Gutters can be easy to overlook. But they can get clogged with decaying leaves and other organic matter, leading to damage and expensive repairs that your home insurance won’t cover. Inspecting and cleaning your home’s gutters is crucial Here are some top reasons gutter maintenance is a big deal for your home and budget. Prevents […]
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Every year, Christmas trees start fires. While these fires aren’t common, they tend to be very serious, resulting in costly damage, property loss and even loss of life. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas tree fires between 2013 and 2017 caused an annual average of three deaths, 15 injuries, and $10 million in […]
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During the transition from fall to winter, it might make more sense to use a supplemental heater than to turn on your primary home heating source just to cut the morning chill. Or if you live in an older or poorly insulated house, you may need to supplement your primary heating source just to keep […]
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Many American families have an accumulation of stuff in their homes: gasoline cans, spare oil, half-containers of antifreeze, fertilizer, yard pesticides and other materials all compressed together into one poorly ventilated space. This creates the perfect conditions for vapors, chemical reactions and combustibles like cardboard boxes to accumulate, heat up and ignite. As you think […]
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Your home is your sanctuary, a place to recharge. But you need a multitude of appliances working hard to preserve that haven: When they break down, it’s chaos. And it’s not just the things in your home you need to worry about. If a severe storm knocks out your power, for example, the electrical surge […]
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Majestic old trees are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. Falling trees and tree limbs cause millions of dollars in property damage each year when they land on buildings or vehicles. If a fallen tree is large enough, it can destroy an entire home. While some tree hazards are unavoidable – such as a […]
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Have you heard that your credit score can affect how much you pay for insurance? As a consumer, you probably know everyone has a financial credit score — three of them, in fact — maintained by three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These firms compile information from financial institutions and retailers including […]
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Many homebuyers dream of owning a piece of history. From charming historic districts to one-of-a-kind architectural gems, over 95,000 properties in the United States qualify for the coveted National Register of Historic Places. Historic homes are often located in sought-after neighborhoods, possess gorgeous design features, and qualify for tax credits. But these homes can be […]
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More fires start in the kitchen than in any other place in the home. Aside from being common, cooking fires can also be deadly. Kitchen fires caused by cooking equipment make up on average 49% of home fires, 21% of home fire deaths and 44% of home fire injuries, according to a 2014-2018 study by the National Fire […]
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When winter arrives, dumping inches or even feet of white stuff in your neighborhood, a snowblower can be a handy tool. While you still have to go outside and clear your property, a snowblower spares you from the back-straining (and sometimes heart-attack-inducing) labor of shoveling snow. While a snowblower can make quick work of clearing […]
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