Posted on Thu, Jul 01, 2010
July 1, 2010
Insurance Journal
The U.S. Senate last night approved a temporary reauthorization of the federal flood insurance program until Sept. 30. The reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is retroactive to June 1, the date the program was halted.
The unanimous Senate vote sent the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature. The House had previously approved reauthorization.
Once President Obama signs the bill into law, the NFIP should return to normal operations, according to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I"). Also, since the extension is retroactive, any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application or, in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application.
The Big "I" said that while the resumption of the program is welcome, the spring lapse -- the third time this year it has been forced to halt operations-- has caused difficulties for homeowners and small businesses.
"It is alarming that the NFIP was allowed to remain expired for so long, causing so much confusion and potentially leaving desperate homeowners and small businesses unprotected for almost a month," said Robert Rusbuldt, Big "I" president and CEO. "While the Big 'I' is appreciative of Congress extending the program on a temporary basis, we are also greatly concerned that these short expiration periods and patchwork of temporary extensions will negatively impact the market."
The industry has urged Congress to act on a long term extension of the program.
Read more: Insurance Journal
Posted on Thu, Jun 17, 2010
Insurance Journal
June 16, 2010
The Senate today voted against legislation that included a provision to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Along with short term extensions for numerous other federal programs, the NFIP extension was passed by the House just prior to the Memorial Day recess. It was voted down by the Senate today amid concerns that other, unrelated provisions in the bill would add to the federal budget deficit. Should the Senate approve an amended version, the legislation would have to go back to the House for another vote in that chamber.
The Senate vote drew criticism from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).
"It's been over two weeks since the National Flood Insurance Program was allowed to expire, and the program is still being held up because of unrelated issues," said Jimi Grande, NAMIC senior vice president of federal and political affairs. "This lack of action by Congress is unacceptable, particularly when we're in the first few weeks of the 2010 hurricane season."
The Atlantic storm season began June 1 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecasted that 2010 will be among the most active seasons ever. The NOAA predicts that 2010 will see 14 to 23 named storms, with eight to 14 of those developing into hurricanes. Of those, the NOAA has said that three to seven may develop into Category 3 or above hurricanes with winds of over 110 miles per hour.
"We cannot afford to have political disagreements get in the way of protecting millions of Americans from flood losses," Grande said.
Source: NAMIC
Source: Insurance Journal
Posted on Thu, May 27, 2010
May, 2010
Insurance Information Institute
With home prices continuing to be competitive and interest rates low, many people are dipping their toes into the real estate market. Regardless of whether you are a first time home buyer, considering the purchase of a second home or an empty nester looking for a cozy smaller property, it is important to factor in the potential insurance costs of the home you are considering when calculating the overall price of owning the house, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
"When people look at homes, they tend to focus on factors such as property taxes, neighborhoods, school districts and available recreational and cultural opportunities," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. "But an often overlooked item is the insurance implications of a specific house."
"You will be paying for insurance for as long as you own it, so you should factor the cost of insurance into the home buying process. You don't want to find out that your dream home is more expensive to insure than you thought after you own it," pointed out Salvatore. When looking at prospective new homes, the I.I.I. suggests asking the following questions:
- How far is the home from the fire department? Houses that are near a fire station with professional firefighters usually cost less to insure.
- What is the condition of the plumbing and electrical systems? Poorly maintained, unsafe and/or outdated systems can cost more to insure.
- Is the home vulnerable to wind damage? Find out if private insurance is available, or a state-run insurance program. Is there a windstorm deductible, and how high is it? A home on or near the beach may be more costly to insure than one inland.
- Is the house at risk from flooding? Flood insurance is not covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. However, it is available from the National Flood Insurance Program, which is serviced by private carriers, and from a few specialty insurers.
- What about earthquake risk? Earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy.
- Is the house well built and well maintained? Homes built by reputable builders using disaster resistant materials and designed to meet current building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.
