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Insurance matters can be complicated. Our goal is to make it easier. If you have a question regarding insurance, read through HomeRun Insurance and Financial Service’s frequently asked questions. If you can’t find your answer here, please feel free to contact us.

AUTO FAQ

HOME FAQ

BUSINESS FAQ

Auto

HOW CAN I PREVENT VEHICLE THEFT?

Although you can not ensure your vehicle will not be stolen, you can take a few easy steps to prevent the likelihood of it happening. You can make it more difficult for a thief to steal your vehicle and its contents by:

Always lock your vehicle
Never leave your keys in the vehicle
Turn off your ignition whenever you leave your car
Avoid parking on the street
Conceal items left in your car, keep things in the trunk and never leave money or valuables in the open
Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a well-lit, well-guarded, highly-visible area
Ask your neighbors to watch out for your vehicle and do the same for them
Install a theft deterrent such as a car alarm or an ignition disabler.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY BRAKES REQUIRE MAINTENANCE?

Your brakes are obviously one of the most important components on your automobile. Proper care and regular maintenance is essential to protect both yourself and others from the potential harm caused by faulty brakes. Some signs that your brakes may be failing or require maintenance include:

The brakes squeal, grind or bang when applied. If this occurs you should immediately have your brakes checked
The car pulls to one side when you apply the brakes
The brakes stick or there is a loss of engine power when you are driving – your brakes may not be releasing properly which can lead to total brake loss
The brakes grab when lightly applied – this could be caused by loose or broken brake parts
The brakes need a lot of pressure to work or the pedal needs to be near the floor before it works – this may be a sign that your brakes are worn and replacement is necessary
The brake pedal, steering wheel or entire car vibrates when you step on the brakes

IS IT SAFE TO USE MY CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING?

Cell phones can be valuable equipment in a car when you need to call for assistance. However, they can also be a distraction if they are used while driving, and many jurisdictions are considering restrictions on cell phone use while driving. For safety’s sake, don’t use your cell phone while driving. If you need to make a call, stop your car safely away from traffic before picking up the phone.

Check the following websites for further information:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
dmv.ca.gov

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M INVOLVED IN A COLLISION?

Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful event. To help you protect both yourself and your interests, we have provided some basic tips:

Call the police immediately, and an ambulance if necessary.
Do not admit liability.
Record details of the accident including date, time, location, a description of the accident, any injuries, and any charges laid.
Record details concerning the other party and vehicle such as owner’s name and address, phone number, as well as the vehicle’s year, make and model.
It is very important to obtain the insurance information of the other driver. This includes the name of their insurance company and the policy number, and the name of the broker or agent.
Obtain a copy of the police report from the attending officer as this will have the accident report number for future reference.

Home

HOW CAN I PREVENT A BURGLAR FROM ENTERING MY HOME?

The goal of indoor crime-proofing is to secure your premises, and to make them appear occupied at all times. Here are a few ways to do this:

Secure your premises.
- Close blinds and curtains at night so that a burglar can’t scope your belongings.
- Lock all doors and windows before leaving.
- Lock windows so that they can’t be opened from the outside. If they can’t be locked, you can pin them by drilling a hole through both window frames and inserting a bolt or metal pin. The pin must be easily removable for emergency situations.
- Home burglar alarm systems are a great deterrent. Even if you have an alarm system, don’t neglect the other security measures available to you. An alarm provides an extra layer of security, but is no replacement for good common sense. Alarm owners should still do what they can to make sure their home is not an attractive target for thieves.
Make your home look occupied at all times.
- Use timers to maintain normal lighting patterns.
- Leave a radio on when you are away from your home for short periods of time.
Protect your valuables.
- Consider marking your valuables indelibly (engraved) with your drivers licence or social insurance number.
- Take an inventory of your home with a videotape and/or photographs.
- Keep jewellery and negotiables in a safety deposit box or an unlikely place (i.e. not your bedroom).

You can also secure the outside of your home, making it more difficult for burglars to force entry:

Keep your shrubbery cut back so that it doesn’t block windows and doors.
Secure window air conditioners from the inside.
Illuminate as much of your property as possible.
Exterior doors should be solid, not hollow. Metal doors provide the best protection against forced entry.
Use a fencing style that would not conceal a burglar’s activities. Remember if you can’t see out, others can’t see in.
Secure any glass that is less than 40′ from a door lock. Either coat exterior glass with an acrylic or polycarbonate to strengthen, or replace with laminated or tempered glass.
Door hinges that are on the outside should have a non-removable center pin that can’t be tampered with.
Install deadbolt locks.
Dogs are great deterrents to burglars. Even a strategically placed “Beware of Dog” sticker can make a burglar think twice. Of course, vicious dogs are never a good idea. If your dog bites someone, you might find yourself in court. A dog that barks is better than one that bites.
Place hinged security bars over basement windows. Remember to keep the key nearby for emergency exits.
Pin sliding patio doors together when closed. Another easy security step is to drill a hole in the upper track and insert a screw that extends out into the runner to prevent the door from being lifted up and out of its track.
Ensure that a burglar cannot access the roof from high trees or a ladder left outside.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY HOUSE GETS BROKEN INTO?

Despite your best efforts, a burglar may still penetrate your home. If you return to find that your house has been robbed:

Don’t stay – always think of your safety first
Never confront a burglar or block the exit route
Go immediately to a neighbor’s home or nearby location and phone the police

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HOME FROM WILDFIRE?

