Home Insurance

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

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Two dogs peeking out window, lighted christmas wreath in window. Snowy evening

With the holiday season approaching, I know many of us are starting to think about decorating our homes. This is often a fun experience for family members of all ages, but I do want to urge caution, as decoration-related injuries are unfortunately fairly common.

The good news is that you can reduce the risk of injury and stay focused on the true joys of the season by taking precautions and keeping safety considerations top of mind. Here are a few such hazards to consider: 

  • According to the National Fire Protection Association, one-third of home decoration fires are caused by candles, and two out of every five decoration fires result from placing decorations too close to heat sources. As you decorate, be sure to keep candles away from anything flammable and out of reach from children. It’s also a good idea to double-check that smoke alarms and fire extinguishers have fresh batteries and work correctly in case a fire does break out.
  • As you decorate your home, avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations. If you notice lights flickering or dimming or hear a buzzing noise coming from your outlet, you may have overloaded the circuit. It’s best to use surge protectors and power strips to distribute the load safely and regularly check cords and plugs for any signs of wear or damage.
  • A common injury we see during the holidays is people falling off of ladders. When hanging decorations or stringing lights, make sure you have the right sized ladder for the job and avoid getting on a ladder if you’ve been drinking. A safety “rule of thumb” is to make sure to always maintain three points of contact while climbing a ladder.
  • If you have young children or pets, consider their safety when selecting decorations. Opt for non-breakable and child/pet-friendly decorations to prevent accidents and potential injuries. Be mindful of anything that could be a choking hazard or, worse, poisonous.

I hope these are helpful for you as you start to prepare your home for the holidays. As always, if you have any questions or need anything during the holidays, I’m just a call away. Enjoy your holiday season.

Winter Prep Tips for Homeowners

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homeowner sitting on coach, snowy day, enjoying a quiet moment

As colder weather arrives, so do certain winter-related home issues. With that in mind, I wanted to reach out with a few helpful prep tips to ensure your home remains warm, cozy, and well-protected from the cold weather this winter:

  1. Consider weatherstripping and insulation – Cold air can easily seep into your home through gaps and cracks around windows and doors, making your home chilly and driving up your energy bills. Inspect these areas and consider applying weatherstripping or caulking to seal any openings. Lowes has a great DIY guide to follow if you need instruction.
  2. Use window sheet kits – If your windows lack double-panel or storm windows, consider using plastic-film sheet kits available at your nearby hardware store. While these kits are designed for a single season’s use, they can significantly enhance energy efficiency and effectively block cold winter drafts without having to install completely new windows.
  3. Clean gutters and downspouts – Thoroughly clear any debris, leaves, or twigs from your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters can prevent drainage, damaging your roof and causing severe leaks. 
  4. Winterize outdoor faucets – Disconnect all hoses or devices connected to outdoor spigots and drain any water left behind in the pipes. If you have in-ground sprinkler systems, have them blown out to remove any water. Remember to turn off the water supply to the outdoor spigots to prevent pipe damage in the event your pipes freeze.
  5. Evaluate home security – Winter nights provide longer periods of darkness, making it important to ensure your home is secure. Test outdoor lights and replace bulbs as needed. Consider installing motion-sensor lights to deter potential intruders. It’s also advisable to have a reliable home security system in place.
  6. Get wood-burning fireplaces and chimneys inspected – Doing so can prevent chimney fires, which account for over 20,000 residential fires every year. A clogged chimney or flue also increases your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. You can find a certified chimney sweep here. 

Hope this is a helpful reminder as we approach the coldest months of the year. Feel free to forward this on to friends and family. And, as always, if any questions or needs arise this winter, please don’t hesitate to reach out. That’s what I’m here for!

Insurance companies recommend preparing your babysitter in fire safety.

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As the holiday season approaches, you’ll probably have invites to some parties. If you need to get a babysitter, you can make sure they are prepared in case of an emergency.
First, always leave a phone number where you can be reached and a copy of the home address. Also, make sure the sitter knows the escape plan in the event of a fire or other emergency.
If your babysitter is allowed to cook, make sure the kids stay at least 3 feet away from the stove. Make sure they understand that they should never leave the stove unattended and never leave the room while cooking. If the smoke alarm goes off, they should know how to get the kids out of the house and call for help when everyone is safe.
It’s okay to ask your sitter, or their parent, if they have had any formal babysitter training. Some schools and hospitals offer training classes. They teach first aid, CPR, and what to do in an emergency.
Contact The Roberts Insurance Group for all your insurance needs at www.therobertsinsurancegroup.com

If A Tree Falls On Your House…Who’s Insurance Company Will Hear It?

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Record setting rainfall in the region has many homeowners feeling a little unsettled at the thought of a tree falling and causing property damage, or even worse, injury. In the unfortunate event that this does happen, here are a few scenarios and general guidelines to follow.
If your neighbor’s healthy tree falls on your house, it is usually your own homeowner’s policy that covers any damage. Check your homeowner’s policy to take note of what it covers and perhaps any exclusions. Storms causing damage are an act of nature and therefore no one’s fault. General rule of thumb….Your property, your policy. Remember that this also applies the other way around as well. If said tree falls on your vehicle, your comprehensive auto policy will then cover the damages. Again, if your tree damages your neighbor’s vehicle, their auto policy will apply.
Maybe you’ve been trying to convince your neighbor that they have a diseased tree that looks like it could fall at any time? If it does come down and cause damage, it’s possible that your insurance carrier will try to get your deductible reimbursed from your neighbor’s policy. This is provided you have proof of your efforts, such as a certified letter, to get them to remove the tree prior to the incident. The same rules apply if it’s your tree in question and your neighbor’s property is damaged. If you are unsure of the condition of your trees, it’s recommended that you have them inspected by a professional arborist.
Check your policy to confirm if other unattached structures on your property are covered. i.e. a fence, unattached garage, shed, etc. Most will be at least partially covered.
Removal and clean up are generally covered if a downed tree blocks your driveway or pathway into your home. If it falls in the middle of your yard and doesn’t cause any damage, it will probably not be covered.
Check with your insurance broker to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding tree loss and damage. It’s important to have sufficient coverage for whatever might blow your way.

Did you know that your Home insurance does not cover Flood?

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We’ve had so much rain this summer and lots of it in a short periods of time.  Rain is terrific for our yards, trees, flowers and to replenish our water supply, but bad for our homes, especially those with basements.   I don’t know if you knew that home insurance does not cover water damage if outside water comes into your home.  Did you see the floods that flowed through Ellicott City in Maryland a month or so ago or the flood currently flowing through a small town near Philadelphia?  Unless those folks have FEMA’s Flood insurance policy, they will not have coverage to repair their damage or replace their personal property!

If you feel that you are in a low lying area that has a potential for lots of flowing water to pour through your yard or stand and fill up your yard, then you may want to look into a flood insurance policy.  If you are in a 100 year, 50 year, 25 year or definite flood zone, you should have been told that when you purchased your home.  Some homes are in areas that are not considered flood zones, however, with changes being made to typography in and around your neighborhoods and homes, can create waterways that can direct water toward your home.  When it is raining hard and water is flowing, look to see where it is going.  If you see that it is flowing through your yard or filling up near your home with a potential to spill over into your yard and home, you need to call your county officials to make corrections.  Another way to combat that is to get a flood insurance quote.  Chris and I can help you.

Summer grilling safety tips

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To save from having a claim on your home insurance, when grilling, never place the grill on your deck to cook.  Grills heat up and can catch deck on fire or worse catch your home on fire.