Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30 in the Atlantic Ocean. Some of Massachusetts biggest hurricanes were from the end of August into October.  Storms during this time frame include Hurricane Gloria (September 1985), Hurricane Bob (August 1991), Hurricane Irene (August 2011), and Hurricane Sandy (October 2012). Predictions for this season are above average with 18 named storms, 8 of which will be hurricanes, 4 of which will be a category 3 (wind speed of 111-129 mph) or higher. We have already seen 3 hurricanes so far in 2022!  The number of storms has no correlation to the … Continue reading Hurricane Season – Who Is At The Greatest Risk

Calling all license plate aficionados…the low plate lottery has begun! There are 198 special low numbers up for grabs this year. If you are interested in one of these license plates you should visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles website and fill out the form. The form used to be mailed, but now its an online submission by September 2, 2022 at 5pm.   When you enter the lottery you may not choose a specific license plate, you are entered for all available plates. Make sure your license and registration are active and up to date. Check to see if … Continue reading Low Plate Lotto!

Finally Summer!  Over the past few years with Covid many have opted for stay-cations and buying a boat instead of flying to a destination.  With the increase in the number of boaters, there is even more reason for boat insurance.  We are surprised to find out so many people have boats but no insurance.  Just like cars, boats can get in accidents.  There can be property damage or even liability issues arising out of  a boat accident. What does boat insurance cover? Property damage to your vessel (excluding poor maintenance) Liability lawsuits arising out of use or ownership of your … Continue reading Boat Insurance – What You Need to Know

AAA has given the name “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers to the period of time starting Memorial Day Weekend and ending Labor Day Weekend.  For parents of teen drivers this is very concerning.  It is reported that teens get into 16% more deadly car crashes, that is 10 deaths a day, during these 100 days of summer.  There are many factors that contribute to this statistic.  In the summer teens are driving a lot more because they are not just driving to school anymore, they are venturing to the beach, to parks, to places they have never driven.  And they … Continue reading “100 Deadliest Days” for Teen Drivers

The warm weather is upon us…finally!  This weekend is going to be a hot one!  And with Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, just around the corner it is time to enjoy the outdoors. The sun feels amazing after a cold winter and rainy spring.  While we are outdoors more of our skin is exposed and we are at a greater risk of getting skin cancer. May is Skin Cancer Prevention Month.  Know the facts, there are 3 types of skin cancer: melanoma (the most serious), basal cell and squamous cell. Melanoma may form from an existing mole … Continue reading May Is Skin Cancer Prevention Month – Know the Facts

The short answer is yes.  Think about what your homeowners insurance covers.  If there is a loss the cost to repair your home increases every year, especially this year!  We are seeing significant increases in home insurance premiums.  The cost of wood is up, the cost of labor is up, the cost of gas to transport goods and labor is up.   Aside from the cost to repair your home, the likelihood of damage to your home increases with age.  If you have out dated HVAC, your premium can be higher.  You are more likely to have a loss when your … Continue reading Does Homeowners Insurance Go Up Every Year?

The Massachusetts Hands Free Law started in February of 2020.  The law seems obvious, you can’t hold on to your phone and use it while driving.  That in fact is true, but there are also stipulations when not necessarily driving and a strict age restriction. To begin with, drivers under the age of 18yrs are not allowed to use an electronic device at all, not even hands free.  No exceptions, not for GPS, not for music.  Many drivers, especially young drivers and their parents are not aware of this part of the Hands Free Law. Drivers over the age of … Continue reading What You Need to Know About MA Hands Free Law

This is a very common question!  There are a number of different things that go into figuring out if you should file an auto insurance claim. The most important things to consider are deductible amount and points on your driving record. Deductible Amount First thing to consider is your deductible amount.  If you have $500 deductible and the cost to repair your car is $800, then it probably does not make sense to file a claim.  You pay the first $500, so the insurance company will only send you $300 out of the $800 to do the repairs.  Claims filed … Continue reading When Should I File an Auto Insurance Claim?

The first full week in October marks Fire Prevention Week.  It is extremely important to review fire prevention safety on a regular basis, especially with young children.  Did you know most fires occur in the home between the hours of 11pm and 3am?  So in order to act quickly in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping, the safety procedures must be second nature. Smoke Detectors: test smoke alarms once a month make sure there are working smoke alarms on every level of your house working smoke alarms in each bedroom and outside sleeping areas have children listen … Continue reading Fire Prevention Week!

Are you currently renting the unit where you live? Or do your kids rent off-campus at college? Renters insurance is an absolute must, but many people who rent do not have it. There are many reasons people don’t buy renters insurance. They think their landlord pays for insurance for them, or that they don’t have many valuable belongings. No matter what the reason if you think you don’t need it, think again.   What Does Renters Insurance Include? Renters insurance covers your personal belongings, on and off premises. If you have a break-in or fire and your valuables are stolen … Continue reading Renters Insurance – Why You Need It

The “All About” blogs are my favorite to write!  I have only been asking Miss Kelly for a couple years to answer a few questions about herself…apparently she likes quoting insurance better than filling out my forms!  Kelly Boyd is a personal and commercial lines sales producer.  Kelly is known for her fun approach to getting insurance sales.  I mean she asks the water delivery man if she can quote his insurance….every time he comes in : )  Kelly also does not shy away from an office selfie social media post.  If you want to have your home, auto, watercraft, … Continue reading All About Kelly Boyd

At least once a day we get a call in the office asking, why did my auto insurance premium increase?  There are a number of reasons for the increase in policy premium.  Let’s break it into two categories:  things you can control and things you can not control when it comes to auto insurance costs.  First we can take a look at how you can influence your premium. Controlling your Auto Premium: Avoid moving violations, such as speeding tickets. If you get a speeding ticket your insurance premium will increase.  Insurers see that you are not a careful driver.  The … Continue reading Why Did My Auto Insurance Premium Increase?

We receive many calls throughout the week asking when do I need to add my child to my insurance policy?  Are they covered right away?  A child is automatically covered for their driving test on their parent’s policy.  Parents have 60 days to call their insurance agent to add the child to the policy, the sooner the better.  To add a child to an auto policy all that is needed is the child’s license number and date of birth. Another great question we get about listing children on a parent’s policy is concerning divorced parents.   If my husband has our … Continue reading Does My Child Need Auto Insurance to Take a Drivers Test? And Other Answers About New Drivers

Now that vaccines are readily available and the Covid numbers are declining, a lot of us are planning vacations!  It will feel great to get away for a break.  Brushing up on home safety tips to deter burglars will help you vacation with peace of mind. Here are some things you can do to your house before leaving: Take a walk around your property, can you see any valuables from a distance?  Expensive electronics, jewelry or artwork? Put them away. Check for overgrown bushes near your house, these are good places for burglars to hide Check the locks on all … Continue reading Vacationing Again, Keeping Burglars Away!

You know you have auto insurance, but what do all the different coverages on the policy mean?  And are some of these coverages necessary?  Let’s look at Comprehensive and Collision, specifically.  Both Comprehensive and Collision cover damage to your own car.  Comprehensive covers damage to your car if it is stolen, damaged by weather-related events, fire, vandalism.  Many consider it “other than collision” coverage.  The coverage that helps pay for your car when it is damaged not in an accident. Collision insurance covers your car if you are in an accident with another car, a building, or object like a … Continue reading What is the Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Insurance?

Planet Fitness has created some tech free ways to spend your time on National Unplugged Day.  Here they are: Replace Facetime with FIT-TIME! Substitute those screen minutes w/ Mighty Minutes: Replace TEXTING with… Squat Jumps Replace FACETIMING with… Slow-Mo Lunges Replace SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS with… Plank Jacks Replace SCROLLING with… Flutter Kicks/Scissor kicks Unplug your Tech & Reconnect Your FLEX! Rediscover the importance of: The importance of MOVING to increase your blood flow Star Jacks The importance of MENTAL STIMULATION to maximize your mental mojo Single-leg crossovers The importance of CREATIVITY to break monotony Icky Shuffles using imaginary agility ladder … Continue reading National Unplugged Day Motivation!

Sleep is essential, we all know this. March 14-20th is Sleep Awareness Week, so we can reflect on how important sleep is to our health and safety. Not only does sleep leave you in a better mood, but a good nights sleep can prevent accidents and keep you safe. Taking to the road while deprived of sleep can be detrimental.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen.  That is why we have insurance!  Many customers ask us what is the difference between a minor and a major accident, in terms of insurance.  There are two main differences between them. Minor Accident:  this is when the accident claim payment is more than $1000 and up to and including $5000 for damage to someone else’s property, collision, limited collision or bodily injury to others.  A minor accident results in 3 points on your driving record for 6 years. Major Accident: this is when the accident claim payment is more than $5000 for damage to someone … Continue reading Difference Between a Minor and Major Accident

September is National Preparedness Month.  In typical 2020 fashion the number of named storms this hurricane season has increased significantly since first predicted.  What better reminder to prepare safety plans than to have 25 named storms predicted for this year.    Preparation is the best way to be ready for a dangerous storm such as a hurricane or tropical storm.  Have a few flashlights with extra batteries, your cell phone fully charged, a battery powered radio. Keep all of your personal documents in a fire proof box in a readily accessible area. Make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food … Continue reading National Preparedness Month

Summer 2020 has been an interesting one, different from summers past.  But one thing that has not changed has been our love of a good road trip!  Going to different states has been a bit tricky with Covid-19, but why not road trip in Massachusetts?  Our state has some great spots to check out before summer ends: Gloucester, Provincetown, or Lenox. All of these towns have lots of socially distanced activities for the whole family.  Since safety has been the summer’s main focus we will add a couple of our own safety tips while hitting the open road. Avoid drowsy … Continue reading One Last Road Trip Summer 2020!

Ugh it is that time of year when our tires meet the inevitable potholes on so many roads in the area. As the state is trying to meet the high demands of fixing all the potholes, you will probably hit one of these road problems. Potholes on town/city roads should be reported to that municipality’s highway department.  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) would like you to report any potholes you come across on state run roads by calling 857-DOT-INFO.    Since it is the season for potholes, please make sure you use extra caution on the roads. Always pay … Continue reading Potholes!

Insurance can be confusing! We have found that one of the more confusing types of coverage for auto insurance is Uninsured and Underinsured coverage. In Massachusetts Uninsured coverage is compulsory with limits of $20,000/$40,000 and Underinsured coverage is optional. From our experience we feel that limits of $100,000/$300,000 should be the minimum to carry for both Uninsured and Underinsured coverage (Parts 3, 5 and 12 of your auto policy should all be the same, so we recommend the $100,000/$300,000 limits for all three parts).   The Uninsured and Underinsured limits can cover: medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages. … Continue reading Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Coverage Explained!

Winter in New England can bring us treacherous driving conditions.  We can see the 1ft of snow outside when we get a big snow storm and can be prepared.  However, we don’t always know if there is black ice on the roads.  Black ice is not actually black, it is clear so you can’t see it on the roads.  It gets its name from its ability to blend into its surroundings.  Black ice has less water bubbles in it making it harder to spot.  It could look like wet spots on the road. Black ice forms when snow or ice … Continue reading Black Ice – Know the Facts

Are you expecting lots of guests at your holiday party? Navigating a crowded home can be difficult and sometimes not safe if you are not organized about it. Maintaining a clean, welcoming, fun, and festive residence can allow for everyone to enjoy a the day without worry. If you feel overwhelmed by the expectations of family and friends, don’t let this bring you down. Instead, have confidence in your hosting abilities. As you prepare to have those you love into your place of comfort, it is important to keep safety in mind. The last thing you need is for someone … Continue reading Tips for Hosting a Party During the Holidays!

The holidays are quickly approaching. We are all busy running errands, cooking and visiting relatives and friends. Many of us travel for the holidays and burglars know this. Make sure your home is protected while you are away by taking these precautionary steps: Install a home alarm system. Not just one that sounds when a window or door is opened. The new alarms let you monitor your entire house from your smart phone. You can turn on lights, lock doors, turn on the heat.  The Nest and Ring have home security systems that let you monitor all of these. Put … Continue reading Keeping Your House Secure During the Holidays

The beginning of November is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.  It is important to give attention to this hazard on the road, as many people every day get on the road that are too tired to drive. Sixty percent of drivers surveyed in the Sleep in America poll have admitted to driving while drowsy. And a staggering fact is that 37% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel!  As it is easy for police to detect when alcohol is a factor in a crash, it is much more difficult to conclude that drowsiness was a leading or contributing factor in a … Continue reading Driving While Drowsy? Not a Good Combination

There is a reason teens have higher insurance premiums than other adults, they are inexperienced drivers. Inexperience often leads to more accidents. The number one killer of teens is motor vehicle accidents. Only with experience is a driver more educated on how a car handles, what to do in an emergency and how to drive in many different weather conditions. For parents of new drivers there are things you can do to make the learning experience safer: Be a good example. Your children watch you. If you text and drive they will think it is safe to do so. Let … Continue reading Keeping Teens Safe While Driving

Insurance can be confusing with all of its industry lingo.  Here are some of the most common terms and their explanations: Bodily Injury to Others:  This is coverage that pays if you are found liable for the injury or death of others in an accident.  We recommend 100/300 for limits.  This means that you have up to $100,000 in coverage for Bodily Injury that you cause per person, $300,000 per accident.  In the litigious society in which we live it is always smart to have protection from lawsuits.  Which is why many opt for 250/500 coverage and these limits are often required when … Continue reading Car Insurance Terms Explained

If you are like many Americans you are looking for an easy way to make a few extra dollars.  Insert: ride sharing!  What is ride sharing?  It is a taxi type service that connects drivers and riders through a smartphone app.  Ride sharing vehicles use their own car to pick up people and drive them to a destination.  The most popular ride sharing companies are Uber and Lyft.  Ride sharing is different from livery and taxi services because both of these types of transportation services have commercial license plates and commercial auto insurance. Personal auto policies typically exclude livery services … Continue reading Ride Sharing and Auto Insurance

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. We all try to multi-task, especially while driving…one of the worst places to do it! On your way home from work, rushing to think of dinner plans, you decide ordering take-out is easiest. While driving you are searching your phone for the number or asking Siri to find it for you, not fully paying attention to the road. A car stops short in front of you and you end up rear-ending them. If you are lucky everyone is ok. However, this is still an at fault accident that will give you a surcharge on … Continue reading Distracted Driving Awareness Month

