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Going On Vacation? You Need To Know These Tips

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Fully enjoy your holiday vacation with these home security tips.

The holidays are one of the busiest travel times of the year. No matter if you are headed to visit friends and family, or escaping all of the holiday madness on a tropical beach, leaving your house empty while you are gone can be very dangerous. Keep these holiday home security tips in mind to keep your house protected.

While you are getting ready:

  • Load your luggage in your garage if possible so any potential burglars don’t see that you are leaving. If your garage is not an option, load your luggage into your vehicle as fast as possible.
  • Let your neighbors know that you are leaving and how long you will be gone. Ask them to keep an eye on your house and call the authorities about any suspicious activity.

Make your home look occupied:

  • Install a few timers on lights in your house to go off at different times of the night. You may also want to install a timer on a radio or TV so that your house sounds occupied.
  • Keep your blinds and curtains at their normal positions. If you keep your blinds open, make sure there are not valuables that are visible through your windows.

Don’t be a target for thieves:

  • Do not post on social media how long you will be gone or when you are leaving. Thieves regularly look on social media sites and will know just how much time they have to break into your house.
  • Bring any hidden keys inside or give them to a trusted neighbor to check on your house while you are away.

Having the right homeowners insurance policy will help to keep your home protected while you are away. Contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California for all of your Conejo Valley home insurance needs.

Is Your House Vulnerable to Ruin?

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Keep stable during shaky times with earthquake insurance in Westlake Village, CA.

In an area prone to earthquakes, very few people have earthquake insurance. Only 17 percent of Californians have an insurance policy that covers earthquake damage. In this area, earthquakes are a yearly occurrence and are one of the natural disasters to destroy houses and neighborhoods within minutes. Homes can be torn apart to the point of total devastation and homeowners can face extreme losses, both physically and financially. Earthquake insurance is designed to protect your assets during an earthquake, and if the home or possessions were to be damaged, to cover the replacement and rebuilding expenses. So why is there such a lack of coverage?

Unfortunately, earthquake coverage in the 1990’s has given the insurance type a bad rep. The coverage was very bare-bones and was typically limited to $5,000 in damages. Meaning that in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, if a home’s roof had been ripped off, $5,000 was not going to help the homeowners greatly. If you have fallen victim to this circumstance, we understand how important it is that you receive proper and full insurance now.

Luckily, modern insurance is different! Coverage is more expansive, affordable, and protective. Earthquake coverage can range from protecting the basics, to covering your garage and contents, and additional living expenses if you need temporary housing while your home is being repaired.

Taking effect on January 1, 2016, there will be new options for earthquake coverage including higher policy limits, deductible options, and mitigation discounts. If you own a home in California, an earthquake is an extremely likely disaster to face. Take a step into the major safety net that is earthquake insurance by contacting Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, CA.

What if a Pipe Bursts in Your House? Are you Covered?

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When investing in a homeowners insurance policy, you may assume that every peril is covered. While most unfortunate situations are covered, there are a few instances that are not. If you have a pipe burst in your home, it may or may not be covered.

When a pipe in your home bursts, an insurance adjuster will come and take a look at the issue before deciding if it is covered. If they find that the pipe burst due to lack of maintenance or preventable negligence, the problem will probably not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. The insurance company will hold you responsible for the damage, since you failed to perform the proper upkeep on your home. Insurance will cover mishaps and accidents, but not negligence.

If the pipe bursts due to faulty workmanship from the installer of the pipe, or from a sudden event that you were not able to prevent, the damage will most likely be covered by your insurance. There are many instances that would fall under faulty workmanship, such as if a professional caused more damage than good when working on the pipes. If there is a very severe winter that causes the pipes to freeze and burst, that would be considered an event that you were unable to prevent, which would mean the damage would be covered.

Most of the time, your homeowners insurance will also cover damage that is done to the pipes if a heavy objects fell onto the pipes causing damage. However, your insurance company can also seek payments from the person who dropped the object and caused that damage.

For all of your homeowners insurance needs to ensure that you house is protected from any peril in the Conejo Valley, California area, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency.