How Can Businesses Get Insurance Discounts?

In addition to combining policies together in either a business owners policy or commercial package policy, there are several other ways for businesses to lower their insurance premiums. Insurance companies sometimes offer discounts for:

     ● Paying policy premiums in full

     ● Installing security systems on property and buildings

     ● Requiring drivers to have commercial driver’s licenses

     ● Implementing employees safety programs

     ● Being in business for a minimum amount of time

     ● Remaining claims-free for a certain period

Obviously, the exact discounts that a business can take advantage of depend on what coverages the business is purchasing.

Finding policies through an independent insurance agent can also help businesses save money on the coverages they need. Independent agents are free to compare policies from multiple insurers, finding the policies that offer the best coverage at an affordable price.

Give us a call and see what a family owned business can do for you. Barrows Insurance Agency helps businesses find coverage option that protects you, your family, and personal property along with your business.

From new policies, renewals or claims, we are here every step of the way. See the difference a local agent can provide.

We have two locations to choose from:

Mansfield Office: Ph. (508) 339-7260

Foxboro Office : Ph. (508) 543-1101

What You Need To Know About Investment/Rental Property Insurance

Investment/Rental Property Insurance, What You Need To Know!

If you own an investment property, you should make sure that you carry adequate insurance coverage. Accidents may occur and ultimately cause damage to your investment property. If you do not have the necessary insurance, you will be responsible for the full financial cost.

Owning an investment property brings with it a large degree of liability. In addition to the building itself, you may be responsible for injuries received by others while they are on your property. You could also be held responsible for damage to their belongings.

Types of Properties Include:

1. Commercial Property

2. Vacant Property & Land

3. Rental

4. Commercial Investment

5. Residential Investment

Barrows Insurance Agency helps you find coverage options that protect you, your family, personal property and your business. From new policies, renewals or claims, we are here to walk beside you every step of the way.

Let us help make sure you’re properly covered. See the difference a local agent can provide. We are here to help with two locations to choose from:

Mansfield Office: Ph. (508) 339-7260 & Foxboro Office : Ph. (508) 543-1101

How Independent Agents Are Different from Captive Agents

When it comes to buying insurance, you have two primary options available to you: independent agents like us, and captive agents. While both can provide insurance services, these two types of insurance agents are not the same and it's important to understand the differences.

1.Captive Insurance Agents

A captive agent works for a single insurance company, either as an employee of that company or as an independent contractor. This means that a captive insurance agent will be limited to the specific insurance products offered by that particular company, so they won't be able to help you if you need a type of insurance they don't offer, or shop around to find the best deals on the market.

Keep in minds that the insurance company may also try and sell certain products, so there is no guarantee that you are truly getting what is best for you and not just what is best for the company.

2.Independent Insurance Agents

An independent agent is not controlled by any one insurance company and instead works with multiple insurers. What does this mean to you? This means independent agents have access to all of the insurance products and services offered by the companies they represent. They are not handcuffed to only one company.

As a result, it's often the case that an independent agent will be able to help you with all of the products you need, even if those products come from multiple insurance companies.

One of the perks is if you need to file a claim. We understand that sometimes it’s not always cut and dry, we’ll walk with you and work on your behalf throughout the process. We are always available to answer questions and we can regularly review your policy to ensure it is still the best possible fit for you.

Give us a call and see why Barrows Insurance Agency is your trusted advisor for all of your insurance needs.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS.

Keep your home and family ahead of any hurricane. Anyone looking for the best ways to prepare for a severe weather event are advised to make emergency plans. With the help of our partner, The Andover Companies, we are sharing preparedness tips for the hurricane season: ADV-018_Hurricane_Prep_Flyer_r3_8.19.21 (emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com)

BBQ Season is here!

With BBQ season upon us, it’s important to follow some basic safety precautions when cooking outdoors.

- Make sure your grill is in a well-ventilated area. Building an open flame and choking out the oxygen around it could easily lead to a house fire.

- Avoid using anything other than natural wood or charcoal to fuel your BBQ, and never use lighter fluid or gasoline in place of either of these fuels.

