Blog – Page 2

Your Insurance Coverage Needs a Little “Re-Boot” Every Now and Again

June 19, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

We have recently added a couple of new people to our staff at Horihan Insurance, with agents D.J Mueller and Shelley Jones joining our team in the Rushford and Rochester offices, respectively.

Whenever there is turnover in an insurance office, the new agent “inherits” a book of business to give them a kickstart. If your agent leaves the office you have your coverage through, and another agent is assigned to your account, it should be seen as an opportunity for both you and the new agent. It is a chance to take a fresh look at your coverage. Though there are concrete regulations every agent must follow, every agent has a different perspective. New agents may see something that could be of great benefit to you.

That doesn’t mean your previous agent did not do a great job, but you can never underestimate the value of a fresh set of eyes on any given situation when it comes to something as complex – potentially – as insurance policies. Especially if you’ve got a whole bundle of them.

So don’t see it as a hassle going over everything when you start with a new agent. You’re not starting from scratch. Let’s call it a re-boot. You are just polishing and updating the existing documentation. It is a great opportunity to establish a solid working relationship with your new agent. Ask questions you never got around to asking the one you worked with before. Spend the time letting them know what is really important to you. What you need and/or expect from them as your agent. The worst that can happen is they let you know what parts of that are actually possible and what is not. You’ll find that, within reason, we aim to meet your needs.

Your agent should be reviewing your policies with you regularly anyway. If you had already done so recently, your new agent won’t put you through the wringer completely. They will have familiarized themselves with your policies and see what, if anything, still needs to be addressed when you do meet.

If it just so happens that D.J. Mueller or Shelley Jones are your new Horihan Insurance agent, introduce yourself to them like you would if you switched agencies. Because they are new to you. But you can be sure that they have inherited your account well equipped with the knowledge from our previous work with you and will continue to provide you with the service you’ve come to expect from Horihan Insurance, if not improve upon that. Improvement – of your coverage, of the monthly cost, of your overall experience – is always the goal.

Walking With A Purpose

May 3, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

By now it is (probably?) safe to say winter is over. It’s the optimal time for taking a walk, or a bike ride, or a push if you are a wheelchair user. The snow is long gone from the paths. It’s warm enough but not unreasonably so. Even if you use an electric wheelchair, this is the time to get out and get some sunshine and oxygen, even if just to see a new view.

If you’re taking your walks in the evening, try to get out there right after work. I mean change out of your work clothes first, obviously. But go before you get settled in for the evening is all. And before you eat dinner, too. That nagging, increasingly peckish feeling along the way can be a great motivator to put some pep in your step. Of course, if you really should eat first for whatever reason, then please do. It can be a leisurely stroll. It doesn’t have to be a test of endurance.

Speaking of which, you don’t have to sweat. The point is to be out there, to be moving. Come to think of it, it doesn’t even have to be “out there” either. The sun and the fresh air are gravy, but maybe you catch some throughout your day anyway. So if you prefer to get your steps in, indoors, maybe there is a local gymnasium open to the public even if you aren’t a YMCA/YWCA member. Or, remember malls?

But let’s assume that you are going to be outside. Do this on a regular route, with a set distance to cover. No short cuts – unless the weather takes an unexpected turn of course – so you have a definite goal. At first, it can be a drag knowing how much farther you still have to go, but toward the end, it becomes more like “ONLY that much farther to go? Great!”

Go with a partner. For general safety’s sake, but also to hold each other accountable, and to encourage each other to complete the pre-determined distance. It’s like weightlifting with a spotter. Only your spotter is lifting too. So that’s an imperfect metaphor. It’s a mutual support system, though.
Music can be a good way to pass the time and get you pumped, but headphones or Earbuds or AirPods, etc., may become a dangerous distraction, especially if your trek takes you in and around heavy traffic. Personally, I like to let the earworms playing in my head run wild, but that’s just me.

And we’d be remiss if we did not mention the absolute necessity of reflective or bright colored clothing if you’re going to be out around sundown. While we’re here, let’s talk about insect repellent. Even if you are not in a heavily-wooded area, you could still bring some unexpected passengers home with you if they are not properly discouraged.

Make walks, rides, and rolls a regular thing before the season changes on us again. Or as regular as the weather will allow. Even when spring turns to summer, it is simply a matter of shifting your walks to mornings when it’s cooler – before work if you can, or later in the evenings, or just save it for a weekend morning if that’s the best option for you.
Either way, it’s about time to get moving!

The Ins and Outs and Ups and Downs of Comprehensive Coverage in the Event of Storm Damage to Your Home and Vehicles

April 3, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

For the insurance policyholder, understanding your insurance coverage is always a solemn responsibility. Never more so than during the volatile months that span spring and summer. Particularly spring because we’re still on the edge of the possibility of snowy, icy weather. And both spring and summer because while some of us may call it baseball season, tornadoes call it tornado season. And if you’re within range of a Horihan Insurance office, you’re probably also well within range of the possibility of tornadic activity during this time (and even in the middle of December, it turns out).

