Tag: Norwood Insurance Agent

RV Insurance, Weather, & Driving Conditions

RVing is becoming one of the most popular ways to travel. A successful and safe RV trip takes preparation and planning to make it a good experience. Whether you are new to RVing or not, these tips can help ensure that your trip will be a smooth experience.  As your insurance agent, we urge you to follow and  read through these tips for insurance coverage, adapting to weather conditons, and driving your RV. 

 

Learn How to Drive the RV You Plan to Use

If you are vacationing in an RV for the first time, practice driving first. If you don’t own your RV, then rent an RV for a day before your trip and take it driving! Keeping the RV between the lines, accelerating, braking, using only mirrors to see what’s behind you, and passing vehicles top the list of maneuvers that you will need to know while on the open road. RV’s handle very differently from a car, SUV, or pickup. Practice backing your RV up so that you can back into a campsite. If you have a passenger, it a good idea to have a spotter to help guide you.  Many accidents and claims happen due to hitting tree limbs, picnic tables or other items that were in the driver’s blind spot. 

RV Insurance and Road Service

Knowing your insurance coverages is important. Be sure to research road services that specialize in RVs. Only a few road service companies will tow the trailer, too. 

  • What does your RV insurance cover?
  • Does your motorhome policy cover your towed vehicle?
  • Do you need separate RV insurance for road service coverage?

Check Road Conditions, Construction, and Closures

Save time and frustration by checking road conditions, closures, and construction. The US DOT Federal Highway Administration website shows a map of the states. Click on the state you will be traveling in and choose a link that shows current road conditions on the following link: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/

 

You will also need to be mindful of overpasses, bridge and tunnel height restrictions. 

 

Weather

Knowing the weather forecast can help avoid problems. Rain, snow, ice, hail, wind– you might encounter all of these in one day! Below are just a few weather sites that give weather for all states. 

https://weather.com/

https://www.noaa.gov/ 

 

Motorhomes are your second home (on wheels!) and you need to have proper insurance coverage. The last thing you want to worry about is being financially liable for causing an accident and not having proper RV insurance. Most states only require minimal liability insurance that protects others if you’re at fault.

Personal Watercraft Insurance & Safety

What do we mean when we say personal watercraft? Personal watercraft are Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, or WaveRunners. These watercraft can be fun to take out on the water; however, safety needs to be a priority!

Many people fail to realize that personal watercraft can be very dangerous. In fact, each year there are thousands of serious injuries due to personal watercraft. 80% of all injuries and fatalities occur when 2 personal watercraft collide. You should always stay at least 100 yards behind another vessel, and at least 50 yards to one side. Don’t jump the wake of a passing boat. You could misjudge the speed and cause a collision. Always stay alert! In addition to other watercraft, you should always be aware of other swimmers, divers, water skiers, and fishermen.

Personal watercraft, just like any other moving vehicle, are subject to accidents. It is wise to get the proper insurance to protect yourself. They are not generally covered by homeowners insurance and we have specifically designed policies to insure these vessels. https://www.lydonmurphyinsurance.com/get-a-quote/

Source: https://www.iii.org/article/personal-watercraft-insurance-and-safety

Spring Home Maintenance

🌷Spring is here!  🌸  After a long dark and cold winter, the bright sun and warm winds of the spring are a breath of fresh air! The only downside? All that sunlight helps you see your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks, and dead plants in the flower beds. Get your home in shape for spring with this checklist!

1. Examine Roof Shingles: Examine the roof to see if any shingles were lost or damaged under the winter snow and ice.

2. Check the Gutters: Loose or leaky gutters can cause improper drainage, which can lead to water in your basement or crawlspace during the spring rain.

3. Inspect the Concrete: Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. Fill cracks with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk, power-wash, and then seal the concrete.

4. Remove Firewood: Firewood stored near the home for winter should be moved at least 18 inches off the ground and at least 2 feet from the structure.

5. Check Outside Faucets: Check outside faucets for freeze damage. While you’re at it, check your garden hose for dry rot.

6. Repair Window Screens: You will want to open the windows to let the fresh air in. Ensure small holes and tears are repaired so bugs don’t get in.

This is just a short list of items you can do to prepare your home for the spring. Winter was nice and cozy but, we are ready for the spring sunshine! While you are preparing your home for the spring, it is a great time to review your homeowners insurance! 

Source: https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/10-home-maintenance-tips-for-spring-pictures

Why is flood insurance important?

You don’t have to live in a flood-prone area to encounter flooding in your home. This can happen at any time to anyone! Flooding can be caused by more than just natural disasters. If you own a home, you need flood insurance. There are two different types of flood insurance: the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood insurance. The area you live in will determine which type of flood insurance is best for you.

The National Flood Insurance Program is a flood insurance that is offered through FEMA. If you are located in one of the 21,000 communities that participate in this program, you should be eligible for both types of coverage offered by the National Flood Insurance Program. The two types are building property coverage and personal property coverage. Building property coverage is “replacement cost value” coverage. This means that building property coverage covers the cost to repair or replace your home up to $250,000. Personal property coverage replaces up to $100,000 of items in your home.

The other type of flood insurance is private flood insurance. Private flood insurance premiums vary based on the insurance companies that offer it. Speak with your insurance agent regarding cost and coverage plans.

