http://www.holmaninsurance.com/blog/View Holman Insurance Agency's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.holmaninsurance.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:349ae7b5-b826-431a-abb0-620d62a199e0urn:uuid:a5325757-583f-41f4-bda4-bd9f42504ae2On September 30,&nbsp;2011 the Massachusetts Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law went into effect.&nbsp; During the Summer we mailed a letter to each of our homeowners insureds containing the following: If your home is heated by a...Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:57:00 -0600On September 30,&nbsp;2011 the Massachusetts Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law went into effect.&nbsp; During the Summer we mailed a letter to each of our homeowners insureds containing the following:<br /> <em><br /> If your home is heated by an oil heating system please take a moment to review the enclosed information regarding the Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law which <b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">requires all home oil heating systems to be compliant by September 30, 2011</span></b></em><em>.</em> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>In addition to the new requirements, <b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">coverage for heating oil spills is now available on your homeowner&rsquo;s insurance policy</span></b></em><em>. Current homeowner policies do not provide coverage in the event the tank gives way or there is an oil leak which requires cleanup or if the oil leak affects your neighbor&rsquo;s property/groundwater. Premiums for this coverage range between approximately $50 and $100 per year depending on the coverage level selected and the insurance company. In order to qualify for coverage you will need to provide certification from a licensed oil burner technician (a service which is usually provided by your Heating Oil provider).</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Please feel free to contact&nbsp;us If you have any questions or would like to add this coverage to your homeowner&rsquo;s policy.<br /> <br /> </em>Following is a link to the MA DEP website with a full explanation of the law, including diagrams and a FAQ <a href="http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/laws/hhsl.htm">http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/laws/hhsl.htm</a></p>urn:uuid:caf49d32-1fe8-490c-b207-6184928cf770We received a call from one of our insurance company Marketing Reps who was pulled over by the police because his registration (license plate) had expired.&nbsp; It turns out that the police officer was able to locate him using the latest license pla...Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:25:15 -0600We received a call from one of our insurance company Marketing Reps who was pulled over by the police because his registration (license plate) had expired.&nbsp; It turns out that the police officer was able to locate him using the latest license plate reader&nbsp;technology which allows them to read up to <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>30 plates PER SECOND</strong></span></em>. Believe it or not, if you have an expired registration the police can and often will have the car towed on the spot and leave you to find your own way home.&nbsp; They can also tell if your insurance has been canceled and they'll definitely tow the car if that's the case (your registration can expire while your insurance is still in good standing).&nbsp; Here's a copy of an article on the subject: <a href="http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1498054455/License-plate-readers-help-police-scan-30-plates-a-second" target="_blank">http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1498054455/License-plate-readers-help-police-scan-30-plates-a-second</a><br /> <br /> It's a headache no one needs, especially since it's usually avoidable.&nbsp; One of our carriers, Plymouth Rock Assurance, offers a&nbsp;free&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prac.com/customer-and-eservices/eReminders" target="_blank">eReminder</a> service to <em>all MA drivers, whether you're insured with them or not</em>.&nbsp; It will send you an email when your Registration, Inspection Sticker and Driver's License are set to expire.&nbsp; Click on the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prac.com/customer-and-eservices/eReminders" target="_blank">link</a> to sign up.urn:uuid:b7cfdf5b-5cdf-4fb5-b891-bd3f402209d2Re-Printed from our good friends at Mass Agent's Association - Applies to Commercial Vehicles MA to Enforce Ban on Hand-Held Mobile Phone Use While Driving a CMV We have just learned that the U.S. DOT rule regarding the use of hand-held mobile phone...Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:51:42 -0600<p><span style="color: #ff0000; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline;">Re-Printed from our good friends at Mass Agent's Association - Applies to Commercial Vehicles<br /> </span><br /> <strong>MA to Enforce Ban on Hand-Held Mobile Phone Use While Driving a CMV</strong> We have just learned that the U.S. DOT rule regarding the use of hand-held mobile phones in commercial motor vehicles which took effect yesterday <b>will be enforced in Massachusetts</b>. We learned from the State Police Truck Team that enforcement will be by the Truck Team and any state or local police officer certified for commercial motor vehicle enforcement by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). (See the <b>December 2011 edition of Registry News</b>.) </p> <p>Massachusetts Regulation 540 CMR 14.00 establishes <b>"</b>rules and regulations governing the use and operation of certain motor