Blog
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4 Easy Identity Protection Tips
Posted at: 5/14/2019 7:11 PM
1. Don’t give out personal information by phone or email. Financial institutions and government agencies, like the IRS, won’t ask for personal data by phone or email. 2. Use strong passwords. Make them at least eight characters, using at least one number, one letter, one symbol and one uppercase letter. 3. Secure paper documents. Never leave bills with checks inside a mailbox overnight. 4. Add Identity Fraud Endorsement to your policy. Contact your agent for more details.
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Posted at: 5/14/2019 7:00 PM
During Black Friday, consumers will be hitting stores and online retailers to get a head start on buying gifts. Shoppers are naturally on the hunt for deals. However, it's also a great time for scammers and cybercriminals. Here are five tips to protect your card and prevent fraud this Black Friday: 1. Avoid Deals Too Good to Be True Although you may be shopping for deals, there are some discounts or promotions that might be a scam in disguise. If you get an email from an unknown sender advert
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Posted at: 5/14/2019 6:18 PM
The most common way private information gets into the wrong hands is when it’s not handled appropriately, at home or in the workplace. When employees make personal decisions about what is private and what is not by choosing to use their recycling bin, they put your business at risk. At home, you should also shred documents that contain personally identifiable information to help prevent the risk of identity theft. Shredding devices are available at most office supply stores. Make document destru
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Homeowners Insurance - What’s Not Covered?
Posted at: 1/18/2019 6:36 PM
All homeowner’s insurance policies have exclusions and limits related to valuable contents. If you have items such as valuable firearms, jewelry or silverware of collectable value, you should make a point to have valuations done and discuss your options with your Independent insurance agent. Don’t just skim over your insurance policy and assume what’s written in the policy. That can be a recipe for the very worst sort of surprise. Take the time to get all your questions answered thoroughly befo
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NYS Law Requires Smoke Detector Upgrades
Posted at: 1/8/2019 2:32 PM
All smoke detectors sold in New York State after April 1, 2019 are required to be powered by a 10-year, sealed, non-removable battery, or hardwired to the home. Homeowners and landlords will soon need to swap out their smoke detectors for upgraded 10-year sealed models, thanks to a new New York State law going into effect this year. Before selling or renting homes and apartments in the state, they need to be upgraded by the property owner. The law sates that April 1, 2019 all new or replacemen
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Don’t Let “Unexpected” Issues Surprise You!
Posted at: 10/25/2018 5:50 PM
When you see "small" things around your property, address them as soon as you can. Do a “walk-through” of your property, inside and out! Inspect the attic or crawl space areas. Look for wear on the seals around the windows and doors. How is the roof looking? Any visible cracks in the siding? Clear the dryer exhaust vent of debris. Check the refrigerator coils at least annually. Test the smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors twice a year, replacing the batteries each time. Have your HVAC syst
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Posted at: 9/14/2018 5:53 PM
Tropical storms rarely make landfall in New York, although it is common for remnants of these storms to produce heavy rainfall and flooding. Even areas well away from the coastline can be threatened by dangerous flooding, destructive winds and tornadoes from these storms. We’d like to remind you of the need to make sure that you are prepared in the case of natural disasters. Preparing Your Property Strong winds can cause trees and branches to fall, so before the threat, trim or remove damaged
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Posted at: 6/15/2018 1:37 PM
Spring is in full swing with warmer weather just around the corner. Prior to awakening your air conditioner from hibernation, it's important to remember the benefits of routine maintenance. Air conditioners are found in 90 percent of U.S. homes, but how much time is spent each year on maintenance? In 2017, nearly 42% of all homeowners equipment breakdown losses involved air conditioning units with an average loss amount of $4,250. The change of seasons is an ideal time to inspect and service yo