April 4, 2014
Agency5 Household Items You Should Insure
You probably don’t think about it until happens. How many assets do you own that are high-value items either in terms of monetary or sentimental value? Your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover everything you own and the items it does cover are only partially insured if they’re high-priced items. Here are a few items you should […]
March 7, 2014
Agency5 Myths About Home Fire Sprinklers
1. When one sprinkler goes off, all the sprinklers activate. The sprinkler heads react to temperatures in each room individually, allowing only the sprinkler closest to the fire to activate. In fact, 90 percent of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler. 2. A sprinkler could accidentally go off, causing severe water […]
February 28, 2014
AgencySmart Places to Hide Your Spare Key
A friendly reminder: Hiding a spare key underneath your welcome mat is not sneaky. It’s obvious. So, try one of these smarter key-hiding tactics! The Brick Trick. We’re all for a well-maintained brick walkway, but one small chink in the mortar can be good news! Put the brick blemish to good use: if there’s enough space for […]
January 24, 2014
Agency7 Common Home Security Mistakes
If you and the guy who wants to steal your television sat down to shoot the breeze, what would you ask him? The chance to pick a burglar’s brain could certainly give you some ideas for home security upgrades, but it’s not a very common opportunity. So, we created some fictional burglar monologues (based on […]
January 17, 2014
AgencySafely Thaw a Frozen Pipe
Why Do This? Even if you’ve taken precautions to prevent frozen pipes, it can still happen during single-digit nights. Frozen pipes can lead to expensive water damage, so you want to thaw them as soon as possible. However, hiring a plumber to do this for you can cost $200 or more, so you can save […]
January 10, 2014
AgencyPrevent Your Pipes From Freezing
WHY DO THIS? As fall temperatures turn into winter chills, the pipes in your house run the risk of freezing and breaking. This can cause serious water damage (which quickly turns into major wallet damage). In fact, frozen or broken water pipes are second only to hurricanes in terms of the number of homes they […]
January 3, 2014
AgencyNew Mortgage Laws on January 10! What You Need to Know
Do your plans for 2014 include a new home? If you’re thinking about signing on the dotted line for a new mortgage this year, it’s important to understand the new federal regulations that go into effect on January 10. While these new regulations will make it more difficult for some people to get a mortgage, […]
December 27, 2013
AgencyStaying Cozy, Staying Safe: Space Heaters
A winterized house and a heavy blanket will keep you comfortable during a chilly night, but nothing delivers that toasty, warm-to-the-bone feeling quite like a space heater (except maybe a roaring fireplace). If you’re going to break out a space heater or two this season, take a minute to brush up on these dos and […]
December 20, 2013
Agency5 Things to Do Before You Go Out of Town
Your house doesn’t need as much attention as a pet or a child, but it does need some consideration before it’s left alone for an extended period of time. By crossing off a few quick tasks, you can make sure your house is protected against damage, burglary and bad smells while you’re out of town. […]
December 13, 2013
AgencyHomeowners are leaving billions of dollars on the table
Millions of Americans are walking away from billions of dollars in savings every year. How? By not refinancing. While the refinance fad has faded since interest rates began rising this fall, millions of Americans still stand to benefit from a refinance. Quicken Loans estimates that at least 1.5 million people are missing out on $100 […]