DIY Door Fixes For Your Home

You may not give much thought to the doors in your home, but they provide privacy, quiet and protection from the elements. But one small problem just may be enough to drive you nuts. However, you don't need to resort to living with the problem, or even call a handyman to fix it. There are several issues that you can easily repair yourself. Below are just three examples.

• Squeaky hinges: If the hinges to a door squeal each time its opened, all it needs is a bit of lubrication. You can use WD-40, olive oil or petroleum jelly to fix the problem. Pour a bit of the lubrication of your choice onto a paper towel or rag and rub it all over the hinge, working it into the seams. You can perform this task as many times as necessary to stop the squeaking.
• Loose screws: Some loose screws may simply need to be tightened, while others become loose because the wood around them has rotted or worn. If you're faced with the latter, purchase a 3/8-inch wooden dowel and cut it down so you have a piece for each screw. Remove the screws and drill the existing holes to fit the larger size of the dowels. Coat the dowels in wood glue, insert them into the new holes (saw off any excess length) and give them time to fully dry. Once dry, drill a new, screw-sized hole directly into the dowels and then reattach the door.
• Drifting door: Do you have a door that drifts toward the closed position when you try to leave it open? It's time to realign the doorframe. Start by removing one of the door's hinge pins and hit it with a hammer until it bends slightly. Then, simply reinsert the pin. The bend will cause extra friction and help prevent unwanted drifting.

Protect your home completely. Call Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency at (813) 933-6691 for more information on Tampa home insurance.

Insurance for Dog Bite Liability

Over 60 percent of American households own a pet, with dogs being a popular choice. Any dog owner will admit their devotion to their canine, but having a dog increases liability risks. Though most pooches are docile, any animal (humans included) can lash out if provoked. It’s important to understand the liability risks associated with dog ownership, along with what insurance will or will not cover.

About one-third of states mandate that dog owners are “strictly liable” for their dog’s behavior. The rest of the country is more lenient, with a “one free bite” principle mandating that dog owners are liable only if they know about their dog’s tendency to bite. In any state, you are considered liable in instances of unreasonable carelessness; however, you are not held liable if your dog injures an intruder.

Homeowners and renters insurance will often cover dog bite liability, up to policy limits. Most homeowners policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. Dog owners found liable are responsible for reimbursing the victim for medical costs, lost wages, property damage and any associated legal fees. Once your dog has bitten a guest, your insurance provider may charge you a higher premium or exclude your dog from coverage to offset the increased risk.

This may sound unimportant to owners of well-mannered dogs, but dog bites occur more frequently than you may think. Dog bites accounted for over a third of all homeowners liability claims in 2012, costing over $489 million. The average cost paid out per bite was $29,752.

Your dog is part of your family, a loving companion. You wouldn’t dream of rehoming your pal. However, if you notice aggression or unease around strangers, you may find it best to restrain your dog while guests are in your home to prevent unwanted incidents.

Wondering what your state laws are for dog bite liability? Call us at 813-933-6691 for more information on Florida homeowners liability insurance.

Citizens Property Insurance Clearing House FAQs

What is the Property Insurance Clearinghouse?

The Property Insurance Clearinghouse will help match all new personal lines applicants and renewing personal lines policyholders with  participating private - market insurers before placing or renewing coverage with Citizens.

When will Citizens implement the Property Insurance Clearinghouse?

Citizens will launch the Property Insurance Clearinghouse in January 2014.

Why is Citizens implementing the Property Insurance Clearinghouse?

As the Florida insurance market continues to rebound and options for private - market coverage expand, Citizens is working diligently to help Florida homeowners find coverage in the private market. A clearinghouse statute was enacted by the Florida Legislature during the 2013 legislative session with this goal in mind.

Why should consumers try to find coverage in the private market before purchasing a policy from Citizens?

Improvements in Florida’s insurance market are making it possible for some Citizens policyholders to find broader and possibly less expensive coverage in the private market. Citizens policyholders not only may have more restrictive coverage, but also may face higher Citizens policyholder assessments following a major hurricane. When a policy is written by Citizens even though there are private - market offers of coverage, it increases both Citizens’ potential claims exposure and the risk of assessments for all Floridians. (Source)

Learn more about the Clearinghouse and how Adcock can help.

America's Fire Insurance History

The Great Fire of London in 1666 was responsible for the destruction of over 13,000 homes and 87 churches. This enormous blaze also caused the displacement of over 70,000 residents. While it was mostly poverty stricken residents who were affected by the fire itself, the disaster had some major fall out that affected the entire country economically. After the fire, the number of homeless people increased exponentially, businesses lost both customers and workers, and disputes arose over whose responsibility it was to pay for damages and rebuilding.

The Great Fire of London pointed out the need for some insurance to help individuals recover from this type of disaster. Many different fire insurance schemes were attempted after the disaster, but they weren’t particularly well thought out and eventually, they failed. Marine insurance was the only real functioning type of insurance at this time, and it was used as a model to develop a successful and functional fire insurance company in England in 1681.

In 1732, an insurance company in the United States issued the first fire insurance policy, but it still didn’t really catch on. Benjamin Franklin was a giant proponent of fire insurance and, in 1752 he created Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire, a company that refused to offer fire insurance to owners of buildings that were high risk. Unfortunately, that included wooden houses, which left an enormous portion of the population without protection.

Continue reading "America's Fire Insurance History" or contact us at (813) 933-6691 to learn more about Tampa home insurance.