Home Repairs Archives - Chess Insurance

Winterize your Redmond, WA home: It may help you avoid a homeowners insurance claim

September 4, 2013 By Tosten

The weather is starting to change, we are entering those warm days of fall where the mornings are brisk and the afternoons are warm. The leaves are starting to turn orange and yellow here in Redmond, Washington, the kids are back in school and it will soon be time to start making plans for the holidays as winter is on its way. Before winter arrives, there is plenty of time to prep your home, both inside and out, for the coming cold months. Some simple winterization prep can save you from a costly homeowners insurance claim from frozen pipes or huge heating bills from drafty spots in your home.

Four areas to focus your winterization in Washington:

Water, water everywhere: Gutters can get jammed up with leaves, branches and other debris. Once the leaves have fallen from the trees, grab a ladder and gently remove the debris from the gutters. Then, rinse the bottoms of the gutter to ensure good flow of water for those winter showers. If your gutters become clogged, rainwater can accumulate around the foundation of your home and possibly seep into the foundation or basement, in which case, you should check for cracks in your foundation and fill them, pronto. A flooded basement can result in a costly homeowner’s insurance claim. Also, anytime you are using a ladder or plan to be on your roof, please let someone know or have someone working with you. An extra pair of hands and eyes can help prevent painful accidents.
Where is that draft coming from: The cold winter draft that is leaking in around your doors, windows and from your attic. Take a candle or piece of incense around your home on a windy day and go near doors, windows and attic to look for wind making its way into your home. If your attic has less than 12” of insulation, regardless of where in the country, you should consider adding more. It is an easy do-it-yourself project; any home improvement store should have the tools to help you complete that. It you have single-pane windows you can purchase an inexpensive window insulation kit to add another “pane” to the glass. This keeps the cold air trapped between another layer instead of entering your home. Other areas drafts can creep in are: recessed lighting, door frames and electrical outlets. A variety of caulks, gaskets and weather-stripping is available at any local hardware store.
Keep warm: Do your heating bills spike up during the winter? Aside from performing the aforementioned “draft tests” checking that heating equipment is in good repair may help keep that heating bill down. The furnace can run much more efficiently if it has a clean filter in it. Consider changing your filter once a month. They are inexpensive and pay for themselves in efficiency gains. Also think about checking out your duct insulation. Ducting in homes can become exposed from being bumped in the attic or crawlspace over time and there are huge efficiency losses from this. Ensure your ducts are covered with insulation and not exposed. Also, check for any leaks in connections while the system is running. Speaking of exposure, pipes that are exposed during the cold winter may freeze and explode if not properly insulated. Protect any exposed water pipes with insulation, if a pipe bursts in winter it can cause thousands of dollars in damages. It takes just a few minute to insulate your pipes, a step that can save a headache down the road.
Do you smell smoke: Turning on the fireplace is a winter tradition, whether it is a gas or natural wood fireplace. It can also be a hazard if your chimney is dirty. A cleaned chimney will remove creosote, a flammable byproduct of burning wood. Keep your home safe from chimney fires by hiring a professional chimney sweep to remove any build-up. Make sure you are prepared if a fire does break out with a fire extinguisher (it may qualify you for a discount on your homeowner’s insurance in Redmond, WA) and make sure you have fresh batteries in your smoke detectors. It is always a good idea to check your batteries in the smoke detectors a couple times per year. Count this as one.

While you are taking the time to prep your home for the upcoming winter, talk to your licensed insurance agent to ensure the homeowner’s insurance covers events like floods or fires that may occur during the winter months. Chess Insurance Agency in Redmond, Washington can guide you through your homeowner’s insurance policy and add additional coverages like flood insurance and earthquake insurance. Their years of insurance experience can save you a bundle, and they live right in your area, so know first-hand what your insurance needs might be. You can also visit their insurance website 24/7 to learn more about the other insurance products they offer.

Sewer & Water Backup – a Nasty Possibility

March 15, 2013 By Tosten

There is a phrase that can strike fear into the heart of any homeowner in Redmond, WA: water or sewer backup.

With fall and spring typically being the two wettest months in the U.S., it is important to inspect our homes for susceptible sewer or water backup in our drain lines. There are certain steps that a homeowner can take to reduce the risk of a water or sewer back-up crisis.

Check around the home, foundation, basement, etc. for cracks that water or sewer waste can enter. Repair and fill any cracks
Ask a plumbing professional to see if your system can accept a shut-off valve to be used in case of a back-up emergency. Your insurance agent can refer you to licensed professional.
If you live on or below a floodplain take steps to ensure that furniture and valuables are stored above the flood line.
Do not pour grease down sinks or toilets
If a water or sewer back-up occurs do not attempt clean up without protection: gloves, face masks and eye protection.

