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Do Not Let Slips & Trips Harm Your Holiday

Keep The Season Safe By Avoiding Common Workplace Injuries

A little slip in the parking lot or trip over the corner of a rug may not seem like a big deal, but the National Safety Council reports that 25,000 trip, slip, or fall accidents occur each day in the United States. Accidents of these kinds on the same level are the second leading cause of workplace injuries. Save yourself and your employees from hazardous situations with increased awareness around these types of incidents.

Take a walk around your business property. Are the walking surfaces uneven or marked with holes and cracks? Do puddles collect in certain areas? Are the walkways, sidewalks, and parking lots properly lit? Walking your property with an eye to potential safety hazards will help you understand the risks on your business site so you can properly address them.

How can you increase the safety of your location? Make sure all entryways offer a place to wipe off wet shoes, and that mats are secured. Provide janitorial staff with “Wet Floor” signs to mark potentially unsafe areas after cleaning. If you have a slippery floor surface like high-gloss tile or smoothly polished stone, consider investing in runner rugs for the main walkways.

In the event someone does trip, slip, or fall make sure the accident is documented. Take down the names of all of the people involved in the situation and take photographs of the hazardous area. Not only will this help you avoid similar accidents in the future, but this information could come in handy if an insurance or workers’ compensation claim is required.

Make sure your company is protected with the business insurance it needs by contacting California-based Cappuccino Insurance Agency today! Serving Westlake Village and all of Conejo Valley, our dedicated team is here to help you secure the coverage you need to make your work community a safe place.

Open Enrollment is Open!

Have you signed up for your health care coverage for 2015 yet? If you have not, make sure to sign up before the Open Enrollment period ends on February 15, 2015. If you do not sign up for a new health insurance plan, you will face more expensive fines than ever before and will not be able to sign up until the next Open Enrollment period. If you do not sign up for health insurance, you will be fined 2 percent of your yearly household income, or $325 per person for the year, whichever is more expensive.

The only way that you can sign up for health insurance outside of the Open Enrollment period is if you qualify for a Special Enrollment period. Some of the most common qualifying life events include:

  • Getting married or getting divorced.
  • Moving your permanent residence to a different state that does not offer the same health insurance that you previously had.
  • Having a baby, adopting a child, or putting a child up for adoption.
  • Having a change in your household income status that changes your eligibility for cost sharing reductions of tax credits.
  • Gaining status as a member of a federally recognized shareholder or tribe in an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation. If you are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, you can change your plan or enroll in a new plan once a month throughout the year.
  • If you lost your health insurance because you lost your job, aged off of your parent’s health insurance plan, lost your eligibility for CHIP or Medicaid, or any other similar circumstance.

For all of your health insurance needs throughout the Conejo Valley, contact the insurance professionals at Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California.

Check Out These Local Events!

The cool fall weather is here, and there is no better way to enjoy the season than by spending time with your loved ones in the local community. Make sure to mark your calendar for these exciting events in the Conejo Valley, this fall.

The 10th Annual Conejo Valley YMCA Turkey Day Dash is the perfect place to spend your Thanksgiving morning. Starting at 8 am on November 27th at California Lutheran University, the Turkey Dash will be fun for the whole family! There are two races to participate in, a fun run that starts at 8 am and a 5K Run/Walk that starts at 8:30 am. The event is just a couple of hours long, ensuring that you have plenty of time to make it back to your Thanksgiving dinner plans. All of the proceeds from the event will help to benefit the Conejo Valley YMCA.

If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit, you will not want to miss An Irish Christmas at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on December 21st. The family friendly event features Kevin Horton of Riverdance leading the traditional Irish dance. The event will have music, traditional dance, storytelling, and tons of Irish soul. Make sure to get your tickets today before this popular show sells out.

The 3rd Annual Holly Jolly Half Marathon 5K and 10K is taking place on December 21st. The course takes you over gentle rolling hills through Camarillo. Make sure to wear your best holiday costume for a chance to win a prize!

Cappuccino Insurance Agency, located in Westlake Village, California would like to invite you and your family out to enjoy all these fun, local activities this fall.

Prevent a Break-In With These Tips

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means you may be leaving your house vacant while you are visiting family. Before you pack your bags, it is important to make sure you know how to keep your house safe for the season. Keep these tips in mind to help prevent a break-in at your home.

