Staying Safe this Winter

The winter season brings us many holidays to spend with our friends and families, but it also brings a greater risk for fire. 

FACTS:  

• Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles.
• Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

We've gathered a few tips to help keep you happy and fire-safe this holiday season.

• Be careful of lit candles around decorations and other things that can burn.  A great alternative to real candles are the new battery operated candles.  Some now even include timers.
• Check your holiday lights - some are only for indoor or outdoor use.  Make sure you are using them in the proper places.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.  connect no more than three strands of mini light sets.  Read manufacturers instructions for number of LED strands to connect.
• Use care in hanging lights - use clips to avoid damaged cords.
• Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan and exits from the home.
• Before heading out or to bed - make sure all lit candles are blown out and turn off all lit decorations.

Our staff at van den Heuvel & Fountain wish you and yours the happiest and safest of holidays!

We look forward to the start of a brand new, fresh New Year!   See you in 2014!

Is Flooding Possible in the Winter?

Many people associate flooding with Hurricane and Tropical Storm season but did you know that flooding is just as likely to occur during the winter months as well?   Please take a few moments to view the below flood risk scenarios to learn more about the different ways flooding can occur. 

If you have any questions regarding flood insurance or would like to discuss a quote, please contact our office and we'd be happy to answer any question you may have!



Stacey Kerr and Dawn Johnson are licensed insurance agents at van den Heuvel & Fountain in Augusta NJ. Contact them today for a no-obligation quote for flood insurance for you home or business at 973-948-3200.

How To Protect Your Belongings This Holiday Season

The holidays have officially arrived!  And for many of us that means shopping, gifting, decorating, partying, and traveling. And a whole lot of it!
 

Insurance agents are always on the look out for things that might put our clients at risk. That’s why I wanted to share a few quick reminders this month to make sure you avoid any potential claim situations.

 

1.    Be careful with a live Christmas tree. Real trees are beautiful but can be hazardous. Water your tree daily and turn the lights off at night and when you won’t be home to avoid a house fire.

2.    Don’t leave gifts in your car! A lot of people don’t realize that items in their car are NOT covered by auto insurance. While property off premises is covered by home and renters insurance, it is typically subject to a much higher deductible. If you must leave anything in the car, put it in the trunk and lock the doors.

3.    Traveling out of town? Don’t make it too obvious! Leave lights on in the house, stop your mail, and leave your number with a trustworthy neighbor who will keep an eye on your home.

4.    Make sure to keep an updated insurance card in your car when you travel. Not only is it good to have if you get pulled over, but all the information you need is in one place if you were to have a claim.

5.    Received some special jewelry for Christmas? Make sure to call us! We’ll review all of your options to make sure it is properly covered and protected.

And most important? Have a safe and joy-filled holiday!

Happy Holidays from all of us at van den Heuvel & Fountain!

 

Stacey Kerr and Dawn Johnson are licensed insurance agents  at van den Heuvel & Fountain  in Augusta NJ.  Contact them today for a no-obligation quote on your auto, home, business or life insurance at 973-948-3200.

What Is Insurance Really For?

Thanksgiving has almost arrived. This is the time of year when we sit back and reflect on all the things that we are thankful for. What immediately comes to mind?

For most of us it’s things like our family, our home, and our good health. And guess what they have in common? All of these things are what insurance protects!

That’s why it is so important to me that my clients have excellent insurance coverage.  It’s not just about having an ID card in your car so you don’t get a ticket or fulfilling your mortgage company’s minimum loan requirements.

Insurance is there to make sure that if the worst happens, you can recover from it. It might not be easy, but we’re here to ease the financial burden after your house burns down or a loved one passes away.

All of those TV commercials that just tell you to find the cheapest rate are completely wrong! Of course no one wants to pay more then they have to, but it’s not the most important part of the equation.

Rather than looking for a cheap bare bones policy, take the time to interview and meet with local agents. See who is looking for the best coverage and truly meeting your needs while keeping the rate affordable. Ask about how they handle claims and if they do annual policy reviews.

This Thanksgiving, our agency is extremely thankful for all of our wonderful clients. If you need a local agent to look out for your most prized possessions, give us a call at 973-948-3200 today for a free no-obligation quote.

Liability Tips to make your Halloween Sweet!

It's October and that means that Halloween is on it's way!

Here at van den Heuvel & Fountain we love any excuse to celebrate, but Halloween is especially fun around the office. However, I wouldn't be a good insurance agent if I didn't give a few good liability tips too.

 

You've heard most Halloween advice over and over.

• Pack a flashlight for when it gets dark.
• Put reflective tape on children's costumes.
• Check the kid's candy before letting them eat any.  

