First Community Financial Group, Inc. Blog |
by The Foremost Creative Team Regular maintenance will keep your siding looking new and lasting longer. Why is it so important to regularly maintain your siding? Like the skin on your body, there are two main purposes that siding fulfills: appearance and protection. It protects your home against natural elements and pests, adds stability to the frame of your home, helps insulate and it also adds character to the outside of the home. Although there are several different types of siding you can choose from for manufactured homes, the three most popular include metal siding, like aluminum or steel, vinyl siding or a natural wood siding. And each kind of material needs to be maintained differently. Washing Give your home a good washing for a fresh new look. Note: Don't wash wood siding. Heavy exposure to water might result in decay, chipping, bowed or expanded panels, disintegration or shrinkage. Read below to learn about proper maintenance for wood siding.
Vinyl Siding
Wood Siding Cedar, Cypress and Redwood sidings are popular siding choices that offer natural beauty to the outside of a home. But wood siding requires more upkeep than most siding because of its natural surface. With regular maintenance and care, you can prevent damage and keep your wood siding looking beautiful for several years.
Aluminum Siding Keep aluminum siding looking like new with a regular cleaning every six months to prevent oxidation and/or corrosion over time. For metal siding, oxidation and corrosion are common problems that wear and tear at the outside of your home. Taking care of these problems as soon as they occur could save you from having to replace your siding altogether. Corrosion Corroded areas leave dark spots on the siding. These are caused by moisture being exposed to the metal surface for extended periods. Check for rust-colored stains in places that tend to stay wet longer, such as under eaves or recessed entryways. If you find corroded areas, be sure to get rid of the spots before they spread further. For both aluminum and steel siding, sand out the corrosion blisters down to the bare metal, then spot prime with an anti-rust primer. Oxidation Oxidation leaves a white chalky film on the siding that can dull the exterior of your home. Keep your siding clean to prevent oxidation from forming. If your siding looks faded from oxidation, contact a professional manufactured home washer. A professional can clean your house in less than an hour with high-pressure hoses. Scratches Keep a minor scratch on your metal siding from becoming a major problem.
Painting Metal Siding Apply a fresh coat of paint to the siding of your home to keep it looking like new. If you need to paint just one panel, consider taking that panel to an auto body shop to be painted. They should be able to match the color. If you plan to paint the whole exterior of the home and want to tackle the project yourself, wait for a calm and overcast day to paint. Paint needs to dry slowly and the sunlight and wind will only speed up the drying process. Prepare to paint:
Before you're ready to apply an oil-based metal paint primer, the siding needs to be completely dry. Mix one gallon of the oil-based paint primer with one pint of paint thinner. Tint the primer to a lighter shade of the paint color you choose. The primer will help the new paint adhere to the surface and provide an extra color coat. Let the primer dry completely before adding the next coat of paint. Use an acrylic-based, latex exterior house paint over the primer. A high volume of acrylic resin in the paint will make the paint job last longer. Invest in premium paint, brushes and roller covers. Bargain paint is no bargain if you're looking for better coverage, longer wear and a more washable surface. How much paint do I purchase? To compute the amount of paint needed, multiply the height of the house times the entire perimeter. Do not subtract for windows because this area will roughly equal the trim, eaves and soffits. Divide the total square footage by the number of square feet per gallon cited on the label of the paint. by Marrio Roberts Jr., Foremost Blog
Moles don't come above ground often. But when they do, they make their presence known. Unfortunately, the renovations they make aren't always the most desirable. Moles dig up dirt to create tunnels and to find insects. This can damage your grass and any plants you may have nearby. If you start to see mounds of dirt scattered around your lawn, there's a good chance you have a mole infestation. If you want to know how to get rid of moles in your yard, you may find some helpful tips in this article.
