Regular home maintenance is important and frequently overlooked. We tend to forget about our HVAC system until it quits working on a hot day! That's why, we're providing a few simple tasks and reminders you can do each month to keep your home in tip top shape all year long.
Here's where you can get started in July: Do an energy audit. Hot weather is a great time to find all the spots in your home where air may be sneaking in. Plugging those leaks can save as much as 20% on your heating and cooling bills! Look at every door and window area for places where you can see daylight through a crack or feel a draft. Don't forget the mail slot and fireplace too! If you'd rather use a professional, contact your utility company for a recommendation on a home energy auditor. Protect your patio furniture. You probably have all of your nice outdoor furniture in use right now. Make sure to take a few minutes to clean it each week (and protect it during storms) and it will last for many years. Check the tags on pillows and cushions for specific cleaning instructions and regularly hose down the furniture itself. Remember, patio cushions are a favorite place for busy squirrels so try to keep them protected! Save on Home Insurance. If we don't currently insure your home, call us for a quote today. We'll look for every possible discount without sacrificing important coverage. Great insurance coverage is the best protection you can have!
0 Comments
Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially when it doesn't move quickly. With a new job looming, you may have no choice but to leave the home vacant for a short time until it sells.
The problem? Vacant homes fall under different insurance rules and can leave you at risk. Homes are typically considered vacant when the utilities are shut off and/or furniture has been removed. Insurance companies view a vacant home as a higher risk. There are more opportunities for vandalism and no one living there to protect the home from fire or storm damage. So what should you do when moving? First you need to talk to your insurance agent and get the details on your policy. Since policies vary by state and insurance company, there is no single right answer. Explain the situation to your agent. Ask what coverage is included and what is excluded (specifically for vandalism). And find out what changes can be made to protect your home. Selling a home doesn't always follow a quick timeline. If you're facing the possibility of leaving your home vacant, contact us first and find out how to best protect yourself and your property. If you are currently renting your home or apartment, it’s time to learn more about renters insurance!
Homeowners insurance covers the house itself and the items inside. But if you don’t own the home, you don’t need insurance to cover it. All you need is coverage for your actual personal belongings. It might not seem like a lot, but all those little items add up! When you think about the cost to replace your furniture, dishes, sheets, clothes, books, and everything else filling up your home, it’s probably a lot more than you thought. Renters insurance is an affordable way to protect what you’ve worked hard to acquire. And it’s probably a lot cheaper than you’d expect! In fact, many times the discount you receive on your auto insurance for having multiple policies can almost pay for the entire renters policy! Renters Insurance will cover personal belongings within your home as well as a limited amount of property off premises (such as items in a storage building) or your laptop when it’s in the car. It also includes important liability coverage. If you accidentally cause a fire that burns down the property, your insurance pays the landlord to replace it (protecting you from a damaging lawsuit). In fact, many landlords now require that tenants carry a certain amount of liability insurance before they approve the lease. So if you’re renting, it’s time to look at protecting your valuables. Give us a call today and ask for a no obligation quote on renters insurance. And don’t forget to find out how much you’ll save on your auto insurance too! Did you know that June is the most popular month for weddings?
I’ve seen many of my clients planning weddings over the next few weeks. So I thought I’d share an insurance tip this week just for engaged couples and newlyweds. You’re spending a lot of money on your wedding and those new rings. Make sure they’re covered! Jewelry is covered under your Homeowners or Renters insurance. But the coverage amount can be limited. If you don’t cover the individual piece of jewelry specifically, you might not have enough insurance if it were to be lost or stolen. Here’s what I recommend. Get an appraisal of your rings from the jeweler. Then bring in a copy and we’ll add the rings to your policy. (We can also discuss deductibles or special coverage.) Depending on the value of the ring, you might spend only a few dollars a year to know that your valuable jewelry is insured. If you are renting or getting ready to purchase a home and don’t have a policy, now is a great time to schedule a free consultation to discuss what coverage you’ll need and give you a ballpark figure for what it will cost. Renters Insurance is very inexpensive and can give you a lot of peace of mind as you combine your two households. But the best tip I can give? Get a local insurance agent you can trust! We’ll look out for you and help you get the right coverage at an affordable rate. Call today for a free quote. When summer arrives, many people leave the day-to-day routine behind and go on vacation in June. Hopefully you're planning a trip sometime soon too!
But what do you need to know before you hit the road? Consider these special situations: Rental Cars - If you choose to rent a car, make sure you understand how your insurance works. A rental car company will want to sell you special coverage to cover the car while you are driving it. The insurance will cost you a certain amount extra each day. But did you know that your current insurance will typically also cover you at no additional cost? However, if you have a claim filed on your current policy, your rates could go up in the future. And rental car companies could file a claim for very minor damage. Obviously it is a risk either way, but make sure you know your options. And please contact us BEFORE renting a car to find out what is specifically covered on your policy. Hosting A Barbecue - It's always fun to throw a summer barbecue. It's even more fun when you aren't worried about your insurance! Your homeowners and renters insurance covers you if someone is injured on your property due to your negligence. That means that if they trip on a step, fall on the patio, or cut their hand on a glass, you don't have to worry. But, as always, you need to discuss this with your agent and go over exactly what coverage you have. If you have a lot of assets, then you might need additional liability coverage too. Notice a pattern here? The general rule is that you need a personal insurance agent who is looking out for your particular needs! There is not a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to protecting your family and your belongings. Take just 5 minutes to give us a call today to discuss your policy! Most people think the biggest risk to their home is a fire or a bad storm. It’s why they buy insurance (and the fact it’s required by their mortgage lender).
