Don’t Be So Obvious

It’s always great to see family and friends open their gifts at Christmas. To see the excitement on their faces is the best. Wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags and boxes everywhere, covering every inch of the floor. Greatest day ever! And then, once the tissue paper has settled it’s clean up time. That part is not so much fun.

What do you usually do with the empty boxes? More specifically the boxes to new TV’s or game systems, big ticket items?  I know… It’s a silly question. You probably put them out with the trash. DUH, right?  What else would you do with them? Build a play house?

Let’s talk for a minute about how the rise in stolen packages off people’s porches was pretty high this season. So with thieves casing houses for packages, they’re probably casing houses for empty TV boxes, surround sound systems and all the cool things you may have gotten for Christmas. They want all those boxes to… BUILD A PLAY HOUSE! Or what makes more sense is that they want to come, break into your home and steal those nice things you got. Now that your gifts are on display in your trash, you have pretty much given them an invitation to break into your home and take them. It doesn’t only have to be during the holidays that thieves are casing neighborhoods, looking for any type of clue that will benefit them the most, it’s all year long.

Instead of placing them out whole, break them down and put them in your recycling bin. Some neighborhoods have a slightly smaller bin to put those in so you may have to cut them down into smaller pieces to fit. If you don’t have one of those large bins or your neighborhood trash collection doesn’t have recycling bins, break them down and take them to a recycling place or cut them down into smaller pieces to put them in your trash bins.

You never know when a burglar is watching your home. I know, that’s a scary thought. Don’t throw the boxes to big ticket items, even a TV mount, out where a burglar can see them. Not just after Christmas but anytime you purchase a big ticket item because you just never know. Burglars don’t discriminate on where they’re looking to steal nice, new expensive stuff. Protect your stuff and be discreet!  

Be wise. Don't advertise. 

Kirkwood Agency's Annual Christmas Open House Mixer & Shopping Extravaganza!

Phew!!! That's a mouth full! It's also always an event FULL of fun, festivities, food, shopping AND...

When: Thursday, Dec 8th 2016
Time: 4:30-8:00pm
Where: Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency
             130 E Hill St
             Keller TX  76248

We'll have several vendors including:
Scentsy
Mary Kay
Sara's Purses
Doterra Oils
Dear Shabby
Stella & Dot
Melissa Rose Collection
Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist
AND
FREE pictures with the one and only SANTA from 6:00 - 7:30.

Make plans to stop by, we know it's a buy time of year, but you can get some Christmas shopping done, grab a bite to eat from the Hook and Ladder Pizza Truck and hang out with some great people!

Door Prize every hour.
Margaritas by Elote.
Canned food drive to stock local food pantries,
Adopt an Angel for a local senior citizen.

See y'all soon!!!!

What Do You Do To Make Holiday Travel Easier?

I know… That’s a silly question. I figured I’d ask to see if there was anyone out there with suggestions to share to make traveling during Thanksgiving and Christmas for that matter, a little easier. I have a few that I’ll share. They’re not out of this world great ideas but I’ll share.

Steph’s Thanksgiving Travel Tips:

1. Try and travel at odd hours. If we are headed out of town for the holidays we usually try to drive at night or very early in the morning. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays, in my family’s experience, that the traffic is usually horrific at all times but later in the evening seems to work best of us.
2. If you have children MAKE SURE THEY’RE ELECTRONICS ARE CHARGED AND/OR THEY HAVE A CAR CHARGER. OH! And headphones.
3. Dig deep and find whatever patience you have. Driving during the holidays can certainly test ones patience.
4. More times than not, after I have everything all packed and ready to go I have this overwhelming feeling that I have forgotten something. Now I try and make a list and check it off as I go. If I forget something, there’s usually a store on our way if it is that important.
5. This is the most important tip I have. Avoid distracted driving. Put the phone down. It’s not worth it. 

I do have one that I’d like to share that was not my idea. Property Casualty Insurers tweeted this:

Did you know that Farmers has a smartphone app that you can actually pull up your current ID card in case you do not remember to replace your expired one? How cool is that?! Modern technology can be great. Below is a link to a short YouTube video for a breakdown on what’s been recently added to the Farmers Mobile App. You can also call up to the office and I (Steph) will be happy to help walk you through the app. You can download the app through the Apple App Store or get it on Google Play.

Ok, now it’s your turn. Comment below with your ideas to make holiday travel a bit easier.

Have a great Thanksgiving and God bless you and your family.

Home Fire Safety Tips

Fire Prevention Week is October 9^th through the 15^th. What a perfect time to blog about preventing fires and maybe a little history on how Fire Prevention Week came to be.