- When grilling your food, it’s best to only turn the grill to medium-high heat. High heat can easily lead to burnt meat, and low heat can lead to the meat drying out and falling off the bone.

- Be sure that no one is near your BBQ while you are cooking! If conditions outside are concerning, make sure that all of your BBQ equipment is tied down. This includes anything on the sides of your BBQ as well as storage containers if you have any.

- Use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure of whether or not your food is done!

- Try to keep an eye on the fire. If it starts to die down, add more natural wood or charcoal. If the fire is raging out of control and winds up engulfing your BBQ, use a hose or bucket of water to put it out.

- Never leave your BBQ unattended until it has completely cooled off and all embers are absent.

Enjoy your summer and know we are always ready to help with any question or need you may have.

The team at Barrows Insurance Agency.

Jet Ski & Watercraft Season is Here! Make Sure Your Covered for Fun.

Do you have a Jet ski or a watercraft that you’re planning on enjoying this summer? Some boats or smaller watercraft may even be covered under your current homeowners’ policy. The size, type and value of your jet ski or personal watercraft will be part of the determining factors in evaluating your Insurance needs.

Below is a list some of the many coverages that we can offer:

·       Physical Damage Coverage

o   Adding this coverage to your policy protects your boat while in storage and during transport.

o   This covers your boat as well when out of the water, including but not limited to: fire, lightning, vandalism or theft.

o   You can also obtain emergency service reimbursement for expenses related to towing, labor or supplies.

·       Liability Coverage

o   This coverage will assist you in the event of a collision with another boat, dock or other boaters.

·       Personal Liability

o   Protecting you or family member if you have an accident that causes injury to another person.

·       Medical Payments

o   Covering medical expenses if you or someone in your boat is involved in an accident.

·       Property Damage

o   Damage that may be caused to another person’s property while operating your watercraft.

We always evaluate our customers jet ski or watercraft insurance needs to find special coverages you may need or any discounts you may qualify for.

Some additional discounts and coverages may include:

·       Accident forgiveness

·       Roadside Assistance

·       Boat Removal

·       Boating Safety

·       Multi policy discounts

Barrows Insurance Agency offers a wide variety of coverages and options for your jet ski or personal watercraft. Give us a call, we help find the best jet ski and watercraft insurance policies and options that are right for you.

Boating Season – Coverage You Need

Boat Insurance Guide: Costs & Coverage

When it comes to your boat, it’s often best to separate your boat insurance from your homeowner's policy. Many homeowners’ policies limit or don’t cover marine-specific risks, such as salvage work, wreck removal, pollution or environmental damage; but there are exceptions.

While homeowners’ riders are normally adequate for these boats, be careful to ask the same questions you’d ask any other insurer about damages to your vessel and how they will be paid. Also, most homeowner’s insurance riders apply only to use in inland waterways, lakes and rivers. Coverage seldom extends outside a coastal inlet or along the beach. If you plan to boat “outside the inlet” you definitely need an experienced marine insurer.

You want to consider the following to make sure the policy you purchase meets your needs:

·       Age of Boat

·       Length

·       Value

·       Speed/Horsepower

·       Condition (Does it meet US Coast Guard Standards in effect at the time it was built?)

·       Primary residence (If the boat is used as a primary residence)

·       Type (Inboard, Outboard, utility, cruiser, bass boat, saltwater fishing boat, performance boat)

·       Homemade (Boats without a serial number are tricky but many kits are okay)

·       Houseboats with no motor

·       Ownership (more than 2 owners)

·       Where it will operate (Ocean, lakes, bays, rivers, Great Lakes)

Kinds of Boat Insurance Policies Barrows Insurance Agency offers

Marine insurance covers a wide array of watercraft. You may be surprised to find what can be insured. Marine insurance policies include:

·       Boat

·       Personal Watercraft (PWC)

·       Yacht - generally, vessels 26' and smaller are called "boats,” and "yachts" are 27' and larger.

o   Yacht coverage tends to be broader and more specialized because larger boats travel farther and have more unique exposures.

