According to the Insurance Information Institute, the second most common homeowners’ insurance claim is water damage to houses. Leaking pipes and appliances, and damage caused by storms and freezing conditions cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage every year. If a pipe leaks or bursts while you are on vacations, water can destroy carpets and furniture and even compromise the structural integrity of your walls or foundation. Before leaving your home for more than a few days, prep your house so you won’t come home to a big, expensive mess. Here are some steps to take before you head out of town.
Step 1: Check your home for leaks before you leave. Look at the pipes under all sinks, and check your water heater for cracks and rust. The seals around your windows must be in good condition, and check that there are no dislodged or damaged shingles on your roof. Re caulk seals and replace shingles if needed.
Step 2: Inspect the hoses that connect to major appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerator ice-makers. Make sure there are no kinks; replace any old or damaged hoses.
Step 3: Clear all the debris out of your rain gutters, and check the downspouts for any blockages. {Better off doing this in the Fall before the cold comes.}
Step 4: Examine your sump pump and check that it is in good condition and clear of debris by filling the sump pit and running the pump. Listen to the motor for strange sounds and watch that the water is going outside. Install a battery-powered backup source in case there is a power outage while you are gone.
Step 5: Insulate exposed pipes to keep them from freezing in the winter. Hardware stores sell foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves that fit right over the pipes. Protect outdoor spigots by removing any hoses and covering the spigots with bib protectors. Leave the heat on low while you are gone to also prevent freezing pipes. {Do you have a Nest thermostat? You can control temperature from a distance with that!}
Step 6: Ask someone to check your house periodically while you are gone. Show where the thermostat is to ensure the heat is always on in the winter. Show where the water main is located in case a pipe leaks or bursts. The water main shut-off valve is usually in a home’s basement, garage or outdoors near the foundation.
Step 7: Turn off the water at the main if there is no one to check your house. Drain the pipes to keep them from bursting in freezing weather by running the water and flushing the toilets after you shut off the water. Leave the cupboards under sinks open while you are gone to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
We hope these tips make you feel more comfortable when traveling to your warm weather destinations this winter!
Here in Minnesota, we are slowly nearing Spring and that means that the hot spring real estate market is just around the corner. The Parade of Homes will be starting in February and that is typically when people start to consider if they want to sell their home! Selling your home is definitely one of the most stressful life events one goes through as an adult! Anything that you can do to make that process more simple, is always welcome!
Since we know how stressful this can be firsthand, having all gone through it ourselves at least once, we sat down with Real Estate expert, Sara Anderson of Keller Williams Preferred Realty, and are doing a new video series sharing her knowledge and advice on how to best handle the home selling process!
Also, as part of our series with Sara, she is graciously giving away a free Home Staging Consultation with her expert Stager ($200 value)! You do not need to be considering selling to use her service, she is great at giving paint color advice, where to put your furniture, or how to make simple updates to any room in your home!
Here is Part 1 of our video series! We will share each video for the next few weeks here on our blog, but you can also always view the series on our YouTube Channel as well as on our social media.
It’s here! A new year, a new chapter, a new beginning. And how does this affect the insurance world, you ask? This is the perfect time to get all your ducks in a row with your insurance policies.
Let’s start with your homeowner’s policy. Your insurance agent would need to know about any updates in your home. Did you finish your basement? Did you re-do your kitchen? Maybe you got a security system, a big screen tv, or added a pool. Regardless how big or small, these are things that you need to get noted on your policy. Your policy then will have the correct value listed so you can get the coverage you need.
Next up, did your husband give you a ring upgrade for Christmas? Or maybe you inherited some jewelry or a coin collection. These things need to have a separate policy from your homeowners’ policy and you want to make sure they are insured should something happen to them!
Lastly, your auto policy or policies. Maybe you have a new driver in your home or have added some additional drivers. Make sure your agent knows about all the latest developments on that front as well.
Can you see how it’s best to check in at least yearly with your agent? They can ask numerous questions that will refresh your memory of any changes in your life.
Feel free to reach out to see if there are any things we can help you with, we are here to help!
If you lost your home in a fire, how much would it cost to rebuild it? The answer may be different than you think. And if your home isn’t insured to its full replacement cost, your homeowners policy may not cover the full cost for you to rebuild it in the event of a covered loss.