According to Wikipedia, The Great Chicago Fire lasted from October 8 to October 10^th . The fire devastated the city of Chicago killing upwards of 300 people, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless and destroying virtually everything in its path. The Chicago Water Tower is most commonly known for one of a handful of buildings that were left standing. While there were several speculations on how the fire started, the cause of the fire is unknown.  I wonder if it would have sread so fast if there was a fire extinguisher on hand. 

As the people of Chicago experienced, fire spreads very quickly and without the right tools, the results could be catastrophic, taking out everything in its path. The best way to be prepared, is to be proactive and have a plan.

When it comes to fires, water is not always the way to go. In some situations it can make it worse. Grease fires and electrical fires are definite NO’S to putting out with water. If you have a grease fire in the kitchen, first turn off the stove and then toss baking soda over it to stop the fire. If the fire is in a pot you can also put a metal lid over it to help stop the fire as well. In an electrical fire, turn off whatever is on and smother it with a blanket that is nonflammable. In a grease or electrical fire, you can use a fire extinguisher to put those flames out as well.

Speaking of fire extinguishers, did you know that there are a few different kinds? Different fire extinguishers have different matters in them to battle different fires. Typically, what we would want in our homes are either the A, B or C type fire extinguishers. For more information and a breakdown of what the different types of fire extinguishers, go to Fire Extinguishers: 101. They have great information not only on the different types but on prevention, first aid, hazards and lots more when it comes to fires.

What about your smoke alarms? When is the last time you checked to make sure the batteries are still good in them? How often should they be replaced? No worries! I searched the internet and found the answers for you. Here is what the National Fire Protection Association had to say about smoke alarms and a little more important and useful information to keep you and your family safe in case of a fire:

• Have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room, outside separate sleeping areas and on every level of your home.

•  Smoke alarms should be interconnected, when one sounds, they all sounds.

• Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.

• There are two kinds of alarms. Ionization smoke alarms – quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric some alarms – quicker to warn about smoldering fires. You should have both types in your home.

• When your smoke alarm sounds, get out of the house and stay out of the house. Call 911.

• Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.

Being proactive is key. Sit down with your family and have a plan in place in case there were a fire in your home. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Do You Have a Legacy Gift for Your Family?

This past year a family very close to the Kirkwood Agency lost a loved one. It was very unexpected and came as a shock to all. When I asked if I could share their story, they asked that the names be changed for privacy and because it’s still very difficult to talk about. We will call their loved one, Jay.

Jay never met a stranger, was loved by everyone and was a huge member of his church. He brought several people to Christ in his short time here on earth and a good number of those individuals were there the day of Jay’s service to celebrate his life. It was a beautiful (standing room only) service filled with tears but also laughter. Jay was a son, a brother, a husband, a dad and a great friend to all who crossed his path. Though I only had the opportunity to meet Jay once, I left the service that morning feeling as if I had known him for years.

Jay left behind a wife and a son. His son is the spitting imagine of him, head to toe. We’ll call him Little Jay or LJ. Though Jay and his wife both worked, Jay was blessed to be able to take LJ to work with him often. They spent a lot of time together and were like peas and carrots, just the best of friends. Fishing, hunting, you name it, Jay packed in years of father son time and taught LJ all sorts of ‘boy’ stuff.

It’s not easy to pull something positive out of a tragedy like losing a loved one. It’s hard to adjust to life without them. Changing your daily routines, and in this case becoming a single mom overnight. That’s not even mentioning the financial issues left to deal with.

One positive thing that we do know is that Jay was known to save money and thankfully, he had a Legacy Gift. What’s a Legacy Gift? It’s a Life Insurance policy. Why call it a Legacy Gift instead of a Life Insurance Policy? Well because that’s exactly what it is. A gift that you leave behind for the legacy you have made, your family and that’s exactly what Jay did. Because he had set up a Legacy Gift, his wife was able to quit her job and stay home with their son. That was one thing that was important to Jay and his wife, was for one of them to be able to stay home with LJ until it was time for him to start kindergarten. LJ and his mom are set financially for the next several years because Jay set up a gift for the legacy he left behind.

I know talking about Life insurance is not an easy thing to do but it’s important. If you have a “Legacy Gift” outside of work in place, that’s great news! If you don’t, call in and make an appointment. We will be happy to sit down with you and go over what options are available for you. Is one of the reasons you don’t have Life Insurance is because you may have heard that it’s too expensive? Well I have good news for you. In most cases, it’s really not that expensive at all.

