The Agent’s Role as Advisor and Risk Manager

The older a building, the more likely it is to have serious defects, particularly in critical building systems such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing. Older buildings generate more claims than younger properties, especially if they have not been well-maintained or if their building systems have not been updated.

This is why an insurer will ask a policyholder about the age of the original building, the age of renovations or additions and the age and condition of critical building systems. The information helps the insurer price the coverage fairly, and brings to light any serious defects to be corrected. In the case of serious plumbing defects, failure-prone polybutylene piping for example, or when a major update is needed, say, an aging water heater, the insurer may request the upgrades as a condition of coverage.

A properly used portable fire extinguisher saves lives and property by putting out small fires before they escape and become large damaging fires - safeguarding your family and your household.

In addition, nearly all homeowners insurance policies offer a small discount for having a fire extinguisher in the home.

There are three basic classes of fires. Portable fire extinguishers that have been tested and approved will be labeled with the three classes of fire they are suited to fight.

The old labeling system uses simple icons with an A, B, or C designation to show which class of fire the extinguisher is designed to fight.