vehicles, trailers and commercial motor vehicles, and motor carrier safety and the transportation of hazardous materials by motor carriers in both intrastate and interstate commerce upon the public ways of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." </p> <p>The regulation goes on to define "commercial motor vehicle" as follows: </p> <b> <p>14.02: Scope and Applicability </p> </b> <p>(1) 540 CMR 14.00 applies to: </p> <p>(a) motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles and persons who drive commercial motor vehicles as, for, or on behalf of motor carriers, upon the ways of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>(b) all motor carriers and shippers transporting hazardous materials, under the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the United States Department of Transportation, Parts 171 through 179 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, by motor vehicles upon the ways of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>(c) common and contract carriers by motor vehicle, and private carriers of property and passengers by motor vehicle. </p> <p>(2) (a) As used in 540 CMR 14.00, "commercial motor vehicle" shall mean: </p> <p>1. a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more used for the transportation of property, or </p> <p>2. a motor vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, or </p> <p>3. a motor vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App.1801-1813). </p> <p>MAIA Bulletin 2012-1 January 4, 1012 </p> <p>(b) It is the intent that the term "commercial motor vehicle" as used in 540 CMR 14.00 shall have the same meaning as in Part 390.5 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as it may be amended, and to the extent there is a conflict between the two at any time, the definition in 49 CFR Part 390.5 shall control. </p> <p>The regulation goes on to explain MA DOT&rsquo;s adoption of federal regulations as state regulations: </p> <b> <p>14.03: Adoption and Incorporation of Federal Regulations as State Regulations </p> </b> <p>Subject only to the specific exceptions and limitations expressly stated in 540 CMR 14.00, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Parts 382, 390 through 397 of Title 49, Subchapter B of Chapter III, Code of Federal Regulations, and the highway related portions of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations, Parts 171 through 179 of Title 49, Subchapter C of Chapter L Code of Federal Regulations, as they may be amended, are incorporated by reference as the regulations of the Registry of Motor Vehicles governing motor carrier safety and the transportation of hazardous materials upon the ways of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in both intrastate and interstate commerce. </p> <p>As we indicated in last month&rsquo;s Registry News: </p> <p>Guidance: </p> <p>? This rule does not prohibit a driver from using a mounted mobile phone which can be easily accessed from the driver&rsquo;s seat and activated with a single button. </p> <p>? Driving means operating a commercial vehicle while on a public road, and when stopped in traffic on such a road. Driving does not include instances when the driver is safely parked. Emergency use is permitted. </p> <p>? The term mobile telephone does not include two way or Citizens Band Radio services, however the term mobile telephone does include mobile services which are provided for profit, have inter-connected service and is available to a substantial portion of the public. </p> <p>Penalty: </p> <p>Driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for 60 days with the second offense in 3 years. (120 days for each subsequent offense within 3 years) Only applies if violation occurred while driving a CMV. </p>urn:uuid:4d9d0432-86b1-43a9-a07f-42aa74ce2351As many people experienced&nbsp;last Winter, Ice Dams can cause substantial damage to your home.&nbsp; An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up...Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:14:30 -0600As many people experienced&nbsp;last Winter, Ice Dams can cause substantial damage to your home.&nbsp; An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation.&nbsp; There are some simple steps you can take to avoid ice dams, mostly relating to properly insulating and venting your attic as well as keeping your gutters clear.&nbsp; Here's a great resource which explains ice dams in detail and provides preventive measures and solutions: <a href="http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/dk1068.html">http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/dk1068.html</a>urn:uuid:a87985e4-8492-4a73-b0a6-081af4915876Rough Notes, a well respected&nbsp;insurance industry trade journal recently published an article about mobile website&nbsp;pages &amp; social media integration and Holman Insurance Agency was featured in the article for our use of them during the af...Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:17:11 -0600Rough Notes, a well respected&nbsp;insurance industry trade journal recently published an article about mobile website&nbsp;pages &amp; social media integration and Holman Insurance Agency was featured in the article for our use of them during the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.&nbsp; A link to the article is below<a href="http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmagazine/2011/november2011/2011_11p076.htm"><br /> <br /> http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmagazine/2011/november2011/2011_11p076.htm</a>urn:uuid:01f966db-e192-42de-bbd6-d6dddc4f539fHere's a great article published by Trusted Choice&trade;&nbsp;regarding hiring contractors to do work on your home or business.