Dangerous Growth: Tree Roots and Sewer

We've all seen it - the lawn and landscaping torn up by large equipment. Some people are choosing to put in a nice sprinkler system (not plausible with the rains we've had this year), but I would guess that most are repairing a clogged sewer line. This is the pip that runs from your house to the mainline. While the lucky ones are have done this on the advice of a plumber, the majority are discovering the sewer line is blocked and are dealing with the situation.

There are a good number of things that can crack or clog your pipes, and tree roots are a common culprit. Unfortunately, when a tree root causes a problem with your sewer line, it results in some very unpleasant damage inside your home (a toilet sending the water the wrong way can be up there on people's fears list along with spiders, snakes and clowns). Remedying this unfortunate situation can be an unpleasant prospect and depending on the situation, might not be covered under your standard homeowners policy.

Let's consider the costs of this rather messy project: 1) cleaning up the damage in your house and to your house caused by the damaged pipes and 2) fixing the damaged pipes that caused the problem in the first place.

Luckily, most home insurance policies can be modified to cover the resulting water damage and usually it is not prohibitively expensive. Most of the expense to repair the pipes, however, is not covered by your policy. Cost of the addition can vary, but can be as little as just a few dollars. We are more than happy to get the cost of adding that to your policy from your insurance company.

Depending on the nature (no pun intended) of the calamity and the damage to your home we can discuss what would be covered by your policy, and what would have to come out of your pocket. If you have water in places where water was never meant to be, give us a call and we can work together to dry up the mess and repair the pipes.

MythBusters: Homeowners Insurance

With insurance, like almost anything else these days, there is a lot of information floating around. From friends to the Internet to the occasional misinformed article, truths and not-so-truths about insurance abound. I've decided to round up a few of the most common misunderstandings and set the record straight. It's Mythbusters: Homeowners Insurance. Read on for more information.

Myth: My standard homeowners policy covers flood damage.

Fact: No. Your homeowners policy doesn't cover flood damage. If you live near a river or other body of water, or are worried about urban flooding, you should purchase a separate flood insurance policy. You can get more information about flood insurance, and the National Flood Insurance Program, at http://www.floodsmart.gov/ or call our office and we will be happy to discuss options and provide you with information.

Myth: If I file a claim, my home insurance premium will definitely go up.

Fact: Not necessarily. There are several factors that go into determining your insurance premium. Claims history is only one of those factors. Filing one claim over a few years may not impact your premiums as much as you would think, but it is still smart to consider whether or not filing a claim is in your best interest. If the damage or loss is just a small amount over your deductible (which you would have to pay regardless) it may be more advantageous to pay the repair bill yourself. Granted, it may be a little more costly upfront, but it might pay off in the long run in terms of premium savings. If you aren't sure what the best thing to do in terms of a minor claim would be, give us a call. We can talk you through the situation and see if it is a claim worth reporting. Sometimes, though, you have a streak of unfortunate luck and have to file several claims in a short amount of time. In that case, we can see what we can do to earn you discounts to offset the rising premiums (whether or not they are related to your claims history). Your best move in either case is to keep us informed of any potential claims, and come renewal time we can reassess your insurance protection plan.

Myth: My homeowners insurance covers mold or other issues related to lack of maintenance.

Fact: Not really. Homeowners insurance is meant to protect you and put your home back together, as it were. The responsibility for keeping your home well-maintained usually falls on you - the homeowner. Sometimes there can be a gray area when it comes to maintenance claims, so feel free to talk to us about the best course of action.

Myth: When determining my coverage, I should use the purchase price for my house as the dwelling coverage amount.

Fact: This is a common misconception - you should not use the purchase price for your home to determine the amount of coverage that you need! Purchase prices include the land value and the views that you may have from the property and in the event of a fire or theft, that view will still be there. Insurance is just for the structures and your belongings. You will want to calculate the replacement cost of your home and its special features.

These are just a few of the common myths that exist around Homeowners Insurance. While there are several things that you should be aware of when looking for and reviewing your policy, these are a few of the things we hear about most often. Our goal is to make sure you are protected and are informed about your insurance coverage. And, as always, let us know if you have questions - that's why you chose to work with an independent agent!

What's In Your Car's Emergency Kit?

As anyone who's been stuck with a flat tire on the morning they overslept, or ran to the bus stop just as the bus was pulling away, you realize that there is such a thing as Murphy's Law. There must exist in the universe some kind of immutable law that says not only that if something can go wrong it probably will, but it'll also happen at the worst possible time in the least convenient location. I'm willing to bet you've never run out of gas in front of a gas station. Or had a flat tire on a dry, warm day. And that's when you realize you may not be as prepared as you thought you were for a car mishap or emergency. But that, luckily, is easier to change than your flat tire...

Let's talk about what you need to be prepared and what you should have in your car emergency kit. Every car owner should have a stash of supplies for an emergency somewhere in their car. While there are ones that are available to buy (they can cost anywhere from $25 to $100) sometimes it's easier to put one together yourself so that you can choose exactly what you need. Here are some of the essentials I recommend for you car emergency kit:

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  A first aid kit - band-aids, antibiotic ointment and tweezers are a few things to have handy. You can easily pick up a premade first aid kit at your local drugstore.


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  A reflective warning triangle, one with lights built in might be preferable.


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  A set of jumper calbes, a tow rope, fuses and an adjustable wrench.


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  A flashlight that can be hung inside the hood of your car, or mounted on the ground while you work, and a penknife.


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  A cell phone. Most of us have one of these handy at all times, but making sure have enough battery power to last you a good few hours would be a smart idea.


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  Pen and paper for anything you may need to write down - driving directions, steps to fixing a bothersome car part, or the phone number of a restuarant to explain you are going to be late for you dinner reservations.


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  A map of your route (or at least internet directions)


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  Oil rags, paper towels and handwipes. In case you haven't noticed, car repairs can get messy.


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  Duct tape. One of those great repair items, duct tape is a must-have in every car emergency kit.

If your road trip takes you off the beaten path or through some rough weater, be sure to pack warm blankets, jackets, heat pads and enough food and water for a few hours of waiting for conditions to improve or a tow truck to get to you. And, please, make sure you have a good amount of gas in your tank. Like I said earlier, I don't often meet people who run out of gas at a very conveniently located gas station.

Umbrellas Aren't Just for Spring Showers

With all of the rain we've had around here lately, your umbrella has likely been your constant companion. But when spring showers start to dry up, there is still an important umbrella you should have - an umbrella policy. When an unexpected claim comes your way you want to make sure you have all of your assets covered...and sometimes you need protection above and beyond your home or auto liability limits.

The way an umbrella policy works is quite simple. Let's say for example you have $300,000 liability on your auto policy and a $1 million umbrella policy. If any auto claim exceeds your $300,000 liability limit, the umbrella policy will continue to pay for that claim for an additional $1 million. In effect, you now have $1.3 million dollars in auto liability coverage! The same is true for your homeowners insurance.

There are a few important things to know when looking at umbrella coverage. First, you need to make sure your "underlying policies" (your auto and home policies for example) have the appropriate liability limits. Usually, in order to provide umbrella coverage, insurance companies require that you have a minimum amount of insurance on any homes, cars and boats that you may have. Secondly, umbrella coverage is unique to each insurance company, so we will talk you through the options that you have for umbrella coverage.

We don't want you to get caught in the middle of a perfect storm without adequate coverage when it comes to a claim situation. If you think additional liability is something you and your family should consider give our office a call. We can then put together a proposal for umbrella coverage for you and your family and answer any questions about your coverage. As you know, we are always more than happy to help!