Personal Property

Homeowner’s Insurance: Six Points To Keep In Mind

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Owning a home brings lots of different joys and challenges. You can paint the walls the color that you want, but you also have to fix the stove when it breaks down. There are all kinds of things to figure out, but one important aspect to never leave unattended is your homeowner’s insurance. Each home is unique in its insurance needs and every homeowner’s policy is different. Talking to your agent about the specifics is the best way to find out more about your policy, but we’ve rounded up a few key points that can help you determine if you need more coverage.

Named Storms, Hurricanes, or Wind & Hail

Hurricane Season is upon us. With hurricane season quickly approaching, the time to check what kind of coverage you have is now! Once a storm is on its way it is too late to make any changes to your policy. Checking to see what kind of deductible you have on your policy is a good place to start. To be absolutely sure, it is best to call your agent to verify information and get any questions answered. Being proactive is the best way to protect your biggest asset: your home.

Earthquakes

According to seismologist Steve Jaume of College of Charleston, Charleston is the bulls-eye for earthquakes on the East Coast. Since earthquakes cannot be predicted, the only thing you can do is to be prepared for one.  Earthquake coverage is not included in a typical homeowners policy, but it can be added in order to protect your home. Many carriers offer earthquake policies that you can add to your homeowner’s policy. By calling your agent, you can find out your options to best protect your home in the event of an earthquake!

Keeping An Inventory

Losing the contents in your home after a peril (i.e. fire, named storm, theft, etc.) can be heartbreaking.  We always recommend taking video, pictures, or writing down an inventory of the items in your home.  While this is not a requirement for insurance, it will assist you in recouping your lost items.  Save this information to a disc or flash drive. Then, give it to a family member, or save it at work.  The little things are not missed until they are not there. Do what you can to take note of the things you enjoy in your home now before it is too late.

High-Value Items

Do you love to collect antiques?  Did your grandmother leave you a family heirloom? Does your husband love buying you beautiful jewelry? Coverage for high valued items can be limited in a homeowner’s policy.  The best way to protect these precious items is to schedule them separately on your home policy or on a separate policy.  Call us to make sure you have coverage for these items that not only hold a high value but also mean so much to you.

Dogs

Dog bites are one of the highest claims for homeowners.  If your current policy does not already include it, contact your agent to find out about adding dog or animal liability to your policy. It is inexpensive and worth having, if you have a furry friend in the family.

Home Improvements

Be sure to contact your agent if you are making any improvements to your home.  Improvements or additions to a home can affect rates and coverage. Home improvements can range from replacing plumbing or wiring, adding a pool or bedroom, or getting a new HVAC system. In any case, give your agent a call the next time you are ready to make any major updates to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Vandalism

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is the best option to help you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part three of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating vandalism damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Vandalism

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not use household cleaning products on fabrics, upholstery, or carpets.
  • Do not attempt to remove chemical stains, including ink or paint.
  • Do not operate damaged electrical appliances.

What to Do:

  • Make a list of all damage while taking detailed photos for documentation.
  • Keep the receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Fast action is most likely required to prevent further damage. If approved, call a professional.
  • Use a shop vacuum to remove glass particles from carpet and upholstery.
  • Remove any debris from carpet or interior walls. Scrape or blot carpets and furniture – do NOT rub.
  • Wash any egg or other residues from the building exterior using water.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is the best option to help you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part two of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating smoke & fire damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, thus causing additional damage.
  • Do not wash walls. Incorrect cleaning could compound the soot residue.
  • Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture.
  • Do not use electrical appliances until having them checked.
  • Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.

What to Do:

  • Take detailed photos and keep receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Corrosive byproducts can cause irreversible etching in as few as 72 hours. If approved, call a professional.
  • If the temperature is above 60 degrees, air out the house to reduce smoke odor.
  • Clean Formica, chrome, porcelain, and aluminum fixtures to prevent tarnishing or etching.
  • Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.
  • Tape damp cheesecloth over returns and supply registers to capture loose soot in the air.
  • Discard any open food packages.
  • If the electricity is off, clean out the refrigerator and leave doors propped open.
  • Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a qualified restoration dry cleaner.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency