Mars Insurance Agency

🍂 Fall Home Prep Checklist 🏠

Before the temperatures drop, take a few minutes to check these 4 spots that summer heat and storms may have worn down:

🧹 Clear Your Gutters - Clean out leaves and debris now before fall foliage compounds the problem. Blocked gutters can lead to water backing up against your roof or foundation.

🔥 Inspect Your Chimney - Have a professional inspect and clean your flue before lighting the first fire of the season. Soot and creosote buildup is a major fire hazard.

🌬️ Swap Your HVAC Filter - Replace your air filter before turning the heat on for the first time. A clogged filter forces your system to work harder, driving up energy costs.

🚪 Check Window & Door Seals - Inspect caulking and weatherstripping for gaps or cracking. Sealing small drafts now saves real money on heating bills later!

A little attention today can prevent big, expensive repairs once winter hits. ❄️

👉 Have you checked off your fall maintenance yet? Let us know in the comments, or share this with a homeowner who might need a reminder!

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave heroes, first responders, and innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001.

At Mars Insurance, we are forever grateful for the incredible strength, courage, and unity shown on that day and in the years since. We stand together in remembrance.

Even Martians need a holiday! 🚀

Whether you're exploring Rome or navigating life's unexpected twists closer to home, Mars Insurance has you covered across the globe (and beyond!). 🌍✨

Where's your next adventure taking you?

Proud to see our owner, Joe Wheadon, highlighted at AmSpirit Business Connections! 💡 Check out their post for key takeaways on navigating commercial insurance risks and protecting your business. 😀

🌟 AmSpirit Member Highlight: Joe Wheadon — Mars Insurance Agency

This week’s featured speaker, Joe Wheadon of Mars Insurance Agency, turned commercial insurance into an interactive experience instead of simply talking about policies.

Joe has been in the insurance industry for 12 years, beginning in life and health before quickly moving into Property & Casualty insurance. He purchased the agency in 2017 and is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) through the National Alliance.

🔎 The Commercial Insurance Challenge

For his presentation, Joe put our AmSpirit members to work! He gave us several real-world business scenarios and challenged the group to figure out:

What questions should we ask? What coverage might be needed? And what exposures could we uncover by digging a little deeper?

Meet Mike: Mike owns a $4 million commercial roofing company with employees and subcontractors, eight trucks, a $1.2 million building, $600,000 in equipment, a second location and a $500,000 line of credit.

At first, that sounds like plenty of information. But Joe showed us why the next question matters.

Are employees taking those trucks home? Are they used for snowplowing? Do the subcontractors carry their own insurance? What are the insurance requirements in Mike’s contracts with general contractors? What exactly is included in that $600,000 of equipment? Does he need an umbrella? What about EPLI or Contractors E&O?

Suddenly, there was a lot more to uncover.

Meet Michelle: Michelle owns a $500,000 attorney’s office and says she has no employees. But another attorney works for her as a subcontractor. That opened the discussion to Professional Liability, Cyber exposure, Workers’ Compensation and Hired & Non-Owned Auto coverage.

Meet Miguel: Miguel owns a multi-unit commercial condo building. Who owns the individual units? Who are the tenants? What does the rent roll look like? Who handles snow removal, landscaping and cleaning? Are Certificates of Insurance being collected?

Joe’s role-playing exercise demonstrated just how quickly the insurance needs of a business can change once you start asking the right questions.

💡 The Big Takeaway

Commercial insurance isn’t simply about buying a policy. It’s about understanding the business well enough to uncover risks the owner may not even realize are there.

That’s where Joe’s experience and his fact-finding approach really come into play.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Meet Joe Beyond the Office

There’s a lot more to Joe than commercial insurance!

Joe and his wife, Marilyn, have been together for 15+ years, and family life is certainly busy with their seven children.

When he isn’t working with business owners, Joe enjoys running, hunting and, in his own words, “farm stuff.” Marilyn keeps plenty busy herself as a homemaker, mom and farm lady.

Joe is also involved professionally with SIAA and the National Alliance, continuing to build his knowledge and connections within the insurance industry.

If you own a business—or know someone who does—Joe is a great person to have asking the questions you may not know you need to answer.

Joe Wheadon | Mars Insurance Agency
Commercial Insurance
📍 9 S. Virginia Rd., Crystal Lake, IL 60014
📞 815-459-0711
🌐 marsinsurance.com

AmSpirit McHenry County Referral Partners — building relationships, exchanging referrals and helping local businesses grow.

Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Kyle J. Merkling Sergio Fuentes - Comparion Insurance Agency Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Mars Insurance Agency McHenry County Referral Partners Chapter of AmSpirit Business Connections Susie Frank Catherine Fischer Frank Asen 4 Keys Real Estate Kaleen Marshall Hannah Cudney Erik Martin Sergio Fuentes Marilyn Wheadon

Happy Labor Day from Mars Insurance Agency!

We want to wish everyone a safe and restful holiday weekend as we celebrate the hard work and dedication of workers everywhere.

Please note our office schedule for the holiday:

Monday (Labor Day): Closed
Tuesday: Open during regular business hours

Enjoy your long weekend with family and friends! If you need to reach us, feel free to drop a message here or visit marsinsurance.com, and we’ll get back to you first thing Tuesday morning. 🚗🏠✨

🔥 September Fire Safety Checklist for Homeowners 🔥

As the weather cools down and fall approaches, September is the perfect time to make sure your home is safe and prepared. Taking a few proactive steps now can protect your loved ones and your home from potential fire hazards.

Here is a quick checklist to complete this month:

Test Your Smoke & CO Alarms: Press the test button on every alarm in your home. Replace batteries if needed, and swap out any units older than 10 years.

Inspect Heating Equipment: Schedule a professional inspection for your furnace or HVAC system, and have your fireplace and chimney cleaned before your first autumn fire.

Clean Dryer Vents: Built-up lint in dryer vents is a leading cause of home fires. Detach the hose and clean out lint traps thoroughly.

Practice Your Escape Plan: Ensure every family member knows two ways out of every room and establish an outdoor meeting place.

Check Fire Extinguishers: Make sure you have an extinguisher on every level (especially the kitchen) and verify the pressure gauge is in the green zone.

A few minutes of prevention today can make all the difference. Stay safe this season! 🏠❤️

🎓 Heading off to college this semester? Don't forget to check your auto insurance! 🚗💨

If your student is moving away for school, handling their car insurance status properly can save you money—and major headaches down the road. Here is a quick refresher on how to handle them on your policy:

Taking a car to school? Keep them listed as a driver on your policy, and update their garage location address to their campus/dorm. Insurance rates depend on where the car is parked overnight!

Leaving the car at home? Keep them listed as an "Away at School" (or Resident Student) driver. You'll keep continuous coverage for when they come back to drive on breaks, and you might qualify for a Distant Student Discount if campus is more than 100 miles away!

A+ Student? Don't forget the Good Student Discount! Most carriers offer savings for students maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Before packing up the dorm room, give us a quick call or send a message so we can make sure your family is fully covered for the school year.

Got a chipped or cracked windshield? Don't wait until it spreads! 🚗💥

Here’s what you need to know to handle it fast:

Check the damage: Small chips can often be repaired quickly, but larger cracks usually require a full replacement. Act fast for a simpler fix!

Review your coverage: Check if your auto policy includes comprehensive coverage for glass damage to lower your out-of-pocket costs.

File your claim: Report the damage promptly so you can choose a repair option and get safely back on the road.

Watch out for red flags: Avoid signing agreements with repair shops right away if they offer to "handle everything"—make sure you review your options first.

🔖 Save this post for when you need it!

Mars Insurance Agency is proud to sponsor a hole at yesterday's fundraiser supporting Marian Central Catholic High School! 🏫💙

We love giving back to our local community and supporting the next generation of students. Wishing all the golfers a tee-rific day on the course—may your drives be straight and your putts be true! 🏌️‍♀️⛳

Whether you're looking for better coverage or a solid partner on and off the green, we've got you covered. 🛡️🤝

Does your business have the right protection as you grow? 🏢✨

Whether it's a slip-and-fall on your property, a product issue, or an advertising claim, General Liability Insurance helps shield your hard work from unexpected costs. We partner with top carriers like Travelers Insurance to keep your business covered so you can focus on what you do best. 🤝

Learn more about how General Liability Insurance works, and contact us at Mars Insurance Agency today to review your coverage! ⬇️

https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/general-liability?utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_content=Insurance+Education&utm_campaign=Small+Business&linkId=983711796&fbclid=IwY2xjawTQc3pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPZk15a05ybXcwV0NsYlltc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpcBww-0m7rJrzJRpeCoHdZNax_Z9E5pZJuq7F_32pjK0qSWJeDLEZuKvP9o_aem_KIxMQ7Dffwq0J9MykUTq2Q