Check out some office action-shots and an interview with Greg below!

With Hurricane Sandy on its way to the York area, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you weather the storm:

1. Clear your gutters of leaves and blockages, and ensure that all downspouts are directed away from the foundation of your home. If there’s a clear path for water to move away from your home, it’s less likely that it’ll end up in your basement.

2. Consider moving any outdoor furniture or decorations inside for the duration of the storm.

3. If you have a garage or carport, park your car under shelter before the storm. Downed trees are a common hurricane occurrence, so it’s best to move your vehicles out of harm’s way.

4. Prepare for a power outage. Have a few flashlights with extra batteries, candles and non-perishable food items available. If you have a fireplace, bring in extra (dry) wood before the storm starts. If not, make sure you have some extra blankets on hand.

5. If you’re on the road, do not attempt to drive through flooded areas–especially if it’s moving water.

6. Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged. If you lose power, you can disable your phone’s internet connection to extend its battery life.

7. If your basement is prone to flooding, ensure that any boxes are shelved and off the ground. In a finished basement, consider moving electronics and furniture to higher ground–perhaps upstairs–until the storm is over. If pets are crated during the day, relocate them, too.

8. Most importantly: if your home is damaged by water or wind, your first step should be to prevent any further damage. Tarp leaking roofs, move endangered furniture and valuables, and hang or dry wet linens. If necessary, call a water restoration company. If you’re planning to file a claim, snap a few pictures of the damage before the clean-up begins–but waiting for an adjuster often increases the severity of the damage and the length of clean-up. Start as soon as possible!

If you have further questions about storm preparation or your homeowner’s insurance coverage, please give us a call at (717)764-2024 or (717)755-5858. We’d be happy to help!

- Do you have a spouse and/or children?

- Does your family rely on your income in any way–to pay bills or to maintain their lifestyle?

- Do you have outstanding debts, such as a house payment, car payment, or other loans?

If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, a life insurance policy may be right for you. If your family can’t survive without your income, Allstate can protect them, should the worst happen. Your bills will be paid. Your family will keep their home. Your children will attend college. If you can’t be there for your family, we can.

At Nicholas Insurance, we have seven staff licensed in term life insurance: a relatively inexpensive way to purchase a large amount of insurance–enough to cover your mortgage, bills, college tuition, and other expenses–for a set period of time. And unlike employer-provided policies, these aren’t tied to your employment and can be purchased for much larger amounts.

Life insurance is your way to prepare your family for the “what-if.” To some, it’s a somber subject. But we’ve seen, first-hand, the impact that an unplanned death of a wage-earner can have on an unprepared family. Don’t leave your family without leaving them protected. Call us today at (717)764-2024 or (717)755-5858, and we’ll help you determine what life insurance policy is right for you.

New and only from Allstate!

We’re excited to announce that Allstate has launched our new, innovative Claim Satisfaction Guarantee! At Nicholas Insurance, we’re proud to offer the only car insurance with claim service so good, it’s guaranteed. And it’s available at no cost to you, included in all of our standard auto insurance policies.

Here’s how it works: you file an auto insurance claim with Allstate. We’ve made payments, but you’re not happy with how it’s resolved. It doesn’t matter why you’re unhappy, or whose fault it is. You’re unhappy, so we are, too. You write us a letter. Nothing fancy–just let us know who you are and why you’re not happy. That’s it. We’ll give you credit on the car’s premium for up to six months. Nobody else does that.

Call us today at (717)764-2024, and get a quote for the only auto insurance with a guarantee. With us, you can trust that you’re in good hands–and that we’re willing to follow through on our promises when it matters most. Can your car insurance do that?

(Learn more about our Claim Satisfaction Guarantee here!)

In support of our continued mission to provide quality service and affordable rates, Allstate has released a new discount for our preferred auto policies! This new discount will apply to any customers who currently have (or who purchase) any life insurance protection from the Allstate family of companies. Whether you’re interested in a policy that builds cash value, or you’re just hoping to protect your family from the unexpected, Allstate has products to fit both your needs and your budget.

