Author Archives: chedwards

In the unfortunate incident of a home burglary, you can minimize the inconvenience if you understand the terms of your Long Island home insurance policy and you’re prepared to provide your insurer with descriptions of all missing items.

At the insurance company’s request you will need to file a police report to get things moving on a theft claim and a claims adjuster will come to your home to assess your loss. The more information you can provide (such as receipts, photographs and appraisals that verify value) about stolen items, the quicker the claims process will be.

Also, it is important to be timely as you comply with requests from your insurance company. If your independent insurance agent sends you documents to sign, do so immediately so that time is not wasted.

Having an updated home inventory list to work from is important.  A free home inventory software to help create your your list is available on the I.I.I. website.  Upon creating your inventory list, make certain to keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safety-deposit box. You also can e-mail a copy to yourself to create an online record that can be accessed by computer.

Your plan is to pay for only enough coverage to replace your dwelling and its contents. Do not worry about your home’s value on the real estate market. You may need enough insurance money to rebuild your house, but you won’t need to buy a new one.

Focus on prevention

·        To keep them guessing, suspend mail and newspaper deliveries or arrange to have these items picked up by a friend or neighbor when you are on vacation.

·        Anytime you leave your home, lock your doors and make sure all the windows are secured.

·        Do not leave a spare key under your mat or in your mailbox. Such “secret” places are known to experienced burglars.

·        Keep valuables, such as expensive jewelry, in a safety-deposit box.

·        Take your purse, wallet and laptop into your bedroom with you at night. Some burglars will avoid bedrooms if they think a home may be occupied.

·        Do not announce that you are not at home via social media.

Be sure to read your Long Island home insurance policy to understand the terms and limits of your coverage. Insurance is a competitive field, so remember to choose an insurer that offers both a fair price and good service.

Flooding is usually a concern people think about in relation to their home, but a comprehensive Long Island auto insurance policy may be of assistance if your car is ever damaged in a flood. You can also limit the damage by keeping the following information in mind.

Did you know it could take only a foot of water to cause a vehicle to begin floating? This is true even with slow moving water. In six inches of water, contact could be made with the bottom of many standard Sedans. The damage to an engine could be lasting.

Should you ever encounter this scenario, immediately seek out higher ground. Do not use the roof of your car as higher ground in flood waters if more solid options are accessible. Slow moving waters could turn into rushing rapids in seconds. Your car might seem stable one minute and be floating downstream the next.

Remember that if you come upon a flooded roadway, find an alternative route. Many vehicles and lives are lost each year from crossing what looked like minor water flow. Be especially watchful during storm season and never under estimate how quickly conditions could turn from bad to worse. Do you have comprehensive Long Island auto insurance? Collision insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. Speak to us today if you need to upgrade your coverage or take out a new policy!

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Moving violations are on the rise resulting in NY Car insurance rocketing premiums. The statistics worsen as offenses pile up. Some of the violations that hurt your car insurance rates include:

·        Speeding tickets

·        Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

·        Careless or reckless driving

·        Running red lights

·        Failure to yield or stop at a sign

·        Fleeing from police

·        Driving the wrong way down a divided highway

·        Improper passing

·        Unsafe U-turn

·        Failure to use a child restraint

Should your auto insurance premium increase after a violation, there are still ways you can cut those costs, including:

·        Shop around for a better rate. Call your independent insurance agent to obtain quotes from various insurance carriers and compare them to see if you can find a lower rate.

·        Take a driver safety course. By taking a defensive driving class some states may reduce or remove points from your driving record. Also, your auto insurance company may be required to lower your car insurance premium after you complete the class as much as 10%.

·        Raise your deductible. Before taking this route, make sure you have enough money in savings to cover the deductible should you have to make a claim.

As with any and all concerns on your NY car insurance contact your insurance specialist at C.H. Edwards, Inc., you’ll be glad you did!

Long Island home insurance could quite possibly be more expensive than insurance purchased in other neighboring regions. This Island is home to two of New York City’s five boroughs. That puts both properties and structures at first-class pricing, meaning higher premiums and values on land. What other factors play a role in the high premiums?

