Weatherproofing your home also involves making it more energy-efficient whenever possible. Energy-efficient homes come with a number of benefits, such as lower utility bills, less strain on various home systems, and a better ROI when it comes time to sell. Here are a few things you can do to make your home more energy efficient:‍

Upgrade your HVAC system: HVAC systems can play a vital role in weatherproofing your home. Energy-efficient systems use advanced technology, like variable-speed motors and geothermal heat pumps, to adapt to changing weather and optimize energy consumption.‍

Install a smart thermostat: Another way to mitigate energy loss is to install a smart thermostat in your home. Upgrading your thermostat to one that can be programmed allows you to only use heat or cool air when needed. The regulated temperature control can help you maintain a comfortable home environment throughout the year. ‍

Replace older appliances: When you stop to think about it, your home runs on machines. Refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and even microwaves use considerable energy daily. By replacing older appliances with energy-efficient alternatives, you can conserve more energy and reduce unnecessary generated heat.

Source: point.com

Standard homeowners insurance policies cover the building and personal property damage, as well as liability, but it only covers these things when the dwelling is actively occupied by the property owner. Once tenants move in, a homeowners insurance policy will no longer cover any property damage that occurs while tenants are occupying the rental.

Separate from homeowners insurance, landlord insurance is intended specifically for property owners who plan on renting out their property for an extended period of time. Landlord insurance policies cover everything a general homeowners insurance policy covers, plus many other perils property owners could experience in their time as a landlord. With a landlord insurance policy, the rental (and bank account) will be taken care of if anything unfortunate were to happen.

What does landlord insurance cover and not cover?

Landlord insurance coverage all depends on the type of policy you choose, but a good, comprehensive policy will include three key protections:

• Property damage – Covers any damage to the property caused by a natural disaster, vandalism, theft, irresponsible tenants, or anything else that could damage the physical structure of the property.
• Loss of rental income/rental income protection – Should something occur that causes your property to be uninhabitable, such as a natural disaster or severe mold, this coverage provides temporary rental income reimbursement that acts as a replacement for the rent a landlord would be receiving as usual if a tenant was occupying their property.
• Liability – Covers any medical or legal fees, such as lawsuits, bodily injury claims and settlement costs that could ensue if a tenant or a visitor were to get injured on the property.

For many policies, additional coverage or add ons are available, all of which will serve to protect your investment and yourself as a landlord. Some additional coverage options include:

• Flood insurance which covers general water or flood damage.
• Guaranteed income insurance covers partial or full rent payments if the tenant is unable to pay for one month – something many landlords experienced during the height of the pandemic.
• Property coverage covers your furnishings if you are renting out a furnished rental unit.

Keep in mind that the amount and type of additional coverage varies from insurance provider to insurance provider, so you will need to determine which provider is best for your needs.

Now that you know what landlord insurance covers, let’s briefly review what it does not cover. First and foremost, landlord insurance excludes protection for a tenant’s personal belongings. Tenants will need to purchase a renter’s insurance policy for this, which surprisingly also benefits landlords! Additionally, landlord insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, which is any damage that occurs as a natural result of the property being inhabited. This one might be obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to mention – landlord insurance does not cover properties in which the owner lives due to the fact that landlord insurance is specifically designed to cover “non-owner-occupied” properties.

What are the different types of landlord insurance?

As with any insurance, the coverage you receive will depend on the type of insurance policy you select. The different types of landlord insurance are labeled as “dwelling policies,” and they fall into three categories. You’ll discover that as the number associated with the policy increases, the types of coverage expand.

1. Dwelling Policy 1 (DP-1): This is, of course, the most basic policy that covers common occurrences like fire, vandalism, windstorm, and hail. Because the coverage is so limited, this is also the cheapest option. It’s important to note that with this policy, claims that are covered will only be reimbursed for the actual cash value (ACV), which is the depreciated rebuild value of the dwelling.
2. Dwelling Policy 2 (DP-2): This policy covers everything included in DP-1, plus burglary damage, freezing of pipes, falling objects, and loss of income. Essentially, it covers more substantial and less likely damage and incidences. But the biggest difference between DP-1 and DP-2 is that the latter policy pays out the replacement cost value (RCV), meaning the policy will pay to restore the dwelling to its original condition.
3. Dwelling Policy 3 (DP-3): This is the most common and comprehensive type of policy that offers the broadest form of protection. While DP-1 and DP-2 only cover the specific incidents listed in the policy, DP-3 is an “all-risk” policy that covers any perils a landlord may run into.

