Cass Agency ME and NH

Hard to believe that it's been 3 years since I purchased the Cass Agency in Maine. I am very humbled by the warm welcome I have received from all of our clients. Thank you all for making it great!!!

Expect higher-than-normal home and auto premium increases in 2022

Home-related trends: higher building materials costs and a skilled labor shortage

If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve probably noticed that the price tags on building materials have risen dramatically. In the first year of the pandemic, lumber prices alone jumped 42%. Steel mill products rose a staggering 81% in the first three quarters of 2021. Higher materials costs naturally lead to more expensive bids on home repairs and new construction.

To make matters worse, the home-building industry is facing a shortfall of at least 200,000 skilled trade workers, which is driving up construction-related labor costs. About 60% of surveyed builders report a skilled labor shortage.3 Combined with the high cost of construction materials; this has been making home claims much more expensive for carriers.

Auto-related trends: supply chain issues and more frequent and severe car accidents

An ongoing shortage of microchips and other critical parts like wiring harnesses, plastics and glass is making it more costly to repair or replace a vehicle after an accident.

Automakers recently reported that, as of Aug. 2021, U.S. dealers had fewer than 1 million new cars on their lots, 72% less than they did in Aug. 2019– and that scarcity is revving up costs. Between Oct. 2020 and Oct. 2021, new car prices rose 10.6% – the sharpest 12-month jump since 1975 – while used car prices skyrocketed nearly 32%.

At the same time, accidents have become more frequent and severe in the past year, increasing the number and cost of auto claims. In the first six months of 2021, car accident fatalities increased 16% from the previous year, and nearly 2.5 million people sustained injuries requiring consultation with a medical professional.

Hope everyone is having a great Friday. We are looking forward to the weekend! With the exception of Henry possibly crossing our path that is.
Hoping that none of your will have to deal with a flooded basement with the rain if Henry does push through. Water that comes in from the ground, drain pipes or overflow of a gutter is considered flood. This is NOT covered by a standard homeowner, condo or renters policy. Flood policies are written separately with most carriers.
The NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) has a standard 30 day wait for any newly written policy unless it's required for a loan closing. With the uncertain path of Henry, no coverage can be bound in NH until further notice.
For more information on flood coverage, give us a call or email me.
[email protected]

Be sure to carry these 12 essential items in your golf bag before hitting the course! https://bit.ly/2Z4MeSx

Twelve Essential Items to Carry in your Golf Bag Guilty of showing up at the golf course without some golf balls or tees? Or finding yourself on the course with a ripped glove and an empty stomach? Golfers need more than clubs in their golf bag to be successful. Making sure you are prepared with essential golf items and equipment can make a day

Golf carts are used for many different purposes beyond traveling a golf course. Although they’re fun and easy to drive, they can be dangerous. Check out these safety tips to enjoy the ride and avoid injury: https://bit.ly/3dOMb4g

Golf Cart Safety - 15 Tips to Avoid Injury Here are some Golf Cart safety tips to read up on before you hit the gas and make the same mistake I did.

With Elsa beating down upon us in the form of so much more rain, find a way to enjoy your time indoors or channel your inner child and get out there and play in the puddles. :)

Price of Freedom
56 Men Who Signed
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? They gave us a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted...We shouldn't!!! So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid....
• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.
• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
• They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
• Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
• Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
• Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
• Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
• At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
• Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
• John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
• Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
• Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:
"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

"MAY ALL WHO COME BEHIND US FIND US FAITHFUL."


One final note: a number of the actions referenced in the essay are the result of revolutionary war events subsequent to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, rather than the result of the act of signing the document.

On the days like this when it's really hot, remember to keep your dogs cool. They get really hot as well.
Oh, and remember to play a little bit in the sprinklers yourselves if you have time.
Stay safe and try to find a cool place to be.

Happy Friday From ! Looks like we all got quite a bit of the white stuff before the holidays which is great!

Please be careful while cleaning snow, remember to clean all of the snow off of your vehicles (it's the law in most states) and enjoy the beauty of it all today!

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To all of our friends and clients, if you don’t NEED to go out of the roads today please don’t. Let the hard working men and women clearing the roads so their job without having to worry about you!

Stay safe and enjoy the pre-Christmas snow ❄️ ❄️❄️ 😃😃

No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, we wish you a happy and safe one.
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Don't forget to get your chimneys cleaned if you have a woodstove in your home or clean the pipes on your pellet stove. It could save your home and/or your life.

Thinking about this as our chimneys are being cleaned right now

Snowmobiles!!! I know we really don't want to think about it right now but 'winter is coming'! For our GOT fans, you'll get that.

If you have a machine now and want a quote for coverage, give Germain Insurance a call. Let's see if we can save you some money on your current coverage or get you some coverage if you have none now. We have some great carriers with great rates.
In ME 207.358-7777 or in NH 603.606.1895 give Christine or Dave a call.

Maybe we can ride together :)

Well, it looks like we are officially back to fall weather here in NH and ME. Just remember with all of the leaves on the ground and the rain to be careful. Hoping we get a few more nice enjoyable days soon.

Happy Fall from Cass Agency Me and NH!

Welcome to fall in New England! While you're taking the time to enjoy the beauty please remember to be safe.
There are so many things to put on your fall to do list!!
Please remember to check the batteries in your smoke detectors, if you will be burning wood this year to keep warm, remember to have your chimneys cleaned. I'm sure you all know the drill.
Most of all, stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy life.

