can own most boats, there are regulations about what kinds of boats you can own or store in certain areas. After all, it is not safe or practical for a family to own a military-grade submarine in the suburbs. Be sure to check these regulations before you purchase your boat.

Where can you go boating?

There are also regulations for where you can boat based on the size of the body of water as well as the size and power of your boat. Knowing these regulations will ensure that your boating is safe for others in the water. Be sure you know where you can go before you take your boat out on the water.

What boating insurance do you need?

Since a boat is a vehicle, it requires insurance to protect the boat as well as you and your passengers. Like where you can go boating, the level of insurance you need is dependent on the type of boat you have and where you take it boating. An insurance agent can help make sure you have the insurance you need.

For more information about boating insurance in Oregon, contact your local Oliver Insurance agent today.

Preparing a home disaster plan is a vital step in ensuring your family’s safety and well-being during an unplanned or unexpected event or disaster. Disasters can wreak havoc on a family who is unprepared, but having a plan in place can 1) ensure your family is able to reconnect after becoming separated, 2) create plans for your family to meet if you are in different places when disaster occurs, 3) ensure your family has enough food and water to sustain themselves until services are restored, 4) establish alternative sources of heat, light, and other essentials, 5) improve the chances of survival for your pets, and 6) create a plan for administering first aide.

Disasters may included but are not limited to fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, blizzard, mass casualty event, or toxic spill. Important questions to address in your plan include:

• Where will we meet if able to meet near our home? Where will we meet if community evacuation is necessary?
• Who can we designate as a contact person outside of our local area?
• What will we take with us during an evacuation and who is responsible for grabbing the kit?
• Where can we take our pets if we are unable to care for them?
• How will we get cash, food, and other necessities if ATMs are down?
• What are the contact numbers of important parties (household members, emergency services)?

Ensuring your home is adequately ensured is vital in minimizing the impact of a natural disaster and ensuring your family will be cared for during the months and years following. To find out whether you have adequate coverage for natural disaster that pose a risk to you and your family, contact the qualified professionals at Oliver Insurance in Canby, OR.

 

Rental properties aren’t always top notch when it comes to kitchen space and decor, but you don’t have to accept it as-is! Here are three simple tips to improve your kitchen. 

Add a Backsplash (Or Replace the Old One)

Add a colorful tile or modern stainless steel backsplash to create visual interest and protect your walls. Even if you’re not allowed to attach anything to the wall in any serious way (say, a tile backsplash with grout or caulk), you can still create a dynamite look with self-adhesive backsplash tiles. These just stick on to the wall and can be peeled right off come moving time. 

Set up a Pot Rack

Organize your kitchen and free up cabinet space by getting your pots and pans up on the wall or ceiling with a pot rack. You can use a metal hanging rack, build a peg board, or even add shelves to move them into the vertical space of your kitchen. Just make sure it’s high enough that no one runs into them!

Invest in Quality Cooking Essentials

Pitch in some cash for a good knife set, decent cutting boards, a nice cast iron skillet, quality cookware, etc. This is the heart of renewing your kitchen, and it doesn’t require any management approval or elbow grease.

It’s always a good idea to consult your property manager about what you want to do. Many rentals do not allow any painting or wallpapering, even if you agree to repaint or remove wallpaper when you leave. You’ll also want to ask whether you can replace any flooring, paint cabinet doors, or anything else that requires significant alteration. If you’re not sure, ask. 

If you’re renting, make sure you’re insured! Contact Oliver Insurance to get covered. 
 

One of the ways to get insurance for your car, home, life, and more is to work with an independent agent. Instead of needing to go from company to company, getting information from each one of them about the policies they can offer you, you can get everything you need to know in one place. Your independent insurance agent can check the companies for you, and give you information on their policies and prices all in one place. By doing that, you get a much faster result, and an easier comparison between companies.

Another reason to work with an independent agent is that you will have one person you can go to when you need to make a change to a policy, get more coverage, or add or subtract a policy from your coverage options. If you buy a house, for example, you may want to remove your renters insurance and add a homeowner’s policy. When you can make one phone call or send one email to do that, and you don’t need to shop around with multiple companies, it’s easier and faster for you to make any changes and ensure that your coverage and policies are up to date.

