Does Home Insurance Cover Mold Issues?

How to prevent mold issues in your home in Loudonville, OhioWhen we think of an issue that may arise by being a homeowner, many people wonder if their problem can be covered by insurance.

My House Has a Mold Issue, Am I Covered?

If your home develops a mold issue, is it covered by insurance? The easiest answer is most likely no. Most mold issues do not occur overnight and this is the main reason why it is not covered by insurance. Insurance carriers tend to see mold as a sign of neglect. This could occur if you have a leaking pipe or if a window isn’t sealed properly, which eventually leads to mold growth.

Some home insurance policies may name mold as a covered peril so it is important to review your coverage details or discuss coverage with your insurance agent. There also may be a few scenarios where you may be covered if your mold issue developed quickly. This could occur if you experienced water damaged from a burst pipe or appliance.

Homeowners never want to deal with a mold problem and many times it can be prevented.

Tips to Avoid Mold Issues

  • If you are shopping for a home, you may want to pay for a mold inspection before you move in. Sometimes mold can be hard to detect if it is hidden inside the walls of your home or underneath your carpet.
  • Check your gutters to ensure they are free of debris. Clogged gutters can also cause more problems than just mold growth.
  • When it is a nice day, open up your windows to allow fresh air to circulate. This could decrease moisture inside your home.
  • Be aware of any leak inside your home and fix it immediately. Be sure to check your roof, as this is another common place to develop leaks.
  • Do you ever notice any condensation on your walls or windows?
  • Do you smell anything musty inside your home? This is the common scent of mold growth and it may be time to hire a professional to inspect your home.
  • Perform yearly maintenance on any appliance that uses water.
  • If you see any mold growth in your home, be sure to clean it with soap & water or a cleaner. Mold can form in many places such as your shower, toilet, sinks, inside your refrigerator, under your kitchen sink, inside your trash can, microwave, stove, window sills, mattress, vents, etc.
  • Purchase a dehumidifier and keep it on low levels in your home.
  • Always run your fan when taking a hot shower. Mold loves moisture.

We hope you never experience a mold issue, as this can cause damage to your home and your health. Preventative action is the best way to reduce your risk. If you have questions about your current home insurance policy, call our agency.

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Insurance Options for Leased or Financed Vehicles

Auto insurance for financed or leased cars in Loudonville, OhioYou have many coverage options when it comes to purchasing auto insurance. Some people choose to have the state minimum requirements, while others want more coverage protection.

If you are looking to lease or finance your next vehicle, it is important to understand you most likely will need specific auto insurance coverage.

State minimum requirements include two coverages:

Bodily injury & property damage: this coverage only protects others if you are involved in an at-fault accident. This coverage will pay for damage you caused to a person’s property & if your at-fault accident caused an injury to anyone outside your vehicle and often a passenger in your vehicle.

Bodily injury & property damage coverage does not provide any coverage for your injuries or damages caused to your vehicle. State minimum requirements vary by state so depending where you live, additional coverage may be required besides just bodily injury & property damage.

If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, you most likely will be required to carry more than just state minimum requirements on your auto insurance policy.

If you currently have state minimum requirements on your auto insurance policy, but want to lease or finance a vehicle, your auto insurance premium will typically increase in cost since you need to purchase more coverage.

Additional auto insurance coverage that tends to be required when you lease or finance a vehicle:

Comprehensive coverage: this coverage can help pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is vandalized, damaged from a fire, wind, fallen tree, flood, lightning or other covered weather-related incidents. It can also pay for damages caused by hitting an animal or if your car is stolen.

Collision coverage: If you cause an at-fault accident where your vehicle is damaged, this coverage can help pay for repairs or the replacement of your vehicle should it be deemed a total loss. This could include colliding with another vehicle, a guardrail or fence.

Depending on who you lease or finance your vehicle through, you may have specific policy limit requirements you need to purchase. For example, bodily injury limits may need to be $100,000/person and $300,000/accident. To make things easier for you, ask your lease or finance company what liability limits you need to purchase. This will allow an insurance agent to provide you with the most accurate auto insurance quote.

Other coverages we recommend:

There are additional coverages that can help protect you if you get into an accident. Uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments, personal injury protection and more. If you call us for a quote, we will explain all of your options.

