Keeping Mice Out of Your Home

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by Erie Insurance 6/21/2017

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Is there a mouse in the house?

It’s unpleasant to think about, but it can happen to anyone. Mice and other rodents can make their way into your home in search of food, shelter and a place to nest. Even if you think mice were cute in the movies, rodents can be destructive and carry disease. Here are some smart steps to prevent and respond to a rodent invasion.

Rodent prevention

Look at your home and yard from the perspective of a mouse and you will likely see opportunities for them to enter and make themselves at home.

Look for holes. When you find them, whether they are inside or outside your property, you’ll want to plug them with steel wool and patch with cement. Remember, almost no opening is too small. Many pest-control specialists say all a mouse needs is a quarter-inch opening.

Rethink your food storage practices. We all love buying in bulk, especially when it comes to staples that come in large bags, such as dry pet food. Unfortunately, if you store it in the sack it comes in, you’re pretty much rolling out the welcome mat to mice and rats, who can sniff out an easy food source. Instead, store the chow in a large container with a tight-fitting lid.

Clean up your act. Store trash in closed containers with tight lids and get your family members in the habit of cleaning up after themselves when they’re finished eating (wipe up spills and sweep crumbs). Every month or so, pull out your kitchen appliances and clean up any spills or morsels that are under and behind the refrigerator or oven. Continue reading →

Recent Success Stories – McCollum Insurance – Newtown Square

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Take a minute to view two recent cases by McCollum Insurance Agent, Brian McCollum

Case Study 1

Brian recently worked with John B. , from the Lafayette Hill, PA. John was referred to us by his friend, neighbor, and current client of McCollum Insurance Agency. John was looking to improve his Allstate Insurance coverage and pricing.

  • Brian was able to improve John’s  Auto, Home, Umbrella, and Business Insurance coverage, by placing him with Erie Insurance.
  • Brian was able to provide better and broader coverage.
  • Brian was able to include the following items, which John did not have with Allstate:
    • Rate Lock Feature, where John’s auto insurance premium will remain locked, and will not change (unit he moves, makes a vehicle change, or makes a driver change).
    • Auto Insurance Dimishing Deductible
    • Increased Auto Coverage for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist, Income Loss, Rental Reimbursement, and Road Service
    • Guaranteed Replacement Cost on his home
    • Sewer and Drain Back Up Coverage for his home
    • Underground Service Line Coverage for his home
    • Siding and Roof Restoration – a great enhancement for clients with vinyl siding

Not only was Brian able to provide improved coverage, he also was able to offer annual savings of over $1800.

  Case Study 2

 

Brian also recently worked with Mary P. from the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. Mary also came to us, looking to improve her coverage and pricing from Allstate.

Brian was again able to offer better coverage,  such as :

  • Offering more than double the Bodily Injury Coverage on Mary’s existing Auto Policy
  • Offering double the Property Damage Coverage on Mary’s existing Auto Policy
  • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage – which Mary did not have with Allstate
  • Guaranteed Replacement Cost on Mary’s home
  • Sewer and Drain Back Up Coverage on Mary’s home
  • Underground Service Line Coverage on Mary’s home
  • Siding and Roof Restoration – a great enhancement for clients with vinyl siding
  • Equipment Breakdown Coverage on Mary’s home

 

If you have been thinking about reviewing your Personal or Business Insurance, call Brian at our Newtown Square Office at 484.420.7800 or request a quote below today.

Brian works with multiple Insurance Companies to find his clients the best coverage and pricing.

 

 

Newtown-Square-Auto-Insurance

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

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Thank You To Our Clients, Family, and Friends

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THANK YOU to our clients, family, friends and Insurance Company Partners. We appreciate your referrals in May. Because of you, our Agency continues to grow, and we are able to continue to support and sponsor local events in our community! 

Thank you to the following clients, friends, and referral partners for your referrals this past month.

Home-Insurance-Havertown

If you have been thinking about reviewing your Personal or Business Insurance, call our office in Manayunk at 215.508.9000 or  Newtown Square Office at 484.420.7800. You can also request a proposal online below.

McCollum Insurance works with multiple Insurance Companies to find our clients the best coverage and pricing. Below are a few of our partnering Insurance Companies.

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Auto and Home Insurance

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

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Credit Card Skimming- A Blog From Erie Insurance

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How to Prevent Credit Card Skimming  – From Eriesense 

You’re on a vacation or out-of-town business trip. You’re careful to prevent others from watching you use your credit or debit card. But when you get home, you find your card has been compromised. What happened?

