Every home is vulnerable to leaks and flooding, and dealing with water damage can be expensive and annoying. The good news is there are several easy ways to prevent problems. Take a look at these maintenance tips to help keep your house dry and your foundation strong. 1. Clean your gutters. To do their duty, gutters must be free of leaves, …
Mowing Alert
Mowing Alert!! We have come across many lawns in recent weeks that have been mowed under stressed conditions causing grass blades to wilt out and the lawn to have an overall unsightly appearance. (see pictures below) Mowing is the #1 maintenance practice that effects the look of your lawn. Mowing while the lawn is drought stressed and/or while temperatures are …
Buying a House? Here’s Some Advice You’ll Hear—and Should Totally Ignore
Buying a house? Then you’ll no doubt hear tons of advice from people who’ve been through the home-buying process before and want to pass their sage wisdom onto you. Problem is, sometimes the advice that “everybody knows” is right isn’t. Fact is, housing markets change over time—and the rules vary widely based on where you’re looking to live, along with lots of other specifics. Just so …
Call Before You Dig
What is 811? Are you a homeowner or contractor? Did you know that you are required to call the number ‘811’ before digging on any property so that you can be made aware of any underground lines (e.g. pipes, cables and associated utilities) buried in the area? Improper digging can lead to damage to underground lines that can disrupt service …
7 monthly bills affected by your credit rating
You probably know your monthly bills can impact your credit, as late payments or accounts in collections can land on your credit report and bring down your credit score. But are you aware your credit score can affect the payment amount on a number of your monthly bills? Here are seven monthly bills with payments your credit score can determine. …
Why Renters Insurance Is Worth Buying
With college-graduation season here, scads of young adults will soon rent their first apartments and possibly buy their first renters insurance policy. There’s little reason not to get it: The average policy costs just $190 per year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. For the price of a few lattes a month, renters can cover their possessions, the …
Property Insurers Hit By Worst First Quarter in 20 Years
Hail, tornadoes and an ice storm turned the first three months of 2017 into the most expensive first quarter in more than 20 years for U.S. insurers. The unexpectedly harsh weather is surfacing in insurers’ earnings. First-quarter underwriting results for Travelers Cos. worsened year-over-year as catastrophe costs jumped 9% to $347 million. Allstate Corp. and others have warned about increased …
5 Questions to Ask Your Insurance Rep About Renters Insurance
While renters insurance offers broad protection for tenants, it’s important for consumers to choose the policy that best suits their individual needs. A renters policy can cover your personal belongings and help cover legal costs in the event you are sued for accidental bodily injury or property damage of others. But not all policies are the same. Here are five …
8 ways telematics will shape insurance agencies in 2017
The insurance industry is at an exciting precipice. Telematics is gaining steam as more insurance agencies implementing telematics programs see a positive effect on their bottom line, and more consumers begin to realize the advantage of one of the most prevalent uses of telematics: usage-based insurance (UBI). UBI programs allow policyholders to voluntarily track their driving habits and share the …
Space Heater Safety Tips
In order to save money in the colder months, many people opt to use a space heater to heat one room rather than heat the entire structure. Regardless of your plan, it is important to be cautious. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that nearly 18,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of room (space) heaters.* …