FocusHomeowner Edition Western National’s policyholder newsletter

Do you use protective devices to keep your home safe? If so, you may be eligible for our Protective Devices Discount. Eligible devices include:

• Central station burglary and/or fire alarms

• Fire department and/or police department alarms

• Local alarms

• Sprinkler systems

Western National Insurance Group | Focus: Homeowner Edition

Protective Devices Discount

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Tips for Grilling SafetyThe American grilling tradition is often the center of entertaining, but this fun cooking technique also brings the risk of open fire. Here are a few tips to stay safe while using your grill:

• Remember that grills should always be placed away from your home, deck railings, and overhanging branches.

• Keep your clothing in mind. Wearing loose clothing that has strings or frills can be a fire risk. Flame-retardant mitts should be used when adjusting hot vents.

• Grills should be placed on a secure surface. Be sure all parts of the unit are firmly in place.

• Make sure to have a fire extinguisher and baking soda on hand in case of a grease fire.

• Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill to save your deck or patio from grease that misses the drip pan.

Q&A: Property in StorageQuestion: I rent a self-storage unit seven miles from my home in order to store seasonal items, keepsakes, and other typical personal property items. If a lightning storm caused a fire to the storage facility, resulting in the complete destruction of all my property in that storage unit, would my Homeowner policy provide coverage for the loss? And, if so, would my recovery be limited in any way?

Answer: Coverage for personal property would be extended to cover property destroyed by fire at the storage facility up to the limits stated under Coverage C (Personal Property) on the policy’s Declarations Page. A Homeowner policy does contain a sub-limit (typically 10%) for loss to personal property usual-ly located at a residence other than the insured premises (i.e., the residence described in the policy). The purpose of this limitation is to limit coverage for an insured who owns a secondary residence that should be insured separately. Since a self-storage unit would not be considered a residence, the sub-limit would not apply.

There may be other dollar limitations on specific types of personal property (money, jewelry, watercraft, etc.) as provided within the policy.

MyAccount is a convenient, easy-to-navigate area of our website where you can pay your bill, view and print your policies, and opt for a paperless policy. Managing your policies has never been simpler!

Check it out at www.wnins.com.

Western National Insurance Group

5350 West 78th Street

Edina, Minnesota 55439

Toll Free (800) 862-6070

Twin Cities (952) 835-5350

www.wnins.com

Western National Insurance Group | Focus: Homeowner Edition 00140468

Do I Need Flood Insurance?According to FEMA, flooding causes billions of dollars of property damage in the United States each year. If you are like many homeowners, however, you may be unaware that the standard Homeowner insurance policy you buy does not cover flood losses. You may believe that you have a low risk to this peril, but FEMA reports that approximately 33 percent of all flood claims occur in communities in which flooding is deemed to be a low to moderate risk. So do you really need a separate flood policy? The following tips and ideas may prove helpful in answering this question.

• Find out if you live in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a prerequisite to qualify for Flood Insurance.

• Go to www.floodsmart.gov and fill out the One-Step Flood Risk Profile. Enter your home address and this web site will tell you whether you are in a low-, moderate-, or high-risk area.

• Consider purchasing Flood Insurance even if you are in a low-to moder-ate-risk community. In these areas, you may be eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy.

• Keep in mind that a flood policy often does not take effect until 30 days after you purchase the coverage.

Please note that Western National does not sell Flood Insurance.

Know the Difference: Market Value vs. Replacement CostWhy is it important to know the difference between “replacement cost” and “market value”? Because if you insure your home based on its market value (i.e., its selling price), you may be insuring it for just a fraction of what it would cost to rebuild. By contrast, replacement cost takes into account many of the same factors as the market value—age, size, condition, and location—but adds in other factors such as debris removal, contractors’ fees, and architects’ fees. For more information on insuring your home and its replacement cost, contact your Independent Insurance Agent.

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