Home Insurance

10 quality tips for space heater safety this winter in Atlanta

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It's important to keep safety in mind when you're using a space heater.

It's important to keep safety in mind when using a space heater.

With December officially here, it’s about to get a lot chillier in the ATL. In an attempt to save money on your heating bill, you may have decided to get some electric space heaters for your home. While they can keep your home toasty and cozy during the winter months, they also present an electric shock hazard and a fire hazard. According to the NFPA, supplemental heating is the leading cause of fires from December through February. To help you use your space heaters safely, we’ve got some quick tips.

1. Give the heater a personal space bubble.

Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from the space heater. Give the heater its own spot and don’t crowd it. If anything flammable, like fabric, furniture, or curtains, get too close to the heater, it could cause a fire. Clear a special place for the space heater.

2. Plug the space heater into the wall.

Don’t use an extension cord or power strip. Instead, plug the heater directly into the wall and don’t plug anything else into the outlet. An extension cord could overheat and cause a fire. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it’s the right one for the heater.

3. Turn the heater off when you leave a room or go to sleep.

Don’t leave a space heater on when you leave the room or go to bed. It’s not safe to leave a space heater on all night, so you shouldn’t sleep with a space heater on. Bundle up with a few extra blankets on your bed instead.

4. Choose the space heater’s location wisely.

Put the space heater in a low-traffic area of the home – the cord can quickly turn into a trip trap, so keep it out of the way so that no one gets hurt. Also, place the heater on a level surface. Don’t place it on carpet or on a table – these things can get too hot and cause a fire.

5. Keep the space heater in good repair.

If you notice any frayed cords, broken wires, or anything like that, have the unit repaired ASAP and don’t use it until you have. Frayed cords can cause electrical fires, so prevent an electrical fire at your home by keeping all appliances in good repair.

6. Supervise pets and kids around space heaters.

You don’t want any burned fingers or paws, so keep kids and pets away from the heater so no one gets hurt. Don’t forget about childproofing your home – don’t leave your kids or your pets alone with a space heater.

7. Choose an approved space heater.

Select a space heater that’s been approved by a consumer testing laboratory, such as the Underwriters Laboratories. Products that have been approved have gone through extensive safety testing.

8. Get a space heater with auto shut-off and a tip guard.

If possible, choose a space heater with auto shut-off so that you don’t accidentally leave it on. You can also get space heaters with tip guards, which will cause the heater to turn off if it falls over. Both of these features make the space heater safer to have around the house.

9. Use the space heater only for its intended purpose.

The space heater is for warming up a room in your home, not warming bedding, drying clothes, or thawing out pipes. Don’t use the heater for anything other than providing warmth for your home.

10. Put the space heater away when not in use.

When you’re not using the space heater, unplug it and stow it safely away. There’s no reason to leave it plugged in and out in the open when you’re not using it.

The winter months can get chilly, even in Atlanta. If you’re going to use some space heaters to chase away the winter chill, be sure to use them safely. Remember, whenever you’re playing around with heat, you have to be careful and take steps to protect your home from fire. Stay safe this winter, Atlanta!

Are you looking for home insurance? We can help you shop around for your insurance so that you can get the best coverage at the best possible rate. All you have to do to get home insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call today. Your Atlanta Insurance agent is ready to help you with your home insurance mission.

How to get homeowners insurance with poor credit in Atlanta

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Getting home insurance with poor credit can be difficult.

Getting home insurance with poor credit can be difficult.

You may have heard that your credit score has an effect on your home insurance rates. Maybe your score isn’t at its best and you’ve noticed a significant hike in your rates. The realization that this could be hurting your home insurance might make you feel a bit blindsided. You may be silently (or not silently) fuming at the injustice of it all. But fortunately, we have some tips on how to get home insurance with bad credit.

Why does your credit score affect your home insurance rates?

Some insurance companies calculate what’s called an “insurance score” using your credit information. (This is similar to a credit score.) If you have a good score, you may be able to save money on your home insurance. Having a poor score could mean that you have much higher insurance premiums. And that isn’t exactly a fun place to be.

How to get home insurance with bad credit.

Unfortunately, there is no magic cure that will solve the homeowners insurance and bad credit debacle. However, there are some things that you can do to help get you on your way to getting home insurance at a reasonable rate. Here are our tips:

1. Check your credit report.

This is one way you can improve your score – taking a look at your credit report. Remember, you can request one free report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experion) once a year. Put on your detective hat, comb through your report thoroughly, and see if you can spot anything that could help you improve your credit in the future.

