Your Disaster Resistant Home

Having fantastic home insurance in Chandler, AZ is a great step.  But one of the best ways we can financially protect ourselves is to prepare ourselves assuming the worst.  A little thinking and a few steps now can help prevent disaster to your greatest investment, your home.  Here are three ways you can prepare your home in the case of a disaster (both natural and otherwise).

A large concern in Arizona, with the high temperatures and the low humidity and dryness in the air is fires.  Wildfires occur often and home fires can quickly get out of control.  Simple approaches, like never leaving candles unattended and moving flammable items away from heat sources, like the stove, are obvious choices.  Not so obvious is to make sure you service and clean furnaces, stoves, and fireplaces regularly to clean out debris and prevent smaller house fires.

A good security system will not only protect you from burglary and break ins, but will also alert the police in the case of fire.  In addition, adding a good sprinkler system will not only reduce your home insurance costs, but also protect your home in case a fire breaks out.

Repair and replace outdated and unsafe electrical wires.  Modernizing your electrical systems is a great way to prevent fires from occurring behind the walls and out of sight.
Add storm shutters to your home, and reinforce your roofing system.  Storm shutters will protect your home in the case of serious rain, flying debris in the case of sandstorms and wind and water in the case of a monsoon.  While a strong roofing system protects your home not just from rain, but also hail and lightning strikes. 

Other roof enhancements include air terminals (also known as lightning rods) and down conductors.  Basically this system is designed to capture the lightning if it were to hit your roof, and guide it safely down a path of your home until it hits the ground, protecting your home from damage.  This will prevent exterior damage to the roof and siding, as well as interior damage to the electrical system.
Think like a burglar.  While burglary isn't a natural disaster, it is a scary experience.  To protect your home from break ins, you have to take the time to think like a criminal.  As mentioned above- a security system, equipped with the option to directly call law enforcement in the case of a break in, is a great defense.  However, there are several things you can do every day to make your home uninviting to a criminally minded person. 

First and foremost- use your locks.  Leaving windows unlocked, even if in your backyard, just in case you lock your key inside, is a sure fire way to allow a criminal to waltz right in.  Secondly, trim your hedges and bushes so criminals can't hide out.  And third, keep valuables out of sight.  If you have a garage, keep your car in your garage, and keep your garage door closed. 
Although these things take prior thought and in some cases, an investment of upfront cash- they will go a long way in protecting your home and making you feel safe and secure.

Make sure to talk to your Arizona Insurance Agent about what home insurance options you need.

Home Insurance-Protecting the American Dream in Chandler, AZ

Home ownership is at the very heart of the American Dream. We all have visions of soaring gables, brick fireplaces, cobblestone walkways, and picket fences dancing in our heads. While owning your home is an absolute honor, it is not until you move into your residence that you suddenly realize there is a lot of responsibility and worry that comes with that joy. The questions come fast and furious. What happens if someone breaks into my home and steals my grandma's silver? How much will it cost to refinish the hardwood floors if a pipe breaks in the basement? Has this neighborhood ever experienced golf ball sized hail?

So that you can once again enjoy your home, you need the peace of mind that you are only going to find with Home Insurance in Chandler, AZ. Because home insurance policies vary, you need to have an open line of communication with your insurance agent so that you know precisely what is covered. For instance, many people wrongly assume that their home insurance policy will naturally protect them against a flood or an earthquake. Now, you are probably thinking that you don't live in an area of Arizona that could offer your property any damage by either such misfortune. The truth of the matter, however, is that you just don't know what Mother Nature might throw at you. The worst case scenario is that a fluke disaster occurs, destroys your house, and your insurance does not cover that type of event. In such an instance, safer would have been much better than sorry, and your insurance agent has the expertise to tell you just exactly how much risk your residence has for either of these mishaps. Both flood and earthquake insurance can be very affordable when purchased as separate policies depending on the location of your home, so check into at.

AARP presented the five most unusual claims that will test the bounds of your policy. These are other unforseen circumstances that may or may not be covered by your own policy, so you need to address them with your agent so you are appropriately covered:

1. Dog Bites--According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 4.7 million people bitten by dogs every year. Of that number, approximately 800,000 victims must seek medical attention and 50% of the time these bites occurred on the dog owner's property. Guess who is responsible for that bill?
2. Mold--No one ever used to discuss mold unless you were in science lab. Now, it is literally everywhere, spreading its sickness and costing exorbitant amounts of money to mitigate.
3. Terrorism--while most home policies will protect you from acts of war, acts of terrorism are not covered. Even though insurance companies paid to fix the structural damage suffered during the 9/11 attacks, this is such new ground that you need to make certain you are under the company's umbrella.
4. Objects Falling from the Sky--whether it is a tree limb, a piece of an airplane, or a meteor, there will be damage to your roof. Make certain that your policy protects you from the ramifications of that damage, just as if it were hail.
5. Accidents Outside of the Home--while home policies will cover the cost for an injury that someone suffers at your property, that protection might also follow you off the premises. For instance, if you accidentally run a shopping cart into someone's car, you may be covered.

