Who can you trust to do home repairs?

 

 

 

 

 

You know inviting a stranger into your home can be risky business. When it comes to service people how do you know who you can trust? We've all heard about negative experiences, from some surprise expenses to con-artists, people that will take your money or take your down payment and skip out of town, or you will get the guy that just comes in to scope out the place, and then later comes to rob you. Don't let this happen to you. When you hire someone, do some major and minor checking on him. You may want to ask for references, and then call the references. Don't just call the references, you might want to actually drive by the addresses of the people that they referred. Drive by the business. Look in the yellow pages. See if they actually have a yellow page ad, to see if they are a legitimate business. Find out all you can about the company you are hiring. Call the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, or your local trade association or builder's association and see how long they have been in business. The number one deterrent to these petty crimes is to be at home while the work is being done. You don't need to be constantly supervising the work while it's being done, but being in the house is a very good deterrent. Never leave a key under the mat, or in the mail box. If you can't be home, do not let a stranger just come into your house. Ask a trusted neighbor to be there when service people arrive to keep an eye on the house and an eye on them. Let them know what kind of vehicle to expect in the driveway and ask them to alert you or the police if they see anything unusual, such as people making several trips from your house carrying large pieces furniture or boxes into their van. It helps if service people are licensed and bonded to protect you from being sued. But just knowing that isn't enough, you have to ask a few questions.

 

1.  Under what conditions does the bonding company pay claim?

 

2.  Will the bonding company pay damages if something valuable is broken?

 

3.  You need to ask specifically what is covered, or what isn't covered.

 

4.  Does the insurer have sufficient funds for the number of members it has?  Always go with an A.M. Best rated company of (A+).  You can go to ambest.com to find out what your insurance company rating is.

 

5.  What is the cap? Or in other words how much will they pay. Is there a spot where they will stop paying? Most insurers pay only a set amount and you need to know what that amount is. The remainder is left to the person who suffered the loss. This means that if a $10,000 ring is taken from you by the person who is bonded, and they are only bonded for $2,000, you have to settle up with the person who stole the ring.

 

Asking a few simple questions may save you a lot of nightmares.

 

Dictation made on 6/20/2007 1:38 PM EST.

Have you ever considered buying a home warranty?

I am sure that you've thought about getting a home warranty when you bought a house that may be a little older with older appliances, but have you ever thought about buying a home warranty for the home you already own? A good way to be sure you are getting a reliable service is to purchase a home warranty by a reputable company, such as American Home Shield, sometimes known as AHS. AHS is a qualified home warranty company. Let me tell you how their plan works. First of all, they only send out qualified service people, so that you can avoid the high cost of repairs at your home. Here's how it works: You will pay an annual premium, usually about $450. When an appliance or a heating system or a plumbing or an electric system goes bad or even your water heater needs repair, you just pay a service fee, which is normally around $50, and the warranty would take care of the rest; or a phone call to the warranty company would take care of all of that. Now you may think, wow, $450, that's a lot of money every year, seems like I am just paying for it on a year by year basis. Well, some insurance companies, like mine, offer home warranties as well, but it is going to be opposite of what AHS offers. It is only $28 a year, and it has a $500 deductible if you need it. It covers the same air conditioner, heaters, hot water tank, dishwasher, built in refrigerator, air conditioners, cool pumps, spa pumps, electrical service panels. If you need repair or replacement, they'll do so. If it needs to be replaced, they'll pay up to 25% above the cost to replace or repair, as long as it is more energy efficient or safer for the environment. You need to decide which option is best for you. Is the $450 a year with a low deductible or low service cost the right option? Or is the $28 a year with a $500 deductible the right option? For some people it may be right to just self-insure. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jerry@tulsahomeauto.com or my phone number is 918-254-2578, extension 227.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

Radon Testing Steps

 

Makers of reliable home testing devices, First Alert can detect radon in your house. Radon testing devices are available at your local hardware stores or home centers. Purchase a kit that includes testing by a lab listed by the EPA, such as First Alert. Test with a short-term, two to three day charcoal monitor, following manufacturer's directions exactly. After testing time, reseal and send package to the lab specified on the package right away. You should receive the results within a few weeks. If the result is below 4pCi\L, you do not need to take action. If your test result is 4pCi\L or higher, take a second short-term test and average the results. If the result is 10pCi\L or higher, take this second test immediately. Short-term tests should be repeated a couple of times since radon levels can vary over time. If your radon level is still 4pCi\L or greater, you need to fix the problem. You can call your state radon office to obtain more information, including a list of EPA  or state approved radon contractors or call the Radon Fix-It line, operated by the Consumer Federation of America at 1-800-644-6999 between noon and 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time for information and assistance. For more information about radon, call the EPA Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON. That's 1-800-767-7236.

 

 

 

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate  News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

 

Radon. Is it harmful? Could you and your home be at risk?

