Thank You, Veterans!

We have a lot of veterans in the Crabdree Insurance extended family. Cris' husband is a vet, Karen's daughter is on active duty now, and my son recently came home after five years in the Army.

Some of our parents, brothers and sisters were vets, many of our cherished clients were vets and many, many of our neighbors served our country, too.

I'd like to take a moment this day to thank each one of them. We owe more than words could ever express. Our safety and security as a people, our position on the world's stage, our liberty, our civil rights and our human rights....every single thing that we hold dear, and everything that we have the choice or opportunity to do is there because they was safeguarded for us by our military.

Whatever your politics, I do hope that you will join us today in holding our veterans dear to your heart. Take a moment out of your day off, and give a thought to the men and women who sacrificed so much, often everything, so that you could stay in your pajamas all day. :D

Thank you, Veterans!

Trish

and the entire Crabdree Team. 

We are offering general information and opinions. Talk to your insurance professional for questions and concerns about your insurance policy.

Win a World Series T-Shirt!

Yay, Nancy! You WON!!!

Bring in a donation to the Payson Food Drive,

and you'll get a chance to win an

OFFICIAL 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ST LOUIS CARDINALS T-SHIRT! 

Size XXL.

We are offering general information and opinions. Talk to your insurance professional for questions and concerns about your insurance policy.

Winter weather is coming

Winter 2005. All was busy around the house that cold winter morning.  My husband and I were getting ready for work. The kids were ready for school, and out the door we go. A few hours later that afternoon, Mike went home to pick up some papers he had left behind sitting on the desk in the den.  As he approached the house, he noticed water streaming down from the roof and gutters, so he thought, until he got closer.  The water wasn't coming down from the roof, but sheeting like a waterfall on the interior side of  the master bedroom window.

To his surprise, Mike ran inside and in disbelief, watched the ceiling drywall crash to the floor with a waterfall of insulation hanging from the exposed trusses above.  It was a mess!

The cost to repair this small crack in our water pipe... $50;
The cost to repair/replace the damages of the home interior... $6,800. 

Okay, lesson learned the hard way.  But here is my (and your insurance company's) wisdom to cold weather prevention tips to reduce winter claims for homeowners:

1. Prevent ice dams by cleaning gutters and installing gutter guards. Ice can cause damage to walls and ceilings which can lead to mold and other problems.
2. Keep your inside temperature at 65 degrees or warmer and wrap water pipes with heat tape or insulation to prevent freezing.
3. Repair any cracked or leaking pipes. These areas freeze first.
4. On extremely cold days/nights, open doors and cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
5. Trim trees and remove dead branches at least five feet from your home.  Once heavy with snow, trees can fall into driveways, entryways, covered patios, garages, etc.  Remove trees that are leaning and seek professionals to clear your lot if you need help.

Here are the facts, water damage claims average $5,500 per occurrence and is the 5th leading cause of homeowner claims.  Don't add to this statistic.  Follow these few Cold Weather Tips and keep your home safe and sound for you and your family. 

If you have any good suggestions that you would like to share please respond so that we can post your good ideas too!

We are offering general information and opinions. Talk to your insurance professional for questions and concerns about your insurance policy.