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Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units?: A Complete Guide

Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units?: A Complete Guide


Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units?: A Complete Guide

When you’re renting a home, you rarely have the storage space needed to keep all your belongings in your apartment or house. Storage units solve the problem, but of course, they come with issues of their own, such as the risk of fire or burglary.

Having renters insurance is a smart idea, but do you need two policies? Or does renters insurance cover storage units?

Here’s what you need to know.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units?

Yes, if you buy renters insurance, then it will cover your storage unit.

Every policy is different, but the same rules should apply to your storage unit as your rental unit. That means fire, tornadoes, burglary, and water damage will all fall under your policy.

There are limits. You won’t enjoy the same coverage for both your rental and your unit. Policies typically cap storage unit insurance at 10% of your total policy value. So, if you have $50,000 in renters insurance, then you have $5,000 in coverage for your storage unit.

What Isn’t Covered?

There are a few instances when your policy won’t kick in after an emergency.

First, if you need to claim a result of a flood, earthquake, or pest, then your insurance won’t cover you. You typically need specific flood insurance to protect your possessions.

Second, neither renters nor storage unit insurance cover certain high-value items. Storage unit coverage never includes things like gold, musical instruments, valuable art, or other rare items. If you have jewelry (including expensive wedding rings), then you likely need to add a jewelry insurance rider or seek out insurance policies that cover your valuable items specifically.

There may be other limitation clauses depending on your state and policy provider. Always read the policy in full before deciding on the best storage unit insurance for you.

When Should You Buy Renters Insurance and Storage Unit Insurance?

So, when should you buy both renters and storage unit insurance?

Most people won’t need both, but you might consider looking for two policies if 10% of your policy value doesn’t cover what’s going into storage.

You might find this to be the case if you’re downsizing from a family home into an apartment and keeping the vast majority of your things. In this case, you would have a significant amount of furniture or other items into storage either temporarily or permanently, and $1,000 to $5,000 wouldn’t cover the value your storage unit.

What about storing valuable possessions? As noted before, you typically need policies covering your valuable items specifically or riders that do so rather than buying two of the same policy (renters and storage unit).

Make Sure You Have the Right Cover

Does renters insurance cover storage units? The answer is yes! However, there are policy limits.

If you have unique needs, such as a significant amount of stuff in storage or high-value items, then you’re likely to need multiple policies or riders for full coverage. Make sure you talk to an agent before you sign the dotted line. Because when you have the right cover, you can rest easy.

Are you looking for more helpful content? Visit the finance archive for more money matters.

 

Technology

How to Sight in a Rifle Scope: A Complete Guide

How to Sight in a Rifle Scope: A Complete Guide


How to Sight in a Rifle Scope: A Complete Guide

Are you wanting to shoot more accurately and with greater precision? Then you should definitely consider adding a scope to your rifle. Luckily, setting up a scope is fairly easy, although it still does take some time and effort. 

If you’re interested in improving your shooting but don’t know how to sight in a rifle scope, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. 

Boresight

The very first step when it comes to sighting in scope is to boresight. Boresighting is when you alight the sights on your rifle with the gun’s bore.  

To do this, you first have to clear the gun. The rifle needs to be unloaded and there shouldn’t be anything in front of the barrel. Once the gun is unloaded and clear, it’s time to remove the magazine or bolt. 

Now, mount your gun on a resting point where the barrel is pointing downrange. 

Get Your Gear

There are some basic items you’ll need in order to properly sight in. First, you’ll need the actual rifle. You’ll also need a proper front rest — a bipod is one popular option. You’ll also need a rearrest to make sure that you have plenty of stability. 

A sandbag is all you need for a rearrest. You’ll also need eye protection, ammo, and ear protection. 

Focus the Rifle Scope

There are two parts to this step. First, you must properly focus the reticle. For the second part, if your gun has a side focus parallax, you have to first focus the parallax.

This is to ensure that the target is properly focused for the distance that you’re shooting at.  

For focusing the reticle, you need a plain-colored background. A cloudy white sky or clear blue sky will be enough. So get behind the gun and adjust the reticle until it’s focused. 

Then, dial-up to the magnification that you’ll be shooting at. Follow this by focusing the parallax. 

When focusing the parallax, make sure that the target is as crisp and clear as possible. At the same time, you need to make sure that the reticle isn’t moving at all when you shift the position of your head. 

Start Shooting

When you start shooting, you should just be single loading the ammo. It’s not a race to get through it as fast as you can. You really want to make sure that you’re taking nice, slow, consistent shots that you can be confident in. 