The key to finding the policy that offers you the peace of mind you deserve is dialogue with your agent. As homeowners we should know exactly what our policies include, but too many of do not until it's too late. Allow the experts to help us protect the safety and security of our homes.

If you have any questions contact us we are Arizona Insurance Agents that are ready to help.

Prepare for Fire Season by Evaluation your Chandler AZ Home Insurance Policy

The 2012 Arizona wildfire season has already started, and the U.S. Forest Service estimates that the 2012 season could be as bad as the historic 2011 fire season.  The 2012 National Seasonal Assessment predicts an "above normal significant fire potential" for the Arizona mountains, with a normal significant fire potential predicted for other parts of Arizona.  As of May 16, the Gladiator Fire had already destroyed four structures and threatened almost 400 more. 

There are several steps homeowners can take to prevent fire damage to their property, including using fire resistant materials, providing a firebreak, and creating a defensible space around structures.  If the worst does happen, homeowners also need to be sure that they are adequately insured to cover a catastrophic loss of their homes.  The Insurance Information Institute lists four key questions homeowners should ask to insure adequate coverage in case of a disaster:

1. Is my insurance coverage enough to rebuild my home at today's costs?
Insuring your home for its value may not be enough to rebuild your home at the price of current construction. Adequate coverage should include a replacement cost policy that will pay for the replacement of damaged property with comparable materials. Arizona homeowners might also want to consider an extended replacement policy that will pay an additional 20% above policy limits if a disaster--such as a widespread wildfire--raises the cost of materials and labor. Other options include inflation or ordinance riders which help cover the impact of inflation or new ordinances on construction costs.
2. Is my insurance coverage enough to replace all of my possessions?
Most homeowners insurance policies cover possessions at a rate of 50-70% of the amount of insurance on the structure of this home. A home inventory is the best way to determine if this is enough coverage to replace your personal possessions if they are lost to a fire or other disaster. You can ensure your personal possessions by either a cash value or replacement cost policy. Cash value policies cover the cost of replacing your property after depreciation. Replacement cost policies cover the replacement cost of your possessions at today's prices.  Your insurance agent can help you determine whether a cash or replacement policy is the best option for you. 
3. Will my insurance cover my extra expenses if my home is destroyed?
If your home is destroyed in a wildfire or other disaster, there will be additional expenses beyond replacing your home and possessions. Coverage for additional living expenses would pay for the extra cost of living away from home and includes expenses such as hotel bills and restaurant meals.  It could also cover lost rental income if you rent out a portion of your property. 
4. Will my homeowners insurance adequately protect my assets?
This question isn't directly related to disaster planning but it is still an important factor in evaluating your homeowners insurance needs.  Liability damage protects you against claims made for bodily injury or property damage caused by you, a family member, or a pet.  Liability damage covers court costs as well as any costs incurred in a court judgment up to the limits of your policy. Additional coverage beyond your policy limits is available in the form of an excess liability or umbrella policy.

Wise preparation for fire season should include making sure your home is adequately insured. Your insurance agent can help you evaluate your Chandler home insurance needs.

Have questions about your Insurance Policy, contact any one of our great Arizona insurance agents.

How to Head-off Potential Claims on your Chandler Home Insurance Policy

Now that you’ve purchased your Chandler AZ Home Insurance, it’s time to think about steps you can take to prevent, or lessen, future claims.

Here are some tips that might help in keeping the claims adjuster away.

• Buy enough coverage: Find out what it would cost to rebuild your house in your area. Want to keep the same look to the house? Ask a builder for an estimate on the cost to rebuild. Don’t skimp on coverage, and forget about paying that little extra for that piece of mind for insuring your home and belongings.
• Bring on the fire department: Ask your local fire station to come by your house and do a fire safety inspection---and include your kids when they come to your house. Spotting fire hazards and fixing them will certainly pay off in the long run.
• Insure that Picasso: Okay, maybe you don’t have a Picasso hanging in your entryway, but you might have a few, so-called luxury items like jewelry and an heirloom desk sitting in the den. Make sure you have the ‘rider’ for coverage, if needed.
• Water...water: Everywhere. If only you would’ve changed that leaky hose on the washing machine before you left on vacation. Do a survey of your in-house connections. Sprinkler system? Make sure the automatic timer is working correctly and not ‘hanging up’ for hours on that station by your basement window. 
• Accidents waiting to happen: Walkways and steps invite all sorts of potential for liability claims from strangers or friends coming to your property. Make sure step rails and decking are in good repair. 
• Wind and hail: It’s not uncommon, or rare, for a major onslaught of wind and hail to hit parts of Arizona. Heed warnings by battening down patio furniture, or screen doors…and even keep tree limbs trimmed back. 

It makes good sense to review your homeowner’s insurance coverage with your Arizona insurance agent at least once a year.

Should you have questions about your Chandler Home Insurance policy contact: