Idle with Caution

It’s undeniable that the cold weather is here. We are days from Christmas, there is snow on the ground and we’ve already reached the point where we need to get out the door a little earlier in the morning to let our cars warm-up and to scrape off the windows before we can head off to work.

Unfortunately, this raises a few issues. There is actually an Anti-Idling Law in MA to limit the idle-time that your car can sit in your driveway, among other places, primarily to help restrict the pollutions and emissions that are being released into the air. In Massachusetts, aside from a few exceptions, drivers are not permitted to keep their cars idling for over 5 minutes.

Additionally, there have been reports of cars being stolen out of driveways while they are left to warm-up and the owner has run back inside to grab a few last-minute things. Some possible solutions to this might be to have a remote car starter installed (there’s still time to add it to your Christmas List!), IF YOU HAVE TWO SETS OF KEYS you can always start your car and leave it locked in the driveway, or you can even sit in your car while it warms up (bring out your coffee and paper or even your smartphone to get a jump-start on tackling your inbox).

While the best way to deal with having your car stolen is to take measures to prevent it from happening at all, you also need to be prepared should the worst happen. Call your Reading, MA Insurance agent today (888-865-1244) to ask about ways that you can keep your car safe and to make sure that you have the appropriate Reading MA Auto Insurance coverages.  Not to mention, you can find us on the web at www.encharter.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more pointers and tips on ways to stay safe and warm this winter!

Taming the Holiday Flames

Holiday season is finally upon us and although this means everything great from gifts to reuniting with friends and family for festive parties, it is important to acknowledge the increased risks surrounding holiday activities and to take the time to responsibly safeguard against them.

            Nothing competes with a cozy fire as the crown jewel of any homely winter night, but make sure to take a few precautions before settling down to crack open that good book. Fist off, remove stockings or decorations from directly above the fireplace as they are often flammable and can be subject to overheating. Also, always use a fire screen to prevent sparks or flares from escaping the chimney into your living room. Candles are also a common cause of fires during the holiday season. Ensure that all the candles in your home are secure from being easily knocked over. The U.S. Fire Administration claims that over $990 million dollars worth of damage is done during the holiday season due to fire.

            It is equally important to make sure that none of your electrical outlets are overloaded with plug-in decorations. Make sure that there is a UL mark on any electrical decoration you. This indicates that the item has been evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories and has passed all the organizations standard safety tests. Never run cords under a rug. They can be continuously stepped on and any fray that occurs will not be visible and known to you.

            If you are planning on having small children in your home during holiday season, kitchen safety can be of paramount importance. Make sure to keep the handles of all active pots and pans turned in toward the back of the stove in order to prevent them from being grabbed by a curious child. Don’t leave cooking food unattended if children could possibly be wondering in, and the same goes for knives or any other sharp utensils.

            Call your local insurance agent in Reading MA at 888-865-1244 today to learn more or if you have any questions regarding your coverage, or visit us at www.encharter.com to view our full line of MA Personal Insurance, including Reading MA Homeowners Insurance, Reading MA Car Insurance, Reading MA Life Insurance and Reading MA Umbrella Insurance.

            And remember, At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Drowsy Driving = Lousy Driving

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been there: somewhere between a place where it’s either not ideal or you simply cannot spend the night and almost too tired to drive? It’s a dangerous place to be! Whether its just really late at night (or really early in the morning, for that matter), or it’s a build-up of getting less and less sleep each night of the week for whatever reason: if you’re too tired, don’t drive!

In the winter, it seems to be that the best advice anyone can give you is to roll down the windows and blast the music to keep yourself uncomfortable enough to keep your eyes open and alert (enough). CAUTION: This is NOT a good idea at all!!!

In order to avoid those tiresome trips, check out www.drowsydriving.org for more info on better ways to stay awake while driving (aside from getting plenty of sleep of course!) and ways to cover yourself with more than just great Wilmington MA Auto Insurance. We’ve heard the catchy slogans: “Stay Awake, Take a Break, For Safety’s Sake” & “Drive Alert: Arrive Alive”. Do it for yourself, your loved ones and all of the other drivers out there! If your alertness is in question, just don’t risk it!

If you have any questions about ways that you can be sure that you and your loved ones are covered in case of an accident, visit Encharter Insurance at www.encharter.com, or call us at 888-865-1244 today!

