Essential Home Repairs You Shouldn’t Avoid

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If you live on a tight budget, it can be tempting to ignore home maintenance jobs that need to be done on your property in order to save money. While some home repairs can be put off temporarily without serious repercussions, others need to be taken care of right away. By putting off essential home repairs, you increase the risk of causing even worse damage to your property. The following repairs fall under the "essential" category:

Roof Repair

An old roof with damaged shingles won’t hold up against stormy weather. If you delay making roof repairs, you increase the risk of structural and/or interior water damage to your property. Water damage caused by lack of roof maintenance and repair may not be covered by your insurance carrier. By discussing water damage coverage with an Advantage Insurance Network agent in Cincinnati, OH, you can get a better idea of the protection your insurance policy offers.    

Plumbing/Electrical System

Problems with your home’s plumbing and/or electrical system should also be taken care of as soon as possible. Worn pipes or faulty wiring increase the risk of flooding or fire, both of which could utterly destroy your home. If you own an older home, you may need to upgrade your plumbing or electrical system to avoid serious problems.

Cracks in Foundation

Although some cracks in your home’s foundation may be harmless, others could present a problem. When it doubt, it’s best to have cracks checked by a professional, especially if they cause buckling or bulging in the home’s structure. Taking care of the problem early on could save you the expense of costly repairs later down the line.

A comprehensive home insurance policy from Advantage Insurance Network in Cincinnati, OH, will protect your home and personal belongings from unforeseen events that could cause damage to your property.  

 

Does Home Insurance Make a Difference?

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The last thing that you want to deal with is finding the money to rebuild after your home is damaged or destroyed. Though it is possible, the burden of finding enough money to rebuild or to buy a new home is very trying and can be avoided with the right home insurance policy. The agents with Advantage Insurance Network in the Cincinnati, OH area can help.

There are a few different ways that a home insurance policy can make a positive difference in your overall experience. For starters, having a home insurance policy in place is going to make it far easier to rebuild if your home is destroyed, to repair if your home is damaged, and to recover if your home is burglarized. Also, home policies can help pay the cost of medical bills if someone is injured while on your property.

Overall, home insurance is going to help make a huge difference in how quickly you can get back to your life after something terrible happens. Though it might not seem like a possibility, a home can be destroyed in a matter of moments and when you have home insurance, you can be sure that you are going to be able to get the money to rebuild your home and get back to living. A great home insurance policy is going to be a safety net that keeps you covered no matter what even when it might seem like you do not need it.

It does cost a premium each month but that does not mean that the premiums are going to outweigh the benefit of keeping a home insurance policy up. If you live in the Cincinnati, OH area, contact the agents with Advantage Insurance Network today to get the right policy for your home and for your individual circumstance.  

Drivers Should Put the Brakes on Reporting Car Accidents on Social Media

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Throughout the last few years, increasing numbers of auto insurance companies claims adjusters, and attorneys have been probing consumers’ social media accounts when they file claims, looking for evidence to prove that they were made under false pretenses.  Facebook is probably mined the most, but claims-investigators also examine Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Foursquare.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, most insurance companies have special investigation units (SIUs) that look at social media if they have any reason to suspect fraud.  

Large numbers of claims have been denied because social media posts and photos called their validity into question, especially in cases of bodily injury.  If policyholders report, for example, that an auto accident caused a back injury, and then share photos in which they’re playing sports, the claim will probably be considered fraudulent.  

Drivers in Cincinnati, OH need to be sure that their posts are consistent with the information they provide when filing a claim.  Motorists are likely to call unwanted attention to their claim if they report driving against a doctor’s order or under the influence of medication.  If they claim a physical limitation because of their injury and then share posts in which said limitation seems non-existent, they will raise red flags. 

There are a few things Cincinnati, OH drivers can do to protect themselves from social media scrutiny.

Investigating claims via social media is legal if the claimant’s settings are "public."  Users should restrict their settings so that only friends can see them.  However, this does not guarantee complete privacy.  Drivers are best-advised not to post about their auto accidents on social media at all.  If that’s already happened, they may be able to dispute the decision if their claim is denied.

Contact Advantage Insurance Network to discuss your options.

DIY Winter Home Maintenance

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Want to keep your house in good condition throughout the Cincinnati, OH winters? There are a few home maintenance tips that you can do yourself to help keep your home secure for the season.

