Being a homeowner is rewarding in so many ways. You feel a sense of pride in ownership, comfort in making something your own, and you have total control over the choices you make for your home.

But with reward, comes responsibility!

Maintaining your home is a part of this responsibility and can sometimes seem like a never-ending list of to-dos. Seasonal home maintenance is particularly important not only to keep yourself aware of the condition of your home, but for preventative purposes.

A lot of what is done during seasonal maintenance is to prevent damage to areas of your home that might occur if left neglected.

And this time of year, means spring home maintenance. There’s a lot that can be done during the spring, when the daylight hours are longer, and the weather is more inviting.

While the list can be extensive, we are going to share 7 of our favorite essential spring home maintenance tips below to get you started.

1. Inspect Your Roof

Any extreme weather can wreak havoc on your roof, so check it for loose, broken, or missing shingles. A new roof is a big investment, so keeping it in working order is a smart choice.

2. Clean out Gutters and Downspouts

Check the walls around your gutters and downspouts for water damage that might indicate your gutter system isn’t working properly. Clean out all the gunk that accumulated over the fall and winter from your gutters to ensure they can keep rainwater flowing freely and directed away from your house.

3. Clean Windows and Check Seals

Check the caulk around your windows for dry, cracked, or missing caulk. If you see any issues, scrape the old caulk off before reapplying a fresh strip. Keeping your windows properly caulked ensures efficient insulation and energy usage and also protects from weather leaks.

After any repair work dries thoroughly, give your windows a good cleaning inside and outside. Remove and gently clean any screens and dry before reinserting. Windows can be wiped down with a glass cleaner or even vinegar and a squeegee or a soft cloth.

4. Prep Your Lawn

Clean up any leftover winter debris like leaves, twigs, or dead grass by raking. Fill in any bare or thin spots with seed. Depending on your lawn needs and location, you’ll probably want to apply a weed controller and a fertilizer to ensure a healthy growth.

This is also a good time to take inventory of your yard supplies and tune up your equipment, such as the lawn mower.

5. Have Your HVAC Serviced

While some HVAC maintenance, such as changing the air filter, can be done by you (and should be done on the regular to keep your unit running efficiently), it’s always a good idea to have a professional tune up to your AC before using it for the summer. This keeps it in tip-top condition and can help prevent costly repairs down the road.

6. Check Your Attic and Basement

Check your attic and basement for any smell or sign of must or mold. Look for leaks, water damage, or discoloration. This is also a good time to check your sump pump to make sure it’s running properly and for any leaks in piping. These areas can also be prone to insect infestations, so keep a close eye out for any signs of pests.

7. Spring Clean the Interior

This tip is the typical “spring cleaning” you think about when you hear those words – the deep cleaning you don’t typically do during your routine cleaning.

This includes wiping down walls, cabinets, and blinds, washing draperies, vacuuming behind appliances, steam cleaning carpets, cleaning any mold or mildew accumulation – pretty much anything you can do to remove dust, allergens, and mites and get your home as fresh as can be!

With a few weeks of time and some old-fashioned elbow grease, you should be able to tackle these spring maintenance tips to keep your home in good condition.

Remember, your home is an investment, and with any investment, you want to take care of it. A little bit of hard work every spring is worth it!

Tens of millions of trips are completed each day by rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. Ridesharing uses an online platform, like a website or an app, to arrange transportation between passengers who need a lift and drivers who use their own private vehicles.

Most of these trips are completed safely, but when something becomes such an ordinary part of our daily lives, we can easily forget to be aware of potential risks that might be involved.

Knowing the risks of ridesharing is the first step in knowing how to use it safely. We’re sharing some of the most concerning risks along with several tips to reduce your risk and have the safest experience possible.

What Risks Are Involved in Ridesharing?

Potential Risks for Riders

• Getting in a car with fake drivers. It might sound unbelievable, but it happens, and in the worse cases, has resulted in horrible crimes.
• Car accidents. Rideshare passengers often forget about normal vehicle safety since they are not responsible for the ride, leading to poor decisions, such as not wearing seatbelts.
• Unprofessional or dangerous drivers. Even with an annual background check, it can be impossible to know a driver’s intent. In fact, a 2018 survey showed that 8% of respondents in the U.S. felt very unsafe as a passenger when using ridesharing apps.

Potential Risks for Drivers

• Drivers have just as much to worry about as passengers (if not more so, due to multiple hours on the road during shifts) when it comes to road safety. Car, property, and pedestrian accidents are all potential dangers for rideshare drivers.
• Dangerous passengers. Passengers can also pose a threat to a driver, as there is no prior approval process to become a passenger. A rating system can prevent poorly rated passengers from being allowed to return, but if it’s a passenger with no rating history, who’s to say they have pure intentions?
• Insurance liability. Regular car insurance doesn’t cover you when driving for rideshares and the coverage offered through the rideshare companies is extremely limited. Accidents that happen while waiting for a request might be solely your responsibility if you don’t have specialized insurance to cover them.

Making Ridesharing Safer

Thankfully, making constant headway in the safety arena is a top priority for these companies and they are continuously rolling out new improvements and features to do their part in making trips for both drivers and passengers as safe as possible.

But as riders and even drivers, what can we do to help keep ridesharing safe for everyone?