First of all what is Gap Insurance?  Gap Insurance stands for Guaranteed Auto Protection and is an optional auto insurance coverage.  This coverage helps pay off your loan if your car is totaled and you owe more than the value of the car.  Totaled cars are typically paid out at Actual Cash Value (ACV).  Actual Cash Value is replacement cost minus depreciation.  As you know your new car loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot.  In the first year a car usually depreciated 20 percent. You get in an accident and your car is totaled.  If … Continue reading When Gap Insurance is a Good Idea

It is easy to say no to additional auto coverage when you are signing up for a policy.  Who doesn’t want to save money?  But at what cost?  If you get in an accident you will be relieved that you have rental car reimbursement/substitute transportation coverage.  You will not be left without a car when you need to get to work.  It is peace of mind to know your insurance will reimburse you or will directly bill the insurance company the rental car cost.  The limit of coverage for a rental car is selected by you when you add the … Continue reading Substitute Transportation Coverage – Why You Need It

There are numerous accounts of insurance fraud, but usually the insurance company suffers.  Recently there have been some incidents of individuals committing insurance fraud and both the other driver and the insurance company have to pay for it.  Please watch out for drivers that may not have the best of intentions. Let’s preface this example with a rule of the road: if you have the right of way on the road, follow that rule, do not let others go in front of you. Rule also is true for the opposite, don’t go if someone who has the right of way … Continue reading The Right of Way and Insurance Fraud

Are you expecting lots of guests at your holiday party? Navigating a crowded home can be difficult and sometimes not safe if you are not organized about it. Maintaining a clean, welcoming, fun, and festive residence can allow for everyone to enjoy a party without worry. If you feel overwhelmed by the expectations of family and friends, don’t let this bring you down. Instead, have confidence in your hosting abilities. As you prepare to have those you love into your place of comfort, it is important to keep safety in mind. The last thing you need is for someone to … Continue reading Tips for Hosting a Safe and Successful Holiday Party

There have been some changes in Massachusetts regarding the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) system and the implementation of Real IDs.  As with any change, there is an adjustment period.  The longer wait times at the RMV have been the biggest complaint since their new ATLAS system went online in March.  Some of these wait time issues are from the new requirements for the Real IDs. Real IDs are federal identification cards that will allow you to fly domestically and enter into federal buildings by 2020.  Real IDs will take the place of your MA state drivers license.  After October … Continue reading The Massachusetts RMV and the New Real ID

Joe is the founding father of Mancuso-Nowak Insurance.  The business has been his life for 35 years.  He is the patriarch of this family agency and he oversees the day to day operations with an eye out for agency opportunities.   How it all began…Joe went to college to become a teacher.  He taught for a few years and then a friend who was in the insurance business suggested he try out insurance for the summer.  If he didn’t like it he could go back to teaching in the fall.  And as they say, the rest is history.  That was in … Continue reading All About Joe Mancuso

Most of you know Tony – we know this because everyone who calls in to the office says I’m really good friends with Tony.  So half of Massachusetts is best friends with Tony.  Tony is the President of Mancuso-Nowak Insurance. He is one of our fearless leaders in this exciting field of insurance. Tony sells both personal and commercial insurance.  So he makes sure all of your insurance needs are met – home, auto, motorcycle, boat, umbrella.  If you own a business Tony can set you up with Workers Compensation, General Liability, and Commercial Auto policies.  In order to make … Continue reading All About Tony Tyan

Theresa’s warm smile brightens the office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  Theresa is the runner for our office.  As a runner she goes to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for renewals, registrations and new plates for our customers.  She is an invaluable part of our team, as she braves the chaos of the RMV a few times a week.  We do not charge our customers a fee to go to the registry for them, we do it as a courtesy.  When Theresa returns from the RMV she likes to sneak in a chocolate at the front desk.  That’s part … Continue reading All About Theresa Tyan

Melissa is a part time employee here at Mancuso-Nowak.  She is the one who will greet you if you come in, she sits front and center when you walk in to the agency.  She has all different daily tasks, from insurance renewals to social media to human resources (this could be an arbitrary designation?).  Now she is administrator for the Biggest Loser competition in the office, a very important job!  With the renewals Melissa is in charge of reviewing all the customers’ renewals and ensuring coverage and premium are in check.  Social media posts on Facebook and Twitter are done … Continue reading All About Melissa Turner

Anyone who has worked with us in the past 27 years knows Kara.  And they are happy to know her!  She is our rock and the glue that holds us all together.  She has been with Mancuso-Nowak the longest of all our employees.  Kara is the Office Manager and handles our finances.  As an Office Manager she provides support to the Customers Service employees in both Personal and Commercial lines.  In addition to all of that she handles some of our Commercial line accounts. How did we get so lucky to have Kara?  She was going to college and a … Continue reading All About Kara Nadeau

Linda is the kindest, gentlest person we know.  Her sweetness shows through when she is helping our customers, that’s why we love her! Linda is a Customer Service Representative for our commercial lines.  She helps all of our business owners with their insurance needs – Workers Compensation, General Liability, Commercial Auto, Property and Bonds.  She answers client questions, processes their requests for policy changes and places new business. Linda got into the insurance industry when an employment agency placed her with an agent in need of clerical help.  As the years went on she learned both personal and commercial lines … Continue reading All About Linda Hester

April is a busy month preparing our yards for the spring and summer weather, repairing our house and spring cleaning.  What about our cars that take us everywhere we go?  We rely on their dependability, but are we doing our job to make sure they are running properly?  We take it for granted that our cars will transport us safely to our destination.  Here are a few things we can do to help maintain our cars: Check & change your oil.  Changing your oil allows your the internal parts of your engine to be protected, especially in the hot summer … Continue reading April: Care Care Month

Nina is our newest member of Mancuso-Nowak Insurance Agency.  She makes sure we all laugh everyday!  Nina’s position at the office is Account Manager and Customer Service Representative.  Nina is busy during the day quoting new business, shopping policies for current clients, assisting with customer’s policy changes, and submitting claims. After Nina had her second child, she began her career in insurance.  She contacted a temp agency and received a job at Liberty Mutual where she began her training in insurance.  After a year at Liberty her position was eliminated and she was referred to Mancuso-Nowak by a co-worker.  And … Continue reading All About Nina Arroyo

The short answer is yes.  Many people believe that a standard Homeowners Policy will cover a home-based business.  This is an incorrect assumption.  Here is why it is important for you to have a Business Policy.  Let’s look at a popular home-based business, Beauty Counter (these examples can be used for many different goods and services you can sell, not just beauty supplies), and some situations that could arise.   Not Covered by Homeowners, Covered by Business Owners:  There is a fire and your Beauty Counter inventory is ruined From that fire you not only lost your inventory, but your … Continue reading Do You Need Insurance for Your Home Based Business?

