Ok, ok -- last "spring cleaning" post for awhile. Todays topic: stuff you should do to "spring clean" the outside of your house. Because, from an insurance agents perspective, this stuff matters! Not to mention, a well-kept lawn just looks nice (hello: curb appeal!). 1. Mow your lawn. Mowing will force you to pick up loose sticks and branches -- which, if youre noticing lots of dead branches in a particular area, you might need to do some pruning. Dead branches arent just unsightly; theyre al...

Can you believe this weekend is Memorial Day? This all-American holiday means barbecues, pools, and summer. As insurance agents, we are always thinking about safety. There are many things to keep in mind as you head outdoors this summer; but today, we are going to discuss something that will be happening in homes across America: grilling. Did you know that 7,500 grill fires occur each year? Gas grills are responsible for the bulk of these fires, which cause roughly $70 million in damag...

Happy Fall, friends! Hard to believe, but cooler temps, fall colors and football season are just around the corner! In a nationwide survey, nearly 30% of Americans chose fall as their favorite season -- and it isnt any wonder why. Cincinnati is drop-dead gorgeous in the fall -- our skies big and blue, trees rich orange and red hues and weather perfectly cool-but-not-cold-nor-hot-nor-humid. However. If youre a homeowner, you might not be singing the praises of fall quite so... enthusias...

Its been a crisp, beautiful fall week here in the Tri-state -- perfect for pumpkin patches, hay rides and football! This cooler weather also serves to remind us that yes, fall (and eventually winter) are upon us. For homeowners, fall is the time to take care of your yard! View this work as an investment -- the maintenance and preparation you do now will protect your lawn from damage that can be caused by the elements, and allow grass, trees and plants to emerge victoriously come spring. ...

With temps starting to dip into into the 40s at night, you may be tempted to run your furnace. And while conserving energy is great -- its actually a good idea to get the ole furnace running sooner rather than later. Testing your furnace out before winter hits is a wise choice, as it allows you to make sure there arent any leaks, odd smells or issues. Here are 3 things every homeowner should do to make sure the furnace is running in tip-top shape: 1. Change the furnace filter. When yo...

Last week we talked about trick-or-treating tips for your kids; this week, its all about safety guidelines for homeowners. Lots of people really get into Halloween decorations, with homemade "cemeteries" in their lawns, DIY Haunted Houses on their driveways, loads of lights, and lots of hanging skeletons, cobwebs and, of course, Jack o Lanterns. But, as with anything, these decorations can pose a safety risk if youre not careful. Here are 5 safety tips every homeowner needs to follow: ...

This week, were wrapping up our Halloween-themed posts with a fun one: alternative treats to hand out. Now were not suggesting you hand out toothbrushes or boxes of raisins; but nowadays, there are lots of treat options that wont put you at risk for having a tree full of toilet paper on November 1! Here are 25 ideas: Cereal bars/Nutrigrain bars Mini bags of microwave popcorn Snack bags of pretzels or Goldfish crackers Juice boxes Applesauce cups or squeeze...

Alright: its quiz time! Today we are going to play a round of "Would You File an Insurance Claim If...". Answer the following questions honestly -- and remember, this makes a great game for the next family get-together! Would you file an insurance claim if... you got into a fender-bender in the parking lot at Preschool dropoff? Would you file an insurance claim if... a tree branch fell and damaged your gutter? Would you file an insurance claim if... your teenage son backed i...

If youre a fan of live Christmas trees, youre not alone! According to Statistics Brain Research Institute, the number annual sales of live trees outnumber fake by a margin of more than 3:1. Of the people on Team Real Tree, some 84% of them purchase a pre-cut tree. This is dangerous for a few reasons: You dont know how fresh that tree is, and The trunks are often sealed, meaning you cant properly water the tree (and therefore creating a fire hazard. If youre one of the peo...

