Have You Tested Your Smoke Alarms Recently? 

Have you tested your smoke alarms recently? If you haven’t, it’s possible that you, your family, and your possessions could be at risk. Smoke alarms are only useful if they actually work, and many smoke alarms could either be malfunctioning or completely dead. To avoid unnecessary risks, you need to test your smoke alarm at least once every year — and ideally once every six months. 

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Do You Need to Test Your Smoke Alarm?

It’s easy to assume that your smoke alarm works because you remember the last time it went off. But what you may not realize is that the batteries may have died… or that you may have actually disabled the smoke alarm the last time it went off. In 60% of home deaths due to fire, the smoke alarms either were not present at all or did not work. Further, the risk of death is reduced by 50% if you do have a working smoke alarm.

Almost half (46%) of the smoke alarms that did not work had missing or disconnected batteries, often due to disconnected smoke alarms. 24% of the failures were caused by dead batteries, and only 7% of the failures were caused by hardwired detectors.  (source: NFPA)

Testing a smoke alarm is important because a smoke alarm can malfunction at any time. Smoke alarms are actually fairly complex, they have different types of sensors. Some sensors detect smoke, whereas others detect chemicals. Some detect just fire and some detect carbon monoxide. Just because the smoke detector goes off occasionally if you burn something while baking, it may not go off during an actual fire. It may not be able to detect “smoldering flame,” even if it can detect smoke — and smoke doesn’t always happen until it’s too late.

The Process of Testing Smoke Alarms

Testing smoke alarm is really very easy. A smoke alarm will have a button on it that says “test.” Press the button, and the smoke alarm should go off. Don’t worry, the alarm is just going to go off for a few seconds before it stops.

That means your smoke alarm is active. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s safe. Your smoke alarm will start periodically beeping if it needs to have a battery replaced, which is how you can know that it is low power. But none of this tells you whether the sensors are correct. For that, you simply need to make sure your smoke alarms are current and use new sensor technologies.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

What if your battery dies when you aren’t around to hear it? If you’re going on a vacation, you might not even notice. You can reduce your risk by replacing your batteries on a regular basis, such as every six months. And you can further reduce your potential risks by getting a wired smoke alarm.

Most smoke alarms should be replaced after about ten years. After ten years, you may not know whether it has the best sensor technology, or whether its sensors may have potentially malfunctioned. Many new smoke alarms have multiple types of advanced sensors, such as ionization and photoelectric. Ideally you will want a smoke alarm that has every type of sensor available.

In addition to reducing your individual risk, you should also consider the placement of your smoke alarms and the number of smoke alarms you should have. You should ideally have a smoke alarm every floor of your home, especially in halls, bedrooms, and kitchens. The more smoke alarms you have, the better protected you are.

You can also consider advantageous upgrades such as smart systems, which can alert you wherever you are and therefore mitigate your risks.

8 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

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Is the winter weather getting you down? If your home seems to be just a little colder than it should be (or you keep constantly hearing your furnace kick on), you might need to do some extra maintenance. Here’s a quick check list you can use to improve insulation and the effectiveness of your heating.

1. Check Drafts Around Outlets

Outlets, panel covers, and other inset wall fixtures can sometimes be drafty. Cold air can circulate inside of your walls and end up coming out of these areas, ruining the effectiveness of your insulation. Take a caulking gun and seal the areas around your outlets.

2. Replace Your Weather Stripping

Weather stripping isn’t meant to last forever. In fact, most weather stripping is going to have to be replaced every few years. Take out your old weather stripping around your doors and replace it with brand new, energy efficient weather stripping. Consider also checking for gaps beneath doors that could impact your insulation.

3. Caulk Any Holes in Walls

Walk around the exterior of your home and see if there are any holes that need to be caulked. Like weather stripping, caulk does eventually wear down and wear away. Caulking is frequently going to appear around outside pipes, windows, and so forth — and you may see that it has degraded. Use exterior caulk in these areas. You can also find paintable caulk if you would like to match the color of your home.

4. Close Up Your Chimney

If you have a chimney, remember to get it cleaned out (for safety) and then keep it shut when it’s not in  use. Chimneys can lose a lot of warm air, as they are designed to vent air to the surface (and because hot air rises). Just make sure you also have a monitoring system to make sure that you can detect any potentially dangerous air issues.