2. Improve your credit score.

Taking steps to improve your score can help you get the home insurance you need. It could also help you get lower home insurance rates – your home insurance premiums could go up the worse your credit score is. Some things you can do to bolster your score are…

  • Pay off your debt. Try to manage your debt.
  • Pay your bills on time. Late payments do not a happy credit score make. Use calendars, phone alerts, or whatever it takes to make sure that you keep up with all of your payments.
  • Set up your payments so that they’re automatic. Find out if there’s a way to set up automatic payments so that your bills are always paid on time.
  • Only open new credit accounts if truly needed.

3. Shop around for home insurance.

Every home insurance company is different, and they’re all comfortable with different levels of risk. They evaluate risk and applications with their own criteria. So, if you don’t find affordable home insurance with the first or second company you try, don’t lose hope. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, right? One insurance company is not the same as the next, and it may pay off to keep on looking at different Georgia home insurance companies.

(And remember, Atlanta Insurance can help you shop around for your insurance and help guide you through the process of getting home insurance. You don’t have to be in this alone. We’d love to help.)

So, as you can see, your insurance score can play a huge part in determining your home insurance rates. If you’re having trouble getting reasonably priced home insurance and you suspect bad credit could be to blame, check your credit report for errors, take steps to bolster your score, and shop around for home insurance. Don’t despair – not all is lost.

We can help you shop for your home insurance. We can get multiple quotes for home insurance and find the coverage that suits your needs and your budget. All you have to do to get in touch with our team of insurance professionals is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/your-money/poor-credit-history-can-affect-homeowners-insurance-rates.html

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0212/common-things-that-improve-and-lower-credit-scores.aspx

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/09/credit-score-how-boost-your-fico-score-quickly/1142041001/

The 10 Best Georgia Homeowners Insurance Companies

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Here are our top 10 best Georgia homeowners insurance companies

Here are our 10 best Georgia home insurance companies

If you’re looking to buy a home in the Atlanta area, you might be wondering what the best Georgia homeowners insurance companies are. Choosing a company to insure and protect your home is a big decision – your house is probably your biggest investment, so it’s important that you have an insurance company that’s going to be there for you. If you’re trying to get Atlanta home insurance, we can give you some quotes from a variety of different insurance carriers. Here are our picks for best Georgia home insurance companies.

Top 10 Home Insurance Companies in Atlanta

Nationwide

Nationwide is one of the largest insurance companies in the country. They’re also a Fortune 100 company. They started out in 1925 with the mission of providing low-cost auto insurance for farmers, but they’ve since expanded into many other types of insurance. Homeowners insurance from Nationwide will protect your home against theft, fire, and covered storm or weather-related losses, and they offer numerous home insurance discounts. They received an A+ rating from A.M. Best, an A1 rating from Moody’s, and an A1 rating from Standard and Poor’s. And that’s what makes Nationwide one of the top home insurance companies in Atlanta.

Progressive

Progressive has striven to be ahead of the game in insurance since it started in 1937 as an auto insurance company. They offered drive-in claims service and were the first insurance company to establish a payment system where customers could pay for their insurance in payments and not all at once. Of course, Progressive has since expanded into offering different types of insurance – homeowners insurance being one of them. You probably recognize Progressive from their commercials featuring Flo with her fashionable blue headband and white outfit.

MetLife

What makes MetLife one of the best home insurance companies in Georgia? Well, MetLife Insurance began as The National Life and Limb Insurance Company in 1863. By 1868, the company had become more focused on life insurance. Now, MetLife offers many different types of insurance, such as home, auto, and renters. As far as home insurance goes, MetLife offers 24-hour claims service and payment plans so that you can get your homeowners insurance on the budget that works for you. With MetLife, you can tailor your home insurance to fit your needs.

American Modern

Another home insurance company in Atlanta is American Modern. American Modern got its start in the insurance industry in 1965 by selling insurance for mobile homes. American Modern offers named-perils home insurance policies, meaning that your home will be protected against the losses specifically named in the policy. However, you can add coverages to your policy. If you’re having trouble getting an insurance company to take on your home for whatever reason or you can’t get a price you feel is reasonable, you may want to consider American Modern.

Hanover

Hanover offers different home insurance packages so that homeowners can pick which plan best suits their needs. However, they can still choose to add additional coverages for equipment breakdown, water back-up and sump pump overflow, and siding or roofing restoration coverage. Bundling your home and auto insurance together is another option you can choose, as is guaranteed replacement cost coverage. And thus Hanover makes our list of the top home insurance companies in Georgia.

The Hartford

The Hartford is the only home insurance company that’s endorsed by the AARP. They can help AARP members get a customized homeowners insurance plan because they offer different coverage options. They even offer discounts to help people save money. They’ve been around since 1810 when they began as a fire insurance company. Some of their more famous clients were Yale University and Abraham Lincoln. The Hartford also helped organize the US Paralympics in 2003.