Most homeowner policies will cover damage to the structure of your home in a tornado or other severe weather. The Personal Property section of a homeowner policy will account for loss of belongings caused by tornadoes, because it covers wind damage. And what are tornadoes but wind on steroids? Your homeowner policy will likely cover the expense of temporary lodging in a situation like this, should you need it.

With your auto insurance coverage, things are a little different.

Basic liability or collision auto insurance coverage may account for damage that arises from traffic mishaps, but you need Comprehensive to cover damage unleashed upon your vehicle by the forces of nature while it is sitting in your driveway, garage, or on the street. With Comprehensive, you’ll be covered for all damages – beyond your deductible – from hail, flooding, flying debris, falling tree trunks and branches, lightning, etc. Things that are out of your control, in other words. Along those lines, Comprehensive will also cover damage due to hitting an animal, vandalism, or theft of the vehicle itself, so it is well worth having for many reasons.

Back to the subject of storm damage though…

Be sure to get optional towing and rental reimbursement coverage too. It will help cover the expense of moving the vehicle to a shop, and renting a vehicle, should you need it while yours is being repaired.

If a storm is coming, to avoid some of the lesser damage that can happen to your vehicle – a large portion of auto damage claims during storms are of the lesser variety – avoid parking on or near areas where very high winds could leave your vehicle pelted by the gravel. Also avoid parking near trees or telephone poles.

Parking your vehicle out in the open leaves it susceptible to hail damage though. So basically, park indoors whenever possible. Of course, if “the big one” comes along, your vehicle is left vulnerable to damage due to collapse of the building it is parked in. In which case, if the storm is strong enough to take down your garage, your car probably wouldn’t have fared much better outside. All of this illustrates very well why the perils insurance companies agree to protect against are referred to as “risks.”

Reach out to your local Horihan Insurance office to make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your property from the perils of the stormy season, reckless drivers, and any and all things in between that can be insured against. We’re here to help.

The Overwhelming Joys of Moving Your Entire Life to a New Home.

March 9, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

Moving is not fun.

If you are moving into an apartment, before you do anything, think. Usually you’ll be signing a one-year lease which means it expires the same time of year you moved in. If you don’t want to be moving in the winter now, you probably won’t be too thrilled about it next time you have to move, either. Similarly, if you dread the idea of moving out in the heat and humidity of summer, don’t move in during the summer.

Something to think about.

When you are narrowing down your options, try to choose an apartment with a ground level access door directly in and out of your apartment rather than having to bring all of your furniture in through the lobby, down the hallway, possibly up an elevator, etc. That will be handy through the years with groceries, and whatever else you’ll be bringing home once you’re settled in.

If you are planning your move, the idea of being finished and settled in probably sounds pretty darn good. But let’s not jump ahead.

Recruit friends or relatives to help you move. Mainly for the big stuff. The furniture, small appliances, the really big boxes. Ask ahead of time, but not so far ahead that they couldn’t possibly know what they will be doing on that day. They’re not RSVP’ing for your wedding. They’re doing you a favor. But do try to have someone reliable in mind so you’re not left hanging.

Expect setbacks. Anyone who has done it before can tell you it’s not usually a seamless operation. So if you are getting help from friends or family, have back-up plans in case any of them can’t help when the time comes. Odds are they’ll come through for you. And when they do:

Remind everyone to lift with their legs, not their back.
Buy them a pizza for their time and effort. A really nice pizza.

When you start moving your smaller items and boxes, try to take as much as possible in each trip but not to the point that it’s ridiculous or unsafe (see photo above). Packing efficiently is a tactical, strategic operation requiring almost military precision and forethought. But don’t let it overwhelm you.

Speaking of which, if you are moving with a spouse or partner, packing and moving can be an exercise in teamwork, but it’s no recreational activity. It does get stressful. Invariably one of you may feel like you are doing more than your share of the work. Talk it over first, so you both know what the other expects of you. Don’t turn on each other. You’re in this together. Remember, you have a common enemy in the situation. Usually it’s physics. Moving your entire life from one location to another is hard work!

Most importantly, be sure if you are going to move that it is the place you love. If you are only moving across town, and you already have a job, but the location of your new home will require you to find new employment, settle on your home first and then look for a new job. You can handle a longer commute for a short time. Your home will most likely be more permanent. So be sure you get that right.

Oh, and even more important than that, don’t forget insurance. You can transfer renter’s insurance to cover a new apartment without having to get a new policy. Just remember to update your contact information with your agent! If you’re buying a home, though, that’s different. Your homeowner’s insurance will need to be completely new. And either way, if your commute will be significantly different, your auto insurance will be affected. Give your nearest Horihan Insurance agent a call and set up a consultation.

Good luck with your move and enjoy your new home!

« Previous Page

Your Insurance Coverage Needs a Little “Re-Boot” Every Now and Again

Walking With A Purpose

The Ins and Outs and Ups and Downs of Comprehensive Coverage in the Event of Storm Damage to Your Home and Vehicles

The Overwhelming Joys of Moving Your Entire Life to a New Home.

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