Dear Brownstone customers,
As a property manager or tenant, there are a lot of issues to concern yourself with to make sure that your building, unit and personal property are protected and in good condition.
In this newsletter, we will provide tips to help decrease your risk of mold infestation, as well as highlight some key benefits of personal renters' insurance, which is key to ensuring that your personal belongings are protected.
We'll also provide you with some startling information captured from a recent study concerning identity theft and explain what this information means to you and your tenants, and we'll provide tips to minimize your risk of being victimized.
Brownstone Insurance goes beyond selling insurance policies.
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 Mold spores can literally be found everywhere, but when the conditions are right, mold can begin to grow, and if that occurs inside a home or other habitational property, it is always a concern and can be a real problem.
The types of molds that can become problematic in residential properties need just 3 things to grow:
- Food - Anything that used to be alive (wood, cardboard, paper, wool, silk, leather etc.)
- Temperate - Molds thrive in the range of 68 degrees to 86 degrees (the same range we typically like to keep our homes)
- Water - Very little water is needed. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that indoor humidity levels above 60% is sufficient to allow mold to develop.
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Protect Your Personal Property!
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Did you know that your personal belongings are not protected under your building's master policy?
Brownstone Insurance writes master policies that provide "all in" coverage, meaning that a unit's ceiling, walls, floors, etc., would be covered under the building policy. However, individual unit owners still need a policy to cover their personal property.
Gain peace of mind that your personal property is protected by investing in renters' insurance! For a minimal premium, your possessions will be insured.
Contact Murphy and Jordan Insurance, our sister company, for more information on renters' policies by calling (617) 236-6400, or visit them on the web at www.murphyandjordan.com.
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Burglary, Stolen Wallets/IDs Seen as Top Causes of ID Fraud
-Article courtesy of "The Standard" magazine, volume 267 No. 5
Burglary, stolen wallets and pilfered identifications continue to top the list of the most common known causes of identity fraud, according to Travelers insurance company.
The findings mirror last year's report on 2008 claims data which indicated that the majority of identity fraud cases reported by customers were from burglaries and stolen wallets. This underscores how thieves still prefer more low-tech means of identity fraud over online-related thefts and data breaches that garner significant media attention.
Travelers identified the following as the top known causes of identity fraud for its customers:
- 76% - burglary and theft of wallet/purse/personal identification/computer
- 9% - online data breach
- 9% forgery
- 6% - change of address/postal fraud
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Do you have questions about what coverage is necessary for your property or apartment unit? Is insurance terminology confusing to you? Then join us for our weekly Facebook Live Chat this Thursday, September 23rd from 2pm to 3pm! Insurance expert and underwriter, Stephanie Adams, will be on hand to provide insight into all of your insurance questions.
Stephanie began her insurance career in 1988 when she joined the Brownstone staff. She holds a license for property and casualty insurance.
To join our chat, simply visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BrownstoneInsurance. "Like" our page and then you will have access to the Live Chat!
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As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your coverage or other insurance needs, we're only a phone call away!
Sincerely,
Glenn Montgomery
Brownstone Insurance |
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6.0%
The apartment vacancy rate in Massachusetts in 2009.
11%
The gross vacancy rate for Massachusetts in 2009.
13.5%
The gross vacancy rate for Rhode Island in 2009.
$2096
The average rental rate for a 1-bedroom apartment in Boston as of July 2010.
Read more statistics about apartments here.
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HAVE A QUESTION?
LET US HELP!
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The staff of Brownstone Insurance is always here to answer any questions you may have.
Submit a question and hear from our experts in a future issue!
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