Newsletter

Protect your home against flood damage

As we watch record rain and the subsequent flooding from hurricane Dorian, we can only be thankful that those rains didn't hit our area. We may get some of this rain as the storm moves east later this week. As we wait to see how this storm progresses, we can take some of these FEMA suggestions to help make your home or business property more flood and wind resistant. If you had a close call on rains earlier this year, now is a good time to walk around your property and note problem areas.

• Raise Electrical Boxes, Major Appliances and HVAC components at least one foot above the 100 year flood level designated in your area.
  • Circuit Breaker Boxes - short circuit in flooded systems pose a significant fire danger.
  • Appliances - Washers and dryers can be elevated with pressure treated lumber or moved to a higher floor.
  • HVAC - Exterior HVAC equiment should be elevated by a professional contractor.
• Anchor Fuel Tanks - When flood waters move an unanchored tank, the supply line may tear. Additionally, filling and ventilation tubes need to be above flood level so that water cannot get inside the tank. Anchor inside and outside tanks with properly sized ground anchors. For safety's sake, consult local officials and building professionals about the best methods for anchoring fuel tanks.
• Install sewer backflow valves - Flooding can cause sewer lines to back up into houses through drain pipes. Backflow valves are designed to block drain pipes temporarily and prevent flow into the house. Have a licensed plumber or contractor  install the valves.

Reinforce vulnerable areas to minimize wind damage

• Strengthen entry doors and windows - install storm shutters over all exposed windows and glass surfaces. If replacing an entry door, use an approved, impact-tested door and install a deadbolt long enough to penetrate the 2x4 framing of the door. Also ensure the strike plate is installed with screws long enough to penetrate the door frame. For extra security include a steel strip between the door and house framing.
• Brace garage doors - a garage door can be reinforced by adding braces across the back of the door and by strengthening the glider wheel tracks. Bottom of door should have a rubber seal to help block water.
• Gable end walls - anchor and brace the bottom of the gable end's triangular- wall to the ceiling joists or ceiling framing. Strengthen the gable end wall studs and brace the tip of the gable end wall by tying it to the rafters or tops of the trusses.
• Keep outdoor gear from becoming wind-borne missles - securely anchor all storage sheds and other out buildings, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors. Bolt outdoor furniture and barbecue grills to decks or patios or attach them to ground anchors with cables or chains. Secure trash cans with cables or take all these items inside when high winds are predicted.
• Trees and landscaping tips - proper care of trees can also prevent storm damage. Plant trees at the correct depth by making sure the roots are at the soil surface. Trees planted too deep could snap at the stem-girdled point during forceful winds. Avoid wounding trees by banging them with a lawn mower or cutting them with a weed trimmer. Wounds lead to decay, a condition that leads to storm damaged trees. Prune trees to correct defects such as multiple leaders and weak branch attachments.

National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures. It does so by providing affordable insurance to propeprty owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce flood plain management regulations. 

If your flood insurance policy is about to expire, don't let it! Did you know that flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States, affecting every region and state, including yours? Did you know that the damage from just one inch of water can cost over $20,000? 

Additional facts:

• You can file a claim even if there is no Presidential Disaster Declaration.
• Flood damage is not typically covered by homeowners insurance.
• If you live in a high risk flood zone and have received disaster assistance from FEMA or low interest disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration, you must maintain flood insurance in order to be considered for any future assistance.

At Dave Reed Insurance, the Peace of Mind People, we are available to help you review your flood insurance needs or help you file claims on existing damage. Don't hesitate to call us at our Creigton Road office 850 494-2264 or our N.Navy Blvd. office 850 453-8555.

Owning a home is one of the most important investments you can make. As your family grows, your needs will change as well as your risk. We think it is very important to review your insurance program every year to make sure it still meets your needs.
Compared with investment decisions and estate planning issues, perhaps questions about the language in your homeowner’s policy may seem hardly worth considering. Yet the more successful you become, the more complicated your asset-protection needs are likely to be, and the more you have to lose.

