Check out this site for money-saving tips from agents, budget calculators, interactive home and car tools with realistic savings ideas, information about insurance discounts and a link to Community Forums. In a recent addition, the site now also presents special offers from Restaurant.com and Sam's Club: http://ingoodhands.com/

ICE Campaign, mine is done...

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?

Hence this “ ICE” (In Case of Emergency ) Campaign .
The concept of “ICE” is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency ituations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name “ICE” ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you
have stored as “ICE.”

Are you going on vacation or leaving your home or apartment for greater than a day? Be sure to have someone stay at your residence or checking on it daily. REMEMBER, Frozen pipes aren't just an inconvenience, families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter all because of water pipes that freeze.

*Set your thermostat no lower than 60 degrees

*Install a low heat alarm (calls you if the home reaches 50 degrees)

*Have a plumber install a low water cut off switch on forced hot water boiler.

*Fill heating system with Anti-freeze

*Install a low oil alarm

*Insulate every bit of your pipes including connections

*Wrap pipes with heat tape

*Let water trickle on very cold days (turn facets on and let warm water trickle continuously)

*Have your fuel oil delivery set up on auto fill (make sure to do months before your departure)

If your home will be unoccupied for any length of time :

*Drain all domestic water lines, leave faucets and drain valves open

*Have the water service shut off in the street and remove meter

*Drain all heating lines, leave all drain valves open

*Drain all Boilers and hot water heaters, and leave drain valves open

*Drain plumbing fixtures and add anti-freeze to all traps

*Shut off gas service at the meter

*Have house checked daily, leaving a different light on everyday.

*Unplug ALL appliances and fixtures (everything)

More tips:

Check and replace washing machine hoses annually

Water heaters, safety vales and washing machines that are located above the first floor or in a finished basement should have drain pans.

Know were your water meter and shut-off valves are located. (test it's integrity once a year)

Insulate and fill any cracks in the exterior siding around water pipes.

Insurance Credit Scores

If you have applied for insurance in the past couple of years you may have heard the term "Financial Stability" What is your financial stability and what does it mean? How does it affect your insurance and why? Check out this site for more information http://www.insurancescore.com/

Teen Driver Information

Have a teen now or one in the future? Be sure to go to www.allstate.com/teen and find information on how to keep your teen safe, Parent-Teen Driving Contract, and videos to share with your newly licensed driver.

Text Message Important Notices

Keeping up with technology, do you want important notices text messaged? (example Payment Reminder) Please email Kayla and ask that she add your cell phone number to our database. We will limit personal messages that pertain to your accounts. Kayla's email is sak42312@allstate.com

Save an additional 6%!

Yes sign up for Ez Pay and save an additional 6% on your auto insurance! Call us today or sign into your account online and set this up in Customer Care Center. Call Kayla for more information {451-7733 or 488-7033 toll free 866-488-7033} Email sak42312@allstate.com

Woodstove's

Check with your local Fire Department, most will loan chimney brushes to clean your chimneys. It has been recommended by a local Fire Chief to Clean your chimney once a month. Please do not burn garbage or green wood in your home wood stoves, because of the increased creosote causes congestion and increased risk of fires.

Also did you know must fire departments offer a Free Home Safety Inspection? This includes checking your Smoke Alarms, the charge on your fire extinguishers, and CO detectors. Call your local fire department for details.

Calendars are in!

Please stop by and pick up a calendar today! If you wish we can mail you one as well. Currently we have the large Calendars (sports cars or successories), the small sticky calendars, and the pocket calendars. Send an email or call, we can set one aside or mail one to you right away. katherinehood@allstate.com

Wood Stoves for Additional Heat Source

It appears winter is all around us... many customers are or have already installed a wood stove or other alternate heat sources in their homes. There isn't any concern with us on any rate increases or other issues as a result.

Home policies through our office cover any kind of fire loss, except Arson. Our claims always will investigate the cause of fire in conjunction with the fire department for the cause. If the cause is the result of a poor installation there is a possibility the replacement of the wood stove itself would be denied, not the damage as a result.

Please have a contractor install your wood stove or have a licensed, bonded, insured company inspect the install and get proof the inspection was done.

We have had a few fires already as a result of improper installs.

We now can insure Mobile Homes!

This is great news for many of our customers. Please call us or email for a free quote.

Please tell us how we are doing!

In the weeks or days to come there will be a customer survey coming in the mail. Please take the time and tell us how we are doing! The letter will have a ID number on it that may be used on the following website as well http://www.cmiresearch.com/redir/allstate.aspx?0=145

Thank you so much!