What if you have a water back up in your basement?

Posted By Jay Toole
April 10, 2019 Category: What If, Homeowners Policy, Flooding

Snapshot: Document everything that was removed from the basement in a detailed list. Remove carpet or other damaged flooring. Assess if further remediation is needed from a restoration company and contact your insurance agent. April showers may bring May flowers, but they could also bring some serious headaches. Common in old homes and homes built at low points relative to storm drains can suffer from basement flooding and water back up when a storm is heavy enough. This can mean water flooding the basement from drains or even sewage from the toilet. In the former case, the water may not have human waste but still be dirty enough to ruin your carpet, drywall, wood stairs, and household items that can absorb liquid. We have dealt with this personally and would gladly impart our wisdom onto you. Be prepared prior to the upcoming storms Keep electronics, shoes, towels, stuffed animals, and other items that can absorb water on higher shelves or in sealed, plastic totes. Totes without lids can be effective but if the water rises high enough then it can (and in our case did) flip the bins. In frequent flooding cases, a storm well or safety drain can be dug into a basement that will mitigate the risk of water flooding your home. Many local companies can provide this service- or shoot us an email for a reference. Document everything! One more time for good measure. Document EVERYTHING. Create a detailed list of all the items that were ruined due to the flooding. This i

Not All Auto Policies are Created Equal - 3 Things to Ask Your Agent

Posted By Jay Toole
April 04, 2019 Category: Auto Insurance, Limits, Ask Your Agent

Your softball buddies ask you out for a burger after the season opener. You think to yourself, “I ran around the bases at least 3 times. I’ve earned it”. You jump in the co-pilot seat of your teammate’s car and motor on to the downtown strip. In the distance you see the familiar sign of your favorite pub and can just taste the flamed burger that awaits. And just as you think your celebration is ready to commence, your classless teammate turns into the drive-thru at the nationwide burger joint that we will call PacDonalds. You feel crushed and a bit queasy. That second feeling may be from the food that has yet to hit your stomach. This fast food lesson can apply to almost any aspect of your life but as insurance nerds, we thought it gave a good representation how not all insurance policies are created equal. Check out these 3 questions you should be asking your agent about your auto policy. What are my limits? You hear the term ‘state minimum’ often from a certain gecko, caveman, or general on tv commercials. This term refers to minimum dollar amount of coverage you must have to legally drive. In Ohio the required minimum for Bodily Injury Liability Coverage is currently $25,000 per person injured in any one accident and $50,000 for all persons injured in any one accident. The required minimum for Property Damage Liability Coverage is $25,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident (commonly displayed as 2