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.

Keep it Smooth for Back-to-School

Back-to-school time is definitely upon us which means new clothes, supplies and a new routine to get used to. In addition to a hopeful beginning to all that the fall has in store and the optimism of a great new school year, this also means chaos as all these new and old habits fall into place. To help make your transition from a lazy summer “schedule” to an efficient school year routine go as smooth as possible, Encharter has some tips to make mornings a little bit easier:

• Get things done the night before!
  • Pick out clothes for the next day
  • Make sure homework is done and backpacks are packed
  • Pack lunches and arrange for lunch money
• When driving…
  • Carpool when possible: taking turns driving makes everyone’s life a little easier!
  • Leave a little earlier than you think is necessary
  • Keep an eye on crosswalks and sidewalks: kids can be anywhere and everywhere
  • Keep in mind that buses make frequent stops which can cause unexpected traffic and an accident if you aren’t careful.
  • Be careful of signage that is dependent upon the school day hours, ie. limited turning, speed limits, etc.

For more back-to-school tips and ideas, you can visit the CT Insurance Blog or MA Insurance Blog.

Also, if YOU have any other suggestions for ways to speed along the morning mayhem or safety tips for the school-day commute let us know! If you have any questions about your Wilimington Home Insurance, Wilmington Auto Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance, or Wilimington Business Insurance don’t hesitate to contact us today! You can call us at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Wilmington, MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©. Whatever is most convenient for you!

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

Prep your Home before you Roam

Before leaving for vacation, it’s very important to prep your home for the time that you will be gone. Aside from not writing on Facebook or Twitter and telling everyone that you know that you will be gone for a week, there are some other tips to deceive any thieves, neighbors or curious passersby.  

The goal here is to make it seem as though your house is not empty though there are bound to be some changes in the amount of traffic going in and out of your home.  By asking a close friend or neighbor to house-sit or keep an eye on the house will surely ease your mind and allow you to actually relax on your vacation. If this isn’t an option, at least have someone that you know well stoop by every now and again to put your trash out (doing it ahead of time or not at all may be a red flag to anyone familiar with the neighborhood) and collect your mail (if this isn’t an option then it’s better to stop mail delivery altogether instead of having an overflowing mailbox or doorstep. Go to www.usps.com).

Some other good tips might be to:

-          Put strategically places lamps on timers so that they will continue to go on and off as though someone is at home.

-          Closing blinds and curtains, you are keeping your valuables out of sight and out of mind.

-          Turn off the water to the washing machine.

-          Unplug any electronics or appliances that do not need to be on so that you conserve energy and reduce the risk of a spontaneous fire.

-          Set an alarm if you have one.

-          Put away any ladders, hide-a-keys or other tools that may assist someone in getting into your home.

You know your home better than anyone so it’s better to be safe than sorry when you are locking up (windows and doors) and finalizing the details of your vacation. At Encharter Insurance we want you to enjoy your hard-earned R and R and secure your home.

If you have any questions about your Wilimington Home Insurance, Wilmington Auto Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance, or Wilimington Business Insurance don’t hesitate to contact us before you leave! One quick call may make all the difference. You can call us at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Wilmington, MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

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

Get Rid of that Dryer Lint or Else!

By unplugging electronics when a thunderstorm is coming, keeping matches away from kids and not leaving burning candles unattended and regularly checking the batteries on your smoke detectors, you are making a great effort to prevent a fire in your home. However, when was the last time that you thoroughly cleaned out the dryer lint from your dryer?

Beyond the regular cleaning of the lint screen after each load, it is important to clean out the outer duct, located on the outside of your house, and the compartment where the actual screen goes when the dryer is running. Neglecting to do so can result in a serious fire: the dryer lint can begin smoldering without you even knowing it and then spontaneously burst into flames.

For more tips on fire safety, click here! And if you have any questions about your Wilmington, MA Homeowner’s policy, Wilmington, MA Car Insurance, Wilmington, MA Auto Insurance, Wilmington, MA Life Insurance or Wilmington, MA Business Insurance, we’d like to answer those questions as well! You can call us at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Wilmington, MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

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

Social Host Liquor Liability

Summertime is a great time to hang out with friends and family, to host cookouts and parties and to enjoy the generally nice weather. However, if you are hosting a party at your house and plan to serve alcohol, there are some very important things to keep in mind.

First of all, it is important to only allow people that are 21 and over to consume alcohol. Even though adults are present, that doesn’t mean that minors are eligible to drink alcohol. Recently, a mother and son from Cohasset were arrested for violating the Massachusetts Social Host Law. According to the Patriot Ledger, “The law makes it illegal for adults to knowingly or intentionally give alcohol to minors, or to allow minors to drink in their home. An adult who knows that a minor is drinking in his or her home can be punished with a $2,000 fine or up to a year in prison.”

Secondly, it is a good idea to make sure that if people will be driving home at the end of the night that they have not been drinking. It’s a good idea to establish who the designated drivers will be ahead of time. Coming up with a rotation of some kind to share the responsibility among friends is always a good idea.

Lastly, be aware of local laws in your area regarding noise and disturbances. Being conscientious of these bylaws will help you, your guests and your neighbors to have a fun and safe evening.

What happens though, if someone is drinking at your house and they cause or get into an accident on their way home from the party? Are you responsible for that? Are you covered if you are held responsible for the damages? To answer these questions and any others you may have or to find out more about Social Host Liquor Liability Coverage, contact your Encharter agent today!