  • Gutters – Clean your gutters to remove any debris that may have become trapped over the last few months. If your gutters are blocked, water can damage your roof and fascia of your home. Water that settles can attract insects, animals, and rodents. Water that flows over can seep into your foundation and cause mold damage. Remove any large debris by hand and then, with a gutter attachment, spray the gutters with a garden hose. This is a good time to see if your gutters are draining properly. If not, you will need to flush the downspout with a hose.
  • Empty Pipes – Before the weather gets below freezing temperatures, make sure there is no water in the exterior pipes of your home. Shut off the main water valve and then run all of the faucets until the pipes are clear. Don’t forget about the toilets, dishwasher, and washing machine. Add a small amount of propylene glycol to prevent freezing from standing water inside of any pipe traps.
  • Fireplace Maintenance – Fireplaces that are not maintained properly can cause house fires and could result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Check the outside of your chimney for cracks and make sure that your cap is in good condition. The screen preventing rodents and animals from entering your home should be damage-free and clear of debris. Also, clean out any ash from inside your fireplace.

 In Cincinnati, OH, our independent insurance agents can help you keep your home safe and secure with home insurance. We can also take care of your auto, business, life, health, and boat insurance needs.

4 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Fall

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Fall is a beautiful time of year, but sometimes people are too busy outside enjoying the new season that they fail to remember that winter is coming. Preparing for fall really means getting the house ready for a change in temperature, so check out these 4 tips from Advantage Insurance Network to get your house back in tip-top shape. 

Insulate It All 

Unless you love spending money on all of your heating bills, then it’s time to consider better insulation in the house. It’s not a myth that you can lose hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year by the heat escaping to the outside. 

Clean It Up 

Winter is stuffy and if your house in Cincinnati, OH isn’t clean, it can compound the cabin fever feeling you will not doubt be having at some point this season. When you clean everything, you can at least have air that hasn’t been compromised by the dust that’s built up over the stifling heat of summer. 

Store It Away 

There are a lot of things you won’t be using this winter, and why have all of the clutter around if you don’t have to? By putting it all away, you have space and room to breathe, and it makes it a lot easier to find the things you will need — like your sweaters and your shovel.

Remember the Perils of Winter

 Advantage Insurance Network serves Cincinnati, OH, and wants you to have a safer home for all the seasons. Failing to purchase the right policy can lead you open to repairs that you can’t afford. For protection against natural disasters, call our agents today to find out how you can get the coverage you need to ward off snow, ice and more. 

 

Your Cincinnati, OH home insurance agent can find you the right policy

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When you buy a home it’s a very exciting time, but don’t get so caught up in getting a house that you overlook the important details of protecting your new investment. You need to make sure you take good care of your house, and that includes keeping it insured. With a good insurance policy, your home will be financially protected from fire, floods, break-ins, and other worries that are common to people who own a house of their own. One of the best ways to get the right insurance policy for your Cincinnati, OH home is to work with an independent agent from Advantage Insurance Network.

Independent agents are great at finding you the right policy because they can get you quotes from several different companies. Then you can ask questions about all of the options you have and can consider which policy is going to be right for you. Some of your focus may be on the cost of your policy, but there are other issues to consider, too. How much coverage you’re getting for the money matters, because that tells you the true value of the policy you’ve chosen. Instead of just selecting what’s least expensive, you can look at several different policies that fit your budget.

When you get your home insurance from Advantage Insurance Network, you can work with an independent agent and get answers to your questions about the right policy and what that can mean for your needs. Then you can just live in your home and enjoy it, knowing you’re protected financially. As your needs change you may need to make adjustments to your home insurance, too, so it’s good to know that you have an agent on your side to help you stay prepared.

How To Choose The Right Coverage On Your Auto Insurance Policy

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It’s not always easy to find the right coverage on your auto insurance policy in Cincinnati, OH. By following a few tips, you can have a more comprehensive policy so that you are covered against more scenarios.

View Your Policy

One of the first things you want to do is view your auto insurance policy. Look at what kind of coverage you have and where the “holes” exists. For example, you may have what is required of you by the same Ohio, when you don’t have the various add-ons that are available.

You can always choose to update your policy with more coverage. You can also decide to switch to another company at any point in time.

Read the Fine Print

The fine print is where you can find various details about your policy and terms of what is and is not covered. Independent insurance agents at Advantage Insurance Network can help you with the fine print by talking to you more about what is commonly left off of policies and how you can build a more comprehensive policy for yourself moving forward.

Talk to an Agent

In the end, you want to have the right coverage in Cincinnati, OH so that you don’t have to worry about paying out-of-pocket for car accidents, damage to your car, or anything else. While you will always have to pay the deductible, you don’t want to go above and beyond the coverage to the point that insurance will only cover a portion of the total expenses.

