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AUTOMOBILE Just click on an article to scroll it into view! A Safety Message Worth Repeating My Personal Insurance Policies and My Credit History: What's the Link? Your Privacy Is IMPORTANT Repairing Your Windshield Could Save You Money What Type Of Car Should You Consider For A New Driver Safety Tips For When Your Car Breaks Down Tips For Safer Driving First Auto Crash Fatality Deer Crossing Is Speeding Really A Safety Problem Further Studies on Speed Daytime Running Lights Beginning Drivers - Helping Them Make It Home Why An Independent Insurance Agent? Air Bag Update It's Just Smart to Buckle Up Stay Alert When Behind the Wheel

HOMEOWNER Just click on an article to scroll it into view! How Often Should I Review My Homeowners Policy? Smoke Detectors...Are Yours Working? Traveler Safety Tips Insure Your Home To The Correct Value Have You Considered Fire Sprinklers For Your Home? Ways To Keep Your Home Burglary Free Why An Independent Insurance Agent? Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover Flood Losses As You Send Them Off to College, Check Your Insurance Your Home is Probably Your Most Valuable Investment Going on Vacation? Here's a Safety Checklist for Home and Travel

RETURN TO TOP A Safety Message Worth Repeating When you are at the gas pump, do you start the pump and climb back in your car while pumping your gas? The Petroleum Equipment Institute is working to make people aware of automobile fires as a result of “static electricity” at gas pumps. They have researched 150 cases of these fires. This is especially critical in cold weather when more individuals climb back in their vehicles while refueling. NEVER get back in your vehicle while filling it with gas. If you have to get back in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure when you get out you close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you touch the nozzle. This way the static from your body will be discharged before you remove the nozzle. The results of the Petroleum Equipment survey were surprising: Almost all cases involved the person getting back into the vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas. When finished, the person went back to pull the nozzle out. The fire started then as a result of static discharge. Don’t use cell phones when pumping gas. The RF energy from a cell phone can cause a sparking on bare metal, much like aluminum foil in a microwave oven. It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, ignited by the static discharge. Seventeen of the fires occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began. You can find out more about this topic by going to www.pei.org. Once there, click in the center of the screen where it says “Stop Static.” RETURN TO TOP My Personal Insurance Policies and My Credit History: What's the Link? Insurance companies and credit history. Most people realize that banks and other lenders look at a person's credit history to determine whether to loan money or what interest rate to charge. What many people may not realize is most insurance companies-including the Central Insurance Companies-also use credit history to help decide whether to issue insurance policies or what price to charge for them. (The Central Insurance Companies uses credit history in underwriting or rating only in accordance with state law.) Why do insurers use credit history? Studies by various groups-the Casualty Actuarial Society, the Arizona Department of Insurance, and credit score modeler Fair, Isaac & Company-show that credit history not only predicts a person's ability to repay a loan, but is also very predictive of a person's likelihood of having future insurance losses. Insurance scores-where do they come from? Because of the correlation between credit history and probability of loss, many insurance companies-for a number of years-have used credit reports to help evaluate prospective customers. Evaluating data from a credit report can be very subjective. To make the evaluation more objective, insurers use mathematical models that weigh and score factors taken from an applicant's credit report. The resulting score-called an insurance score-is then used to help insurance companies make better decisions as they underwrite and rate insurance policies. What does credit have to do with insurance? Despite the statistical evidence, it still may be difficult to understand what credit has to do with a person's future loss likelihood. After all, what does credit have to do with driving habits or home maintenance? Two characteristics most insurance companies look at closely when reviewing an insurance application are stability and responsibility. These characteristics are inherently subjective in nature and difficult to measure. With insurance scoring, however, insurance companies now have a tool that is able to bring objectivity into the measurements. By revealing a picture of a person's ability to handle and manage credit, insurance scores objectively measure stability and responsibility as well. This adds another layer of sophistication to the underwriting process, allowing insurance companies to underwrite their business with a higher degree of certainty. What about my privacy? The Central Insurance Companies uses your insurance score only for processing your insurance transactions. A variety of physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards are used to protect the confidentiality and security of your insurance score records in our possession. Even employee access to your insurance score records is limited to those employees with a need to know. There are advantages to policyholders. Insurance scoring is bringing more objectivity into the insurance marketplace and is helping companies make better underwriting and rating decisions. But companies aren't the only beneficiaries of insurance scoring. There are advantages for policyholders as