You may not realize it, but frozen gutters could cause quite a bit of damage to your home. Once your gutters freeze, they can no longer appropriately drain water away from your property. This could lead to water damage, leaks, and many different water-related issues. Here’s how to avoid frozen gutters this winter.

Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is an essential step to prevent all kinds of issues. Gutter cleaning is especially important if you have many trees surrounding your home. Leaves are the number one culprit of clogged gutters. So, it’s important, especially in the Fall, to keep those gutters clear of leaves and twigs. The best time of year to clean out your gutters is towards the end of Fall, after most of the leaves have fallen off the trees. However, it’s never too late to clean them out if you suspect an issue.

Salt Your Gutters

Using gutter-safe salt (not the rock salt you use on your driveway), sprinkle a thin layer in your gutters after cleaning them. This will help prevent ice buildup when the freezing temperatures hit.

Make Sure Your Gutters Are Sloped

A gentle slope is necessary for your gutters to enable a proper water flow to your downspouts. Flat gutters will clog frequently.

Roof Maintenance

It’s important to have your roof and gutters inspected by a professional roofing company every few years. The best time to have your roof and gutters inspected is in the Spring so that you can prepare for the cold and rainy months ahead. Be sure to have them thoroughly inspect your gutters and identify if updates are necessary.

Whether your gutters are clogging or not, you should always ensure your home is properly protected with a homeowner’s insurance policy that works for you and your family. Give us a call today to get the proper coverage.

When temperatures drop, the risk of your home’s pipes freezing or bursting increases quickly. In fact, frozen pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage in the winter. Freezing pipes are not cheap to fix, either. Burst pipes could easily cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace. So, it’s critical to take some extra precautions when you know frigid temperatures are coming. Here’s how to prevent frozen pipes.

At-Risk Pipes

The pipes in your home that are most vulnerable to freezing temperatures are in unheated interior spaces like your basement, attic, or garage. The good news is that adding a little insulation to pipes in those areas is not very expensive. You could spend as little as 50 cents a linear foot at your local hardware store to prevent potentially thousands of dollars in damage.

Run That Water

Frozen pipes happen most commonly when people are on vacation because they’re not being used. When cold temperatures hit, make sure you’re running warm water frequently in your home. If you have a faucet in your home with exposed pipes, let a slow cold trickle run. Even a little bit of water can prevent freezing.

Don’t Turn Your Heat Down at Night

If you usually turn your thermostat down 10+ degrees overnight, don’t plan on doing that when the outside temperature plummets. Instead, keep the thermostat set to something within 5 degrees of the average temperature inside your home. It may be tempting to keep it low to save on energy costs but think of the expenses you’ll have if your pipes freeze.

Stay warm this winter, and remember to keep Leigh Agency in mind for all your home and family insurance needs. Our team is ready to take your call and answer your questions!

When it comes to the home buying process, everyone has a role to play. The real estate attorney’s role in a transaction is key. However, the insurance company can work together with the attorney, making both jobs a little easier. Read on to learn more.

What does a Real Estate Attorney do?

Although for most home buyers, the process of buying property does not involve going to court, they still need a real estate attorney. The real estate lawyer’s job is to prepare and review all the essential documents related to the sale, including the contract, agreements made with the seller, lender documents, title, and transfer documents. The real estate attorney will also be available to the buyer throughout the process to answer any questions and will most likely attend the closing as well. Occasionally, real estate attorneys will assist in the title process or help with the transfer of funds.

What is the insurance company’s role in a real estate transaction?

An insurance company is essential in getting the buyer the homeowner’s insurance they need to obtain a mortgage. Depending on the loan the buyer is approved for, they may need proof of insurance before the closing date. An experienced insurance company can determine what type of insurance is necessary and get the policy ready before closing.

How can the real estate attorney and insurance company work together?

Every party involved in a real estate transaction essentially works together to seal the deal for the buyer and seller. Specifically, the insurance company can consult the real estate attorney and vice versa if any issues arise or if the buyer has questions regarding the sale. The attorney can also work on the buyer’s behalf as the transaction progresses.

For any homeowner’s insurance policy questions, be sure to give us a call!

During a real estate transaction, there are many different parties involved. Each party plays an essential role in the process. Two essential parties in the transaction are the title company and the insurance company. As a result, it makes sense for two companies from the two industries to build a partnership. Here is why:

The Title Company’s Role

When it comes to most real estate transactions, the title company plays several vital roles. They generally act as the combined agent of the buyer, seller, and insurance company. In some cases, the title company will also serve as an agent for the mortgage lenders. The company is not only responsible for reviewing the title. They also assist in issuing insurance policies, facilitating the closing, and filing/recording necessary paperwork.

Why The Title Company Should Partner With a Reliable Insurance Company

Obtaining insurance for a real estate transaction is crucial, and in some cases, required by law. When a title company is in any time crunch situation, they’ll wish that they had a reliable insurance company to help them solve any issue quickly and professionally. This is why working with a reputable, experienced insurance company is key. It could be the difference between sealing the deal and a deal falling through.

Furthermore, a reliable insurance company can help the title company by ensuring the policies needed are correctly in place and legitimate. Considering that the title company is responsible for facilitating the paperwork involved in insurance policies, it would be great to know that the paperwork is correct without going back to the insurance company for multiple corrections.

Are you looking for a reliable insurance company to partner with? Look no further than Leigh Agency. We have over 30 years of experience working with title companies on real estate transactions. You, and your clients, can rely on us! Give us a call today.

When you’re purchasing property or helping a client purchase a property, obtaining insurance is a necessary part of the process. In fact, many lenders will only approve a loan if the proper insurance policies are already in place. This can be tricky when dealing with foreclosures, fixer-uppers, or properties with complicated histories. Having a reputable insurance agency on your side with experience insuring these types of properties can be extremely helpful. Read on to learn more.

Insuring the Hard-to-Insure

Don’t give up if you’re assisting in the buying process with a property that’s hard to insure. Many big-name insurance companies have policies in place that have little to no wiggle room when it comes to the approval process. Working with a local, family-owned agency like us makes all the difference. We will review every possible option to insure the property correctly.

Fixer-Upper Problems

There’s nothing wrong with investing in a real estate deal involving a property that needs a little TLC. Fixer-uppers can be a very wise investment; however, they can be hard to insure initially. Properties like this will need specialty insurance coverage. In fact, mortgage companies will most likely require it in their lending terms. Leigh Agency has an extensive network of resources and will be able to walk you through the insurance process for fixer-upper properties. We’ll make sure you get the right kind of policy to close on the deal.

Flood Zone Properties

If the property you’re purchasing is in a flood zone, you’ll need flood insurance as well as homeowner’s insurance for you or your client. Our agency is well versed in every flood insurance option, including FEMA-backed flood insurance policies. Finding the proper flood insurance can be a complicated process. That’s why it’s crucial to work with an insurance agency like us.

We can help you close on any real estate deal by ensuring you and/or your client have the proper insurance policies required by the lender. Give us a call today to start the process.