If you're looking for A Better Insurance Experience®, you can get a quote with Foremost® today! Or contact First Community Financial Group, a Foremost independent agent! Even a small leak can become a major problem, so knowing what you’re covered for and how to prevent water damage are equally important. The below tips should help uncover any potential water problems down the road and keep your property dry. Check appliance hoses. Standard hoses are not as durable as they used to be. Replace rubber hoses with steel-braided hoses. This is a low cost fix that can save thousands in water damage. Broken tiles in the shower can allow water to leak into the walls or on the floor. Replace cracked tiles and re-grout when needed. Run dishwasher and washing machine only when you are home. If a leak occurs, you can turn the appliance off right away. When on vacation, turn off the main water supply to your house. Keep storm drains near your house clear of leaves. Install a gutter guard. This can prevent a rooftop disaster caused by drain clogs, and also prevents flooding by water that isn’t carried away from the house. Install a water pressure gauge. An inexpensive gauge can prevent damage caused by water pressure that’s too high. Pressure should be between 60 and 80 PSI. The cost to rebuild your home is its replacement value. This can be very different from the estimated market value or actual purchase price. In most cases, it costs more to rebuild the home you own than to buy a new one. Based in Livingston, Texas, First Community Financial Group understands the home insurance needs of our customers. We’ll work with you to estimate the replacement cost for your home and to adjust your policy limits from time to time as needed. It is critical that you provide us with accurate, updated information about your home and contents. If your dwelling limit accurately reflects your home’s true replacement cost, some companies will pay more than the limit if a covered loss is greater than the limit on your policy. Once a review of your home and possessions indicates you are properly insured, it’s a good idea to reexamine your coverages and limits from time to time, especially whenever you make additions or improvements. First Community Financial Group can help you re-evaluate your insurance needs, just give us a call at 936-327-4364 to speak with one of our agents. Texas - Be Sure You Have Enough Homeowners Insurance Here are some steps you can take to reduce the danger of being seriously underinsured: 1. Call First Community Financial Group. If you have questions or concerns about the limits in your policy, ask us to show you how those amounts were calculated. This will also give you an opportunity to make us aware of any overlooked information. 2. Read your policy. Certain property, such as jewelry, and certain perils, such as earthquake or flood, is better insured separately. Knowing what is covered and for how much will help you insure properly. If there is anything in your policy you don’t understand, contact First Community Financial Group at 936-327-4364 and ask for an explanation. 3. Review. At each annual renewal of your policy, you receive a new Policy Declarations page showing limits of coverage and optional coverages. Review this information. If you do any significant remodeling or add a family room, extra bedroom or bathroom, etc., tell us about these changes so your coverage limits can be adjusted to cover the improvement. 4. Consider carefully whether your policy provides all the protection you need. Does it provide coverage for extra costs resulting from building code changes? Does it automatically increase coverage limits annually to keep pace with inflation? Does it provide additional funds if the cost of rebuilding your home exceeds the policy limits? Make sure you know:
Consider whether you should have more coverage for personal property (contents) than your policy provides. Personal property coverage is usually 70% of the coverage limit for the structure. Your limit may be lower than 70%. Supplemental protection is available for a small additional premium. Inventory your home. Prepare an inventory of personal property items, update it periodically, and keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safe deposit box at your bank. It will save you hours of time trying to list everything damaged or destroyed if you need to make a claim. It will also help ensure you don’t forget some items. First Community Financial Group can advise you on ways to simplify the job of preparing a personal property inventory such as videotaping each room with descriptive information on the sound track. Personal LiabilityBesides making sure you have enough protection to cover possible damage to your own home and contents, you should also evaluate your exposure to liability risks. These result from damage to the property of another, or injury to a person, not a member of your household, for which you can be responsible. In recent years it’s become common for homeowners to be sued for injuries or damages to others, even when there is no evidence of negligence by the homeowner. The reality today is if you have any appreciable assets, you are exposed to the risk of being sued. Even if you ultimately prevail in court, your legal fees and the months or years of worry and uncertainty can be a terrible burden on you and your family. The Personal Liability coverage provided by your Homeowners Policy usually provides a limit of $100,000 or $300,000. We recommend increasing this protection with a personal umbrella policy. Not only will it increase your personal liability, but also your auto liability. Limits are available from $1 million to $10 million and beyond. The cost of this coverage is usually very reasonable. Keep in mind that Texas can require certain minimum levels of coverage. The right coverage for you is unique – talk to First Community Financial Group today to find out how to get the best price and value on home insurance for you. Of course, because spring is a time for new beginnings, cleaning and organization around the house are very popular this time of year. If you’re ready to tackle that monumental chore, read on for some helpful information. (And if you’re so tidy and organized throughout the year that spring cleaning isn’t a big chore for you, well, keep that to yourself! Unless you want your friends and neighbors to be jealous, that is.) Take it one room at a time. Deciding to clean or organize your entire home can quickly get overwhelming. If you focus on just one area or room, then move to another only when you’re finished, you’ll likely work more efficiently. Follow the six-month rule. Generally, if you haven’t used something in six months (with the exception of seasonal items), it’s a good idea to consider throwing it away or donating it. Don’t forget the kitchen. Just like other rooms, your kitchen likely has things that haven’t been used in some time — and this includes food in the refrigerator or freezer. Give those appliances a thorough cleaning and get rid of anything you won’t be eating. Set yourself up for success. Paper clutter is something we all could probably cut back on pretty easily. Setting up a few recycling bins throughout the house gives you a convenient alternative to just setting that old magazine or paperwork down somewhere and watching the pile grow. Make some money! Of course, the spring cleaning garage sale is a tradition for many homeowners, and can be a great way to bring in some extra income. Talk about a win-win situation — you get rid of stuff you don’t need, and someone pays you for it! Stay safe. When you’re cleaning or maintaining your home, be mindful of the physical risks involved. Lift with your leg muscles, not your back. Avoid prolonged repetitive motions. Use ladders, lawnmowers and other dangerous tools with caution. It's important to know that most home policies don't cover flooding and just a few inches of water damage can cost thousands. Even those who don't live near water are at risk, because anywhere it rains, it can flood. Heavy rains, clogged or insufficient drainage systems, nearby construction projects, broken water mains and inadequate levees and dams can cause flooding that put your Home and belongings at risk. Your home is one of your greatest investments. It's important to prepare ahead in the instance that a disaster could occur. Here are three simple steps to help make sure you're ready in the event of a Flood.
