Howland & Sargent

What You Need to Know Before You Volunteer.

Howland Sargent — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:59:43 +0000

As active community volunteers ourselves, our agency has often been asked, “Am I covered for liability as a volunteer?” According to PIA Magazine, Yes. You are covered under the Volunteer Protection Act. On Sept. 16, 1997, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 became effective. Concerned that volunteers have been deterred from offering their services to nonprofit organizations because of liability concerns, Congress went to work to enact a law that would limit volunteer liability. This federal law is good news for all those who volunteer, or have always wanted to volunteer. The Volunteer Protection Act provides liability protection for harm a volunteer may cause as long as:
1) the volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her volunteer responsibilities;
2) the volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized for the activity which caused the harm (if required or appropriate);
3) the harm was not caused by the willful or criminal misconduct, gross
4) negligence or conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the person harmed; and
5) the harm was not caused by the volunteer while operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other vehicle for which the state mandates the operator or owner to be licensed or to maintain insurance
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 is a big step in the right direction to providing volunteers with immunity; however, because there are still some limitations and qualifications on immunity, check with our agency to be sure you have the appropriate insurance coverage.

Dryer Sheets Pose Toxic Dangers

Howland Sargent — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:57:25 +0000

Every day, people use clothes dryers without thinking about the potential dangers they pose. One of the biggest dangers is lint, but not in the way you would think. Lint that accumulates after drying clothes can be flammable creating a potential for fires, but it can also be toxic. Lint contains quite a long list of chemicals that come from fabric softeners & dryer sheets, clothing, and environmental factors found in clothing. The main concern here is the chemicals from dryer sheets and softeners. These sheets are covered with a waxy material that may smell nice and get your clothes soft, but when the sheets are broken down by the heat of the dryer, they release harmful chemicals and these chemicals get trapped in lint and is released in the air. The same holds true for the liquid softeners you put into your rinse cycle. The chemicals absorb into your clothing and are released during the drying process.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) “ the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations.

• Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.
• Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.
• Ethanol: On the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.
• Limonene: Known carcinogen.
• A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.
• Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list.
• Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
• Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
• Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled. “

The solution? If you like using dryer sheets try brands like Method, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, Caldrea, or Whole Foods. Trader Joe’s sells Lavender pouches to dry with your clothes (you can also make your own). A natural way to soften fabric and reduce static is to add vinegar to the wash (but never mix vinegar and bleach!) Why Use Vinegar Instead of Fabric Softener

Independent Agent vs. Captive Agent

Howland Sargent — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:09:12 +0000

By definition, captive agents work exclusively for one insurance carrier. They only have a relationship to that one company. Independent agents like Howland & Sargent Insurance represent multiple insurance companies and work on behalf of the client to find them the policy that best fits their needs. So the questions remains….what type of insurance agent should you use? Independent or Captive? The answer comes down to a few basic facts. Independent agents have a wide variety of companies to choose from that offer the best coverage with competitive rates. If you are dissatisfield with the company for one reason or another, you independent agent can find you the company that works best for you without any hassles. Or perhaps, your current insurance company has dropped you because of the certain breed of dog you own…..an indedpendent agent will more than likely have a company that will take you on. What if your current captive company like State Farm or Allstate suddenly hits you with a rate increase? They cannot quote you with any other company since they work exclusively for that one company. Being a local independent agency like Howland & Sargent allows the agents to provide personal service and attention to each individual customer since each customer’s needs are all different. To watch a video go to
and click on the video “Declare your Independence”.

Ice Dams on homes

Howland Sargent — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:42:56 +0000

It’s that wonderul time of the year again….Winter in New England! With all the recent snow activity happening in Connecticut, snow has been accumulating on roofs causing the dreaded ICE DAMS. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation. If left untreated, homeowners will end up with water spots and mold on the ceiling and walls. NEVER….never use high-pressure water, hammers and chisels to remove the ice. These instruments will cause more damage by opeing more holes for moisture to leak through. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO….Remove snow from the roof. This eliminates one of the ingredients necessary for the formation of an ice dam. A “roof rake” and push broom can be used to remove snow, but may damage the roofing materials. In the event that water is flowing into the house, you can make channels through the ice dam which allows the water behind the dam to drain off the roof. Hosing with tap water on a warm day will do this job. If you are unable to do this yourself, it is best to call a professional to clear the ice and snow from the roof, gutters, and downspouts. Do not attempt to go on the roof . Not only do you put yourself at risk of slipping and falling, bu you could also cause extensive damage to the roof. FOR FUTURE REFERENCE…First, make the ceiling air tight so no warm, moist air can flow from the house into the attic space. After sealing air leakage paths between the house and attic space, consider increasing the ceiling/roof insulation to cut down on heat loss by conduction. Clean leaves and debris from gutters each fall, and during the winter season remove the snow regularly from the roof with a roof snow scraper.

Non owned motorcycle accident

Howland Sargent — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:52:25 +0000

A question arose in the PIA November 2010 newsletter. Someone asked, “If I borrowed my friends motorcycle, skidded and fell off the bike causing physical damage to the bike, would my auto or homeowners policy provide coverage for the cost of the repairs? The answer to this simple. According to Dan Corin, CPCU, CIC, LUTC; “The homeowners policy does not cover motor vehicles subject to registration at all. The personal auto policy does cover non-owned vehicles for physical damage, but only if these vehicles are private passengers cars, pickups, vans, or tailers. So there is no coverage there.” If the person who crashed the motorcycle has his own motorcycle policy, that policy may cover the damages.

