Articles

Spring is a great time of year to look around your home and decide on areas that could use a good refresh.  Many homeowners keep a list of projects that they would like to do – now is the time to start crossing a few of those off your list!  If you don’t have a list, but want to make some updates before the summer months, here are a few ideas for some outdoor and indoor projects.  Some of these will depend on the amount of time and money you have to spend.  

Outdoors:

For a good outdoor cleanup, consider renting a power washer on a nice sunny spring day and use it to remove dirt, debris, mold, moss and other materials from your deck or your driveway, the outside of your gutters and maybe even your siding.  

If painting is your thing, you could give a fresh coat of paint to your outdoor furniture pieces or maybe repaint your entry door or your house trim.

Landscaping work can include adding a new garden area or sprucing up an existing one.  Spring is a great time of year to clear out leaf litter between your house and your shrubs too!

Indoors:

You might add a new rug, buy a new piece of artwork or invest in a good furniture item, or maybe change out your window treatments to let in more sunlight.  Try slipcovers for a new look for older furniture pieces.

A change in your lighting can make a big difference as well.  If you have an older kitchen, perhaps you might like to update an old appliance or re-invigorate your kitchen cabinets with a new color.

Add a fresh coat of paint to a room or rooms.

Improvements and Your Insurance:

If you decide to do any major improvements on your home, check in with our team at Bieritz Agency to see if there is any added insurance protection you need during or following your renovations.  You may want to add big ticket items that you purchase to your contents items on your policy.    If you don’t already have a content list, check out our post from last November on Cataloging your Possessions for Insurance.

You can contact our team in Cooperstown at Bieritz Insurance Agency, 209 Main Street , Cooperstown, NY 13326 –
607-547-2951 or in Morris at Morris Insurance Agency, 128 Main Street, Morris, NY 13808 – 607-263-5170.  We are happy to help you!

Spring is a good time to check your property for tree damage.

Spring weather can be erratic, as we well know this year from our April sub-freezing temperatures and snow storms.  Despite this, we can say with certainty, it will begin to warm up.  As your yard becomes walk-able once again, we encourage you to take a trip around your property to look for any damage to your trees.

If you have a tree that falls on your property and it hits your home or your auto, you are protected for repairs under your homeowner’s insurance policy.  If you have a tree that falls on a neighbor’s property, their homeowner’s policy should cover any damages.  Some of these claims can get complicated, so we would encourage you to check with your office if you have any questions in this circumstance.

Typically, if you have a homeowner’s policy with a high deductible, the expense for a claim may cost more than the cost of the removal of a potentially hazardous tree.  We encourage all of our homeowner clients to take steps towards prevention of damages each year, during the spring months.  Inspect your property and look for any potential hazards (trees that are diseased, branches that are unstable, etc.).  Do some trimming or tree removal when/if needed.  Check with a local company to find out when their busy season is so that you can schedule for removal in the off-season when costs might be a bit lower.

A once a year property inspection can end up saving you headaches down the road and can save you money!  If you have any questions about your homeowner’s policy or other insurance products, please call our offices in Cooperstown at 607-547-2951 or in Morris at 607-263-5170.  We are happy to help you.

Despite the fact that this winter has been mild so far in comparison to the last two years, the months of February and March are still key months for fireplace use. By keeping in mind the following fireplace safety tips, you can protect your property and the lives of your family and neighbors.

• Inspect and clean your chimney and fireplace once a year (typically in the fall) to remove soot and creosote build up and to make sure they are able to operate safely. A chimney professional will use specialized vacuums to clean the firebox, smoke chamber, damper, smoke shelf and flue liner and will report on any system deficiencies found. They can also check the chimney and cap for deterioration or signs of damage.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home, and keep them in working order.
• Test your fireplace with a few small pieces of seasoned wood to make sure that smoke does not enter the room.
• When operating your fireplace, make sure you remove any combustible materials from the area around your hearth, and use a mesh screen to keep embers in the fireplace. Glass fireplace doors should be kept open when a fire is burning so that the fire receives air to complete combustion and reduce creosote build up in the chimney.
• Use the correct wood – dense wood types (oak, ash, maple) that have been stored in a dry area for 6 months or more are best – split wood dries more thoroughly and burns better than whole logs. Firewood should be stored a minimum of 30 feet away from your home.
• Never use flammable liquids to start fires – use matches or a commercial firelighter, and never burn cardboard, trash or debris.
• Do not close dampers until the fire is completely out.
• Clean out excess ash so that it doesn’t impede airflow for your fire. An inch of ash at the bottom actually helps to maintain a fire. Ashes can take several days to cool completely. Keep them in a metal container located at least 10 feet away from any buildings.

The expenses associated with maintaining your fireplace and chimney each year are minimal in comparison with the costs of a fire. We urge all our clients, family and friends to take the steps necessary to assure safe operations. If you have questions about your insurance coverage in the event of a fire, please contact our team in Cooperstown at 547-2951 or in Morris at 263-5170.

The fall months present a great opportunity for home projects that can help you prevent incidents over the winter season. In addition to accident and damage prevention, some of these can save you some money on energy costs as well!  Here are a few tips to help you get your home ready  for the winter.

• 

  Survey your property for dead tree limbs and remove them before they fall during a storm.  Taking down dead and dying tree limbs can prevent damage to your home and power lines.  Make sure you take safety precautions or hire a local professional to help you with this.

• Check your plumbing.  Are there water pipes in your home that are susceptible to freezing over the winter months?  You can insulate your pipes with pre-slit pipe foam (available at most hardware and home repair stores).  Just cut pieces to the proper length for exposed pipes and use duct tape to secure them.  You can also insulate your water heater too!

• Inspect and clean your chimney.  As we move into the fall months, you might want to enjoy an evening by the fire in your fireplace or woodstove.  Make sure that your chimney is structurally in good shape and clean out any debris build up that may cause chimney fires.  This usually needs to be done by a professional chimney expert, but is well worth the cost.

• Sealing and weatherstripping in preparation for the winter is always a good idea to keep your heat in  your home and should be checked and repaired when you are replacing your screens with storm windows and doors.

• Get your door drafts ready!  In addition to sealing, closing off rooms in your home will help keep each room warmer during the winter months.  Door drafts will help prevent cold air from coming in under your doorways – they really do work!

• Reverse your ceiling fans.  In the summer months, your fan blades rotate counterclockwise to push cooler air down to your floor.  The cooler air evaporates moisture which helps you feel cooler.    In the winter, your ceiling fan should rotate clockwise at low speed.  This pulls cool air up which pushes the warmer air near your ceiling down along your walls and back to the floor, making your room feel warmer.

• Don’t forget to clean out your gutters! Check your gutters for debris after the trees lose most of their leaves to assure for good drainage of melting water during the coming winter months.  Check your roof for missing shingles, possible leaks etc.

We hope you have found these tips helpful!  Check with Bieritz Agency for all your insurance needs.  Call us for a free quote – we can save you money!

Bieritz Insurance Agency, is proud to offer two convenient locations in Otsego County.

Your “Hometown” Insurance Specialists!
HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS • LIFE • FARM • BOAT • CYCLE & MORE

Bieritz Insurance Agency
209 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
607-547-2951
FAX 607-547-4487
info@bieritzinsurance.com

Morris Insurance Agency
128 Main Street
P.O. Box 70
Morris, NY 13808
607-263-5170
FAX 607-263-5270
agent@morrisinsuranceny.com