News

Avoiding Commercial Building Roof Collapse: Removing Snow from a Roof

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This week’s snow has accumulated on the roofs of Maine homes and commercial buildings, increasing the risk of collapse and ice dams. The snow has finally stopped in Portland, Maine – at least temporarily. It’s a good time to evaluate whether you need to remove snow from a roof.

High-Risk Areas – Heavy Snow Load Can Cause Roof Collapse

  • Large, flat roofs, or those with less than a 30º slope.
  • Heavily insulated roofs
  • Roofs with previous structural damage or stress.
  • Shaded areas, where snow can freeze into ice.

Evaluate Your Commercial Roof Before Snow Load is Critical

  • Create a plot plan to identify skylights, drains and scuppers, wiring and equipment.
  • Monitor rooftop conditions throughout the winter to identify ice buildup, blocked drains and snow drifts.
  • Use experienced, knowledgeable employees or (preferably) hire an outside contractor.
  • Hire only experienced contractors who can provide proof of business general liability insurance.

Warning Signs of Roof Collapse

  • Improper operation of doors or windows.
  • Deflection of ceiling finishes or exposed beams.
  • Roof leaks
  • Sprinklers moved from their normal positions
  • If you notice these, contact a structural engineer or your local building inspector.

How to Safely Remove Snow from a Roof

  • Do not remove snow all the way down to the roof membrane.
  • Use plastic shovels – never metal – on your roof.
  • Fill a plastic tarp with snow and release over the side of the building, carefully watching where snow is landing to avoid people and property.
  • If using a snow blower, adjust to prevent rotating components from contacting the roof surface.

Most Maine business property insurance policies cover roof collapse. Policies do not typically cover maintenance such as snow removal or other prudent loss prevention measures. If you have questions about commercial building insurance, contact the experienced Maine insurance agents at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

We’re proud to be agents of Acadia Insurance, MMG Insurance and Hanover Insurance,  whose loss control tips which were used in this blog post.

Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance Facebook Fall Photo Contest Winners

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To celebrate New England’s signature season, our Maine independent insurance agency held a Fall Facebook Photo Contest, which drew 29 beautiful photos. Noyes Hall & Allen’s 350 Facebook fans decided the winner by “liking” their favorites. First prize was a $100 U.S. Savings Bond; second prize was a $50 U.S. Savings Bond; and third prize was $10 cash.

First Place: Denis Hartley

Our contest winner, with an impressive 70 “likes” was Denis Hartley of South Portland. Denis actually had two photos with the same number of votes, so we’ve published both here. The first shows two ducks in a pond amid fall colors. The second features a view from Loon Mountain of foliage and a mountain lake.

two ducks in a fall pond. Photo by Denis Hartley Loon Mountain in fall by Denis Hartley

Second Place – Jessica Lang

The second-highest vote getting photo was taken by Jessica Lang. Jessica lives in New Hampshire, and her winning photo was taken in Penacook, NH. It captures the pure childhood joy of playing in fallen leaves, and features Jessica’s niece. Jessica says “she was trying to throw the leaves over her head, but she just couldn’t do it. She had a blast playing in the park and getting her picture taken.”

Playing in leaves Penacook NH by Jessica Lang

Third Place – Shawna Hall

Third place photographer was Shawna Hall of Durham, Maine. Shawna captured this beautiful foliate scene in Auburn, Maine. To see more of her work, visit Shawna Hall’s web site. Coincidentally, Shawna is a licensed insurance agent – just proving that insurance people can have a creative streak, too!

fall lake scene in Auburn, ME

Thanks again to the photographers who captured and shared such beautiful fall images, and to our Facebook fans who voted for them. We hope you enjoyed the contest as much as we did!

Vehicle Safety Ratings and Maine Car Insurance Costs

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New car shoppers have an updated tool to help them compare the safety of various vehicles, and earn car insurance discounts. The Department of Transportation announced yesterday their revised 5-Star vehicle safety rating system.