A knowledgeable home inspector and your insurance agent can be helpful in answering these questions. "Keep in mind, that the size, location, construction and overall condition of the house can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance," noted Salvatore.
To educate consumers about the insurance implication of buying a home, the I.I.I. has created a Home Buyers Insurance Checklist. It provides information on what do before buying a house, factors to consider when looking at homes and placing a bid, as well as tips to properly insure your new home.
The I.I.I. has additional information on home insurance and information on home safety can be found at the Institute for Business& Home Safety.
Posted on Mon, May 10, 2010
(Reuters) - Representative Barney Frank introduced legislation on Friday to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through September, which would give Congress more time to fix the troubled program.
The insurance program, important to more than 5 million homes and businesses in flood plains, has been in debt since major hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Reform efforts stalled in Congress last year.
"This program is too critical to our housing recovery to be allowed to lapse," Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, who chairs a subcommittee working on the issue, said in a statement.
Twice this year, the program -- which provides flood coverage through more than 90 companies that sell policies and collect premiums for a fee -- has lapsed, affecting people trying to buy homes in flood-prone areas, Waters said.
Insurers like Allstate, Travelers, Hartford Financial Services and Fidelity National Financial are closely watching the debate.
The House Financial Services Committee, which is led by Frank, is working on reauthorizing the program for five years and wants to make a series of changes to help it work better.
Frank's bill would extend the program's ability to write and renew flood insurance policies from its May 31 deadline through September 30.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton)
Reuters
Posted on Fri, May 07, 2010
April, 2010
Insurance Information Institute
"Those who take the time to prepare for a hurricane stand the best chance of surviving the storm and getting back to their normal lives in a timely manner," stated Ms. Salvatore, who is the I.I.I.'s national consumer spokesperson. Salvatore offered actionable steps coastal residents should take to prepare for a disaster in a presentation today to the 2010 National Hurricane Conference at the Orlando Hilton, Orlando, Florida.
To prepare for the possibility of a hurricane and other natural disasters, the I.I.I. recommends the following five steps:
- Review your insurance coverage.
Speak to your agent or company representative to make sure you have the right kind and amount of insurance coverage. You need enough insurance to rebuild your home and to replace all of your personal belongings. If you have made a major alteration or improvement to your home, or significant purchases to furnish it, notify your insurance agent so that the increased value is reflected in your policy.
Speak to your agent or company representative about your homeowners insurance policy deductibles. Most coastal residents have percentage deductibles for storm damage rather than the traditional dollar deductibles that are used for other types of losses such as fire or burglary.
Ask about flood insurance. Flood damage is not covered under most standard home insurance policies. Flood coverage is available, however, from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private insurance companies. It can generally be purchased from the same agent or broker who provides your homeowners or renters insurance, although new NFIP policy purchases have to wait at least until mid-April because Congress allowed the NFIP program to expire on Sunday, March 28. Congress is expected to revisit this issue when it reconvenes on Monday, April 12. Additional information on flood insurance can be found at FloodSmart.gov or by calling 888-379-9531. Should you need coverage over and above the $250,000 for property and $100,000 for contents provided by the NFIP, excess flood insurance is also available from private insurance companies.
- Create a home inventory
A home inventory will help ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your personal belongings. It can also speed the claims process and substantiate losses for income tax purposes. A detailed home inventory is also helpful should you need to apply for disaster aid.
To make creating a home inventory easier, the I.I.I. provides free Web-based software located at KnowYourStuff.org. The Know Your Stuff software allows you to organize and list your possessions easily, as well as add digital photographs of your valuables and save scanned receipts. The program provides free, secure storage of your inventory on Amazon Web Services. Storing your inventory online gives you the ability to access it from any computer in the event your own computer is destroyed.
- Protect your property
Keeping wind and water out of your home is critical to its survival. According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety, a house is most vulnerable to high winds when the building's "envelope" is not sealed by forms of protection such as storm shutters or reinforced garage doors. In addition, homeowners should secure loose roof shingles and seal openings, cracks and holes while also strengthening soffits such as beams, arches and staircases. Keep in mind that unsecured building materials or trash from partially completed homes could, if wind gusts are strong enough, become airborne and pose a serious physical threat to individuals and nearby buildings.
