May Insurance Tips

Summer is on its way!  Before we know it there will be Memorial Day barbecues and weekends at the lake. 

That's why now is a great time to review extra insurance coverage on all of your summer toys.  Read below for things to consider and review with your insurance agent before the big items come out of winter storage.

RV - Your motorhome or travel trailer needs insurance coverage, especially if you'll be driving or pulling it this year.  Even if you don't have a loan on your RV, you will want it covered for theft or damage.  Whether they are parked on a lake lot for the season or driving cross country, we offer several RV policies to fit your needs.  Just call us for a quote.

Boat - The same thing goes for your boats and jet skis.  You've made a big investment and it's important to protect them.  Not only should you worry about damage to your boat, but also make sure you have the proper amount of liability coverage.  Don’t forget your life jackets! 

Motorcycle - Ready to hit the road for a long drive?  Remember to brush up on your safety skills and always wear a helmet.  Don’t forget to make sure your motorcycle has liability coverage just like your vehicle!  We can help you determine what coverage you need. 

Swimming Pool - If you own a pool, then you need extra liability coverage including a Personal Umbrella Policy.  Why?  Because there is a lot more risk of someone being injured when you have a pool.  Don’t skimp on your coverage and make sure you have the pool area secured and safe. 

Summer is a lot more fun when you know that your high price recreational items are properly insured and protected.  Take 15 minutes to call us for a quote or to review your current coverage.  Call 973-948-3200 today! 

Auto Insurance For New Sussex County Graduates

So you just graduated and are ready to go out on your own. You've figured out your rent and have your own car but now you need insurance. Where to begin?

Here's what you need to know…

First, you must have liability insurance. It's required by the state and pays to fix the vehicle of anyone you might hit or to fix property that you might damage in an accident.  Liability coverage fixes the other person's car.

If you want your car to be covered then you'll need comprehensive and collision. This is sometimes called "full coverage". It costs a little bit more but protects your vehicle.  You'll be required to have this if you are paying off a car loan.

Insurance policies are typically for six or twelve months. You can pay in full or make monthly installment payments.

You always want to make sure your insurance is paid on time. If not, you run the risk of not being covered if you have an accident and receiving a no-insurance ticket (which can get very expensive!)

If you are afraid you won't be able to pay on time, call us and let us review your policy and discuss your options.

How can you lower your insurance cost? Having a good credit score, not getting into an accident, and having regular insurance reviews will keep your cost manageable. Let our agency work with you to create an affordable plan that will protect you while also giving you the most bang for your buck.

 Give us a call at 973-948-3200 to get started today!

Be Prepared for Heavy Rains

April Showers Bring May Flowers!  This week has brought us some heavy rainfall.  We are entering May and we should be hopefully be leaving the showers behind in April, but as we all know we are also entering hurricane season. Heavy rains can cause many problems from driving conditions to roof and property damage.

We've gathered some tips to help you prepare for heavy rainstorms:

Before The Storm

• Make a list and purchase emergency supplies.
• Monitor weather reports for updated information.
• Buy enough drinking water to last several days.
• Remember your pets!  Bring them indoors for safety.
• Secure loose objects outside your home.
• Get extra cash. ATMs may be out of order after a severe storm.
• Fill your car tank with gas.
• Give yourself extra time for travel in bad weather.

Preparing For Heavy Rains

• Review your current insurance policy and become familiar with what is and is not covered.
• Call your insurance agent to purchase flood insurance for your home (and business) and its contents. There is a 30 day waiting  period for flood coverage - don't wait until it's raining to think of this important coverage.
• Have emergency evacuation plans prepared.
• Think ahead and list your possessions; take pictures ahead of time.
• Keep valuable items on the upper floors of your property or in a waterproof container.

What To Do If Your Property Floods

• Check for structural damage before re-entering your property to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
• Take photos and save any damaged personal property.
• Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their purchase date and value with receipts, and place with the inventory you took prior to the flood. Some damaged items may require disposal, so keep photographs of these items.
• Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
• Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.
• Prevent mold by removing wet contents immediately.
• Call a restoration company for emergency restoration services.

What To Do If The Power Goes Out

• Call your power company to report the outage. They need to know the affected areas.  Do not call 911, unless you see wires down.
• Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer as much as possible. Your food will stay cold for hours if the door is left closed.
• Unplug some of your major appliances. When the power comes back on, a power surge could damage those appliances.
• If you have a generator, do not connect it to your properties power system unless it has been properly installed and disconnects you from the main power grid when it is operating.
• If you are running a generator, keep it a safe and proper distance from home to avoid the dangerous fumes.
• If you have a regular wood stove or fireplace, you can use it for heat. Do not use kerosene heaters, BBQs, or any outdoor type heater inside. They can create dangerous gases, like carbon monoxide.
• If you have to go out, drive carefully. Traffic signals may be impacted due to power outages and can cause a danger.