But what about the risks at your home?  Your Homeowners Insurance covers you if someone is injured on your property. But there are a few things you can do to prevent accidents before they happen!

 

1. Change your lightbulbs. Is your porch light burned out? What about lights along pathways? Good lightning will help prevent children (and adults) from tripping.

 

2. Clear hazards. Tree limbs in your yard? A hole you've been meaning to fill? These are all potential hazards that could cause an injury and subject you to a liability claim. Clean them up before you have people trick-or-treating at your home!

 

3. No open flames. While candle filled pumpkins are fun to make, they can be dangerous too. If you use any open flame candles, make sure they are up high and away from any loose costume pieces.

 

And the easiest way to protect yourself? Make sure you have plenty of liability insurance! Call van den Heuvel & Fountain today at 973-948-3200 to schedule a free review and  detailed explanation of how we can keep your home and family protected.

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Your homeowners policy and storm damage—what’s covered?

Generally, how does my homeowners policy respond to storm damage to my property?

Your homeowners policy covers most losses that may occur to your dwelling and personal property. Commonly, losses resulting from theft, fire, wind, vehicles and vandalism are covered.

What if there is damage because of a storm?

A standard homeowners policy covers storm damage to the dwelling, its contents and other structures such as garages and fences, up to the policy limit. Such damage also acts as a trigger for coverage of other consequential losses and expenses including removal of debris and loss of use.

What if my family and I cannot live in our home because of the damage?

When storm damages make it necessary to leave your home temporarily, your home-owners policy covers the additional costs necessary to maintain your normal standard of living for such things as meals, lodging, laundry, transportation, entertainment, etc. You will need to present receipts for all of your expenses to be reimbursed.

What clean-up expenses can I expect to recover following a storm?

Your homeowners policy will cover costs for removal of debris when covered property is damaged. This includes the removal of trees that fall on covered structures, but this coverage for trees usually is limited to $1,000 for a single storm.

Am I covered for protecting my property from damage?

Your policy obligates you to protect your property from further damage following a loss as a condition to payment of your claim. You can expect your policy to pay for such expenses to board windows and make emergency repairs. Also, property removed from your home to protect it from an impending storm receives more comprehensive coverage than what is provided at your home—for a limited period of time, it covers flood, earthquake and any direct damage to your dislocated property without exclusions. However, the expenses to remove the property from harm’s way is not a covered expense.

What damages are not covered by my homeowners policy?

Trees, shrubs and gardens damaged or destroyed by the storm are not covered. The spoilage of food due to an inoperative refrigerator or freezer resulting from a utility line power outage is not covered by many policies, unless the appliances are inoperative because the damage to power lines or other utility equipment occurred on your property; for example, lightning damage to your circuit box or a tree falling on power lines connected to your home. It is important to note that there is no coverage for any damage that is a direct result of flood, surface water or water that backs up through sewers or drains that is caused by an act of nature (a storm).

How can I find out what is covered in my specific circumstances?

The information provided here includes general guidelines for storm damage coverage. You should contact our agency for definite answers and further advice.

 Your Professional Insurance Agent … We want you to know about the insurance you're buying.

Credit Scores and Insurance

Many insurers now include credit scores as one of many factors in the rating of insurance.   We've gathered a few key points regarding how credit reports and scores are being used in insurance and how you can check and improve your score.

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What do I need to know about credit reports and scores?

What is on my credit report and where does it come from?

In general, your report includes your name, address, employers and more specific information about your accounts such as date opened, credit limit or loan amount, balance and payment patterns during the past several years. The information provided on your report comes from companies with whom you do or have done business.

Should I check my credit report regularly?

Since your credit report plays an important role when you apply for any type of credit, it would be a good idea to know what is on your credit report before applying for credit. Because of this, we recommend you check your score annually.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a number insurers use to help them during the underwriting process, in determining whether or not to provide you with insurance coverage. A score is developed using elements of your credit history. However, it is not stored as part of your credit history. Typically, it is generated at the time a request for a credit report is made. Therefore, your credit score changes as the elements in your credit report change.

How is the credit score used for insurance purposes?

A credit score is a number insurers use in developing the premium and it also is used to help them during the underwriting process. Many insurers will use the score to determine if your rating will be in a nonstandard-, standard- or preferred-rating tier. The better credit score you have, the better rates you could possibly have. Also, many insurers decide whether or not you are eligible for their insurance based upon your rating in combination with your driving history. A general rule of thumb is the higher the score, the better the score. A poor credit score with a poor driving record could determine whether or not an insurer will provide you with insurance coverage.

How can I raise my score?