- Plan your evacuation and what you will need to take
Identify where you will go and how you will get there. Try to have more than one option: the home of a friend or family member in another town, a hotel or a shelter. Keep a map and the phone numbers and addresses of these locations handy. If you have a pet, identify locations where animals are welcome. When an emergency or disaster strikes you may be forced from your home for several days or even weeks. That's why the First 72 is Up to You! Seventy-two hours is the most critical period after a disaster or emergency has occurred and the time it may take before rescuers can get to you.
In the event of an evacuation, have the following items ready to take with you:
- Medicines, prescriptions and first aid kit.
- Bottled water
- Clothing and bedding (sleeping bags, pillows)
- Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
- Special items for infants or elderly or disabled family members
- Computer hard drive or laptop
- Photographs
- Pet food and other items for pets (litter boxes, leashes)
- Important documents such as insurance policies, passports, drivers licenses, wills and deeds, birth, adoption and marriage certificates, recent tax returns, stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates
- Your home inventory.
- Take the Ten Minute Challenge
Find out if you are ready to evacuate by doing a real-time test. Give yourself just 10 minutes to get your family and belongings into the car and on the road to safety. By planning ahead and practicing, you should be able to gather your family members and pets, along with the most important items they will need, calmly and efficiently, and with a minimum level of stress and confusion.
Insurance Information Institute
Posted on Thu, Apr 29, 2010
April, 2010
The Institutes
Donna J. Popow, JD, CPCU, AIC
Colorado State University's hurricane forecasters predict an active 2010 hurricane season with 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes. This prediction is in contrast to an average season of 10 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Hurricanes and tropical storms are not the only causes of floods. Snow melts can pose significant flood risks as well. This winter, the East Coast was hit with three major snowstorms, setting an all-time record for snow in the month of February. Some areas received nearly two feet of snow in a 36-hour period, setting a record for accumulation in a single day. As the snow begins to melt and the ground is still frozen, there is little absorption or drainage. With no place for the snow to go, flooding ensues.
All it takes is a few inches of water from a flood to cause devastating financial loss. Since standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968 to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves. According to the NFIP, over the past 10 years, the average flood claim has amounted to over $33,000. Homes and businesses with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders and that are located in high-risk flood areas are required to have flood insurance.
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. Contrary to popular belief, floods are not limited to coastal areas; they can happen almost anywhere. Nearly one-quarter of all the NFIP's paid insurance claims are in low- to moderate flood-risk areas, according to the NFIP Web site.
Flood insurance can be purchased only through an insurance agent; therefore, insurance professionals will need technical and practical knowledge and skills to confidently and accurately handle all aspects of flood insurance coverage. Two excellent resources are the National Flood Insurance Program Flood Insurance Manual and the Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet. The flood insurance manual is primarily used by insurance companies and agents who write national flood insurance. It provides in-depth information about the NFIP and flood insurance, including eligibility, coverage, premium rates, and policy types. The guidelines booklet provides guidance to key legislation that governs the NFIP.
Because the NFIP is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), insurance professionals involved in writing, selling, or providing flood coverage must comply with Homeland Security and FEMA requirements. The NFIP has created guidelines and tools to assist insurers and agents in providing broader access to flood insurance to the public. Recent guidelines require producers of flood coverage to receive certified flood insurance training in order to maintain licensing.
In response to the increasing need for flood insurance, The Institutes have teamed up with FEMA to create the new Associate in National Flood Insurance (ANFITM) designation, which is among The Institutes' numerous educational offerings. Click here for more information.
Donna J. Popow, JD, CPCU, AIC, is senior director of knowledge resources and ethics counsel for The Institutes in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The Institutes are the leader in delivering proven knowledge solutions that drive powerful business results for the risk management and property-casualty insurance industry. Ms. Popow is responsible for all aspects of claims education, including the Associate in Claims designation program and the Introduction to Claims program. She can be reached at popow@cpcuiia.org.