You can get your Canby, OR insurance needs met when you work with Oliver Insurance. As an independent insurance company, they can help you find the best rates and policies for your needs. That way you can have peace of mind, in knowing that you got the insurance coverage that will be right for you. With good insurance, you have less to worry about and you can focus on other parts of your life that might be more fun and enjoyable. Shopping all over the place for insurance is no longer necessary, when you can go to one place, see one agent, and get everything you need.
 

When you live Canby, Oregon, you may have a business that is based inside your home. Homeowners insurance is not necessarily going to extend coverage to your business, even though they share the same roof. This means you need to choose coverage that makes sense for your business.

It is important understand that every small business is a little different. You may have things that are completely unique in comparison to the small business operating out of their home down the street. Things you want to consider include:

• Whether you have a car for your business
• If you have clients visit your home
• If you have a lot of inventory in your home
• If you have employees

Each of these can play a role in terms of what kind of coverage you need. Business property coverage can protect against loss for computers, merchandise, and various other types of business related property.

If you have computers, you may want to compromise coverage, which can protect you against the data breach and any other damage that a hacker can do. You may also want to consider business interruption coverage, which could provide you with business income in the event that your home-based business operations cease for a certain amount of time as a result of Carlisle, such as a tornado or fire.

You can choose general liability coverage to protect you against lawsuits, employment practices liability coverage to protect against wrongful termination, and various other types of insurance as well.

At Oliver Insurance, we are committed to helping you find the insurance that makes the most sense for your business, even if it is based in your home. Call today and asked questions and begin working with one of our independent insurance agents.

 

 

A power outage can last for hours, days, or even longer. When you live in Canby, you want to be as prepared as possible. There are some things that you can do ahead of time and other things that you can do once the power does go out.

Plan for a Power Loss

There are a lot of things at you can do to plan for a power loss. This includes:

• Stocking up on batteries
• Purchasing food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated or cooked
• Fill bottles of water
• Purchase a battery-operated emergency radio

Offer Sustenance

Offer sustenance to your family that can be cooked on an alternative cooking surface or that doesn’t require any refrigeration or cooking at all, such as peanut butter, jerky, granola bars, and other items.

Boil Water

You should be able to boil water in at least two different ways without electric power. This can include an outdoor rocket stove, a grill, or a solar oven. By being able to boil water, you have the ability to purify water as well as sanitize utensils, do laundry, and more.

Go into Survival Mode

Since you have no idea how long it is going to be until the power is restored, you want to make sure that you go into survival mode. This includes making sure everybody is able to stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer. You also want to make sure to have flashlights and lanterns available so that everyone can see where they are going.

Keep Everyone Entertained

People can grow restless when there is no power because we have grown dependent upon tablets, TVs, and various other electronics. You should always have puzzles, board games, and other items available so that everyone can stay entertained until the power goes back on.

Don’t spend another minute in your home in Oregon without sufficient home coverage. Call and speak to one of our friendly agents at Oliver Insurance about an affordable insurance policy.

 

Whether it’s snowing out or just chilly, the kids may not want to play outside. It’s not like the summertime when kids are able to run around and have fun. You have to plan indoor activities, especially when they’re home from school on break or because of a snow day. Here are some activities your kids are sure to love!

Dance Party

Have a dance party with your kids’ favorite music. Invite some of their friends over and let them dance out some of their energy. Make it even more fun by serving a meal. If you have a karaoke machine, bring that out, too.

Play Dough

Make salt dough for the kids. This can be colored, formed, and then baked so all the kids get to keep their creations instead of stuffing them back in a can. It’s a creative way for the kids to play and it’s a low mess option.

Music Band

Let the kids form a band. Bring over some friends and let them make their own music. Instruments can be made from various items around the house. Think about what you may have:

• Drums can be made with pots and pans
• Lids from pots can become cymbals
• Toilet paper rolls filled with beans or rice can be maracas

Story Time

Read a story to the kids or let them write their own while curling up next to a crackling fire day or night. Let them illustrate it, too!

At Oliver Insurance, we look forward to helping you find homeowners insurance in Canby. Call us today and one of our independent insurance agents can answer questions you have about coverage options and get quotes from some of the best insurance companies in the state of Oregon to ensure you get an affordable policy.