While central California does not need to be concerned with a great deal of the adverse weather that is experienced by other areas of the country, there are still plenty of hazards that can pop up unexpectedly during the holidays. By taking a proactive approach, you can make sure that no matter what happens, you – as well as your friends and family who visit your home during the holidays – is protected.
Decorating Debacles
No matter how carefully you plan, there is always the possibility that something could go awry while you are decorating. Slips on steep basement steps to retrieve decorations, ladders that move unexpectedly and falls from roof top perches are just a few of the common issues that can put a damper on these otherwise festive weeks. Ensuring that you have the right kind of home insurance – and adequate amounts of it with a manageable deductible – can help ease the inconvenience and pain of any holiday injuries.
Protect Your Guests
As a host to your friends and family, you want to provide a safe and happy experience. Sometimes, though, things are beyond your control and accidents happen. Whether it is something like a guest who loses their grip and takes a tumble down your stairs or one that slips on a rain-slicked sidewalk, you can rest easier knowing that you have the insurance that is required to cover their expenses. Having that safety net also helps ensure that your friendship survives this unfortunate event.
Helps You Deal with Devastating Loss
The holiday season sees an alarming uptick in the number of home fires. Whether this is the result of cooking accidents in the kitchen, overloaded electrical circuits or unattended candles, you will be able to weather these incidences more easily because you have homeowner’s insurance. While starting over after a devastating fire is difficult, ensuring that you have the money to do so can provide you with a measure of comfort.
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If you rent out residential property, you face a variety of financial risks, everything from damage from fires and windstorms, through fines for building code violations, to a disgruntled tenant who sues you.
Landlord insurance to the rescue! These policies cover losses to the property, medical payments for tenants or visitors injured on the premises, and your personal liability for alleged negligence.
The amount of coverage depends on your financial situation. If you’ve taken out a mortgage on the property, the lender will probably insist that you buy a policy large enough to cover the loan balance. As a rule of thumb, the higher the value of the property and the greater the risk of potentially catastrophic liability, the more coverage you’ll need.
Your premium will depend on the type of losses covered and the extent of reimbursement. If you choose comprehensive or all risk coverage (which will pay for damage from all causes unless specifically excluded), your cost will be higher than if you buy “named perils” coverage (which covers only losses due to specific causes). Expect a higher premium for replacement value, which will reimburse you fully for rebuilding your property, than for actual cash value coverage, which will pay only the value of the property, less depreciation.
You can also reduce your premium by increasing the deductible (which usually range from $100 to 5% of the building coverage).
Optional coverages include repayment for rental income lost if the property becomes uninhabitable, and for risks of doing business with tenants, such as legal fees and liability against claims for libel, slander, and discrimination.
Our personal insurance specialists would be happy to help you choose the landlord coverage that offers the best value. Just give us a call.
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Roughly 374,000 fires occur in homes across the U.S. each year, 54% of them occur in the winter. Protect your home and family from being a statistic when you create a fire emergency plan. It helps you stay safe as you recognize Child Safety Protection.
1. Discuss Fire Safety Tips
Obviously, you want to extinguish candles, cigarettes and other open flames immediately. You also need to supervise meal prep in the kitchen to ensure nothing catches on fire. However, did you know that fabric can be flammable when it lies near the heater? Teach your family to prevent these and other fire hazards.
2. Hang Smoke Detectors
To ensure everyone can safely escape a fire, place smoke detectors on every floor of your home where you can hear them day and night. Since smoke rises, place them on the ceiling or high on the walls.
3. Locate Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers need to be accessible. Place one in the kitchen under the sink or in the pantry. Other smart locations include near the entrance and exit doors and at least one on each floor. Once they’re securely attached to the wall, ensure your adult and teen family members know how to use them.
4. Choose the Exits
Your home’s layout determines where you can safely exit. In each room, choose two door or window exits that assist your family in safely escaping a house fire. If you have a second story, store an escape ladder near the window, and make sure you know how to use it properly.
5. Designate an Outdoor Meeting Spot
Whether your family meets at a neighbor’s house or a tree across the street, designate an outdoor base camp. Call 911 from this spot after everyone safely escapes the fire.
6. Practice the Plan
Even the best fire emergency plan will be ineffective if your family members don’t know what to do when a fire starts. Test the fire alarms and teach your kids what they sound like. Then, practice escaping out of the nearest exit and meeting at your designated spot.