5. Get Your Furnace Checked

It’s a good idea to get your furnace checked every year to make sure it’s still safe and functioning. A professional will also be able to run basic maintenance on your furnace, which will help it last even longer. Furnaces generally last anywhere from 15 to 25 years, so if your furnace is getting older, you may also want to think about replacement.

7. Seal Up Your Ducts

Does your home’s heater have less “oomph” now? It could be that the heater is working just as well but there are issues with your ducts. Over time, ducts can degrade and leaks can emerge. Further, ducts can be disrupted by pests, such as squirrels in your attic. Get a full duct cleaning and have your ducts sealed up; you’ll often save money in your energy bills as well as improving the comfort of your home.

8. Buy a Roof Rake

A roof rake is an easy way to ensure that your roof is clear — and that’s important. Without a roof rake, you could end up storing a dangerous amount of snow and debris on your roof. Eventually that could cause your roof to leak… or even begin to crack. Buying a roof rake is an easy way to maintain your roof without a lot of effort on your part, and it can ensure that your gutters remain clean as well. Roof rakes also reduce your liability, because otherwise things could easily fall on visitors and cause an injury.

By being proactive about your home’s maintenance, you can not only make it more comfortable but also reduce your energy bills! You can also reduce your potential risk, as there’s less likelihood that people could be injured on your property.

You can buy a roof rake here: True Temper Telescoping Roof Rake

 

Should anything happen due to winter weather that causes your home to need repairs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our trusted partners on our Community Page.

Why Business Auto Insurance Is Important

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Earlier this year Concord Group Insurance announced their affiliation with Auto-Owner Insurance Group, a well rated mutual insurance company that exclusively works through independent agents. The reason for the collaboration between the two companies is to better serve their customers. Combining the two groups efforts will increase their financial security as well as reach and effectively deliver quality insurance coverage to a wider range of customers. Not to mention mark the beginning of their new business auto insurance line!

As a result of this new affiliation, Concord Group Insurance has added a new line of commercial auto insurance. The Group uses a mutual insurance method to protect the needs of their policy holders, rather than the shareholders, because there are no shareholders. Adding the new auto insurance line will allow Concord Group Insurance to offer all inclusive coverage and protection plan, and the Group is actively and aggressively pricing their new commercial insurance policy. It is a different kind of policy that has not been introduced like this before in other companies so it is crucial that Concord Group Insurance set the bar before anyone else can. That being said, determining the pricing might be difficult because there aren’t other policies like it to compare it to.

With all the different insurance policies out there these days it can be tough to nail down what you actually need for your auto insurance for your business. It is common for business owners to purchase business auto insurance in order to avoid unnecessary liabilities or claims involved with company vehicles. At some point, damage or an accident might occur to one of your company vehicles through no fault of your own so it is very important to make sure your investments are covered and protected. Businesses often overlook this type of insurance and they realize when it is too late that they should have had an auto policy in their business insurance plan sooner.

With a good business auto insurance policy, a business can receive compensation in the event of an accident or damage if they file a claim for it. With all of the possibilities that could damage your company vehicles, such as natural disaster, accidents, and just general car malfunction, it is imperative that you find the best quality auto insurance.

When looking for quality commercial auto insurance, there are a few things to look for and keep in mind before you make any purchase decisions. Make sure you know what kind of insurance you need for whatever company vehicles you have. Different classes of vehicles (ie. trucks vs. an SUV) have different requirements and they vary for each state. Make sure you know what the requirements are and find an insurance company that specializes in your needs. Which brings us to the next piece of advice, always do your research. Don’t just go off of hearsay because it might not be very factual. Do the research yourself and get the facts or call us if you have any questions!

Lastly, a very important tip for security and protection purposes is to keep recordings. If you have employees driving your company trucks or other vehicles, keep a live video camera on the dashboard or somewhere that can capture important details of the vehicle. In the event of an accident, having video evidence will help you build your case and defend your claim. You will be able to see if the driver had any fault, such as if he/she was texting or lighting a cigarette, or if the accident was the fault of another person. Also, take photographs of any damage you see immediately following an accident to keep a detailed record of loss and damage.

Why Use Independent Insurance Agents?

