It is always a good idea to conduct home inventory on your home in Florida. This way, if you have to file a claim, you know exactly what is inside your home. Without an inventory, it could be problematic to prove what you have and get the money need to make replacements.

Know What You Have

You may not even realize just how much you have until you start creating inventory. You will want to go room by room to list what you have. It’s also a good idea if you photograph every item. This will help to reduce the likelihood of being denied something.

Determine Values

Go through and determine the value of everything within your home inventory. This is important for several reasons. First, it will make it easier for a claim to be filed if you know exactly what you possess. Second, it will ensure that you have enough coverage on your policy based upon the value of the items inside your home. For example, jewelry and art can be valued higher than you may think – and you want to have it dictated on your policy.

Simplify Claims

Filing a claim with your home insurance company can be long and tedious. The claim adjustor is going to want to know everything you had that was lost or damaged. If you cannot produce a thorough list of everything, it can make it harder to establish a value, and you could end up getting cheated out of money that is rightfully yours. When you have a home inventory, you can produce a list, complete with photos and values.

To learn more about home insurance and home inventories, contact Runnels Insurance today and speak to an agent. This will make it easier to enjoy peace of mind.

 

Liability coverage on a home insurance policy is used to protect you against damages associated with an accident occurring on your property. In many cases, liability insurance helps safeguard a homeowner against lawsuits resulting from an injury occurring within your home or damage to another’s personal property. Your level of coverage is accessed based on your budget and need.

Determining How Much Liability Insurance is “Enough”

Different carriers will offer several types of inclusions on liability insurance plans for homeowners. Most standard coverage will include payments toward medical bills if a visitor is injured in your home and the courts find you legally responsible for the accident. Legal fees may also be covered within the inclusions of liability insurance. Loss wages could also be reimbursed under a liability plan if the injured was out of work because of the accident. Liability insurance may help cover property damage caused by an accident, like the breaking of an expensive family heirloom. If a person dies within your home, dependent on the kind of policy you have, death benefits may be paid out under the plan.

An agent can talk to you about the minimum and maximum amounts of coverage provided through each plan. There is also typically an option to add an umbrella policy to offer additional protection beyond the maximum coverage amount. Exclusions are also important to review with an agent. For instance, a home insurance policy with liability coverage is not likely to protect the insured if an automobile caused damages.

Never get caught without having the proper amount of liability coverage to protect your home and valuables. Contact an independent insurance agent at Runnels Insurance for quotes and available policies for homeowners in Brandon, FL and surrounding areas.

When making the jump to live in an RV full-time, it is important to make sure that the insurance policy you carry covers not only the RV itself, but also all your personal possessions and property.  An insurance policy for those living in an RV is very similar to a homeowner’s policy.  The two main types of coverage to consider when purchasing or renewing a policy are:

Property Coverage
When living in an RV full-time, all the possessions that you own are with you and for that sole reason, you want to make sure that all personal items are protected and covered should loss or damage occur.  When shopping for insurance, inquire about how much monetary coverage the policy provide and if it will cover the costs of your items.  Ask if all items such as jewelry, electronics, small furniture items, tools, etc. are covered.

In addition, many who live in an RV full-time may store possessions in a storage shed away from where the RV is..  If the possessions within are damaged or stolen, check to see if insurance can be bought to cover these items. 

Personal Liability
Just as you would with a homeowner’s policy, bodily injury and property damage needs to be purchased as part of a policy in case of an accident if someone falls or slips while in your RV or on the campground area of where your RV is parked.

Runnels Insurance, serving Brandon, understands the different types of insurance needed to protect your personal possessions and your RV.  Visit our website or call us at 813-653-0681 to talk to one of our team members about what type and how much insurance you need.  We offer various types of insurance to provide you with the best pricing possible.

Making your home safe and secure is fundamental to keeping your family protected from outside influences, such as intruders and heavy weather conditions. There are a few things you can do to limit your home from being disturbed or damaged.

Simple Upgrades to Prevent a Home Burglary

• Lights – Shine lights on dark spots around your house. At night, take a walk around your property and investigate any areas that a thief could have access to. Add lighting to that area. Solar powered lights are good because they automatically come on when the sun goes down.
• Cameras – Small cameras around your home will give you extra security. Place a camera over your front and back doors and any sliding doors you may have. Make sure every access point is covered.
• Secure Sliders – Sliding glass doors are a thief’s dream. Even if they are latched, they are easier to open for an experienced intruder. Place a slide-locking bar on the bottom of the doorframe to prevent the door from moving.

Keep Your Home Safe During a Storm

• Windows – In Florida, hurricanes are prevalent. Having storm windows could prevent violent winds from breaking glass and causing you or your family injuries.
• Roof – Reinforce your roof with wind-resistant asphalt shingles.
• Gutters – Repair loose or clogged gutters. They can cause physical damage to your home during and after a storm.
• Loose Furniture – Lawn furniture and other unsecured debris should be tied down or brought inside before a storm. These items can become flying torpedoes in hurricane force winds.

