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!

Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing 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.

Purchasing homeowners insurance can be confusing and frustrating. But, it doesn’t have to be. With People’s Trust Insurance Company, you have the option of going direct or calling an agent to help walk you through the process. We have put together some common mistakes to avoid to help you better educate yourself before purchasing insurance. If you’re looking to make the switch, shopping around, or just educating yourself – you have come to the right place. Look at the following tips on avoiding mistakes when purchasing home insurance.

You should ensure you have enough coverage to completely rebuild your home and replace your belongings. You should not insure your property for the real estate value. Insurance is designed to cover the cost of rebuilding, not the sales price of your home. Consult with your insurance agent regarding this. The best way to save money is to increase your deductible, which could save you a significant amount and not affect your coverage. To clarify, the higher your deductible, the more money you save on your premium. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket in the event you have to file a claim before the policy kicks in. The more you are willing to pay, the more you can save on your premium.
Don’t skimp on additional coverage or insurance types that are not included in home insurance. For example, flood insurance is almost always not included in home insurance policies. One of the biggest mistakes most homeowners make is thinking that their home insurance policy covers floods. Unfortunately, they often find out the hard way that they do not have the coverage they truly need. Remember that just because you are not considered to be in a flood zone doesn’t mean you cannot experience a flood. All of Florida is considered a flood zone.
Add coverage for items that you need to insure. Don’t forget to insure the items that are of value to you that are not automatically included in your insurance policy and may require additional coverage options – for example, jewelry, art, and other collectibles. Speak to your agent about what you have and what may or may not require additional coverage, and if they make sense.

Disclaimer: Always consult an insurance agent/specialist on what is best for you and your home. This article is meant to provide you with ideas on how to save money and avoid mistakes, it is not meant to provide you with insurance advice or replace your agent’s advice.