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When you’re looking for insurance, you have two major options. You can get insurance from multiple companies on your own or go to an independent, third-party agent or agency. While each of these options may have their own pros and cons, independent insurance agents (or an agency) is usually the best choice.

Independent Insurance Agents Save Money

Independent agents are most frequently chosen because they can save an individual or business money in a variety of ways:

  • Getting the best deals. An independent agent is aware of all the deals available on the market and can advise their client on which policies will work best for them. Because the agent works for a third party, they have no reason to promote any company’s services over another. They may also get bundled and discounted deals to save their clients money.
  • Establishing the right coverage. Because an independent agent is solely focused on getting their clients the best coverage, they can tell their clients exactly how much coverage they need. Agents aren’t interested in upselling their clients on more coverage, as they are interested not only in acquiring clients but also in being able to retain them. Customers happy with their insurance costs are additionally more likely to refer new business.
  • Avoiding costly mistakes. Because an independent agent is an expert in insurance, they are going to be able to prevent many costly mistakes. Individuals managing their own insurance could accidentally let policies lapse, which could lead to a lack of coverage if an incident occurs. Individuals working with companies may not realize certain things are or aren’t covered, as the company will not have a full picture of their insurance needs.
  • Getting the appropriate discounts. Senior, student, safe driver, and new home owner discounts are all available for different types of insurance policy — but these discounts may not always be immediately obvious. Independent agents know which discounts they should ask for and are able to compare different policies with these discounts already in mind.
  • Revising policies as needed. An insurance agent that works independently will also periodically analyze the insurance needs of their client to make sure they are still getting the best possible deals. Though an individual can do this, they are often more likely to simply renew the old contracts that they already have.

Independent Insurance Agents Get Better Coverage

An independent agent will assess a customer’s insurance needs from top to bottom to make sure that they have the best in coverage. By negotiating with companies (and through their own expertise in the market) they don’t just save their customers money — they also get them better policies. Insurance agents have experience in the market and they know about all of the different types of coverage available. An individual attempting to get coverage through multiple companies may acquire redundant coverage or may not have enough coverage overall.

Independent Insurance Agents Take Care of Everything

The relationship that is built with an independent agent can be incredibly important. An independent agent will understand all of your insurance needs and will consequently be able to make sure that you don’t have any insurance gaps and that your coverage is neither too little or too excessive. Because they are your first point of contact for any insurance matters, you’ll never need to wonder about who you need to contact with questions or to initiate a claim. As products and services offered by your insurance companies change, you’ll still continue working with your agent — and they will be able to offer you a continuity of customer service that you wouldn’t have if you were regularly switching between companies.

An independent agent isn’t just acting as a broker; they also can act as an advocate for their client when claims arise and can walk their clients through situations with their insurance policies. Altogether this makes the entire process of dealing with insurance much easier, not just identifying a policy and purchasing it.

Insurance can be exceedingly complex and it’s important to have someone on your side. Independent insurance agents work as partner, finding you the best coverage at the best prices and making sure that you are always cared for. Though you can try to put together your own insurance packages, you will almost universally spend less time and money working through a third party agent/agency.

Jewelry Insurance in Boston

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Is your jewelry properly insured? It’s dangerous to assume that your jewelry is already insured under either your homeowner’s insurance or your renter’s insurance — as it very well may not be. Jewelry often requires separate insurance riders, based on the value of the jewelry and the policy that the jewelry is added to. Here’s what you need to know about jewelry insurance in Boston.

What Exactly Is “Jewelry Insurance”?

Jewelry insurance isn’t like any other type of insurance policy. For starters, it isn’t a separate policy at all, but instead coverage that you add on to an existing policy. Jewelry coverage is necessary because there are many policies that limit the amount that each individual item can be insured for. In other words, your renter’s insurance may only cover individual items up to $2,000. If you have a necklace that is worth $5,000 that is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will only get the maximum amount of $2,000, even if that doesn’t exceed your total coverage cap.

To get around this, you need to insure the individual items under one of your insurance policies — or you need to increase the individual item coverage to cover all of the items that you want insured.

How Can I Get Jewelry Insurance in Boston?