The answer may be “skimming,” a method used by thieves to steal your card information and personal identification number (PIN). Skimmers are small devices retrofitted to a legitimate credit or debit card reader.

Skimming occurs most frequently at retail outlets like restaurants and gas stations or at ATMs. Criminals then use your stolen information to make purchases or withdraw cash. Because your physical card is never lost or stolen, the theft often goes undetected until a statement or overdraft notice arrives.

How to prevent skimming

While police and businesses are catching more skimmers in the act, advances in Bluetooth technology are making it easy for criminals to walk up to devices and transfer data in seconds without having to remove the devices.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself. Here are three ways to help prevent skimming.

  • Know what a credit card skimmer looks like. Brian Krebs, one of the world’s foremost experts on the topic, offers pictures of credit card skimmers, which are becoming smaller and smaller.

Continue reading →

Recent Success Stories – McCollum Insurance – Newtown Square

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Take a minute to view two recent cases by McCollum Insuance Agent, Sean Delaney

Case Study 1

Sean recently worked with Christopher M. , from the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. Christopher was referred to us, by Erie Insurance. Christopher was looking to improve his Nationwide insurance coverage and pricing.

  • Sean was able to improve Christopher’s Auto and Home Insurance coverage, by placing him with Erie Insurance.
  • Sean was able to provide better and broader coverage.
  • Sean was able to offer a Rate Lock Feature, where Christopher’s auto insurance premium will remain locked, and will not change (unit he moves, makes a vehicle change, or makes a driver change).

Not only was Sean able to provide improved coverage, he also was able to offer annual savings of over $1600.

Insurance-Newtown Square

Sean Delaney

  Case Study 2

 

Sean also recently worked with Josh D, from Newtown Square, Pa. Josh came to us, looking to improve his State Farm insurance coverage and pricing for his auto and home.

Sean was again able to offer better coverage,  such as :

  • Increasing the Home Liability from $100,000 to $500,000
  • Offering Sewer and Drain Back Up at $15,000. Josh did not have this coverage with State Farm
  • Offering Underground Service Line Coverage at $15,000. Josh did not have this coverage with State Farm

Once again, Sean improved our clients coverage, while also providing annual savings of close to $1300 per year.

If you have been thinking about reviewing your Personal or Business Insurance, call Sean at our Newtown Square Office at 484.420.7800 or request a quote below today.

Sean works with multiple Insurance Companies to find his clients the best coverage and pricing.

 

 

Newtown-Square-Auto-Insurance

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

Quote Form

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The #1 Reason Why People Buy Insurance from McCollum Insurance

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We know that you have many choices when deciding who to call for your Personal and Business Insurance needs. We also know that shopping for and purchasing insurance, can be a confusing and frustrating experience…….but it does not have to be.

Below are several reasons why people buy insurance from McCollum Insurance, including the #1 Reason, why people choose McCollum Insurance.

We provide choices

We do not work for any one insurance company, and we are not biased toward any one company. We proudly represent more than 10 of the top national and regional insurance companies in the United States.

We are licensed experts

Over 80% of our staff hold professional licenses, and we continue to invest in educating our staff. We hold professional insurance designations, like the Certified Insurance Counselor Designation. The coveted Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation signifies a higher professional level of experience and competence. The Designation sets us apart as Agents, who can maximize insurance coverage in innovative ways for our clients.

We are local

We are local, we live in your community, and we understand your insurance needs. Keep your eye open, you will see us sponsoring community events in your town.

Our staff live in your towns – Havertown, Roxborough, Manayunk, Broomall, West Chester, Media, and Philadelphia.

We do more than write Auto Insurance

We can assist with both Auto, Home, Life, and your Business Insurance needs. Our areas of Insurance Expertise include:

PERSONAL                                                              

Auto and Homeowners, Condominium and Renters Insurance, Investment Properties, Flood Insurance, Umbrella, Inland Marine (Jewelry, Arts, Collectibles), Motorcycles, Boats, Recreational Vehicle, Life Insurance and more.

COMMERCIAL

Commercial Auto, Property Insurance, Contractors, Restaurants, Professional Offices, Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturing, Workers Compensation, Directors and Officers, Cyber Liability, Professional Liability, Employment Practice Liability and more.

Superior Service

 

Auto-Insurance-Newtown-Square

Are you tired of navigating call centers and tired of long hold times? Do you cringe, when you reach an automated phone system? I do!!!!

At McCollum Insurance, you will always speak to a live person, and a local person who resides in your neighborhood.

Convenient Locations

We have two locations to serve the needs of our growing Agency.

