Tips

Every year there are thousands of homes being damaged by a water related issue.  Some are preventable and some are not.  If your home or business has been damaged by water, it is crucial that you call your insurance agent and use a restoration company immediately to minimize the damage.    The top ten most common water damages are:

1. Drains Quit Draining
2. Toilet Runs and Drips
3. Frozen Fire Sprinkler
4. Washing Machine Line Burst
5. Sump Pump Failure
6. Leaking Water Heater
7. Leaking Garbage Disposal
8. Leaking Air Conditioner
9. Backed up Sewer Lines
10. Frozen Burst Pipes

Are you at risk for water damage?  Check these ten areas to make sure you don’t end up with unwanted water in your home or business.

Source:  Werner Restoration Services

Consumers be aware of the identity theft epidemic that is happening around us.  Thieves only need one single piece of personal information to steal your identity and turn your financial life upside down.  With technology advancing every day, it is important to know what you can do to protect yourself before it is too late.  Here are some identity theft prevention tips to start following today.

Check your credit report

Is available free once a year with nationwide consumer credit reporting companies:  Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Protect your Social Security number

Do not use your SSN as an identifier at work, school or an your driver’s license.

Create passwords and PINS and change often

Use passwords that are difficult for others to guess but easy for you to remember.

Buy a Shredder

Use to destroy any financial and personal documents before throwing them away.

Be aware of your surroundings

Especially when using an ATM, entering PINs or making credit card purchases.

Contact Mel Foster Insurance for more tips or to inquiry about identity fraud expense reimbursement insurance.

 

If you approach a flooded road, path, or walkway follow this rule:  Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Driving through flooded roadways can be deadly.  Did you know…

1. As little as 12 inches of moving floodwater can be enough to float and carry a small vehicle.
2. 6 inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet.  Stay away from moving water!
3. Driving thru 6 inches of standing water can cause vehicles to lose control and stall.  Avoid flooded roads.
4. Be aware of areas where waters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a vehicle.
5. 12 inches of water is enough to make most small vehicles float.  Don’t drive through flooded waters.
6. Even a small amount of floodwater can hide dangers such as road collapse and debris.

The Quad Cities and Midwest is getting slammed with rain this Spring.  Here are some tips to help you and your family.

• Have a family emergency communication plan and include pets.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Check on your neighbors to make sure they’re okay.
• Know what to do before, during, and after a flood.
• Flood insurance takes 30 days to take effect, so it needs to be purchased before disaster.
• Listen to local officials by radio, TV or social media.
• Evacuate when advised by authorities or if you are in a flood or flash flood prone area.
• If you are on high ground above flooded areas, being prepared to stay where you are may be the best protection.
• Never drive or walk through flooded streets; Turn Around, Don’t Drown!  Do no go through flood waters.

Tips for Preventative Maintenance

• Keep leaves and debris cleaned out of gutters!  Make sure all downspouts are clean and water flows properly; replace leaky gutters or downspouts. Make sure your downspout runoffs extend far enough away from the house.
• Do not burn leaves or other items near your home or garage.
• Duct and dryer vent cleaning:  Clean inside of dryer duct; check outside outside exhaust area.
• Be careful when pulling out or pushing back a refrigerator, if may damage ice maker line.
• Make sure you know where your water shut off valve is in case of an emergency.
• Make sure the ground, landscaping, concrete, etc…is always falling away from the home.

 

Source:  Werner Restoration Inc.

Do you have a list of your items in your home?  Here’s three tips to compile a home inventory list.

Purchasing the homeowners insurance that is right for you and your home can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers.  By learning the basics on how to get the most for your money, you can save on your homeowners insurance and feel confident you have adequate coverage.  Here are tips when you purchase your homeowners insurance.

Raise your deductible.

Companies generally have deductibles (what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in) starting at $250.  By choosing a higher deductible $500, $750, $1,000 or higher), you’ll have a lower annual premium payments.

Improve home security and safety.

If your home has certain types of fire alarms, burglar alarms, locks or smoke detectors, you’ve reduced your risk and may qualify for a credit.

Insure your car and home with the same company.

You can save money if you have more thank one type of  policy with the same insurance company.  The more business you give a company, the more savings they can pass along to you.

Contact Mel Foster Insurance today to customize your product to match your needs and wants.

 

 

Purchasing the auto insurance that is right for you can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers.  By learning the basics on how to get the most for your money, you can save on your auto insurance and feel confident you have adequate coverage. Here are some tips to lead  you in the right direction when you purchase your car insurance.

Be a safe driver.

Drivers with good driving records can save as much as 60 percent over drivers who cause accidents.

Buy a car that includes safety features.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, alarms or other security features, airbags, and automatic seat belts.

Choose a higher deductible. (Whatever you pay before you insurance policy kicks in)

This does mean paying less for your policy.

Insure your car and home with the same company.

You could save money if you have more than one type of policy with the same insurance company.

Check for student discounts.

Good student credit for maintaining a B average, or if a driver i your household is living away at school and not driving as much.

Contact Mel Foster Insurance  today to customize your product to match your needs and wants.

2014 marked nearly 15,000 home thefts during November, December and January, according to Nationwide claims data.

“The holidays are a festive time, but there are lots of moving parts and it’s hectic—people get lost in it,” says Lisa Lindsay, executive director, Private Risk Management Association. “Absent a plan, they’re likely to not pay attention to things that are important.”

Don’t let the Grinch steal Christmas by using these four tips:

Prepare for Porch Pirates

In 2016, nearly 26 million Americans had a holiday package stolen from their front porch or doorstep, up from 23.5 million porch thefts reported in 2015, according to a study released by InsuranceQuotes.

As online shopping becomes more popular, increasing the number of deliveries to homes, clients should be prepared for these types of  porch pirates.

While technology like smart motion detectors and cameras can alert you when someone’s on your porch, Lindsay says there are also “some simple things that don’t require an investment in technology.”

Tips include making sure you’re home when you’re expecting a delivery, sending deliveries to your office, asking a neighbor to take in a package or utilizing a pickup service such as Amazon Locker, which “allows you to pick up a package at your convenience,” Lindsay says.

Protect Information Online

 In 2017, fraud attempts between Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Eve increased by 22%, while the number of online transactions increased by 19%, according to ACI Worldwide, an electronic payments solutions company.

When shopping online, “make sure you’re on a secure site”—one marked with “https,” Lindsay says. A secure site is marked by a small padlock item in the corner of the URL and, compared to websites that begin their URL with just “http,” that extra “s” literally stands for “secure.”

Second, “use credit over debit,” Lindsay says. “With a credit card, you have some recourse if somebody steals your information. As we all know, a debit card comes right out of your bank account.” Of course, looking out for any unusual activity on bank statements or credit reports is another important preventative measure to guard against online fraud.

And never do something like this: You’re at the mall and you can’t find the gift you’re looking for, so you decide to sit down, log in to the public Wi-Fi and start searching for it.

“It’s through the use of public Wi-Fi that your personal information is transmitted, and there are people out there that are seeking to capture it,” Lindsay says. “I would really encourage people to use a secure network or wait until they get home to make that purchase.”

Leave the Lights On

Your clients might be headed out of town this holiday season, but remember: Crime doesn’t take a vacation.

That’s why it’s important to “make sure it appears like you’re home,” says Lindsay, who recommends putting a stop on newspapers and mail, as well as leaving lights on. After securing the premises and making sure alarm systems are in working order, “we also recommend that people have someone check on their home while they’re away,” she adds.

 

Source:  iamagazine.com