Creating defensible space is vital to improving your home’s chances of surviving a wildfire. Defensible space is the buffer between your home (or other buildings on your property) and the trees, shrubs, grass, or wildland areas around it. This area is necessary to impede or stop the spread of wildfire, and it helps protect your home from fire—either from radiant heat or direct contact with flames. It’s also important for the protection of the firefighters helping to defend your home and property. Defensible space is made up of two zones totaling 100 feet around your home.

Zone 1
Zone 1 encompasses the area 30 feet out from your home or other structures (sheds, decks, etc.)

Remove dead plants, grasses, and weeds.
Remove all dead/dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof, and gutters.
Trim trees often to keep branches at least 10 feet from any other trees.
Remove any branches that hang over your roof. Keep dead branches at least 10 feet away from your chimney.
Move wood piles into Zone 2.
Remove any flammable plants and shrubs near windows.
Remove plants and other vegetation and items that could catch fire from under and around decks.
Create a buffer between trees/shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as outdoor furniture, firewood piles, play sets, etc.

Zone 2
Zone 2 encompasses the area 100 feet out from your home or other structures (sheds, decks, etc.)

Keep grass mowed down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees.
Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees.
Remove fallen debris from the ground such as leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches.

Read through the following PDF for further information:
CalFire Ready Brochure

Business

HOW CAN I PREVENT GENERAL COMMERCIAL CRIME?

Ensure that all exterior doors have deadbolt locks with a minimum one inch bolt into the strike plate.
Secure exposed exterior door hinge pins to prevent their removal.
Protect all grade floor glass with bars, metal screens or burglary-resistant glazing materials.
Install a burglar alarm system which is monitored offsite.
Continually check for unsafe work conditions and practices, and take prompt corrective action.
Provide a complement of serviced, multi-purpose fire extinguishers in your premises and instruct all staff in their use.
Clamp or lock PCs to desks/work stations. Security kits are available at nominal cost.
Backup data and programs on a regular basis and store them offsite in a secure location.
Laptop computers are portable and easy targets for theft. Do not leave them unsecured or unattended.
Maintain records of serial numbers for all of your computer equipment

HOW CAN I PREVENT RETAIL LOSS?

Never store combustible material, such as cardboard or paper, near heaters or electrical equipment, and remove combustible waste on a regular basis.
In sprinklered buildings, keep stock more than 18 inches below the sprinkler heads, so as not to interfere with the system’s effectiveness in the event of a fire.
Avoid overloading electrical outlets, particularly in older buildings equipped with fuses instead of circuit breakers.
Keep all of your stock off the floor, stored on skids, shelves, or racks.
Make sure the front, rear, and interior of your business premises are well lit, particularly when closed for business.
Arrange the interior layout of the store so that the till area is clearly visible from the exterior of the building.
Limit the amount of cash in the till by using a safe or money-limiting device.
If your store is open long hours, consider installing closed-circuit television cameras and hold-up alarms.
Make regular bank deposits, but vary the timing of the deposits and the route taken.
Install anti-shoplifting devices and surveillance equipment, or keep high-priced merchandise under lock and key in display cases.
Ensure that life and safety features such as fire alarms, exit signs, and emergency lights are operational and serviced as per applicable fire code specifications.
Do not block exits with stock or equipment. Ensure that all exit doors are unlocked during store hours.

HOW CAN I PREVENT SLIP AND FALL CLAIMS?

Inspect the interior of your premises on a regular basis for unsafe conditions that could lead to a slip and fall loss. Maintain a daily log of when the inspection was done, what conditions were noted and what corrective action was taken.
Floors should be kept clean and in good repair at all times, with loose or defective flooring being replaced immediately.
Ensure that aisles are kept clear and free of fallen merchandise or stock. (e.g. fruit, vegetables, clothes etc.)
During periods of inclement weather, all entrances should have mats or rugs to help keep the floor clean and dry. Damaged mats should be replaced as soon as possible.
Non-slip wax should be used on floor surfaces, where required.
Water and other spills should be mopped up immediately and a Caution – Wet Floor sign should be posted.
For surfaces that are consistently slippery, specialized non-slip epoxy coatings or non-skid flooring materials may be used.
For spills involving oil or other industrial materials, absorbent, non-combustible cleaning materials should be used.
Ensure that all entranceways and aisles are clear of obstructions and/or promotional displays.
Inspect the exterior of your premises on a regular basis for unsafe conditions that could lead to a slip and fall loss. Maintain a daily log of when the inspection was done, what conditions were noted and what corrective action was taken.
Any damage to stairs, sidewalks, and pavement should be repaired as soon as possible, with signs and barriers posted, until repairs are completed.
A snow and ice removal program should be implemented and adhered to, with a single individual having responsibility for the program.
Have the appropriate equipment, tools, and materials available for use by your staff, in the case of a weather-related emergency. e.g. shovels, salt, sand, etc.
Professional snow removal contractors should be contracted to plow, sand and salt your parking and walkway facilities. Ensure that the contractor keeps a comprehensive log of the work performed.
Clean gutters and downspouts and ensure that meltwater is directed away from sidewalks and walkways. Check that exterior lighting is adequate and check on a regular basis for malfunctioning light fixtures.
Establish and maintain a daily garbage removal program, whereby the walkways and sidewalks are swept and the debris removed on a regular basis.

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