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Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, and for many homeowners in our region, it’s also a time to tackle home improvement projects. With the arrival of warmer weather and longer days, it’s an ideal time to get started on projects that can improve the comfort, efficiency, and value of your home. Here are some early spring home improvement projects to consider:

Clean and repair your gutters.

Gutters play a crucial role in protecting your home from water damage, and cleaning and repairing them should be a top priority in the spring. Check for any clogs, holes, or cracks in your gutters and downspouts and make any necessary repairs. Consider adding gutter guards to keep debris from clogging your gutters in the future.

Inspect and repair your roof.

Inspect your roof for any damage caused by winter weather, such as missing or damaged shingles, cracks, or leaks. Repairing any damage now can help prevent more serious problems down the road, such as mold or water damage to your home’s interior. If your roof is more than 20 years old or showing sig

ns of significant wear and tear, consider having a professional roofing contractor evaluate it and make any necessary repairs or replacements.

Power wash your home’s exterior.

Power washing your home’s exterior is an easy and effective way to remove dirt, grime, and algae buildup, and to brighten up your home’s appearance. Power washing also helps to remove mold, mildew, and other allergens that can be harmful to your health.

Repaint or refresh your home’s exterior.

If your home’s exterior is looking faded or outdated, consider repainting or refreshing it with a new color or finish. A fresh coat of paint can not only improve your home’s appearance, but it can also protect it from the elements and improve its energy efficiency.

Install new windows or replace old ones.

Old or poorly insulated windows can be a major source of heat loss and energy waste in your home. Consider installing new, energy-efficient windows or replacing old, drafty ones. Energy-efficient windows can help reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable.

Upgrade your landscaping.

Spring is a great time to upgrade your landscaping, whether by planting new trees, flowers, or shrubs, or by installing a new patio, walkway, or retaining wall. Upgrading your landscaping can not only improve your home’s appearance, but it can also add value and enhance your outdoor living space.

Improve your home’s insulation.

Improving your home’s insulation can help reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. Consider having an energy audit performed to determine if your home is adequately insulated and to identify any areas where additional insulation is needed.

These are just a few of the many home improvement projects that you can tackle in the early spring months. Whether you’re looking to improve the comfort, efficiency, or appearance of your home, there are many projects that you can undertake that will not only benefit your home, but also your family and your community. So grab your tools, get started, and enjoy the fruits of your labor this spring!

Finding the right person to work with you on your home improvements can be a challenge.  In our region, it is an industry where very few have websites to provide helpful information about who they are, how long they have been in business or examples of their work.  Instead, much of our connection with potential businesses comes through social media posts and referrals.

The first logical place to begin is to reach out to discuss your project and get a quote for what you need.  Try to connect with at least two or three different contractors and compare them.  Is there something that sets one off from the others?  Maybe better attention to details for what you are looking for or maybe a better way to implement your project that can save you money?

Before making a decision on hiring someone, there are a few things that you can do to learn if a particular contractor might be a good fit for you:

• Check their website (if they have one) and learn about the company and their value proposition for you as a homeowner.
• Do your internet searches for their business (google, facebook, community pages, angie, houzz, homeadvisor, etc.) and check their reviews.
• Ask for examples of their work (photos), along with references from people they have done business with recently that you can contact.
• Are they licensed and insured for the work that they do? (Ask for a certificate of insurance that you can have on file for your project.)
• How do they communicate?  Will they return phone calls or emails promptly within a reasonable timeframe? 
• Are they reliable – showing up on time, letting you know if they are running late?
• Do they provide a warranty period for the work they perform?
• Are there any known complaints filed against them?

It’s good to keep in mind that price is only a portion of the things that go into making the decision to hire a particular contractor.  There is a level of trust and confidence in the relationship and capability that builds up over time when you know you are receiving professional craftsmanship and service for your improvement projects. Chances are, when you find the right person to work with, they will become part of your home’s history and will be someone who will return again and again to help with the work you need to get done.

We are all familiar with ‘Spring Cleaning’ where we open the windows after a long, cold winter and prepare for the beautiful warm summer months that are to come, but it’s also helpful to make yourself an ‘End of Summer’ list as the season dies down. Keep some of the items listed below in mind to check towards the end of August to get your home prepared and in-shape for the fall.