Getting jewelry insurance in Boston begins by an assessment of your jewelry’s value. If it’s recently purchased jewelry, a receipt will usually suffice — but if it’s jewelry that has been in your family for a long time, you may actually need an appraisal. For expensive jewelry items, you’re going to need some written evidence regarding the jewelry’s value and its authenticity. Once you have this you can submit it to your insurance company and they will then give you a quote for coverage. Your coverage will be associated with either your renters insurance or your homeowner’s insurance.

You should always have a very thorough inventory of your home’s items, including any jewelry — and you should keep in mind that the replacement value of jewelry may differ from its appraised value, especially in the case of things such as wedding rings or other sentimental items. There is also the possibility that jewelry items may be able to be repaired or also have some salvage value, which also may be able to impact its insurable amount. Either way your insurance company should be able to help you.

It’s very important for you to have full insurance on all of the items that are in your home. Jewelry items that you may have had for a while may be more valuable than you think — or, conversely, the appraisal value may not be as high as you expect. In order to get a better picture of your full insurance needs, you can contact your own insurance agent or go through an insurance broker. An insurance broker will be able to get you multiple competing quotes.

Author: Caitlin Barrows

Massachusetts RV Insurance

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Recreational vehicles can be a adventurous way to live your life…or spend your weekend away. Getting the right insurance, will ensure that your happy weekend isn’t ruined by lack of coverage. Massachusetts RV insurance isn’t difficult. With a little understanding, you will be able to have an informed conversation with your insurance agent.

Classes of RVs

Given the wide range of vehicles that classify as an RV, there are different classifications: Class A, B, and C.  Depending on what type of RV you own and how often you are using it, your insurance options will vary.

To give you some idea of each class, let’s look at some examples:

  • Class A: motor coaches, luxury coaches, and converted buses
  • Class B: smaller RVs without cab-overs, travel-trailers, camper vans, and converted cargo vans style campers
  • Class C: cab-over styled campers, separate cab area, and fifth wheel vehicles.

Typical Coverages for RVs

First of all, an RV is still at risk for the same things your car is, so the same coverages apply: collision, comprehensive, and liability. At the same time, the vehicle is a living space. Therefore, some of the same coverage as your homeowners insurance are needed, such as coverage on your personal belongings. In addition, other coverages will vary by agent and your specific needs, but may include:

  • total-loss replacement
  • emergency expense
  • roadside assistance
  • towing
  • campsite
  • vacation
  • full-time usage (if you travel and live in your RV)
  • uninsured/underinsured motorist
  • permanent attachments

While that is a laundry list of coverages, your insurance agent will be able to walk you through the process of determining your specific needs and coverage levels.

How Much Does Massachusetts RV Insurance Cost?

Prices for Massachusetts RV insurance can vary widely, depending on two very RV-specific factors:

  • Your RV Class – Classes A & C are the most costly, respectively. Finally, Class B is usually not as costly.
  • Usage – If you live in your RV, the cost will naturally rise with the level of risk.

Additionally, your insurance costs will rise if you have a poor driving record, if you need additional coverages, or if you want certain limits and deductibles. Due to your personal needs, costs are very specific to you.  A ballpark figure in RV insurance might be $500 – $2,500 per year, but any of the aforementioned aspects could raise or lower your RV insurance costs.

Next Steps

Insurance on your investment is a no-brainer, even when it is parked. Yet, when you have your RV on the road, Massachusetts requires that you have insurance with at least liability coverage. So if you have purchased or are purchasing an RV and would like to have a conversation with an agent, you can contact us here and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to help you.

Is Rental Car Insurance Really Worth it?

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Have you ever rented a car? If you have then you probably know that rental car companies offer optional rental car insurance…but is it worth it?

One such rental car insurance package is often called the “Full Damage Waiver” and actually I highly recommend purchasing this insurance package.

When I rented a car with Enterprise recently I got the “Full Damage Waiver” added to my rental agreement. It cost me just under $17 per day.

Now, I know what you are thinking, and yes it can add up if you have the rental vehicle for a long time. I would think that most rentals wouldn’t last for more than a week or two. So at the end of one week the total cost to add this would be about $119. If you keep the vehicle for two weeks then the cost would be about $238.

Why Rental Car Insurance?

