And the winning number is...

This was the first year that we held this contest for our clients, their friends, and family. The contest was pretty simple, all you had to do was guess how many jellybeans were in the jar pictured below. We supplied the dimensions of the jar, 9X6 inches, and you all did the rest.

 

When we decided to start this contest we were simply hoping to provide a fun contest

,something different, and the chance to win some $. We weren't sure how many participants we would even have. 10? 50? 100?

 

Over the month of March and into early April our inbox was flooded with guesses,  we had somewhere north of 350 people enter. It was exciting to see all of the guesses come in. There were so many great guesses we thought that there might be a chance multiple people would guess the actual number.

 

Surprisingly only one person guessed 1905, which is the year Spalding Insurance was founded. It was a well thought out guess and probably would have been a winner if we had thought of it ourselves.

 

The actual number of jellybeans in the jar was 1,117. 

 

The winning guess was 1,114 and the runner-up number was 1,111. We are in the process of notifying the winners so that they can stop into one of our agency locations to collect their Visa gift cards.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated! We believe that we have the best clients in Michigan. It is our privilege to provide you with insurance services and products.

Great News for Michigan Auto Insurance

On every Michigan auto insurance declaration page there is a charge shown for the MCCA. MCCA stands for Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, which is a non-profit organization, formed by the Michigan legislature in 1978.

The purpose of the MCCA is to provide funds for the unlimited lifetime medical benefits that are apart of  the Michigan No-Fault Insurance law. Currently these reserves are used for when a person injured in an automobile accident exceeds over $500,000 worth of medical expenses.

On March 25th, 2015 the MCCA announced that the mandatory assessment for all insured Michigan vehicles would be lowered to $150 effective July 1st, 2015. This is great news for all Michigan residents who own, operate, and insure a vehicle.

The MCCA announced the pending changes and some important information about the MCCA assessment in a press release. We strongly encourage for you to take a look at some of the information provided, which you can access by clicking here.

Homeowners Spring Break Tips

Spring has rolled around and that means one thing for a lot of families, SPRING BREAK. A chance to get out of the cold and head to a sunny oasis for a week.

 

I remember growing up and whenever we were going on a family vacation we didn't go around broadcasting that our home was going to be vacant for an extended time. Why? Well living in a small town, news tends to travel pretty quickly and if the word got around to the wrong crowd that our home was going to be empty for a long time, we knew that is a burglars dream.

 

Fast forward to the year 2015, now we tell the whole world that we are going on vacation through social media. So how can we continue to share our vacation experiences with our friends and family while still being cautious about who sees this information? Here are some tips:

 

1) Make sure your privacy settings on social media sites are restricted to private. This allows for you to share information only with the people you want to share information with, not the entire world.

 

2) Don't give people a timetable of how long you will be gone or that your home is vacant. The worst thing to do is to let people know when you are leaving or when you will be coming home.

 

3) Consider making a fake post thanking a friend or family member for house sitting while you are away/

 

4) Ask a neighbor or friend to check up on your home and make sure that everything still seems to be in order.

 

5) Don't be shy about leaving an interior light on in the home, this shows potential intruders that someone is still occupying the residence.

 

Hopefully these tips will give you the peace of mind that you can still share your vacation with your friends and family via social media without worrying about coming home to a nightmare.

 

Travel Safely!

1 Tip to Help Avoid a Ticket or Accident during Winter

Like all of you, I awoke this morning to fresh powder covering my car. Like many people, the biggest pain in my morning routine is cleaning off the snow while braving the winter cold. 

Traveling down the road this morning I was amazed to see the amount of people who still had frost/snow covering their windows and side mirrors (only the insane would have left the windshield covered).

Seems pretty unsafe? We have all done this

or contemplated doing so in our mind. It looks 

something along the lines of this:

You step outside and realize

just how cold it is and how much snow is 

on your car. You then convince yourself that you only

have a short distance to drive or that all of the snow

will blow off once you get going. You hop in your car

after clearing off just enough room to see the road

on the drivers side and front windows to see cross

traffic.

Your journey has begun and safety be damned you

consider your time or warmth more important. 

By not taking the time to properly clean off your

car of snow/ice you are potentially setting yourself up for a car accident or ticket. 

If it is not laziness that prevents you from cleaning off your car, it must be a lack of knowledge on how to clean off your car. Luckily for you I have taken the time to provide a 4-Step process known as B.O.R.G. 

