Winter weather is on the way and now is the time to check your Massachusetts homeowner’s insurance policy to see what’s covered and what’s not.

Ice Dam Insurance Coverage

Very few home insurance policies cover ice dam or snow removal from your roof or anywhere else on your property for that matter. However, interior or exterior damage caused by an ice dam on your roof is typically covered. As with any insurance claim, call the claims department immediately and take photos of the damage.

Ice Dam Treatment & Prevention

In the short term, there are a couple things you can try.

• Try to remove snow from the roof but only if it can be done safely. A roof rake or push broom can be used but may cause damage to the shingles. If it’s not possible to remove the snow safely, call a professional.
• Chisel grooves into the dam to allow the water behind it to drain off. This is a good emergency measure, especially if rain or a sudden thaw is coming. Be careful not to damage those shingles!
• To prevent ice dams in the longer term, keeping warm air from escaping into the attic is the first course of action. In addition to helping resolve ice dam issues, it will result in a more comfortable and less expensive to heat home.

Frozen Pipes Insurance Coverage

Not all companies pay to have frozen pipes thawed by professionals. Some will though. Most policies cover pipe replacement and water damage. The coverage may not apply if you turned the furnace off for the winter without winterizing the house and its contents.

Frozen Pipe Prevention

Frozen water in pipes can cause water pressure buildup between the ice blockage and the closed faucet at the end of a pipe which leads to pipes bursting at their weakest point. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to freezing in extremely cold weather. Holes in outside walls for TV, cable or telephone lines allow cold air to enter the house.

To keep water in the pipes from freezing, take the following precautions:

• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow the heat transfer. The more insulation the better.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.
• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through and unheated or unprotected space. Drain the water system especially if your house will be unattended during cold periods.

Interruption of Services

If you lose power during a storm, an all-risk homeowner’s policy usually pays for spoiled food, repairs to damage caused by loss of power, and appliances damaged by the outage. Many policies also will pay for shelter when you lose power for extended periods during the winter. If you lose heat and fail to take steps to prevent pipes from freezing, your policy may not cover the resulting damage.

For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Source: massrealestatelawblog.com

Yes folks, it’s officially winter. We’re sure you got the memo as you dug your car out of a pile of snow in sub-zero temperatures the other day, but in case you didn’t we had our first big snowstorm of the season on Sunday. We know you want to hunker down at home and hibernate for the season (we do too) but if you find yourself a tourist here in winter or a local getting a little stir-crazy and looking for some fun activities to keep you occupied in Beantown then we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of things to do in Boston during the winter so you better get cracking on this list!

Bundle up and remember that hot chocolate makes everything better, before, during, or after any of these activities. Or all three. Especially when it’s spiked (see #11). *wink*

24. Snowflake Afternoon Tea at The Langham Hotel

Cozy up around an elegantly set table at The Langham Hotel for a wintery spin on the classic afternoon tea. Their snowflake tea menu includes tea sandwiches, cream scones with jam, and an assortment of pastries that have been kissed by the winter season, and of course a pot of tea too. We’ve got our eyes on the hot chocolate pot de crème with toasted marshmallow. Don’t mind if we do.

23. Private Food Tour with Bites of Boston

Just because tour season is technically on pause doesn’t mean the rules can’t be bent just a little. Bites of Boston Food Tours is available to host private group food tour experiences for your group during the winter. Bundle up and enjoy a visit to one of Boston’s most tasty neighborhoods in the company of a knowledgeable and friendly local guide – a great idea for a family fun day, company outing, or other celebration!

Note: Regularly scheduled neighborhood food tours in the South End, Allston, and Chinatown will start again in March.

22. Visit Bow Market

Bow market is the new hot spot in Somerville attracting people all throughout the year. This public courtyard in the heart of Union Square used to be a storage building but is now comprised of over 30 independent food, art, and retail shops. Come support these artesian vendors and fill your belly and bags with all the amazing things they have to offer.

21. See a Film at Brattle Theatre

A neighborhood institution in Harvard Square, the Brattle Theatre has been showing films since 1953. According to them: The Brattle shows the best in classic, cutting-edge, foreign, and art-house films. They also show first-run films and new releases of classic films, but their specialty is a repertory programming format consisting of films from a particular director, genre, or subject shown over the course of a week, or on the same weekday throughout the month. Put away the small screens to get some big screen time this winter.

