It’s a new year! Take the time to review your insurance coverage and decide if your insurance agency or agent is meeting your needs. It’s important to review your insurance policies each year. Go over your health, auto, and home policies. Make sure your policies are a good fit for you in 2013.

Have the holidays brought you new belongings? Make sure to keep an updated Home Inventory Guide. Compile an accurate inventory of what you currently possess in your home.

Call us today – (412) 681-2700, to review your current insurance coverage and needs. Get a quote on new policies, and make sure you are receiving all of the discounts available to you. Make 2013 a great year!

Merry Christmas – May your holiday season be bright with joy and rich with memories!

- The Wagner Agency

National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Top Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping

• Shop after 6:00 p.m. the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. Many retailers program the registers the night before, so the sale may already come up in the register even if they have not changed out signs on the selling floor yet. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big ticket items.
• Prepare a list to use while you are shopping. Make sure to include alternative selections in case you are unable to find some of the items on your list.
• Avoid crowds by shopping during stores’ early and late extended hours.
• If you are looking for specific advertised items, take the complete ad with you so that you don’t end up in the wrong store looking for a specific price.
• Staple a gift receipt to the merchandise tag in case it needs to be returned or exchanged. Keep your original receipts with any warranty paperwork for the life of the warranty.
• Remember when gift shopping you are buying for someone else’s wants and needs, not your own.  But don’t be afraid to take full advantage holiday promotions treat yourself to something nice!
• Shop safely! Watch your personal belongings at all times including handbags and purchases. The stores are not responsible for any lost items so be careful, especially at the register when you can get easily distracted by the transaction itself.
• Save yourself the headache: let the charity group at the mall wrap your gifts for you.  This will save you a lot of time and free you up to do other things on your holiday to-do lists.
• When shopping online, have your credit cards and address book handy.  Many websites have timed windows to complete a transaction, so you need to have shipping information at your fingertips.
• When walking through the mall or down Main Street, wear comfortable shoes! You’ll be walking on a lot of marble, concrete and tile.
• Only buy gift cards from reputable retailers, not through online auction sites. Gift cards sold through online auction sites may be counterfeit or have been obtained illegally.
• Make sure you have personal credit card information available at home in the event you lose a credit card while shopping. Important back up information includes customer service phone numbers, PIN numbers and account numbers.
• Be vigilant. Make sure to stash your cash in a safe place within a wallet while shopping. When paying with cash at the register, only pull out of your wallet what the amount totals, not the entire stash. This also applies to personal items you carry through the stores, including shopping bags and purses.
• When parking in a large parking lot, make sure to keep all items in the trunk of the car and out of sight. It also helps to park near a light if you know you it will be dark by the time you are done. Mentally locate the nearest security office or officers in case an emergency occurs you can easily track down appropriate personnel.

Visit the National Retail Federation website for addtional tips on Shopping Online and Holiday Shopping on a Budget.

When I think of winter, I think of cozy sweaters, steaming hot chocolate after a fun morning of sled riding with the kids, and a roaring fire crackling at night. The quietness and beauty of new fallen snow is incredibly peaceful and relaxing to me. Oh sure, the holidays can be a little stressful but the joy of being with your loved ones makes it all worthwhile. Over the years, I’ve found the best way to reduce the stress of the season and enjoy the comfort winter brings is to prepare my home or “winterize it” as they say before the last leaf and acorn have fallen.

Admiring how clean everything looks when covered with a blanket of fresh snow can make you forget important maintenance around your home has gone unattended. The time to prepare your home for winter is now – BEFORE the snowflakes start falling and the cold temperatures make it cumbersome to tend to your home’s needs.

Getting your home ready for winter is essential in averting costly damage to your home during the cold, snowy months ahead. Ice, snow, and wind can cause serious injury and extensive property damage. Proper maintenance of your property will minimize the threats of winter’s harsh elements.

The most common losses during the winter months are water damage caused by ice dams and melting snow, freezing pipes , and slips and falls on icy stairs and walkways. Taking the following preventive measures is the best way to avoid potential losses andhopefully make this winter a lot more peaceful and comforting for you too…

• Clean out gutters or install gutter guards.
• Trim trees and bushes. Remove dead branches.
• Have your heating system serviced by a professional regularly.
• Change or clean furnace filters.
• Clean home’s heating registers and duct openings.
• Have your chimney cleaned and checked by a professional.
• Shut off and drain sprinkler systems and outdoor water faucets.
• Take down canvas awning and protect your outdoor lawn furniture.
• Check pipes for cracks and leaks. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape.
• Maintain steps and handrails.

Written by Alice Langer, Account Manager, Sewickley Office

Happy Hanukkah – May your holiday season be bright with joy and rich with memories!

- The Wagner Agency

Check out this link if you are thinking of buying a motorcycle off of Craigslist. Make sure you know what you are buying.

The Hunt: Buying a Bike Off Craigslist

As the holiday season approaches, make sure you are taking the proper safety precautions to avoid fires and other hazards while decorating your home.

From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips Printable PDF

“Whether it is careful candle placement or checking the warning label on the holiday lights, simple safety steps can go a long way in preventing fires and injuries this year.”

Looking for a great place to eat in the Southside? Dish Osteria and Bar is called a “Charismatic neighborhood restaurant with an intriguing menu of seafood, seasonal vegetables, house-made pasta and hearty meat entrees.”

Check out this Pittsburgh Post Gazette article below written about Dish Osteria and Bar:

“Dish Osteria and Bar: still on top of its game“

128 S. 17th St., South Side           (412)-390-2012
www.dishosteria.com

Hours: Monday-Saturday 5pm-midnight, bar open until 2am

Gamberi in Padella : Wild caught domestic Gulf shrimp sautéed in olive oil and garlic, white wine, cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley

Tagliatelle ai Funghi : Fresh tagliatelle with Portobello, shiitake and cremini mushrooms in extra virgin and garlic. Spinach, basil and parmiggiano Reggiano.

Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your holiday! – Wagner Agency