Being Safer as a Rider

• Wait in a safe, public place. Rideshare is an on-demand service. Wait indoors in a safe area until your ride arrives.
• Verify make, model, license plate, and photo of driver BEFORE entering vehicle. This information is all provided on your rideshare app. Never get into a vehicle whose description isn’t an exact match.
• Ask the driver to verify your name BEFORE entering the vehicle. The driver is also given your information as a rider, so ask them the name of the passenger they are picking up to verify their legitimacy. If they can’t provide it for any reason, do not get in the vehicle.
• Travel in groups, if possible. There’s safety in numbers, so when you can, ride with friends. You can also take advantage of carpooling opportunities.
• Always wear your seatbelt. Don’t assume that road safety rules are different when ridesharing. Accidents happen all the time and seatbelts save lives.
• Share your trip. Take advantage of this safety feature on your rideshare app to share your trip with one or more trusted friends who can track your trip in real time.
• Go with your gut. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, before or during your ride, remove yourself from the situation as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Being Safer as a Driver

• Stay focused and avoid distractions. These are basic rules of the road, but when you’re a rideshare driver, it isn’t just your life in your hands, so be extra careful. Don’t talk on the phone or drive when you’re sleepy or distracted.
• Pass on poorly rated passengers. If a passenger has a mediocre rating, don’t feel obligated to take the request.
• Be aware of passenger behavior. Keeping a mindful presence of the passenger’s behavior during the drive can help you remain safe. Odd, aggressive, or any behavior that makes you feel unsafe warrants pulling over in a safe place to end the ride.
• Use your rideshare companies’ safety tools. Companies like Uber and Lyft have many safety features in place for you and the rider. Tools like an emergency assistance button, GPS tracking, and route following technology are a few examples.
• Get supplemental insurance. Don’t rely on your personal car insurance or coverage through your rideshare company to cover you. It’s very likely there will be gaps in coverage should an accident happen. Getting specialized insurance that covers rideshare drivers is imperative to avoiding costly repairs or liability.

Is Ridesharing Worth It?

While these warnings and tips might have you running for the hills instead of ridesharing your way to them, these risks are not the majority. As we mentioned, millions of rides take place every day and are safe and successful. But being aware of potential risks is more important than being naïve, especially when you can do so much to prevent them.

Ridesharing can be incredibly convenient for riders and a great way to earn extra income for drivers. If you’re currently or are interested in becoming a rideshare driver, check out our Uber/Lyft Driver Coverage to make sure that you aren’t left with unwanted costs should an accident happen on the job.

You’re about to move into your first place. Congratulations! This is a very exciting time.

But if you don’t protect your belongings with renters insurance, that excitement could quickly turn to agony.

Most people don’t think they need a renters insurance policy because they don’t own the property they’ll be staying at. Even worse, many mistakenly think that the landlord’s insurance policy will cover them if something should occur.

That’s why it’s so important that you understand exactly what renters insurance is, what it covers, and how much you truly need in case of a covered claim.

Do I Really Need Renters Insurance?

Like we mentioned before, many renters think that if something should happen to the place they’re renting, the landlord’s insurance policy will cover their belongings.

For instance, let’s say a fire were to occur in the apartment building or house you’re renting, and some of your belongings were affected.

It’s the landlord’s building, so shouldn’t everything inside the building be covered by their landlord insurance policy?

No. In fact, most landlord insurance policies only cover the building and any damages due to negligence on their part. Not your personal belongings.

So if you want to make sure you can replace the items you have – even that worn out hand-me-down couch Grandma gave you – then you need renters insurance.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Renters insurance covers what you own. This includes everything from furniture and TVs to socks and underwear.

It’s important to know that renters insurance isn’t just coverage for when a disaster happens like a fire. Renters insurance also offers coverage for your personal items if a theft or vandalism occurs.

Without a renters insurance policy, you would be left to cover the full cost of replacing your items.

How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need?

The great thing about renters insurance is that it’s very inexpensive! In fact, the average renters insurance policy costs just $15 a month.

And while you might not think you have a lot financially wrapped up in your personal belongings, you have to consider the cost to replace them – not the cost you got them for.

For example, let’s take that hand-me-down couch Grandma gave you. For you, it was free. But if a fire turned that couch into crispy burnt toast tomorrow, you’d have to buy a new one. And even at used prices, you’ll still have to come up with the cash to replace it.

If you had a renters insurance policy, you’d be able to replace your damaged items at just the cost of your deductible, rather than paying for each item individually.

How to Determine How Much Renters Insurance You Need

First, you need to take an inventory of all your belongings. Yes, even your socks and underwear. Because if you ever have to replace them, those little things can add up quickly.

Make sure to keep a list of your items and their estimated replacement value in a safe place.

By adding everything up on your list, you’ll have a good idea of how much coverage you need.

You’ll Need to Pick a Deductible You’re Comfortable With

A deductible is the amount you pay out of your own pocket when a covered loss has occurred.

For instance, if you choose a deductible of $500, and your damages totaled $10,000, then your insurance policy will pay you $9,500 to replace the damaged items.

You have multiple options for a deductible. It’s important you speak with your insurance agent to choose one that works best for you.

Want to see how much a renters insurance policy would cost to cover your personal belongings? Give Amigo Insurance a call today! Our expert, licensed staff can assist you with finding the coverage you need at a price you can afford.