Category: News

Public Authorities Clause

The public view of Property damage policies is that betterment cannot be claimed for and for the most part that is correct but there are instances where there is a form of betterment that is allowed. An example of what is not allowed is, if you have a standard laminate floor that is damaged beyond repair, then you can only claim for a similar standard laminate floor. You cannot claim

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Can an Insurance company use their builder to repair your house?

In 2009 when Ireland and the world was in recession, Insurance companies became concerned about the escalating number of property damage claims. To counter this, they decided to use their own builders to do the repairs and these builders would be paid directly by the insurance company. The excess on the policy is then paid by the policyholder (home owner) directly to the builder. These builder network schemes had worked

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PREVENTING STORM DAMAGE

Every winter in Ireland we seem to get at least one storm. Even though your property insurance covers storm damage its equally important that you prepare your property for preventing same and keeping your family and belongings safe. Here are some tips: Clean all gutters, downpipes and drain cover. Leaves and debris can cause blockages and ultimately damage. Check the trees in close vicinity of your property. Dead or diseased

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Safety Tips for Flooded Homes

General advice The floodwater that entered your property may cause illness if you do not take a few simple precautions. Pervious items including soft furnishings, carpets, sofas, curtains and clothes should be discarded Wear rubber gloves when cleaning up floodwater damage and watch out for broken glass and nails Any cuts should be covered up with waterproof dressings Wash away surface debris, silt and mud with hot water and detergent

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How to Prevent Candle Fires

Candle fires are very common over the Christmas holidays. Every year we are guaranteed to receive a call regarding a fire caused by candles and it can happen so fast so here are some tips for preventing fires. Keep candles away from flammable items e.g. curtains, furniture decorations. Keep matches and lighters up high in a safe place. Don’t use candles in bedrooms Keep an eye on open candles Make

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Cold weather coming

Given how quickly October turned cold this year the onset of a freezing winter could be possible. If your occupying your home and heating it every day, there generally shouldn’t be any problems. However, if you do decide to go away for Christmas it’s imperative that you take precautions. Make sure your boiler has been serviced this year and leave the boiler on a timer for a few hours every

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BE SAFE AT HOME THIS CHRISTMAS – Electrical Safety Tips

Christmas is a time when we use a lot more electrical items. Plug in Christmas lights and new presents requiring charging all add up. Here are some tips for staying safe. Never put fingers or other objects in an outlet(socket) as you’ll get a big shock. Keep metal objects out of the toaster including knifes or spoon as again you’ll get a shock. Never use electrical appliances near a sink

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Portable Domestic Gas Heaters

One of our clients had a problem with a gas heater he was using to heat an outside office. When the room got too hot he tried to turn off the heater but somehow there was a gas leak at the valve that went on fire. Luckily there were no injuries and the fire brigade put out the fire. Here are some safety tips when using these heaters. SAFETY TIPS:

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How to Take out a Property Policy

Buildings People are generally confused when they take out a property damage policy as they sometimes think that they should insure for the market value of the house instead of the full rebuild cost. The full rebuild cost is as follows Demolish the property and clear the site Rebuild the property to the same level of finishes as before Professional fees The above is referred to as the ‘buildings sum

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PROTEIN FIRES

Many homeowners may not recognise the damage that can be caused by a protein fire. Whereas damage from a typical fire is obvious, protein fires can be more destructive. Many homeowners underestimate the damage of a protein fire because they don’t see the “typical” black smoke residue commonly associated with home fires. A protein fire produces a fine mist that has a rancid strong odour that can also compromise structural

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