Safeco

One of the Atlanta home insurance companies we work with is Safeco. Safeco started as The General Company of America in 1923, but it was nicknamed The General. In 1953, a subsidiary company called The Selective Auto and Fire Insurance Company of America (or Safeco) was created, and the company enjoyed so much success that The General eventually just became Safeco. Liberty Mutual is Safeco’s parent company. Safeco home insurance helps homeowners protect their houses, their personal property, and their guests. There’s also the option to add additional coverage for things like jewelry.

Foremost

Foremost also got its start in selling mobile home insurance. The company started in 1952, and by the 1960s they’d created insurance that was specifically tailored to mobile homes, not just auto policies with homes attached. In 2000, Farmers acquired Foremost. Foremost offers customizable home insurance policies so that homeowners can get the coverage they need – you can choose to add coverages to your policy, such as additional insurance to cover jewelry and other valuables.

ASI

ASI was founded in 1997 and began with offering coverage in Florida. By 2001, they’d started offering coverage in Texas, and by 2015 ASI was one of the top fifteen providers of home insurance in the US. Now they offer home insurance in 40 states, Georgia being one of them. ASI home insurance policies can be tailored to suit your home insurance needs. Whether you’re looking to switch insurance companies, get insurance for a new home, or find homeowners insurance for your first-ever home, ASI can help.

Universal Property and Casualty

Universal Property and Casualty offers different options for homeowners insurance. They have home insurance policies intended for homeowners who are currently living in their homes and dwelling coverage that will provide protection against named perils like fire and hail. You can also get other structures coverage to protect things like sheds and fences, and you can get coverage to protect the belongings in your home.

So, there you have it, Atlanta – our ten top Georgia home insurance companies. If you’d like to get home insurance quotes from any of these carriers or you want to shop around to compare rates, we would be happy to help you with that. All you have to do to get in touch with one of our insurance professionals is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia?

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The average cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia is slightly below the national average.

 

You might be curious about what the average cost of homeowners insurance is in Georgia. It’s a valid question – you want to know if you’re getting a good deal for your insurance. Well, we’ve got the answer to that question for you, but that’s not all we have to say on the topic. See, the thing is that there are lots of factors that determine your home insurance rates. These factors could be causing your homeowners insurance to be either higher or lower than the average home insurance cost in Georgia. We’ll give you the average cost of home insurance in Georgia and explain what can influence your home insurance rates.

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia:

Georgia’s average home insurance cost is $1,114 for $200,000 of dwelling coverage with $300,000 of liability insurance and a $1,000 deductible. That’s 10% below the national average cost of home insurance of $1,244 – not too shabby!

For $300,000 of dwelling coverage with the same limit of liability and the same deductible, the rate would be $1,601, which is 8% below the average for the same coverage.

What are the factors that influence homeowners insurance premiums?

Like we mentioned above, there are a lot of things that can determine your home insurance rate. And that’s why the best way to get an accurate idea of what your home insurance rates will be is to get Atlanta home insurance quotes so you can compare pricing and coverage options. Anyways, that being said, some of the factors that affect home insurance rates are…

The insurance company itself.

Insurance companies determine and interpret risk differently, which is why you may get different quotes from different companies. That’s why it’s generally a good idea to shop around for your home insurance.

What your home is made of.

Whatever material your home was built with, it’s important that you have enough home insurance to completely rebuild it if it were destroyed by a fire, including the costs of building materials and the labor of the contractors.

Your credit score.

Your credit score can have an impact on your home insurance rates because insurance companies see your credit score as an indicator of risk.

How close you are to a fire department.

The nearer you are to a fire station, the faster emergency services can respond to a fire. That means you’ll have less damage to your home, you may also have lower homeowners insurance premiums.

Your limits of coverage.

More insurance costs more money – makes sense, right? So, the higher you set your coverage limits, the higher your premium will be. However, having higher limits means that you won’t have to pay as much out of pocket if you have a big claim because your insurance will cover more of the costs. When figuring out what limits are right for you, remember that it’s crucial to make sure that you have enough home insurance to completely rebuild your home and all of the belongings in it.

Your deductible.

Your deductible is that amount you agree to pay if you have a claim before the insurance company will start covering expenses. The higher your deductible, the lower your premiums – and vice versa. So, you have to choose if you want to pay more for your premiums or more out of pocket if you have a claim. It’s a balancing act, and you have to consider your disposable income and how much you can comfortably afford to pay if you have a claim when you set your deductible. You don’t want it to be so high that it would be unfeasible to pay if you have a claim.

Discounts.

If you qualify for discounts on your home insurance, you could score some significant savings on your insurance premiums. Some common discounts that you may qualify for are having a home security system, having a fire alarm system, and having multiple policies from the same company. These aren’t the only discounts out there, though, so be sure to ask your agent what discounts you could qualify for.