We are located on Main Street in Manayunk. This location allows us to serve the needs of our clients in Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls, Chestnut Hill, Center City Philadelphia, and our clients in the suburbs of Montgomery County.

We have a 2nd location on Providence Rd in Newtown Square. This location allows us to serve the needs of our clients in Havertown, Drexel Hill, Broomall, Newtown Square,  Glen Mills, and our clients in the suburbs of Chester County.

Our Clients Love to Tell Others About Us

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Our Clients Love to Tell Their Friends About Us.

This is the #1 Reason, why people buy insurance from McCollum Insurance. We know how strong word of mouth is in terms of growing our business. That is why we focus on pleasing our customers one at a time.

Below are just a few of the testimonials from our existing clients

Quick response to questions, helpful attitudes and competitive pricing. Just a few of the reasons I highly recommend Brian, Sean and the rest of the team.

-Joe M. – Collegeville, PA

Brian and Sean provide quality and prompt service and great rates. They are quick to respond even past business hours at times, which was very helpful.

-Lisa D. – Ridley Park, PA

I’ve been with McCollum Insurance for years. Brian and Mike are very knowledgeable and more importantly, reliable. A couple generations of my family have been with them. I’m glad they’re now in Delaware County.

-Charlie Y. – Havertown, PA

My dealings with the staff at McCollum Insurance have been professional and timely. Issues are resolved quickly and questions are answered readily. I have a client base with occasional insurance needs and I always recommend your company.

Gwen J.- Gladwyn, PA

To read more , click here

 

 

The McCollum Insurance Agency, established in 2002, has two convenient locations to assist with your Personal, Business, and Life Insurance needs. We opened our Manayunk Location in 2002, and our Edgemont – Newtown Square Location in 2016. Our Agency is passionate about being a leader in the insurance industry, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Life Insurance, and Business Insurance needs

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

Quote Form

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Meet our Intern – Erin Dougherty

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Erin Dougherty

 

 

 

 

 

 
We are excited to work with Erin, to help her gain valuable business experience in the insurance industry. Erin will be working on several projects to help us better serve our clients.

McCollum Insurance Agency provides a structured summer program, that allows interns to gain a valuable professional office experience that is crucial for future success.

How did you hear about McCollum Insurance?

I heard about McCollum Insurance through Erie Insurance’s internship program

Why did you want to intern at McCollum Insurance?

I am studying Actuarial Science at St Joseph’s University and took an Intro to Insurance class this past semester that was required for my major.  Without having Actuarial Exams passed, I was still seeking an opportunity to work somewhere in the insurance field.  I’m hoping to further my knowledge of insurance.  Since actuaries work on the corporate side, this is a great opportunity to see insurance from a different angle and understand even better how everything works.

What are you hoping to accomplish while interning at McCollum Insurance?

I am hoping to gain knowledge in the field and have a better understanding of insurance overall.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Media, Pennsylvania.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Probably Cape May, NJ.

Where are you going to school, and what is your expected graduation date?

Saint Joseph’s University, expected to graduate in May 2019.

Where at what are you studying at school?

I am studying Actuarial Science with a minor in Risk Management and Insurance.

What has been your favorite class at college?

Probably Finance or Calculus.

Any fun fact about yourself?

I’ve played ice hockey my entire life and I’m a huge Flyers fan

What do you find interesting about Insurance?

It’s so important to have the right coverage and many people don’t have proper knowledge on the subject so they don’t understand the importance of having good coverage.

Favorite current TV show?

Law and Order SVU

What is your favorite local restaurant?

It’s not really a restaurant, but I love Chick Fil A

The McCollum Insurance Agency, established in 2002, has two convenient locations to assist with your Personal, Business, and Life Insurance needs.

We opened our Manayunk Location in 2002, and our Edgemont – Newtown Square Location in 2016.

Our Agency is passionate about being a leader in the insurance industry, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Life Insurance, and Business Insurance needs

McCollum Insurance Recent Success Stories

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Take a minute to view two recent cases by McCollum Insuance Agent, Michael McCollum.

Case Study 1
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Michael recently worked with Mike R. from Broomall, Pa. Mike was looking to improve his Progressive Auto coverage and pricing. Mike was facing increased insurance costs, due to multiple young drivers in his home.

Michael searched multiple insurance companies to find our new client the best available coverage and pricing. Michael was able to provide better and broader coverage, with annual savings of over $10,000 with Erie Insurance.