You may qualify for both the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood insurance. Depending on the value of your home and contents in it, you might be better off getting both to protect yourself in the event of a flood.

Flood Facts:

  • Just one inch of water can cause more than $20,000 in damage.
  • It takes just six inches of fast-moving water to sweep an adult off their feet and 12 inches of water to sweep a car away.
  • Flash floods typically carry water between 10 and 20 feet high.
  • If you live in a 100-year flood plain, your home has a 1% chance of flooding each year.
  • Moving water at 10 mph carries the same pressure as wind blowing at 270 mph.
  • If your home is in a flood plain and you have a federally backed mortgage, you are required by law to carry flood insurance.

Give our office a call to discuss all your flood insurance options! (781) 762-4280   https://www.lydonmurphyinsurance.com/

Source: https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/need-flood-insurance

Tips for Sub-Zero Temperature Car Care

When the temperatures drop into the single digits, you most likely want to curl up with a good book or binge-watch the latest show – whatever you can to just stay indoors. Chances are, at some point you’ll still need to go out. When you do, you’re going to want to make sure that car starts and keeps running.

Here are 7 tips to make sure your car starts right up no matter how cold it gets:

Battery: The most common car problem when the temperatures drop is the battery not starting. Perform a volt test on your battery to get a new one if it’s needed prior to the bad weather hitting. If the car doesn’t start on the first try, let the car sit for a couple of minutes before trying again. If it still doesn’t start, you’ll likely need to get the jumper cables out to get it going.

Wipers: Even though you may be bundled so only your eyeballs are showing, you still need to make sure you can see clearly. If you are noticing that your wiper blades just aren’t cleaning the way they used to, they’re not going to do any better in the snow. You may want to consider picking up a pair of winter wipers which aren’t very expensive and will give you much better visibility when you’re on the road.

Idling: We all like to have the car toasty when we get in, but is idling the engine a good idea? In general, no. It can cause damage to your engine over time and it’s bad for the environment. When it’s below zero though, many professionals recommend idling for a minute or two just to get the fluids moving. Not for 10 minutes or more though as we mentioned before, idling is bad for your engine and it wastes gas!

Tires: Did you know a temperature change of just 10 degrees can cause a 10 percent reduction of air in your tires? So, bundle up and regularly check your tire pressure during severely cold weather. If you don’t know, you should double-check your car’s optimal tire pressure in your owner’s manual or on the sticker inside the driver’s side door.

Gas: We’ve all heard it – “It’s going to be cold out, did you put gas in the car?” You should make sure that your gas tank is at least half-filled because it will help prevent the car’s fuel line from freezing.

Frozen locks and doors: Ever get out to the car and your door won’t unlock because it’s frozen? For frozen locks, you may want to have a de-icer ready. Don’t have any? In a pinch you could try a squirt of hand sanitizer on the key. The alcohol in it can help dissolve the ice. A way to prevent your entire door from getting frozen shut to the frame is to lubricate the door’s rubber gasket with silicone. Door already frozen shut? You could try pouring lukewarm water around the seal of the door to thaw the ice. Once the door is open, make sure to dry off the inside of the seal with a towel so it doesn’t refreeze. Never ever use hot water…the temperature difference could shatter your window glass!

At Lydon & Murphy Insurance Agency, your road safety is very important to us. Call us at 781.762.4280 or visit our website at https://www.lydonmurphyinsurance.com/ to discuss your auto insurance needs.

Source: https://www.mapfreinsurance.com/blog/sub-zero-temperature-car-care/

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

 

Fall is a beautiful time of year. The air is cool and crisp, and the leaves are changing colors. As homeowners, it can also be a very busy time of year! Take advantage of the moderate weather to repair any damages to your home before the first frost sets in.

Taking the time to care for the exterior of your home in the fall will help your home last through the winter. Check the foundation for cracks. If you have cracks in your foundation repair them before it’s too late. Caulking around windows, door frames, and where pipes and wires enter, your home can help prevent heat escaping in the colder months. Install storm windows and doors and remove screens. Check exterior walls for peeling or blistering paint. If left untreated, the siding itself will deteriorate. Ensure your roof is in good shape. If there are some missing or loose shingles, get them repaired or replaced!

Interior maintenance is just as important. Properly sealing and insulating your home can save you up to 10% on your annual energy bill. Applying weather stripping and caulk to windows and doors is a simple and easy way to help keep the heat in and the cold out – don’t forget about the basement windows! Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating contractor. Properly working heating systems will use fuel more efficiently, last longer, and have fewer problems. Change the direction of your ceiling fans to redistribute warm air from the ceiling. Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep extra batteries on hand.

Now that the house is taken care of, it’s time to move back out into the yard. Prepare your yard equipment for storage by draining the fuel from all gas-operated equipment. Check to see if all your snow equipment is in proper working order and ready for the first snowfall. Drain garden hoses and store them inside. Also shut off outdoor water valves to keep them from freezing. Take some time to organize your garage. Clean and store your summer garden tools, and move your rakes, gloves, and winter equipment within easy reach.

If you are a homeowner, keeping up with home maintenance is important! This is just a short list of maintenance items that should be completed during the fall. Take the time to call Lydon & Murphy Insurance at 781-762-4280 or visit us online at https://www.lydonmurphyinsurance.com/ to review your homeowners insurance policy so you know your home is fully protected for the next season! 

Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/1499-fall-home-maintenance-checklist/