&nbsp; One thing to add:&nbsp; When requesting a Certificate of Insurance from a contractor make sure it specifies the typ...Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:15:59 -0500Here's a great article published by Trusted Choice&trade;&nbsp;regarding hiring contractors to do work on your home or business.&nbsp; One thing to add:&nbsp; When requesting a Certificate of Insurance from a contractor make sure it specifies the type of work they're covered for.&nbsp; For example, if you're hiring someone to put a new roof on your house and their Certificate of Insurance says "Carpentry" on it they're likely not covered for roofing work because most carpentry policies exclude coverage for roofing.&nbsp; The same holds true if the tree&nbsp;cutter&nbsp;presents you with a certificate of insurance that says "Landscaping" on it,&nbsp;the policy also likely excludes tree cutting.&nbsp; The Certificate should specify the actual type of work they're doing for you.<br /> <br /> <div style="position: relative; float: right;" id="iaEditMenuFrame" class="ms-wikicontent ia-LibraryEditMenu"></div> <div id="iaLibraryDepartment" class="ia-LibraryDepartment"><a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Licensed-Bonded-Insured.aspx">http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Licensed-Bonded-Insured.aspx</a></div> <div id="iaLibraryTitle" class="ia-LibraryTitle"> <h3>Understanding Those Contractor Claims to Fame </h3> </div> <div id="iaLibrarySubTitle" class="ia-LibrarySubTitle">&ldquo;Licensed, Bonded, Insured&rdquo; </div> <div id="iaALibraryContent" class="ms-wikicontent ia-LibraryContent"> <div class="ms-wikicontent"> <div class="ExternalClass471B8539F91A4E9BA12987C4E9D88941"> <p>You&rsquo;ve seen it in Yellow Page ads and on the side of work vans. As an individual, what does a &ldquo;licensed, bonded, and insured&rdquo; contractor mean to you?</p> <p><strong>Licensed<br /> </strong>Doing business with a licensed contractor is prudent for several reasons. First, the license proves that the contractor must have exhibited a degree of competence through testing, training and/or experience. </p> <p>Further, a license gives you recourse if the contractor fails to adequately complete the job or meet expectations. The reason is that an oversight or governing body, typically a government agency or licensing bureau, approved the contractor for licensure and controls the license. You can file a formal complaint to that agency or bureau&mdash;and, depending on the severity of the situation&mdash;the contractor&rsquo;s license could be questioned, suspended or revoked. Avoiding such complaints is imperative for contractors due to the fact that licensing is a prerequisite to work for many builders, government agencies and commercial customers.</p> <p>The license also links the contractor to a database that is managed by the agency or bureau that you can use to review information about the contractor&rsquo;s work history. You can access the database to review details of any complaints that have been filed by others. </p> <p>Finally, a license also may link the contractor to codes, statutes or other rules put in place by a governing body that instill harsh penalties on the contractor should they be violated. </p> <p><strong>Bonded</strong><br /> Contractors typically obtain specific bonds for specific jobs. It is rare that an individual homeowner, for example, would require a contractor to obtain some type of bond as a prerequisite to performing a job. Bonding is typically required by builders, government and commercial entities. This is why a contractor who tells you that the firm is &ldquo;bonded&rdquo; likely means it is &ldquo;bondable&rdquo; (unless you are obtaining bids on behalf of one of the entities mentioned above.) </p> <p>Even though the contractor may not obtain bonds to perform work for you as an individual, you should view a &ldquo;bonded&rdquo; or &ldquo;bondable&rdquo; contractor as a superior alternative. The reason is that companies that issue bonds require the contractor to go through a vigorous underwriting process that includes data concerning professional credentials, personnel, financial statements and ethics. A contractor that is bondable should be considered on the principle that if the firm is capable of winning the approval of a bond underwriter it will perform to a high standard. </p> <p><strong>Insured</strong><br /> <em>General Liability</em><br /> Builders, government and commercial entities typically require that a contractor show proof of general liability insurance before it is hired to do a job. Unfortunately, many individuals do not show the same diligence. </p> <p>Using a contractor that lacks liability insurance could be an expensive mistake. </p> <p>Here&rsquo;s a scenario: A small leak in your bathroom needs repair. You call a plumber&mdash;he&rsquo;s a friend of a friend&mdash;to perform the job. He tears out drywall to get to the source of the leak. He tells you it&rsquo;s fixed, puts everything back together and you pay him a few hundred bucks. </p> <p>A few days later the leak is back with vengeance, flowing out of the bathroom and damaging carpet and furniture. Turns out the plumber fixed the leak with a broken pipe. This time repairs are estimated to be thousands of dollars. The plumber says he will replace the pipe but that he doesn&rsquo;t have the money to pay you for all the damage to your property. You consider a lawsuit but realize that could take months and if he&rsquo;s broke then you won&rsquo;t get much anyway. </p> <p>Now you&rsquo;re forced to consider two options: eat the expense out of pocket or file a claim with your homeowner&rsquo;s carrier. While some <a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Home-Apartments/Home-Apartments.aspx">home insurance </a>companies may pay the claim, others may not. If the claim is covered you are responsible for paying the deductible and the cost of your home insurance may increase.