This is the time of year when the nip of Old Jack Frost has many of us imagining a cozy night snuggled up in front of the fire. Wood burning fireplaces can feel like a luxury in the winter providing additional warmth and heat in the home. What most of us don’t think about is the possibility of a chimney fire.
By following a few simple safety tips, you can enjoy your next fire without the fear of disaster.
1.Have your wood stove or chimney inspected by a certified chimney specialist each year and check monthly for damage or obstructions.
2.Never burn trash, paper, green wood or Christmas trees.
3.Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials. Combustible material too close to the fireplace or a wood stove can easily catch fire.
4.Keep chimneys clear and capped. Make sure tree branches and leaves are at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney. Contagious flames or sparks can jump from the fire source, quickly igniting other close objects. Installing a chimney cap can help prevent debris and animals from blocking the opening.
5.Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.
6.Close the damper and doors tightly when you are done. A fire may appear completely dead, but a midnight draft can reignite embers and a slight breeze can blow them into your living room.
7.Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container outside the home.
8.Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries once a year.
9.Make sure everyone in the family respects the fire. Remind everyone not to get too close and to move carefully when in the vicinity. A fireplace screen to establish a safe perimeter is a good idea if you have small children or pets.
10.Have an escape plan in place in case of fire and review it regularly with your family members.
If you do have a chimney fire, close the damper and doors tightly if possible. Then leave the house and call 911. With the right home maintenance practices you can avoid chimney fires and enjoy the cozy, ambiance of your fireplace on cold mountain nights. We are available to answer any questions you have regarding coverage and your homeowners policy.
The success of any business depends on hard work and ingenuity. Business insurance ensures that all the effort and money you have invested in your business is covered in case a disaster strikes. In general, businesses need to purchase at least the following four types of insurance:
Property insurance compensates you if the property you use in your business is lost or damaged by common perils such as fire or theft. Property insurance covers not just a building or structure but also what insurers call business personal property.
Liability insurance protects you in the event that someone claims that your business caused him or her harm. Your liability insurance pays damages to third parties resulting from bodily injury or property damage for which your business is legally liable, up to the policy limits, as well as legal fees. It also covers the medical bills of any people injured by your business.
Business vehicle insurance provides coverage for autos owned by a business. The insurance pays any costs to third parties resulting from bodily injury or property damage for which your business is legally liable, up to the policy limits. Depending on what kind of coverage you buy, the insurance may pay to repair or replace your vehicle because of damage resulting from accidents, theft, flooding and other events.
Workers compensation insurance or workers comp, as this coverage is generally called, pays for medical care and replaces a portion of lost wages for an employee who is injured in the course of employment, regardless of who was at fault for the injury.
Other Types of Policies You May Need
In addition to the basic coverages highlighted above, there are various other policies needed by some businesses, including the following:
Business catastrophe liability or umbrella policies provide coverage over and above your other liability coverages. It is designed to protect against unusually high losses. For the typical business, the umbrella policy would provide protection over and above general liability and auto liability policies.
Specialized liability insurance policies are designed to meet specific needs of individual businesses specialized for liability policies needed by some businesses. They include Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)/Professional Liability Insurance, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) and Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D&O).
Terrorism insurance is offered to owners of commercial property as mandated by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, enacted by Congress in 2002. Insurance losses attributed to terrorist acts under these commercial policies are insured by private insurers and reinsured by the federal government.
To learn about the details on the specifics of your business policy or to inquire about what type of coverage is right for you, contact us.
Ah, Valentine’s Day is near, and love is in the air. Well, love and a few other things, such as chocolates, romantic dinners, candy hearts that say “Be Mine” - and, of course, jewelry.
It’s exciting to receive jewelry from a loved one — or to give it as a gift. Not to mention romantic. But if you’re lucky enough to have some new jewelry in your North Carolina home this Valentine’s Day, you should take a few minutes to think about something you probably don’t find exciting or romantic: insurance.
