Christmas Tree Safety

Posted under Homeowner’s Insurance, Safety.

safety-christmas-tree

According to the US Fire Administration over 400 homes are destroyed annually by causes related to Christmas tree fires. PlatinumOne Insurance offers competitive rates on homeowners insurance that would cover accidental damage due to Christmas tree fires. Here are a few good reminders to help you enjoy the holiday:

  1. Keep your Christmas tree well watered. Refilling the water every day will help it last about two to three weeks.
  2. Check the tree for freshness before buying. A freshly cut tree will have a sticky trunk and the needles will not fall off if touched.
  3. Set your tree away from heat vents and the fireplace. Heated air just dries out a tree, and one shooting spark can cause a disaster.
  4. Inspect the lights. Check for exposed or worn wires, as well as broken sockets.
  5. Turn off the lights at night; use a timer if needed.
  6. Do not burn the tree in your fireplace.
  7. Do not overload the electrical circuits.
  8. Take your tree down the first of January.

Enjoy the holiday, and thank you for selecting PlatinumOne Insurance. We look forward to serving you for years to come.

 

Why You Need Replacement Cost Coverage

Posted under Uncategorized.

Your home is your single most important investment. You purchase insurance to cover unforeseen disasters such as fire, theft and water damage. Having the right insurance will give you the added comfort of knowing you can replace your home and personal belongings should a disaster happen.

PlatinumOne Insurance Agency always recommends you have replacement cost coverage on your home and personal property. Replacement Cost Insurance pays to repair or replace damaged property with like kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation, but limited by the maximum dollar amount shown on the declarations page of the policy. Replacement Cost is not the same as market value, which reflects your homes purchase price if sold. A home’s market value is influenced by things such as neighborhood desirability, local economic conditions, quality of school systems, tax rates, community services, and land value.

Building contractors or professional replacement cost appraisers are a good source for obtaining an estimated replacement cost of your home. Estimates from these sources should reflect your home’s features. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency, along with our insurance partners, can also help you determine a replacement value on your home. Keeping up with the current market conditions in your area and changing your coverage amount accordingly, will help you maintain replacement cost coverage for your home.

The cost of your insurance depends on the coverage you need and any discounts available to you. By insuring your home in combination with personal property, liability, vehicle and other insurance needs, you can save money.

Is My Daughter’s Wedding Covered?

Posted under Homeowner’s Insurance, News and Announcements, Uncategorized.

There is no doubt a wedding is one of the most important events in the life of a family. For many brides and grooms, there are months of planning in anticipation of the big event. The average amount spent in the US on a wedding in 2011 was $18,500. Shouldn’t you consider protecting that kind of investment? Even if you spend less than the national average, it is still a lot of money.  Just some of the many wedding expenses include the venue, wedding planner, band and DJ, photographer, florist, videographer, dress, cake, ceremony site, musicians, invitations, limousine, favors, rehearsal dinner and engagement ring.

PlatinumOne Insurance has a solution to protect your investment. Wedding Event Insurance is available and affordable.  With Wedding Event Insurance you can rest easy knowing that you are protected from the unforeseen events that could ruin your day. There are two important elements included in Wedding Event Insurance:

  1. Wedding Cancellation Insurance
  2. Wedding Liability Insurance

Wedding Cancellation Insurance provides reimbursement for lost deposits if the event is postponed or cancelled. For example, your winter wedding has to be postponed due to the weather, or the father of the bride in involved in an auto accident and can’t travel. Some venues may provide a limited amount of insurance, but it won’t cover protection for cancellation.

Wedding Liability Insurance provides protection from accident or injury to guests or other third parties. For example, you are having a wedding at a park and a guest trips or falls causing injury.

Wedding Event Insurance does not cover a change of heart, or loss of jewelry.

PlatinumOne Insurance has access to a number of programs and markets for Wedding Event Insurance.

Premiums can run as low as a few hundred dollars.  You have put so much of your time, money, and heart into your wedding, let PlatinumOne Insurance protect your lifelong investment.

