Benefits of working with independent insurance agents

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Independent agents make insurance better by:

Offering choice, working with 7-9 insurance carriers.' Options ensure you'll receive the best combination of

• Convenience
• Coverage
• Price
• Value

Answering your questions better than intelligent voice agents, such as Alexa and Siri, that only answer 35% of voice search questions.

Leveraging technology to offer electronic communications, e-signature, online researching and more - 52% of agencies offer "paperless" options.

Explaining coverages, deductibles and premiums - 2/3 of those who research decide to buy their coverage from an agent.

Helping ensure you don't become a statistic

• 60% of homeowner are underinsured.
• 63% of small business owners do not feel they have adequate insurance protection.

Helping prevent claims - 64% of small business owners report their local agent discussed risk management services with them.

Enabling account solutions with 1 carrier, bill and effective date for all your insurance needs

Plus, they:

• Represent your interests
• Do the research for you
• Understand risks within your local market
• Work on your behalf should you have a claim
• Drive the local economy as employers, tax payers and charitable donors

Staying safe poolside

Pool safety

Do: 

• Have rules for your pool, ensure everyone knows them and restate them often.
• Install fencing to keep people out of the pool area without your knowledge. Most communicates require fencing at least four feet high around all sides of the pool. Determine specific regulations for your area. 
• Keep children away from the filter inlet, which can draw young children underwater.
• If you have children in your pool, make sure they know how to swim, or have them wear protective floatation devices, but don't rely on these devices to exclusively protect the child. 
• Evacuate the pool during a thunderstorm or in the rain 

Don't

• Don't allow glass or sharp, breakable items in the pool area
• Don't swim alone 
• Don't leave children unattended in or near the pool area for any reason 
• Don't allow adults who have been drinking alcohol into the pool area. Alcohol and swimming don't mix. 
• Don't allow running, diving, pushing or dunking in your pool. 

Pool safety checklist 

• Have a cell phone in the pool area and post emergency numbers nearby
• Remove anything near a pool's fence that children could climb on to get into the pool, like tables, chairs, vegetation or toys 
• Collect all toys from the pool at end of each day so the children don't wander after them 
• When leaving the pool area, make sure all gates, locks, safety covers and alarms are working properly 
• Make sure at least one adult supervisor in the pool area knows CPR 

Talk to your independent insurance agent about adding an umbrella policy, in case the unexpected happens. 

Water damage by the numbers

Infographic transcript

Water damage by the numbers

Straight for the wallet

• $10,849 average water damage and freezing claim
• $72,162 cost of 12" of water damage in a 2,500-square-foot home
• 2nd highest homeowner's claim between 2014 and 2018
• 1 in 50 insured homes has a water-related property damage claim each year

Average repair costs for water damage

• $3,500 Burst pipes
• $7,000 Sink-related water damage
• $2,000-$10,000 Malfunctioning toilets
• $4,000-$7,500 Basement floor (1,000 sq. ft.)
• $6,000+ Leaking washing machines

Older houses, more problems

• Homes more than 20 years old are 37% more likely to have water damage involving a shower
• Homes more than 30 years old are 3 times as likely to have a plumbing supply or drainage problem
• 75% of all water heaters fail before they are 12 years old

Signs you may have a potential problem

• Sudden increase in utility bills
• Damp or musty odors
• Stains on the walls and ceilings
• Signs of mold or mildew growth
• Peeling or bubbling paint

 

Tips to prevent water damage

• Monitor utility bills to detect an increase in water usage
• Keep gutters clean, and use downspout extenders to make sure they drain away from your home
• Repair leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear
• Know where the main water valve is located and how to turn the water off
• Shut off the water before traveling

 

Coverages that can help protect you

• Homeowner's insurance
• Water backup coverage
• Service line coverage
• Scheduled personal property

 

Ice dam prevention

Ice isn't nice. Ice dam prevention tips 

How does an ice dam form? 

1. Rising heat melts snow and ice 
2. Melted snow refreezes at the roofline causing an ice dam
3. Ice dams prevent water from draining and can cause leaks and water damage inside 

Be on the lookout for ice dams if: 

• Temperatures are below freezing 
• Heavy snow is on the roof 
• Many icicles are hanging from eaves and gutters

Signs of damage

• Water stained ceilings and walls 
• Dislodged shingles and sagging gutters 
• Damp attic insulation 
• Decayed structural framing 
• Mold and mildew 

Prevention tips 

• Insulate and ventilate attic well 
• Remove snow from edges with a roof rake 
• Hire a professional to help remove snow from higher roof areas 

Removing ice dams 

• Contract a licensed, insured professional
• Don't attempt to chip away at ice dams on your own, as this can cause more damage or injury 

Winter storm damage is the 4th largest cause of insurance claims. 