</p> <p>The outcome could have been different if the plumber had liability insurance. This scenario is an example of negligence that would likely be covered by the plumber&rsquo;s general liability insurance policy. The plumber could have filed the claim and you could have been compensated or reimbursed by his insurance company for the cost of the damage.</p> <p>Further, if you chose to file a claim with your home insurance company and they agree to pay, your insurance company may seek reimbursement for dollars paid from the plumber and/or his liability insurance company. If successful, your home insurance company may refund your deductible. </p> <p><em>Workers Compensation</em><br /> Builders, government and commercial entities typically require that a contractor show proof of workers compensation or filed exemption before it is hired to do a job. Unfortunately, many individuals do not show the same diligence. </p> <p>If you hire a contractor to work at your house and he is injured, can you be responsible for paying his workers compensation benefits? In many states the shocking answer is yes! For this reason, make sure anyone performing work on your premises is insured for workers compensation. Ask for a certificate of insurance that proves insurance is in effect while the job is being performed. This simple step could potentially save you thousands in medical, disability and other costs normally paid by a workers compensation provider. </p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong><br /> Hiring a contractor to perform a job for you is expensive enough! Why take a chance at drastically increasing the cost by using contractors that aren&rsquo;t adequately insured? For more information on the insurance credentials you should be looking out for, call your Trusted Choice&reg; insurance professional today.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div>urn:uuid:f8301b19-3b17-4a74-a1b9-3e5301bd5366If you don't, are you sure you'll be able to remember all of the posessions in the event of a catastrophe?&nbsp; Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and h...Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:42:54 -0500If you don't, are you sure you'll be able to remember all of the posessions in the event of a catastrophe?&nbsp; Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.&nbsp; It's easy to get started and there are several online sites and even smartphone apps which can help you.&nbsp; Click&nbsp;<a href="http://ezasset.appspot.com/viewOnlyNoLogin.do?page=front_kys&amp;brand=iii" target="_blank">here</a> for&nbsp;a link to the Insurance Information Institute's free online home inventory software.&nbsp; Once you have created your inventory we recommend storing it in a location away from your home.&nbsp; We're happy to keep a copy in your electronic file here at the office, just give us a call!urn:uuid:613a093d-2cd3-483a-b4d8-dc9e21bb1137 MAIA&rsquo;S CREDIT SCORING BILL, S-461, TO BE HEARD OCTOBER 18, 2011 MAIA&rsquo;s bill, S-461 &ndash; An Act Banning the Use of Certain Socio-Economic Factors for Insurance Underwriting and Rating of Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance, filed on by S...Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:04:50 -0500^{<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>MAIA&rsquo;S CREDIT SCORING BILL, S-461, TO BE HEARD OCTOBER 18, 2011</strong></p> <p>MAIA&rsquo;s bill, S-461 &ndash; An Act Banning the Use of Certain Socio-Economic Factors for Insurance Underwriting and Rating of Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance, filed on by Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) will be heard before the Committee on Financial Services on Tuesday, October 18^th at the State House in Room B-1. This important consumer legislation will help protect the state&rsquo;s auto insurance-buying public from rating practices that we believe would be unfair, discriminatory and unreliable by introducing credit scores and other socio-economic factors such as occupation, education and marital status&nbsp;as&nbsp;rating factors in determining auto insurance rates.&nbsp; If&nbsp;insurers are allowed to use socio-economic factors&nbsp;to determine auto insurance rates, two individuals living in the same neighborhood with&nbsp;identical vehicles, identical driving records and identical coverages could be offered significantly different rates because one person may&nbsp;be a college graduate and the other is not, or one is a white collar worker and the other is not.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Please consider&nbsp;emailing your State Senator and Representative today! Ask them for their support of S-461 and urge your Senator to contact Senate President Therese Murray and urge your Representative to contact Speaker Robert DeLeo, asking them to support S-461 and contact their respective chairs of the Financial Services Committee urging them to give S-461 favorable consideration.&nbsp; After reading the <a href="http://capwiz.com/massagent/issues/alert/?alertid=53487486" target="_blank">ACTION ALERT</a>, scroll down to Field 1, &ldquo;Compose Message,&rdquo; to view the message that will be sent and type in your name. Then, in Field 2, &ldquo;Sender Information,&rdquo; type in the appropriate information that is required as indicated by the * asterisk. Then click the &ldquo;SEND MESSAGE&rdquo; button only once. The message will automatically be sent to your Senator and Representative based upon the information you provided. You will receive a confirmation showing the names of your Senator and Representative to whom your email was sent. Click&nbsp;<a href="http://capwiz.com/massagent/issues/alert/?alertid=53487486" target="_blank">here</a> to begin.