School is out and so are the bicycles!

Please wear a helmet while riding this summer. Here are some Safety tips:

• 40% of vehicle-bicycle crashes involve a “right turn on red”.
  
  
• 46% of all vehicle-bicycle crashes take place between 3-7pm on weekdays.
  
  
• 39% of all bike crashes in Anchorage involve bicyclists between 6-18 yrs old.
  
  
• In Anchorage, driver inattention and failure to yield were the main factors in bicycle related crashes.

Alaska Department of Transportation

Please double check your mirrors!

It's that time again! Please double check our mirrors!

Program our phone number in your Cell phones

We have heard from a few customers recently having our number a click away helps when the unexpected happens. Please take a minute and program our phone number in your phone.

Fairbanks number 451-7733

North Pole number 488-7033

Toll Free number 866-488-7033

Eco-Friendly

More and more there are ways to reduce the impact to our environment, we here at Hood Agency are doing our part! Come by and get our bags, great for groceries!!(limit 4 per house)

Tiss the season

Don't forget to reinstate your motor homes, with Arctic Man this weekend and spring in full swing we want to be sure you're covered!

Glass damage?

Rocks everywhere, especially now that it's spring! If you have Comprehensive filling a claim is easy! Call 1800 626 4527, have your policy number ready before calling.
Often it is best to wait till the rocks are cleared from the roadways before scheduling your replacement or repair.

P.S. Comp/glass claims don't hurt your insurance rates.

Emergency prepardness

With the tragedy in Japan it reminds us mother nature is powerful and to be prepared. Being we are near the arctic we have to be even more prepared.

The following items are important to have readily available in your home.
Generator (hook up easy to switch in the event of a power outage)
Flashlight with extra batteries
Portable, battery-operated radio
Radio
Purchase and use "glow sticks".
First aid kit and manual
Emergency food and water (some sources say you should have up to 2 weeks worth of extra food
Nonelectric can opener
Essential medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes for each family member.
Warm clothes
Blankets

For more go to this site How to prepare for an Earthquake

Bump up your credit score tips

Wanting to buy a house or car this year here are some easy fast ways to bump up your credit score.

Pull your credit and repair errors.

Pay down credit lines over two months.

Pay bills on time from now on.

Never use “grace periods” pay early or on time.

Do not close unused accounts.

Cut up credit cards, but keep the oldest one. (even if you don’t use it)

Spread your debt over your credit cards rather than one with all debt.

Rapid re-scoring you'll need a lender who is a customer of a rapid re-scoring service. Generally, the service will run roughly $50 for every account on your credit report that needs to be addressed, but it could save you thousands on your loan.

More on these tips go to this site, and some tools and strategies to get your score higher :(click here)

Spring time can bring Flooding

Springtime is just around the corner.. your homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood water (water from the outside of your home). Flood insurance is the only protection through FEMA can cover water damage from spring flooding. Want to know what a flood could cost? Below is an interactive tool to give you an idea.
Interactive Tool

Note: flood insurance has a 30 day waiting period, so don't wait to get coverage.
Quote and information click HERE

TONS of snow!

With all the snow we've had this past week and predicted in our future, is it time to shovel our roofs? There's many factors to consider, is your roof flat or sloped? What is the material on your roof? metal or shingle?

The load needed to collapse a code-built roof would still require much more snow, local building officials said. An approved roof is required to hold 50 pounds per square foot in Fairbanks.
More info

Calculating snow loads for flat and sloped Roofs, More info

p.s. if you're going to attempt to clear your roof yourself, please be careful!

Tax time!

Don't forget to have your property insurance figure when filling your taxes. We can easily work up this figure for you, please email akallst8@yahoo.com and we will get the figure to you fast!

Witness to an accident?

Driving to work and witness and accident? Please please stay at the scene and help the parties involved. Many times accidents happen so fast parties and parties involved are so shaken the details are hard to recall. If you're in a rush, simply provide someone at the scene your name and phone number (business card) and let them know you'd be happy to help. This act of kindness may ensure one's insurance rates don't go up and who knows someone may pay it forward to you one day!