To give you an idea, click here, Life Happens – Calculate Your Needs and it will give you an overview of what your cost could be.  

Losing Jay was extremely difficult and we want to thank the family that let us share their story. His legacy will live on through his son, with the help of the Legacy Gift he had in place before he passed. Continued prayers for peace and healing. May the many memories you have of ‘Jay’ bring you peace. 

Kirkwood's Class Acts Is Back!

We are so excited to re - introduce the Kirkwood's Class Act - Teacher of the Month campaign! With the 2016-2017 school year coming up fast, it's time to start getting in those nominations for your favorite, most influential educator. 

As some of you may know, the idea sparked from Farmers Insurance's Thank America's Teachers. The Kirkwood Agency wanted to put together a campaign of our own called, Kirkwood's Class Acts aimed at giving back to special educators that have made a difference in our community. 

This is how it works - 
At the end of each month during the school year, we will hold a drawing for one of the nominated teachers to win a $100 gift card to use towards classroom supplies donated by Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency. Because we have such a great community The Local Watering Hole in Keller, Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist and new to this school year, The DeVivo Bros, are all participating in this years Kirkwood's Class Act campaign. The Local Watering Hole will be donating a $25 gift card each month to use at their restaurant. Tara Hayden will be donating a 30 minute massage each month. The DeVivo Bros. will be donating a $30 gift card each month to use at their restaurant. What an amazing community we are apart of!

So please take a moment and think about your children's teachers and if one comes to mind who truly impacted their life, nominate them. Is there a teacher, past or present, who has helped your child overcome a difficult time in their learning process? Nominate them. A teacher who took the time to go above and beyond to make sure your child was successful in something they had trouble with? Nominate them. Help us give back to these special educators that have made a difference.

Submit your nomination to Stephanie at stephanie.ekirkwood@farmersagency.com with the following information:

1. The teacher's name
2. What made you nominate them
3. What school your teacher teaches at

The drawing will be held on the last day of the month so get them in ASAP. 

*You can also click Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency and submit your nomination on our Facebook page or click Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency to submit your nomination on our Google+ page.*

IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY, KIRKWOOD STYLE!!

We are so excited for this event happening tomorrow - Thursday, July 28th from 4:30-8pm!!

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!

This event will be the first of it's kind for Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency and we are exploding with excited! Are you sitting down? You'll need to be because this is BIG!!! Our Christmas in July event will have all of the following:

• First and foremost we are having this event to benefit 2 organizations - Arrow Child and Family Ministries and Royal Family Kids .We have set up an angel tree with angels for both organizations. Arrow Child and Family Ministries angels are in need of backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. For Royal Family Kids we set up Angels for donations to help send a child in foster care to Royal Family Kids camp next summer.

• Next we have Austin's Underdawgs with Austin himself serving up his gourmet delicious hot dawgs! 

• Did you miss out on the Free "Back the Blue" Yard Signs last week? Well you're in luck! More will be available from 6-8pm!

•  VENDORS!!! Let me tell you! We have some great vendors that will be here, too!!

1. Swanky Chic
2. Boops Boutique
3. Threads of a Feather
4. Creation Queen
5. Sara's Purses
6. Southern Charm Jewelry

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

He'll be here from 5:30-7:30pm for FREE pictures!

So come on out, from 4:30-8pm tomorrow, have a bite to eat, get your picture taken with Santa for FREE, do some shopping and enjoy some great company! See everyone tomorrow!

Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency
130 E Hill St
Keller TX 76248
817-898-0370

My Homeowners Insurance Policy Will Cover My Home Based Business, Right?

Home based businesses seem to be popping up everywhere. With the internet at your fingertips you can run your business from virtually anywhere. Not to mention not having to drive to work if your business is home based. Thank goodness you have a homeowners insurance policy! Right? Well… Not necessarily. Just because your business is out of your home does not mean that your homeowners policy will cover you in case something were to happen.

Any type of loss that where to happen that had anything to do with your business typically is excluded from being covered under your homeowners policy. For instance, if your run a boutique out of your home and store all of your products (clothes, jewelry, etc…) there and there was a fire, without the right coverage, the loss of the clothing and jewelry will most likely not be covered. Nor would any of the racks you use to show these items, boxes to store them, office equipment for the business or anything that is used to run your boutique out of your home would not be covered under your homeowners policy. Even though it is out of your home, because it is a business, you must have the additional business coverage to cover the business in case of a loss.

There are endorsements that can be added to your homeowners policy or an umbrella but again, to be insure that your business is covered in case of a loss, you need to have business insurance. Business insurance can help to provide a financial buffer to get you back in business quickly after a loss with replacing your lost property and in some cases replacing lost income while a homeowners policy cannot.

