IS YOUR HOME A TARGET FOR BREAK-INS OR BURGLARIES?

by | Apr 29, 2013 | Blog

Residential Break-ins and burglaries are on the rise in parts of New England this spring, especially in New Hampshire.  Being prepared is the number one way to protect yourself and your home from this danger and to make sure you can recover quickly.  The period of time after a break in can be trying and confusing if you do not have certain important information readily available to you and your New Hampshire Homeowners Insurance company.  We know how traumatic a break in can be, we have been through it many times with our clients. With that in mind we have put together this list to help you be as prepared as possible.


Prepare your home to the best of your ability. 


Don’t leave large expensive items out in your yard that could temp a burglar, such as bicycles.  Lock them up in your garage or basement.  Not only are they tempting, but leaving these items out and visible can make a burglar think you may have other careless habits regarding protecting your valuables and can make your home a target. 

Install motion sensing outdoor lighting.  Flood lights at major entry points to your home can be a major deterrent to burglars. 

Lock your doors and windows!  This may seem obvious, but I know at least some of the people reading this have unlocked doors and windows in their home.   

Know your neighbors.  If you are friendly and have a relationship with your close neighbors they tend to keep a watchful eye on your home.   Also, joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch group can be a great way to protect your home.

Install a security system.  This can be costly but if you are serious about home safety this is the most secure way to protect your home.  If you can’t afford a home security system, sometimes just putting a security system sign on your lawn can make your home less of a target. 

Prepare yourself and your family from a potential burglary.

Call us to discuss your Personal Property Coverage on your New Hampshire Homeowners Policy.  Do you know your Personal Property Coverage limits?  How about your deductible?  There can also be special limits for things such as jewelry, fine arts, instruments, and firearms so make sure your valuables are adequately protected.  You also have the option of scheduling items on your policy that you would like special coverage for, or we have the option of a separate property with scheduled personal property.  If you have any questions about your coverage for items in your home we are happy to answer any questions you have, no question is too small or silly.  Trust us, we want you to feel as secure as possible in your insurance coverage with Downey Insurance.

Keep an inventory of things in your home.  After a break in if can be hard to remember what to look for, and to figure out what is missing.  Have a list of “special items” that you want to make sure are accounted for.  Keeping this list at your office or safe-deposit box can make sure it doesn’t become a ”shopping list” for burglars this can also be helpful in case of a fire.
Take pictures of the interior of your home.  This can be very useful for the New Hampshire Homeowners Insurance Company.  In lieu of receipts for large ticket items, having photos of items in your home can help take the confusion out of what needs replacing.

Do not Facebook, Tweet or share your vacation photos before you return.  This is so tempting and we are all probably guilty of this one but it leaves our home vulnerable to anyone who now knows you are away.  Also have a neighbor bring in your newspaper or mail or have it stopped for your trip.

We hope that you never have to experience a home break in or burglary.  Buy we all know that it is a real risk, and one of the reasons we secure New Hampshire Homeowners Insurance for ourselves and our families.  If you have any questions at all please feel free to call us anytime here at Downey Insurance to discuss your coverage. 

Vacationing in an RV

by | Apr 24, 2013 | Blog

Does the thought of planning a vacation make you cringe?  It would be so much easier if vacation plans just made themselves and we didn’t have to worry about booking flights, packing bags, renting cars, or making hotel reservations.  The good news is there IS a vacation you can take that eliminates all those hassles: take an RV vacation.

If you have never considered renting or owning an RV, you might want to think about it.  RVs can really take a lot of hassles out of your vacations by eliminating the need for most of the time consuming issues that come up.  The most planning you will have to do is to figure out who will drive and where you would like to visit.

Most states have very nice campgrounds that offer very inexpensive sites for RVs.  Call ahead to check availability and then just roll on up.  You can really see some beautiful country when you take a trip in an RV.  

For your first time out, see if you can borrow an RV from a friend or rent one from a reputable dealership.  You will want to know for sure if you like it before buying one yourself.  You may take your first trip with a pop-up trailer and realize that you and your family are more suited for a larger drivable RV.  

