Should You File a Home Insurance Claim?

Denise GillinHome and Auto Insurance

By G.M. Filisko for Houselogic.com It’s that age-old conundrum: You pay for homeowners insurance to protect yourself from financial ruin, yet filing a claim when disaster does strike puts you at risk of seeing your annual premiums increase by hundreds of dollars. Worse, either a major claim or too many claims in a given period, no matter how legitimate, could lead to losing your house’s coverage altogether. While it can be a fine calculation to make, every time there’s damage to your property or an accident on it, you need to consider carefully whether it makes financial sense to file a claim or absorb the losses yourself. The fates of your homeowners insurance and your bank account hang in the …

Six Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Denise GillinBusiness Insurance, Home and Auto Insurance, Risk Management

By Eric Rosenberg for Westfield Insurance Car accidents happen—and sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it. These accidents are far more common than you might think. Data from the last U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey in 2018 showed there were over 6.7 million car crashes in the U.S. that year. Of those accidents, nearly 1.9 million resulted in injuries and over 4.8 million of these accidents involved property damage. But while getting into an accident can shake you up, there are important steps to take after one occurs. These measures can help ensure everyone is safe, that the law is being followed and that the car accident claim process is as streamlined as possible. Stay calm …

Winterize Your Home

Denise GillinHome and Auto Insurance, Risk Management

Home Winterizing Checklist by HomeAdvisor With the passing of the holiday season, winter isn’t over. There are still cold days and even snow in our near future. Make sure your home is secure in the months ahead. Be Prepared. Make sure you have a snow shovel or snow blower if you have a large area to clear. And, it’s never a bad idea to have some extra canned goods and cases of water. Gutters & Downspouts If you didn’t clean and clear your gutters in the fall, double check them to make sure they are clear before the next snowfall. It’s a good idea to install leaf guards, if you don’t have them, to keep your gutters and spouts clear. …

What Delivery Drivers should know about their auto coverage

Denise GillinHome and Auto Insurance, News, Personal Lines

Shared from Forbes.com There are a multitude of ways to make extra income these days. In a time where ridesharing and delivery services are booming, be sure you understand your auto coverage. If you are a delivery driver using your own vehicle to carry and deliver other people’s goods in return for payment, a commercial policy is required. When working for such places as Uber, Lyft, GrubHub, Door Dash or grocery delivery, you are using your vehicle for business instead of personal use. If you have started a driving job (part-time or full-time), you could be putting yourself at risk and could have a claim denied if you haven’t informed your agent. Due to the pandemic, there are some companies …

Get Smart About Credit

Denise GillinHome and Auto Insurance, Insurance, News

October 15th is Get Smart About Credit Day as well as International Credit Union Day. A good credit score is important for your financial health. The Balance lists the following as six benefits to having a good credit score: • Low interest rates on credit cards and loans • Better car insurance rates • Approval for higher limits • Easier approval for renting • Obtain certain contracts (like cell phone or utilities) with no security deposit • Better negotiating power Understanding your credit score is an important place to start. The following are tips for you and your family to help understand what affects your credit score. Help your children and grandchildren understand the importance of sound financial management. Learning …

Reduce the Potential for Water Damage and Severe Weather Claims

Denise GillinBusiness Insurance, Home and Auto Insurance, Risk Management

The insurance industry pays many more claims for water damage than they do for fire damage! And, the number of losses spike during the cold winter months. Do you know how to reduce the potential for water damage from: Wind-blown rain, sleet and snow from severe storms Ice damming Flooding and damage from surface water Accidental activation or damage to piping containing water Roof collapse   For more information and to access the Water Damage Prevention Inspection Checklist >>>  

Winter Driving Tips

Lisa SpencerHome and Auto Insurance, Insurance, News, Personal Lines

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Never mix radial tires with other tire types. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather. Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, …

Preventing Ice Dams

Lisa SpencerHome and Auto Insurance, Personal Lines

By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk of “This Old House” magazine Take care of trouble spots and you will enjoy a winter free of icicles – and the damage they can do to your roof. Dam Busters Stopping ice dams is simple, in principle: Just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. You do that by increasing ventilation, adding insulation, and sealing off every possible air leak that might warm the underside of the roof, as shown in the illustration below. By taking care of these trouble spots, listed here in order of priority, you should enjoy a winter free of dams and use less energy to boot. Read the tips here >>>