Tag: protect your home

Just Because You’re A Renter Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Have Insurance Needs

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Many renters mistakenly believe that they don’t need Renter’s insurance or view it as an expensive luxury. However, insurance needs aren’t negated just because one happens to be renting their home.

For those not familiar with Renter’s insurance, it’s an insurance coverage that protects the renter from property losses from damages like water and fire. It also provides protection for liability risks, such as lawsuits brought by the landlord of the property, pet attacks, falls and slips, and guest accidents. This type of coverage is available in most areas and has an average $20 monthly premium rate for around $500,000 dollars worth of liability coverage and $20,000 dollars worth of property coverage.

Trusted Choice, a network of financial and insurance service firms, recently found in a survey that almost 25 million American home renters didn’t have any insurance coverage to protect themselves from losses and that most renters have limited, if any, knowledge of Renter’s insurance.

Eight percent of the respondents without Renter’s insurance had never heard about Renter’s insurance before. Meanwhile, 17% said they weren’t aware that they needed Renter’s insurance and 26% percent felt that Renter’s insurance was too costly.

According to the study, some renters also mistakenly believed that their insurance needs were covered under the insurance policy held by their landlord. In reality, landlords don’t typically insure anything other than the building and infrastructural elements like HVAC systems and elevators. Other losses incurred will be directly on the renter’s shoulders. Even negligent actions caused by one tenant, such as a fire, that affects other innocent tenants in the building aren’t typically covered by the landlord’s insurance.

Other key findings of the study included:

  • Fifty percent of the surveyed renters owned pets. Thirty-two percent of the non-pet owners had Renter’s insurance. Although renters that own pets have a higher liability exposure than renters without pets, a mere 26% of the pet owners had Renter’s insurance.
  • Eighty-nine percent of the surveyed renters owned at least one expensive electronic device, such as a computer, camera, digital recorder, or home theater system. This group was more likely to have a Renter’s insurance policy than those that didn’t own such devices.
  • Fifty-three percent of the surveyed renters owned at least one form of exercise or sports equipment, such as a skis, bicycles, or a home gym system. This group was more likely to own Renter’s insurance than those that didn’t own such equipment.
  • Only thirty-one percent of the renters operating a home business from their apartment, condo, or other type of rental unit had Renter’s insurance.

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Limit The Effects Natural Disasters Have on Your Life

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

As the fun and sun of summer arrives, so does the threat of many natural disasters. Happenings like earthquakes are always a threat, but floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and such are more apt to strike in the warmer summer months. There are three very important steps you can take to limit the effect natural disasters have on your life and property and expedite your recovery process.

1. Planning. There are some basics that any natural disaster plan should include:
• Always have several escape routes mapped out. Each family member should know where to meet, who to call for help, and where to call to signal their safety to other family members. Your family safety plan should be posted in a central location and the escape route and emergency contact numbers should be reviewed every six months.
• If possible, store irreplaceable items and documents like birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates; passports; deeds; social security cards; expensive jewelry; and heirlooms in a safety deposit box during high-risk seasons if you live in an area frequently hit by natural disasters. You may also put video or photo documentation, a listing of serial numbers, appraisals, and receipts for these items in your safety deposit box.
• Scan your photos to your computer. You can store your photos with an online storage service or make a CD to place in your safety deposit box.
• You should have an emergency overnight bag ready to go for every person and pet in your family and always keep a credit card, emergency cash supply, and personal identification with you during high-risk seasons.

As far as disaster-specific planning goes, here are some key points:

Earthquake planning. Follow the directions from tornado planning. You might also want to place an emergency kit in your vehicle and at your place of employment. Check to make sure your child’s school is also well-prepared.

Wildfire planning. Wildfires can begin unnoticed and spread rapidly with little forewarning. An effective evacuation plan is vital in many cases. If you do have forewarning, then stay tuned to the emergency broadcasts and follow the evacuation directions from local authorities. Remember to take your emergency evacuation bag with you.
If you’re under a warning, but haven’t been advised to evacuate yet, then you might have time to turn off your gas lines and propane tanks, soak your roof and shrubs with water, move flammable furniture to the center of rooms, and move large valuables to the safest location possible.