20. Have Hot Chocolate at LA Burdick

Let’s be real. Winter is allllll about the hot chocolate. All day every day. L.A. Burdick is the perfect getaway from the frigid winter temperatures. Sit inside and savor the best hot chocolate you will ever taste. It is thick and rich and full of flavor. They offer various chocolate varieties from different countries that all have unique flavor profiles – just like coffee does.

19. Watch the Boston Bruins Practice at Warrior Ice Arena

If you want to see the Bs play but don’t want to spring for the pricey tickets, or if you just want to get a fresh perspective on watching this powerhouse team, then head to Warrior Ice Arena at Boston Landing to catch a practice. The Bruins practices are open to the public and their schedule is posted on the Warrior Ice Arena website. It’s crazy how close you can get to the players, for FREE. It’s a lot of fun watching them joke around with each other and have some fun at practice.

18. Frostbite Sailing on Boston Harbor

Okay, so we think this is outrageous too. But there is something for everyone and we couldn’t resist including this on the list merely because it exists and we are impressed that people actually do this. Whether you consider this a bit of comic relief or a great suggestion for a winter activity, know that Frostbite Sailing exists on Boston Harbor and is there for you if you want to participate.

17. Take a Yoga Class at a Brewery

One of our favorite winter activities is mixing our fitness with booze. Need we say more? Warm your heart with brewery yoga, being offered by many local Boston breweries this winter. You can find a list of breweries offering yoga on Eventbrite; and most classes include one beer in their ticket price. Nama-stay-thirsty.

16. Taza Chocolate Factory Tour

Taza is a local chocolate company based out of Somerville. They make chocolate the old fashioned stone ground way, and it’s goooooood. The texture is slightly gritty but that gives it character, and the taste is incredible. This is as close to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as you can get here in Boston so go ahead and take their factory tour to escape the winter chill!

15. Take a Kitchen Class at Formaggio Kitchen

Visit one of of our favorite spots this winter for a kitchen class where you’ll have the chance to learn about all types of things culinary from cheese caves to food and drink pairings to the cuisine of different regions around the globe. Formaggio Kitchen is a stop on our Sweet & Savory South End Tour and they are the perfect place to head for a winter blues pick-me-up.

14. See a Comedy Show at ImprovBoston

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Jokes…that are a lot better then this one.

Visit ImprovBoston for a show. Everyone could use some laughter in their day! And clearly we’re not the ones with the jokes. We’ll stick to food.

13. Visit Boston Harbor Distillery

There’s nothing better to warm you up during the frigid winter months then a glass of whiskey. It’s a fact that we can’t refute. Boston Harbor Distillery is the ideal place to spend an afternoon warming up. Visit their cabin-like cocktail bar filled with a wood and brick interior to enjoy some spirits with your friends or family. To make them even more “Bahston,” they have a line of spirits distilled from Sam Adams beer.

12. Go Ice Skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond

One of Boston’s most classic winter activities is skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond. It’s pretty magical ice skating outside in the middle of Back Bay. Forget you’re cold and focus on amping up your stopping game, we all know this is the hardest part of skating, but you got this!

11. Have the Hot Chocolate Flight at Met Back Bay

This piece de resistance is the Boston Hot Chocolate Experience being offered at Met Back Bay. Four luxurious, flavored hot chocolates make up this flight. But wait. There’s more. You can get them SPIKED, making them a true flight. Each flavor has an “adult” upgrade to warm the heart and soul. Go ahead, you deserve it. We’ll see you there!

10. Shop/Eat at The Prudential Center

The Prudential Center, which most Bostonites refer to as the “Pru,” is a shopping haven full of retail stores and restaurants. It’s also home to Eataly, the Italian dining destination that will keep your senses stimulated. You can shop ’til you drop, refuel, and keep going without even having to leave the building and freeze. It’s easy to spend hours and hours in here. Trust us….

9. Visit the Skywalk Observatory

For a beautiful, one-of-a-kind view of Boston visit the Skywalk Observatory, conveniently located on the top of the Prudential Center, so while you’re there shopping stop up. You can see “Boston’s past, present, and future” from there as this is also the location of the Dreams of Freedom Museum. The full experience gives visitors an appreciation for Boston’s storied past, its remarkable architecture, and its rich global culture.

8. Have a LARGE Cocktail with Your Friends at Fat Baby

What’s the go-to activity when it’s cold outside? DRINK! At least that’s what it is in Boston. So many restaurants have fun large format cocktails to share with your friends but the one that has especially caught our eye as of late is Fat Baby in South Boston, “Southie” to the locals. Try their rotating Polynesian Punch or one of their other specially crafted drinks and you’ll be warm in no time.