Rebuilding costs could differ from what you paid for your home and be more than its current market value – what it would sell for today – especially in areas where the value of real estate has changed. A replacement estimate includes costs to rebuild your home component by component. Current costs for labor, materials and contractor fees may influence the replacement cost of your house.
It’s important to have a current estimate for your home’s replacement cost, one that reflects any significant improvements that you have made to the house. For example, if you installed a central air conditioner or finished your basement after you took out your insurance policy and never updated the replacement cost, your home might not be fully covered in the event that you need to completely rebuild following a covered loss.
Here are some steps that you can take:
Talk to your agent about the dwelling coverage on your homeowners insurance policy.
Talk to your agent who have tools to help estimate your home’s replacement cost.
Check in on your home’s replacement cost yearly, especially after making improvements to your home. Remember, even small improvements can affect the cost to rebuild your home.
Making sure that your home is insured to its full estimated replacement cost is another way to help protect your home and the things you’ve worked hard to build.
We are here to help. Let us know if you need to update your policy to full estimated replacement cost.
Insurance. Love it or hate it, when life happens … you are glad you, your family, your home and your belongings covered. Sometimes it can be an afterthought, so here are a few times that you need to check and/or update your insurance.
Your family status changes: If you’re marrying, expecting a baby, or adopting a child, you’ll want to protect your growing family with adequate life insurance and disability income insurance. Losing a family member through death or divorce should also prompt a policy review.
Your children grow up: When you have a new teen driver, adequate auto insurance is a must. You may be eligible for discounts. If your student is leaving for college or has recently graduated, it’s a good time to consider personal property, liability, and renters insurance for the new living arrangements.
You’re moving or remodeling: Whenever your address changes, review your homeowners insurance to make sure the new property is adequately protected. It’s also a good time to update your home inventory – whether you’re adding items such as new furniture or scaling back for a move to a smaller home. Also, be sure to update your coverage if you renovate your current home or make updates.
You’re starting a business: If you are going to rent office space or open a home-based business, include a thorough insurance review in your start-up plans. Depending on the size of your business, you may have to consider property and liability, commercial vehicle, and workers’ compensation coverage, as well as a health care plan for employees. If you’re a sole proprietor working from home, be sure to review your homeowners plan to see that your business and equipment are fully covered.
Sentinel Assurance has you covered, let us know of any updates, or simply if you are unsure on what you need for coverage. We are here for you and can help. 651-237-5180 for a free quote.
Do you have teen drivers in your home? Maybe you are doing some distracted driving yourself. An unexpected car accident can leave you feeling a bit scattered. That’s why it’s important to brush up on post-accident procedures. Here are 7 steps guide can help make the moments after an accident less stressful — and the claims process a whole lot smoother.
1.Move to a safe area if you can
If it’s safe to do so and you aren’t seriously injured, move your car out of further harm’s way, like to the shoulder of the road. If moving your car just isn’t possible, flip on your hazards to warn other drivers that your vehicle isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
2.Stop your vehicle and get out
Make sure your car is no longer moving, turn off the engine, shift into park, or set the hand brake if you drive a manual. Take a moment to catch your breath. Check to make sure it’s safe to get out of your car before opening the door.
3.Check on others involved
Check on all the other parties involved, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, to make sure no one is hurt. Call 911 if anyone may be injured. Even a seemingly minor symptom like dizziness should be checked out by a health care professional.
4.Call the police to the scene
Even in minor accidents, a police accident report can prove invaluable when dealing with your car insurance company and other drivers. Cooperate fully, but avoid admitting fault or blaming others while at the scene. Let the police objectively judge events and determine who, if anyone, is at fault in the crash. If the police can’t make it to the scene (which is more likely if there are no injuries), you can file an accident report through your state’s DMV.
5.Gather info
Try to write down as much info as possible in the accident aftermath, including:
Driver and passenger names
License plate numbers
Insurance info
Makes and models of all vehicles involved
Contact info for any eyewitnesses
Location of the accident
The name and badge number of any responding police officers
6.Document the scene
If you have a smartphone with a camera, snap some photos of the accident scene. They’ll come in handy during the claim process.
7.File your insurance claim
After step 7, it’s our turn to help. We’ll work with you to get your car repaired as quickly as possible. Call us at 952-479-5781
We sincerely hope this post gives you some tips if you are ever in the situation above. Safe driving!
