Ho-ho-hold onto your shingles, folks! With the holiday season upon us, Synergy Insurance Group is here to help ensure your roof is ready for its most important visitor of the year – Santa Claus! While we usually focus on more mundane risks like weather damage, this festive season calls for some special considerations. So, let’s dive into our top tips for Santa-proofing your roof!

1. Reindeer-Resistant Roofing

Reindeer, while magical, can be quite hefty (especially after their pre-Christmas carb-loading). To keep your roof safe from Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and the gang, we recommend upgrading to a Reindeer-Resistant Roofing materials. They’re designed to withstand the weight of Santa’s sleigh and his hoofed helpers, no matter how many cookies they’ve consumed.

2. Santa’s Sleigh Skid Stopper

Santa’s known for his less-than-subtle rooftop landings. To aid in a smoother arrival, Santa’s Sleigh Skid Stopper is a must. Local hardware stores may offer special treatment that gives your roof a non-slip surface, ensuring Santa and his sleigh land safely and without any unsightly skid marks.

3. Chimney Widening and Reinforcement

Your chimney may not be Santa-ready in its current state. Our Chimney Widening and Reinforcement partners guarantee enough space for a jolly, round-bellied Santa and his sack of gifts, all while maintaining the structural integrity of your home.

4. Whisper-Quiet Shingles

Concerned about the clatter of hooves waking you up? You can look into Whisper-Quiet Shingles are here to save your silent night. These innovative shingles are designed to absorb sound, ensuring that Santa’s arrival and departure go unnoticed.

5. Rudolph’s GPS Roof Lights

In the spirit of guiding Santa to your home safely, look no further than Rudolph’s GPS Roof Lights. These energy-efficient, bright LED lights line your roof and are visible even in the most challenging weather, ensuring Santa finds your home, no matter how foggy.

6. The Santa Alert System

For those eager to catch a glimpse of Santa, the discreet Santa Alert System is perfect. It notifies you the moment Santa lands on your roof, allowing for a sneak peek without disturbing the magical process.

Santa-proofing your roof is more than just a whimsical endeavor; it’s about embracing the joy of the season and ensuring a smooth visit for our favorite red-suited visitor. From all of us at Synergy Insurance Group, we wish you a safe, merry, and thoroughly Santa-proofed holiday season!

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*Disclaimer: Synergy Insurance Group’s Santa-proofing tips are offered in good humor and are not actual insurance products. For real insurance needs, especially those related to roofing, please consult with our insurance experts.*

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Fire’s Toll: An Unforgiving Reality

The statistics are sobering: the NFPA reports that in the U.S., a home fire occurs every 88 seconds. These blazes claim lives, devastate families, and destroy homes, leaving behind a trail of financial and emotional hardship. Our mission goes beyond helping you recover from such tragedies—we aim to arm you with the knowledge and tools to prevent them.

The Cornerstones of Fire Safety

Protection against fire is built on two things: prevention and education. Together, they are the best defense against the most common causes of household fires.

Smoke Detectors: Your Silent Guardians:

At the forefront of prevention are smoke detectors, serving as your first line of defense against the unforeseen spark. Install them on each floor and test them bi-monthly. Remember, a well-maintained smoke detector is a vigilant protector that never sleeps.

Heating and Electrical Conduct:

Routine inspections of heating systems and electrical circuits are more than mere maintenance; they’re a safeguard against the unseen dangers that lurk within the walls. Keep flammable materials at a safe distance from space heaters, outdoor fire tables, etc and ensure that your electrical infrastructure can handle the demands of modern appliances.

Cooking With Caution:

The kitchen holds the honor of the heart of the home but is also where many home fires ignite. Simple measures such as never leaving a hot stove unattended and keep flammable materials well away from all cooking surfaces are extremely important this time of year.

Escape Plans: Maps to Safety:

Equally as crucial as preventing fires is preparing for them. Draft escape plans that include two exits from every room and practice these routes with your family regularly. The most effective escape plan is the one you practice! The NFPA has great resources for educating you and your family about safety and escape plans.

Your Policy: The Final Line of Defense

While we emphasize prevention, we also understand the critical role that a comprehensive insurance policy plays. It’s not just about rebuilding structures; it’s about restoring lives. We encourage policy reviews to ensure your coverage reflects the current value of your property and possessions.