So youre at the checkout, about to click "purchase" on your online order, when a box pops up asking if youd like to pay an extra $70 for an extended warranty. Youre splurging on a brand-new, $600 DSLR camera... so you hesitate. Should you buy the extra insurance? Is the $70 worth it? Probably not, say the experts. Heres why: New products rarely require repairs. According to Consumer Reports, research reveals that most products usually dont break during the two-to-three-year period...

It has been COLD around here lately -- and theres still lots more time before Mr. Groundhog makes any predictions about spring. In addition to being a nuisance, cold weather can also wreak havoc on your pipes, gutters, cars -- you name it! Here are 5 tips to help avoid any weather-related damage to your property this winter: 1. Check your attic Make sure there arent any leaks, which can lead to roof damage, ice dams and higher heating bills! While youre up there, insulate any areas...

Hurricane Matthew is moving toward the U.S. coast -- and for people living down South, the devastation is predicted to be huge. Specifically, the Consumer Federation of America is predicting upwards of 100,000 insurance claims for wind damage, with payouts for damages exceeding $7.4 billion. While were tucked safely in the Midwest -- if you have family or friends down South, please pass along these tips from the CFA: Review your policy Locate your homeowners or renters policy, a...

Halloween is Monday, friends! While its certainly one of our favorite holidays of the year, it comes with its own set of safety concerns. Follow these tips for a safe and fun Halloween! Tips for kids: 1. Never let your child trick-or-treat alone. Children should only trick-or-treat with a group that includes enough responsible adults to manage excited kids in costumes that might make it difficult for them to be seen. A little reflective tape on costumes can also help here, ens...

As homeowners, there are lots of simple things we need to do in order to ensure the safety of our house: regularly checking smoke detectors, replacing furnace filters, making sure our locks are safe, watching our outlets. Add "cleaning dryer vents" to your list of homeowner to-dos; this simple chore could literally save your house. Between 2002 and 2009, clothes dryers were the culprit for almost 14,000 fires, 10 deaths and some $84 million in damages. Many were caused by blocked drye...

Homeowners insurance is homeowners insurance... right? Its not. Picking a homeowners policy is about as straightforward as choosing a home -- there are lots of options, lots of hidden costs, lots of variety. Dont assume that the same company youve been using for your car insurance will be the best for your homeowners insurance. While its true that bundling policies saves money, you could save more money by moving your policies to a new insurer. Dont be afraid to look around! Here are ...

If the recent rainfall has you nervous about wet basements, backed-up lines or leaky roofs, youre not alone. Lately, Cincinnati could easily be mistaken as Seattle -- and many of us are probably lacking a key form of coverage in our homeowners policy: Flood insurance. Thats right -- Ohioans need flood insurance, too! Flood insurance covers physical damage to structures affected by flooding from heavy snowmelt and runoff following heavy rainfall. Your flood insurance policy will also co...

  Heres a statistic: according to a 2016 survey, 28% of owners had plans to remodel their existing homes within the next 12 months. (For millennial homeowners aged 18 - 29, the number climbed to 37%). As insurance agents, its important to stay in touch with clients in order to provide the best, most up-to-date coverage. Many homeowners arent familiar with remodeling insurance, how renovations will affect their homes value (and therefore, homeowners insurance), and what delays/changes ca...

Theres (a little) good news for homeowners: last Friday, President Trump signed legislation reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program until Dec. 8, 2017, which essentially buys more time for Congress to consider reforms of the program. As we reported recently, the NFIP was set to expire in a few weeks on Sept. 30. The NFIP extension is part of a Congressional resolution raising the debt limit and funding the U.S. government through the beginning of December. It also authorizes $15....

As your life changes, your insurance needs change, too. In fact, there may even be types of insurance you didnt know you needed! An "umbrella"  is one of these oft overlooked policies. Umbrella insurance is extra liability insurance thats designed to help protect you from major claims and lawsuits -- and as a result, it helps protect your assets and, ultimately, your future. While the general opinion is that only the wealthy need umbrella insurance, thats a misconception. Here are thr...