Category: Home Insurance

Idaho in the Fall: What a Lack of Preparedness Could Mean for Your Home

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People living in Sandypoint, Idaho have a lot to look forward to when they enter the fall season. The changing of the leaves, the cooling of the air, and lots and lots of pumpkins. For all of the great elements that you can look forward to each and every year, fall – like any other season – has its fair share of faults as well. If you allow yourself to focus too much on the positives of the seasonal change, this may prevent you from seeing all of the dangers.

If you are not prepared for the cooling off of the weather or to deal with the leaves falling off of the trees, this could hurt your home in more ways than one.  For one, if you do not make sure that your windows and doors are all properly sealed to keep the outside weather out, not only could this require you to spend more money on heating your home in the winter, dry air could turn out to be murder on your woodwork and your furniture. If you do not have the appropriate insurance to deal with these potential follies, you may find that your wallet is being emptied by more than heating bills if you have to spend any money out of pocket in order to fix your woodwork and replace your furniture. It is especially a shame if the furniture you have to replace has any sentimental value, as while you can replace your late Grandfather’s chair, you cannot replace the memories and feelings that are associated with it.

If you are a Sandypoint, Idaho resident and want to be more prepared for the fall season, you can contact The Insurance Shop USA and we will figure out the best insurance plan for you.

A Room-Specific Emergency Guide for your Home

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The rights and responsibilities of Sandypoint, ID residents might vary depending upon the type of home insurance coverage purchased. In any case, it is important that you know what emergency equipment you need in each room of your home.

How to Keep Your Whole Home Safe

You can improve your home safety by having at least one fire extinguisher on every floor. It also is advisable to have a smoke alarm and carbon dioxide detector on each level. Extra batteries, dry food, water and extra batteries can also be stored in multiple locations in case of a natural disaster or fire. First aid supplies should also be stored in one or more location on each floor.

Emergency Equipment Needed in Each Room

The information you see below about what you need in each room is in addition to the supplies recommended for use on each floor. You also might want to have extras of these in more than one place in your house.

Kitchen/Dining Room – In addition to the smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and first aid supplies; this room should also include about three to five days’ worth of non-perishable food in your cabinets.

Bathroom – In addition to the standard emergency equipment and first aid, you might want to keep extra hygiene supplies here. Medications and supplements also might be well-stored here as long as you keep them dry.

Bedrooms – Keep an extra supply of clothing, blanket and shoes in a fire-resistant location such as chest at the end of your bed.

Living Room — Here is where you can store an emergency radio that runs on batteries. A landline phone when available is also help in urgent situations when you don’t have cell phone service. 

Basement/Pantry – This is another place where you can store extra food and first aid supplies. You also might want to put water here because it would stay cool in these locations in case of a power outage. As long as this area stays dry, keep some extra power supplies and alternate safe fuel down here too.

You might have questions about what kinds of disasters Sandpoint, ID homeowners insurance might cover. If so, please contact The Insurance Shop USA for more information. 

 

Home Liability Insurance: What Is Covered

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Home liability coverage is commonly provided on homeowners Insurance policies. It is important that you know what it covers so that you can determine whether the limits are sufficient or if they need to be added to based upon how much protection you desire.

Anyone visiting your home has the potential to hurt themselves. Some of it may be as a result of negligence, while others may be due to a freak accident, such as slipping on ice near your sidewalk or tripping in a hole in your yard.

Regardless, you want to make sure that the home liability coverage is in place so that you can file a claim for the insurance company to cover the majority of expenses. Otherwise, you could find yourself spending a lot of money to make things right.

The coverage may be able to take care of such things as:

  • Legal expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical bills
  • Time lost from work
  • Death benefits

While you hope that an accident isn’t too severe, or would potentially lead to death, it is important for you to have the protection because the bills could otherwise bankrupt you.

Think about it. Should someone decide to get a lawyer, it could result in tens of thousands of dollars in a pain and suffering settlement, and this doesn’t even include the medical bills that they still have to pay. You as the homeowner are the one held financially responsible if you’re found liable, and therefore the coverage needs to be there – or you could be in serious financial despair.

Contact one of our independent insurance agents at The Insurance Shop USA today to learn more about home liability coverage and how you can control the limits within your homeowner’s insurance policy in Rathdrum.

 

 

Ways To Prepare For The Cold As A First Time Homeowner

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It is almost winter and there is never a guarantee of how warm or how cold it may be. As a homeowner, it is always best to prepare for the worst. As a first time homeowner, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start with this task. There are many ways you can prepare for a cold winter that will keep you and your family warm and safe all winter long. Follow these steps and you should not have any surprises you cannot handle. 