Do you have coverage for your home based business? Are you wanting to know more about what coverage you may need to protect it? Call the office today, let’s set up an appointment and talk about what is best for the type of home business you have. Check out Farmers® article, “Do You have Coverage for your Home Based Business?” for more information as well. 

Should You Be Concerned about Wildfires This Summer?

We had more than our fill of rain the last few months but now… IT IS HOT. Some days are hot and humid, some days are hot and dry and sometimes we are blessed to have a little of all three. I’m not sure what part of that is a blessing but I’m sure it is. Anyway, what we should be concerned with now are random wildfires popping up, especially with July 4^th weekend.

If you are partaking in firework popping, make sure you are able to pop them in the area you are at. One thing for sure, if your county is under a burn ban then that is a for sure NO to popping fireworks. Texas A&M Forest Service’s posted a map of the most up to date counties that are under an outdoor burn ban. See the picture below. If the county you live in is colored in red, that county has established a burn ban = no popping fireworks.

Outdoor Burn Bans as of July 1, 2016

Anyone heard of Firewise Landscaping in Texas? This is a great concept! It’s a layout on how to prep the area between your home and outside items they could cause a fire.  What to know how to keep your home “Firewise”? I learned a great deal from the information on the Texas A&M Forest Service site on how to do so. They broke it down in to Zones 1, 2, and 3.

ZONE 1:

Within 30 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Keep your lawn mowed and your trees pruned 6-10 feet from the ground.

2.      Water regularly (but follow the rules if there are water restrictions in your area).

3.      Make a ‘fire-free’ area within 5 feet around your home with non-flammable landscaping materials. (for more information on non-flammable landscaping materials, check out the full articleat Texas A&M Forest Service).

4.      If the life in your plants is no more, get rid of it, especially from under a deck and within 10 feet of your home. That also goes for any dry leaves or pine needles in and around your yard, roof and rain gutters.

       ZONE 2:

       Within 30 – 100 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Like in Zone 1, keep your trees pruned 6-10 feet from the ground.

2.      Concrete and gravel will help keep fire away from your home. Driveways, grave walkways are your friend.

3.      Leave 20 feet between individual trees and 30 between bundles of trees.

 

       ZONE 3:

       Within 100 - 200 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Remove any leaves, pine cones, wood debris to prevent a quick spread in case there was a fire.

2.      Thin out your trees as much as possible so that they don’t touch other tree. In case of a fire, they suggest trimming them with 10 feet between the trees so that in case of a fire, with the branches of other trees are not touching.  

              

What about your home itself? Fire has a mind of its own and can spread sparks and embers at will. What are ways to be proactive for your home? It’s a good thing the Texas A&M Forest Service’s site had that information as well. Thank goodness for the internet.

1.      Fire resistant! If it comes in fire resistant, that’s what you want to go with: Roof, gutters, exterior walls (metal, brick, stone siding, etc…).

2.      Windows – Double- paned or tempered- glasses windows in metal framing with fiberglass or metal screens. This was a great tip as well – when buying your drapes and shutters look for fire resistant to help act like a wall to block fire from spreading into your home.

3.      It’s always important to clean your vents, making sure they are debris free.

For more information on tips to take for making your home as fire resistant as possible, check out Texas A&M Forest Service’s brochure on Fire Resistance Materials.

In a previous blog about floods, we talked about how a flood can happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME, even if you live in a “non flood” zone. Mother Nature can change any zone at any moment. Wildfires are the same. I’m sure there are areas that are more prone to them than others but they too can happen anywhere. Be proactive and take precautions to prevent your home from being a victim of Mother Nature in general.

Sources: Texas A&M Forest Service 

On The Road Again

IT’S SUMMERTIME!!  It’s time to pack up the car and head out for vacation and not look back for a few days. The whole family has been looking forward to this all school year long.

Farmers® is very good at putting out articles on not just insurance but on everyday life. One article came across my virtual desk (email) that I wanted to share, especially since we were on the subject of summertime and travel. This particular article came from their “Seasonal SMARTS Digest –On the Road Edition: Summer 2016”  and it had great info to share.

What to check before you get on the road:

This first tip I found a bit odd but obviously it’s important or it wouldn’t have been included in the article. It says that it’s common for a thief to go after the third row seat from an SUV. If you have an SUV and you have the ability to take it out, do so and leave it behind in the garage. Really? The third row? I wonder what they do with it. If anyone knows, please feel free to share.

