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Personal Perspectives
from Mason & Mason |
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| Greetings! |
Did you do a double take? You read it correctly. This is the September edition of our personal insurance newsletter. Have you ever had one of those months when everything just got away from you? Clearly, I have! J
I love so many things about September. I love that the air is crisp and fresh. I love the colors as the trees burst forth in vibrant hue. I love the first scent of wood smoke on the  breeze. I love that Dunkin Donuts offers pumpkin muffins and spiced chai. I love that people don't look at me strange when they see me knitting (somehow it's acceptable to do this by a woodstove, but not so much by the lake).
And I love the return to routine. The kids go back to school and life settles into a normal, if not peaceful, schedule. Summer is great... but as much as I enjoy having extra time with the kids, there's just something about knowing what each day holds that brings me comfort. I like consistency and predictability.
But here's the thing... the kids return to school and start to bring home all kinds of stuff: books, permission slips, homework... and GERMS. In spite of all our efforts to sanitize and promote healthy habits, there seems to be no escaping the sickness that goes along with all those kids getting together again in one place. My 10-year-old Noah made it roughly two weeks into the academic year before bringing home a nasty cough. A trip to our pediatrician earned him the nickname: PB - Pneumonia Boy. Ugh. No sooner did he go back to school this week, than his father and I came down with the ickyness. So now you understand why you're receiving the September edition of our newsletter in October (and you have my sincere apologies).
Sometimes, no matter what we do to protect ourselves, things just happen. LIFE happens. We do the best we can to control our little corner of the world, but once in a while things are just beyond the scope of our command. That's where the professionals here at M&M come in. They carefully examine your needs and craft together a plan that's perfectly suited to you. That way, should you suffer loss in spite of your best efforts to prevent it, there's a plan in place to help safeguard the life you've worked so hard to build. Now there's something to love!
Have a great month! 
Heather Clement
Mason & Mason Insurance
M&M Assurance Group
P.S. Don't forget to check out our website at www.mmins.com. Click the "Clients" tab at the top of the page and gain entry to the site with username: "Client" and password: "INFO4U". You'll find a Home & Auto section designed with you in mind! Let us know what you think! And please, please look us up (and like us) on Facebook! |
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Smoke Detectors Save Lives |
A recent study from the National Fire Protection Agency, or NFPA, found that around 95% of U.S. homes have one or more smoke alarms installed throughout the house. Unfortunately, that same study revealed that the number of homes with nonfunctioning smoke alarms vastly outnumbered the amount of homes with no alarms at all. This shows that many homes are relying on broken and battery-less alarms to save their lives in the event of a fire. By following the advice of experts and maintaining a testing schedule, you can make sure your alarms will be ready when you need them the most.
Fire safety begins with purchasing the right type of smoke alarm, as dictated by your building code's power requirements. The common types that are required vary from standard battery-operated alarms to ones that are wired into the home's electricity. For individuals who have difficulty hearing...
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| Understanding Your Condo Insurance Policy |
 Despite the slump in the real estate market in recent years, many people find condominiums an attractive alternative to owning a separate dwelling. Typically, the condominium association is responsible for much or all of the building's maintenance. The selling price might be more affordable than free-standing homes in the same neighborhood. The structure might be younger and in better condition than separate dwellings in the same price range. For these reasons, owning a condo makes sense for many. Those who choose condos over separate dwellings, however, need to understand the proper way to insure their investments. Although similar in many ways to Homeowners insurance policies, condominium unit owner policies have some significant differences.
The most obvious difference is the subject of the insurance. A Homeowners policy insures against damage to a house and other structures on the property, such as an unattached garage or a fence. A condominium policy insures against damage to the condo unit, including alterations, appliances, fixtures, and improvements in it and parts of the real property that the condominium agreement makes the responsibility of the unit owner. Therefore, the subject of the coverage is much more limited in a condo unit owner's policy.
Unlike a Homeowners policy, a condo policy does not cover...
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6 Steps to Take After an Accident |
A car accident is always traumatic for any driver. Even if the damages are relatively minor, and both parties are uninjured, you might find yourself panicking over what to do next. There are important steps to take following any crash, no matter how severe.
Since car accidents involve insurance companies, both drivers need to collect the necessary information. They can do this by following six basic steps.
- The most important thing is to stay calm at all times. Letting emotions get out of control will only make the situation worse, and make it harder to take care of the things that need to be done.
- After remaining in control, the driver must make sure that they and their passenger(s) are okay and unharmed. Although it is important to move as far off the road as possible, it is also important if not more so to remain at the scene of the accident. If the driver or one of the passengers can do so, wave oncoming traffic into the other lane or warn traffic with hazard lights and flares, if available.
- Alert the appropriate authorities by calling 911 right away. If a cell phone isn't readily available, flag down a passing car and ask them to call.
- The driver must contact their insurance company regardless of whether they were at fault. The sooner the insurance company knows, the sooner they can start working to resolve the claim. Both drivers should call their respective companies and report the accident, even if one of them was at fault.
- For legal reasons, the driver must not...
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Thank you for taking the time to read this month's newsletter! Did something in this month's issue address a question you may have had? Was there one article in particular that you found useful? Let us know! We value your opinion, and your feedback helps us to ensure that we keep bringing you content you find helpful and relevant. Share your thoughts!
Thanks again,
Heather Clement
Mason & Mason Insurance
M&M Assurance Group
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Mason & Mason Insurance Agency M&M Assurance Group
458 South Avenue 3304 White Mountain Highway
Whitman, MA 02382 North Conway, NH 03860
T (800) 759-1452 T (800) 298-0802
F (781) 447-2832 F (603) 356-9290
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