While you can improve your future score, it is unlikely that any single action you take will have a large impact on your score immediately. That is because your score reflects credit patterns over time. There are things you can do now to improve your score in the future, such as:

• pay your bills on time—delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative impact on your score; and
• apply for new credit sparingly.

There is no single action that will raise your score. Each time a credit score is calculated, specific reasons are delivered along with the score. If you have received your score, you can ask for the reasons that came back with your score. These reasons, listed in order of importance, represent why your score was not higher. Addressing these reasons will most likely result in an improvement in your score.

How long is credit information kept?

Payment in full does not remove your payment history. The length of time information remains on your credit file is:

• credit and collection accounts—seven years from the date of last activity;
• courthouse records (judgments, liens and bankruptcies)—seven years from the date filed; Chapters 7 and 11 remain on file for 10 years from date filed;
• satisfied judgments—five years from date filed; and
• paid collections—five years from the date of last activity with original creditor

What if the credit report has errors?

If an error is detected on your credit report, you should notify all three credit bureaus of the error. The credit bureaus must re-investigate the disputed item.
The three national credit bureaus are:

• Equifax—(800) 685-1111;
• TransUnion—(800) 916-8800; and
• Experian—(888) 397-3742.

 Your Professional Insurance Agent … We want you to know about the insurance you're buying.

Vacation Plans and Your Insurance Coverage

The summer months of June, July and August are a popular time for vacations.  We get many questions from clients regarding how their insurance will cover various scenarios in regards to their vacation plans.  The following are a few popular questions and the answers to those questions!

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Answers to questions you may have before going on vacation

How can I secure my house or apartment while I'm away?

Create a lived-in look to deter burglars. Do this by stopping newspaper and mail deliveries; asking a neighbor to park a car in your driveway occasionally; and putting lights on a timer or asking a neighbor to turn lights on in the evening. Use a telephone answering machine or call forwarding to quiet ringing telephones. And, make sure all windows and doors are locked to make entry difficult for intruders.

If my home is burglarized or damaged by fire, are all of my possessions covered?

Under a standard homeowners insurance policy for a single-family home, the contents of the home normally are covered for at least 50 percent of the amount of insurance on the building ($50,000 contents coverage on a house insured for $100,000). A renters policy is written for a specified dollar amount, based on what you own, to cover the loss of personal belongings in your apartment. There are special limits of liability on certain items in certain situations, however. Typically, there is a $200 limit on money and $1,500 on securities, passports, tickets and stamps. There is generally a $1,500 limit on watercraft, trailers and outboard motors. For fine jewelry, furs and watches that are stolen, a usual limit of $1,500 is set. And, there is typically a $2,500 limit for theft of guns and a $2,500 limit on theft of silverware, goldware and pewterware.
A home inventory is important to have should you become the victim of a burglary or fire. The inventory is a list of your possessions, including makes, models and serial numbers. Photographs or a videotape of your belongings are other ways of recording what you own. These records should be kept in a safe place away from the house or apartment so they would not be lost in the event of fire.

What if the items I take with me on vacation are stolen?

Your belongings generally are covered by your homeowners or renters policy anywhere in the world, including items in storage facilities, suitcase contents and items lent to friends. Exceptions to this are items usually kept at another residence of yours, which then would be limited to the greater of $1,000 or 10 percent of the personal property limit shown on your policy (some restrictions also apply to theft). Typically, you would have another policy to cover all the eligible property at that location, including loss by theft.

We'll be traveling by car on vacation. Do you have any suggestions?

Check with our agency to make sure that your policy is up-to-date, and make sure the car is in good running condition. While traveling, be sure your passengers wear seat belts and young children ride in car seats at all times. Also, keep cameras, purses and other valuables with you while on vacation; never leave them in the car.

I plan to rent a car for this trip. Is it necessary to buy the insurance the rental agency sells?

It may not be. Prior to leaving for vacation, check with your professional insurance agent to determine if your personal auto insurance policy covers damage to a rented vehicle, as many policies do. You may want to contact your major credit-card company to ask if a rental car charged to that account is covered for damage. If you don't have one of these pre-existing coverages, it may be wise to purchase insurance from the rental agency.

Your Professional Insurance Agent … We want you to know about the insurance you're buying.

Dog Days of Summer...Tips to Stay Cool!

 This week has been hot and humid.  Here are some tips to prevent heat related illnesses!