Located in Brandon, Florida, the independent insurance agents at Runnels Insurance are available to assist you with information that will keep your home safe and secure. They can also provide research for your new or existing insurance policy.

Most people love an organized closet. It makes things easier to find and it makes like easier on a daily basis because you can actually find the items you are looking for in order to complete an outfit. Unfortunately, wanting a closet to be organized and actually organizing a closet are two very different things. You can easily make a big difference in the closet, though, by using some of our helpful tips. Don’t forget to contact us at Runnels Insurance for all of your insurance needs. 

• Get your shoes off the floor and put them on the door. You can do this by using an over the door shoe rack. This will allow you to organize your shoes on the back of the door. You will be able to find them in no time at all and you will be freeing up a lot of space on the floor for other items.
• Use tiered hangers to free up closet rack space as well as put like clothes together. This is a space saving tip as well as an organization tip. There are a lot of different kinds of tiered hangers. You can find some specifically for pants, some for outfits, and others for blouses. Getting a few will allow you to put more clothes in the same amount of space as you did with one hanger as well as organize things together. 
• Use shelf dividers to create more organization. Shelves are great in a closet and if you are lucky enough to have them, make the most out of them by using shelf dividers. You can create little cubby holes to put things like sweaters and purses in. By separating them, you are also creating more organization and you can keep like items together. 

Spring cleaning doesn’t need to be a giant hassle. In fact, if you play it out just right, you can clean your home efficiently and maybe even save a few dollars along the way with these simple easy spring cleaning tips. At Runnels Insurance, we know your time is important, so taking advantage of these tips should help you clean up your Brandon, FL home faster than ever before. 

Start Outside

The sun is out and the weather is feeling nice. Why not step outside for a bit of fresh air? You’ll need to clean the windows, but a good amount of the dirt probably accumulated on the outside of the windows. Cleaning this area of the windows first helps you see what you need to clean when you move back inside and the natural light can do wonders for your mood. 

One Cleaner Rules Them All

Switching between a half dozen different cleans not only is time consuming tracking down the right one, but it is expensive as well. If you go to the cleaning isle at the store, you’ll find dozens of options for the kitchen alone. Instead, just go with one. Check out the multi-surface cleaning products. It works well on just about anything you need to clean and is generally mild in nature. 

Change the Filter on Your Vacuum

Do you dread vacuuming your home because you have that "vacuum smell" when you are done? Nobody likes the aroma of dirt circulated through a a vacuum. When it starts to smell like this, it is time to change out the filter on your vacuum. This can instantly change the quality of air in your home. You can even toss some air fresheners designed for vacuums into the appliance. This way, not only does it clean your floors but improves the aroma of your home. 

Your family will be safe during a disaster if you prepare adequately. You need to take into consideration the types of disasters that occur around the Brandon, FL area. You may be without power, and you may deal with flooding or fire. Some general disaster preparation you should do is simple tasks that can protect your family’s safety and health. 

1. Get Water Bottles

Buy an extra case of water and keep in on hand at all times. You can go about 72 hours without fluids; however, it can affect your health and comfort level. 

2. Food

You should stock up on food, so you have enough sustenance to last you for three days. You want to opt for items that are non-perishable. You may want to have a small refrigerator and a generator if you want to be on the safe side, but it’s not necessary. Your goal is to have enough food to get you through until the electric is restored or until you can find alternative shelter. 

3. Lights

Have a flashlight or two on hand in case of a power outage. Ultimately, you want enough flashlights for every person in your home, and they should be strategically placed,  so you can get to them easily. Always have spare batteries on hand in the general vicinity of the lights. Portable lanterns are great to have as well. You may want to have a battery-operated tap light in each room of your house. 

4. Radio

Have a radio that runs off of batteries. Don’t rely on your cell phone because your Wi-Fi won’t work if the power is off. The radio will be able to tell you recent weather changes and if an evacuation is necessary or any other special instructions to keep you and your family safe. 

Protect your home for your family’s sake with insurance through Runnels Insurance. 

Many renters are focused on closet space. Sometimes, you cannot find the space you need or the design you have been looking for. There are ways, though, that you can make the most of a small closet so you can make it more like what you are looking for. No rental is perfect but if you can make the most of what you have, you are succeeding. Follow these tips to get the most out of the space. 

• Remove the shelves if they do not work for you. You can easily remove these and put them back when you leave. They are generally just screwed into the wall. This makes it an easy transition both when you move in and when you move out. 
• Add more shelves if needed. You can get bracket mounted shelves at any local hardware store. Once you are ready to move out, you will just need to remove them and spackle the walls. 
• Remove the door. If you need more room, one easy way to do this is to remove the closet door. You can always put it back before you move out and this is as easy as removing the door from the hinges. 
• If the space simply does not work for a closet, rethink it. You may be able to use it as a little desk area. Think outside the box and make sure you get the most out of the space, even if you do not use it as a closet. 

If you are a renter, you should have rental insurance to make sure all of your belongings are protected. Your landlord’s insurance does not cover your belongings. Contact Runnels Insurance serving Brandon, FL to explore your options and choose an insurance plan that is right for you.