</p>}urn:uuid:79224552-18b6-45ac-9a43-7843dbd3f728Re-Printed from our friends at Plymouth Rock/Bunker Hill Hurricane Preparedness Basic steps that you can take to make sure that you are prepared should a hurricane strike: Create a &ldquo;Family Emergency Plan&rdquo; &ndash; you want to ensure...Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:54:39 -0500<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Re-Printed from our friends at </span><a href="http://www.prac.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Plymouth Rock</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px;">/</span><a href="http://www.bunkerhillins.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Bunker Hill</span></a><br /> <br /> </p> <h1>Hurricane Preparedness</h1> <h4>Basic steps that you can take to make sure that you are prepared should a hurricane strike:</h4> <ul> <li>Create a &ldquo;Family Emergency Plan&rdquo; &ndash; you want to ensure that every family member knows how to reach or reconnect with each other. <ul> <li>Post emergency numbers (fire, police, ambulance) by the phone. Teach children how to call 911 for help. Identify family meeting places in case you are separated. Choose a place in a building or a park outside your neighborhood. Everyone should be clear about this location. </li> <li>Develop an emergency communication plan. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family's contact. </li> <li>Make sure everyone knows the telephone number of this contact. </li> </ul> </li> <li>Assemble an &ldquo;Emergency Supply Kit&rdquo; &ndash; your kit should include basic food supplies and water to keep you and your family going for a minimum of 3 days. In addition, you should have a 30-day supply of medications that you or your family members may take. More information on what to include is listed below. </li> <li>Make sure that you and family members are aware of evacuation routes and the location of potential emergency shelters in case you feel that it is prudent to leave your home. </li> <li>Don&rsquo;t forget about your car! Your car should be placed in a garage or away from potential flood waters. Well before the storm arrives, fill up the gas in your car in the event you need to evacuate. Remember, forewarned is forearmed &ndash; so keep your ears open for potential weather coming your way. </li> </ul> <p>Generally, hurricanes that impact New England come from the south and you will have several days notice prior to landfall. Check <a href="http://www.weather.com/" target="_blank">weather.com</a> or The Weather Channel on a regular basis to stay up-to-date regarding developing weather systems that may impact you.</p> <h4>An Emergency Supply Kit Should Include:</h4> <ul> <li>At least a 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) </li> <li>At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food (and can opener for food if kit contains canned food)&nbsp; </li> <li>Flashlight and extra batteries </li> <li>First-aid kit </li> <li>Battery-powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio if possible) </li> <li>Extra batteries </li> <li>Whistle to signal for help </li> <li>At least a 14-day supply of prescription medication and contact lenses </li> <li>Toiletries, moist wipes, hygiene items, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation </li> <li>Emergency tools: wrench or pliers to turn off utilities and multi-purpose tool </li> <li>Local maps </li> <li>Cell phone with chargers </li> <li>Credit card and cash </li> <li>Copies of personal documents such as insurance policies, identification, bank records, passports, and birth certificates in a waterproof, portable container&nbsp; </li> <li>Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members </li> <li>Extra set of car and house keys </li> <li>At least, one change of clothing and shoes per person </li> <li>One blanket or sleeping bag per person </li> <li>Pet food and extra water for your pet </li> </ul> <p>Find additional safety and preparedness material online at</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html" target="_blank">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.redcross.org/" target="_blank">American Red Cross</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.weather.gov/safety.php" target="_blank">NOAA National Weather Service</a> </li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Start by thinking about not having power for two weeks.</p> <p>You cannot have too much gasoline stored. Fill your tanks, and gas cans. You can always use it in your car later if you don't need it. You might not have a generator, but your neighbor might. (There is a good trade, fuel for an extension cord over to your house.)</p> <p>You cannot have too much fresh water stored. Toilets do not flush without water. A few days in, you will know you messed up if you don't have water. Use plastic sheet in the bathtub before you fill it - most tub drain plugs have slow leaks. That water will work great for cleaning yourself and flushing. Get/or store bottled water for drinking.</p> <p>Don't worry about food. You will have so much food going bad in the refrigerator, you won't be able to eat it all. If you have gas stove, it will work. Otherwise you will want a grill or BBQ pit to cook/heat things. Also, try not to open the freezer/fridge, stuff stays cold longer than you think when you don't open it. (Some also suggest you tape up the ice door/dispenser with plastic -lots of heat goes in through there. So buy charcoal or use good wood like hickory/oak - if you don't need it you can use it later.