Leveraging Technology for Safety

Innovation continues to reshape fire safety. Smart detectors and home automation systems offer new layers of protection and peace of mind. Many home insurance carriers now offer discounts for installing smart fire protection systems in your home. Ask your insurance agent about all the possible benefits.

This is a reminder to practice vigilance, to stay informed, and to be prepared. Our Florida insurance agency stands ready to not only insure but also to inspire a safer tomorrow. We encourage you to take a moment this month to review your fire safety plan, check your detectors, and reflect on the importance of this critical issue.

Together, we can ensure that fire safety is practiced by everyone in our community, embedding best practices that carry on through the year. Remember, in the fight against fire, complacency is the enemy and knowledge, coupled with action, is our greatest ally.

The post Staying a Step Ahead of the Flames: Fire Safety Prevention Tips From an Insurance Agency appeared first on Synergy Insurance.

1. **Roof Inspection:** Hire a professional to inspect your roof for any potential damage or weak areas. If you’re comfortable doing it yourself, look for missing or loose shingles, rusted flashing, worn seals, and any other signs of damage. Don’t forget to check the underside of the roof from your attic for signs of leaks or water damage.

2. **Repairs:** Any signs of damage or wear should be repaired promptly. Loose or missing shingles should be replaced, as these can be easily torn off by high winds, creating a weak spot in your roof. If the flashing is rusted or damaged, it should also be replaced to prevent leaks.

3. **Trim Trees:** Trim back any tree branches that overhang your roof. In a hurricane, these branches can be torn off and thrown onto your roof, potentially causing severe damage.

4. **Gutter Maintenance:** Clean your gutters and make sure they’re securely attached. Blocked or loose gutters can overflow, causing water damage to your home, and can be torn off in high winds.

5. **Roof Strengthening:** Consider investing in roof straps if your roof doesn’t already have them. These metal straps are designed to secure your roof to the frame of your house, reducing the chance it will be torn off by high winds. Another option is to use a professional-grade roofing adhesive to create a stronger bond between the shingles and the roof deck.

6. **Professional Check-up:** If you’re in a high-risk area, consider having a professional wind mitigation inspector check your home. They can identify potential weaknesses and recommend fixes to help your home withstand a hurricane.

7. **Insurance Check-up:** Make sure your home insurance policy covers hurricane damage, and understand the terms. Some policies have a separate hurricane deductible, and others may not cover flood damage.

8. **Prepare for Emergency Repairs:** Keep materials such as tarps, plywood, and nails on hand for emergency post-storm repairs.

Remember, the best time to prepare your roof for hurricane season is well in advance of any storms. A well-maintained and strengthened roof can greatly reduce the potential damage to your home during a hurricane.

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It’s easy to forget about your car insurance rates after you purchase it the first time. Autopay systems keep that bill out of sight, out of mind usually. But the truth is your rate was not set in stone when you purchased the first time, and rates can vary greatly from year to year and company to company. Synergy helps unsuspecting drivers save money every day by reevaluating their coverage and providing them with any possible discounts and the most up-to-date rates. Here are five of the most common factors that influence the price of your auto insurance. It  only takes a few minutes reach out to to a Synergy Insurance Group expert to evaluate your policy. Let’s see if we can put a little extra money back in your pocket.

Location

Your local has a lot to do with how much you pay. If you live in an area with a relatively high rate of crime, you’re going to pay more than the safer neighborhood a few miles away. If you live in a particularly congested area with a lot of traffic, you’re more likely to get into an accident (which means you’ll pay more too). If you’ve recently moved to a safer area, it may be time to get a new quote.

Marital Status

Married couples can enjoy joint auto insurance, lumping their policy together to simplify their coverage. This little trick allows both parties to lower the cost of their premium. Couples may know the benefits of a joint checking account, but they may not realize they can also save on their insurance too. As a rule, the more insurance you buy, the more you save.  Plus, couples only have to keep track of one set of documents instead of two.

Driving Record

Have you been watching your speed lately? Making full stops at the sign? Treating school zones with the utmost of reverence? If it’s been a few years since you’ve gotten a ticket, you may be able to lower your rate considerably. The cost of your premium is directly tied to your driving record, so this can be an important step. If you still need a little help improving your driving record, we have a few tips that can help here.

