You’re awakened from a dead sleep by the sound of your smoke alarm going off. In spite of your grogginess, the smell of smoke hits you and you are wide awake. There’s a fire in your apartment or home. Do you know what to do? If you have children, do they know what to do?
The Dallas Morning News published an article in February 2010 of insurance don’ts that I filed away because it’s worthy of being repeated. This list applies to both car and home insurance claims, so let’s take a look at 7 things to avoid doing.
The end of October is a few days away. Even though Fire Prevention week is past, many fire departments across Dallas, north Texas, and the country take the month to educate people on the causes of home fires. Most of the emphasis is placed on reaching school age children with presentations at schools reasoning that if kids are educated, they’ll teach their parents what to do should a home fire occur.
Some people dream of having a home in the country; a place to slow down, smell the air, and escape the busyness of life in the big city. Providing home insurance for someone’s dream in the Texas countryside can present some interesting challenges. Such was the case last week.
Last week was National Fire Prevention Week. Most fire officials across north Texas and the nation focus on fire prevention for the entire month. A ceremony lead by The Hispanic Firefighters Association kicked off National Fire Prevention Week in Dallas to honor the 17 Texas firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty this year. Special recognition was given to remembering Kenny Harris who died fighting the fire in the West Fertilizer Company plant explosion and Stanley Wilson who was crushed fighting a condominium fire in Dallas.
I got a call from my realtor friend, John Brooks of JP and Associates, a couple of weekends ago. John was helping a young couple with their first home and they’d just received the inspection report. Everything about the home was perfect except for one thing: it was wired with aluminum wiring.
The people affected by the recent Colorado floods have begun the process of rebuilding their lives as the water recedes from their homes, farms, and businesses. Many were stunned to learn their losses aren’t covered by their home owner’s policy and are wrestling with the financial implications of that news. Most people don’t know that no home insurance policy cover’s flood damage, only a flood policy does that.
The rain started falling in Colorado on Wednesday, September 11th. It rained, and rained, and continued to rain over the next several days. The rain on the 12th was particularly heavy when 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in less than a 12 hour period. In some places over 15 inches of rain fell during the multi-day storm. The creeks and streams rose and rivers overflowed their banks. According to the Colorado Division of Water Resources, water in many of the rivers and creeks had flows of over 1,000% than normal levels at the height of the flooding.
Every new home insurance policy is followed by an inspection. The purpose of the inspection is to determine if the home truly meets the underwriting guidelines of the insurance company. My role as an independent insurance agent is to be the first level underwriter and confirm the home will pass the inspection so I ask questions to make sure I’m placing the home with the best carrier.
One of my clients called me two weeks ago. She’d heard a heavy crash the previous night which startled her. She conducted a quick review of the interior of her home but did not find the source of the noise so she went on to bed curious about what she’d heard. Her question was answered the next morning when she ventured outside; a tree had been blown over onto her home.
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