IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PEOPLE WHO HEAT THEIR HOMES WITH OIL October 14, 2010 For homeowners and rental property owners of 1 to 4 family homes who heat with oil, Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008 became effective July 1, 2010. The law requires: The installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective
Read MoreHolyoke– The Dowd Agencies of Holyoke, MA announce that current Senior Vice President, David W. Griffin, Sr. CIC, LIA has been appointed Treasurer of the independent agency. Effective July 1, 2010, Griffin, Sr. will oversee various aspects of the company’s finances including accounting, cash flow, asset management, investment management and carrier management. In addition, he will ensure that policies
Read MoreAccording to a 2008 study conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud, U.S. businesses lose about 7% of their annual revenues to fraud. This equates to a staggering $994 billion loss each year nationwide to employee fraud. Even worse, occupational fraud schemes are extremely costly to a company’s bottom line, with the median loss in the 2008 study coming in
Read MoreInsurance buyers are both better educated about the insurance business and far more sophisticated in their insurance demands than ever before. Today, the buyer of insurance-whether an individual providing for a family’s needs or a risk manager of a corporation –knows that an integrated program of insurance protection consisting of property, casualty and liability, life and health insurance is needed.
Read MoreFear is an important motivator when it comes to buying insurance. We worry about what will happen to assets like cars or homes if they are involved in a disaster, so we buy insurance to help us maintain their financial integrity if something should happen. But in spite of the fact that insurance is designed for this purpose, sometimes it
Read MoreHolyoke/Amherst, MA – The Dowd Agencies, a locally owned independent insurance agency announces two new additions to its growing staff. Diane LaFleche and Jim Lawton recently joined the agency and will be working out of the Cray-Dowd Amherst office. Diane will serve as Cray-Dowd’s Commercial Lines Account Manager/Marketer for the Amherst location. In this role Diane will work with new
Read MoreWater damage from naturally occurring floods and mechanical breakdowns cause extensive and catastrophic losses to homes every year. But there are numerous ways you can safeguard your home from these losses, including the following. Your home’s drainage system should be checked to verify that proper water drainage occurs. For example, gutter downspouts should extend the proper distance from the foundation.
Read MoreBy July 1, 2010, you must upgrade your home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. Please click here to read more information on who must take action, who is exempt, why comply, etc.
Read MoreHave you ever thought about what happens to the sensitive data stored on your company computers if they are lost or stolen? What about unhappy employees or cleaning services using private customer information in unethical ways? Click here to read about John E. Dowd, Jr.’s article for Business West on Electronic Data Liability Coverage: How to keep your business protected.
Read MoreIs your license up for renewal? Be Sure to Check Your License Expiration Date! The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will no longer mail out renewal notices. Be sure to renew at least seven days before your birthday to ensure that you receive your new license before your old license expires. You can renew online instead of in line.
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