Call Our Agency When it’s Time to Shop for Auto Insurance

A local insurance agent is one of the best ways to find affordable auto insurance. Especially if you currently have state minimum auto insurance, we will shop all of our insurance carriers to find the best rate.

We also have access to car insurance discounts, which will help lower your monthly or yearly premium. Call, email or fill out a quote form on our website to get a free auto insurance quote.

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Five Things You Should Always Have on Hand in Your Home & Car

Prepping your home in the event you lose power or a natural disaster strikes –

Emergency essentials for your home or vehicle in OhioWe all know the importance of being prepared, but what percentage of us actually do the prep work? A good way to ask yourself if you are prepared is to assess what you have on hand now. If a disaster struck today or if you lost power for several hours to days, would you be prepared? If the answer is no, use this list to start preparing yourself this week. January can be a great time of year to start a new habit!

Checklist for home –

  • Non-perishable food: canned goods, noodles, bars, cereal, dried fruit, nut butter, crackers and other items with a longer shelf life are important to have on hand. If you currently use an electronic can opener, be sure to have a manual can opener too. You should have enough food supply for several days. Check on your inventory every six months. Also, make sure everything you have for an emergency your family will eat.
  • Water: Water isn’t just essential for drinking, but can be used for brushing your teeth, cooking food and washing your hands. Keep one gallon of water on hand per person minimum. A several day supply is even better.
  • Flashlights: when your power is out, flashlights are essential. Be sure to have a few on hand. A variety of flashlights are handy – traditional and lantern style. Be sure to have extra batteries stored away too.
  • First Aid Kit: you can get a variety of sizes and features with many first aid kits. Even without planning for a power outage or natural disaster, this is a good one to have in your home or car.
  • Battery powered generators or gas generators: An ideal item to have for a natural disaster is a power generator. This allows you to run lights, refrigerators and change your cell phones. This technology has come a long way recently so be sure to look at the options available and get one with enough power to suite your needs.
  • Bonus items: filtered masks to protect you from contaminated air and an emergency whistle.

Your home should require more emergency items on hand. It is important to keep your vehicle stocked with essentials in the event you are get into a car accident, experience a flat tire or your car breaks down, as well as items for cold weather.

Checklist for your vehicle –

  • Reflective triangle
  • Flashlight
  • Ice Scraper
  • Cell Phone Charger
  • Blanket
  • Bonus: jumper cables & first aid kit

All of these items can prepare you if you have a flat tire, need roadside assistance and aid with bad weather.

While we hope you never have to experience a natural disaster or accident, we hope you are always prepared. If you have questions about your home or auto insurance, call our agency. We can review your coverage to ensure you have the protection you need.

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New Year’s Eve Party Tips & Things to Consider in the New Year

Tips if you plan to host a NYE party in OhioMany people prefer to host a New Year’s Eve party instead of going out to celebrate. If you plan to gather with friends and family at your house, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to being a host.

Watch how much alcohol you are serving your guests

Not only should you be aware of how much you are serving your guests, but you should also be aware of who is driving home. It’s always best to have a designated driver if your guests plan to leave your home the same night as the party. If you over-serve alcohol & a guest drives home & gets into a car accident, you could be found liable for the damages. Instead of risking an accident, call an Uber, Lyft or local taxi service to ensure they get home safely.

Do you have any tripping hazards or icy walkways?

Did you know you could be liable if someone injures themselves on your property? If someone trips over an object outside or slips on your walkway, you could be responsible to pay for any medical bills that may accrue from the injury.

Is it time to review your insurance policies in the New Year?

If you have experienced life changes, reach out to your insurance carrier about reviewing your current insurance coverage. Life changes should be a good time to review or update your policy.

For example, if you recently remodeled your home, be sure to relay this to your agent. This is important for your home insurance policy. If your home ever experiences significant damage, your home may not be covered at the correct amount if you failed to tell your insurance carrier of major remodeling updates.

If you find yourself driving less, you may want to make an update to your auto insurance policy. Teen drivers can also impact your auto insurance coverage. If your teen is going to start driving in 2023, talk to your agent about getting your teen added to your policy.