Call our agency today if you need a flood quote or have questions about your coverage! (936) 327-4364 Thinking about a DIY home improvement project? Maybe a new kitchen or bathroom makeover? If project excites you, you’re not alone. The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) says do-it-yourselfers complete two-thirds of home improvement projects — and spend less than those who depend solely on contractors. While saving money is satisfying, the sense of accomplishment DIYers feel is even better. But before you pick up a hammer or grab a paintbrush, you’ll need to do some homework. As you draw plans, budget, purchase materials and secure permits, you also need to think about insurance. Talk to your Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent® at First Community Financial Group before you start work. Your agent can help you assess the unexpected risks of your project. Here are five common renovation projects that may require additional insurance: Kitchen renovation Maybe you’ve been dreaming of a new kitchen, one with quartz countertops and Wi-Fi-enabled appliances. Kitchen remodels can add convenience and significant value to your home, but there are a few insurance considerations: • Depending on your level of experience, you may need the help of a plumber or electrician. Make sure the contractors you hire are bonded and insured. Do they carry liability insurance? Ask to see their certificate of coverage. • Check with your agent to see if you should increase your homeowners coverage. If your renovation substantially increases the value of your house, you could be underinsured if you haven’t raised your limits. Generally, you need enough insurance to replace 80% of your home’s value. • Will friends be helping you? Ask your agent about adding no-fault coverage or raising your medical expenses coverage. Bathroom makeover You have visions of a soaking tub, new vanities and imported marble tile. Sounds delightful, but keep these points in mind: • You may need a plumber to help you move a water line or drain. Bear in mind that water damage caused by your faulty workmanship won’t be covered by your homeowners policy. On the other hand, if you use a contractor, their business insurance should cover the damage to your home. • Will that expensive marble be sitting in your driveway after it’s delivered? Costly materials have a way of walking away from a job site. Check to see if your policy covers theft or damage to your building materials. Home office You’ve decided to convert a spare bedroom into a home office. It’s an easy renovation, but here are some insurance considerations: • Most homeowners policies only provide limited coverage (up to about $2,500) for office equipment. If you have items that exceed that amount, you’ll need additional coverage. Your agent can recommend some options. • If you’re doing work for your firm at home, make sure you’re covered by the company’s business and workers’ compensation policies. If you’re self-employed, you may need a separate business policy, especially if clients visit your house. Sunroom You’ve always wanted a room off the kitchen to take advantage of the morning sun. Sunrooms can provide enjoyment year-round, but you do need to keep a few things in mind: • Talk to your agent about adding a new room to your homeowners policy. You may be able to get a discount if you install energy-efficient windows or heavy-duty locks on an exterior door. • Is the project insured against severe weather? Theft or vandalism? You may need a builders risk policy. Finished basement You’re planning to create extra living space in the basement for your growing family. You’ve contracted to have a French drain and a sump pump installed to prevent water from leaking in. You’ve also decided to live in a friend’s house while you work on the project. Other Considerations: •If your house is unoccupied during construction, you may need vacant home insurance. • Be sure to get a warranty on the French drain. Flooding isn’t covered by homeowners insurance. However, you can add water backup coverage to your policy to pay for damage if your sump pump fails. • Game room? Home theater? Extra bathroom? You may need to increase the limits on your homeowners policy. n the other hand, upgrading old wiring or installing a security system could lower your premiums. If you’ve got the home renovation bug, maybe it’s time you joined the ranks of millions of satisfied DIYers. Just remember to contact your Trusted Choice agent at First Community Financial Group to get your insurance needs squared away. Then you can hammer to your heart’s content. When the time comes to consider which type of home insurance to buy or how much coverage you need, think twice about just renewing the coverage you currently have. In many situations, your coverage can become ineffective or provide insufficient coverage to meet your needs if a significant issue occurs on the property. Be sure to take a closer look at your home insurance plan to ensure it offers the right level of coverage for your home right now. If it doesn’t, you could face financial loss later when you have to file a claim.