After The Storm

• Stay alert, flood areas can take one to two days to completely flood after a storm.
• Check your roof for signs of damage.
• Inspect your property for water damage.
• Stay alert for musty smells a few days after it rains.
• If you think you have mold, call a restoration company to assess the situation.

The most important thing is for you and your family to stay safe!

Insurance Basics When You’re Buying A Home

Many of my clients begin house hunting during the spring and summer months.  And while you may know all the basics to getting a mortgage and finding the perfect house, many people have no clue where to begin in looking for homeowners insurance.

That’s where we come in! 

Home buying is a long and sometimes stressful process, but the insurance doesn’t have to be.  Here’s how to make it incredibly simple.

When you find the right home and have an accepted offer, let your lender know that we’ll be handling your insurance. 

They’ll typically send us the loan information, but you can speed up the process by calling us and letting one of our agents get all of the important details.  We’ll need to know things like what year the home was built, how many square feet, what construction materials, and other items like that.

Then we’ll contact your lender to determine the closing date and the mortgagee clause.  (You don’t need to worry about this!  Just let us know who is taking care of your loan and we’ll handle the details.)

We’ll fax all of the insurance documents to your lender before the closing date and you’ll be ready to go! 

To save a little extra on your home policy, let us know about any security systems or if you’d like to quote your auto insurance at the same time.

Home buying can be stressful, the insurance side is really simple with the right communication and team.  Call us at 973-948-3200 today to discuss your new home.    

Insurance For Your Boat

It won’t be long now before you’re back out on the water.  Are you counting down the days? 

While everyone loves to hit the lake on the boat, there are a few things you need to take care of first.

Are you properly covered?

Since boat insurance isn’t required (in most states), a lot of people skip it in order to save money.  But that’s a very risky idea! 

First, without coverage, you’re risking all the money you spent on your boat.  Would you drive your expensive car without insurance?  Probably not! 

Second, boats are a liability exposure.  That means that they open you up to lawsuits.  If you were to have an accident and damage someone’s boat or personal property, then you could be held responsible.

With the proper insurance coverage, this wouldn’t be a problem.  You’d be protected!  In fact, we typically recommend that clients with a high level of assets purchase extra liability coverage if they own a boat. 

All in all, purchasing boat owners insurance is a simple way to give yourself a lot of peace of mind.  Who wants to worry about insurance when they’re out on the water?  Call us today at 973-948-3200 for a free quote on your boat or watercraft. 

Flood Insurance Basics

This is the time of year when we frequently get a lot of questions about flood insurance.  Many people believe that they are automatically covered for flood by their homeowners insurance, but that isn’t the case. 

Flood insurance is completely separate from your homeowners policy.  If you have a mortgage, then your lender will require that you carry flood, but that only applies if you live in a flood zone.

But you can still get flood coverage, even if you’re not in a flood zone.  If you’ve seen water rise in your area in the past, then it’s a good idea to look into it. 

Here’s what you need to know.  First, flood coverage cannot be started immediately.  Because it is a federal program, it requires a 30 day wait period before it becomes effective. 

That means that once the storm hits, and the water is rising, it’s too late to get covered! 

If your mortgage is paid off, it’s even more important to look into flood coverage.  You see, many people don’t realize they are at risk until a flood hits!  Without required coverage on your mortgage, you might be unaware too.

Give us a call today at 973-948-3200 to get a free, no obligation quote and review your risk with one of our agents. 

April Home Maintenance Tasks

April Home Maintenance Tasks:

April has arrived and brought spring with it!  There is no better time than now to get focused on home maintenance and spring cleaning.  Here are a few things you can do in April to protect (and organize) your home.  

Check For Damage - Winter can be really hard on your home.  A quick inspection around your property can reveal a lot of home improvement projects!  Look for any damage to your roof or outdoor window screens and doors.  Make note of chipped paint or areas that are in need of general maintenance.  Decide what you can do yourself and what will require a professional. 

Spring Clean - Now it’s time to tackle the inside of your home.  Start working on clearing out and donating unused items (think tax deduction next year!)  This could be the perfect time to take inventory of any high value items that need to be documented for your insurance, like guns, artwork, and jewelry.  Take photos or make a quick video of those items and store it in a secure (and fire-proof) location. 

Organize Your Tax Documents - You probably just finished your taxes in the past few weeks.  Were all of your documents easy to locate?  What could make the process even easier next year?  Update your filing system or schedule a meeting with your accountant and get prepared now.

Car Maintenance - April is Car Care Month.  If you’ve been putting off an oil change or a tune-up, get it scheduled now.  Your car will run better and maintain its value longer!

Spruce Up Your Porch - How does your front porch look these days?  Could it use a little extra care?  Buy a new welcome mat, plant a pot of flowers, and make sure you can easily read your house numbers. 

Get Great Homeowners Insurance - The best way to protect your home?  Having the right amount of insurance!  Let us give you a no-obligation review of your current policy.  Call 973-948-3200 to schedule your appointment today.