Credit History

If you’ve been diligently paying off your debts and building up your financial goodwill, you may be eligible for lower auto insurance rates. A clean credit history is a sign of the insured’s reliability, which can translate to big savings.

Driving Habits

The more you’re on the road, the more likely it is that trouble can find you. If you’ve recently started driving less for any reason, you can update your information and lower your rate. So, if you recently changed job and your commute plummeted by 30 miles a day, you’ll want to reevaluate your current rates.

When it comes to your rate, each aspect is rated differently (e.g., your marital status won’t be as important as your driving record). However, it is possible to lower your rate between 20% and 40% based on the above factors. Synergy Insurance can’t guarantee that everyone will qualify for lower rates, but it’s worth letting us give you a new auto insurance quote today to see what we can do. It’s definitely worth a shot!

Planning a road trip for your next family vacation? Feeling stressed or anxious before a road trip is common, but don’t let those jitters stop you from having a great trip! Our Road Trip Safety & Tips eBook is here to help make sure you, your family and vehicle are ready for what’s ahead. Between keeping the kids occupied, making sure your car is tuned up, and eating healthy on the road, we’ve got you covered for anything you may encounter. Keep this on hand for your next vacation and put those road trip jitters away for good!

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Your homeowners insurance premium may seem like a relatively static bill in your life, especially if you’ve had your property for many years. But you probably have more control over it than you think. Home insurers want to see their clients are doing everything they can on their end to protect their property. And making just a few tweaks to your home security can leave you with some extra cash in your pockets. Here are 5 ways you can save money on your home insurance:

1. Water Leak Detectors

A tiny puddle in the back of a basement is remarkably easy to miss. A sensor-based leak detector will sense excess moisture in the air and then send an alert on their mobile device. To qualify for related discounts, homeowners may need to put one in every room with pipes or have them professionally installed (e.g., utility rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, etc.) A Synergy Insurance expert can tell you more about carriers that offer discounts for these type of devices.

2. Burglar Alarm

Alarms play a strong role in deterring criminals, which is why you should always share your alarm certificate with your insurance company. Even if the police can’t show up immediately, they alert the authorities that something is wrong. Home insurance companies rest easier when they know their residents have protections against criminal activity. Having a monitored alarm system can discount your home insurance premium up to 15% annually depending on the carrier. Having peace of mind and saving money may make this a good option for your family. SafeHome.org can help you evaluate some alarm systems on the market today. 

3. Fire Protection

From a central fire alarm to sprinkler systems, homeowners can set up a number of protections to keep their property from going up in flames. A SMART fire alarm will alert the homeowner of any flame detection (via a mobile device) while a sprinkler system will automatically activate in the event of a fire. Having a monitored fire alarm system that can alert the fire department immediately when it detects a blaze can save precious time and cut down on the amount of damage a fire can do to your home. 

4. Senior or Retiree

Property owners who are either 60 or older or 55 and officially retired can enjoy home insurance discounts. Retirees and seniors who live in gated communities with 24-hour security patrol qualify to save even more! From passkeys to patrolmen, these measures can go far to mitigate the severity of both man-made and natural disasters.

5. Electronic Policy

Paper isn’t free, which is why some home insurance companies will give discounts to those who sign up for electronic communications. This is a remarkably simple way to save money on your home insurance (and save yourself the hassle of filing all your documents).

Synergy Insurance wants you to save money on your home insurance whenever and wherever possible. Our team is comprised of insurance experts who are ready to help you find a quality home insurance policy and save you money! Chat with us here now or contact us to learn more. 

Let us be your Insurance Experts! 

The post Get Smart – Save Money On Home Insurance appeared first on Synergy Insurance.

Get storm smart for 2019

In the last three years, Florida got hit with three major weather events – Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Matthew. After living through these catastrophic storms, many homeowners felt disappointed with their insurance coverage. Some were left with repair and rebuilding costs much higher than they anticipated, others were surprised by coverage they were missing. Now is the ideal time to check the fine-print details of your policy and reevaluate your coverage with a Synergy Insurance Group agent. There’s still time to make necessary changes to protect your home and financial future before the 2019 storm season arrives.

