We would like to start by saying congratulations! You have found your forever home but before settling in there some items to ensure a safe and comfortable move-in.

1. Copy and store your documents- we know buying a house involves a lot of paperwork and important documents that you will need to keep safe. Make copies and upload to a digital file but also keep the hard copies in a fireproof box.
2. Change the locks- the feeling of receiving your keys is euphoric but you never know how many copies of those keys may exist out there. The only way to be certain is to change the locks and start with new ones.
3. Update your address- let important institutions that mail you information know of your new address before it ends up in the wrong hands. This includes your bank, job, medical and utilities.
4. Complete urgent repairs- do not put them off as you may be posing a greater risk to your home.
5. Check HVAC and water lines- these should be annual inspections you complete. Start by making this one of your first five when moving in.

Again, we congratulate you on your purchase and look forward to insuring your forever home.

What better time to own a pool then during the hottest season of the year?

Before you host your next soiree down on the deck, we would like to provide you some safety measures that can be the difference between life and death.

Avoiding a potential claim is possible if you know that your safety measures are working properly. One way to do this is by installing door alarms to all exits that lead out to your pool. Anytime someone opens that exit way, a sound will go off alerting everyone that the door has been opened.

A second option is to have a standalone self-latching fence around the pool. Now, this would be separate from your property-line fence. This self-latching fence would outline your pool and have a door that automatically shuts and locks.

A newer option is having water sensor alarms that ring aloud at the moment anything causes a shift in the water line. This is extremely useful for homeowners with little ones or small pets that just cannot get enough of the pool.

Lastly, using a pool cover can create a barrier that would prevent any unforeseen accidents from happening. Therefore, we ask you to please make sure to always be cautious and implement at least one of these safety measures before enjoying your pool this summer.

With unpredictable weather and what seems to be an ongoing hail season for some folks in states like Texas and New Mexico, we want to make sure you know the signs of roof damage before calling your insurance to file a claim.

Water, snow and hail can all cause major damage to a roof but there are some indicators that are sure tell signs you may need to have your roof repaired or replaced. Those indicators are:

• Attic leaks- check your attic or roof crawl space for puddling or deteriorating wood
• Blistering paint- poor ventilation and humidity can cause wood to blister and crack
• Wall stains- Leaks from outside can be trapped in the walls and create yellow mildew stains
• Decay-  If you notice the sheathing of your roof starting to dip or sag it may be from water
• Visible damage- Missing or curled shingles as well as dark streaks are indicators of roof damage

It is always recommended to have a licensed roofer do an annual inspection as well or if you think you may have some roof damage.

Why not kick off the summer season by putting some extra cash in your pocket?

If you’re in the market for new homeowners insurance, start your no obligation quote today and find out how much we can save you. And even if you weren’t planning on switching, all it takes is 30 seconds to see how competitive our rates are compared to those other guys.

We are rated A+ by AM BEST and have an A rating with the BBB too!

So what are you waiting for? Visit us online to switch and save at http://www.westernmutual.com or call one of our licensed agents who are ready to help at 877-WMUTUAL (877-968-8825) Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST/PDT.

Your homeowner’s policy coverages otherwise known as the declaration page can be difficult to understand if you have never reviewed or questioned what they mean. As a preferred insurance carrier, we strive to make our insured’s understand the coverages presented to them. Below you will find some commonly mentioned terms that are listed on your policy with a brief explanation as to what they are.

Dwelling Coverage- This covers your home’s structure —not interior contents or the land. However, features like installed fixtures such as solar panels are covered under this description.

Personal property- This the stuff you own — furniture, electronics and clothing, for example. Whether you own a home or rent an apartment, insurance policies typically include personal property coverage. 

Personal Liability- Liability coverage protects you from lawsuits filed by others. This clause even includes your pets! So if someone were to sustain an injury on your property, like a slip and fall situation or bitten by your dog, liability will come into play.

Deductible- This can be a set amount or a percentage, it is the amount of money that you are responsible for paying before your insurance company will pay you for an insured loss pending valuation from an adjustor.