  • Keep it bright – install a timer on a couple of lights in your home so that they will come on at different times in the evening to keep your home bright.
  • Lock up – before you leave, check to make sure all the doors and windows, even the ones on the second story, throughout your home are locked.
  • Keep your gardener – if you are leaving for an extended period of time, make sure that your gardener keeps up with your landscaping. Nothing says vacant house like overgrown grass and bushes.
  • Stop your mail – ask the post office to hold your mail until you get back, or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up each day so that it does not pile up.
  • Close the blinds – keep your blinds closed so that burglars cannot see all the valuables in your home. Also, make sure to lock any small valuables, such as jewelry, away in a safe.

Installing a security system in your home is one of the best ways to protect it! Not only will it deter burglars from breaking into your home, but it can also help to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance.

For all of your home insurance needs throughout the Conejo Valley and to ensure that you are protected in case of any unfortunate situation, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We will work with you to ensure that you have the right amount of coverage for your specific situation.

The Right Insurance for Manufacturers

There are very specific risks that are associated with companies that manufacture their own goods. Having the right insurance policies is the best way to ensure that the company is not financially devastated in case of a problem with the products. Make sure to invest in these specific insurance policies if your business manufactures their own goods.

  • Product recall insurance – covers the cost of situations associated with the recall of one of your products, including shipping, repairs, and customer notification.
  • General liability insurance – will cover most losses or injuries that your business causes to others, as well as the legal representation needed if you are sued.
  • Property insurance – covers the cost to replace or repair any business property, both the building and the contents of the building that is destroyed or damaged due to a named peril, including theft, fire, or flood.
  • Interruption of business insurance – will cover the cost of lost incomes and other expenses if your business is forced to shut down. When looking for the right policy, make sure to invest in one that will give you enough time to get back up and running.
  • Goods in transit insurance – provides coverage for your goods while they are being shipped to the customer.
  • Employee dishonest insurance – will provide coverage for losses that are caused by a theft within the company, including embezzlement and the loss of materials, products, and cash.
  • Worker’s compensation insurance – provides health care coverage for any employees who are injured on the job, no matter who is at fault.

For all your business insurance needs for your manufacturing business in the Conejo Valley, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We will work with your business to ensure that you have the most comprehensive coverage for your specific needs.

What can Employment Practices Liability Insurance do for You?

Owning your own business comes with a lot of responsibility, including making sure that you and your employees are covered in any situation. Having the right employment practices liability insurance can help to make sure that your business has the proper coverage for any unfortunate situation, associated with problems with an employee. Keep these 4 common reasons to invest in an employment practices liability policy in mind when looking into the right insurance policies.

  1. Your decisions impact your employees. You make decisions every day that impact your employees, such as hiring, firing, promotions, compensation, and accommodating disabilities. Each one of these situations can easily lead to a lawsuit if they are not handled correctly.
  2. You can be financially devastated. Especially if you are a small business, one lawsuit associated with employee practices can have a serious financial impact on the company. The small cost of an employment practices liability policy will provide the right amount of coverage, no matter the size of the lawsuit.
  3. You cannot depend on human resources. Even if you have a strong and reliable human resources team, it does not mean that you can avoid all employee issues. Making sure that you are covered with the right employment practices liability policy can give you peace of mind in knowing that you will be able to handle any situation.
  4. You may not know how to handle a problem. Most employment practices claims are very complex, and you may not have the right tools to know-how to deal with the issue. Investing in an employment practices liability policy will ensure that you will have the right people behind you, in case of any unfortunate situation.

For all of your employment practices liability needs in the Conejo Valley, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We can provide you with the most comprehensive business insurance needs, to provide coverage in any situation.

Be Prepared for an Earthquake with These Tips

Living in California comes with the danger of experiencing an earthquake. There is no way to tell when an earthquake is going to happen, or just how much damage it will cause. Make sure to keep these earthquake safety tips in mind to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for an earthquake.

  • Practice drills. The best way to ensure that everyone in your family knows what to do in case of an earthquake is to practice. It will also help everyone stay calm when there is an earthquake since they will know what to do.
  • Take cover. Make sure to identify a safe place to be during an earthquake in each of the rooms in your home. These could be under a sturdy table on next to an inside wall of the house.
  • Have an emergency kit. Make an emergency kit that you will be able to get to in case of an earthquake. This should include things such as medical supplies, water, and nonperishable food. Also make sure that it contains a list of things to grab in case of an emergency, such as medication, family heirlooms, and contact information for friends and family.
  • Think about your pets. Make sure that your pet also has a special emergency kit that includes medication, the phone number of vets, and a carriers.