Mother secures baby in child car seat
Photo: USDOT

The 5-Star rating is much more difficult to earn under the new standard. Only 2 of  the first 33 vehicles crash-tested achieved the top score, compared to 99 that received 5 stars last year. The two vehicles were the BMW 5 Series and the Hyundai Sonata.

Crash test ratings are about more than manufacturers’ bragging rights. The safest cars can reduce your Maine auto insurance quote. Auto insurers offer discounts for anti-lock brakes, air bags, and other safety features.

Although many factors determine car insurance costs,  the price to protect two vehicles  with similar MSRP’s can vary depending upon those discounts. The Department of Transportation provides excellent auto safety information at safercar.gov.

You can get Maine auto insurance quotes from four competing insurers from Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance . For more information, Contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541.

Maine Workers’ Compensation Insurance Forecast and Recap

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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently released their annual report of  Workers’ Compensation results, and the picture isn’t pretty.

Payroll Reductions
Maine business insurance agents already know that their clients struggled to balance expenses with revenues reduced by the recession. Between layoffs, furloughs and attrition, reduced payrolls caused U.S. workers’ compensation premiums to drop 11.4% from 2008 to 2009.  While a slight reduction in rates caused some of that decrease, most of it was payroll-driven.
New England fared slightly better than average, with a 10.8% decrease. Our state actually did better than New England. Maine workers compensation insurance premiums were 10.2% lower in 2009 than 2008.

Workers Compensation Overall Premium Change, 2008 to 2009
click to enlarge map

Increased Losses
The workers’ compensation loss ratio (losses incurred to premium earned) increased nearly 7% in 2009. Although not uncommon during an economic recession, this is not a positive sign for the health of the workers’ comp insurance market. The New England states’ pure loss ratios were worse than average, at 73.1%.  Maine’s pure loss ratio was better than the New England average, but worse than the national average, at 70%.

Workers' Comp Pure Loss Ratios by State, 2009
Click to enlarge map

The Maine Workers’ Comp Forecast
Most insurance analysts believe that the workers’ comp market is in a precarious position. Relatively good loss ratios are deteriorating, and the uncertainty of national health care reform, medical cost increases, and employment and economic growth (or lack thereof) concern underwriters. The result may be upward pressure on Maine workers’ comp rates over the next few years. That’s bad news for employers.

If you have questions about your Maine workers comp experience modification, workplace safety, or workers’ compensation insurance in general, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

The Case of the Lost Engagement Ring: Insurance Saves the Day!

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Did you read or see the TV news story about the couple’s engagement that went awry when the $9,000 diamond ring fell into the ocean on Cape Cod, and could not be found?

Insurance Saves the Day
The good news is that the groom’s mother had contacted her local insurance agent , and insured the ring – without his knowledge -the day he bought it.

The Lesson
Loss of jewelry (or a stone from a ring) is not covered by most Maine homeowners insurance policies, unless you buy specific coverage. Your Maine insurance agency may call this “scheduling your jewelry”. It’s not expensive: this ring would have cost less than $70 a year to insure.

Until it’s given, the ring belongs to the groom, and can be insured on his policy. It’s usually scheduled on the bride-to-be’s policy after she’s received it. If you’re not a homeowner, you can buy a Maine renters insurance policy and schedule the ring there.

If you have questions about insuring your property, Maine car insurance, or other ways to protect your assets, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

Maine Drivers: What’s Your “Third Number”?

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Every so often, a local news article like this one appears. Something goes wrong, and a Maine driver finds their vehicle in somebody’s living room – or bank lobby.

This accident happened right around the corner from our office. At noontime today, the damage was impressive: two large (and no doubt, expensive) glass walls were completely destroyed. Equally impressive was the speed of the repairs, which were in full swing. Fortunately, the bank was able to open today, so there was no “loss of income” suffered.

Hopefully, the driver of this vehicle had insurance. And hopefully, he paid attention to “the third number”.

The Third Number

Maine auto insurance policies provide liability coverage. Maine’s minimum liability limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for Bodily Injury, and $25,000 for Property Damage. When you get a car insurance quote, the insurance company might quote those figures as “50/100/25”.