To estimate your insurance needs, consider a home rebuild analysis. This will help you get an accurate idea of what it would cost to rebuild your home at today’s construction costs. Update your home insurance policy to reflect the true cost so that if an event occurs in which your home is at risk of damage, you will have the coverage available to minimize those losses. Update your home insurance policy at least once every year or so to reflect changes in construction costs. How Can You Ensure You Have Enough Coverage? Determining if there is enough homeowners coverage in place to protect against a significant loss is a considerable undertaking. If your home is impacted by fire or destroyed in a storm, for example, then the amount of damage present can warrant the need to not only replace what you’ve lost, but also to rebuild your property. That is why a home rebuild cost analysis is necessary. This type of process helps to identify the costs of rebuilding your home, not just covering its value. Rebuilding your home includes coverage for the construction process. With a home rebuild cost analysis, it becomes easy to learn what the true cost of rebuilding your home will be. Unfortunately, most people do not have enough coverage to completely rebuild their homes with no out-of-pocket expenses to them. However, with a home rebuild cost analysis, you can better calculate what that amount of money would be. It’s also important to consider the replacement value of your home versus the actual cash value. Depreciation can have a significant impact on your actual cash value claim. For example, if your siding needs to be replaced at 15 years old, but it has a 20-year lifespan, you will be expected to cover most of the roof’s cost. Replacement value, on the other hand will cover rebuilding costs, regardless of depreciation. It’s important to take all costs into consideration. Do you have enough coverage? Contact us for more information on home insurance. Do you remember when you were young and had to check under your bed for monsters before you could go to sleep? I sure do! Because of my hyperactive imagination and the poor decision to watch one too many cheesy 80's horror movies, I was absolutely terrified of monsters when I was a kid. Every night I would thoroughly inspect all of the best hiding places in my room before I reluctantly switched off the light and frantically dashed for my bed, fully expecting to be ambushed by a mob of gremlins as soon as everything was dark. I certainly didn't want any mischievous little critters to snack on one of my exposed limbs as I slept, so I wrapped myself in a cocoon of blankets as an extra precaution. The slightest noise would make my heart race with fear and my mind travel to nightmarish situations. Peace of mind wouldn't arrive until I had finally drifted off to sleep. Now that I am an adult who is fairly confident that there are no monsters under my bed, I have a more important question to ask: What's lurking below your mobile home? The answer probably isn't monsters, but here are three things that you may find: Animals Mice, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, insects and other critters may invade the space below your mobile home and cause messes, loud noises, bothersome odors and other damages. Keeping your trash and recycle bins tightly closed and making a point to keep the underside of your home clean of trash and debris are good strategies for keeping otherwise curious animals away. It also helps to keep bird feeders a good distance from your home, as they attract pesky squirrels and raccoons. According to SFGate, sprinkling chili or habanero flakes in the dirt around your home is an effective way to repel many animals. But if you do end up finding an animal under your home, don't try to remove it yourself. Instead, call your local animal control service−they can help you find a safe solution. Water If there is an abundance of clay in the soil around your home or if your yard is not graded well, any water that collects under your home may not be able to drain properly. Rainfall and even plumbing leaks can lead to excess moisture, and if you don't act quickly to fix this problem, your home could become musty and moldy. My Mobile Home Makeover suggests addressing the issue of pooling rain water by stapling plastic sheeting to the bottom frames of skirting so that any water that collects will be absorbed beneath the plastic and will not damage the bottom of your home. You can also install gutters to prevent rain water from pooling underneath or around your home. Holes It never hurts to thoroughly inspect the bottom of your mobile home for holes. Gaps, tears and open spaces enable animals to sneak in and make your home their own. Holes could also expose water pipes and wires, which could easily be damaged by outside elements. If you find holes in the polyethylene belly wrap below your home, SFGate suggests stuffing fiberglass insulation into the space before patching it. Additionally, cleaning the area around the hole will make the patch stick more effectively. Lastly, if you plan to file a claim with your insurance company, be sure to take photos of the holes and other damages and keep careful records of your receipts and invoices related to any mobile home underbelly repairing projects. Routinely checking under your mobile home for animals, water and holes will help you stay aware of potentially monstrous damages that require your attention. Content Provided by: Foremost Insurance Group |
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