7. Visit Museums!

What is the perfect way to get some walking in and enjoy the great indoors? A museum day of course! Lucky for you Boston has tons of museums to offer. A few of our favorites are: the Museum of Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Make a day of it and take your time enjoying things you might not have noticed.

6. Visit Boston Public Market

Boston Public Market is a mecca for local, specialty foods of all kinds. They have bagels and doughnuts and coffee and artisan s’mores and more. Oh, you want to hear more? Okay. They have fresh pasta and fudge and vegetables and juice and seafood…and more. You’ll just have to go and see for yourself! You could easily spend an entire afternoon eating your way through the market. And we proudly admit that we have before.

5. Take a Cooking Class with Cozymeal

Instead of spending money on a dinner out this winter try learning how to make a great meal yourself. Even if you’re a top-notch home chef, taking a class with a friend or significant other can be a fun way to mix things up. Cozymeal offers a huge variety of cooking classes for you to choose from for groups of all sizes. You can have the class at the chef’s pre-approved place or have them come to you. These experiences are very customizable and guaranteed to be a great time with a delicious ending!

4. Visit Branch Line’s Beer Hall on Wednesday Nights

Branch Line won’t let the freeze stop their fun so go ahead and join them! Every Wednesday night they transform their year-round covered, heated patio into a classic, German beer hall. Head over for some bites and brews and forget about what the weather is doing outside.

3. Eat Boston Classics at Beantown Pub

If you’re looking for a winter activity in Boston then why not keep it classic and head to Beantown Pub for some Boston baked beans and brown bread to comfort you. History is pouring out of this place from the molasses in the beans and bread to it’s location right on the Freedom Trail in historic downtown.

2. Play Games, Eat, and Drink at Versus

This hip arcade/restaurant/bar has been the place to be for a night of fun since it opened its doors not too long ago. Old school arcade games line the walls flashing their lights and accentuating the pop-art all over. The interior is inspired by 80s pop culture and the cocktail menu has a fun game-inspired spin to it. Try out their Reboot Bellini or their Joystick Julep for example. Game over.

1. Have Drinks at the Igloo Bar at the Envoy Hotel

For you winter extremists head to The Envoy Hotel and sip some drinks in your own personal rooftop igloo overlooking Boston’s skyline and harbor. This is a unique and exclusive experience that you don’t want to miss. Arrive early since the six, heated igloos are usually given out on a first come, first serve basis. It’s open from Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 11pm. Talk about making the best of winter in Boston. You are for sure #winninginwinter if you do this!

Source: bitesofbostonfoodtours.com

Even though the biggest Boston New Year's Eve event for 2019 is the famous First Night celebration, there are plenty of other New Year's Eve parties and special events for you to consider - plus a spectacular fireworks show over Boston Harbor and Countdown at Copley Square at midnight.

Whether you're looking for a romantic night of dancing and champagne, a fireworks cruise, entertainment at a concert or a comedy club, or a festive but family-friendly way to welcome the New Year, you'll find plenty of exciting choices.

New Year's Eve Fireworks on Boston Harbor

New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight over Boston Harbor. Head over to Christopher Columbus Park to ring in the New Year by watching fireworks over Boston Harbor at midnight launched from a barge between Long Wharf and Fan Pier.

The best place to watch?  Any spot along the waterfront overlooking Boston Harbor, such as the North End's Christopher Columbus Park, the Downtown Waterfront, Fan Pier in the Seaport District, the East Boston Harborwalk, Charlestown Waterfront, and Castle Island.

New Year's Eve Cruises

Holiday cruises around Boston Harbor Cruise on the Northern Lights
Welcome the New Year aboard the elegant yacht Northern Lights on these special New Year's Eve and New Year's Day cruises around Boston Harbor. 

• New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise with live music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, & fireworks at midnight
• New Year’s Day Brunch aboard Northern Lights

More Cruises:

Celebrate the holidays while relaxing and sightseeing on the festively decorated Yacht Northern Lights on these special cruises around Boston Harbor:

An Irish Christmas Carol Cruise - Get into the holiday spirit with Slainte, the Northern Lights' house Irish band.   Raise your glass as you join in singing some merry Irish holiday ballads on this 90 minute Harbor cruise.

Cocoa & Carols Holiday Cruise - Join in singing your favorite Christmas holiday songs led by the Blue Motion Jazz Quartet on this cozy 90 minute Harbor Cruise on the Northern Lights with drinks and snacks available for purchase at the yacht's Main Deck Bar. 