We see many seasonal claims reported during the winter.  The months of January and February can be brutal, we are in the thick of it!  From ice dams, to frozen pipes, to slip and falls homeowners claims can be pricey.  Here are some ways to prevent some of the most common winter home insurance claims. Ice Dams Ice dams occur when the attic of a house is too warm and it causes the under layer of snow and ice on the roof to melt and then build up. The water then gets under the eaves and causes roof leaks and … Continue reading How to Prevent Winter Insurance Claims

As you settle in to this new year it is time to reflect on what you want for the year ahead. You have a whole year to make an impact and be the best person you can. Many of us think about getting in shape and eating healthy. Both of these are sure to improve your year and the years that follow. And what can also insure 2022 will be great is to think about some insurance resolutions! Yes, these are real things…well we just made them real things! Here are some insurance resolutions you can make to protect yourself … Continue reading Insurance Resolutions Are Easier Than You Think!

You have insurance so you are protected from financial hardship if you have an accident or something happens to your home.  So what do you do if you suffer a loss?  There are a few simple steps you need to take to file a claim. Auto Claim After an accident gather the other driver’s personal information including: name, address, phone number and insurance company.  If there was not another vehicle involved in the accident just skip this step and go to the next. Take pictures if safe to do so. Then call your insurance agent and report the loss with … Continue reading Filing Claims for Personal Insurance – Auto and Home

There are so many fun, and not so scary, ways to celebrate Halloween with the whole family. Starting tomorrow the Ecotarium is hosting its annual Great Pumpkin Nights http://www.ecotarium.org/events-activities/great-pumpkin-nights.  This event displays more than 3,000 carved pumpkins all around the premises.  In addition to the amazing display there will be trick or treating, food trucks, shows and Wormtown Brewery.  Go dressed in your costume for even more Halloween spirit!  The event runs Thursday-Sunday nights 6-9pm for the next two weekends. This Saturday October 21st at Hebert Candy Mansion there will be a Halloween party held from 12-4pm.  Dress the kids … Continue reading Not So Scary Halloween Events!

The most frequent question we get at Mancuso-Nowak is: Why did my auto insurance go up and my car is one year older?  Great question!  There are a number of different factors that go in to determining insurance rates.  Foremost, it cost more every year to repair your car.  If you got in to a car accident today, and then you got in to the same accident a year from today it would cost more to fix your car a year later. The cost of labor increases as do the parts to repair your car. Another reason for an increase … Continue reading Why Did My Auto Rates Go Up?

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month.  Life Insurance is not one of those fancy things you want to go out and buy, but it is absolutely necessary.   Here is why…. Take getting married for example, once you are married many of your finances are combined. You make joint investments, such as buying a house/condo. With such large joint investments, it would be difficult for just one of you to make all the payments. This is why life insurance is so crucial. Even if both of you have life insurance through work, it is also smart to buy a separate … Continue reading Life Insurance Awareness Month

Governor Charlie Baker declared this week, July 11-17, to be Hurricane Preparedness Week here in Massachusetts.  It is never to early to get ready for a storm, as we can see with Tropical Storm Elsa.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above normal Atlantic Ocean hurricane season for 2021. Preparation  Preparation is the best way to be ready for a dangerous storm such as a hurricane or tropical storm. Have a few flashlights with extra batteries, your cell phone fully charged, a battery powered radio. Keep all of your personal documents in a fire proof box in … Continue reading Hurricane Preparedness Week in Massachusetts

Whether you have a 1951 Ford Pick-up Truck or a 1957 Corvette, you want to make sure your classic car is properly insured for the best price.  Classic car insurance is a boutique type insurance that focuses on the unique features of classic cars.  Individuals who collect classic cars are passionate about their hobby.  We are able to protect their investments in a custom way.  Classic car insurance is different from standard car insurance in the following ways: Classic cars are not covered for daily commuting, just leisurely rides.  The premium is considerably less than a standard auto policy. Classic … Continue reading Classic Car Insurance – What You Need to Know

Summer is here…finally!  There are so many fun activities going on during the summer months here in Massachusetts.  With so much going on, it is important to remember to hydrate your children properly.  According to Dr. Holly Benjamin, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Chicago, by the time children say they are thirsty they are already 3% dehydrated.   The amount of water/fluids a child needs depends on their age.  Children ages 1-3 need 4 cups a day, ages 4-8 need 5 cups a day, ages 9-14 need 7 cups a day and over 14 yrs … Continue reading Dehydration and Children

The short answer is yes.  Many people believe that a standard Homeowners Policy will cover a business out of the home.  This is an incorrect assumption.  Here is why it is important for you to have a Business Policy.  Let’s look at a popular home-based business, LuLaRoe, and some situations that could arise. Not Covered by Homeowners, Covered by Business Owners:  There is a fire and your LuLaRoe inventory is ruined From that fire you not only lost your inventory, but your business income has been interrupted Someone slips, falls and is injured at one of your parties at your house … Continue reading Do You Need Business Insurance for Your Home-Based Business?

As you can see out the window there is a blizzard! As veterans of winter storms, we New Englanders know the drill: snow, whipping winds, freezing temperatures. With this wonderful trio of Mother’s Natures forces we can often lose power and heat. Preparation is the best way to be ready for a blizzard. Have a few flashlights with extra batteries and fully charge cell phones, iPads and laptops. Keep all of your personal documents in a fire proof box in a readily accessible area. Make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food items, such as canned food, bread, peanut butter, crackers … Continue reading Blizzard Safety!

The slippery winter months are upon us. From mid November to mid April the roads can be treacherous. The only part of your car that meets those treacherous roads are your tires. Your tires will be affected when the temperature outside is above or below 19 degrees Fahrenheit. Below 19 degrees tires lose elasticity and thus their traction on the road. Make sure your tires are in the best condition this winter to avoid some slipping and sliding. Here are some tire tips: Make sure the tires are inflated to recommended tire pressure (found on the inside of the drivers … Continue reading Are Your Tires Winter Ready?

Are you expecting lots of guests at your holiday party? Navigating a crowded home can be difficult and sometimes not safe if you are not organized about it. Maintaining a clean, welcoming, fun, and festive residence can allow for everyone to enjoy a the day without worry. If you feel overwhelmed by the expectations of family and friends, don’t let this bring you down. Instead, have confidence in your hosting abilities. As you prepare to have those you love into your place of comfort, it is important to keep safety in mind. The last thing you need is for someone … Continue reading Tips to Host a Great and Safe Holiday Celebration!

Halloween can be a scary time of year, but don’t let your home turn in to a horror show!  We are talking about protecting your home from two of the most common homeowners claims during Halloween: fire and trip and fall.  Accidents from knocked over candles can turn alarming quickly. To prevent fire accidents: Avoid any open flames! Use flashlights or battery powered lights to give your jack-o-lantern or decorations an eerie glow Inside and outside only use lights that have been tested by a reputable fire safety agency Trip and fall claims can be numerous and scary on this spooky … Continue reading Halloween Horrors for Homeowners

The cold weather is slowly settling in to our area. As temperatures drop, it may be time to start up the fire place. Your children may enjoy sitting in front of the fire on crisp cold nights and sharing fun stories. Your fire place may also be a central meeting area for guests and family members. Whatever the case may be, it is important to put safety first, or problems could ensue. The last thing you want to happen is damage to your home due to an accidental house fire. Whether you have a wood, metal, or another type of … Continue reading As the Weather Cools Down, Don’t Let Your Fireplace Cause an Accidental Fire!