The second tip concerns checking your tires, making sure that you have enough air in your tires and that the tread is good. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  advises to look on your vehicles owner’s manual to find the recommended tire pressure, not the type of tire. Underinflated tires are 3 times more likely to burst and cause an accident so make sure the pressure is where it needs to be. As far as the tread on your tires, you can check the tread with a penny. The illustration below from Bridgestone Tire shows how to use a penny to see when new tires are suggested and when they are recommended.

The third tip recommends changing out your windshield wipers, especially if you haven’t used them in a while. Living in Texas, we know that the sun can be shining without a cloud in the sky one moment and flood warnings being issued the next. We never know what the weather will be like so be proactive and change out those windshield wipers.

One last tip before you head out. Click on -  The U.S Department of Transportation and it will take you directly to a list of all nation wide road closures and areas to avoid while traveling. There's even a place to check the weather in the area you will be traveling to and all the places in between. 

While you’re driving:

This first one goes out to the “over packers”. Overloading your vehicle can put more pressure on your tires. More pressure on your tires, especially in the heat, can cause a blowout. Your vehicle owner’s manual should have the load limits for your tires.

This one goes out to the “planner” of the family. Map out your trip with breaks throughout the day. Getting out of the car and walking around a bit helps with fatigue and drowsy driving. Booking a hotel in advance is always a great idea, especially during high traffic times of the year.

Not just on vacation but always follow the 3/6/9 rule. What is the 3/6/9 rule? I’ll tell you.

-        Count 3 seconds (in normal conditions) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

-        Count 6 seconds (in heavy traffic or inclement weather) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

-        Count 9 seconds (in severe weather) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

So now you’re at you destination. Happy day! Of course there are tips for that was well.

Once you’ve reached your destination:

Protect your stuff. If you are leaving anything in the car, hide it. Use the trunk, hide items, cover items and make sure they are out of sight to prevent theft. Some even use a sunshade in the front of the vehicle and the back windows. Using them may also help keep the car a little bit cooler…

Do you have a navigation device that’s mounted on the windshield? Take it down and hide that as well. And wipe off the ring that the suction cup leaves. That’s another “Welcome” sign for thieves to break in and look for it.

While on the road there will be plenty of opportunities for your windshield to be hit by a pebble or the likes of that. I know because last summer my windshield was hit twice leaving 2 long cracks by the time we made it back to Texas from New Mexico. What I didn’t know was that not only will the heat cause the crack to spread but using your windshield wipers will as well, forcing the water into the damaged areas. Hitting potholes, slamming your doors, parking in sunny areas AND… USING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER can also cause the cracks to get worse. I don’t know about you, but there is no chance in my vehicle that we will not use the AC in this heat so I guess the crack will spread. Let’s just hope I don’t get hit with another rock this summer.

Have a great and safe summer! 

Also check out our blog, "Surviving a Road Trip With Kids". 

RING! RING! "Hello, this is the IRS and you owe money." NOT!

One thing I love about working for the Kirkwood Agency is that we are one big team. If something is happening in the world that could affect us, it will be shared throughout the office, either in an email, chat or during our weekly meetings. Recently, one of us got a call from a random number in Washington, DC and they call went something like this:

“Hello. We have been trying to reach you. I am from the office of the Internal Revenue Services calling to inform you that there is currently a lawsuit being filed against you. You have a total of $1000.00 in back taxes and it needs to be paid today. To make it easy, we have provided a few options for you; Give me your credit card number or take cash to this location and someone will be there to pick it up.”  “Ok great! Where can I meet you to take you the cash? You need my social security number?” NOT!

Who knew there are people out there actually pulling off IRS scams over the phone?  So, of course, I went to the IRS site to see what they had to say about this scam. They had it listed among their Dirty Dozen. The top of their list is Identity Theft but Phone Scams was right underneath it. The people behind this widespread Phone Scam sound like they are official employees of the IRS and some have most of your information, which makes it even scarier. This is what the IRS posted on their site about these phone scams:

5 Things Scammers Do but the IRS DOES NOT:
1. Call to demand payment or to inform you of taxes owed. They will first mail you a bill.
2. Demand payment right then and there, without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the said amount owed. 
3. Make you use a specific form of payment, such as a prepaid credit card or even an iTunes gift card, nothing else.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten you with law-enforcement to have you arrested for non-pay.

