Energy efficiency is a way to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. You can reduce your energy costs. The independent insurance agents in Rochester, MN at Safechoice Insurance Agency would like to offer several ways you can lower your utility bill by making your home more energy efficient.

Lights

Incandescent lights can save you approximately 25% every year. It surrounds the filament with gas to heat the bulb, which increases efficiency. These types of bulbs can be used in lamps and overhead light fixtures. They can also be placed outdoors as landscape lighting.

The CFLs, or Compact Florescent Bulbs, produce light with argon and mercury vapor. CFLs utilize at least 70% less than the incandescent lights. These bulbs use less energy. Place them in open fixtures, like uncovered domes or track lighting.

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are a combination of CFLs and incandescent lights. They use less heat and are very bright. These are the most energy-efficient lights. LEDs use 20-25% energy and have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs. Because they come in an assortment of colors, they can be used as holiday lighting.

Windows

To improve the energy efficiency of your home, use caulking in the gaps on the windows. This can diminish the amount of air that leaks from your home through the windows. This can decrease the cost of your electric bill in the summer and your heating cost during the winter.

Another way to reduce your energy cost is to invest in window treatments. This can keep the sun from penetrating your windows in the summer. In combination with ceiling fans, window treatments could trim your electric bill every month.

In Rochester, MN, Safechoice Insurance Agency has an independent staff can help you with your new or improve your current homeowners insurance.

If you live in Rochester, MN you need to know what to do if your home is damaged by a storm. Safechoice Insurance Agency will help you with your claim as soon as possible. However, you should use these tips to ensure that your claim is paid out.

• Make sure that the home is safe to enter and turn off the electricity if the damage is extensive.
• Take photos of the damage as soon as possible to document the damage.
• Perform temporary repairs to protect the integrity of the home. For instance, if shingles are missing, cover the gaps with a tarp or plywood to keep water out of the house until permanent repairs are completed. Insurance may not cover damage that occurs after the initial storm if you haven’t tried to protect your home.
• Don’t start tossing damaged items until the insurance adjuster has come by to see what happened.
• Do not start on permanent repairs until after you have contacted your insurance company. They will want to send an adjuster out to see the damage before it is corrected.
• Call your insurance company or agent with your policy number. They will instruct you on what to do next. You may want to keep a log of your phone calls to the insurance company, including the time of day and the person to whom you spoke.
• Save every receipt related to the storm damage, even those for temporary repairs. You may be reimbursed for these costs.
• Contractors may come to your door offering to repair your home. It is wiser to use the contractor that is recommended by the insurance agency, even if it seems more expensive. You don’t want an unscrupulous repairman using sub-par materials on your home.
• After you’ve spoken to your insurance agency, they will send an insurance adjuster to your home to inspect the damage. Be sure to ask for his identification and his business card so you can contact him with any questions.
• If your home is uninhabitable, you may be able to receive payment for your housing costs. Ask your insurance adjuster for an advance payment for your expenses. Save your receipts for hotel costs.

Storms can be rough in Rochester, MN, but with Safechoice Insurance Agency, your home will be protected.

When you buy insurance for your Rochester, MN home, you may wonder how often you’ll need to make payments. The answer is that many insurers will let you choose to pay monthly or yearly. This is a significant decision with multiple consequences.

Annually

Most insurance companies will charge you less per year if you pay on a yearly basis. They do this because they save money by processing only one payment rather than 12. Annual payments might also help you cut spending on postage and checks.

When you pay yearly premiums, you won’t need to spend as much time making or keeping track of payments. Fewer transactions result in a smaller risk of overdraft fees, record-keeping mistakes and lost or delayed payments. This helps to ensure that coverage remains in effect.

A yearly payment is sometimes the only option. Certain mortgage lenders demand that buyers prepay for a year’s worth of coverage when they purchase homes. If desired, owners can switch to monthly payments after the initial year.

Monthly

Nevertheless, there are also benefits to be gained from paying by the month. You won’t have to save up as much cash before obtaining or renewing coverage. It’s also easier to switch insurers at any time. There’s no need to request a large refund if you cancel mid-year.

If both options appeal to you, look for a compromise. Some insurers accept quarterly or semi-annual premiums from their customers. Safechoice Insurance Agency can help you find a company that provides suitable payment options.

Our Rochester, MN agency has offered affordable coverage and top-notch service to Minnesota residents for over a decade. We independently check rates from multiple insurers and identify the best options for our customers. To find home insurance that fits your budget, please contact Safechoice Insurance Agency by dialing 507-280-9282.
 

Home insurance isn’t the fireman that will rescue your family from the flames, nor is it the policeman that will apprehend criminals before they do any harm to you. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not important when it comes to keeping everyone in a community safe. Safechoice Insurance Agency wants the citizens of Rochester, MN to learn more about its benefits. 

Preventing the Worst 

Home insurance is there for you when you have something unexpected come up. It may be able to fix structural damage or deformities in the house or yard that could eventually pose a threat to the safety of the family. If the foundation is damaged by a storm for instance, then you won’t be able to live there safely until its back to being stable again. But insurance also works in intangible ways as well. When thieves (or even kids who are just looking to cause trouble) see that homes look as though they were given the utmost care, then they may hesitate to conduct their affairs on that particular block. 

Finding the People Who Can Help 

Safechoice Insurance Agency understands the community of Rochester, MN, and the actions that each homeowner takes affects everyone. The more responsibility is infused into a neighborhood, the safer and more valuable it becomes. Home insurance saves lives, and it can help boost the value of the property as well, making it an even more worthwhile investment for you. And it all starts with you. If you’re looking for more information on how you can get a policy that will provide the best protection, then we’re here to make that dream a reality. See why it may be more affordable than you think when you give us a call today for a quote. 

You can’t predict the future, so it’s not easy to know how much home insurance you might need. The best thing to do is to work with an agent from Safechoice Insurance Agency for your homeowner’s coverage in the Rochester, MN area to help you plan for possible future events. They can help you sort through what to consider while you’re planning for your homeowner’s insurance coverage while staying within your budget. Here are some items for you to have in mind when you speak to an agent.

• Deductibles – Higher deductibles will decrease your premium, but if something happens, you will need to pay that deductible.  Know how much of a deductible you are comfortable paying for an incident.
•  Replacement Cost or Cash Value – Decide if you would like the cost of replacing your home or valuables without depreciation or if you would rather have the actual cash value after depreciation. 
• Know Your Policy – Work with your agent, so you clearly know what is covered under your plan. For certain events, you may need a separate policy.
• Discounts – You may be eligible for discounts, such as car and home insurance with the same company, installing an alarm system, or dead bolts.
• Annually – Review your policy at least once a year with your agent to ensure you have adequate coverage.

Safechoice Insurance Agency

If your home is in the Rochester MN area, Safechoice Insurance Agency is an excellent insurance agency to work with to help you determine your coverage needs. A professional agent will take the time to explore your home insurance options. They will help you make policy decisions that will provide the coverage you need at a price that will fit your budget.  Contact us today to get started.