Life insurance also should be updated if you are getting married, divorced, having children, retiring, etc. There may be certain years where you want more insurance coverage or certain years where you need less coverage. Our agents are here to provide you with professional advice so you have the right coverage at the right time for your unique situation.

Lastly, if your insurance premiums have increased significantly, reach out to us. While insurance premiums have been up across the board this year, we may still be able to help match you with a different carrier at a more affordable price. We’ll shop all our carriers & can provide with options to choose from.

Wishing you and your family the happiest of New Years.

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Lower Your Risk for Theft This Holiday Season

lowering your risk for theft this holiday season in Loudonville, OHThe holiday season tends to see some of the biggest crime waves throughout the year. Here are some things to be aware of when it comes to lowering your risk for theft this holiday season.

Vehicle Break-ins:

Nobody wants to have their vehicle broken into. Not only does it cause a major inconvenience, but it feels violating & you could have valuables stolen out of your vehicle. To lower your risk of a break-in, always follow these tips.

  • Never leave valuables in your car. There are many scenarios where you may have valuables in your car, whether for a short period or a long period. If you are out doing holiday shopping, store items in your trunk or cover them so they are not exposed. If you are parking your vehicle outside overnight or for an extended period, always remove valuables from your car. When parking for an extended period, you are at a higher risk for a break-in. Even if your vehicle was broken into, at least you can say you didn’t have anything for the burglar to take.
  • Park your vehicle in well-lit areas. This could prevent thieves from breaking in if they think they could be caught on a security camera.
  • Always lock your car. Get in the habit of locking your car each time you get out of your vehicle. Unlocked doors gives prowlers a free look to see what is inside & a locked car can sometimes prevent valuables from being stolen.

If I had valuables stolen out of my vehicle, does my auto insurance policy provide coverage?

The short answer is no. Comprehensive coverage on an auto insurance policy will provide you with coverage if your vehicle is stolen. Items stolen from inside your vehicle are typically not covered.

Mail Theft:

Many people receive gifts in the mail during the holidays. Gift cards and cash can often be found in holiday cards & thieves may be out lurking in your mailbox hoping to score your gift. Here are a few tips to always remember this holiday season regarding your mail.

  • Get in the habit of picking up your mail daily, even if you have a locked mailbox. Prowlers can still break into your mailbox if they see mail sitting there.
  • If you plan to be gone for an extended period, hold your mail. This can be done online for free with USPS.
  • Ask a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to pick up your mail.
  • Don’t place cash, check, or gift cards in your outgoing mail. Did you know a thief can easily use your checking account number on your check to steal your identity? If you can, take outgoing mail to a drop-off location.

Doorstep Theft & Home Security:

Many people do more online shopping during the holidays which means more packages getting delivered to your doorstep. Thieves are aware of this. Follow these tips to lower your risk of theft at your home:

  • Track all your packages. If you see a package is getting delivered on a day you will not be home, ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to grab it for you.
  • Ship packages to a different location. This could be your work or friend or family member’s home where someone will be around to pick up the package for you.
  • If your delivery provider has the option to pick it up at their distribution center, consider this option if you will not be home.
  • If you can provide a message to your delivery provider, consider asking him or her to leave your package in a specific location at your house that is not visible to thieves.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season! If you have any questions about your insurance policy, please contact our agency.

 

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Rodent Damage & Preventative Steps to Take This Winter

Rodent Damage & Preventative Steps to Take This Winter in Loudonville, OHAs the temperature continues to drop this time of year, humans aren’t the only ones seeking warmer areas to rest. Mice, rats, and other rodents move indoors this time of year to nest as well as look for more food sources that may be stored. It is your responsibility to protect your house from rodent damage as damages caused by rodents or other animals is not covered by an insurance policy.

What types of damage can rodents cause?

Rodents that nest in crawl spaces under a home can wreak havoc on your insulation as well as any items that you may store in there. They will make bedding out of anything soft including pulling down your insulation, shredding up paper, cardboard, and fabric so if you store things in your crawl space, be sure they’re in a sealed plastic bin so the rodent can’t chew or scratch its way through.

Urine & Droppings: Mice and rats can make a smelly mess. The adage that says don’t go to the bathroom where you sleep isn’t true for mice and rats. They don’t seem to mind and if your home has a rodent problem, you’ll see (and often smell) droppings on everything.