 

• Drink more fluids (non-alcoholic).  Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink!
• Stay indoors and in air conditioned places, if at all possible.  No air conditioning in your home, visit a local mall or library to cool off.
• Take a cool shower or bath.
• Wear lightweight, light colored and loose fitting clothes.
• Wear brimmed hats and sunscreen.
• Never leave anyone or a pet in a closed, parked vehicle!
• Limit outdoor activity to the morning or evening hours, when the sun is lower and it's more cool.
• If you must exercise, drink 2 to 4 glasses of cool fluids each hour.
• Find a shady place to rest when outdoors.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Inland Flooding

We welcome everyone to please watch this short video presented by the National Flood Center regarding inland flooding.  When people mention New Jersey, everyone instantly thinks of the Jersey Shore.  However, for those of us located in Northern New Jersey in counties like Sussex, Warren, Morris and Hunterdon we are far from the Jersey shoreline.   Unfortunately many people have the response that they feel it is unlikely that they will experience a flood, however Hurricane Irene in 2011 proved otherwise.



If you have any questions regarding Flood Insurance or would like a free quote, please do not hesitate to contact our office and speak with any of our representatives.

Extreme Weather and Insurance

Don’t Panic

By Steve Tague

If you live in a state that has been anyway affected by the storms that have hit areas of our country and you own a home covered by a Homeowners Policy, chances are you may be receiving a premium increase upon your next policy renewal.

You see, even if you have not had any claims during the storms, rates are determined by the claims experience of all Homeowners policies that are written through an insurance company. In recent history, claims experience has increased due to the bizarre weather we have all experienced. Some insurance companies have even ceased writing or renewing Homeowners business in certain states.

Our first reaction is to run out and find the cheapest premium that one can find, after all, everything is going up and in this economic environment, you have to get the best “bang for your buck”.

Please be careful, however, and look before you leap. Even though your premium has gone up, a cheaper premium from a different company may mean “pared-down coverage”. In other words the bargain that you think you are getting may eliminate some of the essential coverages that you may need in the event of a claim. All Homeowners policies are not the same. This is a fact.

My recommendation is to make an appointment with a Professional Independent Insurance Agency like ours, who represents many insurance companies and can work on getting not only a good premium level, but making sure you have the essential coverage for your individual needs.

Finally, please don’t forget that flood is not covered on your Homeowners Policy and if you live in a flood zone, you need to get a separate flood policy. Ask us about Flood Coverage!

Give Dawn a call at 973-948-3200 Ext. 10

National Boat Safety Week 2013

This week is National Boat Safety Week.  The weather is finally starting to feel like summer is coming and many will be getting their boats ready for summer and the upcoming summer holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.  Before you head out on the water, please take a moment to read the following guidelines for boating and water safety to ensure the safety of your family and friends.   If you are looking for insurance on your personal watercraft, we also have a company that has announced an exciting new coverage for boat owners.  Please contact our office if you would like to learn what this new exciting coverage is and how it will help protect your boat! 

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Put safety first this summer: Guidelines for boating and water safety

One of summer's greatest joys is heading to the beach or pool to enjoy the warm weather. Before you pack the swimming and boating gear, consider this: most boating and swimming accidents occur because people don't stop to think about safety.

How can I prevent boating and swimming accidents?

The most tragic accident is the one that could have been prevented. By observing safety guidelines, you can reduce the incidence of boating and swimming accidents and keep your family safe.

• Never swim alone.
• Know your swimming ability limits, and those of your family, and stay well within them.
• Learn the proper way to dive; and always check the water depth before diving.
• Never chew gum or eat while swimming.
• When boating, carry a first-aid kit, as well as prescription medicine and any other personal care items you may need.
• Equip your boat with an AM radio in case of emergency.
• Everyone on board should have a personal floatation device.
• Leave the alcohol behind when swimming or boating. Of the nearly 700 boating fatalities in the nation each year, 21 percent are attributed to alcohol. Violators charged with Boating While Intoxicated face possible fines, jail and community service.

I own a boat. Is it covered under my homeowners insurance policy or do I need specialized coverage?

You probably need specialized coverage. A typical homeowners policy covers liability for damage to property and bodily injury to others when the watercraft is a sailboat under 26 feet, or when it is powered by an outboard motor of 25 horsepower or less. However, theft and sea perils, including sinking, stranding, running aground and collision, are not covered.

What should I look for in a policy?

Boat owners will be well served by a policy specifically designed to cover physical damage to boats, liability for damage and/or injury and protection and indemnity liability.
When selecting a policy or checking existing coverage, look for limits of navigation—where the boat can go and still be protected by the insurance policy. Insureds who violate these limits may not be covered if the vessel is damaged. Also important in a boat policy are adequate limits of liability insurance and provisions for insuring sails, spars and other property in the boat.

Can I be sued for an accident that occurs in or near my pool?

