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Five of the official classic cars of summer

By: Rob Sass Summer is here in full-swing, and who wants to be insulated from it with air conditioning, satellite radio, pollen filters and dual-pane windows? Nope, you want to be smelling the exhaust fumes, listening to the tires chirp and enjoying the sight of a classic car in motion. Here are five of our nominees for the “official” classic car of summer: 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible: As the old ad copy goes, there’...

Three Reasons to Take a Home Inventory

Three Reasons to Take a Home Inventory Creating and updating an inventory of your personal possessions is one of the best ways to make the most of your homeowners or renters insurance, and makes filing a claim easier and more efficient.    A home inventory is simply a list of your personal possessions along with their estimated financial value. You can create such an inventory in a simple, low tech manner by writing down everything in a notebook and keeping receipts in a folder. ...

How to Get Your Car Ready for Summer

Summer is finally here! Longer days, warmer weather and spending more time outside. We take precautions from the sun and heat when we’re outside, but what about our cars? Did you know that the sun and heat can cause serious damage to your vehicle, too? Here are some tips to help you care for your ride this summer: Prep work   Make sure your car’s cooling system is completely flushed and refilled every 24 months, and the levels, condition and concentration of the coolant ...

To Post or Not to Post?

  You never know who is looking at your social media account. If a would-be thief knows your home is empty, you could become a target for burglary. Protect your home by waiting until you return to share those photos--and check out this vacation tips article for more valuable information.    https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/to-post-or-not-to-post

Uber and Lyft: Insuring the Drivers

  You have a 20-year-old son who is a junior in college. He wants to earn some spending money. Or you're a 66-year-old retiree. You're a little bored, and your inner extrovert wants to get out there and meet people while performing a service. Or you're a 43-year-old mother of 2 who wants to supplement your 9-to-5 income with a part-time job that pays well while allowing you the freedom to work flexible hours so that you can still meet the needs of your kids.   ...

The Hidden Risk Most Homeowners Ignore

  Last fall, Chuck Feeney of Glenview, Illinois, noticed some unusual things around his home. It took longer than usual for water to drain from his sinks, and his home’s sump pump struggled during storms. So he decided to check out his drains’ outdoor clean outs. The verdict: not good. “They were overflowing at that point,” he remembers. “If I hadn’t checked them, the water would have backed up into my house.” It turned out the water service line to Chuck’s house ...

Hot Liability Issues in the Summertime

Before you dive into summer fun, make sure your insurance policies have you covered. By Shannon Ireland at www.homeinsurance.com Who doesn’t love summer? Hot fun such as waterparks, road trips, cookouts and boating generate part of the thrills. But for insurance providers, the word “thrills” translates to “risks.” And they hate risk. So do yourself a favor and reduce your risk — but not your fun — by following a few simple tips when taking on summer activities. The payoff: fewer claims can translate ...

IIHS tightens criteria for recommended used vehicles for teens

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is applying more stringent criteria to its list of recommended used vehicles for teens, as recent safety improvements have percolated down to lower-cost used cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups. Teenagers are among the riskiest drivers, but they often end up with inexpensive vehicles that don't offer adequate protection in a crash. To help families find safer vehicles that fit within their budgets, IIHS began publishing a list of recommended used vehicles for teens in 2014. The latest ...

Practice Vigilance Against Driver Fatigue

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 900 fatalities (2.6 percent of all fatalities) in 2014 involved driver fatigue as a principal cause. The Massachusetts Special Commission on Drowsy Driving, using a different methodology, estimates that more than 8,000 die each year due to this dangerous behavior. People tend to fall asleep more on high-speed and long rural highways and interstates. Drivers should be aware of this ever-present risk. Thus, the following tips may help you stay awake behind the wheel. The obvious cause of fatigue is ...

Economic Indexes Show Slow but Sustained Growth in March

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), and Dodge Data & Analytics each calculate an index that provides a predictive measurement of future construction industry economic conditions. Together, these indicators provide a picture of expectations for the construction economy for the next 12 months.      The general trend in all three of these indexes is up. The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) recorded a sixth consecutive month of growth, and CFMA's CONFINDEX is up for a third consecutive quarter. AIA's Architecture ...

Infographic: Evolution of the Gig Economy by Leah Knapp on May 2, 2017

Homeowners Give High Satisfaction Scores to Their Insurers

"About one of every 15 U.S. homeowners insurance policyholders files a claim each year, and these claimants are now giving insurers their highest ever satisfaction ratings," according to the March 14, 2017, article, "U.S. Homeowners Give Record High Satisfaction Scores to Their Insurers," by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). "The J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study gives U.S. home insurers a record score of 859 (on a 1,000-point scale). The industry's cumulative score stood at 846 in 2016. Five factors are considered when ...