Tag: Home Insurance

How to File a Home Insurance Claim

At OKFB Insurance we want to help you prepare for the unexpected. We can try our best to prepare for ice storms, break-ins and try to prevent damages, but we can’t prevent everything. If you’ve never filed a claim or want a refresher on how to file a home insurance claim, see the steps below. 

1. Report Damages to Local Authorities

If there was a break-in, vandalism or another circumstance where the local authorities need to be notified, then reporting the incident should be the first step. The responding police or fire department will file a report of the incident. Be sure to ask for a copy of it as it can help with the next step: calling your home insurance company. 

2. Contact Your Home Insurance Company

If the incident is minor and was not reported to the authorities, you may want to review your home insurance policy to make sure it covers the damage you’re about to claim. At OKFB, the quickest way to do this, would be to sign in to your My Insurance Portal to review your policy. If the incident is covered, then calling your agent is the next step in this process. You can also call the new claims hotline at 1-877-632-2524 24/7 to start a new claim. 

3. Take Inventory and File a Home Insurance Claim

After calling your insurance agent, they will likely send over claims forms that need to be filled out. Remember before cleaning up the damage to take photos and look at your home inventory to see what is missing or broken. It’s important to provide as much detail on the claim form as possible to help expedite the process and ensure there aren’t an abundance of questions being asked later on. Remember to also take note of how long you have to submit a claim; every insurance company is different.

4. Conduct small repairs, if needed

If minor repairs are needed immediately to make the home habitable, take photos of the before and after. Additionally, save receipts and work with your agent to submit this documentation for reimbursement or actual cash value.

5. Have Your Phone Ringer On

Every claim is different, and some could require more communication. Ensure your agent has up-to-date contact information for your phone number and email address. It could also be helpful to have your phone ringer on, so you don’t miss any calls from the claim representative. 

We know this process can be stressful and we hope by providing these steps, it’s a little less so. Also, having a home insurance policy you can count on can help make this process easier. Contact your OKFB agent to make sure you have the right amount of protection in place, or for guidance in completing your home inventory checklist. 

5 Ways to Keep Your Home Warm & Safe

The air outside is turning cool and crisp and your home can officially be a warm getaway. Keeping a home heated properly and safely can be a large undertaking and an ongoing process, so to help you keep your home cozy this year, check out these heater safety tips! 

1. HVAC System

Don’t wait to check up on your heating system until the day you need it, otherwise, it can be a pain to discover it needs repairs or a tune-up. Early November is a good time to schedule an inspection with an HVAC specialist to ensure all things electrical and gas are working well. Most HVAC’s have a long service life, and you can extend the longevity of the system by performing these annual checkups and tune-ups.  

2. Proper Ventilation

One way to help the warm air circulate better is to replace your furnace filters and check the exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchens. If the exhaust fans have buildup, it could pose a fire hazard. You should also install at least one carbon monoxide detector in the home. Most modern gas heaters are very safe, but there is still a chance that a dangerous leak could occur. Having a detector can help keep you and your family safe while the heater is running. 

3. Home Decor

Did you know you could utilize rugs and curtains to decorate your home and help make it warmer? Floorboards and tiles can become cold, so laying out a rug will keep your feet from picking up the cool temperature from the floor. Along with rugs, dense curtains could help keep your home warm by keeping in more of the home’s heat and keeping out more of the outdoor cold. 

4. Fireplace Flue 

If your home has a fireplace, remember to close the flue when you don’t have a fire going. Leaving the flue open can allow warm air from your living room to escape through the chimney, meaning it will take more to heat your home. It’s also often the culprit for cold drafts entering your home. Closing the flue when the fireplace is not in use can help keep the warm air inside your home. 

5. Space Heaters

Space heaters can be a great way to add an extra burst of heat to a room, but they also pose some safety risks. You can safely use a space heater by placing it at least three feet away from anything that could catch on fire, plugging it directly into the wall and avoiding using power strips or extension cords, and by routinely checking the heater and power cord to ensure they are not damaged or frayed. 

Follow these heater safety tips to keep safe! Your home keeps you warm and safe, and we protect your home. We’ve got your back during all the seasons. If any changes have been made, remember to contact your OKFB agent to ensure your home insurance policy is up-to-date and everything is covered.

Secure Your Packages & Home

An uptick in online shopping can also mean an uptick in package theft. To help keep your packages and home safe, here are a few helpful home safety tips. Consider these tips while you’re online ordering this summer to be sure your packages and home are safe. 

Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Package Theft

  • Consider having packages delivered to your place of employment, rather than your home. By doing this, you won’t have to worry about a package sitting unattended on a front porch all day. 
  • See if it’s okay to have your package delivered to a relative or friend if you know they will be home during delivery. Be in touch with whomever is going to receive it, so you can give them a heads up and coordinate getting it promptly from them. 
  • Check in to having your items held at a local post office for pickup. By doing this, you can get the package whenever you have time and it will be waiting in a secure location. 
  • Some stores offer a “ship to store” option. This is a good option for getting the package delivered close to home at a nearby store – for easy pickup when you have time.
  • You may be able to stipulate that your package requires signature confirmation for delivery or ask the carrier to leave your items in an area out of view. 

What Smart Home Devices Can Help Secure Your Home? 

  • Secure package dropbox. You can purchase and install a heavy-duty, secure dropbox to go on your front porch. Then you can leave delivery instructions for your carrier to deposit the package in the dropbox – the carrier can use it, but thieves have a hard time penetrating the dropbox. These boxes have been invented in recent years due to the uptick in packages being stolen from porches.
  • Smart doorbells. These advanced doorbells normally feature cameras and can detect motion outside a front door. If connected to WiFi and a smartphone, the doorbell camera can show you at any time and from anywhere what is happening live on your front porch.
  • Smart door locks. There are many options for smart door locks, including some that unlock with a fingerprint scan, a mobile app, a keypad, or even a voice command. Smart door locks provide advanced options and can free you from a traditional house key. Some will even let you provide unique visitor codes to guests or delivery drivers.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These devices can help keep your home safe from fire and fumes. Some new versions of smart detectors can include advanced features that send alerts/alarms to your smartphone or that go as far as contacting local firefighters if there is an issue while you’re not at home.

These home safety tips and smart devices can help improve the security of your packages and home as a whole. Having the right amount of home insurance coverage can also help ensure your home and valuable assets stay protected. Contact an agent today to see how much coverage you may need.

Safeguard Against Fire Risks

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!