© 2010 American Institute for CPCU
http://www.aicpcu.org/
Posted on Mon, Apr 26, 2010
By Shannon Dauphin
Insure.com
If your roof is damaged by hail and the repairman hands you a costly estimate, there might be some shenanigans going on right over your head.
The number of questionable insurance claims involving hail damage jumped 202 percent (from 256 to 772) from 2008 to 2009 - and those are just the ones that are known. Fake roof-damage schemes are becoming a serious fraud, according to the "2009 Questionable Claims Comparison Report" issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Understanding how the fraud is perpetrated is your best defense against getting hoodwinked.
Here's how it plays out: Unscrupulous roofing companies come around after high winds, hail, and the like have hit an area. They offer to fix your roof and remind you that your home insurance company will pay. But it's what they don't tell you that could be the problem.
Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs at the NICB, explains how the fraud works: "One of the most common techniques is to simply exaggerate existing damage. A homeowner might have sustained some damage to a roof during a storm, for example, but when a contractor inspects it to provide a repair estimate they often inflate the damage or actually cause more damage to obtain a higher payment from the insurance."
It isn't just contractors who perpetuate the fraud. "Sadly, it's not unusual for us to see homeowners do the same thing," Scafidi continues. The property might sustain real damage, such as wind that topples part of a fence. But the homeowner might then knock down the rest of the fence and blame the weather. "In that scenario, the homeowner is committing the fraud," says Scafidi.
If fake damage of any kind is caught by the insurance company, the claim will not be paid, the contractor might face legal action, and the homeowner is left with a serious financial problem to resolve. If the crime was perpetrated by the homeowners, they could face criminal penalties for fraud.
Scafidi points out that the fake roof damage claims are most common in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other areas that make up the nation's "tornado alley."
Red flags for homeowners
Although fake roof damage created by a questionable roofing company might be hard to spot, there are some red flags. "They should avoid a contractor who urges them to sign a contract for repair work," Scafidi says. "Homeowners should seek out more than one estimate and they should ask for references. A contractor who demands an up-front payment for the work is also a warning sign."
Unfortunately, even the most savvy homeowner can get fooled. If this happens to you, for any home-repair fraud, don't confront the offender directly.
"Try to obtain as much information about the person as possible without direct contact," Scafidi advises. If at all possible, get vehicle license numbers and identifying information on the vehicle. If you can get a company name, phone number or address, that's even better. Even a description of other people who showed up with the contractor can be helpful.
Call your insurance company to report your suspicions, and then report it to the NICB hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422).
http://www.insure.com/articles/homeinsurance/roof-damage-scams.html
Posted on Sun, Apr 18, 2010
by Jennifer Saranow Schultz
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
provided by
Louisiana has the highest average auto insurance rates in the United States, while Maine has the lowest, according to new data from Insure.com that ranks the states according to their average insurance rates (see the full ranking below).
The data, which Insure.com released Monday, comes from a study Quadrant Information Services performed for Insure.com to find the most and least expensive vehicle to insure nationwide, which we covered in a March Bucks post. The data, which determined average insurance premiums rates for more than 2,400 vehicles from the 2010 model year from six large carriers across 10 ZIP codes in each state, also enabled a comparison of auto insurance rates in general across the states.
What's behind states' different rates?
According to Insure.com, states' different laws are partly to blame. "Our findings show that the financial ramifications of specific state laws and regulations are driving high rates in certain states," Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com, said in a statement. "No matter how good your own driving record is, you're paying for the decisions of lawmakers."
Ms. Danise said she had expected to see states with more urban areas at the top of the list but Insure.com discovered from talking with insurance agents that the states at the top of the list have certain regulations that drive up rates in those states. In Louisiana, for instance, more cases are settled out of court with expensive settlements because only cases with claims in excess of $50,000 receive a jury trial there. In Michigan, meanwhile, which had the second-highest average auto insurance rates, state law provides unlimited medical benefits for accident victims for life, probably pushing up auto insurance costs, according to Insure.com.
