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Even Luck Needs a Little Help

March 2, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

With St. Patrick’s Day not far off, the notion of luck comes up in conversation quite a bit.

There are two types of people: The superstitious, and the ones who say “I don’t need luck. I’ve got [whatever secret weapon they put their confidence in] on my side!”

When it comes to insurance, it seems that many people are the other way around. They say “I don’t need insurance. Nothing is going to happen to me.” In other words, “I’ve got luck on my side! While we wish you a lot of luck, we also know that insurance is based on probability and statistical analysis.

I know. Boring.

But it is important to understand that while the risks we encounter every day are quantifiable, they are not quite as predictable as we would like to think they are. Maybe a claims adjuster can tell you the likelihood of this or that calamity from taking place given a set of variables. It’s just that we simply don’t know when they will occur.

Until they do.

This is what is meant by “you don’t need insurance…until you do.” If we knew when calamities were going to occur we’d bottle and sell that! Nor is insurance a talisman against misfortune, but if it were, even luck needs a little help. A common definition of luck is “When opportunity meets preparation” or some variation on that theme. More often than not though, when you find yourself needing a little luck, it is probably because that “opportunity” that has come your way is not something you were looking for.

And yet, there it is.

But were you prepared?

You can probably think of a time when you felt “luck” intervened on your behalf. The only reason it had to do so in the first place was likely because:

a) you were in no way prepared for whatever occurred
b) you were, but it did not make a difference, or
c) no amount of preparation could have made a difference

Years ago on ESPN during the highlight reel, when Michael Jordan would drain a three-pointer, the anchor would shout “You can’t stop him! You can only hope to contain him!” Life is kind of like Michael Jordan. Or maybe James Harden or Steph Curry now. In any case, you can’t stop him from doing what he came to do, but you can minimize his effect. Insurance, then, is whatever method of containment one employs to defend against a one-man wrecking crew on the court to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Be that as it may, Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Should future events catch you unprepared, we know you will feel lucky you decided to get insurance. If you have chosen to be insured through Horihan Insurance, it is our profound luck and great fortune.

Thank you.

Renewal Is Not Just Something That Happens In Springtime.

February 4, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

Renewal is not just something that happens in springtime. The time for renewal can be, well, whenever your insurance policy comes due for renewal. If that happens to be in the springtime, all the better. Then you can stop and smell the roses on the way to your Horihan agent’s office, and you’ll hopefully leave with a policy containing the seed of a true renew, refresh, reboot for the coming year.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It is still winter, after all.

Whenever you do renew your policy though, it is not just you agreeing to give us some of your money every month for another year. It is us renewing a pledge to do our best for you during that time, whatever may come. Doing our best for you starts with offering you the best policy that is available.

Does your insurance agent encourage yearly renewal meetings? Horihan Insurance does.

There are people out there – we hear things – who have had their insurance with the same agent for 15 years, and the day they signed their policy was the last time they have seen or spoken with their agent. Now first, that kind of arrangement does work for some people. Secondly, if it doesn’t, it is at least half the responsibility of the insured. But at Horihan Insurance we just don’t do business that way. We have long made it our policy to send letters to people with upcoming renewals reminding them of the many benefits of reviewing policies with us yearly. In 2021, we are again committing ourselves fully to making that connection with our insureds.

SIDE NOTE: If you happen to know that person who hasn’t seen or heard from their agent in 15 years, tell them about us. We’d like to show them something better.

Renewal time is a chance to tighten up some springs that have loosened over time, to replace some parts that are not serving their purpose to your best advantage, or removing parts that no longer serve a purpose at all. Or we could add some accessories that make your insurance package a whole new machine to protect you and your family.

Maybe that padlock on the door used to suffice, but you may feel better knowing you’ve got security cameras, alarms, and those crazy blue motion-detecting lasers that dart across the room at all kinds of crazy angles so when it comes to unwanted calamity, you can tell them “You shall not pass!”

The last two paragraphs were metaphors, of course, but our commitment to serving you to the best of our ability is very real. Give us a call. Let’s see what we can do.

