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January Tips -
1. Change the A/C
filter.
2. Review all of your insurance policies and update as
necessary.
3. Budget home maintenance, repair and improvement plans for the
year.
Items to be considered include HVAC,
painting, roofing, water heaters, rain gutters, doors (entry and
garage), insulation, general repairs and major improvements.
Write down those things you know you want to address this year so you
can begin to put realistic figures with them before you begin.
You'll be glad you did.
Consider this….
It is very
important to keep all of your insurance policies up to date.
Just as the size of your family can change, so can your health.
Sometimes we become so involved in the moment, we unintentionally
overlook the obvious when it comes to the future. By the same
token, no matter what you have or haven't done to your home since you
moved in, your house is not the same one you insured at the time.
Talk
to your insurance agent about your current needs. If you are
about to start a project where you will be acting as your own general
contractor, you may want to make sure how your policy addresses
injuries on your property. In general, most homeowners' policies
do not cover workmen injured during the course of their work.
However, if you are the boss, and you are directing that work, you may
find yourself in a hornet's nest if a laborer gets injured. Make
sure you are covered.
Another
thing to consider is what happens if your house is destroyed by nature
or fire? Do you really know what you have in your home?
Sure, there were clothes and furniture and a television and a computer
and some jewelry and some kitchen things and... what?
How
are you going to remember all that stuff and better yet, how are you
going to prove that you owned it? We would encourage you to take
an inventory of your possessions - room by room - and keep it in a
safe place.
When
preparing your inventory, list everything in the room including every
drawer. Don't just write down "bed". Next to
each item, write not only a description of the item, but also anything
you can remember about the manufacturer, the purchase date and the
cost. If you are dealing with appliances or electronics, be sure
to include the model number. It is important to be as detailed
as possible, especially with bigger items.
It would be to your
advantage to take photos of each room and as many of your more
expensive items as possible. This will serve two purposes.
First, it will help remind you of those things and where they
were. Second, it will help establish proof of ownership.
For those of you who are
fortunate enough to have video cameras, a walking/talking tour of your
home and possessions can be an excellent addition to your
inventory. If you make a mistake, you can rerecord to correct
any misstep during the tour.
Today, many of the phones
have a video feature. In fact, many of the SLR cameras have the
ability to shoot some form of video. If neither of these are
available to you, consider renting a video cam for the day. The
cost is well worth the alternative in the case of a real disaster.
Finally, remember to keep
your inventory, pictures and videos in a safe place away from your
home. If possible, make more than one copy. Give one to a
friend or relative that you trust completely, and keep the other in a
safe deposit box at your bank. If you have any questions, please
feel free to call or write.
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