Category Archive for : ‘Home Maintenance’

Increasing your deductible is an area where you can save significant amounts of money on your home insurance. The Typical home deductible is $1,000.  Increasing your deductible to $2,500 can save you up to 12%.  $5,000 can save you up to 26%.  It is important to have that money as disposable income if you choose to go with the higher deductible because, of course, you will be responsible for the first $2,500 or $5,000.

Do not put in small claims that could be paid out of pocket. I see this all

Did You Know?

Ice dams are caused by uneven heat loss from your home in wintry conditions refreezing melted snow. This causes the roof to warm above freezing temperature, which allows snow to melt and then re-freeze before it reaches the roof’s edge.  If this cycle repeats consistently, an ice dam forms and water builds up behind it. As the water collects it can cause expensive water damage.

Often the water that ice dams push into homes travels around wall and ceiling cavities until it finds the path of least resistance to escape. By the time you see

The season is changing fast and cold nights and snowy days are upon us.  The winter season can be the most challenging season for us all.  The added stress of the holidays combined with less than perfect weather, certainly provides a most challenging season to deal with.  Bearing through Winter is exactly what we do.  We clench our teeth and push through until it’s time for that clock to spring forward again.  Amongst everything else that we need to do for this cold season, protecting your home from future claims

In the Northeast, the term “ice dam” is met with grimacing faces and curse words. Many people have just started work on the home repairs needed due to the havoc wreaked over this past winter. With repairs in full swing, now is a good time to think about making improvements to your home to protect yourself against future ice dam issues. It is better to make these improvements now while your home is already being repaired than to wait and make these improvements after your home is repaired and looks

With a massive blizzard bearing down on the northeast, I thought it might be a good time to share some tips on how to prepare for a power outage in the cold weather. High winds and 2 feet of snow means downed power lines, falling trees, and more. Listed below are some tips to help you prepare for Mother Nature’s fury.

Put fresh batteries in all flashlights and portable radios and place them all in a central location for easy access. Also charge your electronics in advance of the storm.
Keep extra

I find it interesting how Other Structures coverage on the Homeowner’s policy is often overlooked by those who need it, but becomes a point of contention for those who feel they do not. I field a lot of calls by people who wish to remove the coverage because they have no sheds or detached garages on their property, but very rarely do I get a call from a homeowner who may need more coverage due to the cost of structures on their property.

It is safe to say that almost everyone

With spring fighting its way into its rightful place as the ruler of March through June; it is time to discuss flooding and its impact on you (and your insurance coverage). As we all know we had quite a bit of snow this winter, and now all of that snow is melting. That water may find its way into basements and homes which prompt calls regarding the coverage that is provided by the various insurance policies people carry. Below are some things to keep in mind about the limitations of

This weeks blog is courtesy of our friends at Peerless Insurance.  

Tips on the causes of Ice Dams and preventative measures that you can take to avoid them.

Ice dams form when melting ice and snow refreeze around the eaves of your roof and back up under the

shingles, causing leaks and water damage to interior walls and ceilings. Once an ice dam forms, the damage
is already done, so the focus should be on prevention.

What Causes Ice Dams?
Because heat rises, the air in your attic, even in winter, is warmest at the top or

It seems that the temperature has headed south along with the geese which means that Fall has just about moved in.  As the summer wanes and school begins there is a brief period of time, before the holidays (uugghh) arrive where we can do some safety maintenance and clean up of our homes. Here are some ideas that you should put on your list of “to do’s” to avoid problems over the winter.

Have your heating system cleaned. To make sure your furnace / heat system are clean and in good