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Hiking is one of the most popular pastimes in the southwest and is a great way to have healthy, affordable fun with family and friends. Did you know over 50% of hikers will experience problems such as dehydration, painful blisters, broken bones, and exhaustion? Most of these problems are caused both by improper preparation and forgetting to take safety precautions during the hike. Pack the Necessities ONLY Whether you're hiking for three hours or three days, you don't want to have an "uh-oh" moment on the trail when you realize you've forgotten something important. Make a gear list before heading out to make sure you have everything you might need. The must-have list includes: water, extra water, a charged cell phone and battery, a map of the area, food and some more water. The less you carry, the less weight you have on your back, so travel as lightly as possible. The heaviest items in your pack should be your food and water. Hike During the Day Whenever possible, plan to hike during the day; not only is it easier to get lost in the dark, but the area you're hiking may be home to a variety of wild animals that come out at night. The best way to avoid being stuck out in the dark is to set a turnaround time. Regardless of how far you hike, you should stick to your predetermined time to ensure you finish hiking before the sun goes down. Another rule of thumb to remember is that it will take twice as long to climb up as it will to climb down. Avoid Huffing and Puffing If you can talk while you’re walking you’re going at the perfect speed. When you huff and puff, your legs, digestive system, and the rest of your body don’t get enough oxygen to function efficiently. If you have asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or any other medical problem, limit your exertion and exposure to the heat. Take a Break Taking a break of 5-7 minutes every hour can remove 20- 30 percent of the waste products that have built up in your legs while hiking. Sit down and prop your legs up above the level of your heart and let gravity help drain these metabolic waste products out of your legs. Eat some food, drink some fluids, and take this break time to really enjoy and appreciate the view. No Food, No Fuel, No Fun Eat and drink more than you normally do. You should eat before, during, and after you hike- even if you’re not hungry and drink water before you’re thirsty. Eating adequate amounts of food will also help guarantee that you are replacing the electrolytes that you are sweating out. If you replace the water, but not the electrolytes you can develop a serious and dangerous medical condition known as hyponatremia (water intoxication), which, if left untreated, can lead to seizures and possibly death. You need to eat about twice as much as you normally would to meet your energy and electrolyte needs while hiking. Reward your Body after After your hike, it’s just as important to take care of yourself as it is during. You can do this by taking 5-10 minutes afterward to cool down. Cooling down simply means slowing down, but not completely stopping after exercise. Doing this helps remove lactic acid from your muscles, reducing muscles stiffness. On top of cooling down, time is one of the best ways to recover from just about any injury. Resting and waiting after a testing, long hike allows the recovery process to happen at a natural pace. In the end, have fun and remember to stop and look around at all of the beautiful nature that you’re surrounded by, but also to keep yourself safe.

When purchasing a new car, there are multiple factors that reside in your decision: brand, price, mileage, style. While these are all valid concerns when selecting a car, the most important factor to consider is safety. At the end of the day, a car's safety features is what will be instrumental in case of an accident. Take a look at 2020 top rated cars, in terms of safety. Toyota Camry This midsize sedan has received a perfect score on all three NHTSA crash tests. Additionally, it was rated as Superior for front crash prevention. This car has departure warnings, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, emergency braking, and more. Honda Insight This hybrid car has a ton of safety features like driver drowsiness monitoring, collision mitigation braking, road departure alerts, and traffic sign recognition. Like the Toyota Camry, the Honda Insight was awarded a perfect score during the crash tests. Kia Optima Another midsize sedan with a perfect safety score! The Kia Optima features forward collision warning, emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, and 360-degree parking camera. The Optima has been awarded as Superior for front crash prevention. Subaru Impreza This all-wheel drive car also scored a perfect 10 out of 10 safety score. What makes the Subaru Impreza safe? It has lane keep assist, lead vehicle start alert (alerts you if the car in front of you starts to move), blind spot monitoring, and emergency braking.