First of all what is hired and non-owned coverage?  Hired liability coverage provides protection when an owner or employee rents or borrows a car for business purposes. “Non-owned automobile insurance provides liability protection when an employee occasionally has to drive his or her personally owned vehicle for business purposes. It assumes that the vehicle is not owned, registered or contracted in your (the owners) name or on your behalf.” Almost every business has exposure from hired and non-owned auto liability.  Some small businesses don’t own any vehicles, but they need to use vehicles in some aspect for work.  You need … Continue reading Hired and Non-Owned Coverage: Does Your Business Need It?

Most people have a homeowners and an auto policy, but most of us don’t know exactly what types of natural disasters are covered. So, what natural disasters DO these policies cover? In Massachusetts the most common types of storms we see are: snow and ice storms, thunder/lightening storms, hurricanes and hail storms. A homeowners policy covers most damage from these storms. The exceptions are flood damage and earthquake damage, these are not covered. If you want coverage for these disasters, you can buy a separate flood policy or if you want earthquake coverage you can add an endorsement to your … Continue reading Natural Disasters Covered and Not Covered By Insurance

It is August and we are all trying to stretch our summer out as long as possible!  Have you planned one more road trip to enjoy the last of the summer sun?  Driving longer distances can be taxing, but with safety in mind you can make the trip more enjoyable: Avoid drowsy driving using a few simple tips: https://www.mancuso-nowak.com/2016/03/06/driving-while-drowsy-think-again-2/ Drunk Driving is an epidemic, don’t be a statistic http://www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober/index.html National Stop on Red week is this week, so make sure you are not running any red lights! http://ncsrsafety.org/stop-on-red/ Don’t be a distracted driver.  Navigating a new location may mean you are watching your gps on your … Continue reading One Last Road Trip, Make It a Safe One!

The 4th of July is such a joyous occasion when we come together with family and friends to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our country!  So many fun activities around Shrewsbury.  Here is a plan for your entire weekend: July 1st Worcester Fireworks:  http://www.worcesterma.gov/calendar/fireworks, July 1-4 Millbury Lions Club Festival: http://www.millbury-ma.org/Public_Documents/MillburyMA_WebDocs/docs/07-01_Lions_Celebration.pdf July 2-4 Old Sturbridge Village:  https://www.osv.org/event/independence-day-celebration-2 July 4th Shrewsbury:  https://shrewsburyma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2099 Happy 4th of July!  Have fun and stay safe.    

The summer is a popular time to take a vacation. Burglars also know this. Break-ins are most prevalent when a homeowner is on vacation. Here are some ways to deter a burglar: Install a home alarm system. Not one that just sounds when a window or door is opened. The new alarms let you monitor your entire house from your smart phone. You can turn on lights, lock doors, turn off the A/C. Put a few lights on timers. This may not always work because if your lights go on at the exact same time everyday, then a burglar watching … Continue reading Keep Your House Safe While Vacationing

It is very common these days to have many generations living under one roof. Elderly parents often need help as they age and may move into their adult child’s house with his/her family. That family could also have adult children of their own still living in their house. The market has been difficult for Millennials to get jobs, so many of them have moved back in with their parents after college or after losing a job. How does this affect home and auto insurance? Do you have the proper coverage?   Auto Insurance Changes: If your parent and/or child is … Continue reading Insurance for Multi-Generational Houses

It is the season for graduation parties – colleges and high schools. We all love to celebrate, especially after the year of Covid, for a joyous occasion. Graduating is a big accomplishment and many parties will be thrown to congratulate the students. In order to have a successful party keep these things in mind: Do not serve alcohol to minors. Encourage each car to have a designate driver. Take away keys from party goers who have had too much to drink. Have a lot of water (flavored water is much more enticing, so make a few pitchers and keep them … Continue reading Safety for Graduation Parties

Did  you know that the #1 cause of house fires is cooking.  Most of us cook every day, but do you know what to do if something goes wrong?  Grease can quickly escalate the severity of a cooking fire, so we should all know the best and worst ways to handle a grease fire. Best Ways to Extinguish a Grease Fire: Turn off the burner!!!  Fire will never go out with a heat source still active. Always keep a tight fitting lid for all pans/pots readily available because you can quickly put a lid on a small grease fire to smother … Continue reading How to Handle a Grease Fire

What is an Umbrella policy and why do you need one? An Umbrella policy has a minimum coverage of $1M and as the name implies it goes over your auto and home/tenants policies. It provides an additional $1M (or more) of liability coverage over the underlying policies which typically carry limits of $250K per person/$500K per accident for auto and $300K for homeowners. Certain carriers require more/less limits on the underlying but these are the most common underlying coverage requirements. Umbrella policies are not super expensive for the amount of coverage they provide. Most policies range from $200-$350 a year. … Continue reading How an Umbrella Policy Can Prevent Financial Distress

As we approach the end of March, it is time to spring clean the outside of your house.  We have nice weather this week and hopefully it will continue to stay warm. We know that April showers bring May flowers, so make sure your home is ready for these showers.  Most of us spring clean the inside of our homes, but sometimes the outside is over looked.  If you take a few very important steps in protecting your biggest asset it will pay off.  Doing some general maintenance can prevent water damage in and around your home. First step is … Continue reading How to Spring Clean the Outside of Your Home

As a business owner, you understand the risks that your business faces each and every day. Even while you are not around—your company will still face the unexpected. Just because it is after hours, does not mean you do not need protection. To keep your company safe, it is important to take the proper precautions and prevention methods. This week, our agents are here to extend a few pieces of advice to business owners. These preventative safety measures may help to keep a target off of your commercial property. #1: Install an alarm system. Whether you look into a blaring … Continue reading Keeping Your Commercial Property Safe

Winter is here, the cold has set in and we have had our first snow. Driving in the winter can be tricky, but here are a few tips to improve your driving on the snow and ice: Clean off your car completely! Even though it is not a law to remove snow and ice from vehicles, police can still ticket due to driving an unsafe car. If you cause an accident you could incur more penalties. Make sure your tires are suitable for winter weather, check out these guidelines: winter tires Consider changing your windshield wipers: Rain-X Latitude blades received … Continue reading Winter Driving!

Every 4 years we have a day added to our calendar, February 29th. It is called Leap Day which occurs during Leap Year. Why do we have Leap Year? Simply because it does not take exactly 365 days for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. The exact amount of time it takes the Earth to makes its journey is 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds. So every 4 years we need to make an adjustment to the Gregorian Calendar, the modern day calendar, and add a 366th day! Some pretty interesting facts about Leap Year: the … Continue reading It’s Leap Year!

