Replacement Cost vs. Market Value

How many times have you looked at your Homeowner's policy and thought that the coverage on your house was way too high? And that you could never sell your house for that amount.

With the housing market being what it is, people think that the coverage on their homes should reflect the market value -- but you couldn't be more wrong. The difference between market value and replacement cost is that market value reflects what a home can be sold for but replacement cost is what a home can be re-built for. Do you see the difference?

With the cost of services and materials, you want to make sure that you have enough coverage to rebuild your home in case of a loss. Some may say that they would never rebuild their house the way it is now, but let's consider the problems with that theory if you have a loss and the home is not completely destroyed. For example, say your home is insured for $160,000 but it should be insured for $200,000 and you have a kitchen fire that resulted in $50,000 worth of damage. The fact is, the insurance company will only pay you $40,000, less your deductible. That means that you’ll have to write a check for that remaining $10,000 in order to get your kitchen back in working order.   

The reason behind this is in the numbers.  Because you have only insured your home for 80% of its value, you will only receive payment for 80% of the loss.  If you have questions about replacement cost, contact your insurance agent.

September Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape all year long.  So here are a few simple tasks you can do in September to prepare your home for cool fall weather!

Check Gutters -  Take a few minutes to make sure your gutters are clear.  With rain and falling leaves, gutters will be working overtime.  By making sure they’re clear now, you’ll avoid water damage later on. 

Clean The Dryer Vent - Lint accumulating in the dryer vent can cause a house fire.  A couple of times per year, unplug the dryer and thoroughly vacuum the area around the dryer vent and hose.  Remember to check the outside vent too! 

Gather Firewood - Will you be burning a wood stove or fireplace this winter?  Start gathering up firewood now and save yourself from the task when it’s cold outside. 

Get Ready For Autumn - Now is a great time to start planting some fall flowers.  Mums and pumpkins make a great addition to your front porch! 

Save On Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting your belongings.  To make sure you have the best coverage, call us today for a free, no obligation quote.  

October Is Fire Prevention Month

October is officially Fire Prevention Month. As your insurance agency, this is an issue that is very important to us! Unfortunately, we've seen clients suffer from home fires,  and we want to share some things you can do to prevent a disaster.

Beyond basic fire prevention, like checking electrical cords and not leaving a pot unattended on the stove, there are several important things to do with your children or grandchildren to make sure they're safe.

First, create a PLAN. When children know what to expect, they can remain calm, even during an emergency. Help your child know exactly what to do if a fire occurs.

Stress the importance of getting out of the house and to your family meeting spot.  Choose an area a safe distance from the house where children should go if making a fire escape. It could be a street light, mailbox, or neighbor's tree.

If you have pets, tell your kids that your pets will find their own way out safely and that they should never go back to rescue the pet on their own.

As a family, go through each room of the house and discuss TWO different ways to get out if a fire occurs. Let children practice opening a latch and unlocking doors too.

Now host a fire drill! Make the practice drills fun and informative. Create sample scenarios and build up your kid's confidence. They'll be better prepared for a fire and you will too!

When it comes to any sort of emergency situation, people are what matter most. Take precautions to protect your loved ones and let your professional insurance agents take care of protecting your home and belongings! Call us for a free quote on your Homeowner's Insurance today!

Smoke Detector Safety

Did you know that almost two-thirds of all house fire deaths are the result of having no smoke detectors or improperly working detectors? Many of us install smoke detectors and never give a second thought to maintaining them.

 ·         Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

·         Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance because they may have specific instructions for that particular smoke detector.

·         Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. It’s a good idea to make a habit of changing the batteries at the same time each year; such as when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time, when you set up your Christmas tree, or your birthday. Put it on your calendar, whatever it takes for you to remember to replace the batteries. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

·         Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.

·         If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, rather than taking out the battery to finish your cooking, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time. This will avoid forgetting to reinstall the battery after you’re done cooking.

For more information on smoke detector safety and other fire prevention tips; please go to National Fire Prevention Association’s website at: http://www.nfpa.org.