Plain and simple, everyone likes saving money. Nearly every state in the U.S requires some form of auto insurance and no policy holder wants to pay a penny more than they have to. Thankfully, there are several different ways that will help you keep more money in your wallet, rather than paying more for your insurance. 1. Drive Safely: Keeping a clean driving record for a certain number of years will help you qualify for safe driver discounts. On the other hand, multiple accidents or tickets will quickly drive up your premiums. Keeping your record as clean can save you hundreds of dollars over the years. 2. Consider driving a car that’s cheap to insure: Next time you’re in the market for your next car, considering comparing car insurance rates for the options you’re considering. Factors such as the price of the vehicle, safety rating, repair costs, and likelihood of theft determine how much it will cost to insure. 3. Keep a high credit score: Maintaining a good credit history will save you money in general, not just on your insurance policy. Keeping your credit balances low and making all your payments on time will save you money on your auto insurance as most insurers use your credit as a factor to determine how much you’ll be paying. 4. Reduce coverage on older vehicles: Don’t pay more in insurance than your car is worth. Add up your comprehensive and collision premiums and multiply that number by 10. If your car is worth less than that amount, you shouldn’t have that coverage. Review your coverage when it comes time to renew your policy and be sure you’re not paying more than you need to. 5. Bundle: Purchasing multiple insurance policies from the same company, such as getting homeowners and auto from the same company, can result in multi-policy discounts. This is the company’s way of rewarding you for being a loyal customer. 6. Take advantage of other discounts: Aside from multi-policy discounts, ask your insurance company if you qualify for any other discounts, such as: Driving a car with safety features: features such as anti-lock brakes can result in a discount Low-mileage discount: driving less than the average motorist does per year can result in a discount. Good student discount: High school and college students can get a discount for having good grades. Group plans: Some insurance companies give discounts to drivers who get their insurance through group plans from their employers or other associations. Working in certain fields (education, engineering, medicine) 7. Compare companies: Prices vary greatly from company to company. A good rule of thumb is to receive quotes and information from three different sources/companies. Actively shopping around will save you money each year. 8. Increase your deductible: Your deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. Increasing your deductible will result in you paying more if you have an accident, but will result in you paying less for your collision and comprehensive insurance. It can save you hundreds in the long run if you don’t have an accident.

Be honest: do you know what the difference between gasoline grades are? You see different prices along with the gas grades but what does it mean? Here is a crash course on what you need to know for the next time you fill your car with gas. The difference between these options is due to the octane rating of the gasoline. Octane ratings are found by how the gasoline is able to resist any knocking, or detonating, in the engine of your car. When you go to the gas pump, you will commonly find three different octane ratings to choose from. But what do the numbers mean? A regular octane rating is 87, a mid-grade rating is between 88-90, and a premium rating is between 91-94. Since the cost of premium and mid-grade gasoline is higher than regular fuel, why would anyone want to opt for the more expensive gas? This is due to the type of car you drive. If your car's manufacturer specifies that the car requires premium fuel, then you will want to select gas grades between 91 and 94. Cars that need premium fuel are usually cars that use supercharging or turbocharging, thus having premium fuel will improve the car's performance. If you are someone who has a car that requires premium fuel, but you still use regular or mid-grade gasoline you are damaging your car's engine and making it run inefficiently. What if your car only needs regular gasoline grade? You are still able to utilize the mid-grade and premium gas, but the benefits may not be worth the extra costs. So, what's our advice? Research your car's manufacturing policies on which grade rating of gasoline is best. Taking care of your car from the inside out will help prevent damage and risks.

Often times, people get homeowners insurance and home warranties mixed up. Yes, they can both fix or replace things when they break or are damaged and they both are typically paid on a monthly basis with a deductible or service call fee when used. Nevertheless, these two things are actually very different. If you own a home, it’s likely that you already have a homeowners policy and are under the impression that homeowners insurance covers anything and everything to do with your home. However, there are multiple situations that homeowners insurance is unable to cover and it would make more sense financially to utilize home warranties instead. Homeowners Insurance typically covers: Theft Storms Fires Some natural disasters (floods are always a separate policy) Water damage Personal/premise liability (i.e. someone is injured on your property) Home Warranties typically cover: HVAC Electrical Plumbing Kitchen appliances Washer and dryer A home warranty may be a great choice for you if you don’t have money set aside to replace your AC units or kitchen appliances if they break. Many home warranties cost no more than $50 per month and often have a one-time service call fee around $100. When it comes time to repair or replace something that costs thousands of dollars to fix, a home warranty can be a huge relief. The bottom line: Homeowners insurance is useful for theft, liability and sudden natural occurrences while home warranties are for wear and tear on appliances, plumbing and electrical. We now offer home warranties in addition to homeowners insurance. Contact us today for more info at (480)535-5709.