·       Sailboat

·       Dinghy

·       Boat & PWC Rental - Although this is generally not required, rental insurance will help cover any damage the vessel, as well as the operator and passengers.

·       Boat Clubs - covers all members of club while operating a boat.

·       Professional (ProAngler, Fishing Guides & Charters)

o   These policies are very customizable and can cover items like travel to a tournament, equipment and more.

How much you’ll pay for boat insurance depends on the level of insurance coverage you want, as well as the size, horsepower, type and value of your boat.

You can choose your deductible, which is the amount deducted from your insurance check if you make a claim. A typical policy has deductibles of $250 for property damage, $500 for theft and $1,000 for medical payments, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Liability claims against you do not have a deductible.

Barrows Insurance Agency offer a variety of ways to save money, including discounts for:

·       Having a diesel-powered boat.

·       Not having made a previous boat insurance claim.

·       Carrying other policies, such as car or homeowners, with the same insurer.

·       Taking safety courses.

Our specialized business agents will guide you on the different types of coverage that fits your needs.

Your RV Home Needs Love Too – Protect Your Investment

RVs offer a great option for vacationers to maintain social distance while traveling and play double duty as a transportation and accommodation vehicle.  But RVs can be expensive and protecting your investment with the right insurance is critical.  When insuring an RV, pay close attention to liability coverage.  Generally, only an RV insurance policy will cover liability for a motorhome. You may want to consider an umbrella policy if you have a large nest egg to protect. 

When it comes to accidents, actual cash value is the standard, which will pay up to what the RV was worth at the time of the accident.  You may also consider additional coverage that applies for a hotel stay if the RV needs repairs and you are unable to be in it. At Nationwide, a standard policy runs about $100 per year for a pop-up camper and more than $1500 per year for a luxury motorhome.

The good news is that the contents inside an RV are generally protected under a Homeowners or Renters insurance policy at lower limits 😊. Of course, the cost of insurance varies.  You need an agent that is familiar with RV insurance and can customize your RV coverage with the best options for you and your family.

Commercial Umbrella Insurance, Added Coverage When It Matters!

Most of us are familiar with Residential Umbrella Insurance.  Commercial Umbrella Insurance provides businesses with added liability coverage when claims exceed the limits of certain primary insurance policies, such as general liability or commercial auto.

Think of umbrella insurance as a backup for business liability policies that you already have. When a claim exceeds your primary policy's limit, you can apply your umbrella coverage to the amount still owed on the claim.

Usually, umbrella coverage can be applied to claims made on these types of liability insurance policies:

·     General liability insurance

·     Commercial auto / Hired and non-owned auto insurance

·     Employer's liability insurance

This is what sets umbrella insurance apart from most policies.  It is only useful when your liability policies have reached their limits. It is like a reserve policy that fills in any gaps if a claim exceeds your other policy limits.

Be sure to discuss with our agents the best type of umbrella insurance you need.  Also, depending on your policy, you may have to make a separate claim on your umbrella policy, depending on whether its coverage responds automatically. If it isn’t automatic, you may have to file two claims: one on the initial underlying policy and one on the umbrella policy.

Keep in mind that many different types of businesses can benefit from the additional coverage and protection that umbrella insurance provides. Businesses that should consider purchasing this coverage include:

·     Consulting

·     Food and beverage

·     Healthcare professionals

·     Home-based businesses

·     Insurance professionals

·     Nonprofits

·     Personal care

·     Photo and video

·     Retail

·     Technology / IT

Our specialized business agents will guide you on the different types of umbrella coverage that your business may need so you know what to expect from your policy.

Protect Your Home From Mother Nature’s Frenzy!

It’s no surprise that the Pandemic and the Presidential Election dominated the news in 2020, but Mother Nature also had a say. Across the U.S., National disasters left more than $95 billion in damages, with homeowners and businesses bearing the brunt of the cost.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. If most of your wealth is tied up in your house, you may be risking financial ruin without having adequate flood insurance coverage. Flood insurance covers losses directly resulting from flooding or flood-related erosion caused by heavy or prolonged rain, snow melt, coastal storm surges, blocked storm drainage systems, levee dam failure and similar events.