And if you have any questions about your Wilmington, MA Homeowner’s policy, Wilmington, MA Car Insurance, Wilmington, MA Auto Insurance, Wilmington, MA Life Insurance or Wilmington, MA Business Insurance, we’d like to answer those questions as well! You can call us at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Wilmington, MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

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

Fourth of July Safety Tips

Happy Independence Day! The Fourth of July is almost here and you are probably working on finalizing your weekend plans, or if you’re lucky, you are already enjoying your long weekend.  Whether you are heading to the city to see the fireworks, the coast for some quality beach time or just down the street for the annual July 4^th block party, it’s critical to be aware of the hazards that can come with the star-spangled festivities.

First of all, many people will be spending a good amount of time outside. The forecast looks sunny and hot and you may not remember to put on sunscreen. On the shore, on a boat or in your own backyard, you still need to apply sunscreen in order to protect yourself from the increasingly harmful rays. For more info, click here!  

Also, be careful with open flames from a campfire, some sparklers, etc., and know the laws in your town (and state) regarding this type of recreation. Especially if you are heading up to New Hampshire, please be careful with fireworks and be aware of the safety guidelines listed both here and on the packaging itself. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to keep kids and pets away from the flames and to keep either a large bucket of water or a garden hose close by. For more safety tips for building your own campfires, click here.

Lastly, if you will be barbequing this weekend, it’s important to be cautious with perishable foods (meats, dairy, produce, etc) from transportation to cooking to actually serving. It’s surprising just how easily food can go bad in the summer heat and the last thing that anyone wants to deal with is getting a food-borne illness over the holiday weekend. Click here for more tips on safe food handling.

Happy Independence Day from everyone here at Encharter Insurance! As always we want you to be safe, responsible and have a great time celebrating this Fourth of July!

If you have any questions about Wilmington Car Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance, Wilmington Homeowner’s Insurance or Wilmington Business Insurance, we’d like to help! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Reading MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

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

Fun on July 4th

Still trying to finalize your plans for this weekend’s Independence Day festivities? Have you considered celebrating in Wilmington, MA? All this week through the Fourth of July, on the Wilmington Town Common, check out the variety of events that the Wilmington Fourth of July Committee is sponsoring!

The festivities will include dinners, basketball and horseshoe tournaments, and races of all kinds; you are sure to be entertained! Enjoy some classic, patriotic good times with the rest of the local community at your leisure and don’t miss out on a good ‘ole American carnival complete with fireworks!  For more information, visit www.funonthefourth.com and view a complete list of what Wilmington has in store for you and your family.

Encharter wants you to have a great holiday while safely and responsibly enjoying time with family and friends. So if you have any questions or concerns about Wilmington Car Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance, Wilmington Homeowner’s Insurance or Wilmington Business Insurance, we’d like to help! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Wilmington MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter ©and Facebook©!

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

New MA Oil Home Heating System Regulations

If you have a home heating system that utilizes oil and you live in Massachusetts, then we have some news for you! As of July 1, 2010, the state of Massachusetts will be implementing new regulations for oil home heating systems in order to prevent costly leaks.  According to the Massachusetts DEP website, this new law requires:

• the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices; AND
• insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil. 

 For more information about how you can comply, see the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s website. Also see our earlier blog entry on this topic.

 And of course, if you have any questions about Wilmington Homeowner’s Insurance, Wilmington Car Insurance, Wimington Life Insurance or Wilmington Business Insurance, we’d like to help! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Reading MA.

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

Grilling Safety Tips for Summer Fun

My family and I love to grill all year round. You can’t have a football game without some good burgers and you can’t have a baseball game without some Ball Park franks. (Well, I suppose you could, but it just simply would not be the same…). But now that it is officially warmer weather and summer is quickly approaching, the grill is likely to get fired up more this time of year. So here are some grilling safety tips from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association:

• Grills are for outside, only.
• Keep grill stable.
• Use long-handled utensils.
• Wear safe clothing.
• Keep fire under control and be ready to extinguish flames.
• Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath the grill.
• Never leave a grill unattended once lit.
• Don’t move a hot grill.

We, at Encharter Insurance, hope that you have a wonderful and safe start to your summer. And remember, if you have any questions about Wilmington Homeowner’s Insurance, Wilmington Car Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance or Wilmington Business Insurance, we’d like to help! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Reading MA, our office for insurance in Lexington MA or our office for insurance in Amherst MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

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

Summer Fun in the Pool? Is Your Insurance Policy Enough?

Summer is quickly approaching and sometimes the only thing to break the hot and humid days is a nice swim in your pool. Some people are spicing things up a bit with new landscaping ideas around their pools such as those shown on the Pacific Pool website. These are beautiful additions to any yard, but be sure to check with your Encharter Insurance agent before you decide to make any changes. One thing to always keep in mind is that, as fun as pools can be, they are also liability risks. If you have neighbors over at your pool (invited or uninvited) and they get injured, you’re liable. And any aesthetically-pleasing changes may become an even bigger risk. So, before you open up your pool for the summer, be sure to have an Encharter Insurance agent review your Homeowner’s Insurance policy for its liability limits. You want to be sure that you’re adequately protected from the losses of a potential lawsuit. It might even be a good idea to look into purchasing a Personal Umbrella Policy for additional coverage and security. Our agents are more than willing to help you sort through all of this and give you the best possible solution. We want to provide you with the best possible coverage for the best possible price, and with our agents’ expertise, we can!

 Contact us today! And if you have any questions about Wilmington Car Insurance, Wilmington Life Insurance or Wilmington Business Insurance, we’d like to help with that too! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Reading MA, our office for insurance in Lexington MA, our office for insurance in Amherst MA or our office for insurance in Watertown CT. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

 For some cool summer pool game ideas, check out our blog here!

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