Only 2 inches of water can cost thousands of dollars in damages:
The Donald W. Beaulieu Insurance Agency is an Independent Insurance Agent and has been providing the full range of insurance services for the Amesbury, Salisbury region and Southern New Hampshire for over 30 years. Our mission is simple: to design an insurance program that uniquely meets the needs for each of our customers. (978) 388-3333
Most Ridiculous Car Insurance Commercial Mascots - Beaulieu Insurance Agency's Chipmunk! #21
Our commercial below was ranked #21 in the 25 Most Ridiculous Car Insurance Commercial Mascots list. We made this commercial quite a few years ago and had a lot of fun making it!
For the complete list CLICK HERE
Can My Credit Score Affect My Auto & Home Insurance Rate?
A growing number of personal auto and homeowners insurance companies now use consumer credit information to decide whether to issue or renew policies, or to decide what premiums to charge for those policies.
This fact sheet is designed to help you understand how your credit information is being used, and how it may affect your insurance purchases.
IS IT LEGAL FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO USE MY CREDIT INFORMATION WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?
Yes. A federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), states that insurance companies have a “permissible purpose” to look at your credit information without your permission.
WHY DO INSURANCE COMPANIES USE CREDIT INFORMATION?
Some insurance companies believe there is a direct statistical relationship between financial stability and losses. They believe that as a group, consumers who show more financial responsibility have fewer and less costly losses, and therefore, should pay less for their insurance. Conversely, they believe that as a group, consumers who show less financial responsibility have more and costlier losses, and therefore, should pay more for their insurance.
DOES USING CREDIT INFORMATION DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MINORITIES OR LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS?
Insurers that use credit information and entities that have developed credit scoring models state that there is no difference in credit scores among different income levels because there are just as many financially responsible low-income consumers as there are financially responsible high-income consumers.
As of October 1, 2003, Illinois law prohibits insurers from using a scoring model or other process using credit, on new or existing business, if such model or other process using credit contains any of the following factors: income, gender, address, ethnic group, religion, marital status, or nationality of the consumer.WHAT KIND OF CREDIT INFORMATION ARE INSURANCE COMPANIES USING?
Although some insurance companies still look at your actual credit report, most companies now use a “credit score” or an “insurance score.” A score is a snapshot of your credit at one point in time.
Insurance companies and entities that have developed credit scoring models use several factors to determine credit scores. Each factor is assigned a weighted number that, when applied to your specific credit information and added together, equals your three-digit credit score ranging from 0-999, depending on the insurance company and the credit scoring model used. Generally, the higher the number, the more financially responsible the consumer.
Following is a list of the more common credit factors used in determining credit scores:
- Major negative items - bankruptcy, collections, foreclosures, liens, charge-offs, etc.
- Past payment history - number and frequency of late payments; days elapsed between due date and late payment date.
- Length of credit history - amount of time you've been in the credit system.
- Home ownership - whether you own or rent.
- Inquiries for credit - number of times you've recently applied for new accounts, including mortgage loans, utility accounts, credit card accounts, etc.
- Number of credit lines open - number of major credit cards, department store credit cards, etc. that you've actually opened.
- Type of credit in use - major credit cards, store credit cards, finance company loans, etc.
- Outstanding debt - how much you owe compared to how much credit is available to you.
For more information or a free auto / home insurance quote, contact: Beaulieu Insurance Agency, 34 Market St. Amesbury MA 01913, (978) 388-3333.
Important Steps to Protect Your Home or Business from Snow Loads & Ice Dams
Ice dams and roof snow removal
An ice dam can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at
the edge of your roof line. Without roof snow removal, the ice dam may grow
large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof. The water can then
back up underneath the roof shingles and make its way inside your home
An ice dam has the potential to cause serious
damage to both your roof and the inside of your home. It is important to take
the right steps to protect your home from the risks associated with heavy snow
and ice
What is
an ice dam?
An ice dam can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at
the edge of your roof line. Without roof snow removal, the ice dam may grow
large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof. The water can then
back up underneath the roof shingles and make its way inside your home
Immediate steps you
can take:
- Clear
downspouts. An easy way to help snow and ice drain off your roof is to
make sure the area around your downspouts is clear. This will make it
possible for your gutters to drain when snow does melt. It will also help
prevent flooding when the snow and ice melts.