Dogs.

If you have a dog that’s on the “dangerous dog” list, you might face higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies can be wary of insuring dogs that are certain breeds or dogs that have a history of aggression, so it’s important to check how your dog could affect your home insurance rates.

Your claim history.

The more claims that you’ve filed, the higher a risk you are to an insurance company. The claims history of homes in your area could also play a part in your rates, as they show the insurance company how high a risk your area is for things like burglary.

As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into determining your Georgia home insurance rates. The average cost of home insurance in Georgia tends to be a bit lower than the national average, but there are a lot of factors that an insurance company will examine when quoting you for home insurance. Our team of insurance agents would be happy to help you through the process of getting home insurance quotes that suit your specific insurance needs and home. All you have to do to get home insurance quotes is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

Source 1

How to prevent a kitchen fire this Thanksgiving (Or any time of the year) in Atlanta

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Prevent a kitchen fire this Thanksgiving.

Prevent a kitchen fire this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means a flurry of shopping, cleaning, food prep, and, of course, cooking. According to the National Fire Protection Administration, Thanksgiving Day had the most cooking fires of any day of the year in 2013. It’s not hard to imagine why. There are a lot of dishes to prepare and a lot of multitasking to do. We’ve got some tips to help you prevent a kitchen fire this Thanksgiving – or any day of the year, really! And avoiding fires means avoiding home insurance claims.

1. Dress for the occasion.

When you’re cooking, it’s best to wear close-fitting clothes that won’t drag or dangle into the heat. If you’ve got long hair, tie it back so that it doesn’t accidentally get singed.

2. Keep your cooking area clear of flammable things.

Move oven mitts, pot holders, towels, papers, plastic wrappers, wooden utensils, and anything else that could catch fire away from your stove. Yes, you might be a bit crowded for space, especially on Thanksgiving, but keep an eye on the area around your stove.

3. Don’t leave cooking food unattended.

Never walk away from something that you’re frying, broiling, or grilling. These things need to be watched closely. If you see smoke or the grease starts to bubble, turn the burner off.

If you’re steaming or boiling something, use timers so that you don’t forget that you’ve got something cooking. Unattended food is the number one cause of kitchen fires, so be sure to check your food frequently. With all the rushing around that comes with Thanksgiving and cooking a huge meal, it’s easy to forget things. It’s completely normal. Just plan ahead for forgetfulness and set timers galore.

4. Clean your cooking surface frequently.

Keep your cooking surfaces clean to prevent grease buildup. It’s hygienic and it will help you avoid starting a kitchen fire.

5. Establish a kid-free zone around the stove.

Your kid-free zone should be three feet around any area that hot food is being prepared or areas that you walk through while carrying hot dishes or pots. It’s generally a good idea to keep kids and pets out of the kitchen while you’re cooking for their safety. Kitchen safety is one of the fundamentals of childproofing your home.

6. Turn pot handles to the back of the stove.

This lowers the chance of a pot getting knocked off the stove and someone getting hurt or burned, or of kids pulling the handle and upending a pot full of hot food or water onto themselves.

7. Don’t put metal in the microwave.

Anything metal should not go in the microwave. Microwaving metal can cause sparks, which means that a fire can soon follow. Yes, this includes tin foil. So, if you have a dish covered with foil that you need to warm up, take the foil off first.

8. Make sure all portable appliances are plugged directly into the wall.

If you plug a portable appliance like a toaster into an extension cord, you could cause the circuit to short. Make sure that all the appliances you’ll need to prepare the meal are plugged into the wall, and unplug them when you’re not using them. This will prevent any accidental mishaps and will also help prevent electrical fires.

9. Consider getting a fire extinguisher.

You might want to consider getting a fire extinguisher for additional fire safety. You can consult with your local fire department to find out which type is best for your home and to get proper training for how to use it.

10. Make sure your smoke detectors are functional.

Do your smoke detectors have fresh batteries? Have you tested them lately? You should have smoke detectors near the kitchen. The sooner you and your family are alerted to a fire, the better.

If you have a kitchen fire…

  • If the fire is in a pan or pot, cover the pan with a lid or baking sheet to smother it. If that doesn’t work, use a fire extinguisher or baking soda.
  • If it’s a grease or oil fire, DO NOT pour water on it. This will only make the fire worse.
  • If the fire is in the microwave, turn the microwave off, unplug it if possible, and wait for the fire to go out. Don’t open the door.
  • If the fire is in an oven, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Wait for the fire to die out.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food. Don’t let a kitchen fire spoil your holiday! By following some simple tips to help prevent a kitchen fire, you’ll be able to ensure that everyone has a happy – and safe – Thanksgiving.