Does it feel like this summer is never ending? I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little tired of walking outside and feeling as though I stepped into literal fire. Any resident of the valley knows how great it is to travel to the Northern part of Arizona where the elevation is high and you can be reminded what cool air actually feels like. While the Valley is in triple digits, Northern AZ will have a high of 70 degrees. . .seems almost unfair until we realize it's a closer drive than we think. Here are some 'cool' places to visit that are under 3 hours away from the metro Phoenix area. Downtown Prescott Historic Downtown Prescott offers a multitude of fun activities for you and your family. Grab to-go lunch from a local restaurant and have a picnic in Courthouse Plaza. There are plenty of small businesses to support with art galleries, retail stores, and the best ever fudge from Pralines of Prescott. For those who want to get crafty, there are numerous art fairs hosted here where you can find one of a kind pieces from local artists. Sedona A breathtaking town located around 2-2.5 hours north of Phoenix. Sedona is home to several ultra popular red rock hiking destinations and has plenty of shops and reputable restaurants. Spirituality is the name of the game here, you can have your aura read, discover healing crystals, and hike around spiritual vortexes. Some of its most popular destinations include Bell Rock, Slide Rock State Park, the Devil's Bridge trail, and Tlaquepaque Shopping Village. Jerome Nestled atop Cleopatra Hill, Jerome is a historic copper mining town with breathtaking views of Sedona and Flagstaff. It began as a mining town in 1876 and was home to 15,000 people in 1920. In 1952, when the price of copper dropped significantly it became a ghost town. . .literally, you can take ghost tours of Jerome Grand Hotel, and even grab a bite at the Haunted Hamburger. The Grand Canyon National Park This list would not be complete without the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The South Rim is located about an hour and a half north of Flagstaff, but the drive is well worth it. Not only can you admire the canyon's beauty for hours on end, there are multiple hikes and walks, and even lodging & restaurants located in Grand Canyon Village. This is a must see trip to Arizona's pride and joy.

When purchasing insurance you have the option of picking between working with an independent insurance broker and a captive insurance agent. What’s the difference? Captive insurance agents represent a certain company and cannot sell products outside of their respective company, while independent agents/brokers work with several companies and can offer products from any of the companies they represent. Need more clarification? Here’s what makes an independent agent the right option: 1. More bang for your buck: As you already known, independent agents have the ability to offer you products from any of the companies they represent. There’s no need for you to shop around and find the best rates, independent agents do that for you. Due to their knowledge of the market, independent agents will often find better values than you might find searching on your own. We shop, you save. 2. Unbiased advice: Independent agents are very knowledgeable about a large number of insurance companies and what they offer. What is just as important is that independent agents work with the customers of these companies. This means that not only are independent agents knowledgeable about what the companies offer, they have also received tons of feedback from real customers that gives them a good idea about what companies have the best track record in terms of customer satisfaction. This allows independent agents to give great advice based on both the policies a company offers as well as the experiences of other clients. 3. One-stop shop: Independent agents offer a variety of different types of insurance, meaning that they are your one-stop shop for all of your insurance needs. This makes it easier to stay organized and saves you the time and effort of working with several different people. For example, we can quote you for both home and auto insurance to see where we can save you money. 4. Personal advocates: Independent agents are your personal advocates any time you have questions or concerns related to your insurance. We work with the insurance company on your behalf so that you don’t have to. Independent agents are real people that you can trust have your best interests in mind. Having an independent agent is an efficient, valuable decision that will always have your best interest at heart. If you need a quote, be sure to visit www.azinsuranceteam.com/get-a-quote.

Spending the day at the lake with friends and family is a typical summer past-time. Wakeboarding, swimming, kayaking, relaxing. . . what could be better? Unfortunately, there are great risks you assume when you go out on the water. Here are some things to think about to prevent any accidents: Check the weather forecast before you go. It's important to check for any excessive heat warnings, water advisories, or any chance of rain/thunderstorm. Weather conditions can change frequently, so make sure to stay alert and aware. Additionally, make sure to wear SPF when out on the lake- your skin will thank you! Check your boat's Carbon Monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide poisoning can make you sick or even be fatal. Be aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, nausea, seizures, confusion, dizziness. If you or someone you are with is experiencing these symptoms, get fresh air and call a medical professional. Always have enough life jackets on board. . .and use them! Simply having life jackets on your boat isn't effective when it comes to water safety. Ideally, when people are swimming in the water they should be wearing a life vest. This applies especially to children and those who aren't confident in their swimming abilities. Stay safe and wear the life jacket. Supervise children at all times. In addition to making your children wear life jackets, they should never be left unattended or unsupervised near a body of water. Do not ask another adult to supervise your children, and if a child goes missing check the water first. Keep your children as safe as possible! These tips are essential for keeping you and your lake-crew safe! Lather up the sunscreen, throw on some good music and enjoy yourself at the lake, safely.

Need some inspiration on ways to spruce up your home? AZ Insurance Team has some that are easy and cost-effective ideas that will add a custom, fresh look to your space. Paint your front door an eye-catching color. Go to your local home improvement store and pick up a sander, primer, and your exterior paint color. Make sure to sand any imperfections away before priming the door. Adding a pop of color to the exterior of your home will showcase your personality and style! If you are focused on increasing your home's value, a Zillow study shows that, on average, painting your front door charcoal gray or black will boost the value by $6,000. Update your garage door with hinges. Creating a custom feel for your garage doors is much easier than you realize. Door hinges are available on Amazon for around $12; a far cry from the thousands of dollars a new garage door would cost. The best part of these hinges? They are magnetic! This means no hardware required, simply attach the hinges to your garage door and you're all set. Spray paint outdated hardware. Is your home showing it's age by brass hardware on your doors and cabinets? Rather than purchasing all new door knobs and cabinet pulls, simply spray paint the hardware for an updated effect. Whether it's a brushed nickel or matte black finish, spray painting your hardware is a cost effective and easy solution for a more custom feel. Simple and effective DIY updates for your home will not only improve value, it will create a space that you enjoy being in. After all, that's what home is all about!

