by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 20, 2012 | Blog
Thanksgiving is once again upon us, and across the country we are beginning to see pumpkin bread and cinnamon being stalked on the grocery store shelves with a background of holiday music. While the holidays provide a great time for family bonding and good food, studies have shown that more home insurance claims are made on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and this is primarily caused by kitchen fires. There are some simple tips that can be followed to reduce your risk becoming part of this disturbing statistic this holiday season.
Don’t Leave Food Unattended
One of the most common kitchen fire causes is that, with so much going on, Thanksgiving cooks often leave food unattended to deal with other activities. It is important to remain in the kitchen at all times. If the cook must leave the room, the heat should be turned off of anything on the stove or in the broiler.
Clean Your Workspace
The stove is a busy area during Thanksgiving Day. It is the workspace of the cook for the day. Just as an office employee benefits from organization on his or her desk, it is necessary for the cook to keep the area around the stove tidy. Many fires are started as a result of a potholder or other flammable object coming into contact with the stove flames.
Equipment Check
About a week before the holiday, it is strongly encouraged for those hosting a Thanksgiving meal to replace smoke detector batteries. An added measure of making a fire extinguisher readily available can also save a house in the event of a fire.
Proper Grease Disposal
Thanksgiving cooking involves a lot of grease, and we typically try to remove as much of it as possible. Hundreds of people, however, make the crucial mistake of throwing hot grease in the trash. While this normally causes no problems, there is the chance it could catch something on fire. Rather, it is good practice to allow the grease to cool off and then store it in a container.
We at [astCompanyName] hope these tips help you survive a joyous holiday season with no risk of house fire.
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by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 16, 2012 | Blog
Do you have questions about Snowplowing and your Massachusetts Auto Insurance Policy? We have some answers for you, brought to you by our valued insurance partner MAPRFE Commerce Insurance Company.
Question: I have a plow on my light truck and plan to clear snow. Do I need a Business Auto liability policy?
Answer: Not necessarily. A snow plow or other detachable equipment does not disqualify a risk from a Personal Auto Policy even if the insured is paid for services. If your customer is an individual, a personal policy with class 30 may be appropriate.
Question: I plow for the town and businesses that require additional insured status. Do I need a Business Auto liability policy?
Answer: Yes. Regardless of the weight or ownership of the vehicle, an additional insured cannot be added to a Personal Auto Policy. A Business Auto policy should be used. The Enhancer endorsement automatically added to your voluntary policies for no additional fee includes additional insured status when required by written contract. The MM9950 can be added to include additional insured status to voluntary policies where no written contract exists or for ceded policies with or without a written contract.
Question: Will the premium increase on my Business Auto Policy if I offer plowing services for a fee?
Answer: Probably not. Assuming that plowing is a side operation, and given the trend towards milder winters in Massachusetts, it is hard to imagine that a vehicle will plow more than 20% of the time. Nevertheless, if plowing exceeds 20%, then a “service” classed vehicle might have to be changed to a “commercial” class (80/20 rule).
Question: I am attaching a plow to my vehicle. Does my Business Auto Policy provide physical damage coverage for the plow?
Answer: Yes. There is physical damage coverage for the plow (equipment) as long as the vehicle to which it is attached also carries physical damage coverage. The cost new of the vehicle should be increased to include the cost new of the plow.
Question: I have a Business Auto Policy now. Does my policy provide coverage if someone slips on ice and is injured after I have finished plowing?
Answer: No. Completed operations are covered by a BOP/ GL policy. In order to keep our Artisan rates low, Commerce’s underwriting position is to provide coverage on a BOP when plowing is limited to driveways, streets and roads. Because of the high amount of pedestrian traffic in parking lots, especially immediately prior to and after a snow storm, we exclude coverage for snow removal in parking lots. We suggest that agents use one of the surplus lines carriers that specialize in seasonal, parking lot plowing exposures.
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 9, 2012 | Blog
The Brattleboro Rotary Club and Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club are organizing a collection of relief items for victims of Super Storm Sandy living in New Jersey.