After taking several shots, go ahead and take a look at the target. If you pull a shot while firing, don’t count that as part of your pattern. A pulled shot should be considered an outlier and not as an indicator of the scope’s accuracy. 

Measure how far off your shots are from the bullseye. 

Adjusting

Go back to the rifle so that you can make adjustments to the scope. First, you want to take off the turret caps. Dial-in the necessary number of clicks so that you’re scope can be properly adjusted. 

Make sure that you’re adjusting for both horizontal and elevation elements. After you’ve adjusted the scope, go ahead and put the turret caps back on. 

Now, you’re good to shoot some more. Continue shooting and adjusting until you’re satisfied. 

The Final Step

This last step is optional. You only have to perform this step if you’re planning to dial your turrets in the field for a long-range shot to compensate for wind or elevation. 

First, you want to once more take off the turret caps. Then grab a coin, any sized coin will do, and hold the turret in place. Rotate it so that you loosen the screw on top. 

Remove the screw and then lift the top turret up and re-reference it so that the zero marking is facing the zero indicator line. After you’ve got the turret lined up, simply replace your screw and tighten it back on. While you do this, it’s important that the turret doesn’t shift or move.

Then, just put the turret cap back on and you’re good to go. 

Buying and Selling Rifle Scopes

When purchasing a rifle scope, there are several factors that you first have to consider. First, you have to think about what kind of reticle you want. There are three main kinds. 

You have the duplex reticle, mildot reticle, and BDC reticle. You also have to decide how you want your measurements. You can get a scope that measures in MOA (Minute of Angle) or MRAD (milliradian). 

You’ll also have to choose between the different positions for the scope’s reticle. You can either get the position known as the first focal plane (FFP) or the second focal plane (SFP). 

When it comes to learning how to sell used scopes, there are also a few things that you need to consider. These include checking the condition of the scope, making sure it functions, and taking the brand value into consideration. 

The Importance of Knowing How to Sight in a Rifle Scope

By knowing how to sight in a rifle scope, you will not only greatly improve your accuracy but you’ll also be able to open up a whole new world of possibilities. You’ll be able to grow into a more confident and well-rounded shooter and can also become more knowledgable about the mechanics of firearms and how to improve them. 

Are you interested in reading more helpful articles? Check out the rest of our blog today!

Health

Your Complete Guide to Silicone Wristband Safety

Your Complete Guide to Silicone Wristband Safety


Your Complete Guide to Silicone Wristband Safety

Did you know there’s a chance the silicone wristband you wear on a regular basis could save your life?

A study conducted a few years back revealed that some silicone wristbands are capable of trapping different chemicals and compounds that people are exposed to. It could help you steer clear of these chemicals and compounds for the sake of your health.

There could, however, also be some safety risks that come along with wearing silicone wristbands if you’re not careful. You can avoid these risks by educating yourself about them and following a few simple wristband safety steps.

Here are things you can do to keep yourself safe while wearing a silicone wristband.

Invest in Silicone Wristbands That Fit Around Your Wrists Comfortably

If you’re going to wear silicone wristbands a lot, you’re going to want to make sure they fit comfortably around your wrists.

You don’t want silicone wristbands to be too loose around your wrists. But at the same time, you don’t want them to be cutting off the circulation to your hands, either.

If you sense that a silicone wristband might be too loose or too tight, you should look for a different one to put around your wrist. It’ll help you practice silicone wristband safety and prevent your wristband from causing you discomfort throughout the day.

Keep Silicone Wristbands Away From Anything They Could Get Caught On

As long as your silicone wristbands are on the snug side, they shouldn’t get caught on anything while you’re going about your business. A wristband of any kind could get caught on something if you put your wrist too close to it.

Be mindful of where you’re putting your hands when you’re wearing silicone wristbands. If you’re planning on using motorized equipment, it’s best to take your wristbands off until you’re finished.

Replace Silicone Wristbands Every So Often

Silicone wristbands will last you for a long time when you invest in ones from the right company. You can make your own wristbands and wear them for months to come.

No matter how durable silicone wristbands might be, you should get into the habit of replacing them every now and then. It’ll prevent your wristbands from shrinking or stretching out on you.

Silicone wristbands are very affordable, which will make it easy to keep a fresh supply on hand at all times. Take advantage of this and replace your wristbands as necessary to keep yourself safe.

Keep These Silicone Wristband Safety Tips in Mind

Wearing silicone wristbands is a great way to show your support for a good cause. It’s also a great way to show your love for a sports team or a school.

Pick up silicone wristbands and start wearing them every day. Just make sure you keep the silicone wristband safety tips found here in mind to protect yourself. It’ll be well worth the extra effort on your part.

