5 Alarms to Consider for your Home

What alarms and sensors do you need in your home? The answer is different for everyone. But, whatever your situation, today’s technology has you covered with options including online monitoring and more. Here are some common alarms, including two everyone needs to have, and three many people should at least consider:

1. Smoke alarms
   No matter where you live — house, condo, apartment — you need smoke alarms. Place one in every room where people sleep, and at least one on each level of your home. Consider alarms that work for both flaming and smoldering fires (they’re different), as well as an interconnected system so that all alarms sound when one detects smoke.
    
2. Carbon-monoxide (CO) detectors
   Here’s another must-have. CO — a deadly, odorless gas generated by the burning of fuels such as wood, natural gas or propane — kills hundreds of people a year in the U.S. You should have at least one CO detector on every level of your home, even if you only have electric appliances and heat sources. Your state may even require you to have one.
    
3. Natural gas detectors
   These alarms usually detect CO and propane leaks, so consider one if you have natural gas appliances in your home. You also need one for your RV or trailer if you use propane to fuel your cooking or heating.
    
4. Water alarms
   Leaks from appliances or pipes can do extensive — and expensive — damage to your home if they go undetected. Water alarm systems typically use sensors placed near appliances or other trouble spots to alert you when they sense moisture.
    
5. Security systems
   Whether you want a do-it-yourself system or one that is professionally monitored, you’ve got more options than ever before. You may even be able to check in on your home from wherever you are using your smartphone.
    

When you’re making these important decisions, here’s one more important thing to consider: Some of these alarms could qualify you to save on your homeowner's insurance!

You can find more information about Homeowner's Insurance coverage at https://www.insaia.com/home_insurance.php

You can also click here for a quote on your Homeowners Insurance.

Please give us a call at 515-279-2722 or email us at service@insaia.com.

Life and Home: Similarities Galore

Why do some people buy houses for their primary residence instead of living in apartments?  In most cases, there are a number of reasons, ranging from the desire to own instead of renting to tax-advantaged growth to building equity to overall security.  Do any of those reasons sound familiar?

Permanent life insurance offers many of the same benefits as home ownership.  You buy a home because you want permanence, a place to put down roots, because you are always going to need a place to live.  Renting an apartment is generally a temporary solution to housing needs.  Buying permanent life insurance, whether it be whole life or universal life, is what one does to cover a need that will always be there.  Term insurance is temporary, and the premiums continue to increase, just like rent on an apartment.

Permanent life insurance also offers equity buildup, just like home ownership does.  The cash values will generally increase year to year and can provide equity that can provide equity that can be tapped for emergencies, for college funding, for additional retirement funding, or for many other needs, just like home equity.  The growing cash values in the permanent life insurance policy also offer tax advantages because you don't pay income taxes on the growth as long as it stays in the policy.  The earnings are income-tax deferred.  You can say the same about a home in that you don't pay income taxes on any increase in the value of your home as long as you live there.  Once you sell the home, you may have capital gains tax to pay on the growth if the gains exceed allowable levels and the money is not reinvested in another home.

Permanent life insurance also offers a peace of mind security, just like a home.  You know it's always there protecting you from whatever storms may come, financial or otherwise.  Term insurance, on the other hand, eventually will go away go away because the price gets too high to continue.

For more information on life insurance, contact your Absolute Agent today!