Before the leaves begin to fall – give your gutters and downspouts a check to make sure there are no existing clogs. Remove any brambles and seeds and run some water through to see if there are any leaks that need to be repaired.

Give your windows a fresh cleaning and seal up any gaps with caulking as you go. Leaky windows cost money all winter long with the loss of heat. If repairing and sealing isn’t enough, consider whether you want to replace them.

Similarly, check your weather stripping around your doors. These often disintegrate over time, so replacing them every few years is likely necessary to prevent heat loss and insect intrusions.

Wash your trash bins. As the months get colder, animals and rodents can be attracted to the smells from your trash bins. A quick wash at the end of the summer can reduce or eliminate those smells and help keep pesky animals frommaking unwanted visits.

Spruce up your deck – clean, repair, restain or repaint and then seal it all before the cold weather arrives.

Check your outdoor equipment to make sure everything is in proper working order to get you through the upcoming months. This includes your leaf blower, snow blower, week whackers, and other tools. If you are working with batteries, now is a good time to make sure everything is charged up!

Our team at Bieritz Insurance Agency wishes you all a happy end of summer season!  If we can help you with any of your insurance products, please contact us for a free quote and learn how we can save you money on your insurance.

When embarking on home improvement projects, one of the first decisions is whether to do it yourself or to hire a professional. If you feel you have the skillset to undertake a particular project, then it might make sense to proceed with it. If you are not sure, remember that time is valuable – and if you make a mistake, you may likely have to do all the work over again or possibly end up calling a professional anyway. Make sure you consider your ‘worst case scenario’ and let that help guide you in your decision.

One of the most popular DIY projects is painting. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way to perk up your living spaces and it doesn’t have to be a complicated project. If you are removing wallpaper and repairing walls, however, that might be a different story. If you are doing it yourself, don’t skimp on materials. The money you save on hiring someone will more that cover the increase in cost for quality paint and materials.

Another popular DIY project is switching out your plumbing fixtures. Replacing your old faucets and showerheads can bring a whole level of improvement to your living space – both aesthetically and practically. If you have a leak that can’t be corrected due to a worn out fixture, it can also save water and expense down the road as well. At the same time, plumbing repairs can be tricky for DIY since many homeowners don’t have access to the same tools or expertise as a professional. One wrong move can result in a bad outcome if something breaks – so be prepared for contingencies and have your plumber’s phone number on hand in case something goes wrong.

DIY tiling is another popular home improvement project. A good place to begin might be something small like a backsplash area around your sink or your stove. These types of projects can have a beautiful, personal flair – and will last for a very long time – so make sure you love it or find colors that will blend in well if you change your color schemes in the future. If you are working in areas where there is water, be sure to seal everything appropriately to avoid damage.

If you happen to have skill with wood and woodworking tools, there are a lot of things you can work on – from shelving, to seating, tables, racks and more. If you have an interest in these types of projects, consider taking a local course to better understand the craft and begin practicing with some simple projects.

Finally, if you do decide to take on some of your own home improvement projects, be sure to check with your local codes departments to see if there is any permitting that is required. Find out if there are any permits or inspections that need to happen as you progress through your project and what the procedures and timelines are. This will go a long way towards having a great experience and will save a lot of time and headache down the road.

Remember, if you are making improvements for your home, contact our team at Bieritz Insurance Agency to see if any updates to your homeowner’s policy are needed. We are happy to provide you with information and guidance!

Living in a classic old house is a privilege. Older homes can evoke a sense of beauty, love, charisma.  They have a level of character and craftsmanship that are no longer seen in todays modern houses. However, during the cold winters, an older home can be quite uncomfortable.  If you are looking into insulation, you may find the information here to be helpful. 

Houses built in the midst of the 20th century were not well insulated. They had a natural ventilation system that allowed their walls to be hollow for it to “breathe” through it. Sitting in your living room on a cold winter night will tempt you to get the walls insulated the next morning.

One of the basics of learning about insulation is “R-Value”. The R-Value is the ability of the insulation material to resist heat and avoid its transfer from one place to another through that material. Usually, it is measured between 1.5 to 7 per inch, and the higher the value the better insulation it can provide to keep your home warm.  Before beginning any insulation project, you should also research your local codes as sometimes there are specific requirements for what minimum R-Value is required for attic, walls, etc.   