</p> <p>Ice is a critical item. Make blocks in your freezer using milk jugs or soda bottles. It takes two days to make a milk jug ice block completely solid. Always leave a couple of inches of air so it doesn't create a problem when it expands due to the freezing process. You can also just use your ice maker and ziplocks to store ice. Remember, at some point, what you put in there will melt - so avoid messes.</p> <p>Obviously, get Medicine/Prescriptions. Also, you may want beer/wine. It will be gone from the stores. If the stores open after the storm they will only take cash. My opinion, beer is important. You will have no tv or computer (or even work) for up to 2 weeks. You might just need a drink. Plus you may find yourself doing alot of BBQ with all the meat that is melting or going bad - just one more reason for a beer.</p> <p>Please bring in everything in your yard. Otherwise, your chair might end up in your neighbors window. (He's not going to run you that extension cord if that happens).</p> <p>If you can park inside your garage, back the car to the garage door carefully. Put a towel/blanket between your car and the door so you don't scratch the bumper. The garage door is the weakest part of your house. If it blows in, winds can stress the roof -and some roofs have been lifted off houses this way. </p> <p>Flashlights and batteries run out at the stores. If you already have Ryobi or Dewalt type cordless power tools, you can buy a flashlight attachments for them. Candles can cause fires, and if there is no water, that's a problem. Please be vigilant about candles. Put them on something that cannot possibly burn.</p> <p>Big trees are the number one killer by wind. If you have to avoid part of your house near one - so be it. Wind very rarely kills anyone. It's usually the storm surge or flooding. But I spent half of Ike watching our big tree, ready to run to the other side of the house. You will see trees bend in unimaginable ways - and expect alot of limbs to clean up afterwards. The leaves turn to confetti.</p> <p>TVtooner - also wants to remind you that there will likely be lots of mosquitos after the storm. Get repellants. You may be spending time outside your house after the storm due to it being too hot inside during the daytime. It runs out in the stores quick even if the store reopens after the storm.</p> <p>TVtooner reminds you that the heat in your home is a problem. With no AC or fans, it can get really hot. You may not be able to sleep. (Luckily you guy don't have Texas heat.) On the plus side, fans use little power. Small table fans can use as little as 10 watts. Generators often get stolen. A small generator is enough to power several houses worth of fans and a few small/efficient lights in each. You can team up with neighbors to protect the generator and provide gasoline. Please be very careful with generator fumes</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:b1f2e9f7-176a-4305-b84a-2ea0a493ebb1Following is a re-print of an article from Trusted Choice&reg; about Preparing for College and the homeowner's insurance policy.&nbsp; It's got some pretty good info. http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Preparing-for-College.aspx Quick Qui...Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:33:14 -0500<p>Following is a re-print of an article from Trusted Choice&reg; about Preparing for College and the homeowner's insurance policy.&nbsp; It's got some pretty good info.<br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Preparing-for-College.aspx">http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Preparing-for-College.aspx</a><br /> Quick Quiz<br /> </strong><br /> <em>When preparing to send you child to college be sure to review:<br /> </em>1. Their college essay<br /> 2. Your bank account<br /> 3. The film &ldquo;Animal House&rdquo;<br /> 4. Their insurance coverage<br /> <br /> If you selected insurance, you go to the head of the class. When your child moves from home to college there are a number of insurance questions to consider, especially if he or she is planning to live off&ndash;campus. Remember, not all insurance polices have the same terms and conditions. Consult your<strong> Trusted Choice^&reg;&nbsp;insurance professional</strong>&nbsp;to determine the limits and types of coverage that apply to your family&rsquo;s lifestyle. <br /> <br /> <strong>Home sweet dorm</strong><br /> Insurance companies consider college students to be residents of their parents&rsquo; home, temporarily residing elsewhere. They also consider your dorm-room contents to be &ldquo;personal property, located off premises&rdquo;. <br /> Most <a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Home-Apartments/Home-Apartments.aspx">homeowners/renters policies </a>limit coverage up to 10 percent of personal property, off premises. If you have $75,000 of contents coverage at home, you will have $7,500 for an off premises dorm room. You will need to decide if that&rsquo;s enough to repair or replace all electronics and other items likely to fill your trunk, back seat, and roof rack in the fall. If it&rsquo;s not, you might consider purchasing a separate renters policy or property policy for the dorm room.<br /> <br /> <strong>Moving on up</strong><br /> Nearly one-fifth of college students rent off-campus apartments. Most insurance companies consider these apartments to be a permanent residence. Therefore, the apartment will not be covered under the parents&rsquo; homeowners/renters policy for contents or liability. <br /> <br /> Generally, the person who signs the lease is held liable (and may be sued) if someone is injured on their leased premises or by their property. A roommate or parent may also be sued, whether they&rsquo;ve signed the lease or not, if the injured party thinks the roommate or parents might be responsible for the claim. <br /> <br /> Regardless of who signed the lease, when your child is living off-campus they should obtain their own renters policy. Many insurance companies will not insure multiple names, or unrelated names, on a single policy.