Don’t know where to turn? Don’t worry.
At Marshall Insurance, we think it is exciting to help our customers protect what’s most important to them — so we’re ready to help and can answer all of your questions.
Things to consider when insuring jewelry:
You may need to purchase additional coverage. Your homeowners policy covers valuable items such as jewelry only up to set amounts. If the cost of replacing your jewelry exceeds that limit, you will want to purchase scheduled personal property coverage.
You can check your policy or call us at 704-684-0082.
You might want to reconsider your deductible amounts. As always, this impacts your policy premium. It’s a good idea to take a look at your deductibles whenever you make a change to your policy.
Do you need an appraisal? You may need to have an independent appraisal if the insurance company requires it or if you don’t know the value of your jewelry. Each item should be listed with a description and value on paper.
What kind of coverage is offered? You’ll want to determine if items are covered no matter where they are, whether they’re in North Carolina, or on an international trip, and if the policy offers full replacement cost. You also should ask if you will be required to replace your jewelry if lost or stolen, or if you can simply keep the cash settlement.
Pictures can be helpful. Lost or stolen pieces of jewelry sometimes can be recreated if the jeweler has a good photograph to work from. Also a picture of a receipt is always good for any new purchases.
Is the value of your jewelry mainly sentimental? Is an item irreplaceable? If the answer to either of these questions is “yes,” you might consider foregoing insurance. But please, talk to us before making that decision. That’s what we’re here for.
Of course, it’s important to store your jewelry securely when it’s not in use; a safe in your home or a safe-deposit box is best. We want your jewelry to be replaced if it’s lost or stolen, but we’d rather your sentimental and valuable pieces stay with you and your family for years to come.
Here’s hoping your 2013 Valentine’s Day is full of fun and romance. And if there’s no jewelry involved, well, there’s always next year!
Contact Us!
For further questions and assistance, please contact Marshall Insurance at 704-684-0082, e-mail gary@marshallins.net or fill out our contact form.
Over the years, your life is going to go through many changes and your financial situation will evolve as a result. Some of these will be changes that you make, and others will be those that the world thrust upon you. Whether the changes come from within or without, you need to respond by changing the coverage options and limits provided by your insurance policies.
While every individual must recognize the specific reasons for evolving insurance needs in their own lives, some common catalysts include:
Inflation
Inflation doesn’t just impact how far your dollars reach; it also impacts how far your insurance benefits can stretch. As inflation increases prices around you, it can negatively affect your auto and home limits as well as your life insurance death benefit. It also impacts the effectiveness of your disability and long-term care benefits, as well.
Savings balance fluctuations
The amount of money you have in your savings account could change the amount of insurance you want to have. While a large savings account might make you feel secure with high deductible insurance policies, changes in the market could mean that you need to switch to lower deductible plans. Your savings account balance may also impact how long a waiting period you choose for your disability and long-term care policies. The goal of insurance is to insulate your savings from the risks that you and your assets face each day. Adjusting your insurance policies over the years helps to aid this process.
Changing asset values
Your assets do not generally have a static value. Some don’t even have a depreciating value. Certain items, like homes, jewelry, art, and antiques have values that can increase dramatically in a short period of time. This increase must be answered by the evolution of your home and auto insurance policy limits.
Increases in income
When your income goes up, your standard of living tends to follow. Not only will this affect the type of assets you own, as well as their replacement and actual cash values, but it will also create a new lifestyle for your family to become adjusted to. Your home, life and auto insurance policies may all need a facelift as a result.
These are just a few of the examples of your evolving insurance needs. To discuss more ways that your insurance policies might be becoming dangerously dated, give us a call. We can go through your entire portfolio and make sure we get your coverage up to speed.
This is the time of year when the nip of Old Jack Frost has many of us imagining a cozy night snuggled up in front of the fire. Wood burning fireplaces can feel like a luxury in the winter providing additional warmth and heat in the home. What most of us don’t think about is the possibility of a chimney fire. 