What You Need To Know About Your Deductible

Did you know that Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Matthew produced over one million insurance claims from property owners in Florida? Sadly, many homeowners were shocked to find out how much out of pocket repair costs they had to pay. Factors including their hurricane deductible and amount of coverage both affected their claims. With high deductibles and not enough coverage to pay for all repairs, thousands of  Floridians got awarded a low or no settlement at all on their insurance claims.

Your deductible is the amount of money homeowners have to pay out of pocket before insurance coverage kicks in. For example, let’s say you own a $350,000 home. You have a 2% deductible. In this case, your hurricane deductible is $7000. Let’s say that your home sustains $6500 of damage to the roof. Since the costs don’t exceed the amount of your deductible, you don’t qualify to collect on your claim.

Understanding your coverage is vital to avoid misunderstandings later. If you have questions, scheduling an appointment with your insurance agent is a smart idea. They are there to help you review and understand your policy. They can advise whether you should make changes to your policy to get the best coverage for your home.

Protect Your Home With Flood Insurance

Flooding poses a significant risk to your home and belongings. Flood Insurance isn’t part of most standard homeowners insurance policies. You don’t want to find out you don’t have flood coverage when your living room is under a foot of water. When looking at photos from the wake of destruction left in Panama City by Hurricane Michael, you might assume that high winds are to blame. Actually, flooding caused much of the damages. Anyone who didn’t carry adequate flood insurance coverage was responsible for all costs incurred for flood remediation, repairs, and replacement. A one inch flood of water in your home can cause $25K in damages. Given this information, it’s easy to see how flood insurance from Synergy Insurance Group is a wise investment.  Flood damage is expensive and frustrating to have to fix on your own

Inventory Your Valuables

After the holidays, you might feel ‘cash poor.’ Especially if you splurged on new electronics, jewelry, art, or other expensive items that could make you exceed your coverage limit on possessions. You may want to be sure that the new Smartphone you got as a gift gets covered in case it gets stolen! Synergy offers a very helpful Home Inventory Checklist that will guide you through the process. While doing an inventory of your valuables, replacement costs should get considered. If you need to update your homeowner’s insurance to cover these items, you have the coverage you need. For instance, let’s say your home’s market value is $150,000.  Completing an updated replacement cost estimate with your agent helps assure you have enough coverage. This estimate typically includes the most up-to-date contracting costs. In case your home needs rebuilding following a fire, hurricane, or other natural disasters, then fortunately hikes to coverage are affordable. In Florida, you never know what to expect, so having a little extra coverage is better than not having enough.

Our Experts Are Here To Help

Synergy Insurance Group specializes in Florida Home Insurance. You can rely on our team of experts to help you. We’ll even do a free homeowner’s insurance policy evaluation! Chat With Us Now to get started or fill out the form to start a homeowners quote today.

The beginning of the new year is the best time review and make changes to your insurance policy. Start the new year right by planning for the future!

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Hurricane season is winding down, so it may seem like flood insurance should be the last thing on your mind. With the immediate danger in your rearview, it may even seem financially prudent to wait for another 10 months before you even consider it. But before you declare the discussion over, keep in mind that you may be selling yourself, your family, and your property short if you wait too long to act. Here are three big reasons to look into flood insurance today.

Binding Restrictions 

Florida homeowners insurance companies aren’t exactly itching to provide coverage to homeowners when there’s a major storm going on. The vast majority of insurers will impose what’s known as binding restrictions on new homeowner policies until the storm threat is well passed. This means that homeowners can’t get coverage once the storm starts to build or while there is lingering damage from continuing bad weather.

It’s why homeowners need to buy flood insurance early or risk facing the storm unprotected. Most flood policies take 30 days to go into effect from the time of payment unless the policy is condition of a home sale. If there are several big storms building off the coast of Florida, you can wind up being cut off from the market for longer than you realize.

It’s Cost-Effective 

When it comes to your personal ROI, few policies are as effective as flood insurance. It’s a relatively small investment for homeowners, costing just a little extra per month. And if you do sustain water damage to your home, you have a policy available that can put your home back in order. Considering flood damage can easily cause thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) to fix, flood policies maximize your spending in all the right ways.

