Did the building just move? Yes, that was a tremor you felt recently when a quake of 4.0 was recorded in New England. Although 800 of them happen a year, it is rare for those of use in New England to feel the shake of an earthquake. It took me awhile to realize it was an earthquake, at first I thought it might be some kind of large truck rumbling by, or something like that. Within seconds of feeling the tremor, friends on Facebook and twitter with posting comments, many of which were “was thatan earthquake?” We just don’t think about earthquakes in this area….but clearly they do happen! So, when one hits what should you do?

If you are indoors when shaking starts: “DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON.” If you are not near a strong table or desk, drop to the floor against an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. Avoid windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances and cabinets filled with heavy objects. Do not try to run out of the structure during strong shaking. If you are downtown, it is safer to remain inside a building after an earthquake unless there is a fire or gas leak.  Glass from high-rise buildings does not always fall straight down; it can catch a wind current and travel great distances. If you are in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Do not use elevators. If you use a wheelchair, lock the wheels and cover your head. If you are outdoors when shaking starts: Move to a clear area if you can safely walk. Avoid power lines, buildings and trees. If you’re driving, pull to the side of the road and stop. Avoid stopping under overhead hazards If you are on the beach, move to higher ground. An earthquake can cause a tsunami. Once the earthquake shaking stops: Check the people around you for injuries; provide first aid. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger. Check around you for dangerous conditions, such as fires, downed power lines and structure damage. If you have fire extinguishers and are trained to use them, put out small fires immediately. Turn off the gas only if you smell gas. Check your phones to be sure they have not shaken off the hook and are tying up a line. Inspect your home for damage. For more information on what to do before and after an earthquake hits click here!  And if you have any questions about your Massachusetts Earthquake Insurance, call us at 877.550.0025.

There is no doubt that the beauty of the autumnal leaves is a highlight of the season.  But such splendor can mask danger.  Those same beautiful leaves can be dangerous once they hit the ground! Fallen leaves can cause slippery conditions because they contain a large amount of water.  Fall is also a time when we experience the first frost,which can add to the slippery surfaces. As the temperature drops, the wet leaves can freeze with a thin layer ofice creating hazardous conditions.

In addition, during the fall, the sun rises later, sets earlier, and often brings foggy days.  This limited exposure to sunshine does not allow for wet/frozen leaves to dry out and once well-lit pathways and walkways are now dim.   Allcan contribute to a greater potential for accidents

School is in session and children are walking out and about, your postal worker delivering your mail, and of course come Halloween “trick or treaters” will be traversing your property.  These are all potential liability claims should they slip and fall on your property. It only takes one false step to become the victim of a “slip-and-fall”accident.

Avoid any chance of injury to yourself or others by clearing walkways and driveways of all fallen leaves, and ensure that they are well lit.  If you currently use landscape lighting on a timer, be sure to reprogram your timers in anticipation of daylight savings time.

Protect your family and yourself against these all too often occurring accidents byreviewing your Massachusetts homeowner’s insurance coverage with your agent today. Call us at 877.550.0025

As the thermometer drops, and autumn arrives, it is time to get your lawn and garden ready for the cold weather ahead. Following these few tips will help your lawn and garden come up green in the spring!

Continue Watering!

One misconception during winter is that grass and plants stop growing, die, and don’t need watering until spring.  This couldn’t be further from the truth. Once it snows, the melting snow will be sufficient to keep water levels in colder months. The grass becomes dormant and doesn’t have a quick growth output in the winter, but it still needs moisture.

Keep Mowing!

Grass should be mowed until it slows in growing. The length of your grass is vital in keeping it healthy during its dormant stage. If the grass is too short the cold wind can reach the roots and cause dead sections later in the season.If the grass is too long, the blades can get mold or disease. Stop cutting grass after you notice it stop growing and leave it for a few weeks. This should ensure a good length.

Rake leaves and other debris!

Grass still needs access to sunlight during the winter months. Rake up leaves and debris throughout the season to ensure grass receives ample light and air.  Mold, and disease, is common in winter months when leaves and debris are left over grass. Do not leave trash bags, trash cans or other heavy items on grass for long periods of time as well.

