Periods of heavy rainfall have been predicted for winter. Beyond flooding dangers, heavy rainfall often leads to mudflow – a river of mud – and landslides caused by destabilized land shifting due to gradual erosion or sudden accumulation of water. Mudflows can be as dangerous and costly as mudslides. Mudslides occur
A homeowners insurance policy will cover damage from fire, including wildfire. If your house is damaged by a fire, the policy has several coverage types to help repair or rebuild the home, replace belongings and, if necessary, pay for temporary housing if you can’t live in the home. If you haven’t recently
Wildfires in the Western United States have increased in frequency and intensity. This year in California, the wildfire season began long before the actual fire season, and the fires have broken records. The horror, devastating damage and loss of the fires and smoke affects nearly every Californian, there’s an additional threat
Homebuyers are almost always focused on the fun parts, like choosing colors, textures and landscaping. The last thing homebuyers want to think about is the long list of unfortunate events – like a fire or a bad storm – that could take it all away. A homeowners' insurance policy usually includes
What kind of answer do you get when you ask folks how much insurance you should have? Ask an insurance agent, and they might tell you to buy as much as you can afford. Ask an underwriter, and they might tell you to buy as much as they’ll approve. Ask a customer, and
For many people, the home fireplace becomes more than decorative when it gets cold outside. Fireplaces provide many families with heat to stay warm and toasty – this list can help you keep track of proper maintenance and make sure your fireplace is ready for regular use. General fireplace and chimney
Preventative measures, safety precautions – and the right insurance – can bring peace of mind. With burglaries constituting approximately 50 percent of all on-campus crimes, it's important for college students and their parents take steps to prevent theft, adhere to safety measures—and review their insurance coverage. Contact an insurance professional (like me)
Most people aren’t ready for a wildfire, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Maintain an adequate defensible space around your home and protect your home using fire resistant building materials. “Defensible space” is a buffer around your home that you can create by removing dead plants, grass and
The sun is out, the air is cool, flowers are blooming – that means it’s time for a little spring cleaning. After the winter we just had, it’s a good idea to do some preventive cleaning and maintenance to help maintain your home and property the rest of the year.
We all live and work in buildings with smoke detectors, but Californians haven’t adopted innovative new technology: water detection devices that warn about water damage from leaks or pipes. Western homes are much more likely to be damaged by water than by fire, but only a fraction have installed devices that