CREATE A WINTER WEATHER PREP KIT

It’s the time of year for icy winter weather. And as your insurance agent, I have to share
a few things to get you prepared before the winter storms hit!
First things first, you want to have the right supplies on hand. Create a basic
emergency kit that includes a battery powered radio and at least one week’s worth of
food and safety supplies. Also include:
Drinking Water
Canned/No-Cook Food
Non-Electric Can Opener
Prescription Medicine As Needed
First Aid Kit
Bag of Cat Litter or Sand to add traction on walkways
Battery Powered Lamps
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm in working order
And what about when bad weather hits? Here are a few things to put on your winter
storm checklist:
• Leave water taps slightly open so they drip to prevent frozen pipes.
• Open kitchen cabinet doors under the sink to keep the pipes warm.
• Have an alternate heat source in case the power goes out. If the fireplace, make sure
you have plenty of dry firewood.
The most important thing you can do? Be prepared! A benefit to winter storms is that
you generally have plenty of warning that one is on the way. Don’t wait until the roads
are icy and dangerous. Get your supplies packed, your pipes protected, and a backup
plan in case of a power outage. And make sure that you have great Homeowners
Insurance! We can help with that. Call us for a free quote today at 703-556-7857.

Please check out our website at www.fowlkesinsurancesrvc.com

DECEMBER HOME MAINTENANCE TASKS

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep you home in tip-top shape all
year long. So as we wind down 2014, here are a few simple tasks you can take on in
December!
• Replace all of your home’s air filters to keep them working efficiently.
• Check all faucets and pipes for leaks.
• Remove drain covers and clear the drain of any gunk. Consider running baking soda
and vinegar down the drain to clean it too. This small task could prevent a slow
backed up drain later.
• Replace water filters in your refrigerator or faucet to keep water tasting fresh.
• Check drainage around the house and gutters, especially during winter weather.
• Check car tires for tread wear and have tires rotated. Are your tires ready for ice or
snow? • Save on Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting
your home and belongings.
To make sure you have the very best coverage (and the most affordable rate), call us
today for a free, no obligation quote from Fowlkes Insurance Services at 703-556-7857.

Please check out our website at www.fowlkesinsurancesrvc.com

WHY LIFE INSURANCE IS THE PERFECT GIFT

Have you started your holiday shopping this year?  Before long, people will be lining up in stores and placing their orders online.  It’s an annual shopping frenzy.

But have you stopped to think about what your family really needs this season? 

For many of my clients, it’s Life Insurance. 

Life Insurance is what protects your family if something were to happen to you or your spouse.  Think about what you would want for your family in that situation.  Would you want your wife to be a stay at home mom?  Would you want your kid’s college education to be paid for?  Would you want your family to pay off the mortgage and be debt free? 

Life Insurance is about preparing for the unexpected and making sure your family is taken care of.  It’s not a fun thing to think about for a lot of people, but it’s very important.

Many people avoid buying life insurance because they think it’s expensive.  But that couldn't be farther from the truth!  In fact, life insurance is extremely affordable, especially for a young healthy family.

So before you stand in line buying coffee pots and crock pots this Christmas, stop and think about what is truly important.  Purchase life insurance and insure that your children will be taken care of for years to come.

Call me at 703-556-7857 today for a no-obligation life insurance quote from Fowlkes Insurance Services, Inc.

Please check out our website at www.fowlkesinsurancesrvc.com

November Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep you home in tip-top shape all year long.  So here are a few tasks you can take on in November!

Maintain Large Appliances - Appliances are a big long-term investment!  That’s why it’s important to take good care of them all year long.  Your refrigerator is a great place to start.  Accumulating dust can make your fridge cooling system less efficient. 

To prevent trouble, regularly pull the fridge away from the wall and clean the condenser coils with a vacuum cleaner.  It’s also a good idea to dust and clean the front lower grille.  This five minute task can add years of service to your refrigerator!

Clean The Oven & Stove Drip Pans - Next move on to your stove.  It’s another appliance that needs a good regular cleaning to keep it working well.  Many ovens have a self cleaning feature that will do the hard work for you. 

The only problem?  It can take a while to run the cleaning feature and it usually smells pretty bad while it’s running.  Save this task for a nice day and open up the windows to keep it well ventilated.  Check your stove manual for instructions  and take a few minutes to clean the burners too. 