well. Use of insurance scoring helps make insurance more affordable. Insurance companies have found that using credit as one factor in the underwriting or rating process helps them more accurately price policies. Insurance scoring helps companies determine a fair price-a price that is related to that consumer's potential for filing a claim. By more closely matching the price of the policy with the individual's potential for loss, companies are able to reduce rates for more consumers. Most people benefit from insurance scoring. Because most people have good credit ratings, most people can benefit from the use of scoring in insurance underwriting and rating. A high insurance score can sometimes offset an otherwise less-than-perfect loss history or driving record. Insurance scoring is a proven, reliable predictor of risk. Central Insurance Companies performed a study of our business. Our study indicated that people with low scores-as a group-have more claims and higher claims costs than people with higher scores. Other national studies published by Fair, Isaac & Company and the Casualty Actuarial Society have drawn similar conclusions. Insurance scoring does not discriminate against specific groups or individuals. According to a study by the American Insurance Association, there are no statistically significant insurance score differences between income groups. A 1999 study by the Virginia Bureau of Insurance found that insurance scores do not correlate with income or race. In fact, because the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits the use of race, religion, marital status, and birthplace in determining a credit score, these characteristics are not available to insurers. Where can I find more information about insurance scoring? You can find additional information on insurance scoring on Central's web site at www.central-insurance.com. Once you've reached our site: Under INSURANCE INFO, click on "Personal," At the top of the page, click on "Insurance Scoring," Select the additional information you would like to review. RETURN TO TOP Your Privacy Is IMPORTANT At Central, we are committed to providing you with the best insurance products at a reasonable cost, backed by consistent, top-quality service. While personal information about you is fundamental to our ability to do this, your privacy is also very important to us. That is why Central has always had a policy of not selling or giving any policyholder's information to anyone outside the Central family for marketing purposes. If you receive a telemarketing call at dinnertime, rest assured your name did not come from Central. We appreciate the trust you've placed in Central and your agent, and we continually strive to satisfy you, our customer. Thank you for your business. RETURN TO TOP Repairing Your Windshield Could Save You Money Windshields consist of two layers of glass with a plastic (vinyl) laminate in the middle. Breaks in the outer layer which do not penetrate the laminate can be repaired. If the damage is small, a repair can be made that is as strong as the original glass. Most repairs are hardly noticeable. Cracks up to 6" long can also be repaired. Repairing these types of damage to you windshield can save you money. If you repair your windshield instead of replacing it, Central will waive your deductible. You'll save the out of pocket expense of your deductible, and Central will save the cost of a full windshield replacement. It's a win-win situation. Not all windshield damage should be repaired. Guidelines for repairing windshield damage are as follows: To maintain windshield safety, repairs should not be made if the break is longer than 1 1/4 inches in diameter. To avoid possible glare distraction, repairs should not be attempted in driver's critical vision areas. The critical vision area is best described as the sweep of the wiper blade. Most shops have a warranty on the repair for as long as you own the vehicle. Check with your agent about windshield repair if you have minor windshield damage. You might be able to save some money. RETURN TO TOP What Type Of Car Should You Consider For A New Driver Today, you have lots of choices, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (III), are advising parents to choose safe vehicles for their teenage drivers. These groups advise parents to avoid sports cars and other vehicles with high performance engines because they are more likely to encourage teens to speed. "Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image reduces the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash." Sport utility vehicles, especially smaller ones, are a no-no for teens. "They are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers...can cause rollovers in these less stable vehicles." Both groups say that teens should drive larger vehicles because they offer more protection, but "this doesn't mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid and full-size cars offer more-than-adequate crash protection." Newer vehicles should also be priority because they typically feature better crash protection than vehicles 6 to 10 years old. Take note, however, that physical damage insurance - comprehensive and collision coverage - often cost more for newer vehicles. RETURN TO TOP Safety Tips For When Your Car Breaks Down If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, your first concern must be your safety and the safety of your passengers. Getting out on the spot to change a tire or check damage from a fender-bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down: Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on the spot. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you can't drive the vehicle, it may still be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to call for help. Standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic, under most circumstances, is a bad idea. Carry flares or triangles for use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. This gives drivers advanced warning of your location. Remember to put on your hazard lights! In the case of a blowout or flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair - even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire or rim is relatively minor compared to a fatal injury. Remember, move your vehicle to the nearest safe pull off area. RETURN TO TOP Tips For Safer Driving Over the years, technology has brought a lot of convenience and safety to driving. Seat belts, airbags, and disc brakes are all safety items we now take for granted. New safety tech-nologies are on the way, such as side airbags, standardized attachment-point system for mounting child restraints, and eventually, collision avoidance systems which warn you if there is an object in your path. Safety technology is effective only if people will use it properly. Studies show that 85 percent of the child restraints on the road today are not installed properly. Many people don't understand that with anti-lock brakes they need to apply firm pressure to the pedal. Many go back to the way they were taught and pump the pedal. This prevents the anti-lock feature from working properly. The biggest mistake is not using safety belts. About 30 percent of us still don't buckle up and the numbers are even higher for kids. A lot of fatal crashes occur as low as 25 to 30 mph. As we see more technology develop for driving safety, the best accident prevention feature is still the human behind the wheel. RETURN TO TOP First Auto Crash Fatality The first auto crash fatality occurred on September 13, 1899 in New York, Central Park West, when Henry Bliss was struck while getting off a street car. (Source: Famous First Facts) RETURN TO TOP Deer Crossing Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions resulting in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries. The average auto claim for colliding with a deer is $2,000. The explosion in the deer population has led to the increase in deer/auto collisions. In the 1980's the deer population was approximately 10 million. Today, there are more than 25 million. Here are some defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer: Be vigilant in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer Use your high-beam headlights, which reflect in the deer's eyes, to see the deer better. Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away. Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path. Do not swerve. It can confuse the deer as to where to run. It can also cause you to lose control. Be alert when you are moving through a deer crossing zone. Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in deer/car crashes were not wearing their seat belt. Look for other deer after one has crossed your path. Deer seldom run alone. Contact your insurance agent to report any damage to your car. Collision with an animal is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy. (Source: Insurance Information Institute) RETURN TO TOP Is Speeding Really A Safety Problem The statistics certainly say, yes. Because speeding reduces the time drivers have to avoid crashes. And it increases the severity of the crash when it occurs. Speed is a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, killing an average of 1,000 Americans every month! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the economic cost to society of speed-related crashes to be more than $239 billion each year. Who speeds most? Although speeding is a problem among all age groups, young drivers speed more often than older drivers. About 37 percent of all drivers ages 14 - 19 involved in fatal crashes were in speed-related crashes. At all ages, male drivers are more likely than female drivers to be involved in speed-related fatal crashes. Does the speed limit matter? Don't drivers speed anyway? Many drivers tend to drive somewhat faster than posted speed limits, no matter what the limits are. Although many people driver faster than the posted limit, they do not completely ignore it but choose a speed they think is unlikely to result in a ticket. In general, higher speed limits lead to greater proportions of cars traveling at very high speeds. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) RETURN TO TOP Further Studies on Speed The National Highway Transportation Safety Agency states that high speed is a contributing factor in one in twelve vehicle accidents and one in three vehicle deaths. The Mid-Atlantic Research Institute states that the chance of death for someone who crashes at 70 mph or more is 100 percent! This compares with a 50 percent chance of death at 60 mph and a 20 percent chance at 50 mph. When you're traveling, allow yourself enough time to slow down and not be tempted to speed. RETURN TO TOP Daytime Running Lights According to government studies, daytime running lights reduce vehicle collisions up to 38%. The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency ruled in favor of the use of daytime running lights to increase highway safety. Although daytime running lights are going to be standard equipment in the future, modules are available to retrofit your vehicle. These modules turn your car's headlights on when the engine is started, and off when the engine is turned off. This automatic feature makes a vehicle more visible and the occupants safer. Want to be safer when you're travelling? Here's a simple solution. Turn your lights on. RETURN TO TOP Beginning Drivers - Helping Them Make It Home The simple fact of the matter is that as a group, teenage drivers have high crash rates per mile driven. The problem is worst among 16 year-olds, the age when most beginners get licenses. The crash deaths are frightening and there are a combination of factors which play into the causes. Inexperience. Speed. Alcohol. Lack of Safety Belt use. Attitude versus Skills. What