Eight Ways to Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation

Home security

As you prepare for your next vacation, you plan every detail from the travel and hotel accommodations to the sights you’ll see and places you’ll eat. But do you also plan how to keep your house safe while you’re gone? An empty house can be an easy target for a burglar. The key to deterring read more→

Getting Married? Insurance FAQ for Newlyweds

Couple holding hands

Getting married is a significant rite of passage in a couple’s life. And while you’ll probably become preoccupied with wedding planning from the moment you or your partner pops the question, it’s far more essential to plan for everything that comes after you’ve said your vows. As boring as it may seem, it’s essential to read more→

Why Home Buyers Should Get a CLUE Report

HouseForSaleSign

What is a CLUE report? CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) is a history of claims associated with an individual and his/her personal property (home or auto). A CLUE report includes: Date of a Loss Type of Claim (water damage, fire, wind, vandalism, theft, etc.) Amount Paid Out and Reserved by the Insurance Company Loss history remains read more→

Simple Steps to Prevent a House Fire

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Fire in a home is a tragedy. A greater tragedy is that most home fires can be prevented. Learn the facts about fires and share them with your family. Fire can become life-threatening in two short minutes and an entire house can be engulfed in flames in just five minutes, according to the Federal Emergency read more→

Renters Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

Woman Moving Into New Home And Unpacking Boxes

Many renters don’t carry insurance to protect against the destruction or loss of their personal possessions. While the majority of American homeowners are insured, the Insurance Information Institute conducted a survey that showed only about 30 percent of renters had renters insurance. This means nearly 70 percent of renters are without coverage should fires, thefts or other read more→

Sewer Backup

Builder Repairing Sewerage Pipe On Site

Backed up sewers can wreak havoc on a home, causing thousands of dollars in damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems.  Sewer backup coverage is available from most insurers for a nominal cost—usually an additional annual premium of $40-$50. For homes that have been severely damaged and are uninhabitable, homeowners policies may provide Loss read more→

Fireplace Safety Tips

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A fireplace can provide warmth on a cold winter evening, but if not maintained and operated properly, can become deadly. Keep your family safe by following these suggestions: Have your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a certified professional. Always use a fireplace screen. Clear the area around the fireplace and chimney of read more→

Ice Dam Tips and Information

IceDams

You may not know what ice dams are, but they cost the public millions of dollars each year. Ice dams form when warmth from inside a home causes snow on the roof to melt and trickle to the roof’s edge, where it refreezes, blocking gutters and drains. Since water cannot flow over the built-up ice, read more→

How to Replace Important Personal Documents

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Sometimes we lose important papers in a disaster, sometimes we lose them when moving, and sometimes we just plan lose them. Don’t worry. Here’s a list of commonly lost documents and how to get replacements: Birth and Death Certificates – Birth and death certificates can be replaced by visiting your county vital records office or online read more→

Are Your Valuable Holiday Gifts Protected?

blue and white gift box opened with bow for a boy. Has clipping path

The holidays are over, but the presents you received should last for years to come. Whether you got the latest electronic gizmos or gadgets, jewelry or gems, computers or collectibles, furs or firearms, boats or bank notes, these are all expensive valuables that may cost a lot to replace if they are damaged, lost or read more→