A Clean Slate in 2021

January 8, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

You know that feeling when you go to bed at night with so many things left undone that you have a hard time sleeping? Or when you wake up with a general sense of anxiety, but you can’t put your finger on why until you realize, oh yeah, I haven’t resolved this or that yet?

Do you go through your year waiting for the right time to get bigger this-or-thats out of the way?

There are a lot of things like that in life. We know we have to do them, but we put them off. But as the list grows, it may instill an anxiety in us which could be alleviated by just getting them done and off our list.

Here is a list, just off the top of my head, of some of those things to help you get started off right. Your living arrangements may warrant a very different set of tasks, and any of us could probably make this list a hundred items long. But we’re not going to overwhelm you. We’re all still coming down from quite a year. These are just a dozen suggestions to get the ball rolling.

Put new batteries in, and test smoke detectors – This tops a lot of lists like this around this time of year, and for good reason. House fires in the winter are very common due to increased use of heating devices. It is comforting to know you are set with a freshly charged smoke detector.
Fix your hazy headlight – It is surprisingly easy to fix, provided that it isn’t the result of a crack in the light cover letting condensation inside. Sometimes the headlight gets foggy on the outside due to exposure to sunlight, and it doesn’t require the expertise of a professional to remedy. First determine of that is your issue, and it’s an easy fix. If not, and it requires a replacement part and the work of a professional, it is still a very good time to get it taken care of.
Re-stock the first aid and emergency kits in all of your vehicles – You could go years without restocking certain items in these kits. But if you use a band-aid here and there over time, eventually you may come to the bottom of the box without realizing it. Make sure everything you could need is there when you need it.
Replace worn or damaged extension cords – You need them to be working when you need them to be working. It’s as simple as that. Don’t get stuck resorting to your old backup if all of your good cords are in use when you really need one. Extension cords can get a bit expensive, but they are durable so if one is worn out, it is a sound investment.
Renew your prescriptions for another year – If you take prescription drugs you know how annoying it can be when your refills run out and now you’ve got to find time to go see your doctor just to get the prescription re-written. Take care of it now, and you’re golden for the rest of the year….
Yearly physical – … so the only reason you have to take time out of your day to go see a doctor is for when you really need one, or for something very productive like a yearly physical. Why wait till something seems wrong? Get that checkup now!

As a matter of fact, why not just renew your prescription refills while you are at your physician’s office having your physical?

Back to the list.

Check fire extinguishers – Fire extinguishers are something that sit for so long unused that you take them for granted. It is nice to know that when you need them, they will function properly.
General decluttering of closets, pantry, garage – Nothing says “fresh start” in a new year like throwing away, selling or donating a bunch of stuff that you don’t need, don’t use, don’t want or don’t even know why you have anymore. Seriously, it can give you access to parts of your house that you had forgotten you had.
Clean out your garbage disposal – We’ll leave it to you to look up the garbage disposal maintenance how-to. It is not terribly complicated and well worth is, as you’ll know if you’ve had that moment at 11:30pm on a Sunday when your disposal suddenly decides it has taken just about enough of your dinner plate leavings.
Clean out your dryer vent – This is a huge fire hazard. Just think about how much lint accumulates over the course of a couple of dry cycles. How much more will accumulate in your vent over time if left unchecked? Dryers are a heat source and without proper ventilation, one spark could be catastrophic.
Clean kitchen exhaust hood and air filter to remove buildup – You should do this more often than every year. But if you do it now, you may just get yourself in the habit of doing it, and other chores as often as you should be doing them.
Review your insurance policies with an agent – At Horihan Insurance, we believe strongly in reviewing policies yearly to make sure you have all of the necessary coverage relative to your current situation and that of the foreseeable future. If there have been changes in your life in the last year that are relevant to your insurance coverage, and if you have not done so, call your agent new. It’ll give you a fresh start and hopefully an improved policy better suited to your needs.

Why not wipe the entire slate clear for 2021 early on so you can enjoy the rest of the year?

Happy 2021, everybody.

Healthy, Wealthy, Warm and Wise

December 10, 2020 By Forrest Dailey

“Keeping your distance” has kind of been the mantra for the year 2020. Back in the summer we noted on a Facebook post that another type of “distancing” guideline applied for outdoor grilling.

