If you’re thinking of buying a new home…
Please fill out the form below. Our agents will generate a quote based on the most competitive insurance companies that we have available to us. We can contact you using your preferred method (part of the form below).
Managing risk and managing the cost of your insurance.
While Homeowners insurance covers many perils of loss, insurance companies increase rates when claims are filed. Here are some ways to reduce the likelihood of home losses so you can hold down the cost of insurance. The cost of the hoses and parts described below are minimal, especially compared to the aggravation, inconvenience, waste of time, and an insurance deductible, all of which you incur if one of the following malfunctions. A little preventative maintenance will take you a long ways!
- Don’t let those pipes freeze in the winter! If you are out of town, keep the heat on at least 55 degrees. If away for an extended period, consider turning the water off to the house and draining the pipes.
- Hot water heaters—the expected service life is 10 and 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They are not that expensive, certainly much less than an insurance deductible. Replacing the hot water heater after 10 years will greatly reduce the risk of dealing with the damage that will occur if it malfunctions.
- Air Conditioner condensation lines – They will gunk up and clog up eventually! Have a “clean out” placed in the line next to the air handler. Twice a year, use a product like Draino and Clorox to flush the line and avoid the water damage that occurs when this line backs up and overflows.
- Commode Flappers and Float Bulbs – They get old, they stick, and the commode eventually overflows. What a mess! If the insides of your commodes are over 5 years old, it’s time to change them out! It’s not complicated, just follow the directions!
- Ice maker water line. If you pull the refrigerator out to clean behind it, be very careful returning it to its original position so that you don’t pinch or crimp the water line to the ice maker.
- Washing Machine hoses. You should not go past 10 years on these. They do get old and brittle.
- Heavy branches poke holes in the shingles when they break and fall. Have those branches trimmed back. Call us for names of tree surgeons we have had good experience with.
- Fire extinguisher – do you know where it is? Check the date on it!
- Keep those burglars confused! If a central station alarm is out of your budget, buy a few timers. Put them on lamps that will come on and go off at various times during the evening and night. It always looks as if someone’s home!
- Burglars don’t like light! Have some motion or light sensor flood lights installed on the outside corners of your home. The LED lights are a little more expense, but will last for 30,000 hours and don’t use much electricity.
- The burglar alarm companies want you to buy the type that is monitored. That creates an ongoing income stream for them. If a monitored alarm is out of your budget, insist on one that’s not monitored. Once it’s installed, the expense ends! Most burglars are going to run if a siren is blaring away.
Questions to consider when purchasing Homeowners Insurance
- What is the Replacement Cost Estimator and why do insurance companies insist on these high -values?
- What is Replacement Contents Coverage and how important is it?
- What liability limit should I consider?
- Are there students away at school?
- What if I own items like a golf cart, fishing boat? Moped?
- What if I have a trampoline? A swimming pool?
- What about a pet dog that is not friendly?
- What if I have people working for me (in the house, or in the yard) and they get hurt? What do I need to do to be protected?
- Do I need flood insurance?
- What about earthquake coverage?
These and many more questions need to be asked and considered. Please call us to discuss these questions now. You really don’t want to wait until something happens to find out where you stand.