Knowledge is power and we hope we provided some useful information to help you better understand your coverages.

To see how much money you can save on your homeowners insurance go to http://www.westernmutual.com.

Western Mutual would like to wish all the dads a ‘Happy Father’s Day’ and share some iconic quotes from other dads that we all know.

“What makes you a man is not the ability to make a child, but the courage to raise one” –Barrack Obama

“Having children is a lot like living in a frat house, nobody sleeps, everything is broken and there’s a lot of throwing up” – Ray Romano

“I love being a dad, fatherhood is the best thing that could of happened to me”- Dwayne Johnson

Happy Father’s Day, from all of us to you.

Homeowners insurance provides you the coverage necessary to know your home is protected against unexpected damages from perils such as fire, theft, vandalism and civil commotion. However, when it relates to repairs or maintenance of your appliances, a home insurance policy does not cover those items but a home warranty will. Similar to a car, one would not call their insurance for new tires or an oil change, the basic maintenance it needs, but instead refer to a potential car warranty that offered those services. The main difference between an insurance policy and a warranty policy is that the insurance on the home is mandated by the lender as oppose to the warranty that is not. We hope that in sharing this vital information, we answer some concerns or doubts about your policy.

Owning a home is not an easy task to take on, although a big accomplishment, we must stay on top of appliance maintenance and repair to ensure the longevity of our investment. One appliance of high importance that should be replaced or inspected is your water heater, and the following are signs that it may be time for a new one.

First and foremost, if the unit is more than 10 years old…it’s time for a new one. Operating a water heater older than this can cause major damage to your home from a leaking pipe or overheated engine.

Also, if your appliance makes any type of noise while operating such as rumbling, shaking or popping sounds. This can be a sign that the water heater is struggling to safely heat and poses a major threat.

Another obvious sign is if your hot water comes out tinted or brown, shown signs that the metal has corroded and is probably damaging your unit or wall space.

If any of these signs exist or you’re unsure of the age of your appliance it is suggested to have it inspected by a licensed plumber.

And don’t forget to always earthquake secure your water heater!

Like many homeowners, our garage becomes our much-needed storage unit that with time accumulates several items you may not even remember are in there. However, some items can actual pose a danger to your home if stored in the garage.

Items you SHOULD NOT store in the garage are:

Fuel- whether it is gas, propane tanks or portable cans for camping. These are highly flammable and can unknowingly be leaking near areas of potential ignition such as your water heater. If the garage is the only place you can store them, invest in leak-proof containers and frequently check for cracks or leaks.

Furniture or Clothing- Unless your garage is temperature controlled, clothes and furniture risk being ruined by the high heat and cold dips it incurs. Also, rodents and pest can destroy and infest your belongings.

Food- Perishable items are an open invite to rodents and unwanted creatures or vermin. With that being said, think twice about putting a refrigerator in the garage as the fluctuating temperatures can cause the appliance to not operate correctly and over heat, posing a fire risk.

Items you SHOULD store in the garage are:

Lawn tools- Things like extra pots, bags of soil, gardening tools, plastic bins with seeds and water hoses

Sports equipment- Outdoor equipment is the ideal things to store in your garage as they are made to handle the weather/temperature changes

Patio furniture- patio furniture is okay to store in the garage, although sometimes bulky and not easily stackable. These pieces are approved for garage storage.

And of course, your car.

We hope this enables you to revisit the items in your garage and properly store or relocate some items for your safety.

Now, $30 may not seem like a lot, but we offer several discounts that can add up to more than just that. Which makes switching and saving to Western Mutual easier than ever with a dedicated staff of licensed agents ready to assist you in getting a quote, cancelling your current policy or with any questions you may have about our coverages.

It is our pleasure to help you obtain proper coverage at a low rate for you home, condominium and seasonal properties. Visit us online at www.westernmutual.com  or call today toll free at 1-800-968-8825, because 30 seconds could save you $30 or more.