February/March 2021 News from
Rolland and Associates
We hope your 2021 has started well and you and your family are safe, healthy and staying warm through these last few snowy weeks of winter! Even though it might not look like it outside the window right now, spring is just around the corner - we personally can't wait for the warm up!

In this newsletter, we've included some tips on how to prepare your home for the spring thaw as well as some of the features on our updated website and an intro to another great carrier!

Our agents are still working both in the office and remotely to make sure you and your loved ones are covered. Please note that our office is closed to walk in traffic. If you need to deliver something to us in person, please schedule a time with us so we can safely greet you at the door.

As always, if there is anything we can do to assist you with your insurance needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via phone at 614-789-1891 or email.
Updated Website: rollandinsurance.net
Have you had a chance to visit our revamped website yet? We have worked very hard over the past few months to update it to be even more useful for our clients! A few things that you can find there:

  • Our Customer Portal - we love this addition! With one click, you can access your policies, print documents, see coverages, submit changes, and more - 24/7, right from your computer or phone. Just click the Customer Portal button from any page to access it!
  • Past Newsletters - we have been publishing our newsletter for over a year now and all those past issues are available on the website so if you are looking for info on things like how to take a Home Inventory (April 2020) or whether you are covered when renting a car for Spring Break (June/July 2020) or any of the other topics we have covered, it's all there for you to refer back to and browse.
  • Request A Quote - Whether you are new to the agency or are looking to add coverage to your existing policies, you can click the Request A Quote button from any page and either be connected to Nationwide Express for a quote or get a quote from multiple carriers. You just enter some basic information and we will get back to you with more information as soon as possible!
  • Policy Offerings - there are so many options for insurance and we are always happy to discuss things that would be best for your situation but if you just want a quick rundown of the types of insurance we offer, we have that information on the website too! Simply hover your mouse over Personal Insurance or Business Insurance in the main toolbar for links to information on our many offerings.
  • Carrier Information - now that we are an independent agency, we offer coverage through multiple carriers beyond Nationwide. Some of these carriers are likely familiar to you but some may not be so we have included some information about each one of our carrier partners!
  • About Us - sometimes it is nice to put a face with a name especially since we can't greet you in the office right now! Our About Us pages will also give you a little insight into who each of your agents are and our philosophy as an agency.

We hope the updated website is useful and informative for you - of course, all our contact information is there as well if you should need to get in touch with us!
Preparing for the Spring Thaw
I think we all look forward to spring after a long winter - the air feels a little fresher, the plants start to bud again, the birds return, and all the snow melts away! That can be viewed as good or bad - good if it is melting off the sidewalk so you can take the dog for a walk, bad if it is melting into your house! So, how to best prepare your house for the upcoming spring thaw? Here are some tips:

  • Make sure your sump pump is working properly: Since the sump pump's job is to move water away from your house, and the spring thaw tends to want to do the opposite - this is your best first step! Testing it is quite easy, here's a great article on how to do it: How to Test a Sump Pump. Also, you might consider investing in a battery backup for the sump pump so it will still work if you lose power.
  • Check the drains at the street and clear away any snow or ice that has built up over the winter: If you have a curb outside your house, you likely have a drain pipe leading away from your house as well. If that is blocked, it can prevent the water from your sump pump from draining, backing it up inside your house. Make sure that water has a clear path to the street and those little outlets aren't blocked.
  • Move the snow away: If you still have piles of snow against the house, clear it away as much as possible. This will help with overall drainage.
  • Check your downspouts and gutters: All that snow on your roof has to go somewhere and hopefully it will flow right through the gutters and downspouts and away from your foundation and basement. Obviously, if these are blocked, they aren't going to be able to do their job. Try to make sure the gutters are clear of debris and the downspouts are pointed in the right directions. Ice is a big problem in lots of gutters and downspouts so keep an eye out for that!
  • Install water alarms: These little alarms can go near basement drains, under sinks, near the sump pump and they give off an alarm if they get wet. Great for basements you might not spend that much time in. They can run anywhere from a few dollars to quite a bit more for 'smart sensors' that will send an alert to your phone of there is an issue. They are a great investment for peace of mind!
  • Get it off the ground: Many people use their basements as mini storage units (I certainly do!) but that can lead to heartbreak if your basement floods and you lose pictures or other priceless family memories. If you do store things down there that would be devastating to lose, try to store them in waterproof or water resistant bins and get them up off the floor as much as you are able.

With a little prep now, the spring thaw will hopefully come and go with no issues! Here's to a dry basement!
Introducing...State Auto!
As you know, we are now an independent agency which means that while we still proudly represent Nationwide, we also can offer our clients other options for great coverage. We're going to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our new carriers in each newsletter - we're very proud of the carriers we represent and firmly believe that they are all well suited to take care of our clients. So without further ado, we would like to introduce you to State Auto!

Another Columbus based company, our 3rd Columbus based insurance carrier, State Auto was founded in1921 by Robert Pein. He was frustrated by insurance rates that were too high and claim settlements that weren’t handled fairly. State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, he said, would be different. He pledged reasonable rates with prompt and fair claim service that remain their hallmark to this day.

Today they have assets of $4.6 billion and write $2.0 billion in premium in 33 states.

Please feel free to visit their website for more details: State Auto. If you would like to discuss their offerings in depth, we would love to hear from you as well!
Have questions about your insurance? Need help with your policies?
Please don't hesitate to reach out - we're happy to help!

Don't forget to ask about our referral program!

Rolland & Associates | Email | 614-789-1891 | Website