The Fine Print – Presented by Insure.com

Flammable furniture

I’m a former New Yorker who used to pay big rent for a tiny apartment. So I should have recoiled in horror watching the city’s fire department torch 20 perfectly good homes on Governors Island in the harbor. But I didn’t — because it’s money well spent.

The fire department is called “New York’s Bravest” ever since the 9/11 terrorist attack killed hundreds of their brothers who rushed into the World Trade Center to save lives. And in trying to figure out a way to save more lives, including their own, they stuffed those 20 homes with plastic-filled furniture, probably like the kind which decorates your house, and set them ablaze to see how hot they would burn and the best way to cool them down. (continue reading…)

Candles can be a great way to add ambiance to a dinner party or special event. They can also be a great gift or decorating piece for your home.

But candles have a darker side. From 2003 to 2007 firefighters responded to an average 15,260 home fires per year that were started by candles, (continue reading…)

If you’ve inherited or were given a valuable piece of jewelry or art, you need to do more than find a special spot for safe keeping. You need to make sure you have enough insurance to protect it.

Standard home insurance policies provide coverage for household belongings, but they have limits for precious items, such as jewelry, fine art and furs. (continue reading…)

Falling trees are among the common hazards you could face as a homeowner during snow and ice storms, but the ins and outs of insurance coverage depend on the situation.

Generally, standard home insurance doesn’t pay for damage to trees, shrubs and other plants from a storm, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). But it does cover damage a falling tree causes to structures that are covered under the insurance policy. (continue reading…)

Luxury items motivate some of us to work hard, in the hope that we’ll be able to purchase the expensive merchandise one day, and they could be the reason some lottery winners end up broke a few years after buying their winning tickets.

If you find yourself in a position to own one or all of these luxury items, just keep in mind that costs of these goods continue even after the initial purchase. No matter how you end up with the wealth to buy any one of these products, you’ll want to protect your high-end merchandise with insurance. Whether you’re the agent or the policyholder, hard-to-insure luxury goods presents a number of insurance challenges. (continue reading…)

You’ve been eying that expensive flat-screen TV for months, and it finally went on a sale for an unbelievable price. As you rolled up to the cashier with a television the size of a bed sheet, you may have been faced with a question you weren’t prepared for: do you want to buy the extended warranty? (continue reading…)

The hot trend of deep frying turkeys has spread like wildfire in the last few years — literally.

Deep fryer fires on average kill five people, injure 60 and cause more than $15 million in property damage every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. State Farm warns that more cooking fires flare up on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. According to its claims data from 2005 to 2009, grease and cooking-related claims more than double on Thanksgiving compared to an average day in November. (continue reading…)

With the weather growing colder and the days getting shorter, the holiday party planning season is upon us. But before you get knee-deep in details about how to keep your guests’ happy at the party, plan how you’ll keep them safe once they leave. (continue reading…)

When it comes to purchasing car insurance, it’s important to get the best deal you can. There’s also a great deal of fine print involved, so you need to understand just what you’re getting with your policy. Here are 8 little-known facts that could save you money: (continue reading…)

If you’re like most people, your home is the largest purchase – and most significant investment – you’ll ever make. So you’ll want to maintain it, and a large part of proper upkeep means staying on the lookout for potential problems. In fact, if you allow your home’s condition to deteriorate, your home insurance company may refuse to pay for the damages. Don’t wait until a minor annoyance becomes a big problem. Here are 10 home repairs you shouldn’t ignore: (continue reading…)