Winter weather in 2018 resulted in $3B in insured losses. 

Water damage and freezing account for almost 20% of all homeowners insurance claims. 

Remember to always document damage and costs. 

Frozen pipe prevention tips

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Fight the freeze 

Frozen pipe prevention tips 

• Frozen pipes are a top risk of property damage when the temperature drops
• January is peak pipe freezing month
• 40% of frozen pipes occur in the basement 
• Older homes are most vulnerable 
• Remember to always document damages and costs.   

Prevention 

• Keep the heat at 55 degrees farenheit or higher, day and night 
• Insulate all pipes
• Ensure all windows, cracks, holes and other openings are tightly sealed
• Open cabinet doors to circulate warm air around pipes
• Have your pipes inspected by a professional plumber 
• Keep all entries to unheated spaces closed as much as possible.
   

 

Safety

• If you turn on a faucet and no water comes out, tell a professional.
• Don't try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame. This will damage the pipe and could start a fire. 
• Know where the main water shutoff is and how it works. 

Remember to always document damage and costs.

Digging in to service line coverage

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You insure your home. Now protect what's underneath it, too. 

Service line coverage from The Hanover covers the expense of costly excavation and repair of underground wiring and piping. 

When damage occurs to one of these service lines on your policy, you will be covered for repairs to the service line, including excavation costs, loss of use, and landscaping expenses. 

Landscaping mishaps, telephone and cable lines 

Steam piping 

Ground freeze, drainage

Corrosion, public sewer piping or private septic

Fuel 

Rodents, waste disposal 

Public water pipes or private well

Root invasion, power lines and electrical wiring 

Have a safe vacation. And, a safe home while you are away.

Infographic transcript

Home safety list 

Print and check off before you go away

• Make sure all doors and windows are locked, and alarms are set.
• Put lights on timers and consider outdoor motion detectors. 
• Suspend newspaper and mail delivery.
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your place – never leave a hidden key outside. 
• Run a computer backup and then turn your computer off. 
• Avoid announcing on social media the length or details of your trip. 
• Unplug non-vital electronics, like coffee makers or televisions. 
• Arrange for someone to maintain your yard (shovel, plow, rake, mow) so your home appears occupied. 
• Call your home security company to let them know you'll be away.
• Conduct a home inventory and make sure your insurance policies are up-to-date. 

 

Extra caution for cold weather

• Turn the thermostat down to 50 degrees F and leave interior doors open to circulate air.
• Shut off your water

Preventing clothes dryer fires

Teen driving trends

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Teen driving trends 

Licensed teens:

• 1980's – 80%
• Today – 60%

Teens with parents who set rules reduce crash rate by 1/2 if they pay attention to teens' activities in helpful way.

Each text distracts teens for average of 5 seconds. At 55 mpg, that's driving blind for the length of a football field.

Teens highest month for crashes: July

1 in 5 new drivers crash within first year

50% of teens drive at least 10 MPH over the speed limit 

50+% talk on phone while driving 

4x higher crash rate per mile driven than those age 20+

1/3 of speeding tickets given to drivers age 16-25 

Hanover SafeTeen program 

The Hanover SafeTeen program was created to both ease your mind and help you educate and coach your teen on safe driving habits. 

Find more information at hanover.com/safeteen

Benefits of new car replacement coverage infographic

Infographic transcript

Get peace of mind with new car replacement coverage 

If you purchased or leased a new car, new car replacement coverage can cover you before you even leave the dealership. 

Did you know a car's value can depreciate up to 20 percent in it's first year?*

For example, you buy or lease a 2018 Ford Escape, with only 62 miles on it. Currently its valued at $23,850. 

Unexpectedly, within the first year of owning your vehicle, you are in an accident resulting in a total loss. 

The Hanover's new car replacement provides full replacement cost, putting you back on the road with no deductions for depreciation. With the example of the 2018 Ford Escape valued at $23,850, you'd get the full replacement cost of $23,850. Without this coverage you would get what your car is worth, which is typically less than what you paid for it. 

Consider this coverage if...

• You want peace of mind driving off in your new car.
• You bought or leased a new car in the last year with fewer than 500 miles on it.