Many homeowners have misconceptions of what exactly their insurance policy covers.  For instance, no standard homeowners policy covers flooding.  Homeowners can purchase additional coverage for flood insurance from the Federal Government or a private insurer like Barrows Insurance Agency.

Things to know:

1.    The Government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides up to $250,000 of dwelling coverage and up to $100,000 of contents coverage.

2.    The cost of an NFIP policy varies, depending on the risk, but averages about $700 a year.

3.    A policy from a private insurer averages $1050 a year.

4.    However, a private policy could cost you less than an NFIP policy

Remember, you want to have enough coverage to help you rebuild if your home gets damaged by a flood.  Our specialized agents can help you compare options with flood insurance so when panic sets in, you know you are covered!

We’re Now Offering RMV Services At Our Mansfield Location!

No longer having to WAIT weeks for a RMV appointment - Barrows Insurance can help in our inhouse RMV including but not limited to:

• New Plates

• Plate Transfers

• Registration Renewals

• Title Service & More

Give us a call 1-508-339-7260 and see how quick we get things done!

Preparing for hurricanes and tropical storms!

Make sure that you're not only prepping your home, but also your business

Keeping our customers and employees safe is our #1 priority! These instructions will show you how to get everything ready for hurricanes and tropical storms including:

• Listening to weather advisories
• Continuity planning
• Emergency planning for family members and employees
• Stocking emergency supplies
• Remove any loose outdoor items that can blow around and can cause damage to home/businesses.
• Creating an evacuation plan or shelter-in-place plan, and more.

It is vital to understand your home and businesses vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Here is your checklist of things to do BEFORE hurricane seasons begins.

• Know your zone: Do you live near the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts? Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website.

• Put Together an Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.

• Write or review your Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the Ready.Gov emergency plan webpage.

• Review Your Insurance Policies: Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.

• Understand NWS forecast products, especially the meaning of NWS watches and warnings.

• Preparation tips for your home from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes

• Preparation Tips for those with Chronic Illnesses

Stay Safe!

New RMV Guidelines

RMV Update- The RMV is encouraging all residents who have an expiring license and need a REAL ID to renew online for a standard license. They will wave the fee to "upgrade" to a REAL ID License as long as you apply before August 12, 2020 and visit the RMV after January 2021 to submit the paperwork for a REAL ID. Federal REAL ID requirements take effect on October 1, 2021. Visit www.mass.gov/rmv for more information.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Implementing Further Extensions to Expiring Licenses, Permits, Motor Vehicle Inspection Stickers, and Passenger Plate Registrations

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced on 04/15/2020, it will be implementing further extensions to the renewal timelines for expiring motor vehicle inspection stickers, passenger plate registrations, professional credentials, and licenses and permits, including Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Driver’s License Permits (CDLs / CLPs).

While the RMV has previously announced 60-day extensions for most credentials, passenger plate registrations and inspection stickers expired or expiring in March and April, today’s action will apply the same 60-day extension to those expiring in May. Those with March 2020 expiration’s impacted by the first 60-day extension, will have an additional 60-day extension applied.

These additional extensions under Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9th, replicate the ongoing measures the RMV is taking to reduce the need for customers to physically visit an RMV Service Center or one of its business partners’ facilities, allowing for ‘social-distancing’ by decreasing non-essential travel and customer volume.

The new changes to expiration extensions are now in effect as follows:

• All non-commercial driver’s licenses, ID cards, and Learner’s Permits that expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 credential was already extended by 60 days. The specific expiration date typically coincides with an individual’s birth date. Customers holding a license marked “Limited-Term” that has expired or will expire between March 1 and May 31, 2020 should visit Mass.gov/RMV for more information and to check the validity of their credential.