can you do as a parent to improve the situation for your new driver? Here are a few tips from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Give your young driver as much driving time supervised by an adult as possible, even after they get their license. Make new drivers wait to go with friends until they get plenty of supervised driving time. Don't assume your 16-year old drives the same way with peers in the car as when you're present. With or without a curfew law, prohibit late night driving that's unsupervised. Teen outings late at night tend to be recreational and pose more risk. Don't assume that belts are used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers. Remember that belt use is lower among teenagers than older people, so insist on belts all the time. Choose safe cars. Large ones are safer than small ones, and airbags enhance safety. Avoid high performance cars - the combination of high perform-ance and a young driver is deadly. Prohibit driving after drinking any alcohol. Although this is a factor in only 15 percent of crashes involving 16-year old drivers, it becomes a much worse problem among older teenagers. Driving is much more complex than most 16-year olds realize, and they can't learn driving skills overnight. It takes a long time to learn what to do and how to predict danger. It also takes time to develop the maturity to make responsible decisions behind the wheel. It takes the maturity that can only come with time. RETURN TO TOP Why An Independent Insurance Agent? Some people think it doesn't really matter where they buy their insurance. But this misconception could be costing them money, service and protection. Buying insurance isn't like buying bread and milk. Insurance is an important safety net for your family, your home, your car or your business. There is a difference in where you buy your protection: A Captive Agent can sell you the insurance of only one company. Telephone Representatives can offer you the insurance of only one company, and only on the telephone. Independent Insurance Agents represent an average of eight companies and research these companies to find you the best combination of price, coverage and service. Your Independent Agent: Is a licensed professional with strong customer and community ties. Gives you excellent service and competitive prices because they can access coverage from more than one company. Assists you when you have a claim. Is your consultant and works with you to determine your needs. Offers you a choice of insurance plans and programs. Offers one-stop shopping for the full range of insurance from home, renters, auto and bus-iness, to life and health. Treats you like a person, not just another number. Customer satisfaction is the key to an independent agent's livelihood, so serving your needs is their most important concern. Central is proud to operate exclusively through independent agents and be a strong supporter of the independent agency system. RETURN TO TOP Air Bag Update You've heard about airbags hurting people and may be thinking about getting on/off switches for the airbags in your car. The Federal Government now has procedures allowing the very few people who may be at risk of serious airbag injury to get switches, but these aren't appropriate for most people. Are you possibly at risk of airbag injury? Is someone in your family? It isn't your size, gender or age that determines risk. It's your position in relation to an airbag. Anyone who's very close to, or on top of, an airbag as it begins to inflate can be at risk. Most people who have been harmed by airbags weren't using safety belts or child restraints, and braking before impact caused them to move close to their airbags before inflation. Airbags and belts work together as a system, and one without the other isn't as effective. Together, they double the protection against head injury. The lives saved by airbags far outnumber the deaths they've caused. Most injuries are preventable if drivers and passengers buckle up, with drivers keeping at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel and front seat passengers pushing their seat back as far as possible. So, just who is at risk? On the Drivers Side: To avoid serious airbag injury, a driver of any size or age should always buckle up and sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel. If you have to sit closer than 10 inches, try other options such as pedal extenders before seeking an airbag on/off switch. Why? Because without airbags, even belted drivers move forward in serious frontal crashes, and their faces often hit the steering wheel. Try a new sitting position. Some drivers who lean forward need only sit back. On the Passenger Side: There's no significant airbag injury risk to properly belted adults sitting back in the seat. The risk on the passenger side is mostly to infants and children who are unrestrained or unbelted. The remedy is simple - properly restrain kids in a back seat. Sitting in the back was always safer, even before airbags. Never put a rear-facing car seat in front with a passenger airbag. The baby's head would be too close to the airbag. Instead, secure the infant restraint to the center back seat. What if you transport too many infants or small children to put them all in a back seat? It's ok for an older child to ride up front, even with a passenger airbag, if the seat is all the way back and the child is secured in a lap/shoulder belt and sitting back in the seat. Don't discount airbag risks, but don't discount the benefits of airbags either. To date, airbags have saved more than 2,600 lives and prevented many serious injuries. If you're one of the very few for whom airbags pose a risk, then an of/off switch may be appropriate. But remember how few people really need on/off switches. If you turn off your airbag, you would also be forgoing important protection in the event of a serious frontal crash. When you know the facts, it becomes clear that leaving airbags intact is almost always best. Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety RETURN TO TOP It's Just Smart To Buckle Up Educating the public about airbag safety is important, but simply buckling up is also important. Nationwide, only 68 percent of Americans wear a safety belt. Adults who do not buckle up are sending children the message that it's all right not to wear a safety belt. Research shows that 70 percent of the time, if a driver is unbuckled, children riding in that vehicle won't be buckled either. Conversely, 94 percent of the time a driver is buckled, children riding in that vehicle are buckled too. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), if all children were properly restrained all of the time, we would save an additional 630 lives and prevent an additional 182,000 injuries each year. RETURN TO TOP Stay Alert When Behind The Wheel Drowsy drivers are more dangerous than drunken ones, but the problem of sleep deprivation still gets little attention. Quoting the National Highway Traffic Safety Board, more than 200,000 traffic accidents annually can be attributed to excessive sleepiness. Statistics are not precise in this area, however, and other researchers think the numbers may be as high as 400,000 accidents a year. Officials at the National Safety Council said they don't have statistics directly comparing drowsiness and alcohol as accident factors. In general, various studies indicate sleep deprivation and alcohol each are contributing factors in about 6 percent to 7 percent of all vehicle accidents, and 40 percent to 50 percent of all fatal accidents. One in five Americans has dozed off while driving, according to the American Automobile Association. In five seconds of sleep, at 55 mph, a car will travel more than the length of a football field. Source: Ohio Insurance Institute Here are some quick tips for staying alert while driving: Avoid taking medications that can make you drowsy. Sip a caffeine-containing drink, such as a cola, as a pick-me-up. Eat a piece of hard candy because low blood sugar can cause drowsiness. Pull off to the side of the road and stop when you feel sleepy. Keep the temperature in the car cool. Open a window for fresh air. Turn on the radio and sing along. If you have a passenger, strike up a conversation. Wake them up if you have to. Don't stare at one spot too long. Vary what you look at. Make a conscious effort to be aware of your surroundings. RETURN TO TOP How Often Should I Review My Homeowners Policy? There are four events that should trigger a review of your homeowners policy: Policy renewal - Take time to review your coverage and call your agent with any questions or concerns. Major purchases or alterations/improvements to your home - If you have made additions or remodeled, consider how it increased the value of your home. Don't forget about new structures outside of your home such as a gazebo, hot tub, or storage shed. You've made your home safer - If you have installed fire or burglar alarm protection or upgraded your heating, plumbing or electrical system you may qualify for a discount. Major lifestyle changes - Marriage, divorce, or adult children who move back into your home can all create a sizeable increase in the value of belongings in the home. Starting a home-based business can also trigger changes in your coverage. You will need to get additional coverage for business liability and equipment. If you have any questions about your coverage, don't hesitate to contact your Independent agent. Source: Insurance Information Institute RETURN TO TOP Smoke Detectors...Are Yours Working? If there were something you could do to cut your risk of dying in a home fire in half, would you do it? Of course. According to the National Fire Protection Association, just installing a smoke detector in your home cuts your chance of dying by nearly 50 percent. Over 80 percent of all fire deaths every year continue to occur in the place people should feel the safest - their home. Only one home in 12 is not protected by smoke detectors, but nearly half the home fires and three-fifths of the home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors. In the 92 percent of U.S. homes with smoke detectors, 20 percent ARE NOT WORKING, most often due to dead or missing batteries. If you don't have a smoke detector, get one. If you have smoke detectors, check them regularly to be sure they are working. Keep your family safe! RETURN TO TOP Traveler Safety Tips From the American Hotel and Motel Association and the Meeting Professionals International comes this handy checklist of safety tips when staying in a hotel. Don't answer the door to your guestroom without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be a hotel employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from the staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose. When returning to the hotel late at night, use the main entrance. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots. Close the door securely when you are in the guestroom and use all locking devices provided. Don't needlessly display guestroom keys in public areas or carelessly leave them in restaurants or pool areas where they can be stolen. Don't draw attention to your-self by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry. Don't invite strangers to your guestroom. Place all valuables in the hotel's safe deposit box. Don't leave valuables in your car. Check to see that all sliding glass doors or windows in your room and any connecting room doors are locked. If you see suspicious activity, report it to hotel management. Carry as little luggage as possible and don't leave it unattended. Carry a minimum amount of cash. Use Traveler's checks and credit cards. Upon check-in, if your room number is announced at the front desk, request another room. Ask a bellman to escort you to your guestroom