If your garden includes a lawn then the early autumn time period is the best time to re-seed, to fertilize, and to add lime

It’s important that you follow the instruction on your spreader when adding fertilizer and lime and amend your soil according to whatever nutrients you need to put back into the ground.  Re-seeding your lawn with new grass seed is fairly simple and can be done by hand if your lawn is not too large.  Take a soil sample to your local garden supply shop to have the ph tested, and to get their advice on the proper amendments the sail my need. Don’t forget that your plants, shrubs, and bushes can also benefit from an application of fertilizer.  Use a slow-release fertilizer and follow the directions on the package to ensure you apply the correct amount.

Prune trees and shrubs!

This will ensure that the plants will come back healthier and fuller in springtime.  Every bush or shrub has a slightly different pruning method so it’s best to do a little research on how much material to cut off and where in the branch formation you should cut. 

Seal pavers, natural stone, etc. 

Before sealing, check to see if new sand is needed in between the pavers to keep water from reaching underneath the walkway.  Check your driveway and see if it is in need of resealing if the current surface is cracked, crumbling, or is in general disrepair.  

Fall is a great time to plant a new street tree!  

Planting a tree near your home increases property value, shades your home during the summer months, and just makes for a better quality of life.  

Preventative maintenance on your lawn will shield it from disease and harmful cold as the winter months set in.  Consider mulching plant beds and landscaping areas to give an extra barrier against cold and harsh winter winds.  Taking the time now to prepare your yard for winter will result in your lawn and garden coming back better and fresher in the spring!

Contact Vargas & Vargas Insurance for an of your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, Life insurance or Tax services.

 

 

Mold exists everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. We are exposed to mold daily, and it is

virtually impossible to live in a completely mold-free setting. However, it is the prolonged and excessive exposure to mold that can lead to serious health issues. Exposure to mold can cause skin irritations and rashes.  Some people will also begin to experience chronic respiratory problems, difficulty breathing, blurry vision, runny noses and irritable throat problems. More severe allergic symptoms include headaches, fever, headaches, vomiting and dizziness. Mold releases toxic spores into the air which, when ingested, can exacerbate existing allergies or respiratory conditions.  Some forms of mold can attack your immune system and potentially damage your liver, blood and kidneys and even your brain.  Mold has even caused death, infecting infants’ lungs and causing respiratory bleeding. Children, the elderly and generally anyone with a lower immune system are at higher risks of health problems from mold.

 

Mold is a silent offender that is not easily noticed in your home. One reason is that it is often lurking out of plain sight.Mold can be hidden underneath the floors, in the walls, behind the ceiling, or lurking deep in the carpeting. It is not until you smell that pungent musty odor of mold that you realize there is a problem, and by then it will have already spread and done significant damage.

 

However, there are some preventive measures that can be made to prevent this from happening. Be aware the level of moisture present in your home.  Mold needs moisture and dampness to survive. This can be flooding in your house but mold can also occur as a result of less dramatic events such as overflowed drains/toilets, through chimneys, or even poorly ventilated showers. The best way to prevent mold is to make sure that all sources of moisture—leaking pipes, clogged gutters, cracked bathroom tiles etc.—are taken care of accordingly. Install ventilation fans in bathrooms to handle excess steam and moisture created while showering. If your basement tends to be damp, invest in a dehumidifier to help pull excess moisture out of the air.

 

Despite all of your efforts if you do encounter mold in your home, don’t try to rectify the problem yourself. Without experience, you could aggravate the mold, causing it to release even more dangerous toxins in the air. Instead, call a professional certified water damage and restoration company to help you eradicate mold and make your home a cleaner, safer place. 

 

Vargas & Vargas Insurance  is committed to helping you and your family. Questions about if your home is covered in the case of a flooding?Call us today at 877-550-0025.

When there is a chill in the air is there anyone that doesn’t enjoy a blazing and crackling fire to warm their home? Be it,fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove there is something so cozy and inviting about a fire. But to ensure a safe experience it is important to have all your chimney components evaluated and cleaned on a yearly basis or after burning a cord of wood, whichever comes first.

