Learn the Basics for Preparing for a Storm

With all the buzz around Hurricane Earl fastly approaching New England, these basic tips for preparing for a storm may come in handy:

• If you live in a mobile home, check the tie-downs and leave immediately.
• Prepare for high winds by anchoring securely or bringing indoors anything that might blow away or be torn loose: Garbage cans, garden tools, signs, lawn furniture, awnings and toys. Loose objects can be deadly in hurricane winds.
• Board-up or shutter large windows. When you board-up, use good lumber securely fastened. Makeshift boarding may do more damage than good. Have strong bracing for outside doors.
• Boats on trailers: Fill with water, secure to trailer and use tiedowns to anchor trailer to ground or house.
• Get away from low-lying beaches or other locations which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. If passage to high ground is over a road likely to be under water, leave early. Don't run the risk of being marooned. On the coast, damage is from water, lots of it, and storm conditions may continue for many hours.
• Add extra chlorine to swimming pool to prevent contamination, and lower the pool's water level to allow for increased rainfall.

For more helpful information about hurricanes and preparing for them, visit WCVB TV website. (Above information provided by WCVB TV)

10 Ways to Save on Your Homeowners Insurance

1. Shop Around
As it sounds, it is best to look at several different insurance companies to find competitive prices. A good way to do this is to find an insurance agent to do the shopping for you.

2. Senior Discounts
If you are 55 or older and retired you may find certain insurance companies willing to discount you. Seniors tend to spend more time at home allowing for more time for maintenance and the ability to spot any fires sooner than a working individual. A senior discount can be as much as 10 percent.

3. Stop Smoking
Believe it or not, smoking mishaps account for almost 23,000 residential fires annually. Some insurance companies offer lower premiums if your home is smoke free.

4. Combine Your Home and Auto Policies
By buying both policies from the same insurance company, you may be able to get a multi-line discount. This is one of the more substantial discounts you can get for your insurance.

5. Improve Your Home’s Security
By adding such improvements to your home as a deadbolt lock, a burglar alarm, or smoke detectors, you can receive from some insurance companies up to $5.00 an improvement. Some companies even offer up to 15 to 20 percent for an added home security system.

6. Group Coverage
Larger employers and business associations often work out discounted prices and deals with the insurance companies for their employees and members. Check with your employer or association to see if they qualify.

7. Maintain Your Credit
Some insurance companies, in states it is permitted, check a person’s credit history to assess the “risk” and adjust the premium prices accordingly. Keep your credit in good condition and this may help you.

8. Check Your Coverage Every Year
Before renewing a policy, it is good to check your coverage against your current assets. For example, if you recently sold a valuable item you would want that to be reflected in the amount of property coverage you have. Also, if you were to put in an addition, you may wish to up your dwelling coverage.

9. Consider Insurance When Purchasing a Home
When you are thinking of buying a home, consider your insurance. For instance, if you buy an older home the heating, electric, etc are probably more outdated and therefore the insurance would be more. A newer home has new systems and therefore, would allow for a lower premium. Also, if you are thinking of building or buying a home, think of the area in which you wish to live. If you are on the Atlantic coast for example, you would want to think of the other insurance costs you would have, i.e. wind damage. The Pacific coast you would need to worry about the extra cost of earthquake insurance as these calamities are not covered under most home insurance policies.

10. Skip Insuring Your Land; Insure Only Your Home
Your home is at risk of various disasters such as fire, theft, etc. but the land it’s on is not at such risk. Do not include the value of the land your house sits on when determining coverages and this will help you save.

Be sure to check with your current or soon to be insurance company to see if they offer the discounts you are looking to receive. Visit http://www.candsins.com/ today!

Buying or Leasing a New Car

The other day at C & S Insurance Agency, we had a new customer come in to the office to register their new car! They told us that the car dealership had offered them gap insurance for $595. We told them that we can offer it for just $25!

You may be asking yourself "what is GAP insurance?" Well, GAP insurance can provide valuable protection during the early years of your car's life if you have a loan or a lease. If a loss occurs, GAP insurance will pay the difference between the actual cash value of the vehicle and the current outstanding balance on your loan or lease. Gap Insurance protects your vehicle lease or loan. Sometimes it will also pay your regular insurance deductible.

If you're buying or leasing a new car and are in need of GAP insurance, contact C & S Insurance today!

We want YOU to win Red Sox Tickets!

Refer your friends to Cavallo and Signoriello Insurance Agency for your chance to win Sox tickets! For every referral, with email and phone contact information provided, you and your referral will be entered into a drawing for Boston Red Sox tickets! The winner of this drawing will receive two tickets to a game this season! Good luck!