And remember, At Encharter “its all about protecting you!”

Is it your Dream Car, or your Mechanic’s?

In the market for a new car? Well before you go out and fall in love with just any slick, new vehicle, we recommend you make sure you’re getting the right bang for your buck by checking out the latest by ConsumerReports.org on automobile quality. The newest report, Consumer Reports’ Most Reliable Cars, features comprehensive explanations of why vehicles rank the way they do.

            For the most part, all of the major Asian car manufacturers that have been noted for reliability in the past are continuing to stack up well. Toyota, Honda, and Acura are more than safe bets if you are looking for cutting-edge modern design, backed by superior dependability and relatively low maintenance costs.

            However, the American owned automaker Chrysler came in this year with the lowest ranking in regards to reliability, with only the Dodge Ram 1500 coming recommended by Consumer Reports. But calm yourselves ardent supporters of the American auto industry, for both Ford and GM made impressive gains this year, with scores of vehicles coming highly recommended. Of these cars, the Ford Fusion had the most impressive test scores. On the other hand, European luxury brands BMW and Audi had some of the worst ratings overall.

            No matter what you drive, it is always important to make sure your insurance needs are fully met. At Encharter Insurance we want to feel confident that your Reading, MA Auto Insurance is protecting you. So visit us at www.encharter.com or call 888-865-1244 to speak to your local Encharter Insurance agent today. Also, make sure you inquire about the discounts associated with combining your Reading, MA Auto Insurance and Reading, MA Home Insurance.

            And remember, at Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Toyota Recall…(1.5 Million More)

The annual total of recalled vehicles (by the Toyota brand) is now approximately 10 million after another recall of close to 1.53 million cars including certain models of their Lexus brand in addition to the Avalon and other Toyota models. The majority of consumers that are affected are those living in the U.S. and Japan who have models of the following vehicles with “The production date…ranges from May 2002 to November 2005” according to an article of WBZtv.com. The two defects include a brake fluid leak & fuel pump problems but, fortunately, the same article also reassures us that there have been no accidents reported as a result of either defect.

Some of the affected models may include:

Avalon (2005, 2006), Non-hybrid Highlander (2004-2006), Lexus RX330 (2004-2006), Lexus GS300 (2006), Lexus IS250 (2006), Lexus IS350 (2006)

A press release from Toyota in Torrance, CA on October 20, 2010 notifies owners of affected models that they will be notified personally via “first class mail beginning in early November 2010.”

If you think that your car is one of the affected models, don’t wait until something has gone seriously wrong to visit your local Toyota or Lexus dealer for complimentary repairs and replacements to the brake master cylinder cup. To stay up to date on any other recalls by Toyota, click here.

 Also, if you have any questions regarding your Wilmington MA Car Insurance policy, call your local Encharter Insurance agent today at 888-865-1244! We look forward to answering any questions or concerns you may have regarding your coverage and we want to reassure you that you have the best coverage possible. Also, you can visit us at www.encharter.com, as well as finding Encharter on Facebook.

World Polio Day

Looking to help out in the community?? Sunday, October 24^th is WORLD POLIO DAY!

By visiting one of the 4 following locations between 12:00 and 4:00pm, as a Rotarian you can volunteer and if not then you can still contribute to Purple Pinky Day:

1. Super Stop & Shop, Amesbury, MA
2. Super Stop & Shop, Reading, MA
3. Super Stop & Shop, Malden, MA
4. Crosby’s Market, Marblehead, MA

Volunteer or help the fundraising cause! HELP END POLIO NOW!

 Can’t make it this Sunday? Click here to see how else you can help…

Additionally, if you have any questions regarding your Reading MA Auto Insurance, or your Wilmington MA Homeowners Insurance, call Encharter Insurance today! Reach us at 888-865-1244 or at www.encharter.com. Not to mention that you can find us night or day on Facebook and Twitter.

Where We Stand 2 Weeks In…

The new ban on texting while driving in MA law has been in effect for over two weeks now.  Hopefully, time will show that there will be fewer accidents due to lack of attention to the road.  Previously, people would text by glancing at their phone, and while they finished the text they travelled over two football fields!  It seemed harmless and quick, but the amount of time one’s eyes were on the phone instead of the road was unnerving.