The best way to make sure that you home is protected in case of an earthquake is to invest in an earthquake insurance policy. A typical homeowners insurance policy will not provide the right amount of protection needed, so you will be left paying for the damage out of your own pocket.

To ensure that your home and family are protected in case of an earthquake in the Conejo Valley, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We can provide the most comprehensive insurance coverage to ensure that you are protected from any damage.

Make Sure You Buy the Right House with These Tips

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your life, which is why it is important to take your time and make sure that you choose the right house. Keep these tips in mind to ensure that you make the right decision when it comes to buying your new home.

  • Figure out what you need. There are many different housing options out there, from single family homes to a condo. It is important to recognize what will work the best for your family to ensure that everyone is happy and to help narrow down your search. Also make sure to decide on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need.
  • Figure out what you need. After you have decided the bare minimum of what you want in your home, decide what you need to help narrow down your search even more. These can be anything from the size of the yard to how much counter space is in the home.
  • Get pre-qualified. Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage is a good way to know the price range of homes that you should look at. It will also help the rest of the home buying process go much smoother once you are pre-qualified.
  • Know how much you can actually afford. Knowing how much a lender will loan you is one thing, but there are many other factors that go into affording a home. Make sure that you consider other costs of owning a home, including insurance, utilities, and even the cost to drive to work.

Most importantly, make sure to invest in the right homeowners insurance policy to ensure that your new home is covered in any unfortunate situation. For all of your homeowners insurance needs throughout the Conejo Valley, contact the insurance experts at Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California.

Insurance Changes after your Wedding

Getting married is one of the biggest life changes that you will go through. Along with changing your family, it will also cause changes in your insurance policies. Make sure you know how to handle your insurance policies after you get married to ensure that you have the right amount of coverage.

  • Auto insurance. Most of the time, combining your auto insurance policies is the best way to help keep the cost of your auto insurance low after getting married. It can also help to reduce the risk of having any gaps in your coverage. However, if your new spouse has a less than perfect driving record, you may end up spending more money on your auto insurance, so it may be a better idea to keep separate auto insurance policies.
  • Homeowners insurance. After getting married, it is important to make sure both of your names are listed on your homeowners insurance policy for both your current home and any rental property that you have. If one home is going to be vacant while you find a renter, make sure that you have the right amount of insurance to cover the vacant property. You will also need to invest in a different type of insurance once the property is rented out.
  • Umbrella insurance. Once you are married, you now have double the amount of assets, which means your already existing insurance policies probably do not have enough liability coverage. Investing in an umbrella insurance policy will provide the extra coverage needed for all of your new belongings in case they are damaged or destroyed.

For all of your Conejo Valley insurance needs after getting married, contact the insurance professionals at Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We can provide you with the most comprehensive coverage for both you and your new spouse.

Saving on Your Life Insurance Policy

Life insurance is the best way to ensure that your loved ones are well taken care of after you are gone. With all the life insurance choices available, it can be difficult making sure you have the right policy. Keep these tips in mind to make sure that you are investing in the right policy, as well as help save you money on your policy.

  • Buy a policy when you are young and healthy. Buying a life insurance policy while you are young can help you save money on the policy. The older you get, the more expensive your life insurance will be.
  • Consult with a professional. Life insurance agents will have all of the information about the different policies that are available to ensure that you invest in the right policy for your needs. They can help you avoid any costly mistakes when buying a policy.
  • Consistently reevaluate your needs. Whenever you have a big life change, such as getting married, buying a house, or having children, make sure to reevaluate your life insurance coverage. The more you have to lose, the more coverage you should have.
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Life insurance rates are determined by how likely your death is at the time that your purchase your policy. The healthier you are, the less you will have to pay.
  • Consider different policy types. Make sure to research both term life and whole life insurance policies when choosing the right option. A life insurance agent can help to ensure that you buy the right policy for your lifestyle to ensure that you do not waste your money.

For the most comprehensive life insurance coverage in the Conejo Valley, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We can help guide you through the process to ensure you get the policy that best fits your needs.