Are you looking for home insurance or renters insurance? We would be happy to help you save money on your rates by shopping around for your insurance. All you have to do to get started with some home insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call today.

Source:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/kitchen_fires_flyer.pdf

http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Top-causes-of-fire/Cooking/Safety-messages-about-cooking

http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Avoid-Kitchen-Fires-Use-Red-Cross-Tips

How to save money on your Atlanta heating bill this winter

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Save on your heating bill with these tips.

Save on your heating bill with these tips.

Okay, so maybe Atlanta isn’t the coldest place in which one could spend a winter. But it can still get pretty darn cold. Now that we’re well into November, it won’t be long until we’re all bee-lining it for our thermostats to crank up the heat – and chewing our fingernails as we wait for the heating bill to arrive. Even in Hot-lanta, heating bills in the winter can be killer, which is why we’ve got some tips to help you save money on your heating bill.

1. Invest in a comfy, warm winter wardrobe.

Bring on the fuzzy socks and sweatshirts! Love the flannel pajama pants! Revel in the comfort of your favorite sweats! Rather than turning the temperature up so you can wear your short-sleeved T-shirt and cotton pants, keep the thermostat down and wear layers instead. Your body’s pretty good at making its own heat, so wear clothes that will trap it and keep you warm. This will help you save energy and money.

2. Welcome the sunlight and save money on your heating bill.

You can get some natural, solar heat to pour into your home by opening the curtains or blinds on your windows during the day. Sunlight is free! Use it to get some extra heat energy in your house. There’s a reason the cat always curls up by the window. Just don’t forget to close the curtains at night to trap the heat inside.

3. Turn the temperature down at night.

Get some warm bedding, like flannel sheets and a down comforter, and turn your thermostat down before you go to bed every night. Like we said, your body gives off heat. Use warm blankets to take advantage of it. Now, we’re not talking making your home into the Arctic. Remember, the name of the game is conserving energy – it’s a great way to make your home a little more green.

4. Use your ceiling fans.

Huh? Isn’t that counterproductive? Not if you run the fans in reverse. Hot air rises, which doesn’t do you much good when it gets trapped way above your head. If you run the fans in reverse on a low setting, it’ll push the hot air back to where you are.

5. Take it easy with the kitchen/bathroom fans.

Don’t let your bathroom or kitchen fans run all the time. Turn them off right after you’re done using them, or try not to use them at all. They’ll suck the hot air right out of a room.

Rather than turning the tempreature up, bundle up in warm clothes and save money on your heating bill.

6. Get a furnace check-up.

It’s also a good idea to take care of your furnace by having it checked by a trustworthy professional once a year. This will help your furnace do its best work.

7. Move the furniture away from the vents.

Don’t block your vents with couches and chairs and other furniture. This will prevent the hot air from the vent from getting into the areas of the house that you want it to be. Clear a path for the warm air.

8. Close the damper on your fireplace when you’re not using it.

Leaving the damper open can let hot air escape through the chimney. When you’re not using your fireplace, close the damper to trap the warm air inside.

9. Get rid of your old heating unit.

Ask yourself honestly – is it time to have a new heating unit? Yes, you might be hesitant, but will it be worth it in the long run? Maybe.

10. Boost your insulation.

If there are parts of your home that seem to be leaking heat, amp up your insulation. This is an easy way to save on your heating bill.

11. Make sure to take care of your furnace.

It’s important to change the filter of your furnace when it’s dirty, which means you should probably check in once a month or so. Then you can make sure there’s a clean filter when your furnace needs one, and this helps make the furnace’s job easier. Make sure to maintain your furnace.

12. Get an energy audit.

If heat loss is a real problem, you might need to get an energy audit. This will tell you where you can improve your energy efficiency. Find a reputable electrical contractor and see what you can do.

High energy bills are an occupational hazard of the winter season. The instinct to combat the shivery weather might be to turn the thermostat up, but there are a few simple things you can do around the house to stay warm without having to resort to drastic measures. So, instead of cranking up the heat, try some of the above tips and save on your heating bill. Stay warm, Atlanta!

Want some quotes on home insurance or renters insurance? We can help with that! All you have to do to get some free quotes for your insurance is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

Source:

https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2013/11/06/10-ways-to-save-on-energy-costs-this-winter

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-save-on-heating-costs-1388212

Atlanta home fire safety: How to prevent an electrical fire this season

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Prevent an electrical fire with these tips.

Prevent an electrical fire with these tips.