If you have a life insurance policy through work, or if you purchased your policy a long time ago, this new discount gives you a great reason to dig out that old paperwork. Take a good look at what coverage you’re currently receiving and what you’re paying for it! While we talk with some customers who have sufficient life insurance coverage through their workplace, many more are surprised to learn that they’re receiving $10,000 or $20,000 of coverage, which would cover only their final medical and funeral expenses–but not enough to replace their income and provide for their family’s economic future. Other of our younger, healthy customers have found that their rates in a medically underwritten life insurance policy are much cheaper, whilte providing a policy that won’t be terminated if their employment is.

At the Nicholas Agency, we have seven fully-licensed staff, qualified to review your financial needs and help you determine what type and amount of life insurance would best protect you and your family. If you have any questions or want to review your coverage, just give us a call at (717)764-2024!

We’re exicted to annouce that Allstate has launched its new, free-to-use Good Hands Roadside Assistance program! It’s open to everyone (even if you’re not an Allstate customer) and free to join. And unlike other roadside assistance products, you’ll only pay if you need it.  

To sign up, please contact our office at (717)764-2024 or follow this link. After you’ve enrolled, you’ll receive an email that invites you to register your information for quick and easy service when you’re on the road. If you need assistance, dialing 1-800-ALLSTATE will connect you to a representative who, using our extensive network of service providers, will locate the nearest, trusted service company to you. And you’ll be able to pay Allstate directly, so you know that your personal information is in good hands.

Here’s a blurb directly from Allstate’s informational website:

Good Hands^SM Roadside Assistance, is a new Allstate service that gives you free access to Allstate’s 24/7 Roadside Network should your car break down for any reason.  

• No annual fees. Pay only for the service as you need it and when you need it – in most cases just $75 per tow and $50 per other service.
• Available to everyone in the U.S. – not just Allstate customers.
• Service covers any driver, any car, any time.
• Download the Good Hands^SM Roadside mobile app to your smartphone for faster, easier service. Available now on iPhone,^® BlackBerry,^® and Android.^®

• Habitat for Humanity
• York Helping Hands for the Homeless
• SPCA
• ACCESS York
• York Rescue Mission
• The Salvation Army
• Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
• Human Life Services
• …or any charity you choose!

At Allstate, we’re committed to our customers and our community. Stop by for your free quote today, and give back to your neighbors right here in York!

Visit us at our new East York location!Village Green Shopping Center, 2300 East Market Street, York PA 17402

We know that shopping for insurance can be a hassle. Sometimes, it’s hard to sort through the phone calls, emails, and letters from dozens of companies, each claiming they’ll save you insert-number-here dollars on your auto policy.

At Allstate, we want to let our quality products, great customer service, and low prices do the talking. That’s why, for the month of January, we’re offering a free car wash to anyone that gets a quote for a new policy with us. No gimmicks, no sales pitches, no purchase necessary. Just stop by or call in–we’ll see if we can save you money, and you get a free car wash from our neighbors at Cloister Wash and Lube! It’s just that easy.

Here at Nicholas Insurance, our thoughts are with those affected by this community tragedy.

We’re also left with a sobering reminder of how important it is to prepare for the unexpected. In the aftermath of this fire, six families have been permanently displaced, their homes deemed unlivable and their possessions destroyed. It’s why we recommend renter’s insurance to our customers. For less than pennies a day, it means that, in the event of a tragedy, you won’t be alone.

A basic renter’s insurance policy costs about $85 per year. Not only does it provide coverage to replace or salvage your belongings, but it also pays for an additional living expenses, should you be displaced from your home, too.

You deserve protection at a price you can afford. Call us today, and learn how an affordable renters insurance policy can protect your family.

For more information on this fire visit the York Dispatch.