My vehicle was damaged in an accident. Insurance company says it’s “totaled” but I would like to fix it and keep driving it. Can I do this? If you get in a car accident and your insurance company deems your vehicle totaled, it’s usually not something you want to hear. Your insurance company will typically give you the fair market value for your car so you can go buy a replacement vehicle. However, the payout may not be enough to replace your current vehicle with what you had before, or maybe the car is irreplaceable in your mind. Luckily, you have options. If you decide to, you can use the money your insurance company gives you to repair your vehicle back to normal working conditions. This will require you to get a salvage title with the state you live in. There are a few downsides of a salvage title: It makes your car much more difficult to sell when you eventually choose to do such. Some insurance companies won’t insure salvage titles because they believe the vehicle carries too much risk if it wasn’t repaired properly and could be a future liability. In some cases, you may have a new vehicle that is totaled, and the insurance payout is less than you still owe on your car loan. This may be a factor that results in individuals choosing to repair their vehicle instead of replacing it. Instead of taking this route, there is an alternative with gap insurance. This addition to your policy covers the gap between your payout and your loan balance if it’s greater than the former. Consider adding gap coverage if the value of your car has dropped significantly since purchasing it and your loan is greater than its current market value. It’s important to weigh your options when deciding whether or not to salvage or replace your recently totaled vehicle. Contact your insurance agent for professional advice on the matter.

During the ever-changing times of COVID-19, preventing the spread of germs can seem like a daunting task. We have some tips and tricks to keep you and your family physically and mentally healthy during this pandemic. Make a habit of disinfecting high traffic areas in your home daily. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleaning and disinfecting doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, and other frequently touched surfaces will prevent contraction of respiratory illnesses and COVID-19. Can't find any disinfectant cleaners? Purchase a disinfectant concentrate instead. Pour 2 ounces of the concentrate into a 16 ounce spray bottle, and fill the rest with water. This creates the same product as the disinfectant spray, and is widely available unlike the out of stock disinfectant wipes and sprays. Take advantage of free at-home workouts! Staying physically strong will help your mental health while boosting your immune system to fight off any illnesses. Try out new exercise classes virtually through Youtube. Avoid unhealthy stress-eating if possible. These are stressful times, so it may seem natural to reach for comfort food. Incorporating nutritional foods in your diet provides you with vitamins and minerals that improve your health. Try out some new recipes from a healthy cookbook! Staying healthy during this pandemic is of the upmost importance. We hope you are taking care of yourself and your family!

Did you know that since last year, online transactions have increased 85% in the United States? Especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the potential health risks of shopping in brick and mortar stores seem to heavily outweigh online shopping hazards. Our reliance on the e-commerce industry leads us to forget about the inherent risks with shopping online. Your identity is readily accessible for those who want it; every time you enter your credit card information you are trusting the internet with your identity. Most people hardly realize how accessible our identity is: with the fact that we enter our credit card number, expiration date, and CVV without hesitation, we are practically handing over our identity to the internet. There are a few basic rules concerning identity theft, which we would urge you to follow. Double check that the website you are using is SECURE. This can be accomplished by looking to the left of the website URL and finding a lock icon. Make sure you are using a reputable website. By utilizing a safe search engine (Google, Bing, etc.), you are more likely to find reputable websites. You can also check the credibility of a website by reading the URL. If there are unrecognizable symbols, it is definitely not a safe site. Never allow the website to save your credit card information. Websites will often give you the choice: always opt for “no.” Use your credit card instead of your debit card. This will offer an extra level of protection from identity theft. Just be sure to check your statements every month to inspect any suspicious activity. Utilize Apple Pay or Paypal. These third-party sources have an embedded layer of security to protect your information. Be sure to check your banking statements every month. This will allow you to check for any suspicious transactions and take action if necessary. If you were to suspect any sort of illegal activity on your account, be sure to contact AZ Insurance Team for more help. We will show you that your homeowner’s and renter’s insurance will actually offer an abundance of protection if your identity is stolen and help you take appropriate measures to resolve your issue. Most of the time, we’ll suggest an insurance policy for you, which includes court fees, notary fees, and sometimes, even an identity theft counselor. A lot of these identity theft insurance plans will differ based on where you live in the United States. Be sure to reach out to AZ Insurance Team at 480-535-5709!