&nbsp; However, if you, as a parent signed the lease, you and the student should be named as insureds on the policy.<br /> <br /> The annual premium for renters insurance is very reasonable, usually less than $250 a year for about $15,000 worth of contents. <br /> <br /> <strong>Up and away</strong><br /> Studying abroad can provide a host of insurance issues. For example, an insurance company can suspend theft insurance at a student&rsquo;s domestic residence if he/she has been studying abroad for more than 45 days. Consult a <strong>Trusted Choice^&reg; insurance professional</strong> to make sure your child is covered in at least the following major areas:<br /> <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Theft of personal property <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Trip cancellation/interruption <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Emergency medical evacuation and/or repatriation coverage <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Health and/or hospitalization<br /> <br /> <strong>Hot wheels</strong><br /> Few colleges allow freshman living on campus to bring their cars. But 70 percent of the rest of the students have them. Things to consider if you child has a car:<br /> <br /> 1.&nbsp;Leave the car at home: You might be eligible for a reduced rate if the car is titled in the student&rsquo;s name,&nbsp; no one else will be driving it, and the student will reside more than 100 miles away from the car. <br /> 2.&nbsp;Take the car to college and: <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Notify your insurance company that the car will be garaged in another location. Premiums can be affected positively or adversely by a location change.&nbsp; <br /> &bull;&nbsp;State laws vary. For instance if your child goes from a &ldquo;straight-liability&rdquo; to a &ldquo;no-fault&rdquo; state, their liability coverage may not be adequate. Increasing or decreasing policy coverages will impact their premium accordingly. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Consider letting your child assume the title to the car if they are 18 years or older. As the titleholder they must get their own <a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Auto-Insurance/auto_insurance.aspx">auto policy</a>. This will decrease your liability exposure. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Discourage your child from allowing others to drive the car. Regardless of who may be using the car and for what purpose, your child is still responsible for the car and what is done with it.<br /> <br /> <strong>Out of sight, out of network<br /> </strong><a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Life-Health/LIFE-HEALTH.aspx">Health insurance </a>coverage is complex, at best. Imagine the potential difficulties for your child when they&rsquo;re away from home. Problems can surface without warning, so it&rsquo;s a good idea to familiarize your child with the coverages and emergency provisions of your plan and policy. <br /> <br /> Mistakes in this area can be extremely costly and plans vary widely, so check with your health-plan administrator in advance to minimize surprises. <br /> <br /> Here are some of the major issues to resolve before your child leaves for school:<br /> &bull;&nbsp;Age cutoff&mdash;Full-time students between the ages of 18-23 can usually be covered under their parents&rsquo; health plan. Some plans have younger age cutoffs. Most require proof of continued enrollment from the school in order to keep coverage in force. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Full-time or part-time&mdash;The definition of full-time or part-time student can vary between colleges and health plans. You will need a signed document from the enrollment officer or registrar for your insurance carrier to demonstrate full-time status. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;In network&mdash;If your health plan has a physicians&rsquo; network where your child is going to college you will need a referral from your local physician.&nbsp; <br /> &bull;&nbsp;No physicians&rsquo; network&mdash;Your plan may offer an indemnity option where you will pay 80 percent of all medical bills and the insurance company will pay 20 percent. Find out before your child leaves for school. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;College health plans&mdash;Most colleges offer some type of limited, campus-based, infirmary or emergency health care. Ask the registrar or student health services director for details. <br /> &bull;&nbsp;Ineligible&mdash;Your child is no longer eligible on your plan? Many colleges and insurance companies offer affordable, extremely limited health insurance plans for individuals. If the student is working while attending school, check with their employer to see if any health insurance benefits may be available.<br /> <br /> <strong>Insuring your legacy</strong><br /> Experts recommend obtaining or increasing your existing <a href="http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Life-Health/LIFE-HEALTH.aspx">life insurance </a>to cover the total cost of your child&rsquo;s tuition. When figuring that cost you will want to include: tuition, room and board, transportation, books, and supplies. Whether you have a college fund prepared for your child or are paying as they go, life insurance is a secure method to safeguard your child&rsquo;s education.