Allstar Direct Insurance & Financial http://allstardirectinsurance.posterous.com Miami Home Insurance posterous.com Fri, 25 May 2012 06:24:00 -0700 Why Timely Home Repairs Matter http://allstardirectinsurance.posterous.com/why-timely-home-repairs-matter http://allstardirectinsurance.posterous.com/why-timely-home-repairs-matter

At one time or another, every home owner must do repairs to their property—and that’s a good thing. Because home repairs make living at home more pleasant and efficient while also keeping the structure safe for you and your family.

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Home repairs can also have an effect on your home insurance premiums because they may result in the prevention of your home’s further deterioration and they may even result in your home being brought into current code guidelines. Since codes often change to accommodate new materials that are able to better withstand weather and environmental damage, this can make your home less risky to insurers which will result in lower insurance premiums. But saving money on insurance isn’t just about the repair itself; it’s also about the timeliness of the repairs that you do.

The Domino Effect

The little things that happen around your home may seem small at first, but eventually, when left unrepaired, they can turn into much larger problems. For example, a small leak in your roof, left unfixed, can create mold, mildew and rot that weakens your home's structure. With a weakened structure, you may find your house is unable to stand up to wind, hurricane or storm damage. Then, when you have damage--if it is covered by your policy--you will not only have to come up with the money to pay the deductible for the damage but you will also have to deal with the inconvenience and expense of being displaced while repairs are done and you may be facing higher insurance premiums at renewal since you are now a higher risk.

Instead, if you had fixed the leak when you first noticed it, you could have made your home stronger at minimal expense, made certain that your family was not exposed to quickly proliferating mold spores (the removal or remediation of which is generally not covered by home insurance) and that your home was better able to withstand storms and inclement weather.

Timely home repairs can save you money now in preventing extreme damage to your home, and they save you money later by helping to keep home insurance expenses low. When you are ready to get insurance for your home and you are curious about all the ways that you can help get a low premium quote, give us a call at Allstar Direct Insurance & Financial Services. We can figure out what discount you may be qualified for now and help you maintain a lower Miami Home Insurance premium through the years.

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Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:20:00 -0700 Tips for Preventing Electrical Fires http://allstardirectinsurance.posterous.com/tips-for-preventing-electrical-fires http://allstardirectinsurance.posterous.com/tips-for-preventing-electrical-fires Believe it or not, there’s a powerful source of fire right inside your home: electricity. From old defective wiring to overloaded outlets, there are electrical fire hazards everywhere we turn.

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As a matter of fact, more than 40,000 residential fires are caused each year by faulty electrical wiring, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Tragically, defective electrical wiring systems have claimed an average of 350 lives a year for the past decade.

So, how can you ensure that your home's electrical system is fire-proof? Follow these priceless fire prevention tips from the National Electrical Safety Foundation:

  • Check your electrical cords periodically. If you find any cords that are frayed or damaged, replace them. Do not place cords under rugs or carpet.
  • Make sure that your outlets and/or extension cords are not overloaded. If you notice that your lights are dimming, your heater or kitchen appliances are not working properly or your television picture is poor, this could be a sign of an overloaded circuit. Add up the wattage of all the electrical devices plugged into each circuit and keep the total load well below the circuit’s maximum capacity.
  • Do not use high wattage bulbs in light fixtures and lamps that cannot handle them. Always choose the proper wattage bulb for each light.
  • If you have children in your home, install child-proof electrical outlets. This will ensure that a child cannot insert something into an outlet.
  • If your home is more than 40 years old, you should consider updating the entire electrical system. Because older homes often contain aluminum wiring, they are more vulnerable to electrical fires. You should replace the old wires with copper wiring, which is more resistant to electrical fires.
  • Consider installing ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in your kitchen, bathrooms and utility rooms. A GFCI will shut down the electrical system if it detects an imbalance in electricity, which can help protect your family against electrocution.
  • Install power surge protection devices for large electrical appliances and computers. A power surge, which is a sudden rush of voltage in an electrical circuit, can damage electrical devices plugged into the circuit.
  • Avoid arc faults by installing arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI). Often caused by improper electrical connections, overheated wires or pinched wire insulation, an arc fault is a discharge of electrical currents across a gap that can lead to an electrical fire.
What to do if a fire breaks out

If an electrical fire starts at a wall outlet, pull the plug by the cord if you can get to it safely or turn off the main switch. If the fire is small, use your home CO2 fire extinguisher. NEVER douse an electrical fire with water.

If the electrical fire is large, evacuate your home immediately and call the fire department. Be sure to notify them that it is an electrical fire. They may be able to turn off the main power source, which could keep the fire from spreading.


Make sure you're covered with Miami Home Insurance from Allstar Direct Insurance today!

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