Holiday Sunset Cruise - As the ship's captain points out highlights of passing landmarks and soft music plays in the background, watch the ever-changing sunset colors as the sun sets behind Boston's city skyline on this relaxing 90 minute cruise around the Harbor.  

Holiday Jazz Cruise - Relax to the sounds of jazzy Christmas tunes performed live by Blue Motion Jazz Quartet, and enjoy an adult beverage on this 90 minute romantic evening cruise past iconic attractions along the Boston waterfront.

Holiday Brunch Cruise - See historic sights and panoramic views around Boston Harbor as you enjoy this 2 hour narrated cruise including hot chocolate and brunch (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and spiked hot chocolate available at the bar).

Cocoa & Blues Holiday Cruise - Enjoy Boston's sparkling skyline at night along with spiked hot chocolate or a glass of champagne as City of Four, Northern Lights' house R&B/funk band, plays contemporary versions of holiday classics inspired by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and the Temptations.

First Night Boston:

First Night Boston ice sculpture of Tadpole Playground in Boston Common.
Ice sculptures, a huge parade down Boylston Street, non-stop entertainment, music and dancing, Countdown to Midnight in Copley Square - Boston's annual First Night celebration offers something fun for everyone.

With events starting at noon, the alcohol-free, family-friendly First Night Boston is the city's largest New Year's Eve celebration.

Best of all:  All official First Night/First Day events are free.

New Year's Eve Shows & Theater in Boston

From Blue Man Group to Lake Street Dive, you can choose from several shows in Boston's theaters on New Year's Eve:

More shows in Boston:

New Year's Eve Comedy Shows, Start the New Year with a laugh.

Bryan Callen is appearing at the Wilbur Theatre on New Year's Eve (find tickets), and Boston's comedy clubs will have exciting lineups as well.

Boston Sports on New Year's Eve: 
TD Garden is usually a good bet for New Year's Eve entertainment - but not this year!  If you want to catch a Celtics, Bruins, or Harlem Globetrotters game there this year, head over on Christmas Day or Wednesday or Thursday.

New Year's Eve (and Day) on the Waterfront:

In addition to the Midnight Harbor Fireworks, lots more mostly free fun activities take place along the Waterfront throughout New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Ice Sculpture Stroll:

The annual Ice Sculpture Stroll along Boston Harbor is bigger and better than ever this year, with imaginative ice sculptures and activities for you to enjoy in these (mostly) waterfront locations:

North End Ice Sculpture Locations: 

• Atlantic Wharf
• Battery Wharf Hotel
• Christopher Columbus Park
• Charlestown End Ice Sculpture Locations
• Charlestown Navy Yard
• Downtown Waterfront Ice Sculpture Locations
• Marriott Long Wharf
• New England Aquarium
• Harbor Towers
• International Place
• Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center (Greenway)
• Boston Harbor Hotel
• Seaport/South Boston Waterfront Ice Sculpture Locations
• Envoy Hotel
• Fan Pier/Fallon CBRE
• Fjällräven
• Kings Dining & Entertainment
• LL Bean
• Moakley Courthouse
• Sephora Seaport
• WS Development Seaport
• Yotel

More New Year's Eve Along the Waterfront Activities - December 31

Wharf District Harborwalk Tour
1pm-4pm - First Responder Touch-a-Truck/Boat at the Envoy Hotel in Seaport
Harbor Map Tour at the Boston Harbor Hotel

New Year's Day Activities - January 1

12 noon-about 1pm - First Day Hike from Old North Church (meet there at noon) to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown  (to be confirmed)
12 noon-4pm - Seafarer's Island Holiday - New Year's Cruise to Thompson Island from Rowes Wharf on the Downtown Waterfront

Christmas and Chanukah share a similar spiritual message: that it is possible to bring light and hope into the world. These two holidays occur together this year, which makes this an even more special holiday season.

This is a season to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have you as our customers: our friends and neighbors. During these holidays, we wish you, your family, and your friends a safe, joy-filled, and relaxing season.

Warm wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a most Happy New Year! With peace, joy, and love this holiday season and beyond!

Insurance might be the least exciting thing about surprising your loved one with a valuable gift this holiday — but don’t let it fall off your priority list.

Don’t sacrifice preparedness for the surprise.

You can insure some gifts by making a phone call to your agent or a specialty insurance company. Others, such as cars or vacations, require your loved one to buy a policy in his or her own name.

Whether it’ll hang on a wall or sit in a garage, here’s how to cover your big gift.