The most popular and fun time to buy toys is in December. What better joy is there to see a child so excited to play with a new toy? Thankfully as a whole the toy industry has vastly improved in their toy safety guidelines since 2008 when there were 172 recalls with 19 of them due to lead. Thankfully toys are now required to pass 3rd party laboratory testing. With fewer recalls on toys, it is still important to look at the general safety of the toys you are buying. Some of the toys to avoid buying this year are … Continue reading Buy Safe, Buy Smart – Toy Guide

November 1-8 is Drowsy Driver Prevention Week. It is important to give attention to this hazard on the road, as many people every day get on the road that are too tired to drive. Half of drivers surveyed in the Sleep in America poll have admitted to driving while drowsy. As it is easy for police to detect when alcohol is a factor in a crash, it is much more difficult to conclude that drowsiness was a leading or contributing factor in a crash. The estimates from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conclude that driving while drowsy has caused … Continue reading Drowsy Driver Prevention Week

Halloween is such a fun time of year, so much going on! The week leading up to Halloween is no exception. In and around Shrewsbury there are lots of exciting things to do! Some of the events we will checking out this week are: Zoo Boo Days at Southwick Zoo – all this week bring the kids dressed in their Halloween costumes and they will get in for free. There will be trick or treating too! Zoo Boo Days Southwick Zoo Shrewsbury Child Development Committee Halloween Party – on Tuesday there will be the annual Halloween party and parade from … Continue reading Halloween Week Activities

Buying life insurance is not on the top of everyone’s priority list. It makes us think about dying and how we have to plan for it when we leave family members behind. Morbid, yes. Necessary, absolutely. Life insurance is the best present you can give your family. There are two main options when buying life insurance – Term Life Insurance and Permanent Life Insurance. As the name implies, Term Life Insurance is for a specified term or time period. Policies can range from 1-30 years for a term. This type of life insurance is relatively inexpensive because it does not … Continue reading Term vs Permanent Life Insurance

Dropping collision coverage on your auto policy can be an easy decision once you consider the various factors. The first things to check are the premium cost for the coverage and the actual cash value (ACV) of your automobile. To find an estimate of the ACV of your car it isn’t an exact science. It is a combination of looking at Kelly Blue Book value and what your car is selling for at local dealerships. The closer the premium is to your ACV the easier the decision is to drop collision. The deductible on the auto is also an important … Continue reading When Should You Drop Collision On Your Auto Policy?

Time to shop! Tax free weekend is August 15-16 this year. It is a great time to buy that bigger ticket item that you have been putting off purchasing. Back to school shopping should be a little less costly with this tax break. If the kids need a new computer for college, Apple is urging people to wait until tax free weekend, since Apple products never go on sale. The 6.25% savings is substantial if you are spending a lot of money. The item must cost less than $2,500 to be included in the tax free benefit. The tax free … Continue reading Tax Free Weekend

There are many confusing parts of insurance. One of them is the type of form/policy that you have for your homeowners insurance. There are a few different types of forms, but we will discuss a Basic Form or “Named Perils” versus a Special Form. The Basic Form is commonly called “Named Perils” because it only covers the perils that are specifically named. If a peril is not named, there is no coverage for the loss. The common named perils are fire, lightening, windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, smoke, vandalism and damage caused by aircraft or vehicle. Some of the common losses … Continue reading Homeowners Policy: Basic vs Special Form

June is HOT, especially this week! One of the best ways to cool off is a dip in the pool. Unfortunately, in the news recently there have been incidents of people, mostly children, drowning. You can prevent most pool accidents with some basic pool safety guidelines: Have proper pool safety equipment readily available. Have a 4 foot tall fence surrounding the entire pool area with a quick latching door that locks. If your house is the 4th side of the fence then make sure you have alarms on the doors and windows facing the pool. This will alert you if … Continue reading Pool Safety

As you navigate the local streets in your vehicle, it is your responsibility to be aware of your surroundings. This is especially true when lots of bikers and pedestrians are around during the summer months. Making sure you yield when necessary and watching out for unexpected risks is the best way to take caution. This way, sharing the road won’t be so difficult. Following the rules of the road will promote safety within your community. If you or someone else fails to do this, serious collisions and injuries could occur with bikers and pedestrians. As a driver, it is important … Continue reading Attention All Drivers! Watch Out and Yield for Bikers and Pedestrians

Every year you receive your home and auto renewals in the mail or via email. What do you do with it? Do you even look at it? Or just at the premium? There are some key things you should consider when reviewing your insurance renewals: What has happened to you/your family in the past year? Marriage? Newly licensed driver? Get a company car? Good report cards from school? All of this information should be updated with your insurance agent. Are the correct vehicles listed on your auto renewal – look at model, year, drivers? Has anyone moved into or out … Continue reading Your Insurance Renewal

The summer is the most popular time to get married. With marriage comes a lot of important financial decisions to make. One of these financial decisions is on insurance. Do you combine and have one auto policy or do you keep your policies separate? Do you need life insurance? Here are some factors to consider: Married couples have lower auto rates. Actuaries determine insurance rates. They base their rates on statistics. Statistically speaking, married people get in to fewer accidents. Non-married people actually get into twice as many auto accidents. If you are buying a new house/condo now that you … Continue reading Marriage and Insurance

If you live in a condominium you will need an HO-6 Personal Condo Policy to protect your property inside of the unit. Your master policy will cover the building itself. Each master policy is different as to what the “building” actually is. Sometimes your responsibility is from the studs in and other times it is from the walls in, so make sure you are insured properly. To better understand what the different parts of the HO-6 policy we broke it down: Deductible: $500 or $1,000. The higher the deductible the lower the premium. Policy coverage starts after the deductible is … Continue reading Know the Facts: Personal Condo Policy HO-6

Our spring cleaning series now travels to your car! Yes, that vehicle you have neglected all winter because you figured it will just keep getting worse with every snow storm. This weekend will be a great time to really scrub your car to sparkly clean. Best tip: always clean from the top down, both inside and outside of the car. Follow these steps to get your car ready for the spring and summer: Remove all the clutter.Get a bag and throw out the trash. Then clean out all the stuff that doesn’t need to be in there, extra winter hats, … Continue reading Spring Cleaning: Your Car

This week is Air Quality Awareness Week. Everyone is trying to take good care of themselves…eat right, exercise, maintain healthy relationships. What about monitoring the air that you breathe? Seems very important, right? Why aren’t we paying more attention to it then? Start this week! Let’s start with your indoor air quality. Check to see if you or someone you live with is at a higher risk of having complications with poor air quality. Do you need your air ducts cleaned to provide a healthier environment inside your home? Find out the facts. Even if it is not necessary for … Continue reading Air Quality Awareness Week

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. We all try to multi-task, especially while driving…one of the worst places to do it! On your way home from work, rushing to think of dinner plans, you decide ordering take-out is easiest. While driving you are searching your phone for the number or asking Siri to find it for you, not fully paying attention to the road. A car stops short in front of you and you end up rear-ending them. If you are lucky and everyone is ok, this is still an at fault accident that will give you a surcharge on … Continue reading Distracted Driving

Over the next few weeks of spring we will give some excellent spring cleaning tips. Spring is a time to start anew! Why not give your house a new life? A favorite spring cleaning task is the Oprah Closet Experiment. Oprah didn’t invent it, but she made it famous. Here are the steps to take to clean out your closet and get rid of the clothes you don’t wear: Turn all your hangers around backwards Every time you wear an item, turn the hanger around Do this over a period of 6 months or so (long enough to go through … Continue reading Spring Cleaning: The Oprah Experiment

