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Archive for January, 2012
What Are You Missing?
If you have not checked out our local happenings page, you are missing out on some vital activities! For instance:
“Preparing an Audit Proof Tax Return” 1/27/12, 10am-11am at SUNY IT, Kunsela Hall Room C-002. $10 fee. Call 315-792-7547 to register.
Contact The Burns Agency today or visit our local happenings page to find out what else you are missing out on!
Gas Price Pocket Renewal
If you’ve filled up your gas tank lately, it probably cost you a small fortune. High gas prices are putting a dent in everyone’s wallet and winter.
As of June 9, the national average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.54. That’s up a significant amount from a year ago when the national average was $2.79.
With that in mind, here are a few gas-saving tips to boost your vehicle’s fuel economy:
- Slow down on the highways. Driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent or more.
- Avoid stop-and-go driving; accelerating and braking cause your engine to expend more fuel. If you can’t avoid driving in the city, accelerate slowly.
- Get rid of any “junk in the trunk.” Even 50 pounds of excess weight can harm your fuel economy.
- Keep a steady speed. Speeding up and slowing down wastes fuel.
- Avoid using your air conditioner when possible; they can reduce fuel economy up to 20 percent.
- Give your vehicle some TLC! Get a regular tune-up, keep your tires inflated.
- Find the cheapest gas in town. At GasBuddy.com, you enter your ZIP code and scroll through local gas prices. There’s even a GasBuddy application for iPhone and Droid users. (Searching for dirt cheap gas prices? There’s an app for that.)
The Burns Agency has one more potentially helpful suggestion. If you can’t kick high gas prices, trying offsetting your losses by finding cheaper auto insurance. If you can cut $20 or so from your monthly premium, high gas prices won’t sting quite as much. Visit our website to see how we can save you money today.
Insuring Your ‘Happily Ever After”- Important tips for Newlyweds and Young Families
Whether a walk down the aisle is in your future or you’re a newlywed, there are numerous insurance commitments to make that come with being Mr. and Mrs. To keep them all straight, The Burns Agency has these helpful tips on how getting married impacts your insurance. No wedding planner required.
Auto insurance
Most auto insurers view marriage as an indication of greater responsibility – especially for men younger than 25 – so most insurance companies offer lower premiums for married people.
Homeowner’s/Renter’s Insurance
Couples can save money on their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance once they are married for the simple reason that they’re under one roof instead of two. Couples who already live together, but have separate policies can get a joint policy after they tie the knot.
Wedding Insurance
Getting married usually means orchestrating a wedding or some sort of gathering for family and friends, and planning such a party comes with a hefty price tag. While couples make hundreds of decisions when planning their wedding – from finding a reception hall to choosing china – many don’t spend the time and money to get insurance for their big day. Wedding insurance policies are usually relatively inexpensive (about $125 to $275) and protect your big day from being spoiled by bad weather, illness/injury, or a missing officiant or vendor. Wedding insurance will also usually cover damage to or problems with your ceremony and/or reception sites that cause your wedding to be rescheduled.
Before you take your vows, make sure you have the right insurance to help you through good times and bad, in sickness and in health. Contact The Burns Agency, your Trusted Choice independent insurance agent, with questions about your policy or if you need a new policy. We are always happy to help future newlyweds navigate their insurance – and you don’t even have to invite us to the wedding!
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Eliminate Your Ice Dams
An ice dam is an accumulation of frozen water in the gutter system and at the roof edge that prevents subsequent drainage of melting snow from leaving the roof/gutter system. Ice dams are common in areas that receive heavy snow buildups.
In most cases, ice dams begin inside the house, when heated air leaks up into the unheated attic. In the winter, the roof above the unheated attic is cold. When warm air leaks into the attic, it creates warm areas on the roof, which cause the snow on the exterior of the roof to melt. The melting snow moves down the roof slope until it reaches the cold overhang, where it refreezes. The process continues, causing ice to build up along the eaves and form a dam. Eventually, this dam forces the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the home. This phenomenon may cause structural framing members to decay, metal fasteners to corrode, and mold to form in the attic and the wall surfaces. Few homeowners policies pay for ice dam removal. Interior or exterior damage, however, caused by an ice dam on the roof is typically covered under a special perils homeowners form.