An independent insurance agent will be able to guide you through the entire process, helping you to select coverage based on what you drive, where you live, and your past accidents.

Contact us at Advantage Insurance Network to find out more about selecting the right auto insurance policy.

 

 

Getting Your Home Ready for the Winter in Cincinnati, OH

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If you live in Cincinnati, OH, you live in a climate where the seasons change in a fairly extreme manner. As such, you need to be prepared for those seasonal changes, particularly the shift to cooler weather in the autumn and winter. This can actually have a real effect on you financially, as certain types of damage that can be caused by seasonal weather are not covered by your home insurance policy except for very specific circumstances. There are many things you should keep in mind about home insurance in the state of Ohio.

One thing that you should do is make sure to get your furnace cleaned and inspected by a qualified technician. You should actually do this every year around this time, as damage can accumulate and make it so that your furnace does not work properly. You should also make sure that your chimney is clean, and you should have maintenance done if necessary. Additionally, you should position any downspouts away from the foundation of your home, so that water damage does not become a problem. This water damage would likely not be covered by insurance if it did occur, so you want to make sure to prevent it. You should get rid of any overloading sockets or frayed wires, as these can be potential fire hazards, especially during the characteristically dry weather of the winter. It would be a very good idea to take a look at your home insurance policy, so that you know exactly what kind of damage would be covered and what is not.

If you want to know more about home insurance in Ohio, you should contact the professionals at Advantage Insurance Network. The agents at Advantage Insurance Network can answer all the questions that you have about home insurance in Cincinnati, OH and tell you what you should keep in mind as you are preparing your home for the cooler seasons of the year.

How to Insure a Hybrid Vehicle

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Saving money while helping the environment when a person buys and drives a hybrid vehicle is a “win win” combination. Alternative fuel systems for vehicles are expanding. Clean Fuels Ohio (CFO) has worked closely with Cincinnati officials to fund the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles for the city. Hybrid vehicles are still relatively new to the market place but are gaining popularity based on the cost savings. The Advantage Insurance Network helps Cincinnati, Ohio residents find automobile insurance for all types of vehicles, including hybrids.

Generally speaking, a hybrid vehicle costs more to buy than a typical vehicle in the same model and year. The technology used for the battery powered systems is more complex than the classic gasoline engine. The newer “plug in” battery models may have federal tax incentives to help offset the additional price.

Some insurance companies charge more to insure a hybrid vehicle. One of the reasons is that the cost to repair the battery system, if damaged, is more expensive and requires more specialized service. Another reason is that some insurance companies think hybrids attract drivers who commute daily to work and, therefore, are on the road more often than other drivers.

There are a few insurance companies that will give a discount to those with hybrid vehicles. And, once the savings in gasoline expenses are factored in, hybrids can save money.

Ohio law requires that everyone have at least the state minimum auto insurance coverage. Finding the insurance company that gives a discount versus the insurance company that charges more is time consuming when clicking on different websites or calling around. Save time by using the Advantage Insurance Network. They will provide quotes from all the insurance companies in one location and suggest additional coverage to provide even more protection when an accident happens.

5 Tips To Find A Great Used Family Car

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Buying a family car is no laughing matter. As you want to drive around Ohio, you need a reliable car you are happy with. There are some tips to follow to make sure you get a great car and have nothing to worry about.

Shop Around

Shop around the different dealerships to see what’s out there. Start getting an idea as to what your budget is and what the dealerships have. You should also make decisions as to whether you want an SUV, a minivan, or a sedan.

Age vs. Cost

There’s a balance to achieve between the age of the car and its cost. If you go with something too new, it could be more than what you can afford. If you go with something too old, it may be prone to expensive repairs. Many say that you should look for a car that is around three years old.

Test Drive

Go for a test drive, no matter what. You want to be comfortable behind the wheel of the car. It is also important to look at how the car handles out on the road.

Know About Certified, Pre-Owned

Certified, pre-owned means that the car has gone through an inspection to manufacturer standards and has an extended warranty. It may be a little more money, but it also provides peace of mind on your purchase.

Get a Mechanic

Get a mechanic to look at the vehicle so you know what there is going on. If there are issues, you want to know about them before you make the decision to drive off in it.

Call now to learn more about auto insurance in Cincinnati. One of our knowledgeable agents at Advantage Insurance Network can help you find a policy that is affordable and provide sufficient coverage.