Top 10 Reasons To Be Thankful For Insurance

Since Thanksgiving is almost here, what better time to think about what we’re grateful for?  And while we love insurance all year long, we’re especially thankful for all the things it does for our clients.  Here’s our top 10 list!

10.  You don’t have to panic when a hail storm comes along (and you don’t have a garage).

9.  You can rent the apartment and know that your possessions are still protected, even if you don’t own your own home yet.

8.  You don’t have to empty your savings account when an uninsured driver hits your car.

7.  You don’t have to worry about losing your home to a lawsuit from an honest mistake.

6.  You can invest in nice things without worry that they’ll be stolen.

5.  You know that if a big storm comes, you can evacuate to safety without worrying about your home.

4.  You know that if you were to lose your spouse, you would be able to survive financially.

3.  You know that your assets are protected, even if you can’t predict the future.

2.  You know that even if there is a disaster, as long as your family is safe, everything will be okay. 

1.  You don’t have to worry.  We’ve got you covered.

Why You Should Buy Life Insurance During The Holidays

Have you ever considered Life Insurance to be a gift?

No it doesn’t come wrapped in a box with a big bow.  And it’s not all that exciting.  But, in my opinion, it really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Life Insurance has gifted families in so many ways.  After the loss of a breadwinner, children have been able to go to college without debt.  Parents have been able to stay at home with their children without needing to go back to work.  Homes have been paid off and long-term dreams have been realized.

All because a family member made the decision to purchase life insurance.

No one wants to think about this coverage, but if there is someone out there counting on your income and support right now…then you need it. 

And we can help you make it extremely easy and affordable.  In fact, studies have shown that most people overestimate how much life insurance by as much as 10x it’s actual cost!  There are options for everyone.

So why think about it now? 

If you currently don’t have any life insurance or you only have it through you work, then it’s time to come in and talk with us.  We can look at all of the options and find the best solution for your family. 

And if you’re struggling with what gifts to buy at Christmas….then look no further!  Your family members don’t need another sweater they’ll never wear or a new set of pots and pans.  They need long-term peace of mind and protection.

Let us help you gift that today.  Give us a call at 508-347-9343 to set up an appointment.

November Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep you home in tip-top shape all year long.  So here are a few tasks you can take on in November!

Maintain Large Appliances - Appliances are a big long-term investment!  That’s why it’s important to take good care of them all year long.  Your refrigerator is a great place to start.  Accumulating dust can make your fridge cooling system less efficient. 

To prevent trouble, regularly pull the fridge away from the wall and clean the condenser coils with a vacuum cleaner.  It’s also a good idea to dust and clean the front lower grille.  This five minute task can add years of service to your refrigerator!

Clean The Oven & Stove Drip Pans - Next move on to your stove.  It’s another appliance that needs a good regular cleaning to keep it working well.  Many ovens have a self cleaning feature that will do the hard work for you. 

The only problem?  It can take a while to run the cleaning feature and it usually smells pretty bad while it’s running.  Save this task for a nice day and open up the windows to keep it well ventilated.  Check your stove's manual for instructions  and take a few minutes to clean the burners too. 

Have Problem Trees Trimmed - Cold weather has arrived.  Have you noticed any large branches hanging over onto your roof?  Get them trimmed as soon as possible.  A good ice storm can cause branches to break onto your roof leading to more damage and insurance claims. 

Save on Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting your home and belongings.  To make sure you have the best coverage, call The McCurdy Group today at 508-347-9343 for a free, no obligation quote.

Preparing Your Home For Winter Freezes

With winter arriving soon, now is a great time to prepare your home for freezing temperatures.  Use the checklist below to give you ideas for keeping warm, preventing fires, and saving money.

• Have your furnace inspected and serviced by a professional at least once a year.

• Have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected.  (Built up creosote is the leading cause of chimney fires!) 

• Stock up on dry, seasoned wood for the fireplace or wood stove.

• Check the condition of your fireplace screen.  Is it in good condition and secure?

• Get a covered metal container ready to dispose of cooled ashes.  (And keep it at least 10 feet from your home.

• Review fireplace safety with your kids!

• Make sure all portable space heaters have an automatic shut-off and are kept at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn (like bedding). 

• Test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms! 

Follow these tips and your home will be ready for winter and safe from fire hazards.  If you’re concerned about protecting your belongings, give us a call to review your home insurance policy today! 

Halloween Insurance Tips

It's October and that means that Halloween is on it’s way!  We love any excuse to celebrate around the office. However, I wouldn't be a good insurance agent if I didn't give a few good liability insurance tips too.

You've heard most Halloween advice over and over.

Pack a flashlight for when it gets dark.

Put reflective tape on children's costumes.

Check the kid's candy before letting them eat any.

But what about the risks at your home?

Your Homeowners Insurance covers you if someone is injured on your property. But there are a few things you can do to prevent accidents before they happen!

1. Change your lightbulbs. Is your porch light burned out? What about lights along sidewalks? Good lightning will help prevent children (and adults) from tripping.

2. Clear hazards. Tree limbs in your yard? A hole you've been meaning to fill? These are all potential hazards that could cause an injury and subject you to a liability claim. Clean them up before you have people trick-or-treating at your home!

3. No open flames. While candle filled pumpkins are fun to make, they can be dangerous too. If you use any open flame candles, make sure they are up high and away from any loose costume pieces.

And the easiest way to protect yourself? Make sure you have plenty of liability insurance! Call us today to schedule a free review and detailed explanation of how we can keep your home and family protected.

October Is Fire Prevention Month

October is officially Fire Prevention Month. As your insurance agency, this is an issue that is very important to us! Unfortunately, we've seen clients suffer from home fires,  and we want to share some things you can do to prevent a disaster.

Beyond basic fire prevention, like checking electrical cords and not leaving a pot unattended on the stove, there are several important things to do with your children or grandchildren to make sure they're safe.

First, create a PLAN. When children know what to expect, they can remain calm, even during an emergency. Help your child know exactly what to do if a fire occurs.

Stress the importance of getting out of the house and to your family meeting spot.  Choose an area a safe distance from the house where children should go if making a fire escape. It could be a street light, mailbox, or neighbor's tree.

If you have pets, tell your kids that your pets will find their own way out safely and that they should never go back to rescue the pet on their own.

As a family, go through each room of the house and discuss TWO different ways to get out if a fire occurs. Let children practice opening a latch and unlocking doors too.

Now host a fire drill! Make the practice drills fun and informative. Create sample scenarios and build up your kid's confidence. They'll be better prepared for a fire and you will too!

When it comes to any sort of emergency situation, people are what matter most. Take precautions to protect your loved ones and let your professional insurance agents take care of protecting your home and belongings! Call us for a free quote on your Homeowner's Insurance today!

October Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape all year long. So here are a few simple tasks you can take on in October!

Pack Away The Air Conditioner - If you use a seasonal air conditioning unit, then now is the time to pack it up for winter! Make sure to spend a few extra minutes cleaning all the filters and coils well. It will keep the unit in great shape and it will last much longer.

Winterize External Plumbing Systems - It's much better to prepare for freezing temperatures before it's freezing! Winterize all exposed outdoor pipes and you'll avoid the trouble when there is snow or ice on the ground.

Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector - This is an important one! October is a great time to check your carbon monoxide detector to make sure it is performing well. Change the batteries, test it, and replace older units.

Clean Up For Halloween - Trick-or-treating can be a liability hazard! Clean up any loose tree limbs, fill holes in the yard, and remove any fire hazard Halloween decorations before kids are running to your door.

Save on Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting your belongings. To make sure you have the best coverage, call us today for a free, no obligation quote.