1. Gaps in homeowner’s coverage.  Every homeowner needs to review their coverage regularly to keep up with rising replacement costs. But insuring different kinds of homes in different locales poses extra challenges. If you buy insurance from more than one carrier, you may face contrasting rules, limitations, and policy renewal dates.

2. Under insuring art and collectibles. Standard homeowner’s policies limit coverage for the losses of antiques, furs, and other valuables.  While you could schedule additional coverage, insuring the real value of a collection of contemporary art or vintage muscle cars, likely will require a specialized policy addressing several critical issues.
 
3. Make sure you keep up with the true replacement cost of your home. Often people let this go for a few years, but it can be devastating.  

4. Forgetting to insure household employees. When someone works for you or your family as a nanny, landscaper, personal assistant, or in another role, you could be liable for medical expenses and lost wages if the worker is hurt on the job.

At Dave Reed Insurance we believe our greatest asset is the relationships we build with our clients and we are dedicated to being the right choice for all of your insurance and financial needs. We take pride in our ability to tailor a comprehensive package that maximizes your insurance protection while minimizing money out of your pocket. 

A Personal Insurance and Safety Update

In 2016, 17,200 people went to emergency rooms because of barbeque related accidents. Sixteen percent of home structure fires involving a grill were caused during ignition because something flammable was too close to the grill.  Twenty percent of all reported grill fires were a result of leaks or breaks.  Gas grills account for more home fires overall than do charcoal grills.  Emergency rooms see the use of gasoline on a charcoal grill as the most common error associated with burn cases.
You might think you know all you need to know about barbeque safety and grilling, but here are some reminders.  We want your grilling experience to be fun and safe for the entire family.


 

General Grilling Safety

• Never barbeque inside, in a garage, on the roof, or on a second story deck.
• Never leave your grill unattended.
• If you are using a charcoal grill, let the lighter fluid soak into the coals a few minutes before lighting them so that any vapors have time to evaporate.  When you do light the coals, stand back.
• Do not use lighter fluid on hot coals.
• Open the grill lid before you light it
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing.
• Keep an extinguisher outside or close by.
• Make sure you use the grill 10 feet away from your house.
• Use the grill close to a water source.
• Do not let raw meat sit out too long without being chilled or cooked.
• Always wash your hands before and after handling food.
• Do not over-indulge in alcohol while barbecuing.
• Always wash your hands before and after handling food.
• Do not over-indulge in alcohol while barbecuing.

Auto Insurance 

Auto insurance plays an important role in society. It protects you from liability and covers the damage in the event of an accident.  Remember each auto insurance policy is different, and if you purchased your auto insurance online you may not have proper coverage. Claims will be paid based on your individual auto policy terms and conditions. Check out these interesting claims.

Auto insurance claims

• A teenager drove the family van into the swimming pool; he pushed the gas rather the brakes.
• An elderly man filed a claim after neighbors witnessed his wife drive through their garage door, through the living room and into their camper trailer, pushing it into the home's septic tank, resulting in the entire carport collapsing.
• During a cold spell a few families of mice took up residence inside a Mazda 3 which was parked in a warm, toasty garage. It cost $7400 to dismantle the car and replace the seats and carpeting.
• One day, a dog discovered a raccoon in his owner’s garage. The dog scared the raccoon and caused him to climb to the nearest safe place-- the roof of the dog-owner’s Lexus. While the raccoon and dog both suffered some damage, the biggest casualty was the Lexus. The entire body of the car was covered in claw and scratch marks, requiring a complete body makeover.
• The owner of a 1961 Ford was working in the garage when his 10-point mounted buck fell off the wall and directly onto his precious car.

 

• All these claims were subject to policy terms and deductibles.

Auto Insurance Coverage

According to www.iii.org. Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability, physical damage and medical coverage.
Many people don't fully understand what their auto insurance policy covers and excludes. To avoid making costly assumptions, it pays to know what's included in your policy. We are here to help answer all your insurance questions.