and inspect it. Learn about your surroundings. Ask the hotel's guest services about any problem areas of the city and avoid them. Don't discuss your plans for the day in the presence of strangers. RETURN TO TOP Insure Your Home To The Correct Value According to a study released by Marshall & Swift, close to 70% of all homeowners have insufficient insurance coverage to rebuild homes destroyed by a disaster. Your home is probably your most valuable investment. Most insurance companies, including Central, recommend that a dwelling be insured for 100 percent of replacement cost so that if you have a total loss, you have enough insurance to rebuild your home. Replacement cost is the total cost of construction required to replace your dwelling with similar kind and quality materials and workmanship within a reasonable time frame. Home remodeling is booming. Homeowners are busy making additions or improvements to their homes, but they often forget to make sure they have adequate insurance coverage. That was the finding of a recent survey by the Independent Insurance Agents of America. Of the homeowners who said they recently made major structural changes, such as remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, or adding rooms, a deck or patio, 60 percent said they did not update their homeowners policy. Of those planning to remodel within the next year, 75 percent said they had not considered updating their policies. Remodeling not only improved the looks of homes, but one in four respondents of the survey said remodeling increased the value of their home by more than 25 percent. If you haven't reviewed the value of your home lately, or have made improvements or additions to your home, contact your agent and ask them for a Replacement Cost estimate on your home. If your policy limit is less than 100 percent replacement cost and you have a total loss, you run the risk of not having enough money to replace your old home with one of equal size and quality. Protect your investment by insuring it for the correct value. RETURN TO TOP Have You Considered Fire Sprinklers For Your Home? The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) was created in 1996 to inform the public about the life-saving value of home fire sprinkler protection. Here's some information released by the HFSC. Eight out of 10 fire deaths in the U.S. occur in the home. Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene. Installing both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system reduces the risk of death in a home by fire by 82%, relative to having neither. Home sprinklers are cost-effective, especially when installed during new construction. Often, they add only 1 to 1 1/2% of the total building cost. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. Ninety percent of the fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler. The odds of accidental sprinkler discharge due to manufacturer defect are 1 in 16 million. Modern residential sprinklers are inconspicuous and can be mounted flush with walls or ceilings. Many companies, including Central and All America, provide discounts for home sprinkler systems. If you are interested in additional information about home sprinklers, call the HFSC at (888) 635-7222 or go to the web site at www.firesprinkler.org/hfsc/. RETURN TO TOP Ways To Keep Your Home Burglary Free While no home can be completely impervious to a determined intruder, there are many ways to make your home more difficult to break into - and convince burglars to skip your home and move on to easier targets. Here are some steps you can take to increase your home's security: Lock your doors and windows even during the day. Most break-ins occur between 8 AM and 5 PM. Avoid landscaping that could provide cover for a thief. Don't rely on an automatic garage door to keep thieves out; lock the door leading from the garage into your home. Some thieves have a series of garage door openers, each set to a different frequency. Re-set your garage door opener from its default factory setting. Install a motion-activated security light outside your home. Install solid material doors - steel, fiberglass or solid wood - not hollow core doors. Don't put your name on the exterior of your home or mailbox; it is easier to learn your phone number and call to find out if you're not home. Don't leave a ladder out to make a thief's job easier. Sliding glass doors can be made more secure by placing a dowel in the bottom track to prevent the door from opening. Don't hide your keys in a "secret" place outside your home - burglars usually know where to look. If you're going on vacation, turn down the bell on your telephone so passersby won't be able to tell you're not home. Also, install automatic light timers on several lights in your home. Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your newspapers and mail and keep an eye on your home while you're gone. Arrange to have your lawn mowed or drive-way and walks shoveled. Think like a burglar and "scope out" your home. Is it an easy target compared to others in your neighborhood? Source: Insurance Information Institute RETURN TO TOP Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover Flood Losses You may have received a flyer along with your policy talking about flood insurance. Your Homeowners policy doesn't cover flood. Unfortunately, too many people discover this after they have a flood loss. Flood insurance isn't just for those in a high-risk flood zone. Flood insurance studies show that nearly one-third of all flood claims come from the lower risk flood areas. The good news is that flood insurance is relatively inexpensive and easy to get. You can get a policy issued through your own local agent. If you're interested, contact your agent for information on flood insurance. RETURN TO TOP As You Send Them Off To College, Check Your Insurance In addition to the many personal items taken along to college, many