But in reality, the biggest concern is protecting your assets from a liability claim. Consider this... Warm weather has arrived and everyone is beginning their yard work. Mowing, planting flowers, and digging those vegetable gardens. There is a lot of work to be done. So let's say that you dig a large hole in the front yard so you can plant a new tree. You walk away for a moment and while you're gone the kid next door runs through the yard, falls in the hole, and breaks his ankle. Unfortunately, you could be held responsible for his injury. But not to worry, your homeowner's liability insurance is made for these kind of situations. It will pay if someone is injured on your property. It's also the coverage that protects you if the dog bites your child's friend (as long as it's not a restricted breed) or if your cousin falls down your front steps. If you have a large number of assets, then you'll want higher liability coverage. If the injury exceeds your liability coverage amount, then you could be sued for the difference. Work with us to determine the amount of coverage that you are comfortable carrying. No one can protect themselves by just being careful alone. There are too many possible scenarios that you could never avoid. But with the right insurance coverage, you'll never have to worry. Call us today for a free review and to discuss how much liability coverage you need. You’ve proudly watched your child graduate from college (and celebrated the last of the tuition bills!) Now they’re searching for their first “real” job and ready for a new phase of life.
This is what you and your new grad need to know about their insurance. First, in most situations, they can remain on your auto insurance policy as long as they are living in your household. If they’ve moved back home while job hunting, you can keep them on the policy. But once they move out, it’s time to look at other options. Some of this will depend on who is the owner of the car and if you’re living in the same state. The best option is to talk to one of our agents to discuss your particular situation in detail. Remember, regular on-time insurance payments can help establish credit history and serve as a reference when renting an apartment. If your graduate is moving out on their own, you’ll also want to get some information on Renters Insurance. It will protect their belongings and protect you from any liability for damage they might cause to a residence (even if it’s just an accident, like a small kitchen fire.) In most cases, a parent is a co-signer for a lease and needs to make sure this protection is in place. The end of college marks some big transitions into adulthood. Help your new graduate to make smart financial decisions and establish a great start. We can help! Schedule a personal review and quote today. Ready to head out of town on vacation? Temperatures are climbing, school is ending, and everyone is eager for a break. But there are a few things to keep in mind before you leave town in order to keep your possessions protected.
Don’t Advertise That You’ll Be Out Of Town Think about the things that happen around your home on a daily basis, so that your home doesn’t look empty when you leave. First, contact the Post Office (and the newspaper) and put your services on hold. A full mailbox and a driveway full of newspapers are a sign to thieves that you’re an easy target! Can you put a few lights on a timer so that your home isn’t dark all night? Even leaving on a few lamps will help. Motion sensitive lights on your porch and driveway are a great idea too! Do you have a neighbor that you trust? Let them know of your plans, share your contact number, and consider leaving a spare key just in case. What if a severe thunderstorm hits while you’re out of town? It could knock out power or even cause a tree in your yard to fall. Your neighbor can make sure that your freezer is back on when the power restores or verify that there aren’t any leaks in the roof from the storm damage! This can help prevent some bad surprises when you get home. When You’re On The Road The biggest tip I share with my clients is to avoid leaving valuables in the car! Many people believe that their belongings are covered by car insurance, but that is not the case. The only coverage for your luggage and computer would be on your Homeowners Insurance and it’s subject to your deductible. Also, most policies offer coverage for road side assistance and towing. This can be invaluable when you are stranded (or accidentally lock your keys in the car in an unfamiliar town). This coverage is inexpensive and quick to add to your policy. Have questions about your insurance before your next trip? Give us a call anytime to discuss your policy or to get a quote! It won’t be long now before you’re back out on the water. Are you counting down the days?
While everyone loves to hit the lake on the boat, there are a few things you need to take care of first. Are you properly covered? Since boat insurance isn’t required (in most states), a lot of people skip it in order to save money. But that’s a very risky idea! First, without coverage, you’re risking all the money you spent on your boat. Would you drive your expensive car without insurance? Probably not! Second, boats are a liability exposure. That means that they open you up to lawsuits. If you were to have an accident and damage someone’s boat or personal property, then you could be held responsible. With the proper insurance coverage, this wouldn’t be a problem. You’d be protected! In fact, we typically recommend that clients with a high level of assets purchase extra liability coverage if they own a boat. All in all, purchasing boat owners insurance is a simple way to give yourself a lot of peace of mind. Who wants to worry about insurance when they’re out on the water? Call us today for a free quote on your boat or watercraft. |