1) Buy an ice scraper and leave said ice scraper in vehicle.

2) Open your door car door and remove ice scraper when there is a need for the ice scraper.

3) Remove all of the snow and ice from windows, mirrors, and lights.

4) Get into vehicle and travel safely.

Seems like a pretty simple concept? Don't be too lazy to clear off the snow. Not only is this important for your safety but for the safety of others on the road. By clearing off your car you will decrease the chances of getting a ticket or  into an accident. 

Next time you come out to the car and there is snow on it, remember B.O.R.G. 

About Spalding Insurance Agency

Spalding Insurance Agency provides exemplary service and access to Michigan's finest insurance companies. We proudly serve the personal and business insurance needs of people in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Lansing, DeWitt, Perry, Detroit, Holt, Mason, Grand Rapids, Laingsburg, Bath, and other great Michigan cities. For a quote on auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, or life insurance click here. 

And a Happy New Year....

Spalding Insurance Agency would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. To celebrate ringing in the New Year safely please take the time to remember these safety tips for those of us going out and for those of us who are hosting gatherings.


Hosts

- Make sure all guests have a designated driver upon arrival. A great host makes this their top priority.
- Have phone numbers readily available for local cab companies for guests who have not planned ahead.
- Offer non-alcohol drinks as alternatives to your guests. This can include sparkling juice, pop, water, or punch.
- Encourage guests that are leaving the party to stop drinking hours before the party ends, even if they have a designated driver for the evening.
- Always welcome guests a place to sleep in your home. This will encourage those who "only had a few" and feel comfortable with driving an alternative solution.
- Don't be afraid to take the keys from a guest who plans on driving home and is intoxicated.

Remember as a host, you may be held responsible for your guests actions after they leave your home.

Party Goers

Did you drink? If so, do not drive.

- Plan a head and have a designated driver.
- If you don't have a designated driver, call a taxi , use the bus system, or stay where you are until sober. Don't be afraid to ask to stay the night at your host home. A good host will be prepared for overnight guests.

 Happy New Year!

About Spalding Insurance Agency

Spalding Insurance Agency provides exemplary service and access to Michigan's finest insurance companies. We proudly serve the personal and business insurance needs of people in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Lansing, DeWitt, Perry, Detroit, Holt, Mason, Grand Rapids, Laingsburg, Bath, and other great Michigan cities. For a quote on auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, or life insurance click here. 

Driving Tips for Deer Season

It appears from the photos on Facebook and circling the web that this hunting season has been a success for area hunters. Sadly, this deer season has also had its share of car/deer accidents resulting in injuries and car damage for thousands of motorists throughout mid Michigan.

Having a deer run into your path while on the road is a very scary thing, if you're not prepared on what to do. Being quick to act and knowing some of these preventive techniques will go along ways for the safety of you and your passengers.

Preventative Techniques

- The most important safety tip is to travel at posted speeds or below them. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to break for a deer.

- Drive with your lights on for better visibility.

- Scan the side of the roads for eyes shining in your headlights.

- When possible, drive with your high beams on. This is another trick to increase visibility which can help with your reaction time.

- Pay attention to the signs along roads that warn of high deer traffic areas. These signs are there to indicate problem areas for motorists and should not be ignored.

- Wear your seat-belt.

Where are the deer?

- Deer are frequently found in highly wooded areas and mostly on the outskirts of towns. Although it is not uncommon for people to see them within suburban areas.

- Deer travel in large packs. If you see one, you can assume that there are several more nearby.

- From October to January, Deer, are in heat and breeding. The effect of this is that they are highly active and tend to be on the move during prime hours such as dusk and dawn.

What to do when seeing a deer

- The golden rule is to never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can cause for you to lose control of your vehicle, resulting in a potential head on collision, driving into a ditch or tree, which can lead to more serious injuries and vehicle damage.

- Slow down when you spot a deer.

If you have the unfortunate luck to actually hit a deer call the proper emergency services that are needed. If no one is injured it is still a good idea to get an official police report of the incident for documentation for the insurance company.

Stay alert and safe travels!

The Results Are In....

With over 50 golfers participating on a gorgeous sunny July day, the results are in for the 2013 Spalding Insurance Golf Classic! With the generosity of our hole sponsors, and those who joined us at Glenbrier Golf Course, $2,251 was donated to the Perry-Morrice-Shaftsburg Emergency Relief Council. 

