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Issue#5 September/October 2016
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Farewell to Summer
Fall Greetings!
It's time to say "farewell" to summer and welcome the "change of seasons".
We've included some important tips for your college bound children as well as some other informative articles in this month's newsletter.
Enjoy the glory of this wonderful season!
Regards,
Cindy Traverso, Paul MacDonald and Laurie Mancinelli
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A Few Tips for the College-Bound
College is expensive enough without the added cost of unexpected accidents or theft, not covered by your insurance policy. If you have a student heading away to school, below are a few tips to help you get the most out of your coverage.
HOMEOWNERS (varies by state)
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Personal Property: Most homeowners policies will cover personal property for up to 10% of your total policy while your child is residing at school (a $100,000 policy equals $10,000 in coverage). Not all types of damage are covered, so read your policy carefully. Some items such as jewelry or expensive electronics, require special coverage. Renters insurance is strongly recommended.
Liability Coverage: General damage to a dorm room or apartment is not usually covered.
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Documentation: Creating an inventory of the items your child is taking to school is a good idea. Use photographs and keep receipts.
Auto
- Car at School: Make sure to notify us if your child will be taking a car away to school. In most cases, if the car is registered to you and listed on your policy, it will be covered. But we may need to change the principle place of garaging.
- Driving a Friend's Car: Students are generally covered if they are listed on their parent's policy and are not regularly using the vehicle. The coverage would be secondary. The insurance for the friend's vehicle would be the primary coverage.
- Discounts: A full-time student meeting certain academic requirements can qualify for a good student discount. Other student discounts may also be available. Drivers under 21 who have completed driver's education may also get a discount.
Before your child leaves for school, call or email the team at MTM. We can walk you through the steps to ensure you have the right coverage. We're here to help!
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NEWS TO SHARE
MTM is a 2016 "Best Practice Agency"
We have been recognized as an industry leader through a 2016 best practices study that was conducted with 1,790 agents nominated. All submissions were scored and ranked in 33 performing factors with only 254 agents that scored high enough to qualify as a "Best Practices Agency" The result is it makes MTM one of the nation's top independent agencies and recognized as an industry leader.
Paul, Cindy and Laurie are honored to accept this recognition. Many thanks go out to our clients, as well as our All-Star team of employees and our carrier partners! You are all vital to our success.
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Fall Home Maintenance Tips
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Fall is a wonderful time in our part of the country if your home is ready for it. Yes, this is the time of year to fix small problems before they become big, and before they become catastrophic.
Here are 10 tips to help:
1. Look up. Examine your roof closely. Remove moss, clear debris from your gutters and downspouts, and repair any damage.
2. Look down. Check for signs of animals and insects around your home and garage, including in the basement and crawlspace. Bring in a professional to get rid of unwanted guests.
3. Keep things warm. Heat escapes through leaks around windows and doors, so seal up any drafty areas. Outside, put covers over faucets before temperatures drop.
4. Keep things dry. Drain outdoor hoses, faucets and irrigation systems. Look in the basement and crawlspace for wet spots. And, make sure your water heater or boiler isn't leaking.
5. Clear the air (or vents and filters, at least). When's the last time you checked your dryer vent? You should take a look at attic vents and exhaust ducts, as well. And, change that furnace filter!
6. Take a walk. Cracks in your driveway or walkways will only get bigger, so get them fixed soon. If your deck has signs of wear, make repairs now.
7. Get a tune-up. You or a professional should clean and tune your furnace, boiler and/or water heater, as well as your oven and range.
8. Don't play with fire. Before building your first fireplace fire of the season, check for soot or creosote build-up.
9. Don't play with fire extinguishers, either. But, check them to ensure they still have pressure. Don't have fire extinguishers? Put them on your shopping list, ideally one for each floor.
10. Don't forget those smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Replace batteries when needed, and test regularly that alarms are working.
Keeping your home insurance policy in tip-top condition is smart, too. Remember to check in with us at least once a year to update your policy so you're covered for your new remodel, additions or personal possessions.
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Client Showcase
Mic Stylz Music and Entertainment
Mic Stylz Music & Entertainment provides MC, DJ, event hosting, and promoter services in the Merrimack Valley area. Michael Homewood started DJing back in 1996 he has a load of experience hosting all different kinds of events. His mission is to provide fair and affordable music and entertainment solutions for a wide variety of public and private functions
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After School Safety
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| After-School Safety Tips for Parents and Kids
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Parents, class is back in session, so you've likely already reviewed
the basic safety tips for kids who walk or bus to and from school.