Yes. For this reason, you should check to make sure the limits of your homeowners policy are adequate. If you are involved in a lawsuit and the court awards a settlement higher than your limits, you will be held responsible for the balance. To protect yourself, you may want to consider increasing the limits of liability on your homeowners policy to protect yourself against a potentially devastating lawsuit. Our agency can help you obtain and secure adequate coverage.

 Your Professional Insurance Agent … We want you to know about the insurance you're buying.

Love and Marriage....and Insurance? Final Part

As we wrap up the end of "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage....But are you Insured?", we find that 2 years have passed since we've last heard of our happy couple Joe and Lisa.  After purchasing their house, they took a year to do updates to it and fixed it up.  Then one day Lisa gave Joe the happy news.....they are going to become parents. 

A month or so later, they receive a card in the mail from their local insurance agent congratulating them.  Lisa remembers she mentioned it to him the last time she visited the office to make her payment.  Joe and Lisa thought they should make an appointment and see if they need to review their policies at all, now that they have a baby on the way.  Joe has some life insurance through his job and Lisa will no longer be working so she can stay at home with the baby for the next several years.  They discuss their concerns

with their agent and determined that they now have the need to purchase life insurance.  Joe wants to make certain that should anything ever happen in the future to him, that he can be assured that the mortgage will be taken care of and that Lisa and his child will have financial security.  The agent also mentioned that when the baby is born, it would be wise to consider purchasing a life policy for the baby as well.  He noted the look of concern on Lisa's face when mentioning that and he further explained the benefits of purchasing a policy at that stage of life.  You are able to purchase a life policy on that child at an affordable rate which they can afford for the rest of their life and continue once they become an adult.  They do not have to worry that if their child should develop some sort of health issue in the future, that they become uninsurable.  You are giving your child a gift of financial security for their future.  And they learned that Joe's life policy has now reduced his home and auto policies due to a new multi policy discount. And as all stories should end, Joe and Lisa lived happily ever after. 

I hope you have enjoyed our 5 part mini series of "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage....But are you Insured?".   While we have dramatized our fictional couple, we hope that we have shown how simple life events can trigger different coverages and discounts on your insurance policies; you may find that there is a need for a new type of policy or that perhaps there is no longer a need for another.  As an independent agency, we are here for our clients throughout all of their life events and needs!  If you are currently going through a life event - marriage, new home, expecting a child, a newly licensed teen driver - and are concerned about coverage, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your insurance needs!

Love and Marriage....and Insurance? Part 4

Welcome to our fourth episode of "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage....But are you Insured?"  We join our happy couple, Joe and Lisa today as they discuss how they feel cramped in their little apartment.  They feel it's time to start house hunting.  They've gone on a few house visits with a real estate agent and they finally found a nice house in their price range.  Sure they admit, it will need some work but it has the opportunity be expanded on as they look to expand the family in the future.   Within a few weeks, they become proud homeowners!

Throughout the process Joe and Lisa kept in close contact with their insurance agent.  They knew they needed to change their renters insurance to homeowners insurance.   They learned a lot during this process and not only asked their agents a lot of questions, but also received guidance from their agent as well.  They learned that there is a difference between the value of the home - from market value, to tax assessment, to replacement cost.  There are more coverages to consider and choose to have on the home policy than they may have had on the renters policy.   With their renters, they were concerned with insuring their contents.  But now they realize they also need to insure the building as well and after the agent reviewed they need for liability coverage and what kind of claims could arise, they also made sure they chose a higher limit on the liability coverage. 

Their agent had spoke about an umbrella policy in the past and they always dismissed it, thinking it wasn't necessary.  The agent again stressed the need for this type of coverage - an excess liability policy that covers over your underlying liability of your car, home, recreational vehicles, other residences, etc.  Now that Joe and Lisa own a home, they have more assets they could lose if they were sued.   The agent finally explained it to our happy couple like this:  Our couple is involved in an auto accident in which they were at fault.  They caused damage to the other persons vehicle and the other driver was seriously injured, and will be unable to work for quite some time.  Not only is there a responsibility for repairing the vehicle and the medical bills but the loss of income of this person is quite substantial and will go well beyond the limit of liability that they currently carry.  He asked Joe and Lisa if they had they excess money saved to cover the difference?   At this point, they realized the importance of an umbrella policy.

Joe and Lisa are happy and content with their new home.  What may happen next with our happy couple?  Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Love and Marriage and.....Insurance? Part 3

Welcome to today's episode of "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage....But Are You Insured?".    Joe and Lisa are settling into married life.   Lisa moved out of her parents house and into Joe's apartment and they are busy combining their household contents together.    They will keep Joe's couch; Lisa prefers her television over Joe's.   When it comes to their auto insurance policies, they are indecisive.  They both like their current companies and have been with them for many years.  They wonder if perhaps they should just leave their policies separate.