That is what we will call the “Rule of Three Feet.”

Well it’s colder now, and if you haven’t already, you’ll be looking for ways to keep your home warm and cozy soon. That’s why this season happens to be the most dangerous when it comes to home fires. So, before we go anywhere, we’ll reiterate and expand on that theme we presented during the summer:

When it comes to heating your home for the winter, always keep children and pets as well as any loose, flammable materials at least three feet away from all sources of heat, especially those where flames are present.

Beyond that, there are a few rules of thumb which apply universally to all sources of indoor heat. Do these things, and you’ll promote safety, save on heating bills, and maximize that efficiency of heating your home:

Follow local codes first and foremost. Check with your local fire department.
Read all manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels before use of any device to heat your home.
Never leave the heat source unattended.
Never leave it switched on or burning when you go to bed for the night.

Having said that, we want to point out a few guidelines to follow, specific to different types of heating devices.

Portable Space Heaters

Get a heater with an automatic shut-off so if it tips over, it turns off.
Space heaters should never be used to dry anything, or to heat anything other than the air in the room.
Be aware of the surface beneath the heater and its proximity to the heater itself. Never place the heater directly on the carpet, upholstered furniture or on an unsteady table.
Do not plug it into an extension cord whenever possible. Plugging the heater directly into the outlet reduces risk of over-heating, short-circuiting, etc.
Always unplug it after use.

Fireplaces

Have your chimney cleaned or at least checked annually by a professional.
Regularly check your chimney for bird or animal nests which could block the smoke, or even ignite.
Use wood that’s been dried for a year to minimize smoke.
Do not leave lighters, matches or other igniting materials in easily accessible places if you have children in the house.
When cleaning out the ashes from your fireplace, place them in a metal container and take them outside. Preferably in the snow.

Wood Stoves

Observe the minimum required clearance between the front, back, bottom, top and sides of your stove and anything combustible. Or install a heat shield on all nearby combustible surfaces.
Keep the ventilation system which leads to your chimney well maintained. Ninety percent of stove fires originate in the ventilation system.
Like with the fireplace, place ashes in a metal container and take them outside.
Do not start the fire in a wood stove with flammable liquids.

Gas Stoves

While all kitchens should contain a fire extinguisher, it is an unspeakably good idea when using a gas stove.
Have a carbon monoxide detector, as gas stoves emit carbon monoxide more than other cooking/heating methods. Remember you can’t smell or see carbon monoxide so without a carbon monoxide detector the only way you’d be aware of it is if you begin noticing the symptoms (dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc.) Please catch it before that happens.
You can smell gas though, and if you do while using your gas stove, turn it off immediately and do not use it again until you’ve confirmed the leak is fixed.
Always fill the tank outdoors.
Do not over-fill the tank.
Do not use fuel that is not approved for the type of stove that you have. (Again, see manufacturer’s instructions)

Candles

The wick should never be more than ¼ of an inch long, to minimize the flame.
Place and stabilize the candles where you want them before lighting them.
Place them far away from Christmas decorations, tinsel, ribbon, wrapping paper, etc.
Place candles on metal holders to catch dripping wax.
NEVER use a candle to light your way when checking on or fueling gas appliances.

Electric Ovens

Never use your oven to heat the house. While tempting to save on heating bills, leaving your oven on with its door open for long periods of time leaves you susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.
AND you risk falling asleep with it on, furthering your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, but also starting a fire.
It is a highly inefficient method of heating your living space because it does not circulate the heated air.
With the increased frequency of use of your oven for cooking in the winter, however, a warm kitchen tends to be a biproduct. And of course there are many other benefits to increasing the frequency of home-cooked meals, nutritionally and financially speaking. You might say this is the key to staying healthy, wealthy, warm, and wise over the winter.

The cold is here, whether we like it or not. We can’t fight that, but we can safely provide ourselves and our families with a warm place to hunker down in. Take care. Enjoy the changing of the season, and have a wonderful holiday, too.

Even Luck Needs a Little Help

Renewal Is Not Just Something That Happens In Springtime.

A Clean Slate in 2021

Healthy, Wealthy, Warm and Wise

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Horihan Insurance is licensed to do business in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Iowa