Prepare for the Unexpected
In the winter, a power outage can occur at any time. This can occur because of a snow storm or various other reasons. No matter the cause, it is best to be prepared so you can stay warm. If the power goes out, you will need to have a heat source that does not rely on electricity. Make sure you have an option for this and that you have everything in your home to use it. Also, you never know how long your power outage will last so it is best to be stocked with all of the essentials. You should have a winter emergency kit with all of the medicine needed, food, water, and candles. 

Prep For Possible Issues
Before it gets really cold, make sure your furnace is working properly. Have a professional come out and inspect it for any issues so you can tackle them before you and your family suffer through the cold waiting on a repair. This is also the perfect time to take a look at your homeowners policy for any gaps. If you do not have one, you may want to consider getting one. You can call an agent at The Insurance Shop USA serving the Sandypoint, ID, area to help you with these insurance tasks.

Keep Your Garage Sale Safe

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When setting up garage sales, safety isn’t usually on the forefront of people’s minds. Instead, they’re focused on pricing and displaying items. If you’re organizing things for a garage sale, though, make sure to keep in mind some basic safety tips.

Safety at Garage Sales

Safety doesn’t need to get in the way of pricing and setting up items for sale, but it’s something you should keep in mind at all times. Organizing your sale around a few common-sense principles will reduce the likelihood that someone accidently gets hurt. For example, you can:

  • place sharp objects out of the reach of small children
  • keep small items on tables so people don’t trip over them
  • make sure there’s a clear pathway through your wares

These are all simple steps but will help keep your sale safe for everyone who comes.

Your Liability Coverage

No matter how much attention you give to safety, you can’t eliminate all accidents. To protect yourself if there is an accident on your property, you should have liability coverage.

Most homeowners insurance policies include personal liability coverage, although policies’ terms and conditions that govern the coverage vary widely. If someone is injured in an incident that’s covered by your liability coverage, your insurance policy may protect you.

If you only have limited liability coverage through your current homeowners policy, consider increasing your protection before you have a garage sale. At The Insurance Shop USA, we can help you find a new homeowners policy if you live in Sandypoint, ID. In just a few moments, our agents can find you a policy with the liability coverage you want. To get in touch with them, send us an email through our website.

 

SurpriseHomeowners Coverages in Sandpoint, ID

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For those looking to purchase a homeowners insurance policy in Sandpoint, ID, there are many considerations you will want to take into account. While most people consider a homeowners policy as being primarily for protection in the case of the total destruction of the home, the fact is that your homeowners insurance policy likely has many more coverages than you may have imagined. For example:

  • Coverages related to foundation damage

Many homeowners insurance policies cover foundation damage which may affect a home, and offers coverages to replace such damaged features as a sinking deck or porch, in addition to the home’s actual foundation. One thing you should take into account is that homeowners policies do not always cover the foundation directly, and you may need to purchase a separate rider in order to have the foundation covered. This is because repairing the home’s foundation can be very expensive, and therefore its coverage is often extra.

  • Coverage against theft

Many people would be surprised to learn that their homeowners insurance policy usually covers their personal belongings against theft. Every policy has its own coverage limits, terms, and conditions, and strict documentation of the home’s contents will likely be needed in the case that a claim needs to be filed.

  • Accidental bodily harm

Suppose your dog bites your neighbors child while warn your property. Many homeowners policies will have coverages for this type of situation and other instances of accidental bodily harm.Like all other coverages, it is a good idea to talk to your broker about just how much your policy covers in the case of accidental bodily harm, and what kinds of accidents are covered.

Are You Grilling The Safest Way Possible?

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How often do you grill and not pay any attention to the safety aspects? Many people grill in Sandypoint, ID throughout the year. When you’re one of them, it’s important to be a responsible homeowner and follow a few safety points.

One of the most important aspects is where your grill is located. You want to keep it at least 20 feet away from your home, and if you live in a condominium or apartment, there may be additional rules as to where the grill needs to be before you light it.

You also want to make sure that the grill is clean before you begin to use it. If there is a lot of caked on food or grease, it can lead to flare-ups and even uncontrollable flames. A strong wire brush should do the trick.

If you want to use nonstick spray, be sure to do so before you light the grill. Otherwise, you could experience a significant flame.

The flames are live and you want to be careful. Embers can fly out and that is why you don’t want to have anything flammable too close to the grill, such as patio furniture, towels, or anything else. Keeping a fire extinguisher nearby is also a best practice so that if there is a fire, you have the ability to put it out quickly.

If you use gas for your grill, inspect the tank for leaks periodically and be sure to close the valve when you are done grilling for the day.

