Protect Yourself Before Disaster Strikes
Protect Yourself Before Disaster Strikes
Tornados that have recently devastated parts of the Midwest could pop up anywhere, even here in Loudoun County areas of South Riding, Brambleton, Stone Ridge, Aldie, Arcola, Sterling, Ashburn and so forth. In the past, areas in Fairfax County such as Chantilly, Fairfax, Centreville, and Clifton have also been struck. (
www.south-riding-insurance.com) While there is generally little to no warning before these storms strike, there are some steps you can take to protect your family and your home from disaster.
1: Construct a safe room
Homeowners living in an area known for tornados should consider a safe room, which is built to withstand wind speeds of over 250 miles per hour. Usually, a safe room is located in a central, ground-floor area of the home for additional protection as well as accessibility. To find out more about safe room plans, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency at
http://www.fema.gov/.
2: Reinforce the garage
Most residential tornado damage starts when wind enters through the garage, so you should make sure your garage doors are reinforced.
A qualified contractor can determine if the garage door system is able to resist high-speed winds and, if necessary, replace it with a stronger system. If your garage doors are more than eight feet wide, you should consider installing permanent wood or metal stiffeners.
3: Install impact resistant doors and windows
If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant doors made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass.
Likewise, if you're thinking about replacing your home’s windows, be sure to install impact-resistant windows.
4: Remove clutter from the yard
Keeping your yard free of debris can also help to minimize storm damage. Prune weak branches and remove trees that could fall on your house. If you use gravel or rock landscaping material, consider replacing it with mulch. (
www.loudoun-insurance.com)
Labels: Centreville Homeowners Insurance, Centreville Property Insurance, Herndon Homeowners Insurance, Herndon Property Insurance
Minimize the Likelihood of a Homeowner's Insurance Non-Renewal or Rate Increase
Almost three million households have lost their homeowner’s insurance since 2003 according to a 2007 national telephone survey conducted on behalf of Trusted Choice and The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Even though two-thirds of the households that lost coverage were located in the South, it could easily happen here in Loudoun County areas of South Riding, Brambleton, Aldie, Arcola, Stone Ridge, Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg and so forth. In fact, Fairfax County areas of Chantilly, Centreville, Fairfax, Clifton, Herndon & Reston along with Springfield have had similar problems in the past. Only half of the non-renewed households said they were able to find other coverage.
As part of the current study, respondents were asked about changes they’ve made since 2003 to secure their home in the event of a natural disaster. Overall, a mere 28 percent of households indicated they have taken steps to secure their homes. Even in the South, where the threat of hurricanes is an annual occurrence, only 31 percent indicated that they had secured their homes.
The survey results also showed that about 35 percent of all American households had experienced a homeowner’s insurance rate increase in the previous 48 months. Twenty-two percent of the respondents answered that they had received anywhere from an 11 to 25 percent rate hike, while 13 percent said that they had received more than a 25 percent increase.
Trusted Choice offers the following tips to lessen the possibility of non-renewal or rate increases:
· Monitor your claim activity - Insurance companies track how many and what type of claims you file. Frequent claim activity, no matter how small, can impact your rates and chance for renewal.
· Stick with one insurance company - An insurance company is more inclined to look past an item on your claims record if you are a long-term customer. Changing insurance companies on a regular basis makes it difficult to build a relationship with an insurer.
· Bundle your coverages - Keeping your homeowner’s and auto policies with one insurer makes you a more attractive customer. An insurance company may think twice about dropping your homeowner’s coverage if it may mean losing your auto insurance business, too.
· Review your deductibles - Make sure that your deductible isn’t so small that you will be submitting every potential claim for payment, nor so large that it will cause financial hardship in the event of a loss.
· Home improvements help - Your home’s wiring, plumbing, heating and roofing should be in good repair at all times. At least twice a year, walk through your home and inspect it for developing problems.
· Know a house’s claim history before you buy it - Ask for a disclosure report, which can be obtained from your real estate agent or the seller’s agent. Insurance companies will be wary of a home with previous structural or water-damage claims.
· Consult your insurance agent - Working closely with an agent may be the easiest way to stay insured affordably. And they will be your advocate when you have a claim or other problem.
Labels: Fairfax Homeowners insurance, Fairfax Property Insurance, Loudoun homeowners insurance, Loudoun Property Insurance, South Riding homeowners insurance, South-Riding property insurance