Read our blog to find out about other accessories that you can wear along with silicone bracelets.

Health

How to Choose the Best Pharmacy: Your Complete Guide

How to Choose the Best Pharmacy: Your Complete Guide


How to Choose the Best Pharmacy: Your Complete Guide

Over 50% of the United States population takes one or more prescription medications. Since you’re reading this, we’re going to assume that you’re among that group. We’re also going to assume that you know how difficult getting your hands on prescriptions can be.

Not only do drugs cost Americans a collective $325 billion per year but the convenience of accessing prescriptions can be a serious challenge depending on where you live.

The most effective way to improve your prescription getting process is to do business with the best pharmacy that’s available to you. Determining which pharmacy that is, is the purpose of this post.

Below, we walk you through tips that will help you weigh your pharmacy options which will hopefully lead you to choose the best provider.

Keep it Simple

In life, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones. The same principle applies to pharmacy selection.

If you have a healthcare provider, there’s a chance that they have an in-house pharmacy. In most cases, that pharmacy will be the easiest place to get your prescription filled and will offer you the best prices.

People that go to smaller doctor’s offices may not have the benefit of an in-house pharmacy. If your healthcare provider is a large organization like Kaiser though, we recommend simplifying things by getting everything done in one place.

Consider Local Options

Location is a huge factor when it comes to picking the best pharmacy. If you pick a pharmacy that’s far away, you may find it difficult to pick up your medication which could lead to you putting off your healthcare needs.

To avoid that, start your pharmacy search by creating a short-list of pharmacies that are within a 15-minute drive of your house. Almost all communities have a CVS, Walgreens, or another chain pharmacy within that radius.

Ask About Mail Services

One of the biggest revolutions in prescription fulfillment has been mail order services. With mail order, you can place orders online and your medication will get delivered to your door in roughly 3 to 5 days (if your pharmacy is based domestically).

This can be a massive convenience boost for people that have difficulty finding the time to pick up their prescriptions.

Some pharmacies that are partnered with healthcare providers offer patients mail order services for free. Others, like this pharmacy, will offer complimentary shipping if you buy prescriptions in bulk.

Weigh Price Differences

If you’ve never shopped between pharmacies before, it might come as a surprise that different pharmacies charge different prices. That’s why it’s imperative to consider what medications you need and how much different businesses charge for that medication.

What can cause more confusion here is that at many pharmacies, drug prices fluctuate. That can make it hard to budget for medical expenses.

Talk to a prospective pharmacy about the drugs that are important to you. Ask if they’ve seen fluctuation in those drug’s prices over the years.

By taking the time to understand a pharmacy’s price and fluctuation trends, you can set yourself up to pick a business that will offer you the best prices not just today but over time.

Confirm Insurance Acceptance

Not every pharmacy works with every insurance provider. If you rely on insurance to subsidize some or all of your prescription drug costs, you’re going to want to make sure that the pharmacy you’re considering accepts your insurance before placing an order.

A quick visit to a pharmacy’s website or a phone call can clear up any insurance questions that you may have. You’ll also want to double-check compatibility with your insurer.

Look Into Privacy Accommodations

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines state that all pharmacies must provide reasonable privacy accommodations to discuss a customer’s health needs. While compliance with HIPAA is mandated, some pharmacies do a better job of complying than others.

When considering your best pharmacy choices, inspect a pharmacy’s space to see if there are areas where you can have a private conversation. Also, read about a pharmacy’s reputation online to make sure that they have a track record of persevering their customer’s private medical data.

Consider Promotional Offers

In an effort to drum up business, many of the best pharmacies offer deals to their customers. These deals usually come in the way of coupons or bulk-buy specials that offer discounts if patients buy 3-months or more of their prescriptions.

Chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are very aggressive when it comes to coupon circulation. There are also third-party coupon websites, GoodRx for example, that might offer regular discounts at a pharmacy that you’re considering.

Inventory/Service

Once you’ve considered the factors that we’ve discussed thus far, the last thing to look at when selecting a pharmacy is how good its inventory is and what kind of customer service they provide.

A pharmacy that offers great prices but never has/can’t prepare the medications that you need won’t be of much use to you. Similarly, a pharmacy that doesn’t value you as a customer is best avoided.

Wrapping Up How to Choose the Best Pharmacy

There are a variety of cost and service factors that go into determining what the best pharmacy is. Use our tips to weigh your options and we have confidence that you’ll end up picking a drug provider that makes managing your health simple!

For more information on all of the lifestyle topics that mean the most to you, keep reading the content on our blog!