In just 10 years of tournament play, over $20,000 has been donated to this worthwhile cause, and a big THANK YOU to those who make it possible each year.

Our 2013 Hole Sponsors included:

Unique Touch Housekeeping

The Shirt Smith

Joe’s Body Shop

P.F. Green & Sons

Ridenour’s Auto Repair

Jackie Hurd

Fremont Insurance Company

Bill Leech Repair Service

Michigan Millers Insurance Company

Heb’s Inn

Snyder’s IGA

Elsesser’s Auto Repair

Perry Dental

Garn Restoration

Scepka Builders

Citizens Insurance Company

Chemical Bank

Mid Michigan Glassworks

In addition to the tournament winners, other contests included a 50/50 drawing, Raffles and Closet to the Pin contest, and to our golfers….THANK YOU for spending a part of your day with us. 

The 2014 Spalding Insurance Golf Outing is in the planning stages and  and we look forward to seeing you on the links! 

About Spalding Insurance Agency

Spalding Insurance Agency provides exemplary service and access to Michigan's finest insurance companies. We proudly serve the personal and business insurance needs of people in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Lansing, DeWitt, Perry, Detroit, Holt, Mason, Grand Rapids, Laingsburg, Bath, and other great Michigan cities. For a quote on auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, or life insurance click here. 

Halloween Safety Tips that Everyone Needs to Read

The Halloween season is upon us. Hopefully your pumpkins are carved and your decorations are up because on Halloween night thousands of children and families will take to the streets for trick or treating. A time honored passage, trick or treating, is a great experience for families and your local town. 

Sarah Hearts/ SarahHearts.com

Chief Kyle Bawks of the City of Perry was kind enough to help provide tips
on how to stay safe this Halloween.

Safety tips for Trick-or-Treaters 

- Planning costumes that are bright and reflective. Having the leader of
your group carry around a flashlight is also important. We want to make surethat we are able to see and be seen at all times. 

- Make sure that your costumes are short enough that you will not have to worry about tripping and falling. Be prepared to wear shoes that fit comfortably. 

- A responsible party should also accompany children around their neighborhoods, this can be a parent, grandparent, or older sibling. 

- Going to houses where the lights are on. Not only is this a safety measure but it will also save you time as homes without lights on our usually not participating in passing out candy.

Safety for drivers during Trick-or-Treating 

- Driving with your lights on, even with well lit streets or during the daylight. 

- Drive slow and remain cautious. The volume of people along with the excitement might cause for pedestrians to forget to look both ways for cars, use crosswalks, and stay on sidewalks. 

- If possible, keep the windows down with the radio volume low. This can help you hear movement or voices outside of your car.

After the trip parents should examine all candy for anything unwrapped, opened or suspicious. Or for a reward for yourself? 

Have a Happy Halloween and remember to remain safe!

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Progressive Snapshot Auto Insurance Comes to Michigan

As an independent insurance agent providing auto insurance in the East Lansing, Michigan area, it is our honor to introduce Progressive Insurance Snapshot.

Progressive Snapshot is a new technology brought to you by Progressive Insurance. This technology offers you the opportunity to earn additional discounts on your auto insurance based on your driving behavior.

How Does Progressive Snapshot work?

Progressive Snapshot is a small device that you plug into your car to monitor your driving habits. 

Will Progressive Snapshot help me?

The best part about Progressive Snapshot is that it cannot hurt you, or increase your premiums based on the information returned about your driving behavior. The program is meant to help good drivers earn additional car insurance discounts.

You should consider Progressive Snapshot insurance if you:

-Drive less than 15,000 miles a year

-Don't slam your breaks frequently

-Don't drive between the hours of midnight and 4 AM

How does Progressive Snapshot work?

Once you have an insurance policy with Progressive and enrolled into the Snapshot program, Progressive, will send you a small device. You will then plug this small device into your diagnostic port of your vehicle. 

This device will monitor your driving behavior. It will transmit your data directly to Progressive. So after your initial plug-in , you are not responsible for anything else.

After the initial 30 days of the device installed, you can earn a discount that will go into effect for the rest of your policy. You will continue to use the device until your next renewal at which Progressive will contact you to return your device. At this point you will be done with your device and any applicable discounts will be added automatically to your policy.

I am interested in learning more about Progessive Snapshot, where do I go?