When you are ready to put the grill away, be sure everything has cooled down. Charcoal briquettes need to be cool before you dispose of them, and the grill needs to be cool before you put any kind of cover on top of it.

Be safe when grilling. When you want to explore affordable homeowners insurance, contact us at The Insurance Shop USA.

 

 

4 Frequently-Filed Homeowners Claims and How You Can Avoid Them

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Your homeowners insurance policy is designed to help protect you as well as your personal belongings – not to mention your house. However, no one wants to have to go through the hassles of filing an insurance claim. Therefore, if you can reduce your chances of needing to file a claim, you want to do it. Here are some tips for each of the four major types of home insurance claims that are filed:

  1. Damage from Storms – When a storm comes in, it will usually bring some significant winds with it. These winds can do some serious damage to your home. Make sure your outdoor furniture is put away or anchored down. Inspect your trees for dead limbs. Take the time to trim off any limbs hanging over your home’s roof.
  2. Damage from Fires – Fire damage does not only impact your home and its structure, as it always damages your personal belongings. You need to take caution when using candles, matches, fireplaces, and other fire-related items in the home, including the stove. Whenever possible, you should not smoke inside.
  3. Damage from Water – In order to prevent water damage, you need to make sure that your frozen pipes, plumbing leaks and other water-related problems are taken care of immediately. Keep in mind that flood damage is typically covered underneath a separate flood policy.
  4. Personal Injuries – While your home should be safe, you, your family and home guests should be as well. When a person gets injured on your property, you are at risk of a personal injury claim. Make sure that your swing sets, hot tubs, pools and trampolines are very dangerous, so it is crucial that you keep the areas secure.

When you own your home, it is important that you have taken the necessary steps to keep it safe and secure for your entire family and any guests that may come over. By following the above steps, you are less likely to need to file a claim in Rathdrum, ID. If you aren’t currently insured, give our agency a call to get quotes for homeowners coverage.

How Can I Avoid An Increase On Homeowner’s Insurance?

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Hayden, ID is a relatively small, quiet town in the northern part of the state. There’s a lot of recreation outdoors, including hiking trails and streams for fishing. A family fun park for the kids is available in the town and many other things to do exist as well.

When you call Hayden home, it’s important to look at your homeowners insurance policy. The cost of the premium may be affordable, but you don’t want to experience an increase each year. Many times, the companies will send out a notice that there is an increase without providing any kind of explanation as to why.

Sometimes, you cannot control if there’s an increase on the policy or not. The cost of insurance could go up across ID and you simply have to accept it. If the value of your home goes up considerably as well, you may not be able to do much about it, especially if you made upgrades by adding a fence, deck, pool, or something else.

The best way to avoid any kind of increase with homeowner’s insurance in Hayden is by working with one of our agents. We work with a lot of the different insurance companies in the area. This allows us to make comparisons between the different companies to try and find the best price. While one company is ready to increase the cost of your policy, another company could be able to lower the cost.

This is why comparison shopping your homeowner’s insurance is so important. If you want to avoid an increase, it’s the only way to get around it. Our agents can help with the whole process so you don’t have to call the individual insurance companies. Call us today and let us find quotes for you.

Homeowners Insurance: Does Your Sandpoint, ID Home Have Enough?

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One of the largest investments that you’ve made in your life is probably your home. For that reason, it is crucial that you ensure it is insured. More than that, though, you need to ensure that your home has adequate coverage, especially in case your home were to suffer serious roof damage during a winter storm. Studies show that two-thirds of homes in the United States are underinsured. Is your home in Sandpoint, ID, among those two-thirds? Let’s hope not, but just in case, here are a few tips to help make sure your home is not underinsured:

  1. Floods and earthquakes are not typically covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. Therefore, you may want to consider adding disaster coverage to your policy. This is especially since the Sandpoint’s average rainfall throughout the winter is significantly above the U.S. average.

  2. Make sure that you opt for “replacement cost” instead of “actual cash value”. Otherwise, you may find that you don’t receive a settlement check that is high enough to cover the replacement of the items within your home.

  3. See if your declarations page contains information about “loss of use” coverage. If you don’t have it, you may want to consider it. This type of coverage will help you pay for somewhere to live while your home is being rebuilt after significant damage from a storm.

  4. Avoid choosing the policy with the lowest premium. This isn’t always the best policy for you. While you don’t want to have to try to scrounge up the money each month to pay your premium, you do want to make sure that your home has the proper coverage.

The last thing you want to have to deal with is finding out that you don’t have enough coverage on your home after a major storm. You can avoid this by contacting your independent agent in Sandpoint, Idaho, as soon as possible for a review of your policy or to receive a new quote.

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