The winter months are almost upon us, and that means cold weather and shorter days, even in Atlanta. And cold weather and darkness mean that we’ll begin to rely on out lights and heat even more – in short, we’ll be using more electricity. Since we’re cruising right along through November, it’s not a bad time to discuss a danger that comes from electricity – electrical fires. The winter months actually have some of the highest occurrences of electrical fires, which is why it’s important to make sure you have enough home insurance. But, insurance aside, we’ve got some tips to help you prevent a home electrical fire this winter.

1. Check your appliances and cords.

Old, worn, or fraying cords can cause fires. You should replace and dispose of worn or ragged cords ASAP. You should also make sure that no cords are trapped by rugs or hidden by furniture. This can cause heat to build up, and heat can cause a fire – you don’t actually need a spark or flame, just a lot of trapped heat.

2. Be smart about outlets.

Don’t force a three-pronged cord into a two-prong outlet or extension cord. That’s not how that cord was designed to be used.

3. Plug major appliances directly into the wall.

Air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, and other appliances should be plugged directly into the wall, not into an extension cord. Keep your appliances in good repair, and keep an eye on your clothes dryer – believe it or not, clothes dryers are fire hazards. Remember, all appliances should be approved by the Underwriters Laboratory.

4. Don’t overload circuits, extension cords, or outlets.

You don’t want to put a strain on circuits or extension cords. Don’t try to make these things handle a load that it wasn’t designed to.

5. Remember that water and electricity don’t mix.

Keep appliances away from places that tend to get wet, like kitchen and bathroom counters. Don’t take any chances. Make sure not to let your appliances get doused.

6. Keep an eye on switches or lights that act suspect.

If any of your light switches are warm to the touch, any lights flicker, or any outlets look strange or discolored, you should call a professional to check out the situation. You should also call a qualified electrician if any appliances have a burning or rubbery odor or you feel a tingle when you touch them. Outlets that spark or are warm – or are otherwise dangerous-looking – should also be investigated by an electrician ASAP.

7. Use arc-fault circuit interrupters and ground fault circuit insulators.

AFCIs will turn off the electricity if something isn’t as it should be. GFCIs will reduce the risk of shock by turning off the circuit if there is a shock hazard. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements should be equipped with GFCI outlets.

8. Keep flammable items away from your portable heaters.

Anything that could catch fire should be placed at least three feet away from the space heater. That includes clothes, linens, and furniture.

9. Child-proof electrical outlets.

If you have young children, make sure that you’ve safely child-proofed your outlets. Use a child-proofing method that is safe and won’t present a choking hazard. It’s important to know how to child-proof your home.

10. Replace any suspicious power tools.

If any power tools act weird, like sparking or otherwise being dangerous, get rid of them and replace them.

11. Only use light bulbs with the appropriate wattage.

Don’t use a light bulb with a higher wattage or strength than a lamp or other light calls for. It’s important to use the right light bulb for the right appliance. Stick with what the lamp is designed to do.

12. Make sure that you have enough smoke detectors and that they do what they’re supposed to.

It’s so important that you have the proper smoke detectors installed in your home. There should be one outside every bedroom, and you should test them regularly to make sure that they’re working like they’re supposed to. It’s also important to remember to change the batteries every six months – an easy way to make sure that you don’t forget is to do it every Daylight Saving, whenever you change the clocks forward or back. Don’t neglect your smoke detectors. (And, while you’re at it, you may as well add some carbon monoxide detectors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.)

Before winter really sets in and you turn on all your heaters and appliances, take some time to check over your electrical cords and appliances. Don’t forget your fire prevention basics and spend some time talking to your kids about fire safety. Make sure that your home or apartment is fire-safe and ready to weather the winter months.

Do you need home insurance or renters insurance? Great! We would love to get you some quotes for that. We’ll help you get the insurance plan that’s right for your family, and we’ll help you get a great rate for it. To get in touch with one of our insurance professionals, all you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

Source:

http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Top-causes-of-fire/Electrical 

https://www.ready.gov/home-fires

10 pro tips for handling a home insurance claim in Atlanta

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Here are our pro tips for handling a home insurance claim.

Filing a home insurance claim can seem like a daunting process. Dealing with damage to your home puts a lot of pressure and stress on you, the least of which is grappling with the insurance claim itself. That’s why we’ve put together our pro tips for handling a home insurance claim. Hopefully, these tips will help the claims process go as smoothly as possible.

1. First things first – be safe.

If you come home and discover a loss or damage, be extremely careful in entering your home. It might not be safe. Exercise your judgment, and if you need to, contact the appropriate emergency personnel to figure out how to proceed.

Report any downed power lines to the utility company, and keep your electricity turned off if there’s standing water in your home.

If it’s really not safe, get out. Don’t take any chances.

2. Contact your insurance company.

Your insurance company will want the who, what, where, when, and how of the situation. They can guide you on how to move forward with the claim and let you know what’s going to happen next. They’ll connect you with a claims handler, which leads us to our third pro tip.

3. Note the claim handler’s information.

Make sure that you take some notes when you talk to your insurance company. Take down the name and phone number of the claims handler so that you can get in touch with them easily.

4. Keep detailed records.

You’re going to have to become the ultimate note-taker. Keep a record of any contact that you have with the insurance company. Note the date, the time, the person that you spoke with, and the details of the conversation. Keep all of this information organized and in one place so that you can reference conversations from any point in the process.

5. If it’s safe, protect your home from further damage.

Take steps to protect your home from additional damage if it’s safe to do so. This is important because your policy might require you to protect your home from damage after an incident.

6. Prepare a list of items that have been lost.

You’re going to need to be able to present your insurance company with a list of items that need to be replaced. This is why taking a home inventory is so important – that way you know exactly what was in your home in the first place and the value of your belongings.

If you have any accessible receipts of major purchases, dig them out and have them ready to present to your insurance company.

7. Don’t move damaged items out of your home.

The claims adjuster will want to see the scene as it is. You can even take pictures or videos of the damage to keep in your personal file – you never know when those could come in handy.

8. Save any receipts for additional living expenses.

If you have to move out of your home temporarily, keep any receipts from your accommodations or other living expenses. Your insurance might cover these expenses, too, so this will make it easier to get reimbursed.

9. Do the paperwork.

The claims adjuster will send over some paperwork and documents that you have to complete. Do the paperwork and return it promptly – don’t delay. Pay attention to any deadlines on the paperwork or documents.

10. Let your mortgage lender know about the loss.

You should let your lender know what happened. They might want to talk to you about contractor bids for reconstruction, and they might have their own protocol for rebuilding or repairing the home and inspecting the work.

We hope that you never have to face a loss to your home. It’s not fun to think about the worst-case-scenario, but that’s what insurance is for. Our goal is to help you build an insurance plan that will help you protect your home and your family. We understand that insurance can be complicated, so we want to make the insurance process as easy on you as possible. Contact us at Atlanta Insurance if you’d like to get a free quote on your home insurance, auto insurance, or renters insurance – all you have to do is fill out our quote form or give us a call!

How to have a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween

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Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Halloween is almost upon us, and that means it’s time to talk a bit about safety during this candy-and-costumed themed holiday. Kids love Halloween – and what’s not to like? There’s fun costumes, candy, pumpkins, and, most importantly, trick-or-treating! But as a parent, it’s important to keep your children safe as they get ready for their Halloween fun. We’ve got some safety tips covering three major aspects of the spookiest holiday of the year – costumes, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating.

Phase One: Costumes

1. Make sure that the costume your child chooses fits them well, and try not to have any loose or baggy costumes. This could lead to tripping and walking hazards.

2. Consider using face makeup instead of masks, which can reduce a child’s visibility and make breathing harder. Make sure that the makeup is FDA-approved and test it on a small section of skin first. Remove it right away after the trick-or-treat fun is done – leaving makeup on can cause skin irritation.

3. Choose costumes that are made out of fire-retardant fabric.

4. Make sure that any accessories, such as fairy wands or swords, are soft and short. No need to chance someone getting hurt if they accidentally get whacked.

5. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags to help make your kids more visible as it gets dark outside.

Phase Two: Pumpkin carving

1. Choose your pumpkin-carving spot carefully. You should put your pumpkins on a flat surface so that the pumpkin is stable and won’t waddle around on you. Use dry, clean pumpkin carving tools so that nothing slips unexpectedly.

2. Make sure there’s plenty of light so that you can see what you’re doing.

3. Don’t let kids carve. Let them draw the face on their pumpkin or trace out a pattern, but do the actual carving yourself. Young children can watch, but make sure they don’t get too close to any sharp objects that they could accidentally hurt themselves with. Even teenagers need supervision as they’re carving their pumpkins.

4. Consider using a pumpkin-carving kit. You need the right tools to get the job done, after all. Creating magnificent Jack-o-lanterns is a serious business. Make sure you’re wielding the right instruments when you go to make the most amazing pumpkin ever. Carving kits come with special tools that are designed for pumpkins. These tools are often not super sharp, either, reducing the chance of losing a finger.

5. If you’re going to use real candles for your Jack-o-lanterns, use votive candles. You can also consider using battery-powered fake candles, as these won’t accidentally catch things on fire.

6. Speaking of things catching on fire, if you have real candles in your Jack-o-lanterns, place them away from anything that could be flammable, like curtains or furniture. Don’t leave a lit Jack-o-lantern unattended.

