Yard Sales

Home owners and apartment owners sometimes have yard sales. This is an opportunity for them to clean out their basements, attics, and garages of unwanted or unused things - aka stuff. This sometimes reminds me of that old adage “One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Yes, it is an opportunity to clean out your basement, turn some of that stuff in the garage into cash, and feel like you've accomplished something. But here are some things you need to know about yard sales.

If you're having more than an annual yard sale to get rid of your own clutter, it could be a problem. If you have frequent yard sales, instead of being considered a yard sale, it could be considered a business; for example, if you're bringing in other people's items to sell, then that may be considered a business, not a personal and therefore, the homeowner's policy or tenant's policy would not respond and pay a claim if someone were injured.

Here are some other things to consider:

If you're doing a fund raiser yard sale for a charity, check with the people you're raising the money for and see if they have insurance that would cover you. Your renter's insurance or homeowner’s may cover you, but you should check with your insurance agent.

In addition to checking on insurance coverages, you should keep safety in mind.

• Repair loose railings and cracked concrete, sidewalks, etc, which can cause injuries.
• Place sale items so that there is enough room to move around without tripping.
• Avoid placing items too close to stairs and ledges where people can fall. Don't sell items you know are unsafe or hazardous.

Have a great tag sale, make a couple of dollars and clean out your basement, but don't lose the house because you made a bad decision.

Dog Bite Liability Coverage

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year, resulting in about 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. A single lawsuit - even if won by the dog owner who has been sued - can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and lost wages. The greater the dog owner's assets, the more potential there is for risk. The personal liability coverage available through your standard homeowner's policy may not be enough, although The McCurdy Group recommends a limit of $500,000. The best protection is a personal excess liability policy, also called an umbrella policy; an umbrella's limits range between $1 million and $5 million.

Dog bite claims account for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claims, costing $412 million in 2009. Payouts have increased 30% in the past six years

Be on the Lookout for Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can spread germs that can make you very sick and may even cause death. Protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding mosquito bites:

• Use bug spray when outdoors
• Wear long sleeves and other clothing to help reduce mosquito bites
• Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active (sunset to sunrise)
• Install or repair door and window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home
• Remove standing water from around your home (in bird baths, tires, bottles or cans) so mosquitoes can't breed there

Information about West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is available by calling the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968), the Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800 or 2-1-1. Learn more about the 2-1-1 program in your area.

ATVs Can Be Dangerous

A recent National Safe Kids Campaign report stated that over 30,000 children, age 14 and under, were treated in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries (fractured bones, head and facial injuries) and 44 children in this age group died as a result of ATV related injuries (head and neck injury). Children ages 10-14 accounted for more than 75% of the deaths. As a comparison, ATV related injuries are 12 times more likely to result in death than bicycle-related injuries. Nearly 90% of ATV-related injuries suffered by children under age 16 were caused by adult-sized ATVs (ATVs that are 90cc or larger). Additionally, reports show that males account for 60% of the ATV-related death among children ages 14 and under. Youths account for more than 33% of the ATV fatalities, but made up only 14% of the riders. Injury and fatality numbers are expected to grow as ATV sales continue to climb. Clearly, the ATV can be a dangerous vehicle.

Home Insurance Quote Tips

Below you can find a few ways to lower your home insurance, provided by the website, InsureMyHouse.com. These can effectively lower your insurance premium.

Raise the deductible amount: This is the amount of money you have to pay out before your homeowners insurance kicks in. In other words, if your deductible is $500 and the damage to your house is only $400 then you essentially have to pay the $400. If the damage is $500 or more, your insurance coverage will begin paying out. The higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premium will be. Just make sure you can afford to pay the deductible amount if and when the time comes.

Install Alarm and Burglar Systems: If you have a burglar alarm installed it can help reduce your premium. Same goes for sprinkler systems.

Stay with One Insurer: In most cases if you spend time bouncing from one insurer to another, your premium will be higher. So if you can help stay with one insurer, they will, in the end, give you credit in the form of lowering your premium. If not, ask about long term customer discounts.

Obtain Your Credit Rating: Always knowing your credit score can help you with just about anything: Car loans, insurance premiums, etc. The higher your credit score the better your rate is going to be.

Combine Auto and Home Insurance: If you can ask your agent about combining your auto and homeowners insurance, you can save on your premium.

Stop Smoking: In 2006, there were over 400,000 house fires. About 5% of these fires were the result of smoking cigarettes.

Talking to an agent when obtaining homeowners insurance quotes is always suggested. We recommend a review of your coverages be handled by a home insurance professional.

McCurdy Teen Driver Program Begins in August!

The Dennis A. McCurdy Insurance Agency is implementing an exciting new program to inform new drivers about all the new responsibilities that come with a new license.

The new driver can come in to the office for an informative half hour meeting with Meghan (a licensed insurance agent) and Lisa (our safety consultant) to discuss:

• Driver Safety - discussion of distracted driving, defensive driving, texting and cell phone use, etc.
• Policy Coverages - what each portion of the policy means, recommended limits
• Premium Payments - the importance of paying their bills on time, consequences of non-payments, SDIP points
• Accident Awareness - What to do if they are involved in an accident

Parents are welcome to attend but this is not necessary. Call 508-347-9343 to book an appointment.

Keeping Your Cool...

Many businesses, including construction and landscaping, rely on the summer months for the bulk of their income. Here are a few tips to keep you and your employees cool and productive:

• Prehydrate - 16 oz of non-caffienated, non-alcoholic fluids prior to beginning work
• Continued Hydration - 8 oz every 20 minutes; flavored water is recommended because people will drink a larger volume of that compared to plain water
• Remove hats - hats trap in body heat; remove them in hot shade and wear visors in the direct sun
• Clothes - loose, thin, white synthetic t-shirts. Cotton absorbs moisture whereas synthetic materials release it from the skin where it is evaporated.