Existing insurance may cover the gift

If you’re giving a pricey gift to someone who lives with you, the simplest way to insure it may be by expanding your . Standard policies pay out if belongings in your home are damaged or stolen, but coverage for valuables — such as furs, art and jewelry — is typically limited to $1,000 to $5,000. That’s after any deductible, which is the amount you pay before insurance pays a claim.

You can expand your current policy with a “scheduled” rider, floater or endorsement. Scheduling items onto your policy insures them based on cost or current value. For this reason, you’ll likely need a bill of sale or certified appraisal to cover the gift.

But talk to your insurance agent before you start shopping. An agent can help you choose between coverage options — for example, a scheduled rider versus standalone jewelry insurance for an engagement ring.

Special coverage for items that gain value

For gifts such as contemporary art or heirlooms that may appreciate in value, a rider that pays the increased value if the gift is damaged or stolen is a good investment.

To keep such a policy or rider in force, you might need an appraisal every one to three years. An can help you find an appraiser.

When a standalone policy is better

Some insurers specialize in certain policies, covering only boats, electronics, or jewelry, for example. These companies may offer more policy options than large insurers — such as coverage for losing the gift — but you might miss the convenience and savings of bundling with one insurer.

There are several reasons you may want a standalone policy for a gift, rather than using home insurance:

• It’s for someone who doesn’t live with you, and you can’t add it to your home insurance
• You or the recipient don’t have homeowners or renters insurance
• It might be used for work, which would exclude it from many home policies
• A different type of policy is required for the gift, such as car or travel insurance

Vehicles are a special case

If your gift involves four wheels and a big red bow, the person driving it will need his or her own insurance — and you’ll need coverage to get it off the lot.

If you share an with the gift recipient, it’s relatively simple: Add the car to your shared policy and transfer the title after the surprise.

But if you bought a vehicle for someone who doesn’t live with you, he or she will have to insure it independently. In this situation, consider surprising your loved one at the dealership so the car is properly titled and insured from the start.

Take precautions for travel or shipping

The last thing you want is for your expensive gift to be lost or stolen before the recipient sees it, and the chances of this are higher if it needs to travel. Never pack expensive items in your checked luggage.

If you’re ordering something expensive online, make sure it won’t sit on a front porch unattended. Porch theft is a hot new cottage industry. Use a shipping method that requires a signature upon delivery.

When shipping fine art, use a professional shipper and packer so it’s not damaged before it arrives, and make sure the shipper has insurance. Damage in transit is the leading cause of fine art claims. For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

nerdwallet.com

Did you know that if you or your employees are using personal vehicles for business and you get in an accident, the accident may not be covered under your personal auto policy? It's true.

Commercial automobile insurance is there for a reason. Make sure your employees are properly covered and save your business from unwanted risk.

With commercial auto insurance, the policy should include liability, property, injury, medical, collision and comprehensive, un- and underinsured motorist, towing and rental.

Every business has specific needs however. Perhaps yours is seasonal, or maybe your are in the towing business. Perhaps you are in the livery business or transport expensive merchandise. Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance for your specific commercial auto insurance needs.

Thanksgiving Day is the perfect time to remind one another of the many reasons there are to be grateful. We gather on this day to be thankful for what we have, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, the success we have had, and for the blessings that will come.

Thanksgiving is more than the festivities, it gives us time to ponder the lessons that we have learned and how we can spread happiness around, to look back at all the great memories and good people who came into our lives. We appreciate you, our customers and clients, so much.

At this time of year our thoughts turn gratefully to you with warm appreciation. Our best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

Those in Quincy and Weymouth, MA who have tasted deep-fried turkey usually say there’s simply no comparison to an oven-roasted bird — turkey out of the fryer is moist, with crispy skin and a beautiful color.

And, it cooks much more quickly than a turkey in the oven, which means you don’t have to wait for hours on end to get your fix.

But, if you’re not careful, frying a turkey can ruin your Thanksgiving, too. You’ve no doubt seen videos of people accidentally starting fires with their attempts. In some cases, families have even lost their homes.

With a little common sense, though, you can safely enjoy that great taste and fast cooking time. Here are five tips for cooking a great deep-fried turkey — without doing any damage (except maybe to your waistline):

1. Find a safe place to cook.

Don’t ever set up a fryer any closer than 10 feet from your home, garage or any other structure. Make sure the area is flat to keep the fryer from tipping, and never put it on a deck or other flammable surface.

2. Don’t use too much turkey.

You don’t want to drop a 20-pound bird in your fryer; it’s just too big. Keep your turkey to 12 pounds or less, don’t stuff it and make sure it’s completely thawed and dry.