Have Problem Trees Trimmed - Cold weather has arrived.  Have you noticed any large branches hanging over onto your roof?  Get them trimmed as soon as possible.  A good ice storm can cause branches to break onto your roof leading to more damage and insurance claims. 

Save on Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting your home and belongings.  To make sure you have the best coverage, call Fowlkes Insurance Services today at 703-556-7857 for a free, no obligation quote.

October is Fire Prevention Month

 

October is officially Fire Prevention Month. As your insurance agency, this is an issue

that is very important to us! Unfortunately, we've seen clients suffer from home fires,

but there are things you can do to prepare now to prevent a disaster later.

Beyond basic fire prevention, like checking cords and not leaving a pot unattended on

the stove, there are several important things to do with your children or grandchildren to

make sure they're safe.

First, create a PLAN. When children know what to expect, they can remain calm, even

during an emergency. Help your child know exactly what to do if a fire occurs.

Stress the importance of getting out of the house and to your family meeting spot.  Choose an area a safe distance from the house where children should go if making a

fire escape. It could be a street light, mailbox, or neighbor's tree.

If you have pets, tell your kids that your pets will find their own way out safely and that

they should never go back to rescue the pet on their own.

As a family, go through each room of the house and discuss TWO different ways to get

out if a fire occurs. Let children practice opening a latch and unlocking doors too.

Now host a fire drill! Make the practice drills fun and informative. Create sample

scenarios and build up your kid's confidence. They'll be better prepared for a fire and

you will too!

When it comes to any sort of emergency situation, people are what matter most. Take

precautions to protect your loved ones and let your professional insurance agents at

Fowlkes Insurance Services, Inc. take care of protecting your home and belongings! Call us at

703-556-7857 for a free quote on your Homeowner's Insurance today!

Please visit our website at www.fowlkesinsurancesrv.com

October Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape all

year long. So here are a few simple tasks you can take on in October!

Pack Away The Air Conditioner - If you use a seasonal air conditioning unit, then now

is the time to pack it up for winter! Make sure to spend a few extra minutes cleaning all

the filters and coils well. It will keep the unit in great shape and it will last much longer.

Winterize External Plumbing Systems - It's much better to prepare for freezing

temperatures before it's freezing! Winterize all exposed outdoor pipes and you'll avoid

the trouble when there is snow or ice on the ground.

Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector - This is an important one! October is a great

time to check your carbon monoxide detector to make sure it is performing well.

Change the batteries, test it, and replace older units.

Clean Up For Halloween - Trick-or-treating can be a liability hazard! Clean up any

loose tree limbs, fill holes in the yard, and remove any fire hazard Halloween decorations before kids are running to your door.

Save on Home Insurance - Homeowners Insurance is an important part of protecting

your belongings. To make sure you have the best coverage, call us at 703-556-7857 today for a free, no obligation quote.

Please don't forget to visit our website at www.fowlkesinsurancesrvc.com

Four Financial Must Do's After Purchasing a New Home

This checklist can help guide you through some important financial decisions and documents you should have in place for your family. Knowing that you have taken important steps to protect your family’s finances will help you sleep sound under your new roof.

1. Create a Will. A will is the most important financial document you can have. It ensures that the care of your family and your property will take place according to your wishes in the event of your death. A living will can also specify the kind of medical treatment you want if you are seriously or terminally ill. Have a lawyer help you draft up your will and medical wishes, or use software that can help you do it yourself. Once these are done, provide copies of these documents to your family and primary care physician.
2. Fireproof Important Documents. Storing important personal financial documents in one easy-to-find location is key in the event of an emergency. Think financial accounts, contact numbers, logins, and passwords in addition to passports, marriage licenses and social security cards. A fireproof safe or a safety deposit box at the bank is a good investment for any home buyer and can ensure safe-keeping of your most valuable information.
3. Adjust Your Life Insurance. You have worked really hard to purchase your home. If something happened unexpectedly, life insurance could ensure that your family could afford to remain in the home. Talk to your financial representative to find out which kind of life insurance makes the most sense for your situation.
4. Build a Nest Egg. While you're setting up your household budget, take time to set a little aside each moth to contribute to either a college savings or retirement fund. Working the dollars into the budget now will help you stay on track with your contributions.

Remember to check out our web site at www.fowlkesinsurancesrvc.com