students these days view computers, tele- visions, portable CD players, stereos, bicycles and other expensive items as necessities for their college stay. Many students learn for the first time the hard fact that these types of items can be easily stolen. Theft is the number one crime on college campuses. Having adequate insurance can lessen the blow but it is important to know if various items are covered or if there are coverage limitations on the items. Before sending your student off, it's a good idea to check your policy or ask your agent to determine if there are any coverage limitations on these items while at college. Generally, for students who live in dorms, personal possessions are insured under their parent's homeowners policy. Here's some tips for your college student's belongings. Have an accurate list of the possessions your son or daughter is taking to college, noting the items, original cost, date purchased, and if new, attach the receipt. The Professional Insurance Agents Association recommends engraving valuable items such as TV's and computers with an identification number (your Social Security number or driver's license number). This will help with the return of the items if stolen. The Insurance Information Institute offers the following advice to guard against theft on college campuses: Always lock your doors. Even if you are going down the hall to the bathroom or to chat with friends, lock your door and keep the key with you at all times. Leave expensive jewelry at home. Engrave electronic items Don't leave belongings unattended. A book bag left unguarded in the library is a quick, easy target for thieves. (Sources: Insurance Information Institute/Indiana Insurance News) RETURN TO TOP Your Home is Probably Your Most Valuable Investment Do you know the "Replacement Cost" value of your home? First, just what is "Replacement Cost?" Replacement Cost is the total cost of construction required to replace your dwelling with similar kind and quality materials and workmanship within a reasonable time frame. The most common mistake made in the valuation of homes for insurance purposes is utilizing information derived from real estate or market values. Market Value is at the mercy of public demand and reflects the probable price a residence will bring on the market. Replacement Cost is affected by specific material and labor costs and is the more accurate price at which a home can be repaired or replaced in the event of a loss. There are many factors which can affect the value of your home. Renovations or improvements you have made to the property can increase the value significantly. Finishing a basement can increase the Replacement Cost on the average of over $10,000. Adding or renovating a bathroom can increase the Replacement Cost over $9,000 and adding a deck and french doors can increase the value over $14,000. The cost to repair or replace a home after a loss is often more than the house cost new. Making repairs around an existing structure can increase the cost. Custom repair and altering construction to meet existing building codes is often more costly than new construction. The increasing cost of materials and labor also has a significant effect on the Replacement Cost of your home. Because of these factors, it is important to regularly update the value of your home - to determine the "Replacement Cost" so if you have a loss, you will be adequately protected. If you haven't reviewed the value of your home lately, or if you have made some improvements to your home, contact your agent and request a Replacement Cost estimate. RETURN TO TOP Going on Vacation? Here's a Safety Checklist for Home and Travel For Home: Notify police and neighbors before you leave for vacation and provide a telephone number where you can be reached in case of an emergency. Stop your mail, newspapers and other deliveries. Transfer valuables and cash to a safe deposit box off-premises. Place radios and lights on timers for a "lived-in" look. Turn down the volume on your telephone and answering machine so they cannot be heard outside. Make sure your answering machine message does not imply that you are away on vacation. Arrange to have a neighbor mow your lawn, water flowers and check for deliveries while you are gone. Provide your security system company with a vacation phone number or neighbor's number. Close your blinds or curtains enough to prevent a direct view into your house. Consider a house sitter, especially if you are planning an extended leave. Daily traffic in and out of your house helps serve as a theft deterrent. While traveling, there are ways to protect yourself and your belongings without taking away from the fun, rest and relaxation: When possible, choose accommodations that use a keyless entry system. Be careful where you leave your room key or card, especially if you are given more than one set. Report a lost key or card immediately and insist that the key or card access be changed immediately. Don't answer the door to your guest room without verifying who it is. If the person claims to be a hotel employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from the staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose. When returning to your hotel late at night, use the main entrance to the property. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots. Don't leave valuables in your car. Take advantage of hotel safe deposit boxes for valuables. Keep a light on and, better yet, keep the radio or TV on when you leave the room. Double-check connecting room doors, sliding doors and windows to be sure they are locked. If uncomfortable with your room location, ask to be moved to another location. Familiarize yourself with the room layout and emergency exit plans. Have an enjoyable, and safe, vacation. RETURN TO TOP Click here to send E-Mail to our Webmaster. Copyright 1996-2008 Central Mutual Insurance Company  ·  Privacy Policy