Generally a water or sewer back up is caused when heavy rains or floodwaters over run the sewer system as well as your sump pump. Debris from rainstorms or natural disasters can also clog the system, potentially causing a nasty mess to push backwards into your home.

While you may have a homeowners policy a claim from water or sewer back-up can be costly and typically is not covered by your traditional standard homeowners insurance policy. This is a separate endorsement that your agent can add to your policy to ensure you’re covered in the event of such a claim. Homes that are located on hills, mountains, or other raised plateaus may have a lower likelihood of a water or sewer back up than homes located on low or flat plains, but that does not exclude them from having these issues. Any home can have a water or sewer backup claim

Talk to your Redmond, WA insurance agent to determine whether or not a water or sewer back up policy or endorsement is right for your home.

Protecting your Home in Redmond, WA from Mold & Mildew Damage

December 20, 2012 By Tosten

Many homeowners don’t think about mold and in all honesty, most will never have to deal with a large mold problem in their homes. However, mold is an issue in almost all parts of the United States, including Redmond, WA where it is often wet and mild temperatures, and prevention is key to keeping mold from damaging or even ruining your home.

Mold, if left undetected, can quickly spread from one area to another as it feeds on organic matter in your household. In order to prevent mold from spreading, it is key to identify it immediately and treat it. Most homeowners insurance policies will only pay to remove and/or repair a small amount of damage caused by mold or mildew.

While it may be impossible for a typical homeowner to identify mold problems in their home, it is recommended that you have a mold inspection completed annually to ensure that if mold begins growing, that it can be removed and the problem eliminated before it becomes a major problem.

There are several problem areas in homes where mold tends to grow. Be sure you check your:

Basements (walls, corners, any exposed wood)
Crawl spaces (is the ground wet? What about the floor joists? Pull back a bit of insulation and look), attics (look up in your attic at the underside of the roof)
Bathrooms (tile grout, behind the toilet, under the sink)
Kitchens (behind the dishwasher, under the sink and anywhere else that may get wet regularly)
and around your windows.

Mold Treatment

If you find mold growing in your home, the minor cases (usually less than the size of your hand) can be treated with bleach water and a scrub brush or abrasive sponge to remove it. Mold remediation is typically not covered by your standard homeowners insurance policy unless it is the direct result of another, covered loss such as a pipe bursting. Regardless, you need to talk to your licensed insurance agent for a more definitive answer as all homeowner’s insurance policies are different and what one company may cover, another may not.

Mold claims can be very expensive, typically exceeding the cost of a traditional homeowners insurance claim by 5 times. If you suspect mold may be in your household (a damp smell in the air) contact a specialist immediately. Not only can mold be bad for your home, it can have serious effects on your health resulting in asthma and more.

Thinking about hiring a contractor from a classified ad? Read this first.

November 6, 2012 By Tosten

Use Caution and Common Sense When Hiring off of Craigslist or other Free Classified Ads

It is so tempting… a contractor who will perform a landscaping job for ½ of what other quotes were and to think… you found him on Craigslist! Certainly Craigslist and other free classified websites have become a terrific resource for used goods as well as handyman services. However, there are stories of liability claim scams across the country that have homeowner’s getting burned. To put it simply, you’re taking a chance when you hire a non-reputable contractor to do work on your home, regardless of where you found him. So, we’ve put together a few items to help you avoid the headache of an “injured” contractor on your property which results in a liability claim against your homeowner’s policy.

Research and ask question. If you find a contractor or other service related worker on Craigslist or other sites, ask them if they have a website or if there is someone who wouldn’t mind talking to them about their skill. It’s okay to ask for references. Most small businesses survive off of word-of-mouth advertising, so don’t be afraid to ask for a couple.
Utilize the internet further. Go to Google and type in: “Contractor License Lookup.” This should produce your states .gov resource and you can see if the contract you’re hiring is licensed or not. It will also show if their license is expired and when it expired.
Documentation: Ask the contractor for a copy of their license as well as documentation of their insurance and bond. Note: Check the dates on the license as well as the insurance to ensure they’re currently in force or active.
Ask more questions: Not only is it important to protect your insurance from a scam, but ensure your pocketbook doesn’t get taken for a ride too. Ask questions like, “Is this an estimate or a final bid?” “Does this estimate include parts and labor?” The more questions you ask, the better you will feel and the more the contractor will understand that you’re educated on this process.

It isn’t just the answers to the questions above that will help you decide on a potential contractor, but how they answer them. If they aren’t forthcoming about certain items or aren’t willing to give you references, it is likely not a good idea to hire them. If they can’t communicate with you now about things, how difficult would it be if you have issues with them after the work has started? Be clear from the beginning on your expectations and always remember to call your insurance agent for advice before a home renovation begins.

Chess Insurance: 425-392-1588