Insights
Ice Dams: Help Your Clients Reduce Claims From This Type of Weather Damage
Untouched snow on the roof of home looks pretty, but this winter's heavy snowstorms mixed with frigid temperatures can cause an ice dam to develop on that roof. Ice dams prevent melting snow from properly draining. This can cause serious damage to insulation, ceilings, and walls if the water seeps inside the home. ... which leads to that homeowner filing a claim. To help your clients prevent...
The Importance of A Personal Articles Floater
A common misconception of homeowners is that all personal belongings are covered under their insurance policy. Unfortunately, there are several capped coverages for the items people deem most important (think maximum jewelry limit of $5,000 in some cases). A separate Personal Articles Floater (PAF) policy is critical to ensure your clients have...
Difficult Homeowners Risks Just Got Easy!
Let’s face the facts: Your clients are going to have homeowners’ claims. They are going to buy that coastal secondary home in Florida or California and call you the day of closing for coverage. They are going to rent out their seasonal home on AirBnB. They are going to tell you there is a fire department within 5 miles when there isn’t....
HOW NEW ENGLAND IS GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
There’s a chill in the air, but people throughout the New England region are doing their best to make the season warm and bright. We’ve seen some wonderful stories of holiday generosity that are sure to melt your heart. A few of our favorites: Homeless Man’s Kindness More Than Repaid Kate McClure was driving late at night on I-95 when her car ran...
Sharing Economy Trends Pose New Concerns for Insurance Coverage Gaps
Over the last few years, an entirely new way to add to household income has entered the market place. It’s called the “sharing economy.” This is an exciting and profitable industry but far too often homeowners forget a crucial step: insurance. According to Forbes: “The sharing economy is currently worth about $26 billion and grows bigger each...
HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
We’re all familiar with the traditional celebrations we hold in the US as the winter months set in. However, we are not alone in brightening the colder season with feasts, exchanges of gifts and other festive activities. Cultures throughout the year hold holiday celebrations that keep up cheer until the warmer weather returns. A few from around...
PROS & CONS OF VIRTUAL DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS
The rise of widely available high speed internet and higher quality mics and cameras has aided the development of other technologies, such as virtual doctor’s appointments. Like any technological advance, telemedicine has both benefits and drawbacks. Assessing all of these can help you decide when it is helpful and when an in-person visit is...
A GUIDE TO NON-PROFIT GIVING AND CHARITABLE DONATIONS
‘Tis the season for businesses to give back to the communities where they and their customers reside. The Christmas season is the most popular time of year for charitable giving — according to a recent survey of nonprofits, more than 10% get over half their funding during the holidays. To make sure that your gifts make the impact that you want,...
CAN RECYCLING LIMIT YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?
Nearly every year, more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere than the year before. And, much of the carbon dioxide that is generated comes from the US. While we are only 5% of the world’s population, we contribute over 20% of its carbon emissions. Additionally, we use over 30% of the world’s resources and contribute 30% of its waste....
WINTER WEATHER MAINTENANCE – WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY?
During the winter months, your rental properties need special attention against the season’s harsh weather and temperatures. Keeping on top of these maintenance tasks can keep your tenants and property safe, and help prevent small repairs from morphing into big problems: Inspect the trees. Snow and ice can weigh down branches, causing them to...
TOP 10 TOOLS NECESSARY WHEN YOU OWN YOUR OWN PROPERTY
Becoming a home owner means becoming responsible for a dizzying range of appliances, fixtures and home systems. While many items will require professional attention, it also pays to be able to handle a lot of the small stuff yourself. If you are moving from apartment living to a home of your own, stock your toolkit as soon as possible with the...
HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE CONTRACTOR
No matter how well-built they are, your buildings will need some maintenance, repairs and sometimes some upgrades or renovations. Choosing the right people to take on these important tasks can be daunting, but it is necessary to ensure that the work you need gets done in the right way. By carefully vetting the people who work on your structures,...
5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR NEW MECHANIC
Finding the right mechanic for you can be a tough and intimidating process. It can be hard to know who you can trust and who you should avoid. To be sure that you are putting your vehicle in trustworthy hands, find the answers to these questions before you commit: 1. What certifications do your mechanics have? Mechanics working for any...
CARVING OUT A PLACE IN YOUR BUSINESS FOR MILLENNIALS TO SUCCEED
Millennials now make up the largest worker demographic in the workplace. In fact, by 2025, three out of four workers will be Millennials. Despite how large and entrenched this group is, many companies are having a hard time attracting and retaining top talent in this age group. To be an appealing workplace means offering perks and advantages that...
WHAT RENOVATIONS GIVE THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK?
When you are looking at remodeling your home, you are often thinking in terms of recouping the costs when you wish to sell. However, it is important to choose where to invest your money wisely. Not every home improvement can give you the improvement in selling price that you want. When it comes to home renovations, some are more likely to result...
THE 5 MOST HISTORIC US HURRICANES
Last year’s hurricane season was highly active, with more than twice as many named storms as average. Experts are predicting an even more severe year for 2018. Hurricanes have often been a deadly and highly damaging force. Among the most historic and damaging hurricanes in US history: Hurricane Maria – September 16, 2017 A new report from the New...
THE 5 MOST NOTORIOUS INSURANCE CLAIMS IN HISTORY
Adequate insurance coverage, paired with due diligence and care, can help protect both businesses and individuals from devastating losses. While most claims are normal and manageable, in some cases, significant losses have led to historic payouts. Read on to learn about some of the largest and most unusual claims in history: Man sues self for...
STANDARD FACTS ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE AND OVERTIME YOU NEED TO KNOW
The people we hire can be the most valuable assets our companies have. To preserve good relationships, it is imperative to make sure that you are always complying with the most recent minimum wage and overtime laws for your area. Revisiting the laws regularly can help you maintain your familiarity and stay compliant. Meeting Minimum Wage At the...
SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE
We live in an age of instant gratification. Want something to eat, but don’t want to cook? UberEats or GrubHub can deliver from any restaurant in your area. Want a waffle iron? Amazon has 72 distinct models that can be delivered to your house in with free one-day shipping. Want a new life insurance policy? The company that can offer an instant...
IS GOING ONLINE FOR SERVICES A GENERATIONAL THING?
In the modern era, it is possible to access services that range from insurance to banking to healthcare information all from your desktop computer or mobile phone. While many new services emerge every year, many have been around long enough that there are now adults who have had access to the internet their entire lives. Is the way that people...
FLOOD STATISTICS – WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
It often seems that a month cannot go by without reading about catastrophic flooding somewhere. These floods can present high risk of property damage and even loss of life. When you are considering purchasing property that is in a flood plain or otherwise vulnerable to flooding, it is important to understand the level of risk you are taking on....