Blog
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Protect Your Home While on Vacation
Posted at: 7/30/2025 12:00 AM
After you have packed your bags and planned your itinerary, you still need to consider how to best protect your home while on vacation. Hire a House – or Pet- Sitter. Stop mail/newspaper delivery. Lock ALL of your doors and windows. Invest in timers that turn on the interior lights for a few hours every evening. Put a bar on your sliding glass door. Install a home security system or even just exterior lights that run on timers. Don't post your vacation plans for the whole world to see.
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Hot, Dry Conditions Mean Increased Fire Danger
Posted at: 6/25/2025 12:00 AM
The Finger Lakes region is in the midst of a hot dry spell. We know the lack of rain and higher temperatures can do damage to our lawns, but did you know that it can also spark mulch fires? Mulch comes in many forms, from pine needles and grass or hay, to wood chips and shavings, to recycled, shredded rubber. All types of mulch are flammable. All it usually takes is some type of heat source. It could be a carelessly discarded smoking material or a spark from a workman's tool or spontaneou
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Posted at: 3/10/2025 7:30 AM
Spring is just around the corner and good planning and maintenance in spring will create less work and more enjoyment in summer. The outside of your home has been exposed to the elements all winter season. Inspect the following: Foundation- Look for cracks that may have developed during the winter. Siding- Clean the siding with a pressure-washer to remove/prevent mold growth. Landscape- Trim back shrubs, and cut down tree limbs that could cause damage. Gutters- Clean out debris. A clogged gu
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Don’t Let “Unexpected” Issues Surprise You!
Posted at: 1/2/2025 5:50 PM
When you see "small" things around your property, address them as soon as you can. Do a “walk-through” of your property, inside and out! Inspect the attic or crawl space areas. Look for wear on the seals around the windows and doors. How is the roof looking? Any visible cracks in the siding? Clear the dryer exhaust vent of debris. Check the refrigerator coils at least annually. Test the smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors twice a year, replacing the batteries each time. Have your HVAC system
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Homeowners Insurance - What’s Not Covered?
Posted at: 12/16/2024 11:36 PM
All homeowner’s insurance policies have exclusions and limits related to valuable contents. If you have items such as valuable firearms, jewelry or silverware of collectable value, you should make a point to have valuations done and discuss your options with your Independent insurance agent. Don’t just skim over your insurance policy and assume what’s written in the policy. That can be a recipe for the very worst sort of surprise. Take the time to get all your questions answered thoroughly befo
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Don't Fall for Cyber Monday Scams
Posted at: 11/25/2024 2:50 PM
Experts recommends not shopping through links you receive in your email, social media or pop-up messages. Go directly to the official website of trusted retailers. Officials also recommend avoiding sellers you are not familiar with. Watch out for imposter websites. Don't shop by using a free Wi-Fi connection. When paying, use a credit card versus a debit card. Credit cards have better fraud protection. For only $25 you can get Identity Fraud coverage added to your policy. Reach out to one of ou
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Posted at: 11/5/2024 1:06 AM
Cooler temperatures and shorter days can only mean one thing — winter is on its way. Improve your home’s energy efficiency this fall with these smart winterizing tips. Weather-stripping for windows, a door sweep strip and some caulking can help fill any air leaks to limit energy loss. Replacing the furnace’s air filter every three months since a clogged filter can reduce the unit’s overall efficiency and lifespan. Invest in a programmable thermostat to keep the temperature low when no one is ho
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Posted at: 9/9/2024 10:53 PM
Tropical storms rarely make landfall in New York, although it is common for remnants of these storms to produce heavy rainfall and flooding. Even areas well away from the coastline can be threatened by dangerous flooding, destructive winds and tornadoes from these storms. We’d like to remind you of the need to make sure that you are prepared in the case of natural disasters. Preparing Your Property Strong winds can cause trees and branches to fall, so before the threat, trim or remove damaged