Tips for making your home safer

Home is where everyone wants to feel safe. Safety means more than just one thing. It can mean being safe from dangers outside the house, but it can also mean being safe from threats within the home. At The Slocum Agency Inc. in Warwick, RI, we want to keep our customers safe from the perils that can damage their home or their lives. While home insurance can’t stop bad things from happening, it can help you survive the terrible things and move forward. 

Change your batteries

Your smoke detector is one of the things in your home that makes it safer. It can’t do its job if it isn’t operational. If it is hardwired, you only need the batteries for backup, but they could make all the difference. Many people find that changing the batteries twice a year when the time changes help them to remember. If you have a carbon monoxide detector, change those batteries simultaneously. 

Remove clutter

In the home, falls are one of the most common injuries. You want to remove all trip hazards. The elderly and the young are the most vulnerable to falls, but no one is immune. Keep your stairs and hallways clutter-free. Make sure you have adequate lighting. Don’t run extension cords where they can cause a trip and fall.  

Keep poison under lock and key

Children and pets can be very inquisitive and resourceful. Don’t underestimate what they can get into. Keep all the medication, cleaning supplies, antifreeze, and anything else that might be poisonous out of sight and reach. Always read the packaging of any chemicals you bring into the home so that you know what is dangerous. 

Contact The Slocum Agency Inc. in Warwick, RI in person or on the phone to discuss the best home insurance for you and your home. 

Do i Need to Get Home Insurance in The Warwick, RI area?

Owning a home in Warwick, RI implies needing quality coverage for your most prized belongings. Home insurance is one of the crucial ways to safeguard your most expensive asset. Regrettably, many Warwick, RI residents assume that perils like fire, major storms, or theft won’t happen until the worst strikes in reality. Home insurance can save you from serious financial setbacks propagated by these covered calamities. If you are willing to discuss your option for home insurance coverage, please contact us at The Slocum Agency Inc., and we will handle all the work while you save.

Why home insurance is a worthwhile investment

Unluckily, many homeowners in Warwick RI view home insurance as just another unnecessary expenditure. However, when the unexpected happens, they realize how home insurance is a crucial tool to safeguard their dwellings and families. Below are stipulated reasons why you need home insurance.

Provides liability protection: Irrespective of how vigilant you are, accidents are bound to happen. Liability protection coverage protects you against probable lawsuits culminating from bodily injury and property damage you and your family members inflict on other parties. Personal liability coverage comes into play to cater to medical costs arising from injuries acquired by your visitors while on your property or elsewhere. These liabilities include bites from your dog to your neighbor and friend slipping and hurting their leg on your premises.

Structure protection: Calamities like fire, theft, vandalism, and storm can transform your dwelling into a nightmare. If you procure coverage for your dwelling, it will repair or rebuild your house if the covered perils ravage it.

Protect your belongings: Home insurance safeguards your possessions such as sports gear, clothing, furniture, and electronics if they are damaged or burglarized.

Provision of additional living expenses coverage: Is your home uninhabitable due to fire, hail, or storm damage? Don’t worry. Home insurance caters to additional living expenses while you are seeking shelter elsewhere.

Caring for your home and loved ones is critical in Warwick, RI. Call or visit us today at The Slocum Agency Inc. to get home insurance coverage matching your needs and budget designed by our charismatic agents.

Home Insurance Options for Warwick, RI Residents

As a resident of Warwick, RI, you have different insurance options. One of the insurance coverage options is home insurance. Being a resident of Rhode Island, you do not have to have an active home insurance policy, but it’s a good idea to have it for many reasons. Here’s a detailed look at home insurance and its benefits.

Why Is Home Insurance a Necessity?

You might be wondering why you need home insurance if it’s not required by law like other insurances. Home insurance provides homeowners with a variety of benefits, especially in the event of mishaps and accidents. If you have an active mortgage, the lender may require you to have an active home insurance policy until you pay off your mortgage.

This type of insurance is a necessity because it protects your home from accidents, such as your home becoming a loss due to a fire or other instances, such as a tornado or hurricane. Home insurance also protects dwellings that are not attached to your home, including sheds and garages. Your home insurance policy can cover the items in your home, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, and similar items.

Having liability coverage is priceless because it can save you tons of money and help if someone is injured on your property. If you are held liable for injuries that occur in your home, you could be facing expensive medical bills. Having an active home insurance policy helps with covering those medical expenses.

