When high winds drive falling or drifting snow, whiteout conditions are the result. If you’re driving, you are likely to have to cope with very low visibility if you are able to see beyond you at all. This winter has brought one snow and ice storm after another with no end yet in sight. So if you must drive when a whiteout threatens, follow these tips to stay as safe as possible.

• Give yourself the best chance at visibility by keeping all car windows clear. Switch your heating system to Defrost – front and rear – but be sure that the system is not set to recirculate because that will add more moisture into the vehicle causing the windows to fog. This will also diminish the amount of fresh oxygen in the air which will also diminish your alertness.
• When you sense a whiteout condition brewing, you should distractions eliminate distractions in your vehicle because your utmost attention is required to operate the car. Immediately, free your hands of any food or beverage, ask passengers to cease conversation so that you can concentrate, and turn off your audio system unless you are tuned to current weather reports.

The article from ErieSense.com, titled “12 Tips for Driving in a Whiteout” tells us, “In many parts of the country, driving through wind and snow is just a part of your average winter. However, it’s not every day that you get caught driving in a whiteout.”

Read the entire article to learn driving in a winter whiteout and how to best protect yourself.

Tags:  auto insurance, winter driving, whiteout, driving safety

The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency located in Lutherville / Timonium, MD, is a full-service insurance agency offering auto/car insurance, homeowners insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA) and Pennsylvania (PA) since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Lutherville/Timonium,MD, and all of us at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency.

You have probably hear those who say that Valentine’s Day is just a creation of the greeting card industry to entice consumers – just like Mother’s Day and other sentimental holidays. Well, perhaps that’s true. After all, the National Retail Federation estimated that each of us would spend and average of $133.91 for Valentine's Day in 2014, and that trend continues on the rise.

When we think about Valentine’s Day gifts, chocolate is often at the top of our mind. Retailers make many reasonably priced versions available. But for the most discriminating Valentine, nothing short of the La Madeline au Truffe from Connecticut chocolatier, Knipschildt will do. This delicacy is described as a rare French Perigord truffle ensconced in a ganache made from Valrhona dark chocolate, truffle oil, vanilla and heavy cream before being dunked in more dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Is your mouth watering yet? You’ll want to remind yourself this chocolate is $2,600 per pound. Made to order, it will be delivered "lying on a bed of sugar pearls" -- as it probably should be.

But if incredibly expensive chocolate truffles are not your thing and assuming that money is no object, then take a look at these other outrageously expensive gifts:

• If you think it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without flowers no matter the price, then you should learn about the Juliet Rose. You’ll find a dozen of these roses for under $300, but the Juliet is often called the "£3 million rose" (or 5 million U.S. dollars) because that is what rose breeder, David Austin, spent in the 15 years it took him to create the rose.  
• Perhaps a not-so-simple and quite extraordinary card would be best. Gilded Age Greetings will create your couture Valentine's card by hand for a mere $3500! You won’t believe it until you see it.
• Fragrance in the form of perfumes and colognes make great gifts for a Valentine, especially when it is "No. 1" perfume for women by Clive Christian. This world acclaimed fragrance comes in a gold-crowned 1.6-ounce bottle priced at $865 – a bargain when compared with “Imperial Majesty” also by Clive Christian at $215,000 per bottle.

If you’re inclined to invest your fortune in something more permanent than food, flowers, or fragrance, then likely a new iPhone embellished in 200 grams of solid 18k gold could be your choice. This luxury device comes to you in a Cherry Oak Finished Box. The Solid Gold Superstar is SIM free, factory unlocked to ALL networks and comes with the usual accessories. It’s priced at just under $58,000. But if you prefer, you may have the Solid Gold Superstar ICE, encrusted with 364 diamonds (5.5 carats in total) for the upgrade price of about $82,000.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

It is clear that these outrageous gifts are not for anyone but the super rich, and you’ll be looking at more moderately priced gifts. Even so, if your Valentine’s Day plans include a gift of jewelry or some other expensive item, then don’t forget to protect it as soon as possible. The Insurance Information Institute warns us that jewelry losses are among the most frequent of all home insurance content-related insurance claims. So do yourself a favor and take a moment to visit the III.ORG website where you can learn the four relatively simple steps needed to ensure adequate protection for jewelry and other expensive gifts.

Our experienced agents at the Sparks Insurance Agency are always glad to answer your questions and help you sort out your options to be sure you have the best coverage to meet your needs at the best rate.  So why not contact us today or arrange for a no-obligation insurance policy review at your convenience. 