In the accident that happened last night, there was no Bodily Injury (thank goodness), only Property Damage. That means that the Third Number is what will pay for the damages.

I have no idea whether $25,000 would be enough to repair this building, but I wouldn’t want to find out the hard way. If a Maine driver doesn’t have enough insurance for the damage or injuries they cause, their assets are wide open to help pay for the other party’s loss. That’s why we never recommend buying State Minimum limits.

What’s Your Third Number?

When you get a Maine car insurance quote, pay attention to ALL the numbers, including the “Third Number” – your Property Damage limit.

For professional, personal insurance advice, call Noyes Hall & Allen at 799-5541. We’ll help you understand what you’re buying, and help you make informed choices to find insurance you can afford.

P.S. 

In the 6 years since we first posted this, lots of similar accidents have occurred. Just this week, the Press Herald Headline said “Young Driver Smashes Car into Scarborough Natural Food Store“. Our advice is just as relevant as ever.

Happy Retirement, Barbara!

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Friday marks the end of an era.

Barbara, who’s worked for Noyes Hall & Allen for the past 13 1/2 years, is retiring. For such a small woman, she made a huge impact in her long insurance career.

Over the years,  she issued 3,000 new policies, reported 5,000 insurance claims, and made  15,000 policy changes for her clients. But  Barbara’s impressive work ethic is not the reason why she was so popular among her clients. Clients don’t care what you know unless they know that you care – and Barbara cared.

Clients paid many unsolicited compliments to Barbara’s service, year after year. This one from a new client sums them up best:

“While on a business trip, I realized I needed to review my policy. I was met by Barbara with courtesy, good cheer, excellent listening skills and efficiency. I care in that order and am really surprised by the excellent customer service from your company. With employees like Barbara, I’ll be with your firm for a long time.”

Noyes Hall & Allen has so many long-term clients because we are fortunate to have experienced professionals who provide great service. Barbara was one of the best.

We wish Barbara a happy, healthy and long retirement. She deserves it!

Maine’s Low Car Insurance Rates Lead the Nation

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As recently reported in the New York Times‘ “Wheels” blog,  The average  cost of a Maine auto insurance policy is $902.85 per year, the lowest rates in the country.

The contest isn’t even close. Residents of the next lowest state, Vermont, pay about 7% more than Mainers. The nationwide average: about $1,450 – a whopping 38% higher.

With our snowy, icy winters, why would our car insurance be so cheap? It’s not all about weather.  In fact, 7 of the lowest 10 states are in the snow belt.

Behind the Numbers
Car insurance rates essentially pay for 3 things:

  • Repair Costs
  • Medical Bills
  • Legal Bills and Damages from Lawsuits

Maine’s costs for the first two are roughly in line with the rest of the country, but Mainers tend to be a bit less litigious than some other areas. That helps keep costs down.

Are Uncrowded Roads The Answer?
Maine is less congested than much of the country, but that’s not the whole reason behind our lower car insurance costs. Otherwise, Ohio, North Carolina, Arizona, Tennnessee and Massachusetts (yes, Massachusetts) wouldn’t also be in the bottom 10.

Our Theory
We think there’s something else behind the numbers: The rest of the country’s high percentage of uninsured drivers, and pitifully low minimum liability limits, and the number of people without health insurance.

You see, when someone has no insurance to pay their medical bills or repair their car, they’re more likely to try to “go against the other guy” after an accident, in an effort to avoid big bills. Even if you’re not at fault, if you’re “the other guy”, you can be sued, or the other party can try to make a claim against your insurance.

Even if a claim or suit is groundless, it costs your insurance company money to hire an attorney on your behalf or investigate the claim. That drives up insurance costs – for everybody.

So, maybe Maine really is…

Maine - The Way Life Should Be

Are you paying too much for car insurance? Get 4 competitive Maine auto insurance quotes in 10 minutes from Noyes Hall & Allen’s web site, or call us at 207-799-5541. We represent 10 of the state’s preferred auto insurers. One call gives you access to all of them!