Let the Professionals Help

Here at The Slocum Agency Inc., we are here to help you find the most reasonable insurance solution for your unique insurance needs. Contact us now so we can discuss your insurance options in full detail and help you make a decision. We look forward to assisting you. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance on My Warwick Home?

Living in the Warwick, RI area can be a great option for a lot of people. When you are here, you are going to have access to many different local amenities and a good economy. When you are going to live in the Warwick area, it is important that you properly insure your home. One form of insurance that may be beneficial is flood insurance. There are several situations when having flood insurance could be a necessity.

Lender Requirement

One situation when you are going to need to have flood insurance is if it is required by your lender. If you are in a high-risk zone, as determined by FEMA, your lender will almost always require that you have your home insured with flood insurance. Usually, you will also have to escrow for your payments monthly to ensure coverage does not lapse. 

Flood Not Covered by Home Insurance

You may also need to get flood insurance if the flood damage is not covered by your home insurance. If you are concerned about the risk of flood, even if you are in a low-risk area, you should check to see if it is covered by your home insurance policy. If that coverage is limited, you should still consider getting more flood insurance. 

If you are in the market for a flood insurance policy, it is a good idea to speak with someone that is experienced in helping those in the Warwick, RI area to get proper insurance. One great company to reach out to in this situation is The Slocum Agency Inc. At The Slocum Agency Inc., the team of insurance professionals can help you to identify your personal risks and determine if flood insurance is necessary. If it is, they can then get you into a policy that provides the right coverage and gives you peace of mind. 

3 Little-Known Issues Often Covered By Homeowner’s Insurance

Most homeowners fully understand the value of homeowner’s insurance in the event of a disaster, such as a fire, tornado, or hail. However, certain things can take place in your Warwick, RI home that could be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy and you may not even know that they are covered. Take a look at three little-known issues often covered by The Slocum Agency, Inc. homeowner’s insurance policies.

Damage to Your Neighbor’s Property 

A limb falls from a tree in your yard and damages the neighboring home’s window. Before you get out your wallet to pay for repairs, make sure you file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do cover damages to neighboring properties if the damage was your fault or caused by something on your property. 

Injuries Someone Sustains While On Your Property

Say you are having a backyard get-together and a relative trip on the patio and falls down the stairs. Legally, you can be held responsible for their injuries, and most homeowner’s insurance covers a certain level of property liability if you have elected that as an option when building your policy. 

Damages to Appliances During a Storm

If lightning hits your home and sends a power surge through the outlets, it can damage everything from your expensive television to your smart refrigerator. Most homeowners assume there is nothing they can do but go out and replace the damaged items or pay for repairs, but it’s possible that homeowner’s insurance will pick up the tab. 

Overall, the homeowner’s insurance policy you have in Warwick, RI could cover more than you know. Reach out to The Slocum Agency, Inc. for more information about obtaining the proper coverage for your home. 

Do I Need to Create a Home Inventory?

Warwick, RI residents are not required by law to purchase homeowners insurance, but many lenders will require that their customers do so. It is also common for people without mortgages to obtain coverage, because it will offer indemnification in many circumstances and will serve to protect financial assets. Part of good fiscal planning involves the creation of a home inventory, and we will discuss this at more length. 

Home Inventory Basics

A home inventory will make things easier for you and your insurance company in the event that you have to file a claim, and it will help the process go faster. It is important to keep this list as up-to-date as possible because this tool can help insurance adjusters accurately identify items that have been damaged or destroyed. A home inventory can also aid in filing property tax reports involving personal property losses, making it an essential part of every homeowner’s record keeping. 

It is best to take photographs of everything you own, documenting entire rooms and taking care to focus on specific items that are of high value, such as pieces of jewelry, artwork, tools, and expensive equipment. Make a list on paper or on a spreadsheet of all your belongings, room by room. It is vital that you videotape your items and that you keep the footage on your computer and on a backup drive. You will want to keep copies of your photos, lists, and film in a separate location, such as a safety deposit box. 

Talk to the Slocum Agency, Inc.

We at the Slocum Agency, Inc. can answer your questions regarding homeowners insurance, and we will be glad to offer you a quote. We have experience serving the Warwick, RI area, and we look forward to working with you. Contact us, and speak to one of our knowledgeable and friendly agents today!