Safety tips:
* Walk with a buddy
* Stay in well-lit areas
* Never accept a ride with strangers
* Once home, lock the door and don't let anyone in
However, Dr. Michele Borba, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, urges you not to overestimate your kids' safety smarts. Kids under 10, for example, may not grasp the concept of crossing a street safely, she says. She suggests teaching them: "Stop. Left. Right. Left." Meaning that children should, "stop at the curb, look left, right, then left again before crossing, and keep looking as they cross."
Another thing kids need to know, says Borba, is how to ask for help. Have kids practice saying, "I need help," out loud and instruct them to "find a uniformed employee, a police officer or a woman, preferably with a child," when they need assistance, she says. Once home, kids will likely use the Internet, so be sure to discuss digital safety too.
Staying Safe Online:
Internet safety advocate Sue Schef( author of Wit's End and Google Bomb, says that, "we need to put parental controls/security measures on computers and cell phones. Unfortunately, these aren't guarantees, so having a cyber-smart child is your best defense."
Teach kids about the dangers of sharing personal information, such as their home address and phone number, online. And about using social media responsibly.
While online, it's best for kids - and adults - to converse and connect only with people they truly know and trust, to keep their social accounts private and to still be cautious even then. After all, photos and information that go online today will still be there years later, when kids apply for college scholarships and jobs.
Above all, stay involved in your kids' digital lives. Let them know you're there for them, always talk, not to judge or punish, says Scheff. "Many kids fear having their Internet removed if they tell their parents they are being bullied on line," she says.
So keep the lines of communication open to help keep everyone safe, both in and outside of your home.
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MTM Employee Spotlight is a new feature for our company newsletter. We are proud of our team and we would like you to get to know them!
 Cindy Traverso and her "side kick" Francine Morrissette. Francine is the operations manager at MTM . She's worked with Cindy, Paul and Laurie for over 15 years. She's invaluable to the team and has her hand in every facet of our operation. Fran is the "go to " person for the entire operation! |
Halloween Safety Tips
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Make your house a haven
for
trick-or-treaters!
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Halloween is one of the fall season's most treasured holidays. Kids love to dress up, get together with friends, and go door-to-door in search of the biggest and best goodies.
If your neighborhood tends to be teeming with little ghosts, goblins, superheroes and princesses, you'll want to be sure your yard and stoop are safe and welcoming. A little pre-planning can prevent unfortunate accidents that could turn out to be tragic for kids and trying for you.
Here are some pointers for ensuring your house is a safe place for trick-or-treaters on Oct. 31.
Pets first. Many dogs, cats, and other furry family companions get scared when oddly dressed strangers approach their door in droves. Make sure your pet is in a safe and comfortable space or take them to a secure, relaxing offsite location for the evening.
Clean it up. If your yard gathers stuff - like toys, rakes and other yard tools, hoses, tree branches, you name it - take the time to clean it up. Make sure your yard is free of potential hazards and create a clutter-free walking path well before dusk falls this Halloween.
Light it up. Make sure you offer a well-lit path. You can do this using any type of yard lights, from solar, string, LED, existing outdoor lighting or glow-in-the-dark.
Turn it off. When you're done for the night, make it obvious by turning any and all inviting lights off. However, if you're still offering candy in a bowl outside, do make sure to keep the path well lit until your sweet treats are tucked away inside the house.
At MTM, we hope you enjoy a safe Halloween devoid of tricks and full of treats!
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Fall Decorating Inspiration
Add some character to your home's exterior and Welcome the arrival of fall and guests with gorgeous decorations. Click on the blue box get inspired to see 30 examples of inviting outdoor decorating.
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This Will Make You Smile
 Quotes found on claims forms:"I had been learning to drive with power steering. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself in a different direction going the opposite way."
"I was backing my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before."
"The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle."
"The accident was caused by me waving to the man I hit last week."
"I was minding my own business when a pedestrian hit me and went under my car!"
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ABOUT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Our Customer Service Representatives are high skilled insurance professionals who are happy to assist our customers all day long. Please feel free to reach out to them at any time to review your policies and discuss new options that may be available to you.
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