In contrast, population levels may be why certain states are at the bottom of the list. According to Ms. Danise, the states with the lowest insurance costs tend to be more rural. Maine, for instance, may have low auto insurance rates because its highways are less crowded, which may mean fewer crashes over all.
Here's the full ranking below, and let us know if it lines up with your experiences buying auto insurance in different states.
The most and least expensive states for car insurance:
| Rank |
State |
Avg. Premium |
| 1 |
Louisiana |
$2,510.87 |
| 2 |
Michigan |
$2,098.29 |
| 3 |
Oklahoma |
$1,869.39 |
| 4 |
Montana |
$1,857.96 |
| 5 |
California |
$1,774.41 |
| 6 |
South Dakota |
$1,772.83 |
| 7 |
Washington, D.C. |
$1,753.19 |
| 8 |
Georgia |
$1,751.42 |
| 9 |
Illinois |
$1,679.15 |
| 10 |
Connecticut |
$1,678.90 |
| 11 |
Arkansas |
$1,648.80 |
| 12 |
New Mexico |
$1,603.65 |
| 13 |
Rhode Island |
$1,595.97 |
| 14 |
West Virginia |
$1,589.69 |
| 15 |
Alaska |
$1,572.21 |
| 16 |
Wyoming |
$1,552.98 |
| 17 |
Maryland |
$1,550.13 |
| 18 |
Kansas |
$1,524.51 |
| 19 |
Kentucky |
$1,515.30 |
| 20 |
Colorado |
$1,480.97 |
| 21 |
Mississippi |
$1,474.94 |
| 22 |
New Jersey |
$1,473.73 |
| 23 |
New York |
$1,463.21 |
| 24 |
Texas |
$1,462.65 |
| 25 |
Florida |
$1,453.20 |
| 26 |
Pennsylvania |
$1,420.78 |
| 27 |
Delaware |
$1,405.80 |
| 28 |
Missouri |
$1,390.59 |
| 29 |
Minnesota |
$1,381.09 |
| 30 |
Alabama |
$1,380.38 |
| 31 |
North Dakota |
$1,365.22 |
| 32 |
Hawaii |
$1,306.97 |
| 33 |
Indiana |
$1,302.51 |
| 34 |
Nevada |
$1,282.50 |
| 35 |
Washington |
$1,279.84 |
| 36 |
Utah |
$1,234.30 |
| 37 |
Virginia |
$1,233.36 |
| 38 |
Nebraska |
$1,210.74 |
| 39 |
Oregon |
$1,194.69 |
| 40 |
Idaho |
$1,183.47 |
| 41 |
South Carolina |
$1,182.18 |
| 42 |
Tennessee |
$1,170.12 |
| 43 |
Arizona |
$1,152.50 |
| 44 |
North Carolina |
$1,130.45 |
| 45 |
Massachusetts |
$1,043.80 |
| 46 |
Iowa |
$1,039.04 |
| 47 |
New Hampshire |
$1,011.23 |
| 48 |
Wisconsin |
$1,010.93 |
| 49 |
Ohio |
$999.86 |
| 50 |
Vermont |
$968.58 |
| 51 |
Maine |
$902.85 |
Source: Insure.com, from a study commissioned by Insure.com from Quadrant Information Services
http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/109309/where-auto-insurance-is-most-expensive?mod=insurance-autos
Posted on Fri, Apr 16, 2010
President Obama Signs Jobless Aid, Flood Insurance Extension
By Andy Sullivan
April 15, 2010
Congress Thursday voted to restore jobless benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans who had lost them during a partisan standoff in the Senate over spending.
[The bill also reauthorizes the federal flood insurance program until the end of May and restores federal COBRA health insurance subsidies.]
