Homeowner’s Academy
This is your guide to interesting facts, tips and general homeowner information. We hope you find the information useful – and feel free to share with friends!

Are You Paying Too Much for Florida Home Insurance?

Spring cleaning often comes with a fresh coat of paint. Painting can be a great way to change the feel of a room or give your home some great curb appeal. Painting also plays a role in home repair by protecting the wood of your home against the elements, essential here in Florida.

If you decide to try your hand at painting this spring, People’s Trust has some tips that can keep the experience enjoyable and safe for everyone in your family.

Try Some Eco-friendly Paint

Spring conjures up the sniffles for many people in the great outdoors, but paint may do the same thing inside of your home. Household paints have previously contained up to 300 toxic chemicals, including the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release particles into the air for years after you paint.

Try a low-VOC paint, which tends to be water-based, for any home interior painting. These have taken off in recent years and come in every shade and finish imaginable. Some brands also create no-VOC paints by replacing chemicals with more natural ingredients. These no-VOC paints are often pet-safe, but always check the label and never leave your pet unattended in a room where paint cans are open.

Home Repair Supervision

If you have children, never let them be in a room with open paint cans by themselves. If children are under the age of 10, they should never be in a room with any open painting materials. Even eco-friendly paints are extremely dangerous if ingested. If you believe your child has ingested any paint, immediately call poison control at 1-800-222-1222.

Try Cloth Catchers for Indoor and Outdoor Painting

You can pick up plastic sheets to protect your floors and lawn, but these often move and tear as you walk around painting. Turn to cloth or canvas drop cloths that will stay in place easier and can be weighed down with objects without the risk of tearing.

For painting the outside of your home, try a tarp with tie-holes. These can be staked into the ground to provide a steadier surface for a ladder.

Ventilate: Make Room to Breathe

If you’re painting inside, open the doors and windows. If your room has a fan, turn it on. You want proper ventilation for any space you’re painting to help air out the room and not breathe in paint fumes. If you can’t ventilate where you’re working, get a respirator and only paint in short stints.

Ventilation is essential to most common home repair improvements.

Stick to the Shade

If painting outside, you know that you need to take a break in the shade, but what about your materials? Paint, paint thinner and lacquer all need to stay in the shade as much as possible when painting outdoors.

Not only can heat and sun alter some of these items when they’re sitting in the can, but heat can also be a big problem for these flammable items. The city of Las Vegas actually warns its citizens to be careful when painting their homes or canvases outside because paint thinner has been ignited by the sun and started home fires.

Clean Up after Home Repairs

When you finish painting for the day, clean up the entire space. This will prevent spills and any accidental exposure.

Latex paints can typically be cleaned from surfaces and your skin with soap and water. Oil-based paints will have specific cleaning instructions located on the paint can itself. Take a look at your can before you start painting and write down what it says, because paint often spills on the outside of the can during the painting process.

Gasoline was once used to clean paint off of brushes, but this should never be used. Gasoline is extremely dangerous and should never be used as a cleaner for any object.

It’s always a smart practice to clean up and watch your space clearly when doing any home repair project.

You receive an envelope from your home insurance carrier, open your invoice, and GASP! You’re sitting there wondering why you pay that much for home insurance. What determines homeowner’s insurance premiums, and what can you do to decrease the cost of yours? Take a look…

Where do you live?

Location significantly impacts homeowner’s insurance rates, and homeowners don’t catch a break when it comes to Florida. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Florida has some of the nation’s most expensive home insurance premiums in the nation.

Why is this? Unpredictable weather conditions like hurricanes, floods, and sinkholes increase the risk for insurance companies.

Florida’s relatively expensive homeowner’s insurance rates can be attributed to the moderate to high risk of hurricanes and sinkholes throughout the state. Homes located near the ocean may see increased premiums to compensate for the elevated risk.

What is your deductible?

Does your current insurance policy have a high premium with a low deductible? With most insurance policies, including homeowners, increasing your deductible generally lowers your overall cost. According to the Insurance Information Institute, switching your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can save you up to 20% on your home insurance premium.

Are you paying for more coverage than you need?

When was the last time you reviewed your homeowner’s insurance policy? Things can change over the course of a year. “All too often, people pay for coverage they don’t need, and even for items they no longer own,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders.

Your insurance coverage should be large enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home if it is destroyed. If you have made improvements to your home, built new buildings on your property or completed any other major renovations, then the value of your home may have changed.

If you are in this situation, you will want to either increase coverage under your current policy or shop around for a new policy with coverage that meets your needs.

While you are reviewing your coverage needs, take a few extra minutes and conduct a home inventory. This will help you identify any valuables that require additional coverage or equipment that could impact your coverage.

How does your insurance premium compare?

Are you spending considerably more on your home insurance policy than your neighbor? One of the best ways to determine whether or not you’re paying too much is to compare the price of your policy against that of similar companies.

Do keep in mind that price is not the only thing you should account for when comparing policies. Just because a home insurance company is cheaper does not necessarily mean it’s the best policy for your needs. Verify that your policy is the best value, balancing a competitive rate with quality service and coverage. Contact your Agent to get a comparison of rates.

Policyholders often opt for quality and financial stability over saving a few extra bucks each month. In the end, you need to know that you can count on your homeowner’s insurance company when you need them most.

Are you taking advantage of discounts?

Most homeowner’s insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders that are considered “low-risk.” As a homeowner, there are several steps you can take to help safeguard your home against potential hazards, such as smoke detectors, security systems and wind mitigation.

If you’re already taking any of the steps mentioned above, make sure your homeowner’s insurance company is aware to ensure you are receiving the discounts you deserve.

Are you paying too much? Find out by calling your Agent today.