Once you have decided that buying an RV is the right decision for you, we can help insure it for you.  We can offer a competitive price and coverage indication that will cover your RV for anything that might go wrong on your vacation or while the RV is in your driveway.  Give us a call and we can talk it over.  Until then, have a great time checking out RVs.  We hope you find one that suits your every vacation need!

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Terrorism Coverage and the Boston Marathon Bombing – Who’s Covered?

by | Apr 22, 2013 | Blog

The horrific events, and the following heroism that transpired on Monday April 15, 2013 will forever be engrained in our memory.  The Boston Marathon Bombing will always be one of “those times” that we remember where we were, who we were with, and who we were worried about.  The three precious lives that were lost and the many more that were injured will forever be in our hearts  here at Downey Insurance Group. After the shock wears off, many of us, even our “non-insurance industry” friends will turn to the facts and processes of what comes next.  The big insurance questions seem to revolve around terrorism coverage and the businesses affected, and the options for legal recourse available to those injured and the families of the deceased. Will Terrorism Coverage apply to the Boston Marathon Bombing? President Obama has called this heinous act an “act of terrorism” but for Insurance purposes there are criteria set by TRIA, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, that was passed by President Bush in 2002 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, that will determine whether this federal program will be able to be utilized.  The act must be deemed “A Certified Act of Terror” by the Secretary of State, the US Attorney General, and the Secretary or Treasury.  Also losses would have exceed $5,000,000 in order to be eligible for a certified act of terrorism classification.  At this time insurance professionals are not expecting the Marathon Bombing to qualify for a certified act of terror classification. What does this mean for the businesses affected? This means that the insured’s Massachusetts Business Owners Insurance Policy or Massachusetts Property Insurance Policy should respond as business as usual.  The property damage caused by the bombing will most likely be covered as an explosion.  “Explosion” is not explicitly excluded on the majority of Massachusetts Commercial Insurance Policy’s.  What may not be covered, and what may do even more damage to businesses than actual property damage, is what is called “Business Interruption, or Loss of Income.” Businesses that have property damage to their business may have some coverage here, because it would be considered due to a covered cause of loss, the explosion.  But, the businesses that do not have property damage to their business may have a more difficult time recovering from this tragedy.   Their loss of “business income” will most likely not be covered by their MA Business Owners Insurance Policy or Property Insurance Policy. What about the injured parties and the families of the deceased? A fund for the victims and their families have been set up, called the One Fund Boston, to date they have raised more than $10 Million Dollars!  It is unclear if accepting money from the fund will waive their right for litigation, or how this money will be distributed among the victims.  The Boston Athletic Association has not released any information on their Liability Insurance Program, or what their coverage limits and exclusions are.  I am sure litigation is going to be inevitable in this case, and we will hear more about what will be available for the victims in weeks to come.

Appealing Massachusetts SDIP Points

by | Apr 12, 2013 | Blog

There are 2 incidents that will result in SDIP points being applied to your driving record in Massachusetts: At-Fault Accidents and Traffic Violations.  The appeals process is handled differently by the State of Massachusetts for each of these incidents.  If you need additional information on SDIP points and how they affect your driving record we have more information on our Downey Insurance Group blog here: Massachusetts SDIP Points Explained.    

Appealing and At-Fault Accident

If you are determined to be more that 50% at fault in an auto accident, your Massachusetts Auto Insurance company will notify you and the Merit Rating Board.  The Merit Rating Board will then apply the At-Fault Accident to your MA driving record which in turn will increase your SDIP. Your insurance company will also send you a Surcharge Notice via US Mail within 20 working days of their claim payment for any At-Fault Accident where you are more than 50% at fault . On the reverse of the Surcharge Notice, will be your Appeal Form.  You have 30 days from the Surcharge Notice Date printed on the front of the Surcharge Notice to appeal your surcharge with the Division of Insurance.   There is also a $50 fee for filling and appealing the surcharge, payable by check or money order to the Division of Insurance.   You will then be issued a hearing date for your appeal. Any additional premium that is applied to your insurance policy during the appeal process still needs to be paid, or your insurance company may cancel your policy due to non-payment of premium.  If your appeal is accepted,  the SDIP Points will be removed from your driving record,  and your Massachusetts Insurance company will return any additional premium that was paid due the SDIP Point increase. 