Here are a few options for insulating your old house, along with their R-value for comparison:

• Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is the most common type of insulation used throughout the United States.  It typically has an R-value between 3.1 to 3.4 per inch. It is placed loosely into the stud bays of walls and rafters, allowing it to trap as much air as possible.   Additionally, an air barrier on the external wall helps to stabilize the efficiency of the insulation by preventing cold air from moving into the wall cavity in cold conditions.  

• Spray Foam

The R-Value of open-cell spray foam insulation is about 3.6 to 3.8 per inch. It is easy to install as it can be blown inside and expands quickly, and you can shave off the excess as it covers the entire wall cavity. If you are spraying it in the cavity, it takes 6 to 8 seconds to set, but when you pour it into the wall cavity, it takes 5 to 8 minutes to fill it up. 

• Closed Cell Foam Insulation 

This insulation is another form of spray-foam, but it is tough and rigid with a much higher R-Value of 6 to 7 per inch (about double that of the other regular insulation).  It also tends to be one of the more expensive options.  Closed cell insulation is best used on new construction projects as it has to be fitted into an open cavity of the wall and cannot be retrofitted. So, unless you are tearing out your interior walls of your home as part of your renovations, closed cell foam insulation is likely not a viable option.  

• Cellulose

  Cellulose has an R-Value of 3.6 per inch. It is newspaper chopped up finely and mixed with boron or boric acid, which serves two more purposes. It acts as a fire retardant and also makes the insulation pest resistant. Moreover, it fends off mold, wood decay, and corrosion.  Thorough safety tests are conducted for open flammability to ensure the insulation is fire resistant.

  The cellulose is inserted with a blower, typically into the wall cavity with 2 holes, one in center and one at top. It is misted with a bit of hydration and then packed into the stud bay.
  A vapor barrier or retarder can be used depending on where you live in the country. This ‘loose-fill’ insulation will degrade and settle over time and it’s typical lifespan is in the range of 20-30 years.

Controlling the movement of Vapor in the insulations above:

Warm air contains a good deal of moisture and will always move towards colder air.  This warm, moist air needs to be prevented from entering into the wall cavity and coming in contact with the insulation.   A vapor barrier, like polyethylene is typically used for this purpose.  It can be stapled to the wall sides and should always be placed on the warmer wall, so if you live in a warm climate, it should be placed on the exterior wall, but in cold climates, it should be placed on the interior side. When the climate is different throughout the year, like here in NY, the vapor can collect on the backside of your drywall during summers, and the vapor barrier will not let it dry out. Hence we can use a vapor retarder that allows the stud bay to breathe and the vapor to escape. 

 If you are doing any major remodeling at your home, don’t forget to let your insurance company know.  Our experts at Bieritz Insurance will be happy to document your updates and assist you in finding your best options and rates if any changes are required.  Contact our team for an appointment or call our office at 607-547-2951.  We are happy to assist you with all your insurance needs. 

New York State is making a huge push to help homeowners and businesses transition out of fossil fuel dependence.  Through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), there are currently a number of programs and incentives that can make it possible for homeowners to begin this process.  Although incentives for home solar systems have been around for at least a decade or more and are being phased out a bit, there is still time to configure a home system that can work out to being very close to expense neutral – shifting your payment from your existing utility company to a loan payment for a solar installation.  In some cases, the federal and state tax credits (which can be taken over the course of two years) are refunded to the homeowner and then paid to the loan provider as part of the loan agreement to minimize a good deal of the up-front cost.

In addition to solar incentives, there are currently programs for insulation, heat pump systems for home heating (mostly for geothermal systems currently), heat pump hot water systems, electric vehicle chargers, as well as continued support for energy smart appliances.  For homeowners who want to fully transition, there are discounts, rebates, tax credits and financing options available with some qualifications required (based on income, location, etc.).

If you are interested in learning about what might be possible for you, a good place to start locally is through the Otsego County Conservation Association’s HeatSmart Mohawk Valley program.  Their staff can give you an overview of what might be available for you and will guide you to the resources and application through the NYSERDA portal. They regularly offer overview webinars to help answer questions about how systems work and where to begin so that you can assess your energy usage and needs in order to configure the right systems for your home.  They can also help direct you to NYSERDA recommended service providers (many of which are local businesses) who can also assist you with navigating the process for qualifications for the NYSERDA incentives.

