Water Damage Prevention

4 Quick Tips For Saving Your Home From Water Damage

As a home owner you are sure to have a seasonal and annual maintenance and repair checklist that you work off of to ensure that your home is well-maintained—and protected against the elements. While some of your ongoing maintenance and repairs will need to be conducted by a professional, there are several DIY weatherproofing tasks you can complete yourself to help reduce the risk, expense, and destructive effects of water damage. The 4 tips below are an excellent place to begin.

Tip #1 Assess Your Home

Regardless of the weather or time of year, is good to get into the habit of walking through both the interior and exterior of your home on a quarterly basis. What you are looking for is new wear and tear, cracks, or other damage that has occurred that you may not have noticed. Pay particular attention to areas that are out of sight such as attics, basements, corners, ceilings, your foundation—and if you are brave, your roof. Document any changes in condition, and take pictures and measurements so you can keep an eye on whether or not items you decide to hold off on are worsening.

Tip #2 Pay Close Attention To Your Windows And Doors

One thing that windows and doors have in common, is that they are both designed to let the outdoor weather in—but only when you choose. That being said, when it comes to rain, sleet, hail, and snow—the potential for water damage is high, so you must ensure that the seals on your windows and doors are sound. Even the smallest of cracks can allow in enough moisture for mold to grow—and severely damaged seals can let in unlimited amounts of water. Even if you do not possess the DIY weatherproofing skills to repair or replace faulty seals, it falls on your shoulders as the homeowner to identify areas of opportunity.

Tip #3 Invest In A Sump Pump

Even if you have a sump pump, you need to check it periodically to ensure that it is working properly. Floods continue to be the most common natural disaster in the US, and even a fairly minor flood can lead to several tens of thousands of dollars in damages, and lost possessions. To ensure your sump pump is working properly, lift the flow on the side, and listen for the distinct pump noise. Also consider adding a water alarm system to your pump to alert you to both when the pump is not working—or when flooding has occurred.

Tip #4 Clean, Maintain, and Upgrade Your Gutters

The gutters on the exterior of your home play a vital role in reducing the likelihood of costly water damage—so they must be kept clean and well maintained. Dirt, debris, and leaves are the most common culprit when it comes to gutter blockage—so it is essential that they are cleaned at both the beginning and end of each rainy season. Also check the gutter for cracks, dents, or damage. If your gutters are old, or do not have debris blocking covers—consider an upgrade.

The DIY weatherproofing tips above take a minimal amount of time, and hold the potential to save you a significant amount in water damage.

Benefits of an Independent Insurance Agent

Why An Independent Insurance Agent Is Right For You--

While you turn to Auto, Home, and Business insurance for peace of mind, and as a safeguard you hope to never need—the agency you select is just as important as the coverage you select. If you have never considered the benefits of, or difference between, an independent insurance agent, and an agent who is employed by a nationwide insurance brand—than the information below is excellent food for thought.

The Freedom To Choose --

When you work with an independent insurance agent, you obtain the freedom to choose from insurance policies that meet your specific needs. This is because independent agents have access to a wide range of insurance companies—so you are not locked into the policies and options that a singular insurance brand offers.

More Price Points To Consider--

When you work with an insurance agent who represents a singular brand, they may only have a handful of policies and price points for you to choose from. However, an independent agent has a multitude of brands that they work with—many of whom offer competitive pricing for quality insurance. This means you may be able to reduce your monthly spending, or increase your amount of coverage—for the same monthly price point.

Personalized Coverage--

Not only do you have the freedom to choose when you work with an independent insurance agent, but you will have access to policies designed to meet your specific needs. Insurance, just as with anything in life, is not a “one-size-fit-all” equation—but when you work with a larger brand, the one-size-fits-all mentality is applied in the vast majority of cases. When working with your independent agent, they know the right questions to ask to personalize your insurance to ensure that it prioritizes your specific risks and concerns.

Unbiased Selection--

While all insurance agents goal are to sell their insurance plans, an independent agent is not committed to a singular insurance provider—meaning that they can offer you a truly unbiased opinion about each policy and company they recommend you to. For example, they may advise that it is best to pay a little more per month to work with a more reputable insurance company, or they may advise you to companies you may not have considered in the past, who offer the same coverage you currently possess—but at a price that is much more appealing.

Personalized Service--

When an event occurs in which you will need to file an insurance claim, the stress of the event can be overwhelming enough. On top of this increased level of stress, you now have to file an insurance claim, and navigate your way through the claim process. However, if you work with an independent insurance agent, they will do more than send an adjuster to assess damages—but they will be with you every step of the way, helping you to obtain a fair settlement. This alone is worth its weight in gold!

