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Summer is officially over. A quick reminder to keep your home gutters clear from debris during the Fall!

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Here are a few tips and tricks for saving money
on your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy. 

Do Your Research

A smart consumer will request several quotes and shop around for the best deal on their homeowner’s insurance policy. Talking with independent agents is always a good method for getting a good understanding of what constitutes the best deal taking coverage and cost into consideration. But you should also look for any discounts you can: many memberships come with insurance discounts, even wholesale club memberships like Costco and Sam’s Club.

Update Your Home

If you own or are purchasing an older home especially, talk with an agent about what modern upgrades will affect your premiums. You can make some changes that make your home safer and also save you money every month!

Brush Up on the Lingo

Sometimes, consumers choose a slightly cheaper option without knowing the real cost of the compromise in coverage. For example, consider the way your policy handles a payout. Actual Cash Value will save you a little money on your premium, but should something happen, you may find this payout inadequate. 

This is because Actual Cash Value payouts are based entirely on the current worth of the home and contents insured. In contrast, Replacement Cost will payout based on the current cost to rebuild or purchase the home and contents. This can mean a stark contrast in what your payout looks like and greatly affect your ability to recover from a disaster. 

Consider A Higher Deductible

As with any type of insurance, you can expect to lower your premium by raising your deductible. You have to consider whether this option is the best fit for you, because raising your deductible will put more financial responsibility on you than sticking with a lower deductible. Speak with an agent about how much you feel comfortable with raising your deductible up to and see how it affects your annual premium.

Add an Umbrella Policy

Although adding an additional policy made seem counter-intuitive when it comes to saving money, an umbrella policy can add extra protections that save you significant money in the future. Should you face any liability litigation, that exceeds your homeowner’s policy, you are personally and financially responsible for those costs. If you don’t have the funds available, you could be looking at wage garnishments or worse. An Umbrella policy is quite inexpensive to add and the protections it provides are more than worth it.

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These benefits, along with countless others, are great reasons to keep the trees on your Oklahoma property in good shape. Especially before the freezing temperatures start sweeping across Oklahoma. Unhealthy trees can actually pose great danger to your home and property, as well as to your family and other people, not to mention…a possibility of having to use your Oklahoma home insurance.

With these 5 tips from the National Arbor Day Foundation, you can help prevent tree trouble – and potentially save yourself from having to file a claim on your Oklahoma homeowner’s insurance.

1. Inspect trees frequently. The size, color and condition of leaves, and overall leaf cover, are good indicators of a tree’s health. Cavities or disfiguration can be a warning sign, although they don’t always mean a tree is a hazard. Just keep a close eye on it. Dead branches are a big risk, because they can fall easily. Those that cross or rub can create weak spots. 
2. Plant in an appropriate space. Putting in a tree that will grow to be large? Don’t put it near power or sewer lines, or close to your home. And avoid brittle trees – their limbs are weak and more likely to break and fall. Examples include Silver Maples and Willows. 
3. Prune correctly. Cut outside the branch collar, and prune regularly as trees age. Don’t allow a tree to be topped. Make sure to take proper care of trees that have grown over your home before resulting in filing a claim on your Oklahoma homeowner’s insurance. 
4. Leave it to an expert. Once a year, have a qualified arborist thoroughly evaluate the trees on your Oklahoma property. An arborist can identify ones that need to come down immediately, as well as those to watch. In particular, trees that have been topped, or that have lost large limbs unexpectedly, could cause trouble. Taking down trees can be very dangerous, so leave it to a professional. 
5. Remember, you’re responsible. Property owners are generally responsible when their hazardous trees cause damage or injury to others. So keep your trees healthy, your space beautiful and your liability low!

When a tree does fall, you may or may not have coverage through your Oklahoma homeowners policy for any damage it may cause. If you’d like to discuss your coverage, please give us a call today. It may be a good time to think about adding extra liability coverage to your insurance portfolio with an umbrella policy. We are here to help! (405) 285-2929

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What You Need in an Emergency Kit

You never know when a natural disaster is going to hit the OKC Metro — or even just a big storm that knocks out the power for a few days.

That’s why having an emergency kit for you and your family is so important. It’s not hard to put one together, yet there are still many households that would be completely unprepared if they had to evacuate their home for a few days. Or, for that matter, remain in their home without access to running water or electricity.

Below is a list of basic items for your emergency kit, as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Of course, you can add or remove items as needed to meet the specific needs of you and your family.

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.
• A three-day supply of nonperishable food for people and pets. (Note: Red Cross recommends keeping a two-week supply of food and water on hand at home.)
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights and extra batteries.
• A first-aid kit.
• Prescription medications and glasses.
• Dust masks to filter contaminated air, along with plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a makeshift shelter if necessary.
• A whistle to signal for help.
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
• A tool to turn off utilities.
• A can opener.
• Local maps.

Additional items that are likely to be useful:

• Important documents, such as copies of insurance policies, identification and birth certificates, bank account records, etc. Be sure to keep these in a watertight container.
• Extra cash or traveler’s checks.
• Warm blankets or sleeping bags for each person in your family.
• Matches.
• Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils and paper towels.
• Paper and pencils.
• Books and activities to keep kids busy.
• Emergency reference material, such as a first-aid book.
• A complete change of clothing for everyone in the family, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. If you live in a cold climate, you might pack additional clothing and bedding.

Keep in mind, when you need your emergency kit, you really need it. It’s a small investment of time and effort that can have a huge benefit in case of a disaster. And you don’t have to spend your whole day putting it together — spread out the work over a few days and you’ll be prepared in no time. #EmergencyPrepardness

Here are some links that Statewide Insurance Agency found useful:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
https://www.ready.gov/kit
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/

American National Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/be-red-cross-ready/get-a-kit
https://www.redcrossstore.org/category/id/1
http://www.redcross.org/participantmaterials

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Thank you for allowing Statewide Insurance Agency to take part of your 2nd Annual RE/MAX Preferred Properties THINK PINK Cookout and Fundraiser! #EatDrinkandThinkPink

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Thank You to Nicole White – Great Plains National Bank, Nichole Schoonover – Supreme Lending for another referral and welcome to the Statewide Family, Ben Deakle Owner of Paint Your Art Out. Enjoy these fluffy treats from Katiebug’s Shaved Ice and Hot Chocolate! #CountdownToCocoa

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