Luckily for Joe and Lisa, they contacted Joe's independent agent to see if they needed to make any adjustments to the renter's insurance now that they have an increase in contents.  Joe's agent asked questions about the auto policy and pointed out that by updating the policy to reflect that Joe is now married he will be getting a better rate.  The agent also quoted adding Lisa's car to Joe's policy and they were surprised that by combining their policies, they would save a considerable amount of money.  Most companies offer multi car and multi policy discounts.  It's important to keep in touch with your agent and notify them of changes in your life - you may be missing out on important coverages or discounts!

Joe and Lisa are now settled.  They have combined their two lives and are content.  What can be in store next for our happy couple?  Stay tuned!

Love and Marriage and....Insurance? Part 2

Welcome back for the second day of "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage.....But Are You Insured?"   When we last saw Joe and Lisa, Joe had just asked Lisa to marry him and she said yes!  Since then, they have been busy planning their upcoming wedding.  They have picked out a gorgeous beach front venue as the setting for the wedding and reception.  Lisa's dress is already picked out and awaiting her fittings.  After many taste tests, they have finally agreed on the cake that they want.  Photographer and deejay are both reserved for their special day.  Lisa can't imagine why brides complain about the stress; everything is going along so smoothly and things couldn't be any better.

 

  

Flash forward and we are just a weeks away from their wedding date.   Lisa went to pick up her wedding dress and there was a sign on the window saying they went out of business.  She's tried to contact them but hasn't been able to reach anyone.  And now they've learned that there is a hurricane predicted to hit about the same day as their wedding.  They can't imagine what else can go wrong!   And now a word from our sponsors........

 

Now that you have your ring covered, you start planning your big, special day!  Deposits are being made to the caterer, the venue location, the bakery, deejay and many many other places.  You've put so much into your wedding, your heart, your time, and your money. But what if severe weather rolls in? The bridal salon loses your dress? Or your photos are damaged?  Wedding insurance can protect your special day and significant investment.

For as little as $160, a wedding insurance policy can cover a variety of situations:

• No Dress. You can get repair or replacement cost if the bride's wedding gown or groom's tuxedo is lost or damaged.
• Lost Deposits. You can be reimbursed your deposit if a vendor goes out of business, declares bankruptcy before your wedding, or simply fails to show up.
• Lost Rings. You can receive repair or replacement cost if the bride or groom's wedding bands are lost or damaged.
• Sever Weather. If severe weather (such as a hurricane) forces you to postpone your wedding, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
• Ruined Photos. If your photographer's film is defective, or negatives are lost or damaged, wedding insurance can help cover the cost to re-take new photos.
• And many other coverages.

Now back to our couple, who are still happy!  Luckily, they had called their insurance agent when they added the engagement ring to their renter's insurance.  Joe and Lisa were told about wedding insurance and they believed it would be a wise investment since you never know what the future may hold and what problems can pop up.  They encountered a few bumps in the road but were still able to have their special day after all!

Tune in tomorrow when our happy couple go house hunting!

Love and Marriage and.....Insurance? Part 1

This week, we are presenting a 5 part mini blog episodes of: "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage.....But Are You Insured?"   Proposing to a loved one, preparing for your wedding, buying your first home or planning to start a family are big life milestones.  These life milestones affect all areas of your life and yes, even the insurance.  You want to know how these things may affect your insurance or how are they covered. 

Our first episode starts with our young couple, Joe and Lisa, out on the town for quite dinner together.  Lisa is surprised and overjoyed when Joe gets on one knee, presents her with a gorgeous ring and asks her to marry him.  "Yes!" she exclaims and accepts the ring.  Let's pause this show for a quick commercial.......

Most people don't think twice about asking their agent how the new ring is covered under their homeowners or renters insurance.  Most people don't know until something has happened to that ring, that there is very limited coverage under the general homeowners policy for jewelry and usually not covered at all for an item that is misplaced or simply lost.  A policy or coverage commonly referred to as a Personal Articles Policy is used to schedule specific pieces of jewelry and usually requires a recent appraisal (Note - this policy is also used for other items that can be limited in coverage such as jewelry, furs, silverware/goldware, fire arms, antiques, collectibles and many other items).   Generally, you may be able to add the coverage to your current renters or homeowners insurance, or purchase a stand alone Personal Articles Policy.  You've invested a great deal of money into your ring, make sure it's properly insured.  Now back to our program.....

Joe and Lisa are now ready to share the good news with their friends and family.  They begin to talk about setting dates, venues, dresses..........to be continued until tomorrow!

April is National Car Care Month

April is National Car Care Month and it's a good time to do a solid once over on your car.

