Michigan Insurance Group

Cool nights are upon us and soon enough the cooler days and nights will be here to stay. Here are 7 tips to save money on heating your home this Fall and Winter: 1. One of the easiest ways to save on heating costs is to seal windows and openings. A drafty window can let in more cold air than you prefer. Apply plastic on the inside of the windows and use a peel away silicone type caulk on the cracks outside of the windows. 2.  Also, replacing regular curtains with insulated curtains can help keep the heat in and the cold out. 3. Lower your thermostat. By lowering your thermostat at night and while you are away you can lower your heating bill. According to DTE Energy , “for every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs.” A digital thermostat will help you regulate the changes in temperature and allow you to program the temperature to be toasty warm when you get home from outings.  4. Do yo

As you are preparing for the new school year remember to talk to your teens about driving safely. These resources are a great introduction to the single conversation that can make a difference. Marc Mero shares a story so personal that it brings the students to tears.  Don't just buy your new driver the car they like. Buy them a car that will protect them, on that is affordable to insure. Check out driveithome.org for free courses for your teen driver. Also free is the Teen Driver Contract available to download and print on michiganinsurancegroup.com Written by  Karlee Miller Creative Administrator www.michiganinsurancegroup.com

Every so often a Michigan Insurance Group team member will sneak away for a few days and enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Last week just happened to be my turn. I took 2 days to step away from Facebook updates, email responses and graphic design to head north for 4 days with my family. I didn’t step away from everything though. Along with an amazing view at Empire Bluff, finding Petoskey stones, crossing the Mackinac bridge, seeing Mackinac Island and just having a wonderful time touring Michigan I wanted to make sure I captured Michigan Insurance Group in a new place and I did just that. Here's Michigan Insurance Group right in front of Fort Mackinac!  Written by  Karlee Miller Creative Administrator www.michiganinsurancegroup.com

Accidents and vehicle troubles are unexpected. That is why every vehicle should have an emergency roadside kit. Without a way to contact someone to help you off the side of the road you might have to flag down a good Samaritan or take care of the situation yourself. A well-packed, emergency roadside kit could mean the difference between a cold night on the side of the road and a little time to fix the problem. We compiled a list of necessary items to add to your roadside kit: First Aid Kit Reflective vest to wear when outside the vehicle Reflective safety triangle Lighter, matches and roadside flares Flashlight with extra batteries Jumper cables Tire pressure gauge Duct tape Cutting tool Screwdriver, wrench and hammer Bottled Water Non-perishable foods: granola bars, trail mix, etc... Blankets for each person that frequently rides in the vehicle Extra socks/gloves incase hands/feet get cold. Rags or paper towels Remember

You spend 30+ hours sitting in the passenger seat coaching your new teenage driver as they practice driving. How much time do you spend talking to them about  car maintenance and how to properly taking care of the vehicle? The following list is topics to discuss with your teen to help better prepare them to maintain the vehicle they drive: How to safely check and add fluids including; gas, oil, anti-freeze/coolant, transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid. How to check headlights, break lights and turn signal lights. Inform them that a rapid blinking turn signal means a bulb is out. How to check tire pressure and change a tire. As you are going over the tires talk about tire tread and depth. Show your teen driver where to find and how to turn on hazard lights as well as when to use them. Be aware of the sound the vehicle makes so that when an unfamiliar sound occurs they know something could be wrong with the vehicle i.e. squealing brakes mean

Flooding can happen to anyone, anywhere. According to www.floodsmart.gov  in the past 5 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. If a flood washed down the streets and filled your home are you covered? If you watched your belongings floating by are they covered? The following 5 reasons are why you need flood insurance: 1. Floods can occur anywhere. Even if you do not live near a large body of water (which Michiganders do) a flood can happen. Floods not only occur in areas deemed high-risk but moderate-to-low risk areas as well. 2. Of course rapid accumulation of rainfall can cause a flood and Michigan weather is sure to bring rain this Spring. 3. Floods are the #1 natural disaster in the United States. - www.floodsmart.gov 4. Flood insurance is not included on your homeowners or renter's insurance policy. Your home and most important possessions may not be covered if they are damaged or lost as a result of flooding. 5. The benefits outweigh

Spring is 17 days away! As the snow starts melting we will emerge from the season of cold and snow. There is a lot to get done; lawn work, spring cleaning, etc. As you are writing your Spring to do list remember these five energy saving tips: 1. Turn it down. Every degree you dial down your heat could save you 1-3% on your heating costs. 2. Furnace tune-up. Your furnace worked extra hard to heat your home through the winter. With warmer weather ahead it is a great time to do a little tune up and clean/replace your filter. 3. DIY energy audit. Walk through your home/business and see if you are heating or lighting spaces that are not used frequently. Close vents and unplug unused devices. 4. Install a programmable thermostat. Installing a thermostat that lets you program times and temperatures can save you as much as 20% on heating costs. 5. Access the WWW. Log on to your energy company's website to see if they have a free online energy evaluation tool. So