So now you are likely wondering why would you pay for this and I will tell you. If you don’t get the coverage then:

  1. If you damage the rental then the credit card you used to place the security deposit will immediately be charged the amount of the deductible on your auto policy. Most often this means a charge of $500 or $1000. (assuming you have the correct coverage on your policy)
  2. If you are at fault in a collision then your driving record will be affected causing the cost of your auto insurance to increase at your next renewal.
  3. You could be charged additional costs as well. These additional fees can include Administrative fees, Loss of Use, Diminishment of Value and possibly others depending on the rental car company. It is possible your auto insurance policy may pay one or more of these fees. In a recent claim only the Loss of use was covered.

So, in short if you purchase the “Full Damage Waiver” you can just walk away from any and all damage, get your deposit back. No fees or surcharge will be applied since your insurance company won’t have to pay for the damage.  This alone makes rental car insurance well worth the investment.

Next time you rent a car look for this waiver, but it may be called something else. Read the contract and add the waiver to save yourself a boat load of hassle that could come your way, if damage is done.

About the Author:

*Please note, I am a licensed agent in the state of Massachusetts. Details may vary state to state. I have prepared this as a summary of my experience with rental cars, it is intended as an item for consideration. Please do your own research and read your contracts when renting a vehicle.

Written by Bonnie J. O’Hara CISR
Barrows Insurance Agency, Inc.
http://www.barrowsins.com/

A Guide to Second Home Insurance

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Many of our clients have made the decision to purchase a second home, or vacation home, some on the Cape and other places. Two common conversations come up with nearly every second home policy we write. First, why is this different from homeowners insurance? Secondly, what types of insurance are needed for a secondary home? So, let’s look at what these differences are, what insurance types are needed, and what you can do to mitigate some costs.

As a disclaimer, I will mention real estate in other places, we can usually refer you to a reputable agency for places that we do not do business.

How is Second Home Insurance Different?

Second home insurance differs from homeowners insurance in several ways. Most of these differences are simply increased risk factors and that’s what I am going to focus on.

Perhaps the biggest risk factor is that the home may go unoccupied for long periods of time. While you are at your primary residence, a storm could have ripped a hole in the roof of your second home and no one is there to address the issue. So a hole in the roof becomes water damage an mold cleanup by the time someone realizes what happened.

Another prevalent risk factor is that many vacation homes are in rural locations, like that getaway cabin in the White Mountains. Compounding the effect of being unoccupied, the risk of theft increases when the location is both unoccupied and rural.

Many people also tend to offer their second home to friends, family, coworkers, or clients. While this helps with keeping a check on the property and maintenance needs, it introduces yet another threat. Damage by a 3rd party.

Additionally, some people even rent out their second home for short periods of time. For instance, a house in Daytona may get rented out to spring breakers. Did someone say, “risk”?

So, to recap:

  • Unoccupied for long periods
  • Isolated rural location
  • Guests
  • Tenants

Types of Insurance Needed:

Many of the insurances you will need for your second home, is the same as homeowners insurance. In most homeowners insurance policies, your coverages are:

  • Dwelling
  • Other structures
  • Personal property
  • Loss of use
  • Liability insurance

As you have probably figured out, you may need a few extra pieces in place. So, in addition to you’re typical homeowners insurance, you should consider:

  • Earthquake
  • Tornado
  • Hurricane
  • Additional theft/vandalism
  • Tenant Insurance (if renting)
  • Umbrella Policy
  • Flood

What you can do to mitigate costs:

  • Install an Alarm System
    • If you are leaving any valuables at your second home, then installing an alarm system isn’t only practical, it can save you money on insurance premiums.
  • Combine Policies to Save
    • If possible, combine your second home insurance with your primary homeowners insurance, car insurance, boat insurance, etc. By combining these and going through the same company, you can lower your premiums.
  • Umbrella Policies
    • Aside from the fact you are adding a valuable asset to your insurance coverages, there comes a point where having an umbrella policy just makes sense. In the event that something were to happen, like a 100 year flood that you didn’t anticipate or have covered, you may need some additional coverage. The more assets you are insuring, the higher the risk that you are exposed to one of these “freak accidents”. Maybe buying the second home doesn’t trigger the need for this, but keep it in mind.
  • Insurance & Renting
    • If you are going to be renting out your second home, you should inform your insurance agent. While it may seem more risky to be renting, the reality is that some of the risks associated with it being empty will be alleviated, which could translate into savings.
    • Another way to save on your premiums is to require tenants to carry renters insurance with minimum amounts of coverage, as outlined by your insurance agent. In doing so, some of the risk management costs can be transferred to the tenant, again saving you money without lowering your coverage.