On Saturday, November 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, November 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rotarians will be loading a 26-foot truck at the loading dock between Estey Organ Buildings 3 & 4 (102 and 108 Birge Street) in Brattleboro.
The following items (clothing, bed and bath items should be new or gently used) should be brought in labeled boxes if possible:
• Clothing
• Coats
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sweat pants
• Sweatshirts and sweaters
• Blankets
• Towels
• Bedding
• Linens
• Batteries
• Bottled water
• Non-perishable food
• Grooming supplies
Rotarians in Paramus, New Jersey will unload the truck and distribute to Super Storm Sandy victims.
Special thanks to Dana Lewis of B.C. Moving and Storage (aka Crofter Movers) for donating the truck and driver, as well as Barbara George for the use of her loading dock.
For more information contact Marty Cohn:
802-221-4821 or (802) 490-4434.
Also thanks to the Brattlboro Area Chamber of Commerce for sharing this information.
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 8, 2012 | Blog
On October 29 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the northeast coast of the United States, bringing with it high winds, extensive flooding, and torrential rains that forced evacuations, stranded many people in their homes, and has taken at least 150 lives. Estimates of the damages caused by the massive storm have already reached $50 billion.
In its wake, millions of people have been left without homes, electricity, transportation, food, communication (phones, internet). Help is needed in 13 states including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. The storm also affected Haiti, Cuba, and Canada. Now that we are seeing the full extent of the damages caused by the storm, it is not the time for widespread panic, but rather the time to reach out with helping hands to rescue, repair, and replenish those who have survived.
Here are some ways to help:
Donate blood through the Red Cross. The organization has several blood drives going, as there is a blood and platelet shortage. Contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS to learn where to donate near you. You can also donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
World Vision is an organization dedicated to the needs of children and their families. AmeriCares, International Medical Corps, and Direct Relief International are providing emergency medical supplies and care. To help, visit AmeriCares.org, DirectRelief.org, and InternationalMedicalCorps.org.
Help with the clean-up and rebuild. Team Rubicon and Samaritan’s Purse are working with veterans and volunteers in this effort. Contact them at TeamRubiconUSA.org and SamaritansPurse.org
Hurricanes and storms happen, and they’re often unpredictable. Hurricane Sandy became a superstorm and ravaged four countries, leaving 3.8 million homes and businesses without power or heat, water damage to buildings and property, and busted gas pipes to leak dangerously. Sandy was preceded by Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Hugo; Katrina alone caused $135 billion worth of damages. When disaster cannot be avoided, insurance helps recoup the inevitable losses.
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by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 6, 2012 | Blog
Last week Charlie Downey, Brenda Lando, and Catie Downey Potenza from Downey Insurance Group had the opportunity to attend the Astonish Results E-Agent Summit in Orlando, FL. Charlie Downey was honored as one of many distinguished speakers at the event. He delivered an hour long presentation on Ninja Sales and his own Up-Front Sales technique. Charlie’s session brought a passionate energy and enthusiasm for the sales process to the E-Agent Summit that was very well received. His enthusiasm sparked much discussion after his session and we heard from many attendees that they were reenergized about their business.
Along with Charlie Downey there were many other distinguished speakers featured at this year’s Astonish Results E-Agent Summit such as Dr. William T. Hold, Adam Degrade, Wayne Partee, Alicia Collins, Jonathan Monterecy, and Kelly Donahue-Piro. The summit covered many thought provoking topics such as Supplying Quality Customer Service to Create Sales, How to Build your Agency in a Digital Age, and Branding with Social Media.
Astonish Result, a marketing company that works with hundreds of Independent Insurance Agency’s across the country has been a valued partner of Downey Insurance Group for the last 3 years. Their focus is to share successful business strategies, benchmark best practices, and help their clients keep in contact with their valued customers. Astonish Results has been so successful in helping Independent Insurance Agents that they recently made the Inc. Top 500 list of fastest growing private US companies of the year.
