October 2011 has seen record levels of snow in the northeastern states. The insurance industry is already preparing for this year seeing the highest claims for winter-related accidents. If two years running represent a trend, we can look forward to 2012 being even worse. No matter whether you believe in global warming, the insurance industry is pushing up the premium rates for all policies covering weather risks. There are more tornadoes, more devastating hurricanes, higher levels of flood water and deeper cold. The moment you enter Fall, you should be doing preventive maintenance on your vehicle, checking the tread levels on your tires, and preparing for the worst in driving. All of which poses the question of what your policy actually covers when you find yourself trying to stay on the road in blizzard conditions.

Let’s start with the simple break down. There you are in a vehicle that’s immediately starting to cool. You say prayers of thanks for your foresight. You have boots and multiple layers of warm clothing in the trunk. You dress for survival and think about abandoning your vehicle. Except before you go, remember to call for emergency roadside service. Did you check whether your policy pays for this service? Some manufacturers include rescue as a part of the warranty for new vehicles. Now are you prepared to wait for rescue? It rather depends on where you are. In a city, it’s probably better to find somewhere warm to wait. Out in the country, it may be hours before anyone gets to you so, if you know there’s somewhere safe nearby, walk to it. Otherwise, did you remember to pack blankets? Should your vehicle be hit by someone else during this time, this will be covered by a collision policy. If there are thieves and vandals out in this weather, damage to your abandoned vehicle and loss of contents will be covered if you have comprehensive cover. As a final thought, if you do abandon your vehicle and the city tows you away as being illegally parked, you pay the fine out of your own pocket. Insurance does not cover citations.

In heavy snow or blizzard conditions, it’s easy to hit the curb. This is the same as a pothole in poor light. Most insurers will treat this as a collision and, if you have the cover, pay for repairs. But, before you take a final decision, get estimates for the repair. If it’s less than or about the same price as the deductible, you may prefer not to claim. As a final thought, suppose you lose control going down a slope and hit several parked cars. Remember it’s a criminal offense to drive away. Think of how you would react if you came back and found your vehicle damaged. It’s better to leave details of your name and insurer. Your liability cover will pay out for repairs to the owners. If you have it, collision cover repairs your own vehicle.

Closing the best deal depends on surveying the market, so get as many auto insurance quotes as possible and then check the terms of the policies on offer to ensure your winter driving risks are covered. Never assume the car insurance policy covers everything.

Every kid wants to have his or her own playhouse. And every kid wants that playhouse to look a specific way and meet very specific need. Some kids demand a huge tree house in the tallest tree, while others want a playhouse that looks like a castle. Obviously you do not have the budget (or the space) to build each of your children’s specific dreamhouses so it really comes down to finding the right kids playhouse plans that make everyone in the family happy.

The best style of playhouse when you have more than one child is the plain single room version. If you are feeling particularly adventurous you might choose to build two or even three small rooms inside of the larger structure, but what we’ve found is that most kids can imagine castles out of forts made of blankets and chairs. You don’t need to get fancy–their imaginations will fill in whatever you decide not to build.

You will want to make sure that your kids’ playhouse has a definite doorway and some windows (these can simply be holes that have been carved into the walls. No need for real glass!). This will help make sure that the house stays properly ventilated–especially in the summer months.

Look for plans with an open floor plan and that is built out of materials that can withstand a lot of abuse. Kids are not always careful when it comes to larger structures! The last thing you want is to build a playhouse that cannot withstand someone running into it on a bicycle!

There are plenty of affordable kids playhouse plans out there. Before you know it, you’ll have your materials assembled and your kids will have the perfect mansion, tree fort, castle, jungle hut or whatever else they can imagine!