by Flagship Staff | Oct 19, 2015 | Blog
October is National Cyber Security Awareness month, an effort by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance that focuses on making your family and community more secure. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners and for many, these devices are a key entry point to the online world. At the same time, 62 percent of Americans fear that their smartphone or computer will be hacked. Internet connectivity is actively a part of many consumers day-to-day, personal, and community lives. Nearly 432 million accounts were hacked in 2014 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center – revealing personal information such as names, debit or credit card numbers, emails, birthdays, phone numbers, passwords, security questions and physical addresses.
Take security precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.
STOP: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
THINK: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety, or your family’s.
CONNECT: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.
Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone.
by Flagship Staff | Oct 12, 2015 | Blog
Did you buy a new car lately? Perhaps you moved into a new home. Or maybe you decided to purchase a boat or a recreation vehicle. Below are some changes that should be reported to your agent.
Autos
Auto coverage for a new or replacement auto can vary. A new car is one you bought in addition to the cars you already own. A replacement car is just that: one you replaced for a vehicle you previously owned.
What coverage you have can depend on whether the car is a new car or a replacement car. It can also depend on what coverage your company provides. Regardless, you need to make the changes to your auto policy within a specified period of time in order for coverage to apply.
The wording in your policy determines what coverage, if any, is automatic and when you need to report the change. Do you have Liability coverage only? Do you need to carry Collision and Other Than Collision coverages on your new auto? Is your car financed through a bank? What coverage do they require? When you talk to your agent, you’ll need to know this information, along with the details of your new car – year, make, model, and serial number. It’s in your best interest to call your agent right away to make any of these changes to your policy. Don’t rely on your car dealer or banker to make changes for you.
Homes
Your homeowner’s policy covers only the dwelling shown on your policy’s declaration page. A new or a replacement home isn’t automatically covered so you must contact your agent with all the required information about your new home, such as:
What is the location/address of your new home?
What year was the home built?
Who’s the responding fire department?
Have any updates been made to the home: roof, furnace, electric?
Does the home have a wood stove?
Once your agent has all the necessary information, he/she should be able to bind coverage for you – either verbally or in writing.
Recreation vehicles
Your homeowner’s policy may also provide you with some limited watercraft coverage like Liability coverage for outboards under 50 horsepower or up to $1,500 physical damage coverage. Your homeowner’s policy may also offer some limited Liability coverage for a snowmobile or four-wheeler, but if you drive such a vehicle on the road or a trail, you’ll need to add more coverage. You don’t have automatic coverage for motorized vehicles.
The bottom line is that you should consult with your insurance agent immediately or very soon after you purchase a new vehicle, home, or recreation vehicle in order to be sure you’re properly protected.
by Flagship Staff | Oct 5, 2015 | Blog
Did you know that Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire? The tragic 1871 fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. That all started from just one fire, but in 2014 there were 1,298,000 fires reported in the U.S. These fires caused 3,275 civilian deaths, 15,775 civilian injuries, and $11.6 billion in property damage. In the U.S. in 2014 (on average), a fire department responded to a fire every 24 seconds. One home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds. One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 41 minutes. Today, roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires that start when most people are sleeping. Simply having working fire alarms cuts the chances of dying in a fire in half! It’s recommended that homeowners install smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways (especially outside bedrooms), and include every level of a home. Don’t forget areas like basements, attics and utility rooms. Heating equipment malfunction is the second leading cause of home fire deaths. The U.S. Fire Administration offers the following safety tips:
1. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually be a qualified professional.
2. Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
3. All heaters need space (especially space heaters) keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
4. Plug space heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
5. Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms inside a home to provide early warning of CO.
6. CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS!
by Flagship Staff | Oct 5, 2015 | Blog
Fall is officially here and the days are definitely getting shorter. If you’re like me, you’re trying to savor the remaining warm days as much as possible. If you’re also like me, however, fall allergies can make it difficult to enjoy this time of year.
It’s easy to understand why you might suffer from allergies in the spring. The snow has melted and the world around us goes into full bloom. But what’s up with fall allergies?
Ragweed and mold are the two big culprits in fall. Ragweed thrives in the warm sunny days and cool nights. The release of ragweed pollen usually starts in August but can continue through September and October.
Mold is the other culprit. Mold thrives in damp cool places. As leaves and other yard debris pile up, our yards become conducive environments for mold growth.
Mold spores and pollen love to ride the wind, so even if your area is free of these allergens, a windy day can bring them to your neighborhood.
Here are some tips to reduce allergy symptoms and enjoy the remaining warm sunny fall days.
1.Keep the air conditioning on. My wife loves to open the windows this time of year. Warm daily temperatures and cool nights are perfect for a comfortable home. I enjoy driving with the windows down and the moon roof open. If your allergies are kicking up, however, it’s best to keep the windows closed and the air conditioning on. By doing this, you keep allergens out.
2.Change your exercise routine. If you enjoy an early evening run or walk, you may want to switch to an early morning routine. Ragweed is spread when the winds pick up. According to WebMD, the pollen counts are highest between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
3.After washing your clothes, don’t hang them outside to dry. Pollen gets trapped in your clothes or linens.
4.Shower after outdoor activities. If you spent the day doing yard work, playing golf, or enjoying a pumpkin farm, take a shower afterwards. A shower will rinse the pollen off your skin and out of your hair. Also, throw your clothes in the wash to avoid spreading the allergens throughout your home.
5.Change your air conditioner filter frequently. While this is an easy tip, it’s one I often neglect. Experts recommend changing the filter monthly. If you’re an allergy sufferer, a hypoallergenic filter is recommended. I usually cringe at the price of these filters, but if they help keep your home allergen free, they’re worth it.