These kinds of home energy upgrades help to make your home infrastructure more climate-friendly by significantly reducing your annual household CO2 emissions (something we should all be acting on),  alleviating existing strains on our energy grid, and increasing the assessed value of your home.  Carbon based energy is a finite resource which is sure to become increasingly expensive, particularly if/when our governments (federal and state) decide to stop providing subsidies for fossil fuels.  Finding a solution to provide our own energy to heat and power our homes is very likely going to be far less costly.

If you plan on making some of these changes to your home (or business), contact our team for a quote on what you can expect for your insurance.  We are happy to assist you at either of our offices: Bieritz Agency, 209 Main Street, in Cooperstown or Morris Insurance Agency, 128 Main Street, in Morris.  You can also feel free to contact us through our website using our Request a Quote Form.  We look forward to hearing from you!

The winter months bring greater fire risks for homeowners.  According to the Red Cross, house fires generally increase during the fall and winter months, with December and January registering the highest numbers.  There are tasks that every homeowner should do each fall as a preventative measure to reduce the dangers of a house fire.

Schedule with your service provider for a home heating system inspection and maintenance.

Changing out your filters and cleaning out any buildup from the prior year can help make your system run more efficiently.  In addition, if you use fuel oil or propane, your annual maintenance can identify if there are any leaks that can cause fires or other contamination.  If you use stationary or portable space heaters, make sure they are placed in a location far from things that can burn like furniture, clothing, and bedding.  (National Fire Protection Association data puts 81% of home heating fire casualties as a result of space heaters.) Similarly, items that are too close to your hot water heater can also be hazardous and potentially could catch on fire.

Check your fireplace and chimney and schedule for a cleaning.

Soot and creosote (which results from burning wood and fossil fuels) can build up inside of your chimney and catch fire if not cleaned regularly.  It can also be a hazard for smoke exposure.  Most chimney fires are quiet and slow burning, and can cause severe damage to your chimney system (flue lining, brick mortar) and to your home (roofing, celings, walls, structural beams).   Having your chimney inspected and cleaned each fall helps to reduce or prevent your risk of a chimney fire.

Stoves can also be a source for home fires.

The best prevention here is to never leave your stove unattended and make sure that there are no combustible materials (curtains, dishcloths, etc.) nearby.  Clean your stove regularly to remove any grease or flammable grime from your cooking surfaces and turn off your stovetop immediately if you see smoke coming from the bottom of your pot or pan when in use.

Make sure you have working fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.

Preventative measures can make a big difference.  The ability to recognize when there is a fire and to put the fire out quickly can be a life saver.  For a home fire extinguisher, the general guidance is to test or recharge them every 5-6 years and to replace them every 10-12 years.  Some fire extinguishers will have a tag that will show the maintenance schedule or expiration date.  If you need to use your fire extinguisher, make sure to have it recharged or refilled so that it is available is you should need it again in the future.  Changing your battery in your smoke detector once a year is about the simplest thing you can do to make sure you are alerted if a fire should start in your home.  That warning is an important part of protecting your home and your family from the dangers of a home fire and can help save lives.

Check on your extension cords and don’t overload them.

With all of our tech devises and gadgets nowadays, it’s easy to have the need for a lot of plugs without the availability of a lot of outlets in our older homes.  Choose the right extension cord for the job and use it as directed – know the wattage capacity of the cord and the wattage use of the devices you plug into it.  Check for overheating or signs of damage regularly.  Overheating at the plug area, the wall socket or the cord itself are all signs that something is not functioning correctly and the cord should be immediately unplugged.  Extension cords should also have fuse protection (a blown fuse will cut off electicity to stop overheating that can cause a fire) and should be listed by a national testing laboratory ( look for UL, ETL or CSA).

In the case of fire, as in so many other things in life, we can look to the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Take some time to check for hazards and rest more easily knowing that you are being as safe as you can be.  To make sure you are protected with the right insurance coverage, contact our team in Cooperstown, NY at https://www.bieritzinsurance.com/contact-us/.  We will be happy to assist you in finding the right product to affordably meet your needs.