Choosing the right insurance agency:

As you have seen, insurance for a second home is considered higher risk than a primary home. To mitigate costs, you should consider using an agency that has access to multiple insurance companies. Not all insurance products are the same and having access to more options, as well as having a knowledgeable insurance agent, will better ensure that you have the appropriate amount of insurance at the best price possible.

10 Homeowners Insurance Tips

Here are 10 tips for what to look for in homeowners insurance 

Trust- use a company that you can trust and has a reputation for genuinely caring about their clients.

Social proof- compare and rate companies based on their ability to satisfy the needs of their customers.

Home location- factors such as crime rate and home location could impact how much you spend on homeowners insurance.

Discounts- installing security systems could increase your chances of receiving a discount.

Use one company- when you use one company for all of your insurance needs, you often are discounted as a valued customer.

Replacement costs- your house should be insured based on its replacement cost rather than its market value.

Deductible costs- based on personal preferences, weigh the pros and cons for choosing a higher or lower deductible.

Know your home- know the history of the home and any previous damages, such as fires and water damage.

Insure home upgrades- insure your home improvements in order to receive an accurate quote.

Know your coverage- be mindful of what is and isn’t covered, and ask your insurer if you have any questions.

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Everything You Need To Know About Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance Coverage

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When you insure an automobile, you generally insure yourself and your passengers in addition to any drivers and passengers that you could be involved in an accident with. Motorcycle insurance doesn’t  work this way. With Massachusetts motorcycle insurance, your own personal protection, the protection of your passengers, and the protection of others may all be separate types of coverage with different coverage limits. Motorcycles are often driven solo and the people most often injured by a motorcycle collision is the driver itself; this is why coverage is different with a motorcycle compared to an automobile. The standard motorcycle policy is not going to include injury coverage to the driver or the passenger.

There are four types of additional insurance that can usually be added onto a standard package:

  • Personal insurance. This covers you, the motorcycle operator, if you are injured. This is understandably often the most expensive addition to a motorcycle insurance policy.
  • Guest passenger insurance. This covers any passengers that you may have on the motorcycle during an accident. If you never have passengers, it may be unnecessary.
  • Comprehensive insurance. This covers things that may happen to your motorcycle outside of an accident, such as theft or vandalism.
  • Layup insurance. This is actually an add-on to a policy that can reduce your insurance when your motorcycle is not in use.

What Controls Your Motorcycle Premium?

Like auto insurance, your motorcycle premium is controlled by a lot of factors. Your driving history is an important one, as is your past claims history. Your motorcycle insurance company will look at how long you’ve driven a motorcycle, whether you’ve completed a training course, and the cost of your motorcycle to replace. They will also look at the type of motorcycle you’re driving and the amount of power it has; a sport bike is going to be insured at a different rate from a touring bike. Finally, your location also becomes very important — in particular, the general crime rate in your area may be applicable. Motorcycle insurance can be bundled with other types of insurance to save money, and there can also be some other discounts available such as student and military benefits.

It’s very easy to end up under-insured when it comes to Massachusetts motorcycle insurance. If you want to make sure that you have the coverage you really need, talking to an agent directly can help.  Contact us today for a free consultation!

Boat Insurance (what you need to know)

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Summer and the sea go together like salt and pepper, and boating is by far one of the best ways to enjoy this winning combination. To get the most out of your summer boating experiences you’ll want to make sure your vessel is clean, properly equipped and in good mechanical condition, waxed and sealed and, last but not least, insured. Boat insurance protects not just your boat, but also you and everyone else you take out onto the water. Yes– you’re not just making sure all the time and money you spent on your boat doesn’t go to waste. You’re also protecting your friends and family, and with the average boat costing a dollar or less a day to insure, this is more than worth the price.

Of course, like all forms of insurance there are different coverage amounts to choose from. We are more than happy to talk with you in detail about your boat insurance options, but in the meantime you should consider the following to get a better idea of what you’re looking for:

Liability and Medical Coverage

Never underestimate the importance of liability coverage in a policy. This will cover you in the event of an accident that is your fault or in other situations where you may cause damage. You will also want to make sure your policy had medical coverage, in case you or any passengers are injured (regardless of who is at fault). You should also consider the fact that many other boaters may not have insurance, in which case it is wise to also get Uninsured / Under-insured Watercraft Bodily Injury coverage to protect yourself in case one of them is at fault.

