The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Clean-Up Is Going Well

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

11 October 2006

If you ever have questioned if fire insurance is worth it, I can tell you it is very much worth having good insurance.

Diane Doran of Doran Insurance has our home owners insurance through Pekin Insurance and was really on the ball when I called her about our candle fire which sent smoke damage throughout the main floor of our home.

She called back in a few minutes and let me know when the adjuster would arrive and when the Cleaning Service would call and within 24 hours, the arrangements had been made to clean up the mess.

Lonnie and Lona Simpson's Cleaning Service of Monmouth came and gave estimates and returned with a crew of workers to chemically remove all the stain and smell, including taking down all the curtains and bedding, and clothes from our louvered closets for cleaning.

My biggest loss is the wallpaper in the bathroom and shower curtain and rods which makes me feel pretty fortunate.

You never think much about insurance until tragedy occurs, and of course, we never think it will happen to us. I can remember telling myself, that I don't believe I will ever have to worry about a fire in my home.

There are many wonderful insurance agents in our communities, the key is to check with them about what would happen if there was a fire. How much deductible do you have and how much coverage.

My deductible is small, the clean-up was extensive, and the service couldn't be better. They are finishing up with carpet cleaning.

During fire prevention week, it is a great time to check your fire alarms, and read up on the many fire prevention tips. The tip I read on candles is to never have them closer than a foot to any burnable items. Oquawka Fire Chief Hal Jern said that a candle inside a glass started a TV on fire from the heat. His tip would be to ban all candles.