Fires built in fireplaces or wood stoves leave a gummy residue, called creosote, which can stick to the lining of your chimney. Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood, pellets, or coal and is created by soot, smoke,gases and other particles. When you burn wood to produce heat, gasses are produced that do not efficiently burn away .These gases now condense into liquid form. The liquid sticks to the inside of your chimney walls and/or liner. Over time it dries in the form of creosote. Insidiously, it continues to build up, layering on like a stalagmite, on the surface of your chimney liner or your flue tile every single time you and your family enjoy a fire. This is a highly flammable substance that can quickly erupt into a blazing chimney fire if subjected to a high enough temperature. That is why it must be removed periodically.

Hiring a chimney sweep is the traditional way to clean the inner surface and restore safety to the home. Chimney sweeps are trained to determine whether chimneys are structurally sound and whether they need to be cleaned. They will make sure the chimney is up to code, especially important in older houses, and make sure there are any birds or animals in the chimney, or anything that would block the flow of smoke. They also check that there’s no water coming into your home. 

How Do I Prevent Creosote Build-up?

There are steps you can take at home to reduce creosote buildup and the risk of a chimney fire.  Foremost is picking dry wood to burn. Dry wood will appear gray on the surface and have cracks on the end. Don’t throw pizza boxes or other trash in the fireplace because it causes a thicker smoke, which lowers the temperature in the chimney. While many people use a newspaper to start a fire, it is recommended that a fire log or fire starter should be used instead. Reduce the risk of a spark flying out o the fireplace, use a screen and stay in the room while the fire is burning. Also install and or check existing smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers to ensure all are in working order.

Chimney maintenance is a priority for your property, as harmful gases can build up inside the flue. Lethal carbon monoxide also builds up inside the flue, and if there’s damage to the inside of your chimney, this can seep in to your home.Have you chimney checked by a qualified tradesman regularly to ensure your family’s safety.

For information on ensuring your home is covered in case of a chimney fire, contact Vargas & Vargas at877.550.0025

 

New England’s apple orchards today would have made Johnny Appleseed proud.  While 2,500 varieties of the King of Fruit are grown throughout the U.S., more than 50 of them come from our very own backyards.  Additionally, the Fruit Grower News reports that this year’s apple crop will be over 200 million bushels!  

Picking apples:

Know which apples are ripe.  Apples that are ready to be picked will be crisp and firm.  Also, apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards its center. 

Red Delicious apples are the first type to ripen.  You can tell one is ripe when the center closet to the stem is green and no longer yellow.  Also, it is a good idea to leave the stem on the apples; it helps them stay fresh longer!

Place them gently into the basket.  You do not want your apples getting bruised.  It makes them go bad more quickly.

Storing apples:

Keep them in a cool place.  While a cold basement is ideal, a refrigerator’s fruit/vegetable drawer works well, too.  Most apples can last for several weeks, but their shelf life can vary based upon their kind and how ripe they were when picked.

Wait to wash apples until just before you eat them.  This will help them stay fresh longer.

Eating apples:

From apple strudel and apple crisp, to, of course, homemade apple pie, apples are arguably Americans’ favorite comfort food.  Food Network is a great resource for lots of tasty (and healthy) apple recipes.

So, where should you go to pick your bushels of apples this season?  

Apple Picking Boston provides maps, addresses and websites to apple orchards throughout Boston, Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.  Additionally, Yankee Magazine ranks some of the region’s best orchards.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance cares about protecting the community and its people every season of the year.  Call and speak with one of their friendly agents today at 877-550-0025 to learn more about how they can help you get the coverage you deserve at a price you can afford.  

 

We usually worry more about hurricanes than we do earthquakes here in New England.  But just this month, two small earthquakes were recorded off the coast by experts at Boston College’s Weston observatory. In fact, during an average year, 30 to 40 earthquakes strike New England, with a major earthquake striking New England every 500 to 900 years, bookmakers would say the odds of one happening tomorrow are 1 in 255,500. That’s better than the odds of being hit by lightning this year, 1 in 700,000, or of getting a royal flush in a game of five-card stud, 1 in 649,740.

