10 Tips for Preparing for Home Ownership - Good information for Doorfly.com

Posted on March 10, 2011 by admin http://blog.doorfly.com/articles/2011/10-tips-for-preparing-for-home-ownership/ When someone is moving into their own home for the first time, they may not realize all of the new issues that they will have to deal with that were not a part of their life prior to owning a home. 1.Shopping for insurance. Home insurance is one of the first things they will need to deal with, as it will be required prior to closing on the home. As with any insurance, no two policies are alike. Some comparisons should be made between different types of coverage as well as the price. Some insurance policies cover the cost to actually replace a dwelling and the contents, while others only pay a set amount, regardless of the replacement costs on items. 2.Lawn maintenance. This is usually something that people have not had to deal with if they didn’t own their home previously. If you plan to do your own lawn maintenance, then you will need to purchase a lawn mower and perhaps a weed trimmer. You will also want to have a rake, shovel and watering hose available. If you plan to hire someone else to take care of your lawn maintenance, then you will want to check into the different companies that provide those services in your area. 3.Utilities. It will be important for a new homeowner to know which companies provide the utilities to their home and contact them to setup their accounts. Trash pickup is one of those utility services that is often overlooked prior to move in. 4.Get to know the neighborhood. Taking some walks and drives around the neighborhood can be a good way to familiarize yourself with where things are and who lives where. Take note of where the nearest convenience store is located and where the nearest mailbox drop can be found. Find out who your neighbors are, if you can. They can tell you a lot, like where the best parks are and the quickest route to the grocery store. 5.Winter needs. If you live in an area that gets snow, you will also need to prepare for snow remo val from your sidewalks, driveway and possibly your roof. A good strong snow shovel will be your minimum need, but you may want to look into the purchase of a snowblower as well. 6.Recommendations for repairmen. If you own a home, eventually you will need to call on repairmen to deal with things like a furnace that doesn’t work, plumbing issues or appliance repairs. Rather than looking through the phonebook when that time comes, it is a good idea to get the names of repair services that other homeowners have used and would recommend. That way you will have someone reputable to call on when the need arises. 7.Security. If you were previously living in a secure apartment building, homeownership comes with a different level of security. You are now responsible for how much security you need for your home and how you want to provide that. To start with, you will want to make sure that all your entrance doors lock securely and have deadbolts installed. If you want a further level of security, you may want to check into purchasing a monitored security system. 8.Tools. Every homeowner needs to have some basic tools around the home for simple repairs. A hammer, pliers, various screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, a utility knife and a measuring tape are a good list to start with. You may also want to add a shop vac and a power drill to the list. 9.Extra finish items. If this is your very first home of any type, there will be several small items that you may need to purchase before you move out on your own. Shower curtains and window blinds may be needed. A rug or entry mat at the front door, would be a good idea. You may need to purchase waste receptacles, a vacuum cleaner and a broom as well. 10.Budgeting. Carefully budgeting for the new expenses involved with home ownership is very important. You will want to include fluctuations in your utility bills and funds for miscellaneous repairs and improvements in your budget. There can be many other expenses involved with home ownership than just the mortgage payment, insurance and taxes. A little thinking ahead will keep the move into your new home, not only smooth, but exciting as well. Your first home, should and can be, a great experience.

FEMA Region VII Earthquake Message

Yesterday we talked about an earthquake off the coast of Oregon, and today we see that FEMA Region 7 is giving good advice on how to prepare for an earthquake, and what to do when one happens.

FEMA Region 7 is in the midwest where earthquakes rarely occur, yet they still urge preparedness because earthquake DO happen!

Before an earthquake occurs:

• Consider purchasing earthquake insurance.
• Buy a 20-gallon garbage can and fill it with emergency supplies.
• Consider retrofitting your home to make it more resistant to earthquake damage.
• Educate your children about earthquake safety.
• Anchor heavy furniture, shelves, cupboards and appliances to the walls or floor.
• Store dangerous chemicals such as flammable liquids and poisons in a secure place.
• Learn how to shut off the gas, electricity and water.
• Have money in savings for post-catastrophic expenses that aren’t covered by your earthquake insurance policy. These expenses may include higher insurance deductible and repair or replacement claims that exceed your policy limits.

When an earthquake hits, what to do if you’re indoors:

• DROP to the ground;
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and
• HOLD ON until the shaking stops. Cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

When an earthquake hits, what to do if you’re outdoors:

• Stay there. Drop, Cover and Hold.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

To see the whole message, go to http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=50396 and visit http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/

Flood season is coming - get insurance now

Flooding causes millions of dollars in damage yearly and the only way renters and homeowners can insure their property against such losses is with flood insurance. Flood insurance should be purchased now because there is a 30 waiting period before the policy will take effect and already the rains are upon us.

Floods can happen because of heavy rains, leaking levies, urban runoff, sandbags forcing water to other areas and rivers changing course.

Many people believe the following myths:

Myth 1: If my home floods, FEMA will come and fix it for me.

Truth: If the flooding is severe enough, the Governor may ask for a Federal declaration. If the President approves, FEMA may assist you with temporary housing and MINOR repairs. There are always loans but insurance is your best bet.

If the flooding is not severe enough to warrant government assistance, flood insurance will still help cover your losses. Without it, you would be stuck paying for repairs out of pocket. We often see flooding situations where stream or urban runoff impacts a few homes and therefore does not qualify for any government disaster aid. In those situations, a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy can save a homeowner or renter considerable financial losses.

Myth 2: My regular homeowner’s insurance will cover me if I get flooded.

Truth: The average home or business insurance policy does not cover flooding or other special events like earthquake. You need to get separate policies for these disasters.

The basic facts:

Homeowners can insure a home structure up to $250,000 and its contents up to $100,000. These can be two separate policies. Contents are not automatically included.

Renters can cover belongings up to $100,000. Non-residential property owners can insure buildings and contents up to $500,000.

The average yearly cost of a NFIP policy is around $400. Policies can be purchased from your local insurance agent if your county is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program. Call your insurance agent for details.
The NFIP was created in 1968 to provide flood insurance at a reasonable cost and is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

More information on the National Flood Insurance program and your home’s flood risk can be found at www.floodsmart.gov .

Be informed and go to www.FEMA.gov for more information on different types of disasters. Oregon Emergency Management wants Oregonians to be well informed and prepared.

Earthquake insurance

Forgot to mention in the article that earthquake insurance is available and affordable. Your insurance agent may not want to deal with it, but be pushy. It's worth it.