When most people think “car collector,” they imagine someone who loves the classics. But a whole lot of your customers have passion for the newer cars of today that have the potential to become the classics of tomorrow. Manufacturers are currently making some great performance cars and trucks that will likely become future collectibles. Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger SRT8, and Corvettes are all examples of new cars that are making big horsepower, are handling great, are a blast to drive, and look cool, too.  Continue reading “When to Write Collector Vs. Standard Auto”

After this cold and gray winter, you’re surely looking forward to brighter days, spring blooms, and lots of sunshine. And while spring may not have sprung quite yet, it’s time to gear up for the spring cleaning and maintenance that’ll take care of winter’s hardships. So take advantage of the moderate temperatures and get your home in tip-top shape with our spring maintenance tips. Continue reading “Your Guide to Spring Maintenance”

Before the car-show season gets rolling, follow our maintenance checklist to ensure your ride is running right.

Spring has sprung! That means it’s time to start thinking about getting your classic cars and trucks ready for the season.

Now don’t go running for the garage to fire up those engines just yet. In the Midwest, our cars usually sit for about five months. And that’s a lot of time for bad things to happen.

After not starting it, there’s a list you should check before turning over the engine and another one before heading down the road. It’s critical that you give yourself plenty of time to get your vehicle dialed in before your wheels hit the pavement.   Continue reading “Seven Steps to Showtime!”

With several storms hitting the country in the past few weeks there might be quite a bit of snow on your roof.  The question: Can your roof handle it? The answer: It depends. Continue reading “How Much Snow Can Your Roof Handle?”

While we all hope Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, is right about spring’s early arrival, it’s likely the cold temperatures are still coming our way. People use space heaters every day to keep their homes warm when the air furnace is not heating properly, if the central heating is too costly, or even if the furnace goes out at the worst possible time. Unfortunately, space heaters also pose a significant fire hazard if not used properly. Continue reading “10 Tips for Space Heater Safety”

Freezing temperatures. Whiteout storms. Icy roads. And, worst of all, frozen pipes. While you’re probably going to have to tough out the first three, with a little know-how you should be able to keep your pipes in one piece this winter. Continue reading “Prevent Frozen Pipes”

Resolutions: We make them every year. From resolving to stop cutting your bangs over the sink to finally organizing your garage-turned-storage-unit, personal resolutions come in many forms. But what about professional resolutions? It’s easy to forget to make these, so we’ve developed a list of resolutions for our insurance agents out there who hope to become savvier at social media marketing, and to use social channels to increase referrals and grow business.

Why is social media the go-to tool for agents in 2019? It’s no mystery that social media influences outcomes in sales, client leads and brand messaging. It also enables you to reach large (and often targeted) groups at minimal cost. Social media networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are dynamic and in constant change with new updates and features regularly being added. Continue reading “11 Resolutions to Amp Up Your Digital Presence in 2019”

At the end of each year, we are whisked through a series of holiday celebrations, all leading up to the most contemplative day of the year: New Year’s Eve. Whilst reflecting on our accomplishments and goals, it’s easy to forget about the logistics of updating our home insurance policies to include all of the newly acquired belongings in our lives and evaluate what’s new or old in our homes. We have created a seamless checklist to make this process a breeze, so you can focus on ringing in 2019 knowing you’re prepared for any surprises that life has in store in the upcoming year.

Continue reading “End-of-the-Year Insurance Checklist”

The tradition of Santa Claus entering people’s homes through the chimney goes back to pre-Christian times when European folklore characters were believed to use the chimney to deliver gifts to children. When Europeans migrated to North America in 1800s, the tradition followed. Because the winters were so bitterly cold, it wasn’t wise to leave the doors or windows open just for Santa to come in. Chimneys, however, were always open and didn’t let in cold air. So why not have Santa squeeze his belly (that, don’t forget, resembles a bowl full of jelly) and make him come down the chimney? It just made sense.

Unfortunately, what European settlers didn’t think of is the risk of having a chimney fire. The likelihood of which is high if you don’t properly maintain your chimney.  Lucky for you, you can find out from Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) why chimney fires occur and ways to avoid them for both your family’s sake and your children’s beloved holiday character: www.csia.org/chimneyfires.

For informational use only. Not applicable to all situations.  

It’s likely you are revving up for this holiday season’s festivities with as much spirit and drive as Santa himself. You’ve found the perfect tree. The holiday bins and boxes are being pulled out of storage, filled with all the lights, tinsel, ornaments, and décor that will transform your home into a glittery wonderland. And just like Santa’s reindeer, your pets want to play a role in the magic of the season. To keep your holiday prep stress-free and packed with fun, we have prepared a complete list (and checked it twice) for keeping your furry family members safe among all your holiday decorations and celebrations. Continue reading “11 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe During the Holidays”