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Spring Cleaning Tips to Avoid Home Insurance Claims

Are you and your family in the spring-cleaning mood? You’ve probably already started on clearing out your closets and decluttering your rooms, but what about the lesser-thought-of chores, like cleaning out your gutters and checking for any damage? If you want to keep your home in good shape and prevent any future insurance claims, take a look at these 6 spring cleaning tips.

 

  • Check your HVAC

 

After a winter where you probably used your home’s heater pretty consistently, it’s important to check and change your HVAC filters to prevent a build-up of dust. Not properly maintaining a clean HVAC can result in physical illnesses, a higher energy bill, and a shortened life-span of the entire appliance. Make sure this is one of the first spring-cleaning chores on your list to help keep a healthy home and a happy family.

 

  • Repair your driveway

 

Cracked sidewalks and driveways, broken bricks and stones, or holes in your yard can be a tripping hazard that could potentially cause injury to you, your family, or your guests. To avoid paying out-of-pocket for someone else’s medical bills, keep an eye out for any tripping hazards. Similarly, watch out for any loose nails or screws on your deck that could have been exposed by rotting wood. It’s easy to forget to look at the floor, but doing so could protect your loved ones from some painful injuries!

 

  • Watch out for the windows

 

If an earthquake or other weather-related event hit your home in the past, it’s possible that your windows and doors were harmed in the process. Double check the caulking and seams around your windows and doors for any cracks. If cracks are present, moisture could be entering your home and causing damage to your walls, ceilings, floors, and appliances. This damage could show up in the form of insurance claims and home repair bills, so catching it early is essential.

 

  • Replace the batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

 

Every 6 months or so, mark your calendars to check the batteries in your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. While these likely go unnoticed during the year, it can be incredibly damaging to your home if they are not functioning properly in times of need. Instead of being oblivious when real damage is being caused to your home, make a point to switch out these batteries every spring and fall and help protect your family from danger.

 

  • Clear out your gutters

 

While we may not have traditional falls and winters in Orange County, our home’s gutters are still susceptible to becoming clogged with leaves and other debris collected throughout the year. If clogged, even the few showers of rain we receive in Southern California can back up your gutters, causing overflows and potential water damage to your home’s roof. Clean these out at least every spring, if not more, to help prevent making any insurance claims on a damaged roof!

  1. Keep an eye out on your home’s roof and walls

Similarly, any number of things can occur and cause potential water damage to your home’s exterior. If you notice water stains on your walls and ceilings or see any sagging spots on your roof, it’s likely your home has water damage and needs repairing immediately. Also keep an eye out for missing shingles, holes in the siding, or signs of damage caused by critters.

If you’re hoping to avoid paying a high repair bill or filing an insurance claim for damages, keep these 6 chores in mind when making your spring-cleaning to-do lists, and click here to receive a quote on our homeowner’s insurance policies. If you do happen to notice any damage on your home incurred over the last few seasons, give our team at Partners Direct a call and we’ll be happy to assist you with any insurance issues you have.

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How Umbrella Insurance Plans Save You More

What is Umbrella Insurance Anyway?

Imagine it’s pouring down rain. You are wearing your suede jacket and not happy about the unforeseen weather change. Thankfully you have your umbrella with you: reach in, grab it, and whew! Problem solved! Umbrella Insurance is just like that. You aren’t ruining your suede jacket, but you are protecting your hard-earned savings from life’s accidents. An umbrella liability policy covers much more than your auto and home policies, and can make a long-term difference in your financial health.

Why Do I Need It?

No one likes insurance until they need it; then, they are grateful to have it. The umbrella protects your financial assets from an event you didn’t see coming. Say you were involved in a car accident, and the court decided you were responsible for damages and bodily injuries to the other party. If they were to file a lawsuit against you and you didn’t have an umbrella policy, you would be legally responsible for the damages and that can deplete your savings in a hurry.

What Does It Cover?

It covers the extras that your basic coverage does not. In the case of the car accident, it will cover the extra expenses of the others involved beyond what your normal policy does. It can also cover you for legal fees, false arrest, libel and slander.

Okay, You Have My Attention: How Does It Work?

Let’s go back to the car accident. The court found you liable for the wreck, and there are people who are hurt and a car that is totalled. You are sued and need to pay for your legal defense. Umbrella policies pay once your basic liability limits have been reached.

So Assets Matter!

What are your financial assets? Your house certainly. Add your cars, your investment and retirement accounts, and don’t forget your checking and savings accounts. If someone decides to sue you for a lot of money and you don’t have the policies in place to take care of what the court says you owe, your assets can be liquidated to pay your debts. Imagine that one bad mistake, one traffic accident, can ruin you financially because you did not have an umbrella plan in place.

Got It. How Much Does It Cost?

Our team at Partners Direct Insurance have a mission of making sure we look at each client’s needs individually, in order to design a custom insurance package that works. We want to be sure that you have the coverage you need, without overpaying. Getting an umbrella policy for $1 million worth of coverage can be very affordable. Our team can help design a plan that works for you.

How Much Do I Need?

That depends. Think about a few things, and talk with our partners to get the best deal for you.

  • How risky are you? Do you skydive? Race sports cars?
  • How much are your assets worth? The more property, stocks, and retirement funds to protect, the higher the umbrella policy to consider.
  • What would it cost you to lose your future income? If it would be devastating, you need more coverage.

Can I Write It Off My Taxes?

Generally speaking, personal umbrella policies are not tax deductible. However, if you own a business, an umbrella policy can mean your premium is tax deductible. This is another reason why it is important to have our team counsel you on what works best for your individual needs.

Let’s Talk!

At Partners Direct Insurance, we partner with our clients to make sure they have the best umbrella policy for their particular needs. Call us and we can discuss what makes the most sense for you, to keep you covered!

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