Unfortunately, while driving on any given road it is easy to look over or across the street and see someone peering down to text a friend or read an incoming text.  There is no way the police are going to be able to catch everyone that is texting while driving, it is not realistic.  But, a sure fire way to get people to stop is increase awareness.  The average commute to work is about 25 minutes.  Rarely is a text so important that it cannot wait until the end of the drive.  With the interactive, instant world we live in it is tough to step back and choose safety over convenience.  Sadly, most people that do not text while driving are the ones who know someone who got in an accident while texting.

To increase awareness, companies like Plymouth Rock are offering free buttons and bumper stickers to inform drivers of the law and dangers of texting and driving.  Texting is an unnecessary risk, and no matter how good someone thinks they are at texting, it just takes one glance at the phone to become a hazard on the road.

Even if you are one of the wise people that don’t text, others may and there are still more risks on the road than texters.  So, take a step towards safer driving and call Encharter Insurance today so that we can make sure you are covered for any accident that may occur in the future.  Double check your Reading MA Car Insurance policy and call us at 888-865-1244 or come to one of our offices to speak with our caring and knowledgeable staff. We look forward to assisting you and answering any questions you may have.

At Encharter, “Its all about protecting you!”

Throwing in the Towel on a Few Classics

Whether you are in the market for a new car, or you’re just auto-savvy, there are a few classic car brands that you should not be expecting new models for in 2011…or ever for that matter. Pontiac, Mercury, and Saturn are three American car brands ceasing production at the end of 2010. The not so classic Hummer will join the former brands in retirement as well, all according to a press release on Roadtrack.

            To all the ardent buy American consumers out there who are feeling increasingly queasy as this article progresses, know your butterflies are unnecessary. These brands are not private entities. They are simply just product lines of larger American auto companies such as Ford and GM. The deceased brands will have their assets liquidated, and the proceeds will go towards financing new brands that are more competitive, appealing, and fuel-efficient. This is not the shrinking of the American auto industry, but the evolution of it.

            No matter what you drive, make sure you are protected with Reading MA Auto Insurance ! Visit us online at www.encharter.com or speak to an agent by calling 888-865-1244. Also be sure to check out our full line of comprehensive Reading MA Homeowners Insurance, Reading MA Business Insurance, and Reading MA Life Insurance .

And remember, At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

To Schedule? Or, Not to Schedule?

Last night while staring at the big blank wall in my living room, I got the brilliant idea that I wanted to fill the white space with some original art work (and by original art work, I mean I was going to attempt to inspire myself to paint something). I marched on over to the local craft store to buy a couple of canvases. In my search to find the perfect canvas size and style to quench my (newly established) artistic craving, I noticed a man waiting at the custom framing counter, selecting a frame to host his latest piece: an oil painting of a Swiss glacier depicted by an endless palette of colors.

While assisting with the framing selection, naturally I was invited to help; it occurred to me the incredible invaluable worth of an original piece of artwork. And although, if a loss should occur to such a piece (whether your own or an original Manet), it would be essentially irreplaceable, it is still important to schedule such an item on your Reading, MA Homeowner’s Insurance.

If you are unsure whether you should be scheduling various items: artwork, jewelry, priceless collections or items, call your local Encharter Insurance agent today! Call us today at 888-865-1244 or contact us via the web at www.encharter.com. And while you’ve got insurance on your mind, it wouldn’t hurt to make sure that your Reading, MA Car Insurance and Life Insurance Reading, MA have you properly covered. Also, see what Encharter is up to on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and get in touch with us there!

Stoneham Town Day 2010

This weekend, join Encharter Insurance at Stoneham Town Day 2010! Visit our booth between 11:00am & 4:00pm to enter our free raffle for a night out and for the kids to “fish” in our mini duck pond for a prize! Additonally, we will be available to answer any questions that you may have concerning MA insurance or Social Media Networking.  

Check out more info about tomorrow’s event below:

http://www.stonehamchamber.org/

http://www.stonehamchamber.org/home/townday

We hope to see you there! And if you can’t make it, don’t worry! You can still call us any time at 888-865-1244 or visit us at www.encharter.com or at our Reading, MA Insurance location. Additionally, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.