      Michael McCollum

  Case Study 2

Michael  also recently worked with James B. from Collegeville. James was also looking to improve his coverage and pricing, due to increased costs associated with teen drivers. James came to us, looking to improve his Liberty Mutual coverage and pricing for his automobiles and home.

Michael was again able to offer better coverage with Travelers Insurance, while also saving our new client over $5000 per year.

If you have been thinking about reviewing your Personal or Business Insurance, call Mike McCollum at 215.508.9000 or request a quote below today.

Mike  works with approximately 10 Insurance Companies to find his clients the best coverage and pricing.

 

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

Quote Form

  • Drop files here or

McCollum Insurance Recent Success Stories

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Take a minute to view two recent cases by McCollum Insuance Agent, Kody Napierkowski.

Case Study 1

Kody recently worked with Patricia F, from Drexel Hill, Pa. Patricia was referred to us, by one of our clients in Broomall, PA. Patrica was looking to improve her Travelers Insurance coverage and pricing.

Kody was able to improve Patricia’s Auto and Renters Insurance coverage, by placing her with Erie Insurance.  Kody was able to provide better and broader coverage, with annual savings of over $800.

Kody Napierkowski

  Case Study 1

 

Kody also recently worked with Steven D, from the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. Steven was referred to us, by Erie Insurance. Steven came to us, looking to improve his Nationwide coverage and pricing for his car, home, and motorcycle.

Kody was again able to offer better coverage, while also saving our new client over $1100 per year.

If you have been thinking about reviewing your Personal or Business Insurance, call Kody at 215.508.9000 or request a quote below today.

Kody works with multiple Insurance Companies to find her clients the best coverage and pricing.

 

 

Newtown-Square-Auto-Insurance

If you are interested in a quote for your auto, home, or business, please fill out the form below. We will make shopping for insurance, a simple process.

Quote Form

  • Drop files here or
Erie-Insurance-Philadelphia

You Love it, We Insure It……Motorcycles, ATV’s, Campers and Trailers, Boats and More

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From Eriesense, by Alex Buczynski on May 9, 2017

Maybe it’s the motorcycle that’s been sitting silent all winter. Or the RV in storage, or a shiny new boat. Whatever it is, now is the time to take out your favorite “toy.”

When you do, it pays to think about how to protect it from accidents, bad weather and more.

Most of these toys can be added to your auto policy, says Dave Freeman, vice president in Personal Lines at Erie Insurance. “This means you’ve only got one policy to keep track of and one bill to pay.”

Read on to learn more about how ERIE covers each one.

ATVs

If you like to explore the great outdoors on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), it’s a good idea to add yours to your existing auto policy. The good news is that ERIE has a 12-month policy but factors in seasonal usage. This means you get year-round coverage at a better rate since it’s likely that you typically only use an ATV for a portion of the year. To qualify for this coverage, anyone who drives your ATV must have a valid driver’s license.

Campers and trailers 

A nonmotorized camper that you tow behind your car or utility trailer has some physical damage coverage under your homeowners policy since it is considered personal property.

That said, it’s recommended to protect your wheels by adding a camper or trailer to an existing auto policy. It gives your camper or trailer liability coverage when you’re towing it, and optional coverage is also available to protect it from accidents, hail damage, vandalism and more.

Motorcycles

Ready to ride? If you have a motorcycle, you’ll want an endorsement for your bike. ERIE’s new motorcycle coverage not only covers your bike but also comes with $3,000 in built-in coverage for damage to custom equipment and accessories, gear and safety riding apparel. Plus, you have the option to add medical payment coverage and roadside assistance.

Have a custom bike? If so, you can add up to $50,000 in custom equipment/accessory coverage to protect your one-of-kind creation. ERIE’s motorcycle rates were recently revamped, so it’s definitely worth getting a quote.

Golf carts

From avid putters to people looking for a way to get around, golf carts can come in handy. If you have one, you have liability coverage for it wherever it goes through your ERIE homeowners policy. However, physical damage is covered only when you use it to service your property.* If you plan to drive it off your property, consider getting extra physical damage coverage.

Boats

An ERIE homeowners policy only provides limited coverage for watercraft, so it’s worth looking into a standalone boat insurance policy. A boat insurance policy can cover inboards, outboards,
sailboats, houseboats and personal watercraft like jet skis. This policy provides liability coverage that kicks in if you were to injure someone or their property while using watercraft covered by the policy. Depending on the type of boat you have and the risks you face, you may wish to add extra protection (like physical damage) as well.

Protect your toys by contacting your Erie Insurance agent before the season gets in full swing. He or she will help you get the right coverage so you can enjoy your toys without worry.