• All Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) and Commercial Driver’s License Permits (CLP) that expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 credential was already extended by 60 days. The specific expiration date typically coincides with an individual’s birth date. The RMV also recently introduced an online renewal option for CDL holders if they are self-certified in the Non-Excepted Interstate (NI) category for medical certification.

• In accordance with updated guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all CDL Medical Certificates expiring between March 1 and April 30, 2020, will also now not expire until June 30, 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. Extensions to CDL Medical Certificates are intended to prevent license downgrades and elective medical visits, as well as alleviate demand on medical providers, during the State of Emergency.

• The annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection stickers that expire on May 31, 2020 will now expire on July 31, 2020. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 inspection sticker was already extended by 60 days. Annual motor vehicle inspection stickers typically expire on the last date of the month. While automotive repair and maintenance facilities continue to remain open as “essential services” and inspection stations may operate at their discretion, these annual inspections do not need to occur at this time.  

• All passenger plate registrations that will expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 passenger plate registration was already extended by 60 days. Registration renewals can continue to be performed online at Mass.Gov/RMV during this time. Customers seeking to do so in-person will not be able to make an appointment and should delay their visit to a Service Center at this time.

• Professional credentials for School Bus Certificates, School Pupil Transport Licenses (7D), Inspector Licenses, Inspection Station Licenses, Driving Instructor Licenses and Driving School Licenses that expire in May 2020, will also now be extended for 90 days after the State of Emergency is lifted and do not need to be renewed at this time.

For the most up-to-date information on RMV extensions and other service and COVID-19 response measures, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/rmv-covid-19-information.

What New Graduates Need To Know About Insurance?

Securing the proper insurance coverage may be the last thing on a recent graduate’s mind, but it shouldn’t be. As many grads face the prospect of student loans and a tough job market, purchasing anything beyond health insurance may not be a personal or financial priority.

However, failing to purchase certain types of insurance – or opting for extraneous coverage – can be much costlier for young adults over time. Here are several types of insurance with which recent graduates should become familiar.

Auto insurance

Young adults who are no longer covered under their parent’s auto insurance plan must purchase their own coverage if they have their own car.

If you have a car or plan to purchase one, shop for affordable auto insurance rates and ask for discounts.

Some auto insurance companies give discounts for safe driving records, belonging to certain professional associations and organizations, driving only a certain number of miles per year, and bundling multiple insurance policies with the same company. Talk to your insurance agent to find out which discounts you qualify for.

If you’re driving an older car, it’s important to make sure you’re not overpaying for insurance. If your car is worth less than $1,000 – or less than 10 times the insurance premium – and you can afford to replace your vehicle if it’s totaled, collision coverage may no longer be cost effective.

Disability insurance

Disability insurance can seem like an unnecessary expense to many recent grads, especially if they’re young, healthy and living paycheck to paycheck like many young adults.

However, financial instability is precisely why millennial’s should find a way to secure some form of disability income protection. The Council for Disability Awareness reports that one in three women and one in four men will have a disability that keeps them out of work for 90+ days at some point during their working lifetime.

How much will disability insurance actually cost you? The annual premium amounts to approximately 1 to 3 percent of your yearly income. The cost depends on the policy’s features, advantages and type of benefits.

Long-term disability insurance can be acquired through a private insurance company or run through a company-sponsored plan, and these policies typically pay between 50 to 66 2/3 percent of your pre-disability earnings

Renter’s insurance

Renting is on the rise – research shows that the growth of the renter population has outpaced the growth of the homeowner population in most large U.S. cities.

The average renter owns approximately $20,000 worth of personal belongings. Many of these items can be difficult to replace without insurance, yet only 37 percent of renters in the United States actually have renter’s insurance.

Nearly 60 percent of 18 to 29-year-old’s are renters, but many young adults skip this insurance coverage because they think it’s too expensive or don’t think they really need it.

Renter’s insurance premiums average between $15 and $30 per month, depending on the policy details. For just $120 to $150 a year, recent grads can get $200,000 worth of personal property coverage.

