"Back To School" Insurance

As August begins, it's time to start thinking about going back to school! What does that have to do with insurance? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Good Grades - Do you have a teenage driver in the house (or one on the way)? Many policies allow discounts for students with good grades. Don't forget to talk to your kids about the importance of keeping those grades up! These discounts can apply to college students too.

Driver Training - There are different discounts available for Drivers Ed classes. We can review all the options and let you know which discounts will impact you the most.

Moving To The Dorm - Is your college student living in the dorm this semester? Your Homeowners Insurance may cover their belongings without additional coverage being needed. This is called Property Off Premises coverage.

Remember, any claims would be subject to your deductible which is usually higher on home policies! Let us review your policy to check for the specific amounts of coverage included.

Moving To An Apartment - Let's say your college student has graduated from the dorms and moved on to an apartment. In this case, your Homeowners Insurance would not cover their belongings and they would need their own Renters Insurance policy.

Renters Insurance is very affordable and covers all of the contents of the property. It also provides liability insurance if someone were injured in the property or if the student caused a fire, etc. By making sure they are properly insured, you are also protecting yourself.

We work hard to make sure all of our clients have the right coverage at all times. The fastest and easiest way to make sure your student is receiving all the discounts they qualify for and that their belongings are covered at college is to schedule a review! Call  973-948-3200 to review your policy and situation and we'll make sure all of your questions are answered.

August Home Maintenance Tasks

Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape all year long.  In August, we still have warm temperatures and a few summer days left to enjoy.  So what can you do this month for your home?

Get Rid Of Allergens - Many people suffer from allergies due to dust mites.  But there are ways to rid your home of the dust without spending all day cleaning.  

Look for where dust lurks.  Use a damp cloth to clean all window blinds and fan blades once a month. If you have carpet, make it a priority to vacuum on a regular basis.  These things will get rid of dust and prevent allergies.

Clean The Grill - After a summer of heavy use, make sure your grill is still in good shape. Heat it up for 10-15 minutes to burn off any residue and then scrub the grill with a wire brush.  Start looking for a grill cover to keep it protected through the winter.

Plan A Fun Labor Day Weekend - Okay this isn't a home maintenance item, but it's still fun! Labor Day weekend is on the way.  Why not schedule a cookout or party with family and friends?  

Save on Home Insurance -  If we don't currently insure your home, call us at 973-948-3200 for a quote today. We'll look for every possible discount without sacrificing important coverage. Great insurance coverage is the best protection you can have!

Insuring a Vacant Home

Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially when it doesn't move quickly.  With a new job looming, you may have no choice but to leave the home vacant for a short time until it sells.  

The problem?  Vacant homes fall under different insurance rules and can leave you at risk.  Here are a few things you need to know before leaving town.

A vacant home is determined  when there is not enough furniture inside for a reasonable person to live.  It can also apply if all of the utilities have been shut off.  

If a home is vacant, the insurance company can deny a claim or drop your policy altogether.  (The rules vary by company.)

Insurance companies view a vacant home as a higher risk.  There are more opportunities for vandalism and no one living there to protect the home from fire or damage.  

Many companies will exclude any coverage for vandalism or glass breakage while a home is vacant. This can leave you responsible for a huge repair bill if a vandal were to cause major damage.  

First you need to talk to your insurance agent and get the details on your policy.  Since policies vary by state and insurance company, there is no single right answer.  

Explain the situation to your insurance agent.  Ask what coverage is included and what is excluded (specifically for vandalism).  

You also need to find out if your policy will be non-renewed or canceled while the home is vacant.  If so, now is a good time to start contacting other companies and looking for the coverage you need.

Some insurance companies will continue to cover you, but might increase your premium.  Ask if you can purchase an endorsement for your homeowner's policy that will extend coverage while the property is vacant.  

Selling a home doesn't always follow a quick timeline.  If you're facing the possibility of leaving your home vacant, contact van den Heuvel & Fountain first at 973-948-3200 and find out how to best protect yourself and your property.  

July Home Maintenance Tasks

You purchase insurance in order to protect your home but there are other things you can do to protect your large investment as well.

Regular home maintenance is important and frequently overlooked.  We tend to forget about our HVAC system until it quits working on a hot day! 

That's why we're providing a few simple tasks you can do each month to keep your home in tip top shape all year long.

Here's where you can get started in July:

• Do an energy audit.  Hot weather is a great time to find all the spots in your home where air may be sneaking in.  Plugging those leaks can save as much as 20% on your heating and cooling bills!  

• Looks at every door and window area for places where you can see daylight through a crack or feel a draft.  Don't forget the mail slots and fireplaces too!   

• If you'd rather use a professional, contact your utility company for a recommendation on a home energy auditor.

• Protect your patio furniture.  You probably have all of your nice outdoor furniture in use right now. Make sure to take a few minutes to clean it each week and it will last for many more years.  

• Check the tags on pillows and cushions for specific cleaning instructions and regularly hose down the furniture itself. Remember, patio cushions are a favorite place for busy squirrels so try to keep them protected!  

Save on Home Insurance.  If we don't currently insure your home, call us 973-948-3200 for a quote today. We'll look for every possible discount without sacrificing important coverage.  Great insurance coverage is the best protection you can have!