Business

How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide

How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide


How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide

Have you been thinking about entering the real estate profession? The real estate business is lucrative.

Agents can rake in high commissions in a matter of weeks. Did you know the average earnings for a real estate agent in New York is $102K a year? 

But these high commissions come with wisdom and expertise. Navigating the real estate industry can be complex and overwhelming. Especially for buyers and sellers. 

That’s why both parties need knowledgable real estate professionals to guide them.

In this post, you’ll learn the steps to gaining this knowledge and how to begin building a profitable real estate business.

Keep reading!

1. Know Your Neighborhoods

It’s no secret that real estate is a competitive industry. It’s unlikely you’ll be the only real estate agent in your area when you start your company.

To be successful, you need to assess your knowledge, experience, strengths, and weaknesses.

After doing a thorough examination, you can learn more about the area to position yourself better in the marketplace.

Here are some questions to consider:

  • How fast are homes selling in each neighborhood?
  • What is the mean of selling prices from block to block?
  • Are sale prices close to asking prices?
  • Are there any conditions in the neighborhood that is affecting the real estate market?
  • Are some streets safer than others?

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the market where you intend to set up your real estate business. Having a handle on the market will put you ahead of the competition.

Stand Out Among the Competition

Your expertise will present you as an established professional. Knowing the cities, towns and surrounding neighborhoods where you’ll match buyers to sellers is key.

You must know a market analysis, accurate data for schools, crime rates and the reputation and characteristics of each neighborhood.

Mastering this knowledge will give you a leg up on the competition. And help buyers and sellers refer you to their friends and family.

Another important point for success is knowing your competition. Perform some research about how other real estate businesses approach selling in this market.

You can join online forums, join professional real estate groups, attend industry seminars and workshops or research real estate industry publications and news online.

2. Specialize in a Market Niche

Another way to make your real estate business stand out is to specialize in a niche market. A niche is an area of specialization. For example, would you prefer selling to investors, developers or target the residential market? 

Or do you want to focus on a certain geographical area like the upper east side of Manhattan? Maybe you want to specialize in selling coops or condominiums?

Does becoming the expert in short sales and foreclosures pique your interest? If not, maybe you want to narrow your interests to rental properties or retirement communities.

When you narrow your interests to a specific niche, you’ll have a better chance of success.

3. Get a Real Estate License

If you’ve never worked in real estate, you’ll need to obtain a real estate license to begin selling or renting properties as a licensed realtor.

Every state requires agents to be licensed. But before you take the real estate exam required in your state, you’ll need to enroll in a prelicensing real estate program.

The program will teach you the subject areas and the topics you’ll need to know for the exam and for operating a real estate business.

Here are some of the instructional content taught in real estate programs:

  • Types of  property ownership
  • Titles, deeds, and contracts
  • Fair housing laws
  • Fiduciary responsibilities
  • How to work with financial lenders
  • Real estate laws
  • Federal laws

Keep in mind, rules, and regulation may vary from state to state, depending on the state where you will practice real estate.

After you pass your licensing exam, you’ll need to submit a licensing application. The state where you reside may also require you to submit fingerprints and a background check.

Once your application is approved, you will pay the licensing fees to become a licensed real estate agent. Then you may be hired by a real estate company or broker.

4. Write a Business Plan

Once you’re ready to open up a real estate business, you’ll need a business plan. A business plan is a document that outlines your goals for your entire business and how you will achieve them.

This document will detail how you plan to operate your business and accomplish each objective. In your business plan, be as specific as possible.

While your business plan doesn’t need to be 50 pages long, it does need to present an action plan with dates and milestones on how you’ll reach your goals.

5. Get a Business Insurance Policy

Many new business owners overlook the importance of protecting their real estate business with an insurance policy.

The insurance may cover your business for theft, fire, intellectual property litigation, property damage, and other coverages.

It’s essential to obtain insurance before you incur claims. This will protect your business in the event of a claim or accident.

When you’re advising a real estate client, they can sue you for professional malpractice. When you’re covered, it can be the difference in keeping your business running or having to close your doors.

6. Set Up an Attractive and Functional Website

A website can be a key moneymaker for your real estate business. It can attract people to your website and convert leads into paid customers.

To drive leads to your business and keep them, you’ll need a website that’s attractive, functional, easy to navigate with links that go to the right pages.

Your website should also be created with responsive design so it looks great on any device. You’d be surprised at how many real estate companies drive potential clients ways because of basic real estate website mistakes.

Time to Start a Real Estate Business!

Now you know the steps to building a successful real estate business. Put them to use and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to high commissions!