6.Check your weather app. Weather apps provide all kinds of helpful information. Consider downloading an app that provides pollen counts. I have the Weather Channel® app and it provides pollen counts for trees, grass, and weeds.
7.Take allergy medication consistently. From April 1 until the first hard frost, I use two nasal sprays and take an oral antihistamine. As my symptoms improve, however, I get lazy and don’t take the medications as I should. The key to allergy relief is consistency. Before taking any medications, please consult your medical professional.
8.Clean your home regularly. Cleaning your home regularly can minimize allergens (mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander) in your home. Keep in mind the cleaning process doesn’t have to be a big production. Simply vacuuming, dusting, and washing bed linens can be beneficial.
by Flagship Staff | Oct 2, 2015 | Blog
If you own a cabin or summer home, I’m sure Labor Day is bitter sweet for you. It’s the last long summer weekend, but it can also be a weekend with a lot of work. Yes, for many, this is the time of year when you decide to close the property for the season.
While it can be a sad time of year for those who love the summer heat and everything summer has to offer, it’s important to cherish all the fond memories and to think about how to close down your summer home or cottage safely.
The list below offers a number of things to consider when shutting down your cabin for the winter.
1. Inspect your property – Take a walk around the inside and outside of your property to see if anything has been damaged. Create a checklist based of what you find and decide if it’s something that should be fixed now or when you open your home next spring. Items to inspect include your roof, chimney, eaves troughs, siding, foundation, trees that are leaning over your property, and out buildings.
2. Turn off the water – Turn off the water at the main supply point to prevent freezing pipes. Even if you keep your home heated during the winter, this is important in case your furnace fails or the power goes out.
3. Open your faucets and drain all water lines, including your appliances – Even if you turn off the water at the main supply into the home, it’s also important to drain the excess water from the water lines that run to your appliances, sinks, and toilets.
4. Temperature monitoring system – If you heat your home during the winter, consider purchasing a temperature-monitoring system. Consider a system that sends email alerts to him if his summer home’s temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Water flow monitoring systems – If you choose to leave your water on during the winter, consider purchasing a water flow monitoring system. A water flow monitoring system is attached to your water main and protects your entire house. The system works by measuring water flow into your house. If it detects continuous water flow beyond the normal stopping and starting of your every day appliances, it stops the flow of water into your house automatically.
6. Empty and clean your appliances
• Refrigerator/freezer – Remove all food and wipe them down with a disinfectant that kills bacteria. After you’ve cleaned it, consider leaving your refrigerator/freezer doors slightly ajar to prevent mold and mildew growth. This will also prevent smells from getting into the plastic. Consider putting a box of baking soda inside.
• Oven – Like your refrigerator, wipe it down with a disinfectant that kills bacteria and unplug it or turn off the gas.
• Washing machine/dryer – If you’re lucky enough to have these appliances at your summer home, disconnect the hoses and unplug them. If you want to disinfect your washing machine, consider running a normal cycle with vinegar or whatever cleanser your manufacturer recommends.
• Water heater – Drain your water heater and turn off the gas or switch it to vacation mode.
7. Store outdoor furniture and other expensive items in a locked garage or shed – If there isn’t storage space available on your property, consider renting a storage unit. A nice size storage unit will allow you to store outdoor furniture, bikes, small boats, and other summer toys that could be damaged if left outdoors.
8. Unplug your appliances and electronics – This tip will protect your appliances and electronics from power surges and lightning strikes.
9. Create a home inventory for your cabin – If your cabin was destroyed in a fire or by an early spring tornado, would you remember every possession you had in it?
10. Take your valuables home or consider a security system – Vacated cabins can become easy targets for thieves during the winter months. If you prefer to leave valuables in the home, consider installing a security system.
11. Inspect your fireplace – If you have a wood burning fireplace that you’ve used for a number of years without cleaning, consider having it inspected and cleaned by a reputable chimney sweep. Creosote is a residue that travels up your chimney and builds up on your flue over time. In fact, some creosote builds up every time a wood burning fireplace is lit. If that residue isn’t properly cleaned out, the chance of a fire igniting in your chimney increases.
12. Partner with your neighbors or local police – If you have neighbors or friends who live near your summer home all year round, consider asking them to check on your home periodically. Also leave contact information with your neighbors or local police. Contact information should include your cell phone number, home phone number, and your e-mail address.
Creating a routine each time you leave your home empty for an extended period of time can reduce the likelihood of a disaster and keep work to a minimum when you return.
by Flagship Staff | Oct 2, 2015 | Blog
Gutters divert rain away from your home and are its first line of defense against water damage. However, as autumn progresses, leaves, twigs and other debris can clog your gutters and cause significant damage to your home.
When your gutters are obstructed, you may start to notice overflows and icicles. If you don’t quickly do something about these obstructions, water that can’t drain will eventually find the path of least resistance, which often leads into your home’s foundation or walls. This can cause major structural damage that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. In areas that experience below-freezing temperatures, the water in your gutters, foundation and walls can freeze and expand, causing even greater damage.
The amount of foliage in your yard can impact how often you should clean your gutters, but, as a general rule of thumb, it should be done at least once a year and preferably both in the autumn and spring. You should never attempt to clean your gutters in slippery, windy or icy conditions.
Before you clean your gutters, make sure you have the right tools for the job, including a functional and safe ladder, garden trowel, dust mask, gloves and eye protection. Use the ladder to reach the gutters and dislodge any debris within arm’s reach; then, descend the ladder and move it in order to clean the next section. Don’t overreach or attempt to move the ladder while you are still on it. After you’ve removed all noticeable debris, use a garden hose to clear out the remaining dust and to test for any additional obstructions.
Since a ladder is needed to clean out debris, you may want to hire a roofing professional, who can also identify any leaks, damage or misalignment in your gutter system.
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