Insurance Tips When Planning A Vacation

It’s getting hot, the pools are opening, and everyone has summer vacation on the brain!  Here are a few insurance tips before you take off on your next trip.

First contact the Post Office and put a hold on your mail.  You can do the same for your newspaper service too!  These are often big indicators that a homeowner is out of town and a target for thieves.  This is an easy way to keep your home protected. 

Consider putting a few lights in your home on a timer to further give the illusion that someone is home.  Outdoor security lights are also a great option.

Do you have a neighbor that you trust?  Let them know of your plans, share your emergency contact number, and consider leaving a spare key just in case. 

 

Imagine that a big thunderstorm hits while you’re out of town.  It knocks out power or even causes a tree in your yard to fall.  Your neighbor can make sure that your freezer is back on when the power restores or verify that there aren’t any leaks in the roof from the storm damage!  This can help prevent bad surprises when you get home.

What about once you’re on the road?

The biggest tip I share with my clients is to avoid leaving valuables in the car! 

Many people believe that their belongings are covered by car insurance, but that is not the case.  The only coverage for your luggage, computer, etc. would be on your Homeowners Insurance and it’s subject to your deductible!

Have questions about your Homeowners Insurance?  Give us a call anytime at 973-948-3200 to discuss your policy or to get a quote!

Safe Driving in New Jersey

Palisades car insurance, one of our carrier companies, performed a statewide poll that found 22% of NJ residents have no knowledge of the NJ law that mandates that motorists must stop — and remain stopped — for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

At van den Heuvel & Fountain, we value our safe (and violation-free!) drivers – so we’ve compiled a helpful list of three other overlooked traffic laws of which you should be aware:

1. Idling Stinks

New Jersey law requires all motorists to restrict idling to three minutes or less (N.J.A.C. 7:27).  Idling more than three minutes is unnecessary and harmful to your vehicle and your health.  Vehicle and property owners face fines of $250 to $1,000 for each violation of this law.

There are some specific situations in which a vehicle may idle for an extended times, such as when it is stuck in traffic, or at a drive-thru window.  See www.stopthesoot.org for a complete listing of exemptions.

 
2. Move over
New Jersey’s “Move Over” law requires that all motorists approaching a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance or other emergency service vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating red, blue, amber or tallow light, or any configuration of lights containing one of these colors, must change lanes, safety and traffic conditions permitting, into a lane not adjacent to the authorized vehicle.  If a lane change is impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, the motorist must reduce speed of his vehicle to reasonable and proper speed, slower than the posted limit, and be prepared to stop if necessary.  Motorists who violate this law face a fine of not less than $100.

3. Safe Corridors

In order to improve highway safety, New Jersey initiated Safe Corridors Program in 2004.  The Safe Corridors law doubles fines on various state highways for various driving offenses, including speeding and aggressive driving.  Highways are designated for the program based on crash rates 50 percent over the state rate and 1,000 or more crashes reported over a three-year period.  A current list of Safe Corridor highways is available from the New Jersey Department of Transportation at www.nj.gov/transportation.

Brush up your knowledge of New Jersey driving regulations by downloading the New Jersey Driver Manual (from which these laws and their descriptions were taken) at http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/About/manuals.htm. 

Or check out our Facebook and Twitter feeds, where we periodically remind our readers of traffic rules and regulations.

June Insurance Tips

Last month we talked about some of the special insurance you need to consider during the summer.  Today we'll dive into a few more special situations that might require a phone call to your agent. (If you live around Sussex County, we'd be happy to help answer your questions!)
 

When summer arrives, many people leave the day-to-day routine behind and go on vacation in June.  Hopefully you're planning a trip sometime soon too!

But there are a few things you need to know before you hit the road. Consider these special situations:

Rental Cars  - If you choose to rent a car, make sure you understand how your insurance works. A rental car company will want to sell you special coverage to cover the car while you are driving it. The insurance will cost you a certain amount each day. But here's the deal. Your current insurance will typically also cover you at no additional cost.

However, if you have a claim filed on your current policy, your rates could go up in the future. And rental car companies could file a claim for very minor damage. Obviously it is a risk either way, but make sure you know your options. And please contact your insurance agent before renting a car to find out what is specifically covered on your policy.

Rental Boats  - Similar to rental cars, you need to make sure you're covered. Your auto policy won't cover a boat, but you may have coverage available on your homeowner's policy (or if you have a boat policy). Call your agent first and see what your options are BEFORE you show up at the marina.

Hosting A Barbecue  - It's always fun to throw a party. It's even more fun when you aren't worried about your insurance! Your homeowner's and renter's insurance covers you if someone is injured on your property due to your negligence. That means that if they trip on a step, fall on the patio, or cut their hand on a glass, you don't have to worry.

But, as always, you need to discuss this with your agent and go over exactly what coverage you have. If you have a lot of assets, then you might need additional liability coverage too.

Notice a pattern here? The general rule is that you need a personal insurance agent who is looking out for your particular needs! There is not a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to protecting your family and your belongings.

Take 2 minutes to call us at 973-948-3200 and schedule a short phone review of your coverage today. And then make plans to enjoy your summer worry free!