The Benefits of Landlord Insurance

The benefit of landlord insurance boils down to one thing – fewer out-of-pocket costs for landlords. But, let’s break down the benefits so you can see exactly why you need landlord insurance:

1. Liability protection protects landlords from legal or medical fees in the case that a tenant or their guest is injured on the landlord’s property. Tenants can sue for a pay-out or for coverage of medical expenses related to everything from physical injury and death to financial difficulty and emotional harm. With liability coverage, any possible expenses related to legal or medical fees will be covered, protecting you from out-of-pocket costs.
2. Rental income protection may be the top benefit provided by landlord insurance. In the case that something happens to your property that makes it uninhabitable, such as fire, mold, or tornado damage, this element of protection will cover the financial loss that you would endure during the time you are unable to rent out the dwelling. Usually, the coverage will only extend up to a defined period of time such as 12 months, but that’s 12 months you could have not been paid rent. When purchasing a policy, always check to make sure your policy includes rental income protection if you desire it.
3. Certain tenant damage coverage can cover two types of damage caused by the tenant: accidental and malicious or intentional damage. In both cases of coverage, the insurance provider will help cover the costs of repair or replacement for the damaged item(s). Once again, when purchasing a policy, always check to make sure your chosen policy covers both types of certain tenant damage.

For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Source: turbotenant.com

According to the CDC, high temperatures kill hundreds of people in the U.S. each year, and forecasters are predicting a hot month in August this year. Prepare yourself for what's to come and stay protected from the heat to avoid heatstroke or hyperthermia (yes, this is a real thing!). Follow our tips below to beat the heat this summer.

Do outdoor chores early in the morning.

If you must do things like cut the grass or other outdoor work, start early in the morning when temperatures are low. We recommended getting up as soon as it's bright enough for you to see what you're doing. Depending on where you live, this can be as early as 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.

Dress appropriately.

Sometimes you won't be able to make a fashion statement with summer outfits, and that's okay! The focus is to keep you cool during the summer heat, so the lighter the clothes are the better. If you have a pair of old jeans you've been thinking about tossing, consider cutting them into shorts instead!

Go swimming.

This wouldn't be a complete list if we didn't include this one. Swimming has been a favorite summer activity for many people for centuries, and for good reason. Wanna stay cool? Take a dip in the pool! If you don't have a private pool accessible to you, check public pools available in your area, or head to a beach or lake if you live near one.

Limit stove and oven use.

If you need to use your oven or stove on a hot day, try to be as quick and efficient as possible. We recommend prepping your food before you turn the stove on so you can start cooking as soon as it's fully heated up.

Start your car early before getting in.

We know how long it can take for cars to cool off during extreme heat. If you have the ability to auto-start your car so that the AC is running before you get in, we recommend doing so. If you do this, always make sure your doors are locked.

Stay in air-conditioned buildings.

Let's face it, there's nothing like relaxing in some air conditioning (AC) on a hot summer day. If you don't have AC in your home, consider spending time in public indoor places such as malls, museums or restaurants where you can enjoy their services and cool off at the same time.

Stay hydrated.

This is one of the most important tips on this list. If you're going to be in the heat for long periods at a time, you need to be hydrated. Some studies recommend drinking eight cups of water a day, but it may be best to do some research on what best for your height and weight. Did you know cold water can lower your body temperature? If you're not staying hydrated, staying cool in the heat may be difficult and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation.

Take cool showers.

If the heat has already gotten to you and you need a fast way to cool down, a cool shower can help. Get the water as cool as you can stand it and hop in. This will keep your body temperature down and feel very refreshing.

Use fans around the house.

If you don't have air conditioning, or if the air conditioning isn't working fast enough, fans are a great alternative. There are many different types of fans to choose from at different price points.

Source: foremost.com

Ingredients for S'mores

12 sheets unbroken graham cracker
1 bag marshmallows, medium or large
6 1.55oz Hershey’s chocolate bars (milk, semi-sweet, or dark)

Ingredients for Toppings (optional)

1 tsp powdered sugar (per s’more)
1 tsp caramel sauce (per s’more)
Items You'll Need
Camping skewers
Plenty of napkins!

Over the Campfire:

Get your campfire fired up. Regular old fresh flames are how you wind up with burnt marshmallows; once those crackling embers have aged enough to glow bright red, conditions should be set for prime s’mores.

The bedrock of any great s’more is one full sheet of crunchy graham cracker. Snap those crackers in half lengthwise, then set them aside on a sheet of aluminum foil or a plate near the fire. Break your chocolate bar in half too; if you’re using Hershey’s chocolate, a full half of the bar will serve you well. Place one half-bar onto one graham cracker chunk per s’more.

Time to roast marshmallows! Using a handy s’mores-ready skewer rod, dangle your sugary puff just above or within the flames. Here’s your goal: toasting rather than catching fire. Rotate the marshmallow to brown it evenly on all sides.

Choose one topped graham cracker to be your bottom piece, and grace it with your roasted marshmallow. Dollop in caramel sauce, if desired. Clamshell it with the second topped cracker, extract your skewer, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy! (The shelf life is decent, but these really are best served hot.)

Source: bbqguys.com