They also made sure to included steps to take if you don’t owe taxes and/or if you do owe. If you know you owe or may think you owe taxes, call the IRS 800-829-1040 and someone will be able to assist you there.  If you do not think that you owe any taxes but have gotten this phone call:

1. Make sure you do not give out any information and hang up the phone.
2. Contact the TIGTA – Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and report the call. You can use the IRS Impersonation Scam Report (link) web page or you can call 800-366-4484.
3. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission using FTC Complaint Assistant, adding “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

It’s unfortunate that awareness is needed for this or any sort of scam out there. I hope this helps to bring light to this scam and that they get reported in hopes to stop the scammers. We all love modern technology but unfortunately, so do criminals that are constantly using it to their advantage. 

*This information was taken from https://www.irs.gov/  in an effort to bring awareness to this ongoing problem.  For more information on this scam and the complete article click: IRS Wraps Up the "Dirty Dozen" List of Tax Scams for 2016.

*ANNOUNCING THE KIRKWOOD'S CLASS ACT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY!*

CONGRATULATIONS TO.....

DUSTY ORTIZ!!!

Dusty Ortiz of Timber Creek High School is our May winner. Thank you to Todd Tunnell, TCHS's principal and to the staff for letting us come in and present Mr. Ortiz with his $100 gift card from Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency, $25 gift certificate to The Local Watering Hole and 30 minute massage from Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist.

‪#‎kirkwoodclassacts ‪#‎kirkwoodagency

The teachers who have not been chosen will be placed in the running for the 2016-2017 school year. Nominations will be taken through the summer as well. So spread the word and helps us give back to our educators for all their time and hard work with our kiddos.

Have a great summer to all students, teachers and staff!

July 28th - Christmas In July

Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency presents:

CHRISTMAS IN JULY! 

Beginning July 1, 2016 stop by the office to adopt an angel from our Angel Tree. We are teaming up with Arrow Child & Family Ministries| Christian Foster Care & Adoption to supply school supplies and backpacks for the foster children in their care!

We have also joined forces with Royal Family Kids to help raise funds to send local foster kiddos to summer camp! AND if that is not enough...Have you heard of Austin's Underdawgs? Austin will be here on July 28th serving up his gourmet hot dogs to all that attend. We will have pictures with Santa, and shopping of course. Our vendors for this event will be: Swanky Chic Boutique, Boops Boutique, Threads of a Feather, Sara's Purses and CreationQueen! Make plans to attend! You don't want to miss this!

APRIL'S KIRKWOOD CLASS ACT IS...

LESLI CRAIG!!!! 

Lesli Craig of the Keller Early Learning Center was nominated by a parent anonymously. The person who nominated Mrs. Craig raved about how she never fails to go above and beyond the call of duty for her students. On her own time she created learning tools, shaped for individual students in an effort to help them to be successful in their own learning style. She continues to strive for the very best for each of her students and her passion for their success is unmeasureable. 

Thank you, Christy Johnson, the principal of the Keller Early Learning Center and to the staff for letting us come in and present Mrs. Craig with her $100 gift card from Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency, $25 gift card to The Local Watering Hole and a 30 minute massage from Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist. 

*CONGRATULATION, LESLIE CRAIG! YOU ARE APRIL'S KIRKWOOD CLASS ACT!*  

Hail – 1… Roof – 0... Now What?

Lately, the weather has been, well… just plain angry this storm season. Several storms have hit and devastated parts of Texas, leaving homes either wiped out or heavily damaged. We’ve all seen the pictures all over social media of broken windows and even complete holes in roofs from hail. It can be terrifying to be caught in one of these storms. What might also be terrifying is figuring out what to do to start the rebuilding process and how to avoid getting scammed. Because there’s not enough to be concerned about, right? Will your roof need to be replaced or not?

The first thing you want to do if you think your roof may be damaged is to contact a trusted roofer that has been in your area for several years. Do your research and ask for referrals. Once you’ve found a roofer, have them take a look at your roof. If there is damage, have them give you an estimate of what it is going to cost to repair the roof. You can also have another roofer come out for a second opinion. Estimates are typically free. After you’ve gotten the estimate, call your insurance company and they will help get a claim started for you.

The Better Business Bureau had great information regarding what to consider when you seek out roofers and what to be aware of. I have listed a few for you:

Before you call a roofer, look around your property before even climbing on the roof. If there isn’t any hail damage to vehicles, siding or shrubbery, then it’s not likely that you have damage to your roof.

Be careful of any company that comes door-to-door, using phrases such as, “insurance companies are compensating” or “insurance compensation for repairs”.  It is illegal for a roofing company to claim compensation of any kind from your insurance company. Also watch out for those companies that promise to “pay your deductible” or “discount your deductible”. Most of the time when they do that, documentation to the insurance company doesn’t always match what was done and depending on the amount, you could be the one facing criminal charges for fraud. Insurance companies pay up to the amount it costs to do the repairs, not always is a “cheaper” company going to save you money. For more information, visit http://www.tdi.texas.gov .