Most insurance policies don’t cover flooding damage unless the homeowner specifically requests the clauses. But because policies are long and boring to read, many owners won’t even realize this until they call to file a claim. There is no worse feeling than to assume that your home can be fixed, only to find that you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket for the damages if you ever hope to return to your property.

Lesson From Past Storms 

When Panama City was hit, many outsiders looking in assumed it was the wind that caused all of the property destruction and massive devastation in the city. But those on the ground knew that much of the damage was really flooding. This is more than just a homeowner problem, it’s a city-wide problem. If people can’t get their homes fixed, then whole neighborhoods can descend into chaos.

It only takes an inch of water in a home to cause $25,000 in damages. And if you think you can rest easy because you’re located outside the designated flood zones, you may want to think again. One in five flood claims were filed by those who live outside the designated high-risk areas.

Flooding can be a scary prospect for any homeowner, but getting a flood quote doesn’t have to be. It only takes 5 minutes to fill out your information and receive a quote. We’ve made it even easier now! You can chat with an online agent to get your initial quote faster than ever. We’re here to protect you rain or shine, so let Synergy Insurance be YOUR insurance experts.

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It’s that time of year again where little ghosts and goblins come out to play and neighborhoods take on a spooky glow. But the scariest part about Halloween can be gaps in your homeowner’s insurance that don’t cover hazardous Halloween mishaps! That’s not to say you should turn the lights out, crawl up inside, and forego the festivities. Here are five common household liability issues that arise on Halloween and how you can avoid them.

1. Trip or Treat?

The most common home insurance nightmare is a trick-or-treater taking a tumble on your property, cracking their head open, breaking a wrist, or twisting an ankle. Keep kids and parents safe by minimizing hazards that lead up to your door. This includes trimming back shrubs, evening out the lawn, fixing loose tiles, and clearing wood piles or other debris away. Walk along your entry path from the road all the way to your front door before the big night. Are there any trip hazards along the way? Is the path clear? Keep lights bright enough so everyone can see where they’re going. If you don’t plan to hand out candy, turn your porch light off. Most neighbors know to take that as a sign you’re closed for business.

2. Avoid Spooky Surprises

Go ahead, make your home spooky and give it the effect of a haunted house. But when it comes to actually scaring people, don’t even think about it. No jump scares. No popping out from behind bushes or chasing people with fake chainsaws. We hate to be a buzzkill, but homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover the blood pumping risks that come with extreme shock and awe, or fear. Did you know Haunted House Insurance is a real thing? It’s true, but only amusement parks, corn mazes, zombies runs, and similar events carry it—homeowners don’t.

3. Keep the Four Legged Furries Away

Between a steady flow of footsteps outside and your doorbell constantly ringing, your pet is sure to get excited, so it’s best to keep your pets away from the action. Scared cats and dogs could easily dart out the door. The chance for a scuffle with a neighborhood trick-or-treater is greatly increased during the festivities. Therefore keep your pets contained in a separate room, away from all the excitement.

4. Decoration Danger

Jack-o-lanterns are a tried and true way to celebrate Halloween, but they also lead to home fires every year. If you want to line your sidewalk with lanterns or line your porch with pumpkins, opt for little LED candles instead of real ones. Candlelit decorations are easily forgotten and left unattended during the festivities and can be a real danger. Don’t leave flames unattended and keep candles away from flammable objects, such as fake cobwebs and witches on straw brooms! Large lawn ornaments like inflatable pumpkins can also collapse unexpectedly, so keep them far away from sidewalks or anywhere people are walking.

5. Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

With the changing of the seasons and so many different visitors arriving at your home on Halloween, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your Florida homeowner’s insurance coverage. Give yourself and your guests peace of mind this Halloween by making sure you’re covered in the event of an accident.

With a little precaution, you’ll have the safest Halloween yet! However, if you’re looking for more protection against the proverbial ghosts and ghouls, call Synergy Insurance Group to see how we can fill in the gaps and keep your property, home, and family safe.

It’s always a good idea to review your homeowners insurance policy to get a better idea of your coverage. The holidays are a great time to go over any questions you may have with your agent. In the meantime, our Home Insurance Claims eBook goes over the ins-and-outs of your coverage, answering your holiday-related coverage questions. Just click the image to get started!

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