April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but sometimes they also bring unwanted flooding.  In the spring, flooding can also be caused by thawing snow and ice, which is a particular concern in the mountain regions of New Hampshire and Vermont.  Cleaning out a flooded home isn’t just a major headache. It’s also a big hit to your wallet. Just one inch of water could cause up to $25,000 worth of damage. And the worst part of it is that the standard homeowner’s insurance ...

Once the last snow has fallen, and the deep freezes have passed, it’s time to take stock of what damage winter might have done, as well as catch up on any fall home improvement projects you didn’t get to.  Remember, home maintenance not only has the immediate benefit of increased comfort, it also saves you the cost of expensive repairs down the line. Here are some key areas to focus on.  Start at the top. Break out your ladder and scan your roof for any missing shingles or o...

During the winter months it sometimes feels like we face a choice between shivering in the cold or cringing over bloated heating bills. It doesn’t have to be that way though. There are lots of things you can do to cut down on your heating bill while keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. Below are few ideas.  Turn down the heat at night. Turning the thermostat down just a few degrees at night can save a lot without making you uncomfortable during the day. You could sav...

Memorial Day Weekend is here, which means grilling season has begun. Grilling is undoubtedly one of the best parts of summer. But throw in drinking and the distractions of family and holiday events and it can become a recipe for disaster. Every year, grills are the source of 10,600 home fires, sending 19,700 people to the emergency room, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Whenever you’re dealing with anything fire-related, you should use extra caution. And don’t th...

Deciding to get flood insurance can be one of the most important things you do for your house and the future of your finances. Here are 10 facts we want you to know about flood insurance. 1. Homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover floods. The typical homeowner’s insurance policy covers a lot, including lightning strikes, volcanoes, and things that fall out of the sky. But not floods. So if heavy rainfall turns your backyard creek into the Nile, you’ll be out of luck if you don’t have flood i...

Spring isn’t just a time for doing some casual house cleaning. This is also one of the best times to do some serious home maintenance. Here’s what to focus on. Window of opportunity. This is the time of year when we tend to change out the storm windows for screens. Make sure you check your screen for any holes or tears that bugs could slip into. A typical hardware store will have what you need to make repairs. Beating the bugs. Spring is the best time to spray for bugs. If your yar...

There’s a lot that your typical homeowner’s insurance policy will cover—fires, hurricanes, lightning strikes, and other disasters. But floods aren’t one of them. Just 1 in. of water in your home could cost you $25,000. The problem is floods are the “most common and costly natural disaster,” according to the Insurance Information Institute, which says that 90 percent of all natural disasters involve some kind of flooding. Over the last four decades, flood-related damage has caused over $26...

Winter weather can do a number on your house. From flooding due to ice dams, to roof damage from snow and ice, there’s a lot that can go wrong during the winter. Fortunately, there are some simple low-cost things you can do to protect your home from Mother Nature’s fury. 1. Outside faucets. Drain outside faucets and then turn them off from the inside. Also, make sure your hoses are drained and disconnected. And, if you have a sprinkler system, blow compressed air through it to void any ...

As blankets of snow covered neighborhoods across New Hampshire in early January, some people were undoubtedly injured for a variety of reasons that include slipping and falling. With the average slip and fall injury easily ballooning hospital bills, the Insurance Center would like to remind homeowners how to be proactive about slip and fall liability claims. “It’s difficult to completely eliminate a homeowner’s risk for slip and fall liability claims, but you also don’t want the injuries ...

More than 1 million home burglaries are estimated to cost households roughly $3 billion in losses every year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But what you may not know is that December is one of the peak months for home thefts in many states. Since home burglaries are not a new phenomenon, the Insurance Center would like to pass on some widely accepted home security tips that can reduce your chances of a home burglary. “It is common sense to lock your front doors, but many h...