This might sound silly but when there is a hailstorm, make sure to know about how large the hailstones were.  If it was golf ball sized hail or large, there is a chance for damage. You can usually get this information from The National Weather Service.

There are great, reliable, trustworthy roofing services out there but unfortunately there are also some that are not. Do your research before calling to get an estimate on your roof. You don’t want to have someone come out and fabricate damage to your roof so they can ‘fix’ it for you.

The article provided information that a legitimate roofing company should be able to provide which is:

*             Local references and roofing testimonials

*             Business License

*             Roofing credentials

*             Workers compensation insurance

*             General liability insurance

*             Written manufacturer warranties

*             Written labor warranties

The Better Business Bureau article had very useful information regarding what to do before you get your roof inspected, phrases to be aware of, and to always make sure to do your research. You can always call us for guidance. We have a few roofers that we can refer as well. The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to start your research on roofers as well.

If you would like the complete article click here: Better Business Bureau - Roofing Scams.

The Texas Department of Insurance’s website is a great place to find more general insurance information, including information on insurance fraud. 

KIRKWOOD'S CLASS ACTS WINNER FOR MARCH IS...

Camille Pierce of Parkview Elementary is our March winner!! 

Thank you to Doreen Krebs, the Parkview Elementary principal and to the staff for letting us come in and present Mrs. Pierce with her $100 gift card from Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency, $25 gift card from The Local Watering Hole, and a 30 minute massage from Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist. 

The nominations from the month of March who were not chosen will be put into the drawing for April as well. 

Help us give back to our local teachers and get your nominations in for April's Kirkwood's Class Acts!

You May Be Covered for This... But Not for Something Like...

We’ve all heard the expression, “You get what you pay for.” How many of us have found that to true? We think we are going to save a little money so we go for the less expensive choice. Sometimes cheaper ends up being more expensive in the long run.

Let’s take auto insurance, for instance. We all have to have auto insurance and there are several insurance companies you can get your auto insurance from but not all of them provide the same, top notch insurance. Cheaper now may mean paying more later when you need to actually use your insurance.

When going with a company who advertises that they can save you hundreds of dollars a year, be very careful and look at what your policy actually covers. Do your research. Will you have a high deductible? To make the insurance cheaper, yes your deductible will be high.  Chances are the policy itself will have gaps throughout so if you were in an accident, the ‘cheap’ just went out the door. Not to mention some insurers will raise your rates or even drop you completely with one claim, no matter how big or small. Forgiveness may not be in their vocabulary. Farmers does have Incident Forgiveness, Small Claims Forgiveness and Comprehensive Claims Forgiveness that can be added to your policy that already comes fitted with quality coverage.

What about putting in a claim? Will they have 24/7 support? Will the person you speak with have the training to know what to do to help you and to make your claim processes go as smoothly and quickly as possible? Who’s to say for sure, but what I do know is that Farmers takes pride in their highly trained agents and their claims professionals to insure that your claims experience is as pleasant as can be. The claims professionals make sure to keep you up to date with the process with the least amount of hassle as possible. Getting you back on the road quickly and back to your norm is key and that’s what they’re goal is.

When writing any type of policy, Farmers makes sure to take the information given and get you into the best policy that fits what you need. We provide personalized service and 24/7 support. You can access documents, billing and policy information online as well. We even have an app for smartphones that’s free.

Saving money always sounds like a good idea but not when it comes to spending more money if something where to happen. Make sure you research and learn about what your insurance covers. Like Professor Burke says, “The more you learn about your insurance, the more gaps you may find. Like you may be covered for this…. But not for something like this…” (See video below.)

Opening Day Tailgate Party **Save The Date**

Can't make the Opening Day game? No worries, we've got you covered! Stop by Farmer's Insurance - The Kirkwood Agency from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Monday, April 4th to celebrate the beginning of baseball season. 

Come hungry! We will be serving hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and more! 

Got pitching skills? We'll have a fast pitch booth here for you to show us what you got! Prizes to be won so bring your A game! 

OH!!! And we will be giving away tickets to a Rangers Game!

Click Opening Day Tailgate Party to see the Facebook invite, click going and join us! See you then! 

Nominate A Teacher for Kirkwood's Class Acts

Introducing.... 

KIRKWOOD'S CLASS ACTS - TEACHER OF THE MONTH!!

