It’s no surprise that more and more homeowners are taking the leap to “green” as homeowners seek to save on utility costs and find alternatives for sustainable living. Did you know that “green” homes represented 17% of residential construction in 2011? Environmentally friendly housing construction is expected to grow to 29-38% of the market by 2016! […]
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It takes a village to raise a child – and it takes a 6-foot fence with a locking gate to have an in-ground swimming pool in your backyard. That’s the building code in most communities and an insurance underwriting requirement. Here in the Pacific Northwest, in-ground pools may not be as common as above-ground or inflatable pools, but don’t […]
Continue reading →Occasionally, our clients will call us at the time of their homeowner’s insurance renewal to inquire about the coverage amount for their home. With home values in the basement, it’s no wonder that insurance customers are confused when their insurance declarations page shows a coverage amount that seems much higher than the market value of […]
Continue reading →Did you know that dog bites account for about one third of all homeowner’s claims? It’s a staggering number. Last year, insurance companies paid $479 million for dog bite claims. That’s an increase of $66 million over 2010, and the numbers continue to rise. Dog bite claims can be very emotional for the family of the dog […]
Continue reading →The Office of the State Fire Marshal recently published this handy overview with tips to avoid electrical fires in the home. Please take a moment to read, and make changes in your home if necessary… It may save lives! Each year in the United States, electrical faults are responsible for starting more than 28,000 home […]
Continue reading →Did you know that over 50 million American families reside in a community that’s governed by a Homeowner’s Association (HOA)? Most condominium and townhome developments, as well as newer single-family home developments, have HOAs. The HOA is usually founded when the development is built, and membership is mandatory. HOAs maintain certain rules and standards that ensure the value […]
Continue reading →The City of Everett Police Department recently published a Crime Alert that shows a dramatic increase in residential burglaries in our community. Based on research by the Crime Analysis Unit, most burglaries occur on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays around midday, with the most common methods of entry being Unlocked doors Broken windows or sliding glass doors Pried-open doors or […]
Continue reading →For many people, the holidays are a time of parties, gatherings, and open houses. And indeed, part of the magic of the Season includes being surrounded by family and friends. If you are hosting, however, your planning shouldn’t stop at the menu and the decor. Having a number of guests at your house increases the […]
Continue reading →In light of National Fire Prevention Week from October 9th – 15th, 2011, we have gathered five of the most common household fire hazards – and how you can protect yourself: 1. Cooking Cooking fires are the number-one cause of fires and fire-related injuries in the home. Most kitchen fires start on the stove top due […]
Continue reading →You may have heard the recent story on National Public Radio (NPR): A man reported getting his laptop stolen. However, he had installed a program that would allow him to track his computer whenever it was turned on. He was able to see the user (and his whereabouts) through the laptop’s camera! Police were able […]
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