This month has seen an almost continuous arctic blast causing freezing temperatures in most of the country with severe and sustained cold weather and snowfalls interspersed with periods of melting and freezing. This can inflict considerable damage on homes and businesses. One such risk is frozen water pipes.

Are you wondering just why pipes freeze and what causes them to rupture. Then, check out this article from ErieSense.com: “What Causes Frozen Water Pipes to Burst” to learn what happens to water when it freezes, why this is a threat to pipes in your home and what pipes are at the greatest risk for damage.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, there are a few facts that we should keep in mind when it comes to frozen pipes.

• Frozen water pipes are one of the biggest risks for homewners when the temperature drops below 32 degrees, and approximately 37% of all frozen pipe failures occur in a basement.
• When a water pipe freezes, it could burst; and an opening of just 1/8-inch in a pipe could typically cause 250 gallons of water to escape in a day’s time.
• A water pipe that ruptures due to freezing can lead to as much as $5000 in water damage.

If the worst occurs and you have a burst pipe, the Insurance Information Institute offers this advice:

• If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.
• If your pipes burst, first turn off the water and then mop up spills. You don’t want the water to do more damage than it already has.
• Call your agent or company as soon as you can. An insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see the spill before you take action. However, he or she will want to inspect any damaged items.
• Make temporary repairs and take other steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove any carpet or furniture that can be further damaged from seepage.
• Make a list of the damaged articles.
• Save the receipts for what you spend—including additional living expenses if you must leave your home until repairs are completed—and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

The Insurance Information Institute tells us that standard homeowners policies will usually cover most of the kinds of damage that result from a freeze. For example, if house pipes freeze and burst or if ice forms in gutters and causes water to back up under roof shingles and seep into the house. You would also typically be covered if the weight of snow or ice damages your house. They advise checking with your agent or company so you’ll be sure what your policy covers.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency, our experienced agents welcome your questions and inquiries and are always glad to help you explore your insurance policy to be sure you have the best coverage at the best rate available.  Why not contact us today or arrange for a policy review at your convenience?

Are you one of the 45% or so of American adults that make New Year’s resolutions each year? How does that work out for you? Do you stick to them, or do you tend to lose your resolve as over half do after the first month? Regardless of whether you have met your goals in the past, it’s a good idea to keep trying. The folks at ProactiveChange.com tell us that those who make explicit resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals in life than those who don’t make such resolutions.

Whether you are making resolutions to improve your personal or business life, a few tips and tools from the experts might help to make 2015 the year that you reach the goals you aspire to.

Are Your Resolutions Visual & Clear?

International Business Times offers an unforgettable way to visualize your goals with a Vision Board in their “5 Tips To Make Lasting Changes...”

Are Your Efforts Worth It?

In their “9 Ways to keep your New Year’s resolutions”, Bankrate.com advises not to make “cheap resolutions” but to focus on only one or two goals that you really want to reach and forget about what other people want you to accomplish. They also offer a very sound suggestion for automating your efforts, and they offer some valuable examples to get you started.

Why Not Take it Easy on Yourself?

Eriesense.com, in their article “Seven Tips to Help Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick”, recommends “mini-resolutions” – taking small bites of a big goal to assure success. And, if you’re a person who responds better to penalties than rewards, they suggest a unique automated disincentive that you won’t want to ignore.

Insurance Tip:  Don't Guess at Your Coverage

No matter what you resolve to change in 2014, the start of this new year is just the right time to sit down with your insurance agent to review your policies and discuss any new insurance needs. Whether it is auto, home, life or business insurance, knowing that you have the best coverage in place to meet your needs gives you the peace of mind you need to pursue all other resolutions.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency, we are always glad to help you consider your insurance options so you can make the right decisions. Why not arrange a policy review or contact our office at your convenience?

You know how it starts – traffic back-ups, roadway gridlock, driver distractions – circumstances that try the patience of even the calmest driver. In such circumstances, many drivers tend to become aggressive. However, most of them don’t take it to the next level and act out with road rage.

Need more incentive to stay cool? Try this... Depending upon the circumstances, when you cross the line to exhibit aggression on the road, your car insurance may no longer protect you if you should happen to be involved in an auto accident.

In “Keep Your Cool When Road Rage Hits”, ErieSense.com offers, “It’s important to keep control when dealing with an aggressive driver and not retaliate in order to prevent further problems. It offers “six tips to help you keep your cool when dealing with aggressive drivers so you don’t become one yourself.”

Read the article to learn more about road rage and how to best protect yourself.

The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium MD is a full service agency offering homeowners insurance, auto/car insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.