Here are some tips to follow to make sure your car is in tip top working condition and to keep you safe:

1. Check all the fluids. There are several fluids, in addition to the antifreeze, that require attention including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids and windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.  For maximum engine life, change the oil and filter every three months or 3,000 miles or as directed in your owner's manual.  Use specified oil grade and weight.


2. Check hoses and belts.  A belt that fails can affect the electrical system, air conditioning and power steering, as well as the cooling system.  Colling system hoses may be deteriorated from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal condition might need to be replaced.


3. Check the tires.  Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment.  Also, look for bulges and bald spots.


4. Check the brakes.  Now is a good time to check the entire system, including brake linings, rotors and drums.


5. Check the wiper blades.  Replace every six months or when cracked, cut, torn, streaking or chattering.

The Importance of Flood Insurance

You Never Know

by Steve Tague



Maple St, Branchville NJ
Hurricane Irene August 28, 2011



Boy, recent weather has really been bizarre! Who would have ever thought that we would be wearing our “woolies” well into the month of April resulting from below normal temperatures?

Hopefully, Spring has “sprung”, so to speak, but with it comes some other weather related dangers like flooding.

Most of us do not think much about flooding, because, after all, Sussex County is basically a mountainous region and not a lot of flooding has occurred in the History of the County.

 Don’t be fooled, however, a flood can happen anywhere at anytime in our state and we should all be prepared for the possibility. Heavy rains and the resulting saturated ground can cause properties to flood, not to mention the swelling of lakes, rivers and streams that may occur from significant storms. Many Sussex County residents suffered flood damage from the storm “Irene’ just over two years ago.

Remember, that flood damage is not traditionally covered on our Homeowners and Business policies. Flood must be covered on a separate policy and you must check to see if both building and contents need to be covered on the policy. Flood rates to determine policy premiums are developed by the flood zone in which your building is located as well as the elevation levels of the building to be covered.

Finally, there is a thirty (30) day waiting period between the time you purchase flood insurance and the date in which it becomes effective. So don’t wait to the last minute to explore buying this coverage. Please contact us at van den Heuvel & Fountain Insurance Inc. at 973-948-3200 to obtain a quote because you never know when a flood will occur.


Branchville NJ
Hurricane Irene Aug. 28, 2011



Branchville NJ
Hurricane Irene Aug. 28, 2011





Branchville NJ
Hurricane Irene Aug. 28, 2011

Insurance - You Get What You Pay For

You Certainly Get What You Pay For

By Steve Tague

We consumers are a pretty interesting lot and those who advertise products to us know that we generally buy things based on emotion rather than logic or a great deal of cerebral thought process.

Funny commercials and attractive celebrity spokespeople just make us want to buy what they are selling, no matter what.

One of the most effective attractions to our purchasing things emotionally is the phrase “cheaper price”. This is especially true when it comes to our buying insurance.

Insurance, that invisible stuff we buy because we have to and in most cases, we will never use during the course of a lifetime. Of course we want this at a cheaper price, because we don’t want to purchase it in the first place and the thought of the subject makes us cringe.

The advent of “The Great Recession” made us all look harder at our personal and business finances and one of the first things we sought to minimize was the cost of insurance. Recent natural weather disasters became both pervasive and frequent and many of us learned that we were not covered for certain losses and/or we didn’t have adequate coverage limits to handle the financial losses we experienced. The personal “out of pocket cost” to consumers far outweighed the savings that were realized when we first purchased our insurance program.

My advice is that we need to evaluate our insurance programs both for your personal insurance and business insurance on an annual basis. It is amazing how quickly things change from year to year, whether they involve addition of coverages, rate changes or discount credits.

We also have to consider who we get advice from so that we don’t make the mistakes referenced above.

As a Professional Independent Insurance Agent, my recommendation is to seek out a Professional Independent Insurance Agency like ours. We do not work for a single insurance company. We represent several carefully selected, financially sound insurance companies and we place your policies with the company offering the best coverage with the best pricing to suit your individual needs. We also work with you when you have a claim to see that your claim is settled fairly and quickly.

If you like, call us for a free, no obligation review of your insurance.  Call us at your earliest convenience at 973-948-3200. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Take Our Homeowners Insurance Quiz!

Test your knowledge of homeowners insurance and learn a few helpful tips!

When It Comes to Your Insurance - Kick the Tires!

Kick The Tires!

By Steve Tague

We the insurance-buying public are pretty funny people when it comes to purchasing insurance products.

When we buy a new car, we read Consumer Reports, ask our friends and relatives what they think and study the Sunday paper to get the best deal, which usually involves the best features and performance that you can get for your money. This effort is time consuming, but we do it to make sure things turn out right.