Mother Nature loves to give Long Island a beating. Thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, a variety of natural disasters, could affect this area. The high potential for damage greatly contributes to inflated home insurance rates. You may be able to swing a discount if you make additions to your property to make it more weatherproof, such as installing storm shutters on your windows.

Crime may be declining, but it is still occurs in Long Island. The area you live in is factored into the premium as well. A good alarm system and floodlights on the property may whittle some of the cost, but be prepared to pay for the misdeeds of a few troublemakers.

Living in proximity to Manhattan and its fellow boroughs may be exciting, but it comes at a price, both in real estate values and Long Island home insurance. There are ways to keep the price of your premiums low. Carrying a higher deductible and lowering the value on insured possessions may carve a chunk out of the premium, but this should not be done without due consideration to how it would affect you if you needed to claim. Speak to us to find out if we can make your home insurance more affordable!

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Your home is your largest and important investment that you can own and you must protect it.  It is also up to you to advise your Long Island home insurance agent to revise and update your policy with any improvements, updates or additions.

But if hairline cracks in foundation walls might be the result of concrete curing or minor settling; there is no cause for alarm.  This is the homeowner’s responsibility to keep the home and property maintained to avoid any structural problems.

Mark the cracks with tape and check them again in a few months. If they’ve worsened, call a structural engineer. If they’re stable, fill them with an epoxy-injection system.  Also:

•         Fill in holes in siding and foundation walls with expandable foam.

•         Check that the ground around the foundation slopes away from the house (about 1 inch per foot).

•         Look for pellet-shaped droppings or shed wings from termites.

•         Clear the area of leaves, in which rodents can nest.

Following the above steps will make you feel safe and secure knowing the structural quality of your home is at its best.  Also, make sure that your Long Island insurance is always up to date.

From hurricanes to tornadoes, your Long Island home insurance has quite a job to do. While your coverage may pay for the bulk of the damage caused by natural disasters, you may still have to pay a deductible when you file a claim. This means it could be beneficial to both you and your insurance provider for you to take steps to avoid property damage. Your roof is susceptible to a variety of damage, so it is essential you give it some regular attention.

It is vital that major roof repairs are done by a qualified professional. When substantial damage occurs, replacing your roof in its entirety might be a possibility. Make sure your contractor completely removes the old roof coverings and sheathing. This is an essential step to find out whether the rafters and trusses are still connected to the walls securely. When the existing sheathing is in good repair, it might be able to be reused for the new roof.

When putting on a new roof, it can pay to choose a roof covering that has a greater chance of withstanding high winds. You may also want to have metal fasteners added to help anchor the roof to the house. Bracing a gable roof properly should also be a goal of the contractor, as winds could otherwise damage this type of roof relatively easily.

When you make improvements to your home, such as reinforcing your roof, you should make sure you notify your Long Island home insurance agent. Not only might you receive a discount on future premiums for increasing the durability of your home, the improvements may also change the cost of rebuilding your home and therefore, make it necessary to increase your coverage!

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month this gives us all an opportunity to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices.

If you’re caught driving under the influence, it is likely that your NY Car Insurance premium will be affected. Should your driving record shows a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) conviction and you are looking to purchase an auto policy with a company, it generally requests and reviews a copy of your driving record, during which the DUI will be noted. If you’re renewing your auto policy, your driving record also may be reviewed to properly set your insurance rate.

Often points are added to your driving history because of a DUI and the when the insurance companies review the history your premium will be higher than the average driver.  Some insurance companies may not even take the chance to insure the driver.

An Sr-22 may be required if you are convicted on a DUI which serves proof that you have the proper amount of insurance that your state has required you to have.  Having an SR-22 often places you in the higher risk category with auto insurance companies meaning that you rates could increase and remain at increased rates several years after you receive a DUI.

Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:

• Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?

• Does your drinking ever make you late for work?

• Does your drinking worry your family?

• Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won’t?

• Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?

• Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?

How to Cut Down on Your Drinking (http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm)

There are many strategies you can try to cut back or quit drinking. To get started:

• Keep track of your drinking and set a drinking limit.

• Try to avoid places where heavy drinking occurs.

• Ask for help from a doctor, family, or friends.

• If you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning, hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, please take this time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse particularly to avoid drunken driving accidents that will a negative effect your NY Car insurance.