Tuesday, November 20, 2007

South Florida Home Owner Insurance Quote

Hurricanes in south Florida can end lives, and survivors usually find their homes severely damaged, if not destroyed. It is crucial to have home owner insurance in south Florida.Since south Florida is such a high-risk part of the state to insure, you should take certain steps to help protect your home against hurricanes before you start shopping for your home owner insurance quote. Pay close attention to these five areas of your home.Your GarageAccording to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, 80 percent of damage done to your home by hurricanes starts with your garage. Garage doors are normally lightweight, which makes it easy for high hurricane winds to whip right through them. You can economically reinforce your garage door with steel, or opt to purchase a heavier, sturdier garage door.Your RoofAs with garages, you can cheaply reinforce your roof my adding extra glue to the shingles – think high-quality flooring bonding agent – and you can also spend a bit more money by replacing your current roof with a newer, more wind-resistant one.Your WindowsWhen it comes to your windows, you’re either going to want to replace them with windows made to withhold the beating flying debris will give them, or you may want to install a thick set of storm shutters. The latter costs less, but the path you choose should depend on how at risk your area is for hurricanes.Your LandscapeDon’t keep trees close to your windows and doors. Uproot them and find them a new home across the yard if you have to. If you insist on leaving them be, make sure they are healthy – strong trunks and limbs – so they won’t break as easily in hurricane winds.Your PossessionsYour outdoor possessions, that is. Patio furniture, children’s playhouses, your Saint Bernard’s gigantic food bowl – bring these things inside to prevent them from flying into your, or someone else’s, windows.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Instant Texas Home Owner Insurance Quote

Scenario: You’re in the market for a new home in Texas. You’ve visited the new home countless times. You even have the color for the new carpet picked out and ordered! The only thing you haven’t done yet is sign your name on the dotted like finalizing the deal.Actually, there’s one more thing you haven’t done – gotten your instant Texas home owner insurance quote.Getting a home owner insurance quote for your new Texas home before the home is actually yours is wise during the process of buying a new home. Firstly, you want to know what kind of premiums you are looking at by insuring your new home – especially if you have used a lender to purchase the home. Secondly, having your home professionally inspected to help determine how high or low your Texas home owner insurance quote will be also helps you figure out what kinds of repairs and replacements need to be made to the home.You can conduct a simple home inspection yourself, too.•Make sure there is no dangerous debris on the property you’re purchasing.•Make sure your refrigerator, stove, and built-in microwave work (if they were included with the home), as well as the exhaust and garbage disposal.•Make sure all water facets work properly, that there are no leaks under the sinks, and that all toilets flush properly.•Make sure all light fixtures, and switches, work properly.•Open and close each window and door.•Check for cracks or weak areas in the floors, walls, and ceiling.•Check the cooling and heating systems separately.Your home inspector will undoubtedly perform these same checks, so if you find something suspicious, let him know. He will also inspect your attic, basement, and garage, as well your home’s exterior.These factors and more will affect your instant Texas home owner insurance quote, so make repairs as soon as possible.