As a Certified Snapshot Agency, Spalding Insurance Agency, is able to help you with any questions you might have on this Progressive Insurance program. You can call us at (517)337-3200 or e-mail Ryan@SIA1905.com for more information on how to qualify for the industry's newest car insurance discount. 

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. We represent Progressive Insurance for all of your car, commercial auto,boat, motorcycle  and recreational insurance needs. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

It’s the end of your day and you walk into your house, saying hello to the kids. You’ll spend the evening with your family, maybe watching some TV, and finally going through your stack of mail.

In the mail is the dreaded monthly cell phone bill.  Although you love your smart phone and all of its features, much like insurance, you hate seeing that bill. All of the add-on’s, the taxes, etc. really add up, so you go over it for any possible reduction.

In the list of charges is insurance, which may be $6 to $10 a month depending on your carrier. $6 to $10 a month doesn't seem like a lot of money to offer protectio

n on a $700 phone (retail value, not the $200 it'd cost if this was for an upgrade), but what if you’re covering multiple phones?  Now the numbers really start to add up…..you’re paying anywhere from $300 to $480 a year to “insure” them!!

  

How your Homeowners or Renters Insurance can help save you $410 a year.

Assume you have the same family of 4 and you're shelling out $480 a year for coverage on your smart phones.

Here is a little secret on how to reduce this cost, schedule your phones on your homeowners or renters insurance policy.

What does it mean to “schedule” an item on your homeowners/renters insurance policy?

Scheduling an item means you’re listing the item on your policy, and paying the additional cost to insure it.  The value is usually determined through an appraisal or receipt of purchase.

For example, you would schedule your phone not for the promotional price you received as an update but for the price to replace your phone should you not receive promotional pricing.

How would scheduling my cell phones save me $410 a year?

Let’s continue our assumption that you are paying $480 a year under your insurance program with your carrier for four phones and their insurance.

The average rate you can expect to pay on your homeowners/renters insurance policy is $17* a YEAR per phone. With four phones your out of pocket expenses for the YEAR is $70*.

So instead of the current $480 you’re paying your costs are now $70, which is a savings of $410.

By scheduling your smartphones on your policy you can reduce costs on your cell phone plans.

Think about all that you could do with an extra $410 a year.

-Buy tickets to more concerts or sporting events

-Stay an extra day or two on your vacation

-Invest in life insurance or more life insurance

We Can Help!

We can, in all probability, reduce this cost and improve your coverage!    Are you aware of the Deductible under your cell phone carriers plan?   Depending on the type of phone you have, it might be as high as $99.  Our companies are offering better rates, with no deductible, by “scheduling” your phone on your homeowners/renters insurance policy.

*All figures are used to represent the potential savings and cost to schedule your cell phone. This information was taken from current clients accounts. 

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.We love to save you money in life and on your car, home, and business insurance. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

How Working in a Dentist Office Can Save You Money on Insurance.

Working in a dental office can be quite an experience. Although I personally have no experience working in one, I do have experience with visiting my dentist regularly.

I’d like to commend the men and women who go to work each and everyday working with people and their teeth. Working inside people's mouths was not the career path for me…..I get grossed out easily and would constantly be worried about having a patient bite my finger. A big shout out goes to dental assistants, oral hygienists, and the dentists who put their fingers at risk everyday to make the world's smiles better!

But let’s not forget about the other heroes in the office, the administrators. I know for a fact that working with insurance companies and the general public can be a major struggle. Your job is not easy and it would be unfair of me to let you go unnoticed. Your days are full of multitasking and keeping the ship sailing smoothly.

Outside of my regular visit to my dentist, the only other way I can let the staff know how valuable they are to me is through spreading the word on how they qualify for special INSURANCE DISCOUNTS.

Why do I get a discount for working at a dentist office? 

Each of the 5 companies we represent offer group discounts for members and associates of different groups or organizations. As an employee of a dental office you're entitled to a group discount on your home and auto insurance.

How do I receive this discount?

Not all insurance companies or agencies offer these discounts. Luckily for you, we do and we would love to provide you with it.  All that you have to do is take the first step towards qualifying for your discount and click here. 

Is this the only discount Spalding Insurance Agency has to offer?

No, thru the companies we represent we are able to offer many other discounts! Some other discounts include multi-policy, multi-car, good student and prior carrier discounts.

Why are you telling me about this discount?

Because we appreciate and respect what you do everyday in helping make the worlds smiles brighter.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.We love to floss as much as we love to save you money and service your insurance needs.  For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.