So how much does a basic homeowner’s policy cover should you become a victim of an earthquake?  Well, the truth is your Massachusetts homeowner’s policy  does not cover what is referred to as “Acts of God”, which include earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or any other natural disaster.  On August 23, 2011 a 5.8 earthquake struck the Washington, D.C. area and many homeowner’s found that the unusual incident was not covered by their insurance policies. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the August 23, 2011 earthquake may have caused $200 million to $300 million in damage across the East Coast.

Does this mean that you will be left to pay out-of-pocket costs in the event that your home is damaged by an earthquake? The good news is no! You need not be financially burdened with potentially overwhelming costs of post earthquake damages. Provided you purchase a rider on your homeowner’s policy to cover you.  It’s actually not very expensive to buy a rider to your existing coverage. In many cases, the cost may only be $100 – $200.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we want to help keep you informed and aware of the importance of Earthquake Insurance and the risks of not having such a policy. Contact us today to find out more!

Your vehicle is essential to your daily life; you use it to get to work or school, you use it to run errands, and to take you to social events. Your car is a valuable asset; you would be lost without it, your freedom of movement tethered. That is why Vargas & Vargas wants to help you do everything in your power to protect it.  However, you may not be aware that you have a few habits that could be damaging your vehicle.

Here are a few simple ways to protect your car from wear and tear:

Strip Down!  
Keep your key chain to the essentials- the weight of a heavy key chain can actually pull on your ignition and cause problems with start up? So, get rid of old keys and heavy decorative additions to your key chain and strip down to contribute to your car’s longevity.

Lose the Junk in Your Trunk!  
Avoid the pitfall of throwing things into your trunk and forgetting about them. That extra weight of a full trunk drags on your car wearing it down and costing you more money in gas. At the end of the day, take a look inside the vehicle and in the trunk be sure you aren’t carrying around unnecessary weight.

Stay Hydrated!
We have all done it…waited till you are riding into gas station on fumes.  But it’s important to make the effort to stop and fill up BEFORE you see the fuel gauge on “E”! Letting your car run on empty can cause damage to your engine over time.

Handle with Care!
Treat your care with a little T.L.C.-Change gears with care. Hastily slamming your car into park or into reverse without coming to a complete stop is detrimental to your transmission. Be sure to come to a complete stop before shifting gears and your car and its passengers will thank you!

Be Prepared!
Be prepared and ensure that you are properly insured with a Massachusetts Auto Insurance policy. No matter how well you take care of your vehicle, the only thing that will protect you from the unexpected is your Massachusetts car insurance. Protect yourself, your car, and your passengers by consulting your MA Insurance agent to make sure you have adequate coverage.

Follow these few simple guideline and you and your vehicle will live happily ever after!  For more information on MA Auto Insurance contact us at 1-877-550-0025! Vargas & Vargas Insurance can tailor an auto insurance policy to ensure you have the coverage that fits your budget.

 

 

September has been declared “Apple Month” by Governor Deval Patrick and the state legislature.  September sis also the month that Apple is expected to launch the iPhone5…so to honor both the apple and Apple we have compiled some Fun Facts you may not know about apples and Apple Inc!  

1.    Although apples are thought of as “All American”, apples originated in central Asia, on the land between the Caspian and Black Seas.

2.    Apple was founded as a partnership on April Fool’s Day 1976 by three people who originally worked at Atari: Steven Gary Wozniak (1950- ), Steven Paul Jobs (1955-2011), and Ronald Gerald Wayne (1934- ). Apple was incorporated on January 3, 1977, without Wayne, who sold his shares back for $800.

3.    It was the Pilgrims that planted the first apple trees in the United States and since then it has become the second most productive fruit in the United States and is grown in all 50 states! Prior to that the crabapple was the only apple native to North America.