Appealing Traffic Violations

Massachusetts Uniform Citations can be considered a Civil Traffic Law Violation, a Criminal Traffic Law Violation or both.  This is noted on the front of your Citation by a check box.  If both boxed are checked you would need to follow the instructions for the Criminal Traffic Law Violation. To appeal a Civil Traffic Law Violation, check the corresponding box on the Citation, sign and date the citation, and mail it using the pre-addressed envelope that came with the citation.   You have 20 days to request an appeal or you will default on your right for an appeal hearing.  Paying the ticket also will waive your right to an appeal.  You will be issued a hearing date for your appeal once your request is received. To appeal a Criminal Traffic Law Violation, you must sign and return the Violation to the Clerk Magistrate of the court named on the front of the violation citation within 4 days of the citation.  You may also mail the citation to the named court, but it still needs to arrive at the court house within 4 days of the citation date.  You will then be granted a hearing as to whether a criminal complaint should be issued against you. This blog post is part of a Massachusetts SDIP series that will contains other topic such as: Appealing a Surcharge, How SDIP Points Affect My Insurance Premium, and Other Ways to Lower Your Massachusetts Insurance Premium.  Click the RRS Feed at the top of the page to subscribe to our blog to receive subsequent blog posts on this topic and other important Insurance related topics from your Insurance experts Downey Insurance Group.

How to Use DIY Projects to Improve Your Home

by | Apr 10, 2013 | Blog

There are many ways to improve your home with DIY projects that do not cost a ton of money. The results of your efforts will not resemble “junk art.” Your home, décor and style will be augmented by your imagination, skill and hard work. There are many inexpensive projects you can implement in your home for under $100. These include:

• Change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets to achieve a different look. Many different styles are available. It takes less than an hour to change hinges, drawer pulls and knobs.

• Use slip covers to update sofas, chairs and tables. You can make the slipcovers from patterns or purchase inexpensive ones at big box stores.

• New curtains and wall hangings or art can change the look of a room. You can make curtains using basic sewing skills and frame children’s pictures, family photos, magazine pictures and more.

Pinterest is a great place to look for DIY tips. To use the site, sign up for a free subscription with your email and create your own unique password. Enter “home improvement” into the search bar, or enter a more specific term such as “build a bed.” There will be links to different sites with the information you need. For example:

You can build a bed that doubles as a trundle, or day bed using a footboard and headboard. Two rails made from 2-by-4 lumber are attached to the head and footboard frames. You can use solid plywood to cover the rails and create a flat surface for the mattress. You can also use metal joist hangers or other method to create mattress supports.

There are many pins to plans for beds made utilizing reclaimed lumber. The lumber has had a previous life as a fence, flooring, wall covering or perhaps as a pallet. This gives the wood a character all of its own. Your new bed will be custom made and have a vintage or antique look that new and “distressed” lumber cannot imitate.

You can create any home improvement project for little to no money by searching Pinterest for ideas. As you complete crafts for beginners, you will notice your skills, imagination and design ideas will flourish.

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Motorcycle Contracts Save Lives

by | Mar 27, 2013 | Blog

Do you know your motorcycle statistics?  The CDC has been following motorcycle death and injury stats, and their findings are startling.  Motorcycle deaths in America have continued to increase at a furious pace over the last decade.  Why?  First of all, more people are riding, but with more motorcycles on the road motorcyclist and passenger vehicle drivers need to be more aware, and practice safer driving.  If you ride a motorcycle, or have friends and family members that do, a great way to talk about safety is to write a contract.  Instead of just saying “ride safe” sometimes making sure that all of your concerns are addressed can make all the difference. Here are what we believe to the the top 6 safety concerns that should make it on your contract:

What are the 6 most important rules to follow to stay alive if you ride a motorcycle? 

Wear a proper helmet.    

Do not ride drunk.  Never let your friends ride impaired either.

Wear protective clothing and shoes.  

Avoid following to close and double check before turning.  

Do not drive over the speed limit. 

Do not drive in bad weather conditions.

At Downey Insurance we know Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance.  If you need to put your bike back on the road, give us a call!  We can find you the best price for the best coverage.  Happy Spring and safe riding!