This blog is authored by Northpoint team member and Personal Insurance Advisor, Nigel Highton. We hope that you will find his expertise and perspective both helpful – and entertaining!
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I am arguably the greatest insurance professional in Virginia.
I know that is a heck of a sentence to start this off with but let me explain. I am the embodiment of Murphy’s Law, if something can go wrong in my life, it will. For this reason, I know the value of insurance more than most people. Allow me to provide you with a list of the insane experiences I’ve had over the years:
- A deer jumping through my childhood home’s dining room window and running around the house
- A basketball hoop falling on my car
- A college student riding his bike right into my passenger’s side door while I was parked at the campus bookstore
- Buying a new car only to have it stolen less than twelve hours later
- My car being hit by a postal worker running a stop sign
And don’t even get me started on all the college girls that told me they “loved me like a brother.” Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t exist for the friend zone.
But I digress…If anyone needs insurance, it’s me.
Firsthand Experience with a Fire
Claim adjusters across the state tremble with fear when they hear my name, and unfortunately, I have another story that will undoubtedly strike terror in their hearts.
A couple of months ago, I was awoken at 2:30 AM to the sound of pounding on my apartment door. When I answered, my neighbor informed me that there was a fire. Now I am not a morning person, and I am certainly not a “2:30 in the morning” person. So much to the point that I heard “fire” and still considered for a brief moment crawling back into bed. Fortunately, I mustered up the energy to grab my dog and walk outside into the frigid October night. Sure enough, above my unit there was smoke billowing out of my upstairs neighbor’s window. The fire department showed up moments later, fire hose over their shoulders, sprinting into the apartment. As I watched them put out the fire, I couldn’t help but notice the abundant amount of water running down the side of the building.
Down to my apartment.
I thought of the water flooding my office. Destroying my $1600 gaming computer that I had saved up for and lovingly built by hand. What would I do without it? What would happen to all of my games?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL MY FORTNITE SKINS?!
Fearing the worst, I pulled up my Erie Insurance app to look at my tenant policy. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the past version of myself who made sure to add a lower computer deductible to my policy.
“Nigel, I’m not your therapist.” I hear you saying. “Why are you sharing all of your problems with me?”
I am sharing this because, though I am the embodiment of Murphy’s Law, none of us are immune from major life disruptions. The next time there’s a fire it could very well be you standing in the parking lot at 2:30 AM, frantically checking your insurance. For that reason, I’d like to provide you with some wisdom from your favorite (and the greatest!) insurance advisor.
Winter is Peak Fire Season
According to the National Fire Protective Association, heating fires peak during the colder months, with nearly half of all annual U.S. home heating equipment fires (46%) occurring between December and February. My fire took place in October, and since December it seems the local media is saturated with stories of more housefires across our region. Be aware and be extra careful during these cold months! With this in mind, there are important and proactive steps you can take.
Take Preventative Measures
- Make sure your heating equipment is in good working order, have them inspected by a qualified professional every year, and if you have a chimney please make sure it’s cleaned annually.
- Keep combustible items at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, space heaters and cooking appliances.
- If you use portable heaters, like my penny-pinching father who uses a kerosene heater, it is critical that it’s turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- When cooking, clear the cooking area of flammable objects, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
- Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen.
Call us Before Filing a Claim
If you run into the unfortunate situation of dealing with a fire like I did, call us before you file a claim.
Though I had to deal with a lot of headache from my dilemma I did NOT submit an insurance claim. Fortunately, the Blacksburg Fire Department took the time to throw a tarp over all of my belongings before they put out the fire (thanks,friends!!), including my sweet, precious computer.
Since the Fire Department saved all of my expensive belongings, my total financial loss was a little over $500. My deductible is $500. The money-math didn’t support me filing a claim. Due to insurance premiums being calculated based off of prior claim history, it was best to take on the risk myself.
Next time you have a claim, give us a call so we can properly advise you on how to proceed and so we can thoroughly explore your options with you.
Stay Safe – Stay Merry – Stay Aware
In closing, if you are roasting any chestnuts on an open fire this holiday season make sure it’s not the blazing fire that’s burning your house down.
Stay safe, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!
