A deductible is something that is often accompanying an insurance policy. This deductible is the amount one pays initially before the insurance starts to kick in. for example, if the deductible on a house is $500 and a tree falls on the house, this is the amount that the homeowner is expected to pay before […]
There are many preparations to make before buying a home. Most importantly, perhaps, you need to make sure you don’t buy more house than you can afford. Generally, you shouldn’t be spending more rehab roughly 28-30 percent on your total monthly payment. You also need to budget for your closing costs, which can add thousands […]
Home inventory apps can be enormously useful in documenting and organizing your property, making both moving to a new residence and filing a home insurance claim much easier and more efficient. These apps — including Sortly, Nest Egg, Blue Plum and others — allow you to do things like taking pictures of your belongings and […]
A safe deposit box at a financial institution is (even in the digital age) a good way of securing important valuables or documents that must be protected, and/or which could be needed after the owner dies. You will receive a key, and often the bank will keep one as well, with both keys needed to […]
A property title search is a crucial part of the real estate sales process that determines who has legal ownership of a piece of property, and ensures that nobody has any claims or liens that could complicate the sale. After an offer has been accepted, the title search reviews a wide variety of federal, state […]
It’s important to protect your safety and your belongings when selling your home. Safeguard your jewelry, prescription medications and other things thieves might try to steal by hiding them, locking them up or removing them altogether. Use the buddy system and avoid showing a house completely alone — this is good for your safety, and […]
Burglary, while on the decline, still is prevalent and hits 1.4 million homes a year. You do not want to be one of them! Burglars are brazen and will rob you in daylight as most people do not take as many safety precautions then. Leave your windows, doors, cars, garage doors locked. Do not post […]
Buying life insurance is an important step towards financial security for your whole family. After purchasing a policy the job is not done. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the details of the policy. Set up a calendar to review the policy once a year. Make sure your will is up to date so the […]
Canceling your homeowners insurance, even if you haven’t used it for a long time, is potentially a very risky decision with major ramifications for your future. The liability protection your insurance provides, for example, can protect you from a crippling financial blow if someone sustains an injury on your property for which you are liable. […]
With a growing risk to homes from wildfires, many homeowners insurance companies are trying to find ways to avoid paying customers any more than necessary. Wildfires already cause billions’ worth of damage every year, and climate change is just going to make this hazard worse. Most homeowners insurance is supposed to cover both fire damage […]