4.    Contrary to popular belief Apple Computers didn’t start in a garage, it started in a bedroom in Los Altos.

5.    In colonial time, apples were called winter banana or melt-in-the-mouth.

6.    Apple-1 with the tagline ‘Byte into an Apple’ was the first personal computer to be released by Apple which was designed and hand built by Wozniak. It was sold for $666.66.

7.    Johnny Appleseed was the nickname for John Chapman, a kind and generous American pioneer born in 1774 who planted apple seeds in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

8.    The very first Apple logo was designed by Ronald Wayne and depicts Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree when he discovered gravity by an apple falling on his head; it has a poem all around its border. (Newton… a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought.) The logo was redesigned in 1977 by Ron Janoff to the bitten apple logo we know today.

9.    Apples were the favorite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans. Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C.

10.    Steve Jobs also created a company called ‘Pixar’ which was later bought by Disney, making him the largest individual shareholder of Disney.

11.    The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.

12.    Before coming up with the name iPod, Steve had already decided its tagline as “1,000 songs in your pocket.”

13.    Apples are a member of the rose family and 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.

14.    The name “Macintosh” was inspired by a sticker on an apple.

15.    Contrary to popular belief, there is no mention of an apple as the forbidden fruit in the Bible. It is referred to as “fruit from the Tree of Knowledge” with no specification as to which kind of fruit. It was Hugo Van Der Goes who first implicated the apple as the forbidden fruit in his 1470 A.D. painting, The Fall of Man. After that, it became popular to depict the apple as the forbidden fruit.

16.    Steve Jobs dropped out of College after one semester.

17.    Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each and it takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.

18.    To raise capital for their new company, Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen van and Steve Wozniak sold his Hewlett-Packard scientific calculator for $500.

19.    The old saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” This saying comes from an old English adage, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.

20.    Apple stores each sell an average of $93,150 worth of products every day, which is equivalent to $3,900 an hour or $65 a minute every day of the year.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance hopes you enjoyed this fun little comparison of Apples to Apple in honor of September “Apple Month”!

Mold exists everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. We are exposed to mold daily, and it is virtually impossible to live in a completely mold-free setting. However, it is the prolonged and excessive exposure to mold that can lead to serious health issues. Exposure to mold can cause skin irritations and rashes.  Some people will also begin to experience chronic respiratory problems, difficulty breathing, blurry vision, runny noses and irritable throat problems. More severe allergic symptoms include headaches, fever, headaches, vomiting and dizziness. Mold releases toxic spores into the air which, when ingested, can exacerbate existing allergies or respiratory conditions.  Some forms of mold can attack your immune system and potentially damage your liver, blood and kidneys and even your brain.  Mold has even caused death, infecting infants’ lungs and causing respiratory bleeding. Children, the elderly and generally anyone with a lower immune system are at higher risks of health problems from mold.

 

Mold is a silent offender that is not easily noticed in your home. One reason is that it is often lurking out of plain sight.Mold can be hidden underneath the floors, in the walls, behind the ceiling, or lurking deep in the carpeting. It is not until you smell that pungent musty odor of mold that you realize there is a problem, and by then it will have already spread and done significant damage.

 

However, there are some preventive measures that can be made to prevent this from happening. Be aware the level of moisture present in your home.  Mold needs moisture and dampness to survive. This can be flooding in your house but mold can also occur as a result of less dramatic events such as overflowed drains/toilets, through chimneys, or even poorly ventilated showers. The best way to prevent mold is to make sure that all sources of moisture—leaking pipes, clogged gutters, cracked bathroom tiles etc.—are taken care of accordingly. Install ventilation fans in bathrooms to handle excess steam and moisture created while showering. If your basement tends to be damp, invest in a dehumidifier to help pull excess moisture out of the air.

 

Despite all of your efforts if you do encounter mold in your home, don’t try to rectify the problem yourself. Without experience, you could aggravate the mold, causing it to release even more dangerous toxins in the air. Instead, call a professional certified water damage and restoration company to help you eradicate mold and make your home a cleaner, safer place.  

Vargas & Vargas Insurance  is committed to helping you and your family. Questions about if your home is covered in the case of a flooding?Call us today at 877-550-0025.