We often think of slip and fall insurance claims coming from businesses, but many claims are through homeowners policies. There are people almost every day coming on to your property: friends, relatives, neighbors, FedEx employees, plumber, etc. It is important that you keep your house as safe as possible, for both your family and visitors (invited or not). Here are a few simple steps to help prevent slip and fall accidents: Install railings on you stairs (with most insurance companies this is a must or you will not be covered) Properly shovel and use a non-slip ice melt after storms … Continue reading How to Prevent Slip and Fall Homeowners Claims

There will be a new Massachusetts state law that you must put on your headlights if you are using your windshield wipers. This law will be in effect starting April 7, 2015. This is a smart law that will help avoid accidents on darkly lit streets while it is raining. If you are pulled over for this infraction, you will receive a ticket. The ticket price is not the big issue. The larger picture is that the citation for violating the statute is one of the surchargeable traffic law violations. So it will affect your premium for your car insurance. … Continue reading New MA Headlight Law

This week is Poison Prevention Week. It is a perfect time to re-evaluate our homes to make sure they are a safe place for our children. Children are curious by nature. The world is new and amazing to them. They want to see, touch, and taste everything! With their budding curiosity it is important that parents keep the hazardous items out of their reach. Here are a few things to review in your house to make sure it is not an accident waiting to happen: Make sure all your medicine has child safety caps Keep all your medicine (prescription and … Continue reading Poison Prevention

Spring Break is a part of college life. Many kids like to take road trips with their friends during spring break. As a parent you want to make sure your child is safe and they take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents. Here are some items to go over with your children before they leave: – Check the Auto Policy. Is it active? Have you/him/her paid the premium? Are your children listed as users on your policy if they are driving your car? Do you have sufficient limits of liability? We recommend a minimum of $100K/$300K for line items #3, … Continue reading Be Safe and Have Fun on Spring Break

All this snow on the ground has to go somewhere. It will melt (hopefully!) and this water will seep in to the ground. Normally when snow melts the ground does not have a difficult time absorbing it, since it usually does so over a period of time. However, with the feet of snow we have outside there may be issues of the groundwater level rising and flooding into your basement. If you have only lived in your house for a short period of time and do not know if the water table is an issue in your neighborhood, contact the … Continue reading Home Flooding Due to Snow Melting

With all the snow the region has been receiving many have snow accumulation on their home or building roof. This snow accumulation is dangerous for two reasons.  The weight of the snow on any flat part of the roof could cause collapse and the other reason is ice dams. Ice dams form when the heat from the attic melts the snow on the roof, but then stops melting when it reaches the eaves where there is no heat underneath. Consequently, this forms a solid barrier of ice on the edge of the roof. When there is an ice dam the … Continue reading Watch Out For Ice Dams!

What better gift is there than life insurance for Valentine’s Day? We think it is one of the best! Buying life insurance is one of those things you always put off because you never want to think about anything happening to you or your family. However, life insurance is a necessity and will help those who are left behind when you pass away. Life insurance lets your loved ones remain financially secure after you are gone. Some of the life events that prompt people to buy life insurance are getting married, having a child, becoming a homeowner or changing jobs. … Continue reading Everything You Want To Know About Life Insurance

January is Radon Action Month. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and household against radon exposure is to test the radon levels in your house/condo. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. There is a direct link between household radon exposure and lung cancer. “We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer.” The below map show the radon zones in Massachusetts. The red indicates the zone where radon is most prevalent, but radon has been found in all 3 zones. … Continue reading What You Need To Know About Radon

Over the past few years the popularity of deep frying the turkey for Thanksgiving has rapidly increased. It is an absolutely delicious way to cook the bird, but probably the most dangerous. If your Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a deep fried turkey an oil free or electric deep fryer is a safer alternative to the conventional deep fryer. According to the National Fire Protection Association every year deep frying turkey accidents have accounted for 5 deaths, 60 injuries, 900 homes destroyed and over $15M in structural damage. However some people love their outdoor deep fryer, here are some safety … Continue reading Deep Frying Your Turkey For Thanksgiving?

Even though it is still fairly nice weather, the cold winter months are right around the corner. Now is the best time to prepare your car for the brutal weather of the winter. AAA of Southern New England stated that the #1 reason for car breakdowns during the winter is a dead or weak battery. How do you prevent this from being you this winter? Car batteries usually have a life of 4 years. If your car battery is near the 2 year mark, start looking for signs of weakness. If you don’t remember when you last replaced the battery … Continue reading Is Your Car Battery Ready For The Winter?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a special time of year to honor and remember those effected by this disease. And most importantly, remember early detection helps save lives! Find a health care facility that helps with early detection and make your appointment now. When breast cancer is detected early the 5 year survival rate is 98%. We have living proof at Mancuso-Nowak that early detection is what leads to beating breast cancer. Kelley Tyan, Tony’s wife, was diagnosed in 2008 and is now cancer free! Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women … Continue reading Why We Wear PINK!

October is the beginning of the holiday season and the holidays start off in a spooky way. To get the little ones ready for the big day read lots of fun, not too spooky books. These are some of our favorite Halloween books for the kids: Spooky Wheels on the Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills – A fun holiday twist on the orginal Wheels on the Bus book. The bus fills up quickly with ghosts and gobblins. See which monster your little monster likes best. A Very Witchy Spelling Bee by George Shannon – Cordelia loves to spell….in more than … Continue reading Not So Spooky Books For The Littlest Goblins

September is National Preparedness Month and the 30th is National Prepareathon Day! Join FEMA and their quest to have our nation prepared for national disasters. The more we know, the better prepared we will be. In Massachusetts we have been voted as one the top 5 states to have a national disaster. So begin getting ready for a big storm now! Preparation is the best way to be ready for a dangerous storm. Have a few flashlights with extra batteries, your cell phone with the charger, a battery powered radio. Keep all of your personal documents in a fire proof … Continue reading Be Prepared! Storm Safety

On the basic Commercial Property Insurance Policy there is coverage for replacement cost value in the event of a loss. Most business owners assume that this will cover them if something occurs to their building/property. It will definitely cover the damaged part of the building, but many town ordinances state that if the building is damaged beyond a certain percentage the entire building has to be taken down. The basic commercial property policy does not cover the undamaged part of the building to be demolished or rebuilt. This is an enormous cost. It is essential to add the Ordinance or … Continue reading Ordinance or Law Coverage, Why You Need It

This past weekend there was a tornado in Worcester. The previous tornado was over 60 years ago in 1953 and was a category F4. Even though Sunday night’s tornado was only a category F0, there was still damage and power outages. Brushing up on what to do before, during and after a storm to keep safe is always a good idea. Preparation is the best way to be ready for a dangerous storm. Have a few flashlights with extra batteries, your cell phone with the charger, a battery powered radio. Keep all of your personal documents in a fire proof … Continue reading Safety Before, During And After A Storm

Here it is…the end of summer (sniff, sniff). Of course it is suppose to be a beautiful summer week, hot temps, lots of sun. Who wants to see it go? It is a harsh reality that all good things come to an end. But, just think of all the fun fall activities that New England has to offer. It is a exciting season coming up! With the end of summer comes the beginning of school. The start of school is a new beginning, a time to start fresh. So many new friends, new teachers, new challenges.  As adults we can be … Continue reading Back To School, Making It Fun!