Home Winterization Tips

Posted under Homeowner’s Insurance, News and Announcements, Safety, Uncategorized.

iStock_000016395160XSmall-150x150

Now that fall is here, it is important to begin preparing for winter weather. At PlatinumOne Insurance we would like to offer you a few winter weatherization tips to keep you out of harm’s way. We offer broad form homeowners policies to keep you protected from damage resulting from storms, and many other winter related occurrences.

Have an Emergency Kit Ready– An emergency kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.  Include the    following in your kit: water, flash lights and batteries, first aid kit, whistles to signal for help, basic tools, manual can opener, small supply of non-perishable food, radio, candles, lighter, blankets and rope.

Check All Alarms– This is a great time to check the operation of, and change the batteries in, your home’s smoke detectors.

Check & Wrap Pipes– If you live in areas where temperatures get blow freezing, make sure you turn off all outside water and drain sprinkler pipes. Cover hose bibs to prevent freezing. Search for any unwrapped pipes in the basement or crawl space.

Check Furnace– Turn your furnace on now, to make sure it’s properly working before the coldest weather descends.  A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace for the first time in the fall.  If the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.

Check Heat Ducts– If you have central heating it is a good idea to check all ducts to make sure there is no heat loss.

Clean Gutters– Clogged gutters can create water problems, so get them cleaned now while the weather is still good.

Check for Air Leaks– Walk around your home and look for any areas that might allow air to enter the home. Check the caulk around windows as well. Even if it’s a small crack, it’s worth sealing up.

Flip the Switch on Your Ceiling Fan– This is a great way to circulate the hot air back down into the room.

Clean Wood Stoves & Chimneys– Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing and be sure flues are cleaned regularly.

Check Landscaping– Make sure trees are not hanging too close to your home.  If so, prune back to prevent trees or limbs from falling onto your home.

Snow Removal Equipment– Check all your snow removal equipment to ensure it is in good working order.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Posted under Auto Insurance, Commercial Insurance, News and Announcements, Uncategorized.

As we move into fall and winter, Platinum One Insurance offers these reminders for your safety. We have access to very competitive auto rates. We offer great service at affordable prices. Remember; get to where you are going safely.

Winter driving safety tips:

  • Don’t drive while if you are tired.
  • Keep your tank full of gas.
  • When driving on snow, accelerate slowly, helping you to gain traction and avoid skids. Break slowly as well.
  • Make sure your breaks are working correctly, and snow tires are a must.
  • Keep safety kit in your truck, including blanket, boots, gloves, hat, flashlight, water and shovel.
  • Do not use cruise control when driving on a wet, icy, sandy, or otherwise slippery road conditions.
  • If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow. Your vehicle can become a warm place to stay. Do not try to walk in a severe storm, especially if you are out in the country.
  • Steer your car into the skid. If your vehicle loses traction and begins to skid…steer the front tires into the direction of the skid.
  • It’s important to use your headlights in the daytime, not so much so that you can see, but so that other cars can see you.
  • Check tires, make sure they are fully inflated.
  • A blocked exhaust may cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into vehicle’s interior while the engine is running.
  • Always allow time for your car to warm up before driving.

Remember weather conditions can change quickly, so plan extra time to get where you are going.  Don’t ever assume your time on the road will be uneventful. You could get stuck in snow or in traffic for extended periods.

Buying a Home – Your Largest Investment

Posted under Homeowner’s Insurance.

A home is typically your largest investment yet people tend to look for the cheapest price to protect that investment. Rather than look for the cheapest price, look for the best value which would provide the correct coverage at a fair price to make sure that your investment is protected correctly.

iPad Winner

Posted under News and Announcements.

The winner of the PlatinumOne referral contest is Matt McFeeters of First United Mortgage, LLC.

Matt will receive a new iPad compliments of PlatinumOne Insurance Agency. Congratulations Matt and thanks to everyone for your referrals.