    Have you ever heard of the deadly thing called Radon? Harmful levels of Radon can put you at risk for lung cancer. But you may have something you can do about it. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 300,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are attributed to Radon exposure. One out of every 15 houses is likely to harbor amounts of Radon above the EPA's action level. It's colorless, it's odorless and it's invisible. Radon is produced by the natural breakdown of Uranium in the soil, in rock. Radon seeps into the house through the cracks and other openings in and around the foundation. It also may be present in water and can be released into indoor air when water is used for showers and other household uses. Private well water can be a radon problem in some parts of the country. You need to ask local health officials if this is problem in our area. You can call the EPA drinking water hotline which is 1-800-426-4791. The only way to find out if your home has a radon problem is to test it. Do it yourself test kits are available and easy to follow instructions; some areas require radon testing before a home is sold. Such testing is usually done by a certified radon inspector. Testing of all homes below the third floor is recommended. According to Joseph P Ponessa, PHD, chair of the department of Family and Consumer Science at Rutgers University, some homes, though a very small number, have radon levels well above safety standards set for uranium mines. Although no level of radon is considered safe, the EPA has set four multi C small eye \ L (PICOCURIES per liter) as the point at which action should be taken to reduce radon levels. To lower radon levels hire a contractor that's been certified by your state or by the EPA's radon proficiency program. The cost averages $1,200. Doing the job yourself is not recommended. As without the proper equipment and training you could increase your radon levels.

 

 

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate  News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This is from a book I am reading and has nothing at all to do with insurance but I thought you may all enjoy it as much as I did: “That Crazy little thing called Love” by Jud Wilhite. Let me know what you think

You gotta love Aretha. Her powerful voice commanding “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” has captured millions of people, especially women, who have embraced that song as a personal anthem. Just like the Queen of Soul herself, women deserve and desire respect from their mates. And while respect is important for a woman, it’s even more important for men. In fact the son “RESPECT” was first written by a man named Otis Redding. Two years before Aretha recorded it, he released it as a single to send a message to his wife.

In the Song of Solomon, it’s immediately apparent that Solomon’s wife has great respect for him. This is displayed in the opening passage of the book when she says, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; Your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you!”

Remember, this is poetry. It is not like reading an article in the New York Times. There’s a lot of flowery language, metaphors, and symbolism. Men in the Old Testament didn’t bathe for several days at a time. (Gross they still don’t over there) They put on oil or perfume that would give them a fragrance. So the woman is saying “Solomon, you smell so good. You’re irresistible!” (By the way, I heard a woman on a radio show say that the most annoying thing about men is that too many believe deodorant alone is enough!)

The Shulatmmite says Solomon not only Smells wonderfully but his “name is like perfume poured out.” A person’s name in the Old Testament stood for his character and reputation. She is saying, “Your name is so valuable it’s like expensive perfume poured out. It’s a sweet fragrance.” These words drip with respect.

In his book Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs writes about the importance of respect in a man’s life. He cites a study in which 400 men were asked to choose between being alone and unloved or being disrespected by everyone. An amazing 74% of men said if they had to choose, they would choose to be alone and unloved rather than disrespected!

Thousands of years ago, the Bible addressed the issue of man’s need for respect. In his letter to the Ephesians, we read this instruction form Paul: “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (5:33). Notice this passage does not call on husbands and wives to love each other. It charges husbands to love their wives and wives to respect their husbands. God knows that a woman’s primary need is to feel loved, but a man’s primary need is to feel respected. Respect surpasses love and everything else as his most essential need.

Eggerichs cites one woman who says, “Just a few days ago, I decided to tell my husband that I respect him. It felt so awkward to say the words, but I went for it and the reaction was unbelievable! He asked me why I respected him. I listed off a few things, although I could have said many more, and I watched his demeanor change right before my very eyes” . Most women would be surprise at how powerful the words “I respect you” are to a man.

Too often in Marriage relationships, we think love should be unconditional but respect, earned. That may be true in our professional relationships, but in a marriage or dating relationship, men need unconditional respect and women need unconditional love. It does little good to withhold love or respect until your partner seems worthy of it. Rather, respect him and love her regardless and you may see him or her change before your eyes. The German poet and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it this way, “If you treat a man as he is he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become that bigger and better man.”

One action that causes your partner to feel disrespected is nagging. Nagging may make a person think, I’m respected at work——they don’t nag me there. My friends respect me. I’m respected everywhere I go except for my own home. Many men especially feel this way , so be careful to show respect for one another, Check yourself, your demonstration of respect will transform the way your partner communicates love to you.

Women can learn from the Shulatmmite on this point. Look for things you respect about your husband and share those feelings with him. Make a list of the things you respect and admire about him. You can do this mentally or write them down. Do you respect him for his honesty and integrity? Is it the way he parents his children? Do you respect his intellect or his sense of humor? How about his knowledge of the job that he does or the way he manages people in the workplace? Perhaps you respect his for the way he tends to things around your home like the yard the cars or the necessary repairs. Take a lesson from Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin: let him know. Sock it to him. In the process, you’ll notice and amazing thing. Your ability to love him will increase as well.

Write down a characteristic of your partner that inspires your respect.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com