How did a rodent get into my house?

Rodents are crafty and will burrow under a home and enter through a dirt floor (like in a crawl space) or they can squeeze through cracks in a foundation, a broken window, or gaps around the home such as exterior boards. Once inside, they can squeeze up into your walls and make their way all the way around your home. Rats often make their way up into attics. If you have a rat in your attic, you’ll likely hear it scurry around.

Preventative Steps to Protect Your Home from Rodent Damage

To protect your home, do a visual inspection for any obvious places a rodent could squeeze in. If your home has a crawlspace, look for vents around the foundation and inspect those as oftentimes, the screens that keep things out become damaged and allow for room to get in.

Never store food in your garage or crawl space. Food will attract rodents. If you do store food, make sure it is in air-tight containers.

How do you get rid of rodents in a house?

Unfortunately, the only way to get a rodent out of a home is to trap it. There are a variety of traps available but beware of using any that contain poison if you have children or animals in your own home. Additionally, poison traps can leave a dead animal in an area you can’t reach, leading to a stinky problem for quite some time. Consider calling a professional or even using humane traps to remove the rodents.

Before you trap, be sure you’ve remedied the entry point. Because the problem will quickly return if you haven’t solved the entry point issue.

Will my insurance pay to repair rodent damage?

No, rodent damage is not typically covered by a home insurance policy because this type of damage occurred over an extended period of time. Rodents can take months or years to create noticeable damage, but by then it is too late and the damages you couldn’t see are extensive. Your best option is to call several crawl space cleanout or insulation companies. They can give you a quote to fix the damage as well as seal up your crawl space to avoid future issues.

Take care of your home and your home will take care of you. If you’re needing a quote on a great insurance policy to help protect it, give us a call. We represent the top-rated insurance companies and can give you multiple options for coverage as well as pricing.

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Home & Auto Insurance Have Increased & We Explain Why.

Home and Auto Insurance Agent Loudonville, OHInsurance premiums are calculated based on how much it will cost to replace or repair your home or vehicle as well as your overall risk. Your overall risk is broken up by several factors that can impact your auto insurance such as your driving record, claim history, your age, credit score, zip code, the make and model of your car and the type of insurance coverage limits & deductible you choose. Your home insurance premium factors can be based on the age of your home & condition, your zip code, credit score, home safety features, the coverage limits & deductible you choose, claim history and more.

We are seeing a trend that many customers continue seeing an increase in auto and home insurance premiums at renewal, even if their overall risk has not changed.

Home insurance has increased because construction costs have gone up due to a shortage in building materials and labor. Not only has there been a shortage in materials and labor, but the cost of materials and labor wages have also increased. Lastly, there has been an increase in home insurance claims due to natural disasters. Anytime an insurance carrier experiences an increase in insurance claims, they will increase their future premiums for customers. This can even extend across state lines.

Car insurance has also gone up for several reasons such as more accidents occurring, a shortage of skilled labor and car parts have increased in price. All these factors make insurance premiums more expensive.

If your home or auto insurance policy premium increased significantly at renewal, don’t panic & give us a call. We represent the top insurance carriers, which means we work for you. We have the ability to shop your current coverage with all of our carriers & provide you with several quotes. This gives you the option to have competitive prices, as well as several choices.

We can also provide you with professional insurance advice. We always want you to have plenty of insurance coverage to ensure you are protected in the event you have to file a claim.

Here are some things to consider when it comes to lowering your premium: 

1.) Bundle your home or renters insurance policy with your car insurance.

2.) Stay on top of home maintenance to lower your risk of a claim. A few areas to assess are your roof, plumbing and electrical. Insurance claims can impact your future insurance premium so if there is a way to prevent a claim, this is crucial.

3.) Talk to your agent about an insurance review. When you increase your deductible, your premium gets lowered. Please note if you do experience a home insurance claim, out of pocket expenses would be increased due to a higher deductible.

4.) Ask for a re-quote with other carriers. This is a big advantage of working with a local, independent insurance agency. We have many choices for insurance!

Contact our agency today with any questions or concerns you have about your insurance policy.

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