The Cass Agency of ME and NH would like you to know that we are closed on Monday Sepember 7th for Labor Day. We hope all of you will stay safe and have a great weekend.

The Cass Agency of ME would like to wish all of you a safe Labor Day weekend. We know that this year will be so much different than previous years and want to let you know that we appreciate all of you. Stay safe, socially distance and please wear your masks in public places.

Happy Monday from us here at The Cass Agency. Let us know if we can help make your week better in any way. Give us a call @ (207) 358-7777 or email me: [email protected]

As we all know, tropical storm Isaias is projected to head up our way in the next day. Please remember to button down the hatches and look for potential hanging branches or anything that could cause damage to your homes or vehicles. Stay safe out there!

Cass Agency ME and NH updated their business hours.

Finally some rain!!! Don't get us wrong, I love sunny days but we really need some rain to get rid of the pollen! We hope you're all staying safe!

To all of our Concord Group policy holders. Finally got some info for you...

As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, protecting the wellbeing of our customers, employees, and business partners has never been more important to The Concord Group. We also recognize the uncertainty and financial hardship being endured by many, as we do our part to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, by staying at home.



Premium Payment Refund

With Stay at Home orders in place in all of our New England states, there are fewer drivers on the road, resulting in fewer accidents. Given this decline in driving and claim activity, we are issuing a credit to your Automobile premium. Overall, we will be returning $2,400,000 to over 70,000 policyholders throughout the four New England states we do business in. Here is how it will benefit you:

As a Personal Auto insurance customer, you will receive a 15% refund on your April and May auto premiums.
A refund credit will be applied to your account balance. If your account has been paid in full, a refund check will be issued.
Refunds will be automatically issued in the coming weeks, pending approval from state insurance regulators.


Financial Uncertainty

We understand that many are worried about employment and finances. While we hope this return premium helps you in this period of need, know that our Customer Service team is ready and willing to help with any additional billing and payment questions that you might have. We believe that finding case-by-case solutions to our policyholders’ changing needs is essential, especially during these uncertain times.

For more than 90 years, The Concord Group has provided stability and peace of mind to our policyholders through the most difficult of occasions; we are honored to continue doing so now. We thank you for your continued support, and wish you and your loved ones good health.

Some good news for our clients insured through National General!

They are going to be crediting 15% of your April installments for your auto policy. This could be helpful to many of you. If you are already paid in full for this year, you will receive the credit in the form of a check in the mail.

Every little bit helps!

Happy Friday from Cass Agency!!! Just wanted to say hello and see how all of you peeps are doing out there! Anyone?

An announcement from The Cass Agency in Maine. Another company stepping up to the plate!! :)

Progressive returns $1 billion in premium to customers
Today we announced that we’re providing credits of approximately $1 billion in premium to Progressive personal auto customers as a result of fewer claims that come with less frequent driving.
Subject to approval by state regulators, Progressive personal auto customers who have a policy in force as of April 30 will be credited 20% of their April premiums in May and personal auto customers with a policy in force as of May 31 will be credited 20% of their May premiums in June. We estimate that the sum of these two credits will total approximately $1 billion. We may offer additional credits in the upcoming months.

Customers will not need to take any actions to receive the benefits. The credits will be applied automatically to the customer’s policy and those customers who have paid in full will receive a payment of the credited amounts. Please be assured that this action will not affect commission payments. Customers will see it reflected in their accounts within a few weeks after month end.
If they have a balance on the policy, we’ll apply the credit directly to the remaining balance. And if they’ve already paid in full, we’ll return the money to the payment account we have on file—please make sure your customers’ payment details are up to date.

The Cass Agency in Maine is happy to announce this from Safeco Insurance!!

Personal Auto Customer Relief Refund

Fewer drivers are on the road, which means fewer accidents. With this in mind, we are announcing our Personal Auto Customer Relief Refund, which will return approximately $250 million to our Liberty Mutual personal lines and Safeco auto customers. Here’s how it works:
• Personal auto insurance customers will receive a 15% refund of two months of their annual auto premium as of April 7, 2020, pending regulatory approval.
• The refunds will begin in April and will be issued either by check or in the manner the customer made their most recent payment.
• The payments will happen automatically. Customers do not need to call Safeco to receive the refund.

Well this is awesome news! Attention all Safeguard and Cass Agency Allstate policies holders!!! Check this out!

Auto insurers Allstate and American Family Mutual Insurance are refunding hundreds of millions of dollars to policyholders, citing a dramatic drop in accident claims from Americans hunkered down at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trade groups believe the pair are the first car insurers in the U.S. to share their Covid-19-related windfall. Allstate said most of its customers would receive 15% of their monthly car premium in April and May. American Family is returning $50 per insured vehicle

For our business owners out there.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.

HOW IS EVERYONE HOLDING UP?

We at the Cass Agency are here to help in whatever way we can in the new and trying time that we are all living in.

If you find yourself out of work or have been offered a job doing food delivery, please give me a call so we can confirm that your current auto carrier is offering you the ability to do delivery without any repercussions.

Call Cass Agency @ 207-358-7777 or 603.606.1895

Thank you - Christine & David Germain

A NOTICE TO ALL CASS AGENCY PROGRESSIVE CLIENTS!!!

We just received this from Progressive today which we hope will help you out.
Starting Wednesday, April 1, 2020 continuing through Friday, May 15, 2020, Progressive customers will not be canceled or non-renewed for non-payment of premium. We’re aware that some states have already issued leniency guidelines and we will adjust this timeline to either meet or exceed any state-specific requirements