Do you have a home inventory of your personal possessions?

Howland Sargent — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:26:38 +0000

Do you have a home inventory of items in your home? According to the Insurance Information Institute, keeping an inventory will help you to make sure you have enough insurance to replace items that are stolen or lost in a fire. Having an inventory will help to get your insurance claim settled quickly and faster, as well as, substantial losses for your income tax return.
Go to http://ezasset.appspot.com/viewOnlyNoLogin.do?page=front_kys_take&brand=iii to view a video that explains how to use a free online inventory software through www.KNOWYOURSTUFF.org.

Planning a wedding? What is wedding insurance?

Howland Sargent — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:52:28 +0000

Personal finance experts recommend that when planning a wedding, couples consult with an insurance agent first. Howland & Sargent would like to introduce the Wedding Protector Plan from The Travelers. This is a specific insurance policy that offers customers financial protection if certain unfortunate, unforeseen events occur. Today’s wedding can average a price tag of $25,000. As special as this day is for brides, there is a possibility that something could go wrong with their plans. What happens if the bridal shop in which the wedding gown and all the bridesmaids dresses were purchased suddenly closes? Or what if a hurricane or flood damage causes the wedding to be postponed? What if the photographer skips town with your deposit? Without Wedding Protection Insurance, all your deposits would be lost. Under this insurance, you would be paid for all the deposits you put down for transportation, food, catering services, equipment rentals, hall and location rentals, accommodations (including travel arrangements and accommodations for a honeymoon), special attire, special jewelry, flowers, photography and entertainment. To learn more about Wedding Protector Plan, you can visit the Howland & Sargent website at www.HowlandSargent.com or call Jennifer Smith at (860) 763-4077.
Be sure to visit our booth at the 10th Annual Hartford Bridal Expo on February 27, 2011 at the Hartford XL Center. Enter our raffle and learn why wedding insurance is an important part of your big day.

Figuring the correct amount to insure your house for

Howland Sargent — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:11:12 +0000

Insuring your home for its proper value is one of our most important jobs.
For most people, their home is one of the most valuable assets they will ever own.
There are lots of ways to value your home:
• the resale or “market” value
• the value for mortgage purposes
• the value for property taxation purposes
• the value of a newly constructed home
FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES, it’s the reconstruction value that’s important.

Calculating the insurance value of your home
Many factors influence the value of a home. Things like geographic location, square footage, type of construction and amount of custom features all play a role in the overall value. The market value of an identical home in different neighborhoods may vary widely. However, the cost to reconstruct a given home remains relatively consistent.
Also, the cost to reconstruct a home after a loss is on average greater than the cost of new construction. That can be due to the fact that, in reconstructing a home, the contractor sometimes needs to work around any undamaged existing structure, or get past physical obstacles that weren’t there when the new home was on an accessible, open lot. Changes in building codes can also make reconstruction more expensive, as can demolition costs, extraordinary or new permit fees, elevated costs for materials (either seasonal or after a major disaster), and other contingencies

The benefit of getting the reconstruction value right? It’s at claim time.
All parties concerned want the values to be right — not under-insured OR over-insured. The real measure of accuracy comes at the time of loss. Utica has found that since using this valuation calculator and in-person insur¬ance surveys, the reconstruction cost estimates have a much better chance of being accurate at claim time. MSB is not substantially higher or lower than independent appraisals.
Ongoing re-validation keeps your coverage adequate.

Driver’s Alert Program offered free through Utical National Insurance for Commercial Auto Fleet Insured’s

Howland Sargent — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:08:04 +0000

One of our companies, Utica National offers the following Driver’s Alert Program and it’s free. Here is what it is:
This state-of-the-art crash- and risk-reduction service helps identify drivers at businesses who are at high risk of an at-fault accident and provides training tools and data to correct unsafe driving behavior before it leads to a crash.
• An unlimited-use library of online, interactive, proactive and remedial training courses for drivers.
• “1-800 How Am I Driving?” Program
- 97 percent call accuracy rate.
- Digital recording of call and verified report sent to your PC in minutes.
• Customizable management reports, including individual driver and fleet comparison data.
• A highly trained Driver’s Alert Customer Service Representative assigned specifically to their account.
What’s more, Driver’s Alert offers each client a money-back guarantee, promising a 25 percent reduction in at-fault accidents or their Smart Risk program is free

Changing leaves….change your batteries

Howland Sargent — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:51:18 +0000

Fall Season is here and along with pumpkins and falling leaves, it reminds us to change our clocks and change the batteries in our smoke detectors. Tragically about 3,000 people still die in fires each year in the U.S. In this country alone, someone dies from a home fire roughly every 134 minutes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and to have a fire escape plan. All smoke alarms in your house should be tested once a month and their batteries replaced annually. Change your clock….change your battery. Prepare a floor plan of your home showing at least two ways out of each room. Easy to use window escape ladders are available through many catalogues and outlet stores. Talk with your family and agree on a fixed location outside where family members can meet for a head count. Smoke detectors are proven to help save lives and to limit property damage as well as personal injury. If you haven’t already replaced the batteries in your detector, now is the perfect time! For more information and go to: http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=278&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fact%20sheets/Smoke%20alarms&cookie%5Ftest=1