Heavy Rain? Be on the Lookout for Heavy Damage

Your home protects you from the elements, but heavy rains can weaken that protection. With a little maintenance and a lot of vigilance, it’s not hard to stay safe and dry.

Spring rainstorms are a fact of life in many areas of the country, and they help keep things green, even if they keep you inside. But when they get heavy, it’s time to start thinking about the potential impact all that water has on your home. The first step is finding and fixing any immediate problems as soon as it’s safe to do so. Then, you’ll want to take measures to prevent those problems from happening during the next downpour!

Where is all that rain going?
Your roof and gutters form a key line of defense for your home – and in a storm, they’re vulnerable, because so many things can damage them. Trees, hail, and other objects can create weaknesses that might lead to leaks in your roof, so check for missing shingles and other issues. And keep your gutters clear so all that water drains properly.

Are you checking everywhere?
Water dripping from the ceiling is hard to miss. Water in your crawl space, however, can easily go undetected because hardly anyone ever checks there. Don’t forget to look down there after a storm (or have a professional do it) to make sure everything is nice and dry. If you do see moisture, you’ll want to get it out with a sump pump as soon as possible.

And don’t just look up – another place to check is your home’s exterior, whether it’s siding, brick, or another material. Weak spots can be hard to see, so look at various times of the day in different lighting conditions.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed to keep the elements out, too.

What about around your property?
Storm water has to go somewhere, and if your property doesn’t drain well, or if runoff goes toward your foundation, you could have problems. So watch for patterns, and grade property so it drains away from your home if possible. Always be wary of hillsides and tilting trees after heavy storms, because the land might not be stable.

And don’t forget to keep storm drains clear of leaves and other debris. This can prevent flooding both on the streets and your own property.

What should you do during the storm?
During powerful storms, stay inside. This is not the time to check your roof, your exterior, or your property unless there’s an emergency and you know it’s safe to go out. Monitor your interior, making sure no water is getting in. If it is, do what you can to alleviate the situation in the moment, even if it means just placing something under a leak to collect the water. For more serious problems, though, remember that safety is the most important thing. If your basement is flooding, for example, don’t go down there – you could be trapped and even drown.

Thankfully, powerful storms only hit once in a while. Preparing for them, however, should be on your mind a lot more frequently, because the next one could be tomorrow.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user Victor U used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Do you have the right coverage at the right price? Contact us today to see how we can help you lower your insurance cost in Southeast Michigan!

Need a home insurance quote for a property that you own or rent out?

Not all insurance agents are the same! Choosing the right one can make a big difference – in price, service, and value.

With other agencies, you get one company that sells one brand of insurance. With an independent insurance agency like Macomb Insurance Mart you get choices.

Why? Because independent insurance agencies, like Macomb Insurance Mart, represent a number of different insurance companies, and can compare coverage and prices to find the best possible value for your individual circumstances. As independent agents, we are members of the Clinton Township, MI community, and we’re committed to doing business professionally and being your advocate in times of need.

Serving Macomb and Oakland Counties and the state of Michigan, here are a few reasons why Macomb Insurance Mart should be your first and last stop when looking for insurance.

• We work for you when you have a claim.
• We are not beholden to any one company. This means you don’t have to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
• We are your consultants, working with you as you determine your needs.
• We are value-hunters who look after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage, and service.
• We offer one-stop shopping for a full range of products, including home, renters, auto, business, RV, watercraft, motorcycle/ATV, landlord and condo insurance.
• We can periodically review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
• We are committed to customer satisfaction – it’s the key to our livelihood.
• We treat you like a person, not a number.
• We are licensed professionals with strong customer and community ties.

There is a difference. To find out how our independent insurance agency can help you find the right insurance coverage, please contact Macomb Insurance Mart today. Give us a call today at 586-263-0700 or email us at support@macombinsurancemart.com.

