Spring Cleaning Checklist March 4, 2020 As the weather warms and spring begins to bloom, you may catch the spring cleaning fever. Spring cleaning can help you feel accomplished and have a clean home. It can also help keep your home safe by taking care of small items that could cause major problems or be hazardous down the road. Consider this checklist while you’re cleaning up around the house this spring, to be sure it’s as safe as it is clean. Clean the Dryer Vent While most people know to clean the lint trap after each load of laundry, the dryer vent often gets neglected. Lint can also build up in the hose from the dryer and dryer vent, which could be a fire hazard. Make sure to check for lint that accumulates in these forgotten areas and clear out any hazards. Replace Damaged Extension Cords Whether they’re under a rug receiving a lot of foot traffic or being yanked from one place to another, extension cords often get worn and damaged. These damaged cords can be a big fire risk. Consider replacing older cords around the house to reduce the risk of fire. Update Online Passwords As you deep clean your house this spring, it’s a good reminder to clean up other areas of your life as well, including online passwords. Take a few minutes to set up new, strong passwords for all your accounts. This will help prevent online accounts from being hacked and your identity from being stolen. Clean the Stove/Oven As food particles build up over time on the stovetop or in the oven, thoroughly cleaning both of these appliances is an important checklist item. Built up particles and/or grease can pose a fire hazard. No matter how frequently you cook, make sure to spend some extra time deep cleaning the stove and oven this spring. Change Air Filters Make sure to clean and/or replace home air filters as the weather warms. The furnace will still be moving air through your home all year, and pollen, dust and other allergens that get built up in the filters can worsen seasonal allergies if you don’t change the filters. Check Alarm Batteries Smoke alarms help keep your home safe, but are often forgotten about if the alarms don’t go off frequently. Spring cleaning is a great time to check the status of alarms and put in new batteries. Also, wipe down the alarms to ensure dust isn’t inhibiting them from doing their job. We reward safety precautions and offer a discount for having a fire alarm in the home. Check with your agent to see if you may be eligible. Clean Bedding Most people wash their sheets and pillowcases often, but the mattress and pillows may be neglected in the process of cleaning the bedding on a regular basis. Take time to vacuum the mattress and rotate it so that it can wear evenly. Also, wash pillows in hot water to help get rid of dust mites. No matter how much you clean or prepare, accidents can still happen. Ensure your home and family are protected with a Home Insurance policy. Contact an OKFB agent for a customizable policy that fits your lifestyle.
Safeguard Against Fire Risks September 30, 2019 October is National Fire Prevention Month, and with 350,000 residential fires occurring each year nationwide, it’s important to know how to protect the structure that’s most important to you. Your home serves as a place of refuge for you and your family, and protecting it from a fire can be simple when you take the necessary preventative steps. Check out this list of tips to help keep your family and home safe from fire damage: Do’s and Don’ts of smoke alarms A smoke alarm is your first line of defense, and we want to reward you for having one. With our fire alarm discount, you may be eligible for a policy discount based on the type of alarm you have installed. Contact an OKFB agent to learn more and see if you qualify. It’s important to not only have the proper amount of smoke alarms installed, but also to make sure you test them regularly. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Don’t install smoke alarms near windows, doors or ducts where drafts may have an effect on them operating properly. Never paint, decorate or put stickers on the alarms, as this could interfere with them working. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by using the test button. Make sure you follow care instructions that come with the alarm, including cleaning best practices and how often you should replace the battery. The general recommendation is to replace the battery once a year and replace the smoke alarm every 10 years. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby Install a fire extinguisher on every level of the home and learn how to use it. If the time comes when you need to extinguish a fire around the house, you’ll be able to act quickly. Check appliances and cords Take the time to regularly check your appliances’ cords to ensure they are not old, worn or damaged. Frayed or damaged cords around the house can spark, easily leading to a fire. Try to avoid running cords through high-traffic areas in your home where they may more quickly get worn out or damaged. Also, make sure you’re not overloading outlets or extension cords. Have an electrician install more outlets if you feel you don’t have enough. Make safety plans for the family One of the simplest ways to help prevent a house fire is by making sure everyone in the home understands the safety precautions. Talk to your children about fire safety and set rules for the household to keep best practices in place. Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children, teach them the importance of blowing out candles when leaving a room and how to identify the sound of smoke alarms. Lastly, create a fire escape plan so everyone is prepared and knows where to go if a fire occurs. OKFB understands the importance of your home and the role it plays for your family. Protect your dwelling with Home Insurance. Talk to an agent today!
Good Grades Discount September 4, 2019 Getting a driver’s license can be an exciting time, but chances are it may be less so for parents. This newfound freedom for the new, young driver also means a policy update or addition to maintain the necessary auto insurance coverage. If a vehicle is being added to the policy for the new driver, it will require adding a new coverage line. If the driver will be sharing a car that is already under the policy, that will require a policy update as well. Adding coverage or adjusting coverage can mean changes in price. Most times, a new, young driver will be more expensive to insure. Luckily, many insurance providers offer a good grades discount for car insurance. Read more about this discount and contact your agent to apply: To be eligible for this discount with OKFB Insurance, a student must*: Be a full-time student in high school, college or university Have a scholastic record during the immediately preceding school semester or quarter that shows one of the following: 3.0 GPA or B average Scholastic rank in the upper 20% of his/her class Included on the “Dean’s List,” honor roll or other comparable scholastic recognition list Send the insurance agent a copy of the student’s most recent scholastic record Apply for the scholastic credit with your agent Contact your agent to see if your student is eligible to receive the good grades discount. While you’re at it, take a look at our other discounts for Auto Insurance policies. *Depending on your carrier, these eligibility requirements may vary.
Benefits of Bundling Home and Auto Insurance August 1, 2019 Managing and paying for multiple insurance policies can seem overwhelming, but that’s where bundling can come into play and provide big benefits. Insurance bundling is the process of joining multiple insurance policies under one member policy. It can often lead to a bundling discount – sometimes referred to as a companion discount – convenience and peace of mind for having all of your policies in one place! Read on to learn more about these benefits of bundling insurance: You may be eligible for a bundling discount When you purchase auto and home insurance from the same carrier, you may be eligible to receive a bundling discount. You could save on the bundled product premiums in comparison to paying more for two separate policy premiums with two carriers. OKFB Insurance offers a companion discount, but discounts offered will vary depending on the carrier. To see if you’re eligible for our bundling discount, contact an OKFB Insurance agent. Bundling insurance can provide enhanced convenience A bundled policy can mean less paperwork to do initially and to keep up with – saving you time and energy. Additionally, all payments, claims and policy changes can be streamlined through one, dedicated agent. This means if something goes wrong, you’ll know exactly who to call to get help quickly. Your agent can help you look at the big picture By working with you on a bundled policy, your insurance agent will get to know you and your insurance needs better while also developing a personal relationship. Your agent will help you identify gaps in coverage, savings and recommend additional policies. They will also be able to help you choose limits that will help cover all of your assets. Learn more about the home and auto insurance policies we offer. When you’re ready to take advantage of these benefits, contact your agent to see what you may qualify for.