There are measures that home owners in colder climates can take to reduce the chance of ice dams, including the following.
- The services of a professional should be employed to remove heavy snow from your roof. This eliminates one of the ingredients necessary for the formation of an ice dam. Professionals are also able to address emergency situations in which water is flowing into the house structure. This is accomplished by making channels through the ice dam to allow the water behind the dam to drain off your roof. However, the channel becomes ineffective within days and is only a temporary solution to ice dam damage.
- Your ceiling/roof insulation should be increased to reduce heat loss by conduction. Some state codes require an R-value of 38 above the ceiling for new homes. In narrow spaces, insulation products with high R-value (6–7) per inch are recommended. It is imperative that the ceiling be made airtight to prevent warm air within your home from flowing into the attic space.
- Verify that there are sufficient soffit and gable end vents in your attic. These help to quickly vent any of the warm air that does get into the attic out into the atmosphere.
The Burns Agency is here for you with tips to avoid loss, ways to save money, and information on coverages you may not know about. Stop in or contact us today to find out what else we can do for you.
as seen in internationalriskmanagement
Worker’s Compensation for Business Owners
Albany,N.Y.—A car salesperson injured while driving to retrieve spaghetti dinners on a break is entitled to workers compensation benefits, a New York appellate court ruled Thursday.
The claimant in Richard Potter Jr. vs. Paolozzi Imports Inc. suffered an injury while driving his personal car after receiving a supervisor’s permission to leave work briefly.
A workers comp judge found that Mr. Potter’s injuries arose from his employment and awarded him benefits. In October 2010, a workers comp board affirmed the judge’s finding, and Paolozzi Imports appealed.
The appellate court cited case law finding that short breaks are so closely related to job performance that they do not constitute an interruption of employment, and another finding that benefits are awarded on the theory of an employer’s control of the employee during off-premises activity.
In this case, the appellate court said it found substantial evidence supporting the board’s determination that claimant’s short break did not constitute an interruption of employment.
The Burns Agency goes to work for your business. We can help you with Worker’s Compensation, Property, and various Liability coverages. All that and wrapped with the bow of great customer service, expert consulting, and a smile and comforting voice when you need it the most. Stop in or contact The Burns Agency today!
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Why Traffic Tickets Save Your Life
Nobody likes getting a traffic ticket–they’re expensive, cause your auto insurance rate to increase and are a real pain in the you-know-what. But according to a new study, a ticket could save your life.
Research published in The Lancet, a medical journal, has found that drivers are more conscientious after being ticketed, at least for a while
Researchers found that for a few weeks after receiving a traffic ticket, a driver’s chances of being killed in an automobile accident fall by 35 percent.
After three or four months, though, the impact wears off and drivers continue to lead foot around town.
So, the next time a cop gives you a ticket, give him a big smile and say thank you–he or she may be saving your life.
We all hate traffic tickets but they come with a positive outcome for the community. Keep driving safe and you and your auto insurance policy will see a difference. Got a ticket? Ask The Burns Agency what you can do to help offset the possible increase in premium.
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315.853.5052 |
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315.853.6356 |
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| By Mail:
The Burns Agency |
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Our hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, with other hours available by appointment. |
Chew More, Weigh Less
The more you chew, the less you eat, according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The study involved 30 men–16 skinny, 14 obese–who were videotaped while eating a meal. The researchers guessed that the skinnier subjects would chew each bite more thoroughly than the heavier subjects. It turns out they were right.
During the next experiment, the subjects were instructed to chew each bite 15 times, while another experiment they were asked to chew 40 times.
When the subjects chewed each bite 40 times, they consumed 12 percent fewer calories than when they chewed 15 times. The 40-chew group also had lower levels of ghrelin, a hunger-producing hormone, in their stomachs.
So there you have it: Chewing, along with diet and exercise, should be a part of your weight-loss routine.
A great tip just in time for New Year’s resolutions! Stop in or contact The Burns Agency today to find out if your insurance policies are meeting your needs!
| By Phone:315.853.5052 | By Fax:315.853.6356 | By Email:insure@burnsagency.com |
| By Mail:The Burns Agency PO Box 363 Clinton, NY 13323-0363 |
Stop In:29 West Park Row Clinton, NY 13323 View Map |
Our hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, with other hours available by appointment. |
