Happy Thanksgiving – Turkey Frying Safety Tips

Happy Thanksgiving! This happens to be our own, personal favorite holiday of the year. No work, food and family. No pressure of gifts and a built-in excuse, no, obligation, to go for second or third helpings, desserts (plural), and authorized nap. Seriously, what could be better?

The US Fire Administration reports over 4,000 Thanksgiving Day fires each year related to turkey frying accidents.

Turkey Frying Safety Tips:

1. Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors and a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.

2. Do not use your turkey fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck.

3. Use your turkey fryer on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

4. Never leave your fryer unattended, if you do not watch carefully, the oil can continue to heat until catching fire.

5. Do not let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

6. Do not overfill the fryer.

7. Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.

8. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed! Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

9. The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.

10. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

11. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire!

Shop for Massachusetts Auto, Home & Life Insurance

MassQuotes.com is your internet insurance website for finding the most competitive Massachusetts Auto, Home & Life Insurance.

MassQuotes utilizes the power of your local, independent insurance agent to shop for the best coverage and the best rates with the best companies.

Your MA independent agent writes with numerous companies and will be able to package your policies for the best premiums.

Your insurance agent should be able to help you with the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Your MA agent will advocate for you at claim or billing time.

To find the best Massachusetts auto, home or life insurance rate: call or click us today!

Winter Insurance Claim Prevention

 

If our Massachusetts pre-Halloween 2011 “trick or treat” snowstorm was any indication of the winter to come, it’s probably a good time to mention some prevention tips:

  • Maintain gutters. Removing leaves, acorns, sticks & debris from gutters so that snow & ice can drain properly can help prevent dreaded ice dams.
  • Trim trees & remove dead branches. Ice, snow & sin can cause weak trees or branches to break damaging your home, car or injuring someone.
  • Check insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water re-freezing causes more snow & ice to build up resulting in collapsed roofs & ice dams. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air.
  • Keep your home warm. The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is colder than the walls themselves.

Term Life Insurance

 

Term Life Insurance offers the most family protection for the least amount of money.

As people live longer, the cost of term life insurance continues to go down.

If you need life insurance, now may be the time to apply.

If you have a policy, it may be worthwhile to apply for a new term. You may be able to extend your term while keeping your premium the same, or less.

For consumer rate-comparison purposes, following please find sample super-preferred, non-smoking term life insurance illustrations:

Him:   Age 28 as of July, 2011

$500,000 face value, 20 year term: $245 annual   (30 year term: $370)
$1M face value, 20 year term: $425 annual     (30 year term: $665)
$2M face value, 20 year term: $785 annual   (30 year term: $1,265)
 
Her:   Age 27 as of July, 2011
$500,000 face value, 20 year term: $215     (30 year term: $300)
$1M face value, 20 year term: $365     (30 year term: $535)
$2M face value, 20 year term:  $665     (30 year term: $1,005)
 
Please call or click us today to get get your free term life insurance quote.

Massachusetts Vehicle Excise Tax

In an attempt to de-mystify the annual, pesky excise tax we offer the following excise tax information:

Excise bills are prepared by the RMV according to information on the registration. They are sent to city/town assessors who commit them to local tax collectors for distribution.

The excise tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of valuation (NADA) subject to the following percentage formula:

In the model year: 90%; second year: 60%; third year: 40%; fourth year: 25%; fifth year & beyond: 10%.

If you have turned in your plates on the vehicle you are getting excise taxed on, or if you have transferred plates and got rid of the vehicle, you may be eligible for abatement . Abatement instructions are located on your excise tax bill.

Massachusetts Independent Agent Advantage

Massachusetts Auto, Home & Life Insurance

There are 3 ways to purchase auto insurance in Massachusetts.

1) Buy direct through a captive insurance agent.

2) Buy direct through a telephone service representative or online

3) Buy through an independent insurance agent.

Some will suggest, “it doesn’t matter where you buy insurance, it’s all about price.”

True, price is important. More important, however, is what coverage and services are you buying for that price?

Some of the advantages of buying through an independent Massachusetts insurance agent:

  • Your independent agent works for you as advocate at claim time, or if you have a billing question.
  • Your independent agent writes with numerous companies. This allows them to find you the lowest premium and best insurance program.
  • Your independent agent is not beholden to any one company; thus, you don’t need to change agents as your insurance and service needs change.
  • Your independent agent is your personal insurance consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
  • Your independent agent offers “one-stop” shopping for a full range of products including: home, renters, condo, auto, business, life and health insurance.
  • Your independent agent treats you like a person, not just another number.
  • Your independent agent will assist you with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  • Your independent agent will save you money!

Massquotes.com utilizes the power of the Massachusetts independent insurance agent.

Call or click us today for your free MA insurance quote.