3. Don’t use too much oil, either.

When it comes to the oil, use something with a high smoke point (for example, canola or safflower) and do a test with water beforehand to figure out how much you need. Put the turkey in your fryer and fill with water until it is covered. Then take the turkey out and make a mental note of the water line — that’s how much oil to use. Be sure to dry everything completely after your test.

4. Use caution when it’s time to cook.

Don’t just drop the turkey into the fryer, unless you want to splash hot oil on yourself (bad) or the burner (even worse). Gently lower it into the oil, and then monitor everything as it’s cooking. Keep an eye on the oil temperature to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. Keep an eye on the clock, because you want your turkey to cook for about 3-5 minutes per pound. And, watch kids and pets so they don’t get too close to the fryer.

5. Be prepared for disaster.

If you’re cautious, the odds are you won’t need a fire extinguisher, but you should have one on hand anyway – a multi-purpose model with dry powder. Don’t ever spray water on a fryer fire. If you don’t have an extinguisher, either cover the oil or dump a large amount of baking soda on the blaze. And, if all else fails, call 911 – quickly.

Of course, there’s one way to get a deep-fried turkey that can’t fail: Buy one from a professional. They’re available at some grocery and specialty stores, and even restaurants are getting into the act now.

Whichever you choose, we here at Lallis & Higgins Insurance wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Getting ready for winter weather

Fall has arrived, but there’s still time to get ready for winter weather, including storms. Extreme cold is always a possibility here in Quincy, Weymouth, MA, so we at Lallis & Higgins Insurance have compiled some tips to help you stay safe and limit damage.

Preparing your home

• Perform basic winter maintenance — insulate your walls and attic, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, and insulate water lines that run along outer walls. When temperatures drop, keep water taps slightly open so they drip continuously, and keep the cabinets under sinks open to allow warmer air in.
• If you use a fireplace or wood stove, have the chimney or flue inspected each year. Make sure your house has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and test them monthly.
• Check your emergency supplies and ensure that you have adequate food and water, along with a battery-powered radio, in the event of an extended power outage. You’ll want a week’s worth of supplies, or more if you live in a remote area.
• Never use gas-powered generators or barbecue grills indoors. These can allow deadly carbon monoxide to build up.

Preparing your car

• Have your vehicle serviced according to manufacturer recommendations. Check the antifreeze level.
• Keep the gas tank near full, which helps avoid ice in the fuel lines and the gas tank itself.
• Replace wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
• Make sure your tires are in good shape and have the proper air pressure.
• Check to confirm your battery has a good charge, your heater and defroster are working well, and that your emergency lights are functional.

Preparing yourself

• Always wear temperature-appropriate clothing, such as hats, gloves, scarves, etc. Remove any wet clothing immediately. And keep spare clothing in your car trunk throughout winter in case you are stranded or stuck.
• Stay hydrated. You might think this is more important when it’s warm outside, but it’s just as vital in winter.
• Be mindful of physical exertion and the amount of time you’re spending outdoors. Shoveling snow is hard work, so don’t overdo it!

Winter is a lot of fun, and we’re looking forward to sledding and trips to Santa's village. So get your house, car and body ready, and have a great season!

Contact Us!

At Lallis & Higgins Insurance, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 781-561-9031 or send us a note at Service@LallisandHiggins.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!

Content provided by Safeco Insurance

While the majority of American homeowners have insurance, only about a third of renters buy renters insurance.

Renters insurance provides financial protection against the loss or destruction of your possessions when you rent a house or apartment. Your possessions are not covered by your landlord's insurance.

Renters insurance premiums are relatively inexpensive.

With renters insurance, your belongings are covered against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage (not including floods). Renters insurance also covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.

Renters insurance also covers your additional living expenses (ALE) if you are unable to live in your home because of a fire or other covered peril.

There are two types of renters insurance policies:

Actual Cash Value - pays to replace your possessions up to the limit of your policy, minus a deduction for depreciation.

Replacement Cost - pays the real cost of replacing your belongings (regardless of depreciation) up to the limit of your policy.

If you have expensive jewelry, furs, sports or musical equipment, or collectibles, you may want to consider adding a floater to your policy. Most standard renter’s policies offer only a limited dollar amount for such items; a floater is a separate policy that provides additional insurance for your valuables and even covers them if they are accidentally lost.

If you are a renter, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance for more information.

Source: Wall Street Journal / Source Insurance Information Institute