Would you ever plan a great vacation without researching the best hotels, the best restaurants and the best airlines to get you there?

Why then are we so cavalier about buying insurance?

As the result of the October 29^th Superstorm Sandy, many Insurance Consumers found out that, due to getting a cheap price for their premiums, they were missing some vital coverages that would have saved them hundreds maybe thousands of dollars from storm damage.

The tragedy here is that individuals did not find out that they didn’t have certain coverages until a claim occurred and it was not covered in their policy. Why you ask? Well, we either; refused the coverage because it cost us an extra $50 or $100 bucks or the insurance advice we were getting was geared towards minimizing the price rather than making sure we had the correct coverages that we needed.

The purchase of insurance in the future is not going to involve buying on an internet site or finding the right salesman/woman to give you the “cheapo” deal on a policy. No, the purchase of insurance in the future is going to involve our speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable expert to discuss your personal needs and making sure that your insurance program is geared towards what you individually need covered.

Protection of our assets is something that we and not just the people who sell insurance have to get involved with together. There is no cookie cutter policy that fits all situations.

We offer a free, no obligation review of your personal and commercial insurance programs. Get in contact with us via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or just give us a call at 973-948-3200 Ex. 10 for Personal Auto, Home, Boat or Umbrella policies or Ex. 11 for Commercial/Business Insurance.

Don’t get caught without essential coverages for you! Kick the tires before you buy!

St. Patrick's Day Parades

Yes, it looks pretty yucky outside that window today.  Come on, you have been looking out all day wishing you were curled up at home with a nice warm cup of tea!

But, have  hope, tomorrow is slated to be 50 degrees with plenty of bright sunshine!

Yes, it's true, Springtime is trying to break through! So, what to do, what to do???

How about joining my band: Rory O'Moore Pipes and Drums  at The Annual Morristown St. Patrick's Day Parade? It's a great Family Outing. It steps off at 12:00 noon tomorrow. Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford is the Grand Marshal and the parade starts across the street from Kings Supermarket and proceeds around the Morristown Square,  past The Morris County Courthouse.

For we Essex County Natives, Sunday brings us the West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade which steps off at 12:15 pm from the West Orange Municipal Building and proceeds to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. My band and I will also be marching in this parade.

Finally, for you NJ Westerners, My band will be marching in the Hackettstown St. Patrick's Day Parade, which steps off at 3:30 pm this Sunday down the main street of Hackettstown.

So enjoy this weekend's weather and I hope to see some of you on either or a couple of these parade routes!

Cheers!

Steve

*To see some past photos of Rory O'Moore Pipes and Drums please visit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roryomoore/

Upcoming Events in Sussex County NJ

We have a storm heading towards us this week and hopefully that's the last we'll see of Winter as Spring is just around the corner.  As the weather starts to get nice, I've noticed there is plenty to do in Sussex County in the coming weeks.   Looking for something fun to do, check out some of these events.......

Ok....so this first one is technically in Morris County, but I welcome everyone to go and see our own Steve Tague and his band Rory O'Moore Pipes & Drums lead the parade!

Morristown's St. Patty's Day Parade

Saturday, March 9th at 12:00 noon

The parade starts at the Morristown Municipal Building and ends at the Morristown Courthouse

And if you miss Steve in Morristown, you can also see him at the 

St Patty's Day Parade in  Newton NJ

on March 16th which starts at 11:30am.

Hampton Twp PTA - Tricky Tray
McKeown School Cafeteria
March 9th
Doors open at 5pm, calling starts at 7pm
The school is raising funds to provide a rock climbing wall in the school's gym

Annual Springfest Flower and Garden Show

March 14th - 17th  10am-5pm daily

Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta NJ

For ticket info, please visit SPRINGFEST

Frankford Twp School - Indoor Craft and Flea Market
March 16th 8am - 4pm
Frankford Twp School, Frankford NJ

Unique homes

Tonight I was watching an interesting show on HGTV called "You Live in What?".  This is a show that showcases people that have made a home from very unique buildings such as a church, a slaughterhouse, a grain silo and even a hydro-electric dam.

As I watched with interest, I couldn't help but to think "I really wish I could look at their homeonwer's policy!"  Did you know that many standard homeowners companies will not write a policy on a home that is either historical nor for a building that was built to be something other than a home?   I recently came across this situation for someone who had a remodeled a train station into their home. 

If you have a home that is listed as historical or one that is a unique building, please make sure to discuss this with your agent.  You do not want to find out after a loss has occurred that there could be a problem rebuilding the home with the current features. And I do urge you to check out "You Live in What?" on HGTV....it was a very interesting and fun show to watch!