American Modern offers condominium insurance in just a few states, and only for a seasonal or rental occupancy. Our Vacant Property program does accept vacant condos. Those disclaimers made, in general condominium insurance is similar to what you would buy for your home, but with two key differences.

First, less property coverage is needed because the building structure is covered by the association’s policy. You still need to cover your upgrades (flooring, cabinets, built-ins, fixtures) plus other building elements specified by the condo documents. Most policies will require you to insure everything “from the paint in,” but you may also need to insure water pipes that supply just your own unit.

Second, for your personal property coverage, you select the limit. With your house, the coverage is a percentage of the home’s insured value.

Your total insurance package is a combination of your individual policy -- in insurance jargon it’s called an HO-6 policy – and the commercial coverage purchased by the community homeowners association. Because the two policies work together, be sure to have your agent talk to the association’s agent or manager about its policy coverage, and any unusual requirements of the governing documents.

If your condo is on the lower level, look into flood coverage, and consider earthquake as well. A special assessment rider can cover you if the association needs to raise significant money for repairs or a liability claim. Instead of paying $10,000, you just pay the insurance deductible.

Condominium living is different than living in a neighborhood. You may not need to mow the lawn or shovel, but you pay for those services through your association fees, so be sure to understand the financial standing of your community before you buy, and stay informed after you move in. A good resource to learn about the business side of condo living is the Community Associations Institute.

Inspect the shingles. Cracks, breaks, peeling, and loss of grains all indicated that asphalt shingles are nearing the end of their effective life. Water stains can point to a slope problem and possible decking failure. A spongy feel underfoot is a warning sign that the decking is getting wet and is failing.

Clean, but don’t power wash. The pressure from a power washer can strip off the top layer of shingles, making them vulnerable to the sun’s UV rays, and can loosen shingles making them less resistant to wind storms. Instead, pick up sticks and debris by hand, then gently sweep. Moss or mold growth are best treated with a spray-on cleaning solution you can buy at the hardware store.

Empty the gutters by hand. Clean out the dirt, sticks, leaves and seeds by hand first, then use the garden hose to rinse. Just using the hose risks plugging the drain pipe. Secure any loose section, and recheck for puddles in the gutter which indicate that the slope is too shallow.

Refasten loose flashing. Wind, ice and snow can cause the flashing around vent stacks, the chimney or skylights to heave. It does not take much of a gap for water to slip under the flashing and shingles, and into the decking.

Check the soffits and fascias for gaps. No one wants a family of wasps, squirrels or bats to set up housekeeping in the attic.

Stay safe. Get help with the ladder and take it slow, or just call a local roofer to spend a few hours checking for you. Roof maintenance is important, but not worth a fall.

Need to find a contractor? The National Roofing Contractors Association offers advice on picking a good roofer. Go to the site.

American Modern’s home office is just a short drive from communities in Ohio and Kentucky badly damaged by 12 tornadoes. In watching the news reports, we came across two interesting safety reminders of value to your customers.

An article in USA Today details the critical importance of tie down straps for mobile homes. Although these are commonly required on new homes, older homes with straps should have them inspected, and if necessary, replaced.

In grade school we learned that if you were caught outside in a storm to get out of your car and lay in a ditch. However, in 2009 the Red Cross changed that recommendation because ditches fill up in a flash flood and also tend to trap debris. Instead, if you cannot reach a basement shelter, stay in the car, with the seat belt fastened, crouch below the windows, and cover yourself with a blanket or jacket.

Donald Locasto, MD, director of the EMS division in the University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, explained that car construction has improved in recent years so that it is better able to withstand flying debris. He even suggests letting the car run so that the air bags have power to activate in case the car is seriously impacted.

The best place to ride out a violent storm is a basement shelter, followed by the interior of a well-built structure. But if you are suddenly forced to choose among less safe options, the experts tell us to look for the best available option. It may well be the car.