As a mom with two wonderful daughters under the age of 12, the gift of the homemade card and some hugs is all I will need from them.  Fortunately I have a beautiful mom and a twin sister that will be visiting me and my girls over the weekend.  We plan on having a nice picnic and just spending quality time together.  I enjoy watching my girls learn and have fun with the other “moms” in their lives.  I didn’t appreciate my mom or grandmothers as much as I do now that I am a mother.  There are all kinds of “gifts” to give on Mother’s Day.  For new moms or even stay at home moms, a relaxing and quiet day at the spa getting pampered with no distractions or worries is a great gift.  For any mom, having dinner made and dishes done by someone other than mom is a fantastic gift.  Flowers are also a favorite for moms.   The gift of photos are always a good one.  But by just telling your mother or the mother figure in your life “Happy Mother’s Day” is music to our ears.

• Is the coverage on my home adequate? Have you added an addition or made any significant upgrades? It’s important to remember that insurance is based on “replacement cost” not market value. If your dwelling is underinsured, you may not be able to fully replace it should you have a total loss.

• Is the coverage on my related private structures adequate? The Homeowners policy automatically includes a limit of 10% of Coverage “A” Dwelling for Related Private Structures. Any structure designed or used in whole or in part for farming or agricultural purposes is excluded and can be written under a Farmowners policy.

•  Is the coverage for theft on certain property like money, jewelry, silver, guns, etc. adequate? If not, additional coverage should be purchased.

• Are you a collector or do you own antiques? If you have valuable items that cannot be replaced easily, an appraisal will help your MAX agent more accurately evaluate whether your contents are adequately insured. These types of items should be scheduled in order to avoid any question of value at the time of a loss.

•  Is there coverage under my Homeowners policy for my business? The Homeowners policy has very limited coverage for any type of business conducted on or away from the premises. If you own and operate a business from your home, you should contact your MAX agent as you may need a commercial insurance policy.

We hope you find these questions useful and that you’ll do some spring cleaning of your insurance policies this month.  Feel free to contact your MAX agent or us and we’ll be happy to assist you in your spring cleaning!

Contact your MAX agent today for life insurance options.  We would be happy to help you.

Respect the motorcyclist: Remember the motorcycle is a vehicle with all of the privileges of any vehicle on the roadway. Give the motorcyclist a full lane of travel.

Look out: Look for the motorcyclist at intersections, when a motorcyclist may be making a left turn, and on the highway, when a motorcyclist may be changing lanes. Clearly signal your intentions.

Anticipate a motorcyclist’s maneuver: Obstructions that you do not notice may be deadly for a motorcyclist. Predict evasive actions.

Allow plenty of space: Don’t follow a motorcycle too closely. Allow enough room for the motorcyclist to take evasive actions.

For more information on auto insurance or motorcycle insurance, please contact us today.

• Loyalty Discount
• Claims Free Discount
• New Home Discount
• Age of Systems Discount
• Home/Auto Discount

For more details about each of these discounts, contact your MAX agent today.

When evaluating your coverage needs, it is important to consider endorsements that provide additional limits or broaden your coverage for things like:

• Jewelry, Antiques, Fine Arts, Cameras, Musical Instruments and Other Valuable Items
• Water damage from sewer, drain and sump
• Equipment Breakdown

For more information on endorsements on your homeowners policy, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Lock Up

• Make sure doors and windows are locked when the building is unoccupied.
• Use one-inch deadbolt locks on exterior doors.  Doors should be made of solid core (not hollow) construction and, if hinged on the outside, should have tamper-proof hinges.
• Lock windows and consider burglar-resistant or wire-mesh glass.
• Keep record and control of all building keys, particularly if there has been a turnover in employees.
• Lock up ladders, tools, and flammable materials, such as cleaning supplies and gasoline at the end of the day.
• Secure stairways and fire escapes that provide access to the roof.

Lighting

• Illuminate exterior buildings, doors and parking lots from sunset to sunrise.
• Update timers for exterior lights following time changes.
• Keep interior entry lights on during overnight hours.
• Consider installing motion-activated lighting near doors and windows.

Landscaping

• Keep shrubs and trees trimmed around windows and doors to eliminate potential hiding places for arsonists and criminals.
• Do not allow signs or displays to block the view of the building.
• Pick up trash and other combustible materials from the church property.

Lookout

• Establish a “Church Watch” program in which members volunteer to drive through the property at various times throughout the week and alert police to anything suspicious.
• Ask neighbors to contact the police to report suspicious persons or activities.

Law Enforcement

• Develop positive relationships with local police and invite them to patrol the property at odd hours.
• Familiarize police with times of worship and church activities so they will be alerted when people are unexpectedly present.

Policies include:

• Business Automobile
• MissionGuard® – International Travel Coverage
• Umbrella
• Worker’s Compensation

For more information about MAX’s church insurance products, don’t hesitate to contact a MAX agent today!

• Turn down the thermostat: You can save an estimated 3% for every degree you turn down your thermostat. If you turn it down when you go to work and go to sleep at night even just 10 degrees, you can save a good deal on your heating costs!
• Use your curtains: Opening up the curtains allows for  the sun to heat your home and closing them at night helps reduce the escape of heat.
• Install a low-flow shower head: A water-efficient shower head will use less hot water and therefore, less heat!
• Keep your heating vents clear: Keeping rugs and furniture away from the vents will allow for the hot air to circulate properly.