Pledge of performance-- 

As a Trusted Choice Independent Agent, we have taken a a pledge to offer our clients the broadest selection of products along with the most competitive pricing. We are committed to our customers and not one specific insurance company. Unlike the national "captive" agents, we can negotiate coverages and pricing with multiple carriers to make sure that our clients are getting the most value with their insurance coverage. 

While branded insurance companies have more to invest in their marketing budget—and are therefore more visible, independent insurance agents can provide you with the personalized service that is lacking in the insurance industry. Hopefully you will not need to utilize your insurance, but with an independent agent you can rest assured that your Home, Car, or Business is in good hands. 

What else can your homeowners cover?

                                                                   
Every person that owns a home knows that homeowners insurance will provide coverage if your house is damaged and needs to be repaired. A typical insurance policy will provide coverage against normal everday perils that include fire, theft, wind, explosion, riots, and falling objects..... but what else can a homeowners insurance policy cover? 
Here are just a few optional coverages in case you need them:

• Personal Injury - Let's say you have a teenage daughter accidentally spreads a rumor at school about other classmates. And one day a sheriff knocks on your door with a court summons notifying you that you need to appear in court because your Jenny was bullying another child over the internet. It's real and it happens more than you think. A normal homeowners policy will not extend liability coverage for this type of claim. But if you make sure to add personal injury it can.
• Identity Theft - The fastest growing crime in the US is identity theft. Did you know that you can add identity theft reimbursement onto your homeowners policy? Yes you can. If someone steals a credit card and goes on a shopping spree and leaves you with a giant bill, the credit card companies will normally waive these charges. But what about the impact to your credit score. It can takes years to reestablish your credit score and get it back in good standing. This optional coverage will pay for the legal fees involved to get your credit score back in order.
• Home Business - This can be a great endorsement to add to your homeowners insurance if you operate a small business out of your home. This add-on can provide coverage for business property, business income, and accounts receivable that would normally be excluded from a normal homeowners policy. This coverage can be limited based on type of business and total annual revenues but great coverage if you fit the eligibility criteria.
• Sinkhole Coverage - What if your home were swallowed up by a sinkhole while you were away on vacation? Your homeowners would cover this, right? WRONG. A normal homeowners policy will specifically exclude earth movement including sinkhole formations. So it is possible that you could lose your entire house in the blink of an eye and not even be covered. 

These are just some of the optional coverages that you can add on to expand the scope of your typical homeowners policy. We always suggest consulting with your local independent agent to find the appropriate coverage to fit your specific needs. -- @MooneyInsurance

Homeowners insurance & tree damage

If a tree falls on your house but doesn't make any noise - are you still covered?

Our agency has received a lot of calls regarding tree damage from the recent polar vortexes popping up in our area. Customers want to know if trees are covered and to what extent. Keep in mind that your homeowners policy covers damage to your house and not the land. So if a tree falls in your yard with no additional damage, your insurance policy will not pay to clean up the fallen tree.

What if a tree falls and causes damage to a fence or gazebo?

Most policies have "other structures" coverage built-in which would provide coverage to repair or replace certain structures that are on your property but not attached to your house. Coverage would apply assuming it fell because of a covered peril such as wind or weight of snow.

Does my neighbor's insurance pay if his tree hits my house?

NO. Your policy will cover damage to your structure. Your neighbor's policy does not insure your property. Again, we assume that the damage was caused by a storm and not negligence on the part of your neighbor.

Will my homeowners policy pay if a tree hits my car? 

NO. Homeowners insurance does not usually provide damage to vehicles. You would have to file a separate auto claim under your comprehensive coverage to repair damage from a falling tree.

** Keep in mind that homeowners insurance varies by company and state so it is important to check with your local independent agent to see if your specific damage would be covered. 

What is "Actual Cash Value"

ACV or Actual Cash Value is a loss settlement option that establishes how much an insurance company is going to pay in the event of a claim. Insurance companies normally take the replacement value of an item and subtract a specified amount for depreciation to calculate the ACV. Most people just assume that their policy affords the amount to replace everything, but that is not always the case.

Why is this important?
If there is a fire at your house and it costs $200,000 to rebuild the entire structure, the insurance company could wind up only paying you $150,000 because that is the depreciated amount.

Does this apply exclusively to the building?
No, your personal items can be replaced on an ACV basis as well. If you had a sofa that you purchased five years ago for $6,000 the insurance company could give you a check for $3,000 based on the age and condition.

How do you increase coverage to avoid ACV?
It is very common for all insurance companies to offer "Replacement Cost" options for both your home and contents. Sometimes this coverage is tied in directly to the policy and other times it is an optional coverage added by endorsement.

All homeowners policies are different and vary by company. It is important to consult your insurance agent to make sure you have the proper coverage.