If you are considering a move to Maine, the state has a new initiative: “Live and Work in Maine.” As the state population ages into retirement, this initiative is looking to draw in more talent while promoting Maine’s extremely high quality of life. The bottom line is Maine wants to bolster its workforce to ensure employers continue to remain successful in the state.
If you already live in Maine, you may be hoping the work initiative doesn’t draw in too many people, so your secret isn’t spoiled. The Pine Tree State is the most heavily forested state in the country, with over 90% of its landmass forested. Maine also produces over 40 million pounds of lobster a year, providing the country with 90% of its total supply. So, bring all of your camping gear and a huge appetite.
Let’s talk seasons. Autumn is when Maine turns on a prominent show of color across its fall foliage, and this is arguably the best time of the year to visit. Down Easters (or Mainers) take pride in their state’s incredibly beautiful display. However, don’t be fooled, the striking fall colors belie the bitter winters. The average annual snowfall in Maine is 50 to 70 inches along the coast and 60 to 110 inches inland. The average winter is 100 days of temperatures ranging from 25℉ in the southern regions to less than 14℉ in the northern part of the state. Northern Maine is also no stranger to temperatures below zero.
During March of 2018, three nor’easters hit the state in less than two weeks. The first two storms dumped snow and rain with hurricane-force winds that resulted in coastal flooding. 6 people were left dead from falling trees, and 900,000 were left without power. The third storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow across the state.
Whether you’re coming for work or consider yourself a resilient Down Easter, your home is a place where you’ll need to weather a storm or two. Despite the harsh winters, Maine still has one of the lowest homeowners insurance rates in the country, averaging around $866, landing $326 below the national average. According to Zillow, Maine’s median home value is $255,736, up 8.7% over the past year, and experts predict it to rise 7.7% in the next year.
Hippo is excited to greet the Pine Tree State and offer homeowners insurance in Maine that can save you up to 25%. During the stunning months of fall and the relatively mild temperatures of spring and summer, homeowners need to ensure they have coverage for the frigid winter months and potential damages caused by freezing temperatures and heavy weather. Expect to encounter frozen pipes, unkept furnaces and chimney flues.
A primary concern in Maine during the winter months is water damage resulting from leaking or frozen pipes. A general policy will typically cover damages caused by broken pipes (excluding mold); however, repairs to the pipes themselves aren’t covered. Also, coverage over damage from sewage or a water backup is not likely found in a standard policy and may require increased protection added to your homeowners insurance policy. Always make sure you read the fine print in any homeowners policy that you're considering. If you have questions, pick up the phone and speak with an agent. Different homeowner insurance companies will provide you with an array of quotes to cover your home, don’t get caught out in the cold.
Here are some tips to avoid a plumbing catastrophe this winter:
- Insulation: An obvious sign of diminished insulation — particularly in exterior walls — is mold. Not only is it important to insulate your home, you’ll also want to remember to insulate your pipes in crawl spaces and your attic. You can use heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables to wrap pipes. Follow manufacturers’ instructions for installation and use, and ensure you only use the products as intended regarding indoors or outdoors. It’s always best to use independently tested products by companies such as Johns Manville’s Industrial Insulation Group.
- Seal air leaks: Air leaks that allow cold air to flow inside the house can lead to frozen pipes. Even small leaks can have a considerable impact. Check areas where there are installations of washer/dryer vents, electrical wiring, jacks, cables and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to patch up any gaps. Also, apply weather stripping and caulk around crawl space doors and basement windows.
- Disconnect hoses: Before the frigid temperatures of winter set in, disconnect all outdoor garden hoses and, if you’re able, use the indoor valve to shut off water to pipes that lead to outdoor spigots.
- Set your thermostat: Even if you prefer to turn your heat down at night, try to keep a slightly elevated ambient temperature during the day and night. Major drops in temperature overnight could result in frozen pipes.
Whether you live in Portland or Presque Isle, Hippo will provide you a homeowners policy explicitly tailored to your needs. We streamline our policies, so you only pay for what you need. We use real-time data that will keep your policy up-to-date and your home fully insured.
Our customer care is unrivaled. Questions can be answered 24/7 by our attentive agents. If a nor’easter comes barreling down and causes any type of damage to your property, resulting in a claim, we assign one dedicated Claims Concierge who will guide you through the entire process from start to finish. You won’t work with anyone other than your personal agent. You can also check the status of your claim at any time via our Customer Portal. We will keep you advised of any potential storms or threats to your area so you’re able to safeguard your home and take the necessary steps to prepare. We also make certain you have a safe place to stay if you need to vacate your home for a weather-related event, and we provide for your incidentals.
Hippo’s modern, customized policies can save you up to 25% on your premium, providing you a quote in just 60 seconds. We won’t waste your time, if you like the policy we propose, we can have your home insured in under 4 minutes. Our agents would be more than happy to hear from you. Give us a call at (877) 838-8866.
We are looking forward to catering a policy to your specific needs while saving you some money in the process.