Fire Extinguisher Safety

A portable fire extinguisher is great to have in every home to prevent a house fire from spreading and causing devastating damage.  But they have limitations that all consumers need to be aware of. The standard, all-purpose fire extinguisher is meant for small fires that are confined to a small area and not spreading rapidly, such as a fire in a waste basket.  If a fire is growing quickly, it’s safest for the residents to get out of the house immediately and call 911 and not try to battle the fire themselves.

All homes should have an all-purpose extinguisher that is light enough for the users to be able to use easily. Also make sure that the extinguisher carries the label of an independent testing laboratory to make sure that it’s up to code. Make sure to read the instructions before you have a fire so that you’re familiar with how to use it. Local fire departments and fire equipment distributors offer demonstrations on how to use fire extinguishers but if that isn’t available, remember the word PASS:

  - Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle
    pointing away from you, and release the locking
    mechanism.
  - Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
  - Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
  - Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Wood and Pellet Stove Safety

The heating season is here and it’s time to think about wood and pellet stove safety. Wood stoves and pellet stoves need to be cleaned every year or when there’s 1/4” creosote buildup on the chimney walls. The more often you use the stove, the more often you’ll have to clean it. Make sure to clean the ash and dispose of it in a fire-proof container before each use. Also be aware of the fuel limitations of your stove. Most wood stoves are meant to burn wood only. Do not burn driftwood, trash, treated wood, artificial logs, or any product containing zinc, sulfur, lead, or plastics as they will damage the catalytic combustor. Burning trash in a wood stove is dangerous for its potential to start a chimney fire, and also because the trash could contain plastics or other elements which emit harmful gases.

If you’re thinking about installing a wood or pellet stove for the first time, make sure to have a professional install it.  Also make sure that it’s inspected and you get proof of that inspection certifying that the stove is up to code and safe for your family. If you would like more information on this matter, go to the National Ag Safety Database at http://nasdonline.org/document/333/d000132/proper-installation-operation-and-maintenance-of-a-wood.html.

Wood and Pellet Stove Safety

The heating season is here and it’s time to think about wood and pellet stove safety. Woodstove and pellet stoves need to be cleaned every year or when there’s 1/4” creosote buildup on the chimney walls. The more often you use the stove, the more often you’ll have to clean it. Make sure to clean the ash and dispose of it in a fire-proof container before each use. Also be aware of the fuel limitations of your stove. Most wood stoves are meant to burn wood only. Do not burn driftwood, trash, treated wood, artificial logs, or any product containing zinc, sulfur, lead, or plastics as they will damage the catalytic combustor. Burning trash in a wood stove is dangerous for its potential to start a chimney fire, and also because the trash could contain plastics or other elements which emit harmful gases.

If you’re thinking about installing a wood or pellet stove for the first time, make sure to have a professional install it.  Also make sure that it’s inspected and you get proof of that inspection certifying that the stove is up to code and safe for your family. If you would like more information on this matter, go to the National Ag Safety Database at http://nasdonline.org/document/333/d000132/proper-installation-operation-and-maintenance-of-a-wood.html.

Do's and Don'ts When Disaster Strikes

For Fire and Smoke Damage - This list of Emergency Tips has been compiled from many years of experience in fire and smoke damage repair and cleaning.

DO:

• Clean and protect chrome trim on kitchen appliances with a light coating of Vaseline or other oil.
• Blow off or brush-vacuum loose smoke particles from upholstery, draperies and carpets.
• Open windows for ventilation.
• Change furnace filters if blower is operating.
• Empty freezer and refrigerator completely if electricity is off and prop doors open with a rolled towel or newspaper.
• Clean and protect smoked bathroom faucets, tub fittings and towel bars with light coating of oil.
• Pour antifreeze in toilet bowls, sinks and tubs to prevent freezing if heat is off in winter.
• Wash plants with water on both sides of leaves (water softener helps).
• Call plumber to drain heating system if heat is off in winter.
• Remove pets (especially birds) to clean environment.

DO NOT:

• Wipe or attempt to wash walls, ceilings or other absorbent surfaces.
• Use upholstered furniture if it can be avoided.
• Use exposed food items or canned goods which have been subjected to excessive heat.
• Use TVs, stereos or electrical appliances until they are cleaned and checked.
• Send smoked garments to an ordinary dry cleaner (improper cleaning may set smoke and odor).