Flood planning. Many people live in possible flood areas and don’t realize it. For example, those living in areas that recently had a wildfire and those living downstream from a dam could have problems with flash flooding. Those living in or near a construction area could find their risk of flooding increased due to changes in water flow patterns. You can assess your risk of flooding by contacting your local building authority and your insurance agent. Since basements aren’t usually covered by typical flood insurance policies, those with a basement need a plan on moving their valuables to upper-levels. Do make sure that you have an escape plan, as discussed above, in place for your family.

Tornado planning. Unlike many other disastrous events, leaving your home during a tornado warning is seldom a wise move. Everyone in your family should know where they should go during a tornado warning. While a basement is ideal, not everyone has one. You can use a central room; preferably one that doesn’t have windows or overhead objects. Be sure your emergency kit and phone numbers are in your designated room.

Hurricane planning. Most people in areas prone to hurricanes are already on high alert during hurricane season, but do keep in mind that hurricanes and the stormy remnants are often unpredictable. The flood planning from above is applicable to hurricane planning. Additionally, you’ll want to have a supply of nails and plywood ready to go so that you can board-up your home before evacuation. Remember, if your local authorities issue an evacuation, then you need to heed it.

2. Prevention
Aside from living in an area not prone to natural disasters, there isn’t much you can do to avoid them. However, unlike most other natural disasters, wildfires can sometimes be prevented. You can personally prevent fires by being careful when using open flames, maintaining your chimney flue, and not throwing cigarettes outdoors. Of course, wildfires can happen regardless of your personal care with fire.
You can help to prevent flames from impacting your home by creating a defensible space. In fact, some insurers are now inspecting properties for defensible space before issuing or renewing policies. Your insurance agent, local agricultural organizations, and federal agencies like the American Red Cross and FEMA are valuable information sources on creating defensible spaces. The damage of flooding can also be limited by planning water diversions and landscaping as protective devices.

3. Insurance
Last, but certainly not least, you should make sure your existing insurance is providing adequate protection. For example, your regular Homeowners policy most likely won’t provide coverage if a boulder falls or rolls into your home since such would be considered an earth movement and need to be covered by Earthquake insurance. Another example would be your regular Homeowners policy not covering damage from a water or sewage system outside your home breaking, or damages from a flash flood, as these would fall under Flood insurance. If you obtain Flood insurance, keep in mind that the coverage won’t become effective for 30 days and your basement usually still won’t be covered.

Spring Cleaning, You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Spring is on its way (I swear), and it’s a perfect time to clean the garage, organize your home for summer projects or get your house set to host friends and family members for graduation parties, weddings or summer bbq’s.

Hah, my wife, Cindy, would fall off her chair laughing if I told her I was going to write about the virtues of spring cleaning or any cleaning for that matter.  The kids would be hiding because they know I’d search them out and enlist them to keep my actual cleaning involvement to a minimum.

Let’s just say that we are in perfect agreement that I have a very high clutter tolerance.  Sweeping out the garage is good on one of the first really nice weekend days of the year.  Plus with all our rain this year there is definitely major dirt accumulation on the garage floor.

This year might be slightly different though since we’ve got a wedding coming up this year.  I’ve already seen hints that I may be enlisted to think about projects that would be “necessary” if we are going to host a wedding celebration.

Spring is a time lots of families are planning forward and laying out those projects as they are sweeping, cleaning and planting everything that’s makes it so beautiful here in the summer.

All right at the risk of being mocked by my bride, here are a few tips to consider:

Analyze the situation. Walk around your home with a notebook and pen and make a list of problem areas that need the most attention.  This might include junk drawers, garages, closets, storage spaces, etc.  Ask yourself, what is it about that room that really bothers you or where will the guest be hanging out? This can help you prioritize your list of rooms to tackle first.

What can you give away to a great charity? Moving things around doesn’t do much of anything except move the problem from one room to another? There are charities that need most any kind of item that you are no longer using and you can eliminate the clutter once and for all.