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:f0c31c74-ebed-40c8-8455-756a92831077Fact or Myth:&nbsp; If the other car is at fault in an accident their insurance company will pay for your rental:&nbsp; Myth (sometimes).&nbsp; While reputable insurers will usually pay for your rental, it&rsquo;s no longer automatic.&nbsp; Case in p...Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:48:57 -0500Fact or Myth:&nbsp; If the other car is at fault in an accident their insurance company will pay for your rental:&nbsp; Myth (sometimes).&nbsp; While reputable insurers will usually pay for your rental, it&rsquo;s no longer automatic.&nbsp; Case in point: Our customer&rsquo;s parked car was hit by another car while the other car was backing up.&nbsp; Sounds like a pretty straightforward case of the other car being at fault so they should pay for the rental, right?&nbsp; Not so fast.&nbsp; The other car was insured by one of the large national carriers (cute lizard, anyone?).&nbsp; The other car had $5,000 Property Damage coverage which is the part of the policy that pays for damage to the other vehicle, including a rental car if necessary.&nbsp; The other insurance company will not authorize a rental car for our customer until they are certain that damages won&rsquo;t go over $5,000 and then they&rsquo;ll reimburse for a rental at whatever rate they determine (even though our company adjuster has seen the car and the damages are less than $1,000).&nbsp; &nbsp;The vast majority of insurers have traditionally included $100,000 Property Damage limits on all policies because the difference in premium between the $5,000 State minimum limit and the $100,000 limit is less than $20 <i><span style="text-decoration: underline;">per year</span></i>.&nbsp; The big nationals that are now writing in MA don&rsquo;t care nor do they explain the difference.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> We also had an insured who left us two years ago and&nbsp;placed his car insurance with Flo, he named his own premium and&nbsp;ended up with&nbsp;a policy with $5,000 Property Damage limits on it.&nbsp;&nbsp;He hit another car causing $8,000 in damage.&nbsp; The other vehicle's insurance company is requesting reimbursement&nbsp;for the remaining $3,000 and it's now in collections.<br /> <br /> The moral of this story is if you want rental (or other) coverage do not rely on the other person&rsquo;s policy to pay if they&rsquo;re at fault.&nbsp; Also, make sure you know what the limits on your own policy are.urn:uuid:8ab2eba8-9eca-4780-b840-1aab906ead9f<img src='http://www.holmaninsurance.com/img/~www.holmaninsurance.com/holmanchart.png' align='left' />Check out our new mobile site, it's fully functional and has lots of nice features.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have tested it&nbsp;with the&nbsp;iPhone and Droid and it works great,&nbsp;haven't tried it with Blackberry yet but&nbsp;we're interested in hearing how i...Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:04:53 -0500Check out our new mobile site, it's fully functional and has lots of nice features.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have tested it&nbsp;with the&nbsp;iPhone and Droid and it works great,&nbsp;haven't tried it with Blackberry yet but&nbsp;we're interested in hearing how it looks there too.&nbsp; You can get there&nbsp;by going to our website, <a href="http://www.holmaninsurance.com/m/">www.holmaninsurance.com/m/</a> from your smartphone or you can scan the QR Code below with your smartphone and it'll automatically take you there.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.holmaninsurance.com/m/" target="_blank"><img alt="" style="border: 0px solid;" src="/img/~www.holmaninsurance.com/holmanchart.png" /></a>urn:uuid:219c1521-72ee-433a-a8ec-8c96a05e329fJune 11th will be the last&nbsp;day we will be open on&nbsp;Saturdays;&nbsp;after that&nbsp;we will be open&nbsp;during&nbsp;our regular&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;through Friday schedule only.&nbsp; While we understand this may cause&nbsp;the occasional incon...Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:42:37 -0500<div>June 11th will be the last&nbsp;day we will be open on&nbsp;Saturdays;&nbsp;after that&nbsp;we will be open&nbsp;during&nbsp;our regular&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;through Friday schedule only.&nbsp; While we understand this may cause&nbsp;the occasional inconvenience&nbsp;we have found that due to&nbsp;our expanded online&nbsp;capabilities and those of our carriers very few people actually call or come to the office on Saturdays and we can no longer justify keeping the office open.&nbsp; Some of the&nbsp;expanded services&nbsp;which are now available include:<br /> <br /> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <ul> <li>All of our carriers now accept online payments&nbsp;(see our <a href="/payments.aspx">Make a Payment</a>&nbsp;page) </li> <li>All of our carriers have 24&nbsp;hour claims reporting (see our&nbsp;<a href="/links.aspx">Important Links</a>&nbsp; page).&nbsp; Some even have smartphone apps. </li> <li>Our office can now provide electronically stamped/signed RMV forms and virtually all other paperwork can be done electronically as&nbsp;well. </li> <li>We have upgraded our online Customer Service section (see&nbsp;our <a href="/category.aspx?id=MISC6">Customer Service Page</a>&nbsp;) &nbsp;which now includes several new customer forms &amp; options and we receive almost instant notification of service requests even during off-hours.&nbsp; </li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the changing of the Saturday hours.&nbsp; Rick D.</div>