Long Beach Home Solutions, Inc.

Here is a great article on how important it is to maintain your roof.... ROOF MAINTNENANCE WATER AND ICE ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS One of the most uncovered property claims by far is water damage as a direct result of poorly maintained premises. Property policies typically exclude water damage unless something else is accidentally or suddenly damaged first, by wind or fire for example. With regular maintenance these claims are preventable.... We are in the midst of our rainy season in California with three to four straight days of rain forecasted to start this weekend. We frequently receive questions or claims for water damage due to poor roof maintenance. We don’t like to see carriers deny claims but these claims are not covered by insurance due to improper maintenance; not a sudden and unforeseen event. Flat roofs can puddle up if they are not draining properly and start to seep into the interior of buildings or units. Other types of roofs could have wear and tear issues such as nail pops, poorly repaired flashings and numerous patching attempts. Claims would be denied since they are not caused by a covered cause of loss such as wind or hail. Every building is at risk for water damage resulting from inadequate maintenance (i.e., wear and tear on a roof, old plumbing and gutters full of leaves, etc.) Every building needs to be checked regularly for things such as damaged flashing, roof scuppers, drains, gutters, and drainpipes. The person doing the inspection doesn’t have to be an expert; just someone who knows how to pay attention to detail. One question to ask is: Is there any water where there should not be? Small leaks often get ignored but should be addressed promptly. These can turn into huge and expensive headaches because they are not covered by insurance. This includes leaks from cracks in windows and doors, improper seals around the frames, poorly maintained roofs (especially flat roofs), and cracks in foundations and/or standing water in contact with foundations or exterior walls, as well as plumbing and HVAC systems. Proper maintenance means routine cleaning. Check all drains, gutters, and downspouts for leaf litter, debris or other obstructions that cause water to collect or travel toward a building. Standing water is a tell-tale sign water is not draining properly. We don’t want you to be surprised to learn that your insurance doesn’t cover damages that could have been avoided by proper maintenance. Instead, we much prefer that you take this advice to heart so that we never have to tell you your claim isn’t covered. Let us know if any questions. Jon Crain Marketing Specialist [email protected] | Direct 949-381-7720 | Fax 949-487-6151 830 Roosevelt, Suite #200 | Irvine, CA 92620 | CA Lic. #0795135 | www.ar-ins.com

Happy Holidays... here are some words of wisdom from one of our suppliers about HOA's. New Year’s Resolutions for Community Associations 1. That all residents in planned communities and condominiums work together to make their communities better. It would be ideal to set any personal issues aside for the common good and if factions no longer existed.... 2. That good people are willing to volunteer their time to serve on boards. Serving on the board of a community association or condominium is often worse than a thankless job. The job frequently comes with criticism from all sides and places volunteers in a no-win situation. Every new law passed makes it more difficult to serve on the board and creates more opportunities for those who want to file suits and complaints 3. Remember communities are blessed with good managers. The quality of life within a planned community or condominium is often directly linked to the quality of management. The management team provides valuable services for the community and can help create a positive sense of community. 4. That those who want to criticize the volunteers will step forward to volunteer their time on boards and committees. It is always easier to sit on the sidelines and judge the actions of others. However, communities need more people who want to be part of the solution.

This article has many good points about living in an HOA. BEING THANKFUL FOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS ...Continue reading

Have a great Labor Day everyone!

CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE /NAMED INSURED'S & ADDITIONAL INSURED'S Throughout the years we have received questions on the above and wanted to use this "Tip of the Week" to help answer some of the questions we receive. A "named insured' is an individual or organization who has all the benefits in the contract with respects to defense and/or indemnification to the claimant if the event is covered....Continue reading

This article is very spot on. Many associations do not have enough in their reserve accounts and when something goes wrong they are not prepared. CAN INADEQUATE ASSESSMENT FUNDNG CREATE A LIABILITY FOR AN ASSOCIATION? A Reserve Study Company recently completed a review of 1,200 clients and found on average they were funded at 35% of what the analyst had calculated was required. We regularly see this ourselves when reviewing Reserve Studies and financials for the purpose of...Continue reading

Here is some great advise for the New Year.... New Year’s Resolutions for Community Associations 1. That all residents in planned communities and condominiums work together to make their communities better. It would be ideal to set any personal issues aside for the common good and if factions no longer existed.... 2. That good people are willing to volunteer their time to serve on boards. Serving on the board of a community association or condominium is often worse than a thankless job. The job frequently comes with criticism from all sides and places volunteers in a no-win situation. Every new law passed makes it more difficult to serve on the board and creates more opportunities for those who want to file suits and complaints 3. That communities are blessed with good managers. The quality of life within a planned community or condominium is often directly linked to the quality of management. The management team provides valuable services for the community and can help create a positive sense of community. 4. That those who want to criticize the volunteers will step forward to volunteer their time on boards and committees. It is always easier to sit on the sidelines and judge the actions of others. However, communities need more people who want to be part of the solution.

ANNUAL INSURANCE BUDGETS For Associations that have fiscal years that run from 1/1 to 12/31, budgets and insurance disclosures are looming around the corner. Below is some information we hope is helpful in dealing with this annual requirement. In the past we could anticipate little or no increase in annual premiums for Association insurance costs. This was especially true for PUD’s that have minimal property coverage. With condominiums and town homes that maintain Blanket Pr...Continue reading