5 Tips for Newly Engaged Couples

Congratulations on starting a brand new chapter of your life! We have a few tips for newly engaged couples. 

#1 Insure Your Jewels!

Getting engaged can be one of the most memorable times of a couple's life. And you want to protect your new jewel. Having a burglar break into your home and steal the engagement ring, however, isn’t so memorable. Whether your wedding and engagement rings cost $500 or $50,000, an insurance policy is a way of honoring not just their financial value but what they represent. The sentiment behind your rings is priceless, but the ring itself can be replaced, if it is insured. 

#2 Pick A Date and Set A Budget

Picking a date is easier said than done. You want all your guests to be able to make the big day. A good tip in picking a date is that the day is all about you two, pick a date that is special for the both of you and the rest will fall into place. Now, set a budget! The best plan for creating a wedding budget is taking a series of important steps before making your first plan or purchase. You can't create a realistic budget, one that will allow you to choose most of the elements you want for your big day, without knowing approximately what things cost in your area. Research research research!

#3 Start Talking about Spending & Saving 

Step #1: Assess your financial situation and individual behaviors. Talk openly about what you have, what you owe, and your approach to saving and spending. Decide how many accounts you'll have, how the bills will be paid and how much you'll commit to saving for your future.

Step #2: Create a vision for your future together. As individuals, you may have ideas about where you want to be or what you want to be doing in 10 or 20 years. But what about your shared future? Are you on the same page about your goals? Start saving for a child's college fund early!

 Step #3: Develop a financial plan to achieve your shared vision. It's never too early to start working with a professional to make sure you're on the path that's right for you. Some couples think they need to be older or wealthy for a financial professional to help them, and that's not the case. 

#4 Travel Insurance For Honeymoon

When it comes time to pick your honeymoon destination, make sure you know your options in case weather or an emergency hinders you from taking off for your trip....  Travel insurance is a great idea for honeymooners, particularly if you are purchasing any expensive, non-refundable package trip like a cruise or a tour. The most important policy point to look for is coverage of financial default (this is what will save you if an emergency happens and you can’t board your cruise.) -- a major reason why you should buy an independent policy. After all, if you buy one from your trip's company and they go bankrupt, it's safe to say they will not be reimbursing you! 

#5 Keep Love in Mind when Discussing Touchy Subjects.

With these financial tips can come differences in opinions. Our advice to you is approach these subjects with love. Don't point the finger! For example, if your partner is overspending, don't accuse them. Start by working on a monthly budget and changing possible bad spending habits. 

We hoped you enjoyed our advice! If you are looking for home, renters, auto or property insurance, call John at Godbee Insurance Agency today! He's the available agent to help you and your new fiancee prepare for marriage & money. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

If your home is not located in a floodplain, do you still have to worry about flood insurance?

Let's consider what has happened in Fort Bend County and parts of Houston and Montgomery in the past few months. Is this what we can expect from future storms? Why risk it!?

With Hurricane Season underway, it is likely we see a couple of storms this year. Don't wait until a storm is at your doorstep... act now! Every flood insurance policy comes with a 30-day waiting period before it can take effect. Review your policies to check for coverage and value.

You can call John at Godbee Insurance for a policy review and to ask any questions you may have about flood insurance. 832-886-5544 or email him at GodbeeJ@NationWide.com

What's Covered Under Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance policies cover physical damage to your property and possessions. You can use the following list as a general guide to what is and isn't covered to help you better understand your policy and coverage.

Building Property

• The insured building and its foundation
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces and water heaters
• Refrigerators, cooking stoves and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
• Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring
• Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases and cabinets
• Window Blinds
• Detached garages (up to 10% of building property coverage); detached buildings (other than garages) require a separate building property policy
• Debris removal

Personal Contents Property

• Personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture and electronic equipment
• Curtains
• Portable and window air conditioners
• Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
• Carpets that are not included in building coverage
• Clothing washers and dryers
• Food freezers and the food in them
• Certain valuable items such as originals artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

What's Not Covered

• Damage caused by moisture, mildew or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner
• Currency, precious metals and valuable papers such as stock certificates 
• Property and belongings outside of an insured building such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walks, decks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs and swimming pools
• Living expenses such as temporary housing
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loos of use of insured property 
• Most self-propelled vehicles such as cars, including their parts 

5 Ways To Keep Your Garden Pest Free

Growing a garden takes a lot of hard work and patience. The last thing you want to see is a family of opossums eating your tomatoes! And since most of us aren't nocturnal, it doesn't make sense to try to stand guard the garden all night. So, we want to offer you a few tips that will surely slow these critters down. 

First you must determine what kind of animal problem you have. There are a wide range of animals in Texas that love fruits and veggies just as much as you. We are going to give tips about the most popular perps; deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, armadillos and birds. 

You could purchase a game camera with motion sensors that will allow you to see who's been in your garden. The moment comes when you see those little eyes of.... and Gotcha! Now that you know what's been in your garden, here are a few ways to keep them out. 

