Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Keeping Your Home Safe from Burglary
In the United States, a home is burglarized once every 12 seconds. For those affected, it's a very alarming and discomforting feeling knowing a stranger has violated your privacy and invaded your home. By taking some easy preventative measures, homeowners can do their best to make sure their home isn't vandalized, burglarized or entered without their consent.
By installing a good security system, you can protect your home from most robberies. Most burglaries are committed by amateur or semi-amateur burglars who don't know how to bypass a security system. By installing a reliable system, you can protect your home and family from a majority of invasions.
Joining a neighborhood watch is also a great idea for those who want extra protection. Getting to know your neighbors and being able to rely on them when you're out of town can be extremely effective. If your local neighborhood doesn't have an existing neighborhood watch program, consider creating one yourself. There's power in numbers and by supporting each other, you can keep the entire neighborhood safe from predators.
Installing a timer for your lights and TVs is also highly recommended. With lights that turn on when it gets dark outside, you provide the illusion that someone is always home. It's a simple and inexpensive addition you can make to offer further protection. While you're at it, add a pole in the track of any sliding door you may have in your home. Glass door locks can be finicky and unreliable -- a pole adds further protection in the case of a lock failure.
Of course, you can't prevent every incident, but a little bit of effort goes a long way when you want to protect your home from intruders, burglars, and vandals. By thinking outside the box and appropriately securing your home, you will be on your way to keeping your family and belongings safe from attack.
For more information on how you can keep your home safe, please contact Jim Bray at JBray@CutlerHomes.com, 330-491-2700 or Cutler Real Estate.
By installing a good security system, you can protect your home from most robberies. Most burglaries are committed by amateur or semi-amateur burglars who don't know how to bypass a security system. By installing a reliable system, you can protect your home and family from a majority of invasions.
Joining a neighborhood watch is also a great idea for those who want extra protection. Getting to know your neighbors and being able to rely on them when you're out of town can be extremely effective. If your local neighborhood doesn't have an existing neighborhood watch program, consider creating one yourself. There's power in numbers and by supporting each other, you can keep the entire neighborhood safe from predators.
Installing a timer for your lights and TVs is also highly recommended. With lights that turn on when it gets dark outside, you provide the illusion that someone is always home. It's a simple and inexpensive addition you can make to offer further protection. While you're at it, add a pole in the track of any sliding door you may have in your home. Glass door locks can be finicky and unreliable -- a pole adds further protection in the case of a lock failure.
Of course, you can't prevent every incident, but a little bit of effort goes a long way when you want to protect your home from intruders, burglars, and vandals. By thinking outside the box and appropriately securing your home, you will be on your way to keeping your family and belongings safe from attack.
For more information on how you can keep your home safe, please contact Jim Bray at JBray@CutlerHomes.com, 330-491-2700 or Cutler Real Estate.
Friday, February 4, 2011
How to Save Money on Your Homeowners' Insurance
In today's economy, homeowners are looking to save money wherever they can ... even on something as important as their homeowners' insurance. But buyers beware, lowering your coverage and/or raising your deductibles could result in higher bills if you become the victim of weather-related damage. These days, it's understandable that many homeowners would want to shift to higher deductibles and want to pay less for their homeowners' insurance. However, if disaster strikes, they could very well be in a worse position than if they'd been paying a higher premium all along. To prepare before a situation occurs, homeowners should really look at their options - from price to coverage - and see what is available to them.
We recommend looking into some additional money-saving ideas from the Federal Citizen Information Center (www.consumeraction.gov):
• Ask your insurance agent about discounts. You may be able to get a lower premium if your home has safety features, such as alarm systems, storm shutters or fire-retardant roofing material. Long-term customers and those over age 55 may also be offered discounts.
• Insure your house, not the land under it. After all, your land will still be there even if your home is damaged. If you don't subtract the value of the land when deciding how much homeowner's insurance to buy, you will pay more than you should.
• Don't wait until you have a loss to find out if you have the right type and amount of insurance. Discuss with your insurance agent exactly what types of damage are covered, including natural "acts of God." Many homeowners are caught off-guard by this loophole.
• Purchase enough coverage to replace what is insured. "Replacement" coverage gives you the money to rebuild your home and replace its contents. An "Actual Cash Value" policy is cheaper but pays only what your property is worth at the time of loss - your cost, minus depreciation for age and wear.
• Consider any special coverage you may need for valuable and/or unique items, such as computers, cameras, jewelry, art, antiques, musical instruments, stamp collections, etc.
• Remember that flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners' policy. If you live in an area prone to flooding, take advantage of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Regardless of what coverage you decide on, be sure it's what's right for you and your family. Remember to always work with an insurance agent who is experienced and trustworthy - he or she will be able to help you make the right decision.
For more information, please contact Justin Truex at JTruex@CutlerHomes.com, 330-705-1976 or the Cutler Real Estate office of Maconachy-Stradley Insurance Agency, Inc.
We recommend looking into some additional money-saving ideas from the Federal Citizen Information Center (www.consumeraction.gov):
• Ask your insurance agent about discounts. You may be able to get a lower premium if your home has safety features, such as alarm systems, storm shutters or fire-retardant roofing material. Long-term customers and those over age 55 may also be offered discounts.
• Insure your house, not the land under it. After all, your land will still be there even if your home is damaged. If you don't subtract the value of the land when deciding how much homeowner's insurance to buy, you will pay more than you should.
• Don't wait until you have a loss to find out if you have the right type and amount of insurance. Discuss with your insurance agent exactly what types of damage are covered, including natural "acts of God." Many homeowners are caught off-guard by this loophole.
• Purchase enough coverage to replace what is insured. "Replacement" coverage gives you the money to rebuild your home and replace its contents. An "Actual Cash Value" policy is cheaper but pays only what your property is worth at the time of loss - your cost, minus depreciation for age and wear.
• Consider any special coverage you may need for valuable and/or unique items, such as computers, cameras, jewelry, art, antiques, musical instruments, stamp collections, etc.
• Remember that flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners' policy. If you live in an area prone to flooding, take advantage of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Regardless of what coverage you decide on, be sure it's what's right for you and your family. Remember to always work with an insurance agent who is experienced and trustworthy - he or she will be able to help you make the right decision.
For more information, please contact Justin Truex at JTruex@CutlerHomes.com, 330-705-1976 or the Cutler Real Estate office of Maconachy-Stradley Insurance Agency, Inc.
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