As a spin off of Farmers Insurance's Thank America's Teachers, the Kirkwood Agency has put together a campaign of our own called, Kirkwood's Class Acts aimed at giving back to special educators that have made a difference. At the end of each month during the school year, we will hold a drawing for one of the nominated teachers to win a $100 gift card to use towards classroom supplies. The Local Watering Hole in Keller and Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist are also participating. The Local Watering Hole will be donating a $25 gift card each month to their restaurant. Tara Hayden will be donating a 30 minute massage each month. What an amazing community we are apart of. 

So please take a moment and think about your children's teachers and if one comes to mind who truly impacted their life, nominate them. Is there a teacher, past or present, who has helped your child overcome a difficult time in their learning process? Nominate them. A teacher who took the time to go above and beyond to make sure your child was successful in something they had trouble with? Nominate them. Help us give back to these special educators that have made a difference.

Submit your nomination to Stephanie at stephanie.ekirkwood@farmersagency.com with the following information:

1. The teacher's name
2. What made you nominate them
3. What school your teacher teaches at

The drawing will be held on the last day of the month so get them in ASAP. 

*You can also click Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency and submit your nomination on our Facebook page or click Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency to submit your nomination on our Google+ page.*

Swanky Chic VIP Trunk Show - Sunday, February 28th from 2-5pm

*ATTENTION LADIES*

Spring has sprung! Ok maybe not yet but we do live in Texas where our seasons are... well... just weird. With that being said, we need to prep ourselves for Spring! Am I right? Well you are in luck!

Come join us this Sunday from 2-5pm for "Swanky Sunday"! What's "Swanky Sunday" you ask? Our friends from Swanky Chic Boutique will be setting up their brand new Spring Collection, here at the Kirkwood Agency. Good times will be had so we hope to see you Sunday!

The ladies from Swanky Chic suggest that you come wearing leggings and a cami under your shirt so you can try-on right where you stand. There are a couple of dressing areas, but if you don't feel like waiting, come prepared!

Are you a fan of jewelry? Of course you are! :) Voyagers Dream Jewelry will be here as well to fulfill your accessorizing needs.

One more important tip! Click here: Swanky Chic Boutique VIP, like their page and get an additional 20% off your purchase! WINNING!!! 

SEE Y'ALL SUNDAY!!

Random Acts of Kindness

With all that is going on in the world, it sometimes seems that kindness is hard to come by. That’s just not ok. It’s a good thing February 15^th - 19^th is….

Random acts of kindness don’t always have to cost you anything. Just be kind to someone. You never know what kind of day someone is having or what kind of struggles they have. Small, simple acts of kindness can go a long way. Even something as simple as a smile or even a wave can change the direction of someone’s day. I used to think, “Well, what if they don’t smile back. I’ll feel silly.” Sorry to tell you but it’s not about you and I mean that in the kindest way possible.

Need some ideas? I thought you’d never ask!

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IDEAS

-        Smile and wave (we talked about that)

-        Give someone a hug

-        Open or hold the door open for someone

-        Be encouraging even when it’s not so easy

-        Let a car merge in front of you

-        Let someone go in line in front of you at the store

-        Thank someone in the armed forces

-        Thank your police and fire departments

-        Pay someone a compliment, even if it’s a stranger

-        Leave a nice note for someone you love

-        Leave a nice note for a co-worker

-        Pay for coffee for the person in line behind you (Ok, this one may cost a little)

-        Say “Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening”, “Please”, and “Thank you” to those who make your life easier (servers, bus drivers, janitors, mail carriers, grocery store clerks and baggers. Use their name if you can see it in on their badge.)

-        When asked what you want for your birthday respond with, “A random act of kindness to someone else.”

-        Leave a kind comment on a blog. J

-        Bring a treat to share with co-workers (may cost a little)

-        Say a prayer for family and/or friends

-        Compliment a child to their parents in front of the child

-        Be a good listener for a friend

-        Do a random act of kindness for someone and don’t tell them, ever!

-        Donate to a charity (as big or as little as you want)

-        Mail a letter of encouragement to someone

-        Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while

-        Babysit for new parents who need a date night

-        Simply be kind

-        Pay someone’s toll (small amount bug big gesture)

-        Clean the gym equipment when you’re finished using it (please. J)

-        Pay a compliment to your boss

-        Doing something nice and not excepting anything back in return

There are so many other ways to show random acts of kindness and they don’t have to be monetary. A simple smile can brighten someone’s day.

Share your favorite random acts of kindness with us. Share ones that I didn’t list. The more the merrier!