Buying a used car can be an exasperating experience. The good part is that it is usually less expensive than buying a new car. It doesn’t lose value as quickly either. The not so good part, it may have been someone else’s problem and it doesn’t always come with the security of a warranty. To successfully purchase a used car, follow these simple suggestions. [1]

Where You Buy a Used Car Makes a Difference

Used car sellers include new car dealers, rental car and leasing companies as well as used car dealers and private individuals. In some states, car dealers must perform safety inspections on the used vehicles they sell. If you decide to buy from a dealer, choose one that sells the brand you are interested in. Look for a full service department, well stocked with parts. Used rental cars are often an excellent value. They are typically less than two years old, well equipped and maintained, and often include a good warranty.

Private sellers can be another source when purchasing a used vehicle. You will have the benefit of meeting the seller and inquiring about mechanical issues and even requesting maintenance records. When purchasing from a private seller, there are no warranties. Because there are no lemon laws for used cars in Florida, it is important that you know exactly what you are getting from the start.

Getting the Historical Scoop When Buying a Used Car

It is a good idea to decide on two or three makes or models that you would be happy with when buying a used car. Then spend some time learning about them. Become familiar with their features, this way you will be able to separate truth from fiction when assessing sales information. Cars don’t improve with age, so be sure to research the after-new reputation of the cars on your list. While low mileage cars are generally preferable, the quality and frequency of maintenance is as important as the mileage. “Ridden hard and put up wet,” applies to cars as well as horses.

Spend some time looking at the selection of vehicles available. Look for changes in paint color or movable parts alignment. Do the doors, hood or trunk close smoothly? Ask about the car’s history. Review the “carfax” record for accident history. An auto VIN (vehicle identification number) check is used to obtain this information. A “Carfax” or “Autocheck” report obtains data from police departments and insurance companies. These will give you a reasonable amount of information, but have been shown recently on national television, to not always be completely accurate. Look at the vehicle in the daylight but not on a rainy day. Prepare a checklist for both the interior and exterior of the vehicle, as well as items to test while driving. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has a thorough article on Buying or Selling a Carthat includes many items to look for.

Determine A Fair Price

There are price books and websites (Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds) that provide this kind of baseline information. There can be a wide range of prices on specific used cars. One good way to determine a reasonable price when buying a used car, is to contact a car loan officer at a bank or credit union and ask for the “loan value” of the car you are considering. That will give you a starting point.

Remember The Paperwork

Don’t forget to let your auto insurance provider know you are considering buying a used car. First, if you’re serious about buying a new car (or a new-to-you used car!), before you go to a dealer’s lot, let Dave Reed Insurance, Your Trusted Choice® Independent insurance agent know you will be buying a car. If you know what you want, we can give you an idea of the insurance costs. We usually recommend that you do some online searching first and have two or three autos that you think will work and shop with those in mind. You will get a general idea of auto costs on the internet and with our estimated insurance costs you will be able to know which model will fit best into your budget.[2]

Second, you will need to have an endorsement from your insurer before you take possession of the vehicle. Ask us about discounts for certain safety features and anti-theft devices.

When You Purchase

When you do make a purchase, the dealer sends a sales order to our office via fax or email.  We need the VIN number for the vehicle and information on all household drivers. With this info we can run a report to get an accurate cost quote. We can take a down payment via credit card. When this is completed, we provide a proof of coverage declaration and a temporary ID for the insured to the dealer. You can then drive the car off the lot! You will need to visit  our office to sign all the paperwork. If you are financing a new car, the lending company will very likely require collision coverage. If you already have homeowners or renters insurance, you may be eligible for discounts on premiums by adding an auto policy with the same company.

Drive protected with The Peace of Mind People

 In addition, when you buy a new or used car, you’ll need to transfer the title and registration into your name. All title and registration transactions are handled at your local county tax collector’s office.

Dave Reed Insurance, Your Trusted Choice® Independent Agent, can make shopping for and buying a new car fun. You can feel comfortable asking us questions about coverage and costs to help ease the buying process. Keep in mind auto insurance rates are always changing. Right now auto insurance rates are decreasing. Call us when you purchase a new car or when your policy is ready to renew at 850 494-2264 on Creighton Road or 850453-8555 on N. Navy Blvd. 

References

[1] http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/10-steps-to-buying-a-used-car.html
[2] https://www.trustedchoice.com/content/2012/02/dont-forget-your-insurance-coverage/