At Mancuso-Nowak we love insurance. We think all the facets of insurance are so interesting…doesn’t everyone? Surprisingly most people are not as intrigued about this fascinating industry. However, we did dig up a few movie producers that thought insurance was a great topic for their movies or at least good careers for their characters. Most of these movies poke fun at insurance, but we can take it and laugh. ‘Cedar Rapids’ with Ed Helms (of ‘The Hangover’) is a movie about an insurance agent Tim Lippe (Helms) that is sent to an insurance conference in, you guessed it, Cedar Rapids. … Continue reading Favorite Movies About Insurance

It is the summer and it is time to get healthy! The weather invites us to get outside and enjoy the day. Some great tips on how to improve your health this summer: Find 30 minutes a day to be active. Chase the kids around the yard. Take a walk after dinner. Go for a swim. Mow the lawn (not a riding lawnmower!) and do yard work. On the weekend take a hike at a local park or mountain. It is much easier to be active in the summer. Check how many calories you are burning using this tool. Eat … Continue reading Time to Get Healthy!

The new trend in backyard living is bringing all your indoor amenities outside. We are talking flatscreen TVs, music piped throughout the yard, huge grills, refrigerators, couches, fire pits, all the bells and whistles. These renovations are costing homeowners thousands of dollars. With such a big investment, it is important to know if it is well protected. As the homeowner you would want to make sure your Coverage C (Personal Property) on your policy has adequate limits. Typically Coverage C is 50% of your Coverage A (Dwelling). In most cases this is sufficient, but if you have a lot of … Continue reading Super-Sized Outdoor Kitchens and Your Homeowners Policy

Memorial Day signifies the beginning of summer. Everyone is ready to get back to the beaches and have cookouts. According to AAA, 88% of people are planning on driving to the fun on Memorial Day Weekend. If you are one of the many who are driving this week, make sure your car is ready for the trip. – Check your Auto Policy. Is it active? Have you paid the premium? Do you have sufficient limits of liability? We recommend a minimum of $100K/$300K for line items #3, #5 and #12 on the policy. – Have a tune up done on … Continue reading Is Your Car Ready for Memorial Weekend Getaway?

Insurance Agent vs Insurance Company, which is best for you? First of all the independent local agents are that…local. You will probably know your insurance agent. The benefit of this is that the agent will be familiar with your life style, which is an important factor in tailoring your insurance program so it is perfect for you. A local agent will know the exposures in the area and be able to best protect your personal property and family in the event of a loss.  As a local agent, we are accustomed to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MA RMV) … Continue reading What are the benefits of having an insurance agent over a large insurance company?

Are you getting the best deal on your insurance? Make sure you are taking full advantage of the discounts offered. One of the more common credits with your home and auto policies would be alarm systems. Other than the actual system and its capabilities, it shows the insurance company that you are concerned about protecting your personal property. Also, most companies will offer a significant discount when you insure both your auto and home with them, a multi-policy discount. When you have more than one policy with the same company it shows them that you have faith in them and … Continue reading Insurance Policy Discounts

They say that the color of your car can show others yourpersonality. Though this may seem like a stereotype, it is still fun to look into! You have obviously chosen your car and its color for a reason—why not find out what that reason may be? According CNW Marketing Research, the color of your vehicle may be linked to your mental health. In this study, nearly 1,900 Americans were asked questions about their lives at several different points. The findings are quite interesting.   Here is what the color of your car may reveal about you: Black: Drivers who were … Continue reading What Does the Color of Your Car Say About You?

If your car is parked in your driveway, garage, or close to home, you may think that it is safe and sound. Think again. A car burglary, break-in, or theft could happen at any moment. If you live in Shrewsbury or a surrounding town, you should take car theft seriously by protecting your auto, especially during the nighttime. In July, for two weeks the Shrewsbury Police Department arrested five people who committed car break-ins at the Shrewsbury Green and Shrewsbury Commons apartments. First, two teens were arrested when officials caught them breaking into into vehicles at the Green. They were … Continue reading Protect Your Vehicle after the Spree of Shrewsbury Car Break-Ins

The cold weather is coming quicker than you may think. As temperatures drop, it may be time to start up the fire place. Your children may enjoy sitting in front of the fire on crisp cold nights and sharing fun stories. Your fire place may also be a central meeting area for guests and family members. Whatever the case may be, it is important to put safety first, or problems could ensue. The last thing you want to happen is damage to your home due to an accidental house fire. Whether you have a wood, metal, or another type of … Continue reading As Temperatures Drop, Don’t let Your Fireplace cause an Accidental House Fire!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a special time of year to honor and remember those effected by this disease. According to cancer.org, Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and 1 in 8 women in the United States will get it during their lifetime. This is why it is time to find a cure! Help us support the research here at UMass Worcester. PINK…Lighting the Way is a fundraiser that is doing just that. There are a few ways to show your support for breast cancer research and patient care through the PINK foundation. … Continue reading PINK…Lighting the Way to a Cure!

Are you dedicated to the mission you have established for your company? Getting your employees on board with it requires trust, communication, and a promise that success can be found through teamwork. However, if you fail to execute on your promises, your employees may see you as an untrustworthy leader. Don’t let this happen. Following through on the mission you have created will help not only your workforce, but your community see your business as reputable. It is important as a business owner to create a culture of execution as well as trust. This can be done by getting your … Continue reading Promises Require Execution and Communication as a Business Owner

Although the East Coast doesn’t experience many tornadoes, it can still be a good idea to build a room that is secure for your family. No matter how big or small your property is, having a safe room for protection can be very beneficial to your well being. This way, accidents, injuries, and damages can be mitigated during hurricanes, thunderstorms, and other types of common natural disasters. Installing a safe room can be expensive if you do not know what you are doing. Hiring a contractor that knows what this type of room requires can help you save money and … Continue reading Secure a Safe Room at Home for Extra Protection

Do you have a mission for your business? Whether it is in the works or a long standing statement, your employees must understand its importance. As a business owner, setting clear expectations for your team can help them understand what direction the company is going in. Also, it can give them the confidence to set goals and succeed, which will help your customers see the true value in your services. Opportunities always come and go, so taking advantage of moments to improve and learn will only increase productivity. In addition, showing how much you care about your employee and their … Continue reading Setting a Clear Direction and Expectations for Your Team of Dedicated Employees

Hands free devices may sound like something out of the future, but this type of technology could be closer to becoming a reality than you think. Would you ever want to have the ability to operate your vehicle at the same time as you are texting or talking on the phone? As a driver, you must always be aware of your surroundings, but when your voice controls your phone or music, this could put you a unique risk for an accident. According to a study conducted by AAA, hands free, voice recognition devices can be just as distracting to drivers … Continue reading As a Driver, would You prefer to use Voice Activated, Hands Free Technology?

In order to be a good leader to your company, you must be a good listener. What other characteristics should you posses? Most of the time, business owners are so absorbed with their customers, money, or other sources that they forget to focus on their own needs. Shifting your perspective to become a more self-aware leader can help you understand your own leadership better. Self-awareness is so valuable because it gives you the ability to be conscious of what skills you have, what you can improve on, and what you still have to learn. Being honest with yourself can help … Continue reading Understanding Your Leadership in a Mindful, Self-Aware Way