For more information, visit our website.

It's almost impossible to live without health insurance these days

With the rising costs of health care, some people are finding it difficult to find affordable coverage. Whether your employer does not offer health coverage, or you are self employed, you may find yourself in a position where you need to seek your own health insurance policy.

Health insurance policies most often provide coverage for:
•Doctors visits
•Prescriptions
•Medical Testing
•Specialized care
•Surgical procedures

Although every health insurance policy is different, typically you can work with your insurance agent to create a policy that best suits your lifestyle and needs. It is important to consider your financial situation AND the health of you and your family members when creating a health insurance policy. Most insurance agents can offer you two types of health care coverage:

Indemnity Plans (or Fee-for services plans)
•Cafeteria/Flexible Spending Plans
•Indemnity Health Plans
•Basic & Essential Health Plans
•High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP)
•Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

Managed Care Plans
•Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
•Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)

Your insurance agent may also provide Medicare supplements, long term care, income protection, etc. Contact Cavallo and Signoriello Insurance today for a free health insurance quote and more information on all of the policy options we offer.

Restaurant Coverage

A quality dining experience is the convergence of a number of factors. Unfortunately, each of these factors carries a number of risk concerns, which include everything from the quality of the food, to the cleanliness of your establishment, to the safety of the kitchen.

At Cavallo and Signoriello Insurance we offer general and specialized restaurant liability insurance that can address your unique risk exposure, including:

•General Liability Coverage
•Liquor Liability Coverage
•Workers Compensation Insurance
•Food Contamination Insurance

Contact us to learn more about our restaurant insurance coverage today!

Are you a landscaper in need of insurance?

You've come to the right place! Landscaping is no easy task. It takes a crew of dedicated, hard-working specialists to turn green into gorgeous. A faulty tool, a lapse of concentration, or even an uncooperative tree can turn the task at hand into a liability nightmare.

At Cavallo and Signoriello Insurance, we can tailor a landscaper’s insurance policy to protect you and your crew from:
•General liability issues
•Commercial liability issues
•Vehicle and equipment malfunction or damage

Contact us today to learn how our landscapers insurance can give you the protection you need, at a price you can afford.

Massachusetts Most Common Claims

In Massachuetts, the top 5 most common claim types are listed below:

1. Water Damage
2. Wind Damage
3. Physical Damage
4. Theft/Burglary
5. Freezing Water (including bursting pipes)


Water Damage
Wind Damage

Physical Damage

Theft/Burglary

Freezing Water (includes bursting pipes)

(Information obtained from the Allstate Common and Costly Claims)

Are you a Business Owner?

Insurance is important for any business; there is no doubt about that. However, is it not the kind of coverage a business owner should rush through purchasing. Buying business insurance is a complicated process and you want to make sure you have an insurance agent who will take the time to ensure that you have all of the policies your business needs to operate smoothly. Many business owners assume that purchasing a Business Owners Policy (BOP) is the only type of insurance they will need, but this is not the case. Although BOPs are useful for most businesses, it is also wise to purchase other business insurance policies to go along with a BOP that meet the specific needs of your business.

Many insurance agencies can offer the following business insurance coverage:
•Business Owners Policies
•Worker’s Compensation
•General Liability
•Errors & Omissions
•Commercial Auto
•Commercial Property
•Group Benefits
•Professional Liability
•And much more…

A business is a huge investment; do not leave it to chance by having inadequate insurance coverage. Cavallo and Signoriello Insurance is a business too, so we understand the importance of comprehensive coverage. We offer many options for business insurance, no matter how big or small your business may be. Contact us today and fill out our free business insurance quote form!

Helpful Auto Accident Tips

If you were in a car accident, would you know what to do? For many people, the course of action after a collision is very puzzling. Here’s a few tips to help you out:

1. Turn on your hazard lights and move your vehicle if possible. This can prevent a second collision.
2. Do not discuss who was at fault. Let your insurance company battle it out.
3. Call the police. If somebody is injured, call 911 immediately.
4. Exchange information. This includes name, address, number, insurance info, and vehicle info. Obtain info from witnesses as well.
5. Talk to the police. Write down his/her name and department. Ask for the incident number.
6. Take photos of the car and surrounding area. If you do not have a camera, write down the names of streets and possibly draw a quick diagram.
7. Call your insurance company. The sooner the better! Most companies offer tow services as well.

We hope that you never get into an accident, but if you do, remember these tips!