7. Remember, be careful and watch your fingers. Keep your hands safely where you can see them.

Phase Three: Trick-or-treating

1. Teach your kids to be very careful crossing the street and to walk facing traffic.

2. Give them flashlights and glow sticks so that drivers can see them more easily.

3. Remind kids not to approach people in cars or accept candy from people in cars. Yes, this might be something you’ve told them a million times, but Halloween’s a great time for a refresher.

4. Accompany any children under 12 as they trick-or-treat. Responsible children 12 or older can go without a grown-up as long as they are in a group and tell their parents their route ahead of time. Make sure that they know the area that they’re trick-or-treating in very well – you don’t want anyone getting lost!

5. Teach your kids about watching for cars, even cars in driveways that might be backing out. Also, make sure they know not to run suddenly across the street.

6. Inspect the candy when the kids get home. Anything unwrapped or that looks like it’s been opened should be tossed. Get rid of anything that looks homemade. All candy should be factory-wrapped and sealed. Also, check for choking hazards and make sure that your child only eats candy that’s appropriate for their age.

7. Remind kids to pay attention to their surroundings. Make sure your kids aren’t looking at phones or electronics as they’re walking, as they need to be alert for approaching cars and hazards.

Halloween is lots of fun for the whole family. Kids love dressing up, and why not join them and get yourself a costume? While Halloween means there’s lots of entertainment and happy memories to be made, it’s important to take a second to think about safety so that you have both a happy and uneventful – in a good way – Halloween. We hope that these tips will be helpful to you as you prepare for the all-time spookiest Halloween!

Are you looking for a quote for your home insurance or auto insurance? We’d love to help you out with that! We can help you identify the risks that you and your family face and create an individualized insurance plan to protect you from them. All you have to do to get started with getting some quotes for your insurance is fill out our quote form or give us a call today.

Do I have enough Atlanta home insurance to cover the cost of my jewelry?

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Check your home insurance policy to see what it's limit of coverage is for jewelry.

Check your home insurance policy to see what it's limit of coverage is for jewelry.

Your home insurance is designed to protect you and your family from loss. But unfortunately that homeowners insurance comes with limits – knew there had to be a catch somewhere! One thing that might be subject to a strict limit is jewelry. You know that you need to protect your home from burglary, but you also need to consider what your insurance will cover where valuables are concerned. Some homeowners and renters policies have a limit as low as $1000 for jewelry. Depending on the bling you have, this may not be enough to cover everything if your jewelry is stolen or destroyed. You’ll have to review your policy carefully to see what your jewelry limit is.

If you find that you don’t have enough coverage for all of your jewelry, you have a few options to make sure it’s fully protected.

Valuable items endorsement:

An endorsement is an addition to your policy that can change it. In the case of valuables or jewelry, items included in the endorsement are scheduled onto a list. Basically, an endorsement for jewelry can provide coverage for the treasures that you want to protect by giving you an appropriate limit of coverage.

Floater:

A floater is another way to add coverage for your jewelry. It covers items that are easily moved, and they’re used to increase the limit of coverage for valuable belongings. If you have a pricey bracelet, brooch, ring, or necklace, for example, a floater can help you increase your coverage for the piece.

Valuable items policy:

If you have a very expensive piece of jewelry, for insurance for a diamond necklace worth more than $10,000, you can get an entirely separate policy to cover it. Items that are very expensive may not get enough coverage from a floater or endorsement, which is why you might need to consider taking out a completely separate policy rather than adding it to your home insurance.

How much coverage do I need?

That depends on the item you want to insure. At any rate, you need to make sure that whatever method you use to insure your jewelry will cover replacements made of similar materials and type. Also, you should consider taking a home inventory so that you know exactly which pieces of jewelry you need to get additional coverage for.

To figure out what kind of limits you should be looking at, you’ll need to have your jewelry appraised by a professional. Ask them to list each item you’re having appraised separately and to note a description and the value. Keep in mind that you’ll need to update your appraisals every once in a while because prices change and markets fluctuate. You need to have a current appraisal so that you can keep your insurance up-to-date and make any necessary changes to your policy.

Pro tip: Don’t forget that your monitored security system can qualify you for a discount on your home insurance.

In conclusion:

Home or renters insurance policies usually have strict limits of coverage for jewelry, and these limits may not be enough to fully cover all of the valuables in your possession. You need to review your policy, and if the value of your jewelry exceeds the limit specified in your policy, you’ll have to talk with your agent about ways to get the right coverage. Make sure you have the insurance you need to protect your jewelry and don’t underestimate the value of your belongings. When in doubt, have the jewelry appraised. It’s worth it to ensure that you’ll get the money you need to replace the piece of pieces that were stolen or destroyed.

Do you need home or renters insurance? We’d love to get you some free quotes for your coverage – it’s what we do. We can help you build an insurance plan to protect your home, valuables and all. Just fill out our online quote form or give us a call today to get started.