Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences to your home—and to your household budget. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to avoid the expense and inconvenience of winter damage—and even help you save on heating costs. Get started when the leaves begin to turn so your home is well prepared when the cold, harsh weather hits.
Read MoreFew cold-weather maladies are more irritating than frozen pipes, but what exactly causes them? During the drop in temperature, water may freeze inside plastic pipes, which causes it to expand and pressurize. Not only can frozen pipes prevent water from flowing properly, but they can potentially burst and cause flooding to your home.
Read MoreA crackling blaze brightens any dreary winter day. But if a fireplace or a wood-burning stove is not cared for properly, it can expel excessive smoke containing toxins such as combustible tar and carbon monoxide, as well as carcinogens like formaldehyde.
Read MoreIf disaster strikes, you'll want enough homeowners insurance to rebuild the structure of your home, to help replace your belongings, to defray costs if you're unable to live in your home and to protect your financial assets in the event of liability to others. Use these guidelines to help determine the coverage and amounts you need.
Read MoreWhile spring is a common time for many homeowners to spend some extra attention on upkeep and maintenance, autumn is just as critical a season for preparing your home to withstand the potentially harsh winter weather and temperature conditions that may await you.
Read MoreStatistics show that the risk of dying in a residential fire is greater as people age because of physical and cognitive limitations, says the U.S. Fire Administration, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Read MoreYou might assume that your homeowners insurance would cover any and all animal damage. But, most insurance policies treat animal-related damage differently depending on factors specific to the incident.
Read MoreA common insurance claim in winter months is water damage caused by ice damming. These 'dams' are just that, they are blockages of ice that can form just about anywhere on your roof and they prevent water from flowing off your roof. This water then begins to go backwards up beneath your shingles.
Read MoreThere have been many questions regarding an association's insurance policy and what a unit owner needs to insure. Coverage for an insurance claim is dictated by the language in the "Illinois Condominium Property Act".
Guaranteed Replacement Cost Coverage (or what some companies call Extended Dwelling Coverage) on your home is an option found in some homeowner’s insurance policies. The policy pays the full cost of replacing the home even if this amount exceeds the policy limits.
Read MoreIt's one of the biggest and most costly mistakes Chicago, Illinois homeowners make: They pay no mind to an aging roof until they see a leak from the inside. The problem: By the time water damage becomes visible from inside the home, there may already be extensive rot and mildew between the ceiling and roof.
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