Renter’s insurance pays to replace your belongings if they are stolen, damaged or destroyed. If you think your landlord’s insurance will cover your belongings, think again – it only covers the building, not the contents

If you’re moving back home with mom and dad after college, their homeowner’s insurance policy should provide sufficient coverage.

We have included a quote request form for anyone who is looking for coverage other than auto and home.

https://apps.singlepointrating.com/webapps/DynamicFormEngine/(S(k3tridarboz4sp3n22cy2poz))/Home/Index/?scid=7b4c18e7b9f9ba5b&appid=1200000&reqid=&src=Site&ticket=&qid=&CarrierAccessKey=&labels=

How To Spring Clean Your Insurance Policies

As you make your way through your spring-cleaning checklist, don’t forget to dig out your insurance policies and look them over. Here are some of the reviewable elements of your home, life and auto insurance policies.

Homeowners Insurance

1. Make sure you have sufficient coverage

Experts say the top insurance mistake is being under-insured, which happens when you fail to update your coverage as your property, lifestyle or needs change.

Take the time to assess those changes and determine where you need to adjust your insurance coverage. For example, if you like to entertain at home, consider increasing your liability coverage and purchasing a separate umbrella policy.

Umbrella liability policies typically offer a minimum of $1 million of additional liability protection and cost just a few hundred dollars a year.

2. Make sure you have enough personal property insurance

Most people do not take the time to inventory their personal possessions, and often do not have enough personal property insurance as a result. Homeowners should be careful not to overlook their belongings as a way to keep insurance costs down.

It is very likely that you have added new belongings to your home over the last year. If so, now is the time to inventory those belongings and ensure you have the right type of coverage for the actual value of your property.

Most consumers automatically accept the amount of contents coverage named in their policy. Instead, read the policies carefully to make sure there are no gaps in coverage, and check the dollar limits and excluded causes for personal property.

It is in your best interest to raise the dollar limit if necessary, as it will help you better replace or recover the value of your possessions if disaster strikes.

Life Insurance

If you have a life insurance policy, you should make sure to review its principal points at least once a year, including beneficiary, benefit amount, term, loans and cash value.

1. Update your beneficiaries

Many of us forget to update our policies when circumstances change. Life events such as marriage, getting divorced or having children should prompt you to update your beneficiaries. The beneficiary designations on your life insurance policy will trump any other documents you’ve created outlining your beneficiaries, so ensure that they match!

Beneficiaries and other policy details should be reviewed at least every three years and after any major life events.

2. Review the term of your policy

If you have term life insurance, it’s important to know when the term ends. An annual review will prevent a term policy expiration from sneaking up on you. If you are caught unaware, you may face a major premium hike.

Some term policies may be convertible to permanent insurance on their anniversary, which others may be convertible at the end of their term.

3. Assess the amount of your policy

Make sure the amount of your life insurance policy is still appropriate for its intentions and for your financial situation.

Take time to evaluate what you intend for the benefits to cover. Are you hoping to fund your burial expenses, or provide college tuition for your children? Does your policy provide sufficient coverage for these needs? If not, it may be time to look into additional coverage.

If your personal wealth has increased significantly in the last year, you may consider more life insurance in order to protect your family from estate taxes.

Auto Insurance

1. Reassess your comprehensive/collision coverage

If you have collision and comprehensive coverage, take time to make sure the limits are adequate, or whether you still need it. If you don’t have the coverage, consider whether it’s time to add it.

If you’re driving an older car worth less than $1,000 – or less than 10 times the insurance premium – having comprehensive or collision coverage may no longer make sense. Dropping either the comprehensive or collision coverage may reduce your premium.

2. Ask about any new discounts.

Ask about any discounts that you may qualify for, such as:

• Multi-vehicle discount

• Good student discount

• Safe driver discount

• Loyalty discount

• Resident student discount

If you don’t drive very often, providing your insurance agent with your low mileage estimate could save you money. You may also receive discount if you belong to professional associations and organizations.

Contact us with your questions and we will be happy to answer them and guide you in the right direction.

https://www.barrowsins.com