Agreed Boat Value and Personal Effects

Just like cars, the value of a boat generally goes down with time (though of course various other elements factor in, like equipment updates, maintenance, etc.) If you get a cash value policy, it can therefore be difficult to replace the entire boat. If your boat is lost, stolen or destroyed, you’ll get the amount you insured it for, minus any deductible of course. Likewise, if you are storing any valuable personal effects on board you’ll also want to make sure these are covered as this will not be included in the agreed boat value. Getting additional Unattached Equipment Coverage will also cover any related boating items (safety equipment, water skis, oars etc.) that are not necessarily attached to your boat.

Emergency Assistance

Just as it suggests, this covers any necessary emergency assistance services (towing, gas delivery, etc.).

Wreckage Removal / Fuel Spill Cleanup

In the event that your boat is wrecked, you are responsible for its cleanup. And yes, this includes any fuel spills that may have occurred. Such cleanup can be very costly in addition to time consuming, so it is wise to make sure your boat insurance covers this as well.

Boating Area / Navigational Range

Where do you plan on taking your boat? How far out into the ocean will you go? Most insurance policies do not automatically guarantee you’ll be covered everywhere on the water, so make sure yours covers wherever you plan on going (you can always add additional coverage later).

Contact us today to learn more.

Have You Reviewed Your Insurance Policies Recently?

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In a world of “save 15% or more” advertisements, people often buy into the idea that they really are saving X percent. The assumption is that the quote is comparing apples to apples, when in reality these ads can be misleading, because these insurance policies are often different than your existing plan.

Whether it be auto, homeowners, or any other insurance plan, it is important to know what coverages you need and what insurance policies you have. At Barrows, we believe in a very customer-centric approach. We believe that it is our responsibility to educate our customers on what coverages are best for their unique situations and help them to make informed decisions on protecting themselves.

In the event that you need to make a claim, you want to know that you are going to be covered and be compensated on the claim. Choosing the right coverages is key to making this happen.

At Barrows, our approach is rather straight forward. We look at your life situations, what coverages you need, how much coverage you need, and how much you feel is appropriate, based on how risk averse you are individually (because everyone is different). Then we make a recommendation and explain to you the coverages included with that recommendation.

In addition to having the right coverage when you purchase a policy, it is also important to update your policy as life changes. Perhaps you find out you are pregnant and you need additional health insurance or that your child is getting married and no longer needs to be on your auto policy. As our lives change, so does the context of our insurance policies. You may be paying for insurance that you no longer need.

If it has been 6 months to a year since you have discussed your coverages with your insurance agent or you aren’t sure in what areas you are covered, perhaps it is time to make the call. After all, having the right coverages can save you a lot of money.

Finally, we enjoy being a resource for our customers. At Barrows Insurance Agency, we take pride in providing value and making sure our customers are happy. If you have any questions about your policy and what coverages you have, don’t hesitate to call in and ask or send us a message.

The 10 Most Common Small Business Insurance Claims

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Being the proprietor of a small business can be very rewarding, but it’s no secret that this position also comes with a wide variety of challenges. Along with working hard to maintain the business’ attraction to the public, customer service standards and general value, various unforeseen circumstances like fires, burglaries, water damage and more can heap a lot of extra stress on owners. Getting properly insured can help alleviate this, but to better understand what you’re up against keep reading below to become familiar with what kind of insurance hazards business owners can find themselves up against. According to InsuranceJournal.com, these are the 10 most common small business insurance claims filed:

1. Theft and Burglary

Burglary and theft claims account for about 20 percent of those filed annually by small businesses. These claims may include not only lost products and merchandise but also damage caused by a break in.

2. Water Damage

Nobody wants a flood, pipe breakage or rain intrusion to interrupt their business, but unfortunately it does happen and the damage can be long lasting. Interestingly enough, water damage claims may also include damage caused by ice and freezing temperatures. About 15 percent of annual small business claims are for water damage.