- Remove
snow from your roof after every storm. Use a roof rake to clear the first
three to four feet of snow from your roof immediately after each winter
storm to prevent ice dams from forming. While the amount of snow and ice
that your roof can handle may vary depending on a number of factors such
as the roof type, age and condition of the structure, a good rule of thumb
is if there is more than a foot of heavy, wet snow and ice on your roof,
you should try to have it removed.
Longer-term prevention
Ultimately, the best prevention for ice dams is to eliminate the
conditions that make it possible for them to form in the first place.
- Insulate
your attic. Make sure your attic is well insulated to help prevent the
melting-and-freezing cycle that causes ice dams to form. Check and seal
places where warm air could leak from your house to the attic, including
vent pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, attic hatches and light fixtures.
- Install
a water-repellent membrane. When replacing a roof, make sure to install a
water membrane underneath the shingles. This acts as an extra barrier that
helps prevent water from seeping inside the building.
Removing snow from your roof
Clearing the first three to four feet of snow from your roof
immediately after each winter storm can help prevent ice dams from forming.
- If
you have a flat roof that is easily reached from an interior stairway, you
may want to shovel the roof. When de-icing, remember to put safety first
any time you are on a roof, especially one that is covered in snow and
ice. If you have any doubt, leave it to the professionals.
- If
you have a sloped roof, it may be possible to remove the snow and ice
using a roof rake, a long-handled tool designed specifically for this
purpose. Stand on the ground and pull as much of the snow off the eaves as
you can safely reach. It is not necessary to remove all the snow; removing
the first three to four feet of snow closest to the gutters will help
alleviate these issues.
- If
you cannot reach the roof, many homebuilders, landscaping and roofing
contractors, and property maintenance companies will remove snow and ice
from roofs. Before hiring a contractor, Travelers encourages you to check
references. Always be sure your contractor is insured and bonded.
We do not recommend using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions.
This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to professionals.
Removing ice dams
Just because an ice dam is present does not necessarily mean
water has penetrated the roof membrane. However, it is always best to remove
ice dams before they have the opportunity to cause damage. To determine if you
have damage, look for water stains or moisture in the attic or around the tops
of exterior walls on the top floor.
- If
you can reach the roof safely, try to knock the ice dam off with a roof
rake, or cut a channel through the ice to allow standing water to drain.
- If
you cannot reach the roof safely, consider hiring a contractor to remove
it.
- Another
method is to fill a nylon stocking with calcium chloride ice melt and
place it vertically across the ice dam so that it melts a channel through
the dam. If you try this method, make sure you can safely position the ice
melt on your roof, and make sure to use calcium chloride, not rock salt.
Rock salt will damage your roof. Also be aware that shrubbery and
plantings near the gutter or downspout may be damaged.
- Look
carefully at large icicles. If the icicles are confined to the gutters and
there is no water trapped behind them, this does not indicate the presence
of an ice dam. However, large icicles can pose a danger to people when
they fall off. Try to safely knock the icicles off from the ground, making
sure not to stand directly beneath them. If you cannot reach them safely
from the ground, consider hiring a contractor to help.
Generally speaking, property owners are responsible for the cost
of preventive maintenance. However, each claim is unique, and coverage and
claim decisions always require an expert analysis by a licensed Claim
professional. Keep in mind that the cost of snow removal is likely to be
considerably less than the cost of roof damage or interior property damage
caused by water leaks.
The Independent Advantage
Have you ever wondered what the advantages are of buying your insurance through an independent insurance agency like Beaulieu Insurance? Watch the short video below:
About Us
The Donald W. Beaulieu Insurance Agency is an Independent Insurance Agent and has been providing the full range of insurance services for the Amesbury and Salisbury region and Southern New Hampshire for over 30 years. Our mission is simple: to design an insurance program that uniquely meets the needs for each of our customers.
Our licensed, professional staff is known to provide excellent service by working directly with you to secure the coverage required to meet your current needs. As for the future, we work hard at anticipating our customer's needs and will continue to offer competitive solutions to meet your ever-changing requirements. At Beaulieu Insurance, we will continually search for the best combination of insurance coverage and price and offer real value to our customers.
Our licensed, professional staff is known to provide excellent service by working directly with you to secure the coverage required to meet your current needs. As for the future, we work hard at anticipating our customer's needs and will continue to offer competitive solutions to meet your ever-changing requirements. At Beaulieu Insurance, we will continually search for the best combination of insurance coverage and price and offer real value to our customers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)