Your family’s fire emergency plan can keep you safe as you recognize Child Safety Protection Month. Additionally, talk to your insurance agent and ensure you have adequate home insurance for your house and possessions. Insurance won’t prevent fires, but it will give you peace of mind this month and year round.
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Thanksgiving, one of the busiest and most anticipated holidays, is right around the corner. While everyone is undoubtedly focused on the food, football and shopping that are the highlights of the long weekend, it is also important to keep safety at the forefront of your mind as well. Staying safe starts at home. Being aware of some basic safe cooking practices can make your holiday both tasty and safe.
Caring for the Turkey
The star of the dinner table, the turkey, demands special care and attention. If it is frozen, it must be thawed using one of three methods: in the refrigerator, in the microwave or in cold water. Never thaw the bird on the countertop as that could allow harmful bacteria to multiple unabated. Regardless of the method that you use to thaw your turkey, it should be cooked immediately to prevent the multiplication of that bacteria.
Stay Clean
Cleanliness is of utmost importance any time during cooking. It is particularly important, however, during Thanksgiving due to the volume of food that is typically prepared. The large size of the turkey also can make it difficult to handle.
Be sure to start with a clean work surface as well as clean hands and utensils. Keep raw foods – particularly meats – away from other foods to avoid contaminating cooked foods. Always wash everything raw foods touch – work surfaces, your hands, utensils – before using them with other foods.
Cooking Basics
When cooking foods – especially the turkey – keep the oven temperature at 325 degrees Fahrenheit or above. In order to ensure even cooking throughout, make sure the turkey is completely thawed. The internal temperature when checked on the meaty parts of the bird – the thigh, wing joint and breast – should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to refrigerate foods within two hours of being cooked to avoid an abundance of harmful bacteria that could sicken everyone.
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Thanksgiving – that joyous and exciting holiday that kicks off the season – often means not only an abundance of food but as an increase in the number of people in your home. Whether you are hosting the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you are providing a place for out of town guests to bunk or both, taking a few minutes to evaluate your home from the eyes of someone who is unfamiliar with it can help prevent an accident and smooth the way for a pleasant holiday.
Light it Up
Before your guest arrive, make sure that your house number is sufficiently illuminated to help people who are unfamiliar with your home avoid missing it. Ensure that the walkway or sidewalk to your front door is well lit and that your front porch has plenty of lighting as well.
Keep Steps and Railings in Good Repair
Repair any loose or crumbling steps or bricks that could cause guests to fall. Fix railings firmly to limit wobbling and ensure that any decorations, such as garland, do not keep guests from using the railings to steady themselves as they enter your home.
Watch for These Hazards Inside Your Home
If you plan to use folding or card tables that you do not typically use in order to accommodate extra family members, be sure that they are in good repair before the big day. Keep colorful candies out of reach as they might be a choking hazard for small children. Secure any loose rugs that might cause your guest to trip over them.
Make sure that hallways and stairwells are free of hazards such as toys and pets, and that they are well lit at all times. Ensure that the bathroom is uncluttered and fully stocked for the comfort of your guests whether they are just visiting for a few hours or they are staying overnight.
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According to the National Retail Insight Center report, this year’s Halloween spending will average about $77 per person. This means we are likely to see an increase in trick-or-treaters at our homes. For many homeowners, this is not generally a problem but there are some common things that occur every Halloween that you should be aware of.
The dreaded dog bite
If you have a family dog, keeping him in a closed room can help prevent this calamity. Dogs are naturally territorial and when there are strangers pouring into your yard and ringing your doorbell, chances are your dog will get overly excited and could potentially harm a child. Before Halloween, check with your insurance agent about your coverage for this type of injury.
Children fall all the time
Children can be clumsy and when they are walking into unfamiliar yards, they can be even more clumsy. Combine this natural tendency with garments that are not always well-fitting and you have a potential recipe for disaster. Chances are if a child slips and falls on your property whether it is a tumble off the porch or tripping over cast-off toys or garden tools, you will be responsible for any medical bills the parent incurs.
Some surprising facts about homeowners insurance
Most people are unaware of some of the items their homeowners insurance covers. For example, Halloween is a night of pranks and if your home is egged, a headstone you own is toppled or your home is vandalized because you are not at home, these items may be covered. Before you pay for cleanups, repair a headstone or grave marker or repair home vandalism, check with your insurance company to see if any of these items are covered.
Halloween is meant to be a fun evening for adults and children alike. Sometimes things happen that are beyond your control. Do not assume you have all the insurance coverage you need, check with your insurance representative before it is too late.
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