In Case of Fire: Home Fire Safety and Insurance Protection

Home fires can be devastating and Debbie Dykes, Allstate agent and local resident, can speak first hand. Debbie stood by in November as a friend watched her Peachtree Corners home in The Reserve burn to the ground. Fortunately, no one was injured.

But as she watched the house burn, she began thinking about not only the assets that were being lost, but the memories. Insurance coverage, she points out, cannot replace the memories but offers this advice: Do all you can as a homeowner to protect your home and family.

She shared the following safety tips with me to help homeowners protect that most important investment.

What can you do to prevent a loss?

• Check the battery in your smoke detectors every six months. Keep extra batteries on hand and replace them when you change your clock for daylight saving time.
• Test your smoke detectors monthly. Replace any that are 10 years or older. Make sure everyone knows that the piercing sound means danger, and they should escape quickly.
• Position detectors smartly. Place one on every level of your home and near areas where you and your family sleep.
• Keep detectors away from heating and cooling ducts and at least six inches from where walls and ceilings meet.
• Keep fire extinguishers handy.  Make sure there's at least one on each floor - especially near the kitchen, garage, laundry room and workshop.
• Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in case a fire.
• Make sure you have two ways out of your house. Create a fire safety plan, with a designated meeting place once you exit the home.
• Make sure you are insured properly.
• Check the "dwelling" line on your home insurance. This is how much it cost to rebuild your home. Remember this is the structure; it does not include the land or the contents. If something has changed with your residence and this coverage amount is not sufficient, call your insurance agent.
• Most people have 50-75 percent of the dwelling amount to cover their personal property. If you were to turn your house upside down and shake it, whatever falls out is your "personal property." Is your personal property coverage sufficient?
• Take photos or a video of your home’s contents. This will make replacement much easier. Be sure to store your photos and videos off site either physically or stored on the Internet.

Real Estate agents wear many hats, and we rely on experts in many fields to help ensure you have the best move possible.