3. Wind and Hail Damage

Mother nature does not discriminate when it comes to who the elements affect, and small businesses are no exception. Like water damage, wind and hail damage claims account for about 15 percent of small business claims each year.

4. Fire Damage

A fire is one of the most feared situations by business proprietors, and perhaps with good reason. Not only can fires completely devastate a building and therefore a business, but they account for about 10 percent of annual small business claims.

5. Customer Slips / Falls

Nobody wants someone to become injured on their property, but it does happen, and that’s why insurance is so important. A surprising 10 percent of annual insurance claims filed by small businesses involve a customer slipping and falling on their premises.

6. Customer Injury

Going along with the above, customers can become injured in a variety of other ways as well, many times unforeseen. About 5 percent of annual claims are for a customer becoming injured or experiencing damage on a business owner’s property.

7. Struck By An Object

This is exactly what it sounds like. Whether it’s an employee or a customer who is unwittingly struck by a stray object, having insurance will help greatly with the less than 5 percent of these claims filed each year.

8. Product Liability

Sometimes products don’t function as they should, and people do file suit as a result. Less than 5 percent of annual claims are for product liability.

9. Reputational Injury / Harm

When running a small business, reputation is everything. Even if it’s someone else saying that you damaged theirs, protect yourself from feeling the blow with insurance. These claims are less than 5 percent of those filed annually.

10. Vehicle Accident

Transportation is vital for many businesses, and less than 5 percent of small business claims each year involve a vehicular accident. Get insurance to prevent a traffic accident from ruining your business.

5 Must-Know Tips For Purchasing Homeowners Insurance

Purchasing homeowners insurance can be a real challenge, especially for new home buyers.  So, here are our 5 tips for understanding what type of homeowners insurance fits your needs.

1. Get Smart About Insurance Payments

Talk to your policy provider about a payment plan that works best for your budget. Also, attaching insurance payments onto your regular mortgage payments is a good way to make things more manageable. In fact, many mortgage lenders actually prefer this.

2. Take Extra Measures to Protect Yourself

You can actually get policy discounts and therefore save on insurance costs by taking additional steps like installing fire detectors, making sure your heating system is current and fully functional, updating your electrical wiring, using dead bolts, installing a home security system and just generally making sure your home is well maintained. If you happen to live in close proximity to a fire station or police department, you may be eligible for further savings.

3. Determine the Coverage Type You Need

You can save yourself a lot of time purchasing homeowners insurance by first figuring out the type of coverage that best suits your needs. There are several different types of homeowners insurance coverage, the most common of which are:

HO-2 — This is a general-yet-detailed policy that covers a list of 16 named perils (usually including but not limited to the house itself, personal possessions and liability insurance).

HO-3 — This very common policy will cover any perils save for those that are specifically on the excluded list.

HO-5 — Essentially the premium version of the HO-3. This policy covers most perils except for those listed as excluded, but it is meant for newer, often more expensive homes (owners of older homes should see HO-8).

HO-6 — This policy is specifically meant for those living in condominiums and/or co-op residential buildings. While actual insurance will be through the homeowners association (HOA), this policy will include damage repair and personal possession coverage, as well as liability coverage.

HO-7 — Intended for mobile homes, this policy will cover any perils except for those named as being excluded.

HO-8 — This policy is designed for older homes, but it only covers the cost (monetary value) of the home. The reason behind this is that it is often harder to do repairs and replacements in older buildings.

For the most part, your insurance agent will make a determination on what type of insurance you need, but it still helps to know what is going into you insurance quote.

4. Know Your Policy Value

Know what kind of coverage amount (the monetary value) you’re looking at. This can be determined by estimating the value of your home in addition to how much various repairs will cost. Enlisting the help of a professional home builder, appraiser or insurance assessment company will greatly help in this area.

Keep in mind that the replacement cost on the home is almost always less than the pricetag of your house, because the replacement cost doesn’t include the land, which is a large part of the cost of buying a home.

5. Inventory Your Belongings

Going along with the above, it’s a good idea to make a list of your possessions (valuables) and their cost. If you’re like most people, you have some thousands of dollars worth of belongings that you would want to replace or receive compensation for should they be lost. After all, purchasing homeowners insurance is usually about more than just the building. If you can’t remember the cost and lack the receipts or other records, a professional appraiser can also help with this task.