1. Electric Fencing

Electric Fencing can deter lots of different animals away from your fruits but it depends on how you set it up. 

If Deer are your problem, make sure your fence's first wire is around 10 inches off the ground. From there, add four spaced wires about 12 inches apart. 

If smaller rodents are your problem, then lower the first wire and the fence doesn't need to be more than two and half feet tall. This type of fence should not provide lethal shock, but a good scare to keep the opossums, raccoons and even feral cats out of your garden. 

We would recommend a visible electric fence so humans around your property will not get jolted. 

3. Netting For Birds

Are birds taking all your fresh fruit right off the vine? We have a fix for that! As your fruit starts to ripen you can cover them with nylon mesh. If they are picking other ground vegetables, you can try 'box' in your garden with a mesh ceiling to keep birds out. 

4. Natural Barriers

There are many natural barriers to use around your plants to keep out unwanted guests. For example, Daffodils are completely poisonous to eat and would provide natural protection. Rabbits love clover and dandelions and would prefer to eat those over your fruits. Coffee grounds work against cats, deer and slugs. Other herbs that grow with a strong scent will also keep away deer, such as marigolds, peonies and cosmos. 

5. The Scarecrow & Other Weird Noises

While this may not be a long term plan to protecting your project, we know that a good scarecrow can keep away most birds, animals and some neighbors. In this day and age, we are past the regular scarecrow. Now you purchase a motion sensor scarecrow that also sprays water at unsuspecting critters. 

Most wild animals scare easily so any noise makers or even a battery-operated radio will help deter animals from sniffing around. One idea is to tie pie pans to several stakes around your garden so they rattle in the wind. 

What we DON'T suggest is trying to trap any animals. Wildlife can be very dangerous and unpredictable. If you do not have professional help, it can turn bad. If you think your problem consists of one or two pesky animals, then call a professional or Fort Bend County Animal Control to assist with trapping the animal to relocate. 

Plan For A Safe July 4th Weekend!

For most, July 4th means a long weekend this year and that means more fun! We want you to be safe when celebrating our Independence so we have several safety tips for you.

Firework Safety

1. Never give fireworks to small children.
2. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
3. Never throw or point a firework at a person, animal, vehicle or other flammable materials
4. Be safe and responsible when lighting fireworks around lots of people
5. Wear ear protection! - Fireworks are loud and can damage your ears.

Grilling Safety

1. Always supervise your grill while it is in use.
2. Don't grill indoors!
3. Be aware of where your grill is being used. Keep clear of low hanging trees, decks or your home.

Beach Safety

1. Always check for warning signs along the beach.
2. Never go swimming alone!
3. Leave wildlife alone! - Not only jellyfish and sharks, but rattlesnakes have a natural habitat along the coast too.
4. Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. These pose a threat for children and adults.
5. Use Sunscreen!

Texas Flooding 2016 - Disaster Declared

From FEMA's website...

President Declares Disaster for Texas

Release date: 

June 11, 2016

Release Number: 

HQ-16-040

Contact: FEMA Region VI News Desk

Phone Number: 940-898-5454

President Declares Disaster for Texas

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Texas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding beginning on May 26, 2016, and continuing.

The president's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller, and Washington counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Federal funding also is available to the state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller, and Washington counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

William J. Doran III is the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Doran said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Beware of Fraudulent Towing in Houston

According to a recent article in the Insurance Journal, there is a ongoing investigation on some towing companies in Houston for fraudulent behaviors.

There have multiple reports of vehicles being towed and towing services charging victims thousands of dollars to retrieve their cars, the Insurance Council of Texas reported. One insurance special investigator called Houston “the wild west” when it comes to what some tow services and body shops are charging consumers, the ICT said.

 Local and state law enforcement, along with insurance fraud groups, have now started to crack down on these bad actors.

Sam Lynch, senior investigator with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration which oversees towing companies, offered this advice if stuck in a situation where you might be confronted with a fraudulent tow truck driver in Houston:

• If your vehicle has broken down on a Houston freeway, a tow truck service that is authorized by the city of Houston Safe-Clear program will tow your vehicle for $50 to a safe location off the roadway for repair. You won’t be asked to sign anything. 
• If your vehicle must be towed because of a traffic accident in Houston or Harris County, don’t sign anything a tow driver gives you. If you need assistance, seek the help of a Houston or Harris County law enforcement officer. 
• If broken down or involved in an accident anywhere in the state and need towed, don’t sign a blank ticket offered by a tow truck driver. Look at all charges listed on a document so that you understand the total cost of the towing. 
• To ensure that your vehicle does not wind up in a body shop, ask that your vehicle be taken to a licensed vehicle storage facility. 
• To file a complaint against a towing service in Texas, go to: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/Complaints/ComplaintForm.aspx?strRadiobutton=Vehicle%20Towing 

Source: Insurance Council of Texas
SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Vehicle Recalls

We want you to be safe on the road! You can check any of your vehicle recalls on the recalls.gov website.

https://www.recalls.gov/