Smart Insurance Agency LLC

Progressive App

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:01:44 +0000

We love Progressive here and like Travelers they have an app as well. Now we featured the Travelers app first for one simple reason it doesn’t matter what company your with you can use the Travelers the app. But if you are a Progressive auto customer their app can’t be beat. Whether it is the ability to price out insurance at the lot with the app or their end to end claims service capabilities. I think Flo explains it best though.

For your Iphone

For your Android

Travelers Insurance App.

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:01:18 +0000

Part of the reason your on this site is because accidents happen. Our friends at Travelers know this and they put out an app for the Iphone and Android. This app was put out by them because they want you to get the most accurate information possible at the scene of an accident whether you are there customer or not. It is a nice efficient way of handling getting the information down whether you are in a fender bender or hit a deer or have something a little more serious happen.

For your Iphone

For your Android

The video below talks about the Iphone app but is applicable in terms of the process for Android as well.

Ice Shacks

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:01:38 +0000

Lets face it we live in a state that has well over 10,000 lakes and there are a few people who like going out on those in the middle of the winter to fish. Depending how avid of a fisherman you are you might have noticed those nifty fish houses on wheels. Believe it or not those are just as insurable as any other trailer you would drive around. Progressive has added a new class of trailers just for you that will make sure that your investment in a quality place to freeze for hours on end is covered in case that other guy’s truck goes slipping and sliding on the lake right into your shiny new fish house.

Remember that it is better to be safe than sorry when driving on lakes. You are driving on ice so keep your speed down so as not to lose control of your vehicle and your ability to stop in a timely manner. Especially early in the season make sure that the ice is thick enough to support your trucker and house before bringing it out there. And finally do take into consideration removing your fish house before the thaw has made it impossible. I am sure many from the area remember seeing on the news helicopters having to come in to rescue some fishermen from their fish houses in Lindstrom a few years back.

Preventing Freezing Pipes Part 2

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:01:45 +0000

This is the second part of a series we are doing from our good friends at Safeco Insurance about how to prepare pipes for the winter and dealing with them if they freeze.

During a cold spell:

Keep heat at 55° F. or higher.
Turn on both hot and cold faucets near outside walls to allow a small trickle of water to run during the night and, if seldom used, during extremely cold days as well.
Keep sink cabinet doors open to allow more heat to circulate around pipes underneath, particularly if located near exterior walls.
If you need to be away from home, leave the heat on or drain your water system before you go. Ask someone to check your house daily.

If your pipes freeze:

Open all faucets.
Remove insulation and wrap pipes in rags. If possible, pour hot water over pipes, starting where exposure to the cold is greatest. If that doesn’t thaw them, call your plumber. Don’t try to thaw pipes with an open flame of any kind.

If your pipes burst:

Shut off the water immediately to prevent additional damage.
Take proper precautions to avoid an electrical shock from being in or near standing water.
Call your plumber.
Take an inventory of any damaged property or possessions. Do not dispose of any items without the prior approval of your insurance adjuster.
In the event of a loss, contact your Agent for assistance.

Note: Homeowners policies and coverages vary by state. Any of our agents would gladly explain the coverages provided by your policy and any regulations for the state in which you live.

*Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety, http://www.ibhs.org

Preventing Freezing Pipes Part 1

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:01:17 +0000

Our friends at Safeco have given us some great advice on how prevent pipes freezing and if they do freeze what to do about them. We’ll be talking about those over two installments in the coming week.

Frozen pipes can pose a problem anywhere temperatures hover around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. While the good news is that frozen or burst pipes do not endanger people, the bad news is that the damage to your home or property can be extensive –damaging floors, ceilings, walls, rugs and furnishings. Even a tiny 1/8-inch crack can spill up to 250 gallons of water per day. That’s why it makes sense to take whatever steps possible to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Before freezing weather sets in:

Review your homeowners insurance policy to ensure you have adequate protection and appropriate coverages. A Liberty Mutual representative can assist you.
Homeowners policies provide coverage for valuables, up to certain limits. For maximum protection, you should have jewelry, furs, silverware, fine arts and other valuables appraised, then scheduled separately to your policy. You’ll get the broadest coverage possible, with no deductible. Ask your Liberty Mutual representative for more information.
Take an inventory of your personal property. Document this inventory with a videotape or photographs. Store the information, and any other important documents, in a safe deposit box. Liberty Mutual offers a brochure that will guide you room-by-room, through an inventory — call your local Liberty Mutual office for a free copy.
Make sure adult family members know how to shut off water and call a plumber if needed.
Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, in attics or crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest. If you have an outside electrical water pump, don’t forget to insulate it as well.
Wrap pipes with heat tape.
Seal leaks surrounding or near pipes.
Remember to bring garden hoses in and turn off and drain water to outdoor spigots at the cutoff valve.
If you have an outdoor pool or spa, check with the manufacturer on how to protect it from freezing.

*Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety, http://www.ibhs.org

How to keep the Holidays Happy.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:45:44 +0000

As we approach two of the busiest holidays of the year there are a few things to keep in mind. Christmas and New Years are two of the happiest days of the year for many people. But there are some things you should keep in mind when celebrate these special days.

1. If you have someone coming over to your home for a party and you serve alcohol you may be liable for some portion of any damage that may occur as a result of their actions. These fall under MN’s Dram Shop/Social Host Laws and Negligent liability Laws.

2. You are substantially more likely to be in an accident between the hours of 12 midnight and 4 am. There are many contributory factors to this but this problem is especially bad during the holiday season since more people that have consumed alcohol are on the roads.

3. Getting that fresh tree might bring on the warm fuzzies for you. But it is important to keep it watered. Dry trees are a leading cause of house fires during the holidays. additionally the use of the new L.E.D. Christmas lights that are available almost everywhere can help keep the heat down substantially and keep the tree green and glowing.

Those three things should help keep your Christmas and New Years merrier.

Blue Heron Days Business Expo

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:51:51 +0000

We attended the Blue Heron Days Business expo again bringing our good friend from Progressive Flo along for pictures with the wonderful residents of the quad city area. You can see some of the photos that were taken with Flo here. We hope to see you at the expo next year.