Calling All Mortgage Professionals

Western Mutual and Arizona Home would like to invite all mortgage professionals in and around the Arizona area to the annual mortgage expo being held in Chandler at the Wild Horse Pass Casino. This event will take place on Thursday July 22, 2021 from 9AM to 2PM. Attendees will sit in on multiple seminars from mortgage industry leaders. This one-day event will count as your continuing education and many exhibitors like us will be there to show you new industry trends and one of a kind programs like ours. If you are interested, please contact our Affinity department directly for your invite code that will allow you to register for free!

Call toll free: 1-(800)-234-3659 or visit them online at ezaffinity.com         

Flex Alert Season

We are in the heat of summer, literally. With temps rising…so will our electric bill as we all run to turn the AC on.  However, an increased demand for power to run our units during this hot weather can cause the power lines to overload and create a power outage.

It is important that you take action as prolonged power outages not only affect you but your community. They can disrupt communication channels, close retail stores, gas stations and banks. With no electricity, your food could spoil and you could find yourself unable to use needed medical devices.

  • Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity and plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs should the power go out.
  • Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
  • Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
  • Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
  • Have enough nonperishable food and water to last a minimum of 3 days. Keep Ice bags in freezer so that you can keep perishable items in cooler or sink.
  • Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
  • Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and vehicle gas tanks full.

Let us know your tips for staying prepared during these hot summer days.

Be Proactive & Save Money

Taking preventative measures when it comes to your home is the best way to ensure that you avoid any unforeseen accidents and costly repairs.

Giving your plumbing system regular attention can help to prolong its life and actually make it run better than before. The following are recommendations that you can implement and help protect you home from the inside out.

Don’t over use chemical drain cleaning products – These products can sometimes do more harm than good, primarily when used to treat a recurring problem. Overuse can actually erode cast-iron drainpipes and create a bigger blockage plus leaky pipes.

Combat future clogging – Avoid plugging up any of your lines by knowing what goes down your drains. Keep kitchen drains clear of grease and any food scraps, prevent hair build-up in bathroom drains, and ensure only toilet paper goes down toilets.

Hard water is hard on pipes – Water with a high mineral content shortens your plumbing’s overall lifespan. Hard water can also corrode joints and fittings, so the faster you fix the issue the better. A simple and easy to implement fix would be an electric water softener. 

Am I Covered Already?

Most homeowners recognize the necessity of hazard insurance; your rental property though may need its own product.

First, we must understand what a regular homeowner’s insurance policy covers. A standard policy is purchased to protect your home, personal belongings and you from any potential claims. This comes at an annual fee that is often impounded into your mortgage payment.

As for your secondary or rental property, that would be protected by a dwelling policy which is meant for non-owner-occupied homes. These policies are a bit more expensive as landlords can expect to pay roughly 20% more than what homeowners pay for insurance market wide. 

Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of landlord insurance:

  • The size of the property and the number of rental units being insured
  • The age and condition of the property
  • The geographic location of the property
  • The specific policy and amount of coverage you’re purchasing

Call us for your free no obligation quote today; our agents are ready to assist you Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM PST toll free at 1-(877)-968-8825

Happy 4th of July

The United States of America is turning 245 and every Independence Day we celebrate the sacrifices our ancestors and patriots have made for this country which have enabled us the freedom that we hold so dear. From all of us at Western Mutual, we wish you a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday. May freedom forever fly!

First 5 for New Homeowners

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.

Enjoying a Safe and Fun Summer

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.

Identifying Roof Damage

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.

Summer Savings

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.