Most of us,Guest Posting don’t want to talk about Florida homeowners insurance. Even though the Florida home insurance market is still in a state of chaos, we would rather just pay our bill for this year and not think about it again until next year.

So it’s no wonder that when a story ran in the Florida media earlier this year about two key financial rating agencies (A.M. Best and Demotech) threatening to downgrade the ratings of dozens of Florida homeowners insurance companies unless something was done about the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund shortfall, no one paid any attention.

If these rating agencies follow through on their threat to downgrade Florida home insurance company ratings, the impact would be disastrous for all homeowners in the state.

Let’s take a look at how this potentially dangerous situation was created.

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund) charges all Florida home insurance companies a premium for reinsurance – which is insurance for insurance companies. It is merely a way to permit insurance companies to be paid back by the Cat Fund, once Florida hurricane claim losses exceed certain levels.

To address rapidly rising Florida homeowners insurance costs, the Florida Legislature passed laws in 2007 that increased the obligations of the Cat Fund by an additional $12 billion over previous levels. That move made the Cat Fund directly responsible for up to $28 billion in losses and led to some modest reductions in Florida home insurance rates.

A patio is not complete without any furniture. You will need chairs, tables, hammocks, plants, swings, recliners and benches among others to make a lovely patio. However, buying patio furniture can be a difficult task. You need to take many things like space, material, budget, comfort and durability into consideration. Since it will be placed outdoors, you need to make sure that all the pieces of patio furniture will stand the different elements. Here are some tips on buying furniture for your patios.

• Buying patio furniture is similar to purchasing any indoor furniture. First, determine the available space. This will dictate the size you need to buy. Make sure to measure your patio space. It also helps if you have a design plan so you know where to place the furniture in order to match your environment.
• Decide on the purpose of the furniture like for dining or hanging out. You need different furniture for reading and another set for eating or picnics.
• Consider the weather. Furniture have varying reactions to the elements like rain, wind and snow. It is vital to choose furniture depending on the kind of weather you have. Wood furniture can crack and splinter in hot weather while furniture made with wicker are not resistant to moisture. Furthermore, pieces of furniture that will be exposed to the elements are different from those under a porch.
• Choose the furniture you want. There are many kinds of furniture for patios like chaise lounges, hammocks, umbrellas, benches, swings, chairs and tables to name a few. You can also choose materials based on the style you wish to convey. Wrought iron is often used in Victorian style patios, wood for rustic appeal, plastic is practical and wicker is romantic. Remember to carefully choose the materials for your furniture. Wood furniture like oak and cedar are traditional and durable while teak is resistant to all types of weather conditions and requires less maintenance. Others opt for steel or plastic for practical reasons.
• Always check the warranties and care instructions when buying patio furniture. Opt for durable furniture with readily available materials in case of any damage. Make sure that the fabrics and cushions are treated with stain and water repellents. Lastly, have a storage space when winter comes. To save on storage space, choose fold-able tables and chairs or buy furniture that you can also use indoors during the winter.

The most important factor to consider when buying patio furniture is your budget. There are expensive pieces as well as budget friendly ones. When looking for furniture, you can look into various catalogs and online websites with outdoor furniture in all kinds, shapes and sizes. Aside from the price, comfort is also essential. Patios are made for people to gather, relax and spend time with each other. The pieces of patio furniture must be comfortable, relaxing and safe to use. Like any other furniture, outdoor furniture requires more care and maintenance since it is constantly exposed to varied elements. You must know how to properly care for as well as how to protect it against ordinary wear and tear, damage or weather conditions.

Lately, furniture has become the latest category that people have started buying secondhand. First, it was clothing. And now used furniture is having its moment. Where you live has a lot to do with what kind of selection you can find. The best used furniture in Miami can be found on AptDeco. You can buy and sell furniture from anyone in your city and pick it up yourself or have it delivered. You can also shop and sell from anywhere in the country. It’s the best of both worlds! Get started on AptDeco.com today.