Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Check Insulation
Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water re-freezes causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing.

One more precaution … let us do a complete review of all your insurance needs.

Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Trim Trees and Remove Dead Branches
Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, damaging your home, car or injuring someone walking on your property. 

One more precaution … let us do a complete review of all your insurance needs.

Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Hire A Licensed Contractor
Have a professional survey your home for any structural damage. If damage is discovered, have it repaired immediately so further damage will not occur during the winter. Also, find out about ways to prevent water damage due to snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump-pumps and other methods can prevent damage to your home and belongings. 

One more precaution … let us do a complete review of all your insurance needs.

Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Plan For Being Away
If you are not going to be in your home this winter for an extended period of time, have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, have someone check on your home on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the likelihood that it will be burglarized.

Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow.

Damage to homes caused by flooding is usually excluded from most standard homeowner policies. Flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program.  Ask your insurance professional about flood insurance, as well as specific advice about winter-proofing your home.

One more precaution … let us do a complete review of all your insurance needs.

Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins to fall.

Homeowners should take the following precautions:

Maintain Gutters
Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent "ice damming"–a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls. You may also consider installing gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground. 

One more precaution … let us do a complete review of all your insurance needs.

What is unclaimed property?

Unclaimed property (sometimes referred to as abandoned) refers to accounts in financial institutions and companies that have had no activity generated or contact with the owner for one year or a longer period. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, refunds, traveler's checks, trust distributions, unredeemed money orders or gift certificates (in some states), insurance payments or refunds and life insurance policies, annuities, certificates of deposit, customer overpayments, utility security deposits, mineral royalty payments, and contents of safe deposit boxes.

Please contact our office for a no-obligation review of all your insurance needs.

What happens to these accounts that have no activity?

From the Insurance Information Institute http://www.iii.org. A Business Owner Policy, or BOP, may be what your need as a small business owner. A BOP covers your business for property and liability and helps keep your assets safe. 

Imagine this: A big storm comes through in the middle of the night and when you wake up you've lost 30 shingles, your attic is soaked and your favorite tree is now in your neighbor's yard. It's a scenario that's not too hard to imagine this year, as more and more people find they need to pull out their insurance policy and file a claim. That's what happened to the Williams family after a tornado came through their subdivision in a neighborhood that had never seen severe weather before. Spend the day with them as they show what it is like, what they need to gather and what to expect when filing a claim. 

PEER-TO-PEER RENTALS MAY BE CONSIDERED A BUSINESS AND REQUIRE DIFFERENT COVERAGE

Homeowners looking to score a windfall by renting out their residence to Super Bowl ticket holders next February should first contact their insurer, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)

 
“Before renting out all or part of your home, tell your insurer about your plans to make sure you’re covered if your property is damaged or if someone is injured,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president, Public Affairs, and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.
 
The Super Bowl is being held on Sunday, February 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, eight miles west of mid-town Manhattan. The market for properties near the Stadium is booming on peer-to-peer rental websites as New Jersey and New York homeowners angle to receive their own version of a playoff bonus with thousands traveling to the region for the NFL’s championship game. Short-term rental prices for homes typically soar when the Super Bowl or other high-profile sporting events come to town.
 
Some insurance companies may allow policyholders to use their property as a rental for a one-time, special occasion like the Super Bowl, as long as the insurer is informed about it ahead of time. Other insurers, while allowing this type of arrangement, may insist on other criteria being met, such as the homeowner acquiring additional insurance coverage.
 
Keep in mind that there are some insurers who will consider any rental of your home to be a business venture, requiring the purchase of a business policy—specifically either a hotel or a bed and breakfast policy—because a standard homeowners insurance policy excludes losses arising from the operation of a business.
 
“Technological advances have allowed for the growth of the sharing economy” said Salvatore. “But, if you participate, it is your responsibility as a property owner to make sure you’re adequately covered.”