Maine Flood Insurance Unavailable

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For the second time in a month, The National Flood Insurance Program lapsed on March 28 due to lack of continued federal funding. The Senate left for Easter recess until April 12 without addressing HR4851, which would have offered an extension. This leaves anyone looking to buy Maine flood insurance – or in any other state – high and dry, in the height of flood season.

If You’re Buying a Home and Need Flood Insurance
Flood insurance servicing companies are collecting applications, but cannot accept them or bind coverage until the NFIP is re-authorized by the Senate. If your lender requires proof of flood insurance, this may delay your closing. Talk to your lender for more information. You literally can not buy flood coverage without an act of Congress.

If You Already Have Flood Insurance, and Need to Make a Claim
Claim payments  will be continued as usual for all policies currently in effect.

If You Have Flood Insurance and Need to Increase Your Coverage
Coverage cannot be increased on existing policies until the NFIP is reauthorized. This may delay a loan closing if you are refinancing or taking out a home equity loan.

If Your Flood Policy is About to Renew
Renewal policies can not be issued during the lapse. Many companies sent renewal bills prior to March 28. If you received a bill and paid it, your coverage should be in force. If your premium was not paid before March 28, coverage cannot be bound until after the NFIP is reauthorized by Congress.

What You Can Do
The NFIP is the only primary flood insurance available for residential properties. Many insurers have a servicing contract to issue business on behalf of the NFIP, but it is a government program. Without reauthorization, the program is essentially shut down. Call or email your senator to let them know what this lack of funding means to you. While there’s no guarantee, the NFIP reauthorization will likely be retroactive to March 28 – once it’s finally passed. That’s usually what happens in these cases.

Even during normal operation, the National Flood Insurance Program operates differently than most insurance programs. There are waiting periods and underwriting rules and requirements that are unique to this program. It’s impossible to advise you about your individual situation with a blog post like this. Call a Maine homeowners insurance agent for advice about your own insurance.

Update: Maine Flood Insurance Re-Authorized until May 31

Posted on by admin

For the second time in a month, The National Flood Insurance Program lapsed on March 28 due to lack of continued federal funding. The Senate left for Easter recess until April 12 without addressing HR4851, which would have offered an extension. This leaves anyone looking to buy Maine flood insurance – or in any other state – high and dry, in the height of flood season.

If You’re Buying a Home and Need Flood Insurance
Flood insurance servicing companies are collecting applications, but cannot accept them or bind coverage until the NFIP is re-authorized by the Senate. If your lender requires proof of flood insurance, this may delay your closing. Talk to your lender for more information. You literally can not buy flood coverage without an act of Congress.

If You Already Have Flood Insurance, and Need to Make a Claim
Claim payments  will be continued as usual for all policies currently in effect.

If You Have Flood Insurance and Need to Increase Your Coverage
Coverage cannot be increased on existing policies until the NFIP is reauthorized. This may delay a loan closing if you are refinancing or taking out a home equity loan.

If Your Flood Policy is About to Renew
Renewal policies can not be issued during the lapse. Many companies sent renewal bills prior to March 28. If you received a bill and paid it, your coverage should be in force. If your premium was not paid before March 28, coverage cannot be bound until after the NFIP is reauthorized by Congress.

What You Can Do
The NFIP is the only primary flood insurance available for residential properties. Many insurers have a servicing contract to issue business on behalf of the NFIP, but it is a government program. Without reauthorization, the program is essentially shut down. Call or email your senator to let them know what this lack of funding means to you. While there’s no guarantee, the NFIP reauthorization will likely be retroactive to March 28 – once it’s finally passed. That’s usually what happens in these cases.

Even during normal operation, the National Flood Insurance Program operates differently than most insurance programs. There are waiting periods and underwriting rules and requirements that are unique to this program. It’s impossible to advise you about your individual situation with a blog post like this. Call a Maine homeowners insurance agent for advice about your own insurance.

UPDATE:
As of April 15, 2009, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, a bill reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until May 31, 2010.  The extension included retroactive funding to cover two gaps in the program (March 1 – 2 and March 29 – April 15, 2010). The program will expire again on May 31 unless it is further extended. Stand by!