The House of Representatives voted 289-112 to restore the lapsed programs and sent the measure to President Barack Obama, who signed it into law. The Senate had approved it earlier in the day after weeks of delay.
With the unemployment rate at 9.7 percent, some 6.1 million Americans rely on jobless benefits. Those benefits, which average roughly $300 a week, expired for more than 200,000 Americans on April 5 after Republican Senator Tom Coburn blocked a vote shortly before Congress left town on a two-week break.
The standoff also has disrupted a federal flood insurance program, which has held up 1,400 home sales each day in flood-prone areas and slashed emergency loans to small businesses, Democrats said.
COBRA health insurance subsidies for the unemployed and payments to doctors under the Medicare health program have also been disrupted.
[The provision reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is effective retroactively to Feb. 28 and extends the program until May 31, 2010, the day before the new hurricane season officially starts. Forecasters have warned that this coming season could be one with above-average storm activity.
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big "I") said it is concerned that Congress has only extended the program for a brief period again.
Congress failed to extend the NFIP before leaving for recess last month, resulting in the program's expiration on March 28. Since March 29, the program has been in what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) calls a "hiatus period", meaning that no flood insurance policies could be issued or renewed. In addition, existing policyholders could not increase their coverage. This was the second lapse in flood insurance coverage this year. The NFIP also expired on Feb. 28, 2010, but Congress did not reauthorize the program until March 2.
"It is alarming that the NFIP was allowed to expire, causing so much confusion and potentially leaving desperate homeowners and small businesses unprotected for more than two weeks," said Robert Rusbuldt, Big "I" president and CEO. "The Big 'I' is greatly concerned that these short expiration periods, coupled with the uncertainty of temporary extensions, will negatively impact the market."
Since the extension is retroactive, any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application or, in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application, according to the agents' group.
"This series of temporary extensions, last minute actions and service lapses during such a delicate period in our economy is of great concern to our agents, homeowners and small businesses," said Charles Symington, Big "I" senior vice president of government affairs. "Though we are grateful that Congress extended this program, we are increasingly frustrated by these repeated one-month extensions and the periods of expiration that sometimes result from them."
Insurers, too, expressed frustration with Congress.
"We are pleased that Congress made this a priority upon returning from recess this week," said David A. Sampson, president and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). "But these short putts down a long fairway set a dangerous precedent that leaves homeowners vulnerable. We need a long-term, sustainable solution to the flood program. Over 5.5 million Americans rely on this vital program."]
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/04/15/109055.htm
Posted on Sat, Apr 10, 2010
A lightning protection system is designed to control or redirect a lightning strike to a specified path. The system does not prevent a strike, but provides a path on which the electrical current can safely be redirected to the ground. Its objective is to prevent destruction or injury as the lightning travels that route. According to the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), the system is composed of several key components, including the following.
· Lightning rods-inconspicuous slender rods installed on the roof at industry-specified intervals.
· Conductors-aluminum or copper cables that interconnect the lightning rods and the other parts of the system.
· Ground terminations-metal rods driven into the earth to redirect the lightning current harmlessly to the ground.
· Surge arrestors and suppressors-devices installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system to safeguard electrical wiring and electronic systems and equipment.
So is a lightning protection system a wise purchase for your home? Most lightning experts recommend that individuals owning homes with several of the following characteristics or features should purchase a lightning protection system.
· Previously has been struck by lightning
· Located in a neighborhood which has experienced lightning damage
· Located in a community or city that has experienced over 25 thunderstorm days a year
· Located in an isolated and open area, or on a hill
· Has aluminum siding
· Has a brick, stone, or metal chimney
· Has a high or large satellite dish
· Has a metal or wood roof
· Has tall trees overhanging the roof
· Lacks surge protection on the electrical panel or on incoming phone lines
Lightning protection systems should meet the code established by Underwriters Laboratories and the LPI. Note that some insurers provide premium credits for homes with these types of certified systems.
For an average size home, the cost for this system ranges from $2,000 to $3,000.
Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.
Copyright, 2008. International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