Need more business tips? Keep reading our blog.

Health

Exercise Your Rights: A Complete Guide on How to Obtain Your Medical Records

Exercise Your Rights: A Complete Guide on How to Obtain


Exercise Your Rights: A Complete Guide on How to Obtain Your Medical Records

Do you need to access copies of your medical records? Are you having a hard time getting them from the hospital or doctor’s office? 

If so, you’re not alone.

Research shows that a number of American hospitals make it difficult for patients to get copies of their records. 

If you’re having trouble gaining access to your medical records, keep reading.

Explained below is everything you need to know about how to obtain your medical records. 

Why Obtain Copies of Your Medical Records?

There are many reasons why someone might need to obtain a copy of their medical records. Some common reasons include:

  • Get a complete understanding of your health history (this includes the results of specific blood tests and other examinations)
  • Identify errors that could lead to a misdiagnosis
  • Create a more comprehensive care plan for yourself
  • Learn more about the medications you’ve been prescribed
  • Provide proof of injuries or illnesses associated with an accident in which you were involved

Whether your intentions are health-focused or legal-focused, there a number of situations for which you might need copies of your medical records.

Are You Allowed to See Your Medical Records?

Some people are hesitant to ask for their medical records because they’re not sure if they’re allowed to see them.

Some hospitals may also be hesitant to release medical records because they’re worried about data breaches or leaking confidential information to the wrong person.

At the end of the day, though, it’s important to note that you, as a patient, absolutely have a right to look at your medical records. Caregivers and advocates are also allowed to see medical records.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (also known as HIPAA), you have a right to see and obtain copies of your medical records at any time.

You also have a right to dispute anything shown on those records that seems incorrect or seems that it’s been omitted.

How to Obtain Your Medical Records

Okay, you know that you have a right to obtain copies of your medical records. How do you go about doing this, though? How do you ensure you get what you need when you need it?

Follow these guidelines to make sure you get the copies you need from your doctor’s office or hospital: 

Use the Right Communication Channels

The first step you need to take is to make sure you’re attempting to access your records through the proper channels.

Your healthcare provider likely has an online patient portal that allows you to gain access to some of your information.

If the information you need isn’t available, call your healthcare provider’s office and ask the receptionist how to access your records.

They will likely transfer you to a medical records analyst (check this article to learn what they do) or someone who else handles records.

Be Clear with Your Request

Remember to be clear about which medical records you need. Records can be hundreds of pages in length, so specify whether you need copies of all your records or just from a specific time period or appointment. The clearer you are, the easier it will be to get what you need.

Specify the Format You Want

When you’re asking for copies of your records, be sure to specify the format in which you’d like them delivered. By law, your healthcare provider has to give you a choice between paper and electronic copies.

Sometimes, though, your records might not be available in an electronic format. In this case, someone from the hospital or doctor’s office will need to scan them. If this is the case, it may take longer for you to get the copies you need.

If you need information right away, you may need to just want to go ahead and accept the paper copies, even if they’re less convenient than electronic copies.

Challenge Excessive Costs

Keep in mind that copies of your medical records might not be free.

Providers can charge you for the labor involved in pulling them up, the cost of the paper to print them, and the postage involved to mail them to you.

If they charge you anything more than $6.50, which is the federal recommendation, you can challenge that cost and try to negotiate it down.

Ask for a Timeline

Legally, your healthcare provider can take up to 30 days to provide you with your records. If it is going to take longer than this, they need to give you a new delivery date and explain to you why they can’t deliver them within thirty days. Be sure to ask for a timeline and make sure it aligns with these rules.

Follow Up

Once you’ve requested copies of your records, follow up every few days to make sure they’ve received your request.

If you don’t receive your records within the date specified, reach out and ask why they are delayed. 

Be polite when you do this, of course, but be firm and make it clear that you expect copies of your records and need to know when you’ll receive them.

Escalate if Necessary

If you’re having a hard time getting copies of your medical records, call your healthcare provider and ask to speak to their HIPAA privacy officer.

If you’re still experiencing delays with no explanation — or if you’re receiving an unsatisfactory explanation — you can file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, too.

After You’ve Obtained Your Medical Records

The idea of asking for copies of your medical records might seem intimidating or difficult at first. While some hospitals do, in fact, make it challenging for patients to gain access to their records, it’s not impossible.

Now that you know how to obtain your medical records, it’s time to follow these steps and get your hands on them once and for all. 

Are you seeking medical records because you were involved in a car accident? Do you need help handling other aspects of your case? If so, check out some of our other articles today.

This one on what to do after being involved in a fatal car accident contains some very helpful information.