Jorge Cardenas

The last week of December feels like a break for your business. Offices are quiet, lights are off, and a "skeleton crew" makes quick rounds while everyone else enjoys the holidays. It is tempting to think that a locked, empty building is a safe building. But when freezing weather and plumbing problems collide with an empty facility, that silence can hide a growing disaster.

Homeownership costs, including insurance premiums and repair and material expenses, are on the rise. However, that is not the primary focus of this discussion.

Once the festivities are over, it's time to pack it up. All the decorations are taken down. The wrapping paper goes to the bin. The Christmas tree goes to the curbside for pickup, to drop-off centers, or for composting. And the ornaments go into the attic until next year. The point is, you want to be done with everything as quickly as possible. But, wait. Before you close the hatch of your attic, take a second look.

For many of us in South Arkansas, the holidays mean one thing: going back to visit Grandma's place. It's where so many memories live, and now you get to create new ones with other members of the family.

It can happen to anyone. A pipe bursts in the wall, a washing machine hose fails, or a heavy storm overwhelms the sump pump. Suddenly, there is water on the floor.

It's the middle of December in Arkansas. The heater has been running for weeks. You are walking across your living room in your socks when, suddenly, you feel something odd.

You go to your kitchen for a midnight snack. As you walk in, your feet get wet, and you immediately realize what happened: a pipe broke somewhere, and now an inch of water covers the floor.

The moment you discover water damage or a fire in your home, your first instinct is to call your insurance agent. You trust them. You pay your premiums every month, and you expect them to take care of you when a disaster strikes.

December in Arkansas is (usually) not as cold as some other parts of the United States. However, there is an undeniable drop in temperatures mixed with the dry southern air. This produces condensation, making your windows dripping wet.

Imagine this: You decide to escape the Arkansas winter for a week. You head to warmer lands, relax on the beach, and return home feeling refreshed. But when you open your front door, you step into a nightmare.

You’ve had a fire in your home. The flames were contained and put out, and your loved ones are safe. Now that the fire department is gone, it's time to call your insurer and a restoration company. While you know some of the structural damage will need to be fixed, you wonder about your electronics. What if they were damaged? If so, can something be done to repair them?

It gets chilly here in South Arkansas in December. You want to relax at home, watch some TV or a movie (maybe finally there is something good on Netflix?), and yet your feet are cold. Your home's central heating is on, but a corner of the living room doesn't get warm enough. That's where people usually go for a portable heater. But what happens if you get too sleepy? An unsupervised electric or gas heater can be a serious risk.

With Christmas and New Year's Eve approaching, most people in South Arkansas expect a festive gathering with great food and company. But with it may also come a little bit of anxiety. And with good reason.

The holiday was wonderful. The house was filled with laughter, twinkling lights, the scent of fresh pine, and the warm feeling that can only be experienced when sharing a moment with loved ones. However, now that the guests are gone and the storage boxes are out, it's time for some cleaning. And that's where it comes, the so-called "holiday hangover".

When you think of your pets, you think of family. They bring comfort and companionship. But no one loves the one "accident" that leaves behind a stubborn, lingering smell. It's that strong odor that makes you feel embarrassed when guests arrive.

Having a property suffer damage from a storm or fire is stressful enough as it is. Now, imagine what comes next: talking with your insurance company and finding a local restoration company. All of this will make most people feel anxious.

After the initial scare, the property damage, and the inspection by the restoration company that you chose, you are left with an estimate. With so many pages filled with technical terms, you probably have some doubts.

So you had an incident in your home. Maybe you "overcooked" your chicken, turning it into a kitchen fire. Perhaps an old, rusty pipe finally gave in, leading to a water flood in your home. Whatever the issue, you want the problem to be fixed. But do you know what to do? Making an insurance claim is the most important step to restoring your home to normalcy.

When the storm finally clears and the skies calm, how do you really know your home is safe? Is it possible that some water damage is slowly soaking into your walls, attic, or foundation without you even realizing it?

If you’ve ever looked up on a freezing Arkansas morning and seen shimmering icicles hanging from your roof, you’ve probably admired the winter beauty. But behind that sparkle, something much more serious could be happening... There is a hidden winter problem that no one warned you about, and it could be hiding in your attic.