Our agency, like many others have started to receive calls from our clients and even new prospects asking many questions about the new reform bill that was passed at the beginning of June 2019. This law, which started in October 1973, affects everyone in the state of Michigan. The reform bill will start going into effect July 1, 2020 with some provisions not changing until 2021 & 2022. Like many other bills it can take years to figure out the details in a change of this magnitude.

The changes we are currently aware of include mini tort, non-driving factors, Michigan Catastrophic Claims Authority (MCCA) and state required limits. Other changes involve medical coverage/charges in an auto accident, but most importantly to the consumer is the premium decrease of an auto insurance policy.

If you have liability coverage ONLY on your vehicle you may currently go after the "at-fault" party of an accident for $1,000. This mini tort amount will increase to $3,000.

Non-driving factors including things such as marital status, owning a home, education level/occupation and postal code can no longer be used as rating methods. Membership associations will still be able to offer group discounts on insurance policies and territory codes will still be used by insurance carriers. Credit scores cannot be used for rating but credit report information can be used to calculate an insurance score. Also, Insurance companies will no longer be able to limit or refuse coverage based on a consumer not having "prior insurance" and they will no longer surcharge for this.

The MCCA is going to have to provide more detail as to how the annual fee is calculated for each vehicle. Currently, it is listed at $192 fee per vehicle. On July 1, 2019 (in 6 days) this amount is going to increase to $220 per vehicle, not policy, PER VEHICLE. We hope that next year’s assessment will be more reasonable with the new reform policy that is put in place.

Michigan, like many other states, has state required minimum limits for liability coverage. It is currently listed at $20,000 per person with $40,000 per occurrence. This will increase to $50,000 per person with $100,000 per occurrence. This increase is assumed because the new law allows people to sue at-fault parties for additional coverage needs.

Auto insurance in Michigan has had unlimited payout in medical coverage for almost 50 years. This means that there has been no limit to what or how much can be charged by individual entities as the result of an auto accident injury. Consumers purchasing auto insurance can now decide if they want to keep their "unlimited" coverage (most insurance agents should recommend this) or if they want a specific limit to be applied for medical coverage. Limits that can be chosen are $500,000, $250,000, $50,000 and opt-out. You can only choose $50,000 if you are a recipient of Medicaid and you can only opt-out if you are a senior or permanently disabled on Medicare. It is important to keep in mind that the consumer is responsible to check with their health carrier on ALL coverage because some expenses may have a limit and other expenses may not be covered at all. These can include physical therapy, medical equipment and services provided in or out of network. Medical providers will only be able to charge a maximum 200% of the Medicare base. This decreases to 190% by year three.

How much do you save on insurance? This law reduces ONLY the Personal Injury Protection (PIP), medical expense & work loss wages, on each policy. This is not a total policy reduction. I have listed the percentage that your PIP coverage can be reduced:

Opt-Out = 100% reduction

$50,000 = 45% reduction

$250,000 = 20% reduction

$500,000 = 10% reduction

Our recommendation is to make sure you carry enough coverage to help you in the event that you were catastrophically injured. Assume you have to pay for all procedures (including surgery if necessary), prescriptions and medical equipment not only for your vehicle but also your home. These medical expenses could last the rest of your lifetime so make sure you are prepared.

Most people do not understand what an independent agent is…

“Agents are either captive or independent. A captive agent represents a single insurer. Agents that represent Allstate or State Farm are captive agents. An independent agent represents multiple insurers.”

Independent insurance agencies, such as Macomb Insurance Mart, can offer services to customers from multiple companies. The agents can help guide you to the correct company that fits your needs. Many Insurance companies have a specific market that they are geared towards and most consumers are not aware of which company will work for them. Agencies can be a small business, similar to Macomb Insurance Mart, or they can grow into multiple locations.

Independent insurance agents can give you advice on your current policy and help you insure all of life’s changes. Many agents will do training, with their many appointed companies, to see what new products or discounts are available to the public. You do not have to call a 1-800 number to reach your agent when you have a question or concern. They can help you put your life back together after a disaster by protecting your property; they can educate and give advice on coverage you may need.