There are many ways to make a home safer that a homeowner should consider. Some just make good common sense. Others, like installing an advanced security system, may actually reduce the homeowner’s insurance premiums. Ask the agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency about potential discounts.

Tips to Make a Home Safer

Security Issues
Besides having a security alarm system, make sure the entry door is strong and secure. When you are in the home the security system may be off. If the entry door is weak, it is a potential entry point for home invasions. Reinforce both the door and the door jam. Solid core doors with strong double-bolt locks that have reinforcement with a metal security gate are a good idea. 

Use strong windows and doors that lock properly. Make sure to lock everything when going to sleep. Use exterior security lighting triggered by motion-sensors. Lock pet doors when they are not in use.

If away from the home, ask neighbors to watch the property. Stop newspaper and mail delivery. Inform the security company. Use timers to turn lights and the television on and off at appropriate times to make it appear there is someone home.

Fire
Get rid of flammable materials, such as old boxes of papers. Keep the furnace/air-conditioning system well maintained. Have smoke alarms in every room that work properly. Check them frequently. Have fire extinguishers in the kitchen and around the house. Service them on a regular basis.

Slip and Fall Hazards
Get rid of clutter, especially things left on the floor. Put toys away. Remove loose rugs and wires that cross any walking pathways. Have adequate lighting in hallways and in staircase areas. Put pet food dishes in a place that is not in the walking areas.

Child Safety
Use childproofing to secure contents of storage areas. Keep medicines, household cleaners, and toxic chemicals out of reach. Install window guards so children cannot fall out. If you have a swimming pool, install a fence around it with a locked gate and use a security cover.

Landscaping
Cut back trees, if they have the potential to break or fall in a way that might damage the house.

Summary
These safety tips can help homeowners avoid problems. To make sure there is adequate homeowner’s insurance for the unexpected things that do happen, contact the agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency. They enjoy helping new homeowners get insurance and offer reviews of existing coverage with helpful advice for homeowners.

Although there are probably a number of closets in your house, the one that everyone seems to use is the linen closet.  While it can seem as if storing towels and sheet sets shouldn’t be that hard, it’s easy for this closet to become disorganized very quickly.  Fortunately, there are ways to get it under control and keep it from becoming a mess again.  Try these tips to get your linen closet organized again.

1. Assign a place for everything.  Use sticky notes to label what is going to go on every shelf.  As you organize, you’l be able to refer back to these labels and stick to an organization plan.
2. Keep kids’ items where the kids can reach them.  Even if this takes up more room, your closet will stay organized if your kids don’t have to jump to reach the towels and sheets that they need.
3. Make bed “kits”  Matching sets of sheets should be folded together.  Not only will this make the closet neater, but it will also prevent family members from tearing apart the neatly folded stacks in search of a pillowcase or top sheet.  You may also want to consider doing the same for towel and washcloth sets.
4. Place the “good” linens at the top of the closet.  This will prevent kids from grabbing the guest towels to dry off the dog after his bath.

As you’re cleaning out your linen closet, you’ll probably come across some things you forgot your had, and get rid of a lot of stuff.  That means that you’ll need to change your insurance policy.  Call the agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency to make sure that your homeowner’s or renter’s policy is up to date.

When it comes to cleaning your home, you don’t need to go broke maintaining the appearance. In fact, there are several ways you can actually save money. At Fuhriman Insurance Agency, we all conduct our own spring cleaning back at the house, so we know how important it is to find the best ways to clean a home at the lowest price possible. Whether you live in Boise, ID or somewhere else, you can use these tips just about anywhere. 

Make Your Own Cleaner

Why purchase cleaning supplies when, chances are, you have what you need already. Vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice really is all you need for most cases. Pick up a spray bottle for easy application, but outside of this, you’re good to go. Have stains in the bathtub? Sprinkle baking soda around the tub then spray it with the vinegar. It will foam up, soften up the dirt and you can easily wash it away. You can also combine 2/3 part vinegar and 1/3 part lemon juice to bring in that nice lemon scent. 

Ditch the Paper Towel

Paper towel consumption can quickly increase your cleaning bill. When you look at how much paper towel you go through while cleaning your home up and down, it really adds up. Instead, go with a reusable item. Microfiber cloths are great for washing surfaces around the house and a squeegee with a rubber tip is perfect for washing windows. Whatever you need, you can clean your home rather effectively without spending an arm and a leg on disposable paper. 

Wash Everything At Once

Don’t to a bunch of smaller loads in the washing machine. It is easy to just go room by room, but instead of washing just the curtains, add in the shower curtain and washer-safe rugs as well. It will reduce your energy consumption and save you on utility bills. 

There is a lot that you can do in order to prepare your home for disasters. The best approach is to go room by room to see if you have the necessary supplies. Some you may simply need to gather, while others you may need to purchase.

Kitchen

The kitchen is probably one of the most important rooms because that is where you keep all of your food, and where most of your family likely gravitates. Some of the most important things to have here include:

• Smoke detector
• Food for 3-5 days
• First Aid kit

• Fire extinguisher

Bedrooms

All of the bedrooms need to be prepared for disaster as well. You want to make sure to have:

• Emergency lighting
• Shoes near the bed
• Emergency escape ladders for bedrooms not on base floor
• Extra blankets

Closets

In all of the closets, and you want to have backup batteries as well as battery-operated lanterns or flashlights. In one main closet, you should also have a 72 hour kit in the event of an evacuation so that you can keep your family dressed, fed, and warm.

Front Entry

Your front entry should always be well lit and there should be a strong deadbolt and lock on the door. This can help to minimize burglary and break-ins.

In Every Room

Every room of the house should have some kind of emergency lighting nearby. It’s also a good idea to have smoke alarms near all of the rooms as well.

On Every Floor

Every floor needs to have a fire extinguisher.

Pick up the phone and call one of the independent insurance agents at Fuhriman Insurance Agency today where we can talk to you about coverage options and more in Boise. An affordable policy may be a phone call away.