Stay off of ladders, stay off of ladders, stay off of ladders. My joke is that nothing good can come from a ladder and it’s right about 90% of the time. The reason it’s right so frequently is that most people don’t have extensive experience using ladders and they are often used incorrectly.  People are very nonchalant about how far up they are and the surface they are using ladders on.  I’ll just jump up there and do this, becomes a trip to the emergency room and months of rehab.  According the National Institute of Health, over 97% of the ladder injuries occur in a non occupational setting (home) and ladder injuries rose more than 50% from 1990 through 2005. Check out how to safely use ladders at www.laddersafety.org.

Know when to do it yourself and when to hire a professional. See Ladder Safety if you want to know when to get a professional.  Okay, maybe not any time you have to use a ladder but stop and think if you have what it takes to visualize, design and implement a project.  You might be able to help but is it really something you (and/or your brother in law) are qualified to do yourself.  In my case, the Q and A is pretty short but for lots of my friends, they are quite qualified to do a lot.  Ask yourself before you get in too deep for two reasons, things go bad when we don’t know what we’re doing and it usually cost more to fix than it would have to get the right people to do it in the first place.

Remember to call us if you make additions or updates to your home.  Updates often result in premium discounts for you and we can’t cover additions if we don’t know about them!

Spring is coming, spring is coming, spring is coming!

Here are 4 Easy Ways to Reach our Total Protection Team:

  1. Call 951-600-5751 or 877-994-6787
  2. Fax 951-677-6265
  3. Email – [email protected]
  4. Visit agency.thebutlerweb.com – 24/7

Are the Fire Alarms in Your Home Functioning Properly?

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

A recent study from the National Fire Protection Agency, or NFPA, found that around 95% of U.S. homes have one or more smoke alarms installed throughout the house. Unfortunately, that same study revealed that the number of homes with nonfunctioning smoke alarms vastly outnumbered the amount of homes with no alarms at all. This shows that many homes are relying on broken and battery-less alarms to save their lives in the event of a fire. By following the advice of experts and maintaining a testing schedule, you can make sure your alarms will be ready when you need them the most.

Fire safety begins with purchasing the right type of smoke alarm, as dictated by your building code’s power requirements. The common types that are required vary from standard battery-operated alarms to ones that are wired into the home’s electricity. For individuals who have difficulty hearing, smoke alarms with flashing lights and devices called “bed shakers” are used together with audible alarms. Always purchase alarms that have been listed or approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), or a similar independent tester.

How Many?
The NFPA publishes the Life Safety Code 101 to inform people of the regulations and best practices when it comes to fire safety, and in this case, the amount of smoke alarms to install. It recommends having at least one alarm on each floor, including basements and attics, and within 15 feet of bedrooms. Place smoke alarms inside of bedrooms if family members usually sleep with the door closed. Remember, the strategic placement of smoke alarms is just as important as keeping them powered.

The building codes that govern homes built in the last few years are significantly trying to improve residential fire safety. Most require hardwired alarms that are interconnected, meaning that all alarms will sound if one detects smoke or intense heat. Also, the new codes require the installation of smoke alarms in every bedroom of the house.

Installing the usual store-bought smoke alarm is really quite simple and will require only a drill and a screwdriver. Hardwired and interconnected alarms should be installed by a qualified electrician. Battery back-up should also be used with electrically powered alarms, as well.

Fire safety experts offer more installation advice:

  • When installing a wall-mounted alarm, locate it between six to 12 inches below the ceiling.
  • Ceiling-mounted alarms should be installed more than six inches away from any wall.
  • On sloped and vaulted ceilings, located the alarm at the highest point.
  • In open stairways, alarms should be placed near the top of the staircase.
  • In closed stairways, like basement steps, the alarm should be placed at the bottom of the staircase.
  • Do not install alarms in drafty areas of the house, such as near windows, ceiling fans, or forced-air registers.

If you have any questions about installing fire alarms, call or email your local fire department. They will be happy to help you better protect your home against fires and show you the optimal places to install your smoke detectors.

If you’d like to review your coverage and find out if your home is properly protected in the event of a fire, here are 4 Easy ways to reach our Total Protection team:

1. Call 877-994-6787 or 951-600-5751
2. Fax 951-677-6265
3. Email [email protected]
4. Visit us on the web – www.SIAonline.com