Keeping your Long Island home insurance properly insured can save you a lot of grief and disappointment later if you have to file a claim. Below are 6 steps you can take to keep your home from being underinsured.

1.      Understand your policy basics.  Be certain that your policy covers a wide variety of perils and ask your independent insurance agent what other types of policies is available in order to compare coverages.

2.      Keep current on the prices in your area:  Most good policies have an annual built-in inflation protection increase in the insured amount; make sure the annual increase is enough to cover your home. To get an idea for rebuilding costs in your area is to research the average per square footage cost. Besides liability protection, your home insurance policy amount insures the building structure and various possessions, not the land.

3.      Review your personal property on a regular basis:  It is important to review your personal property insurance needs (i.e., computers, boats, jewelry) and consider buying additional coverage above and beyond your policy.

4.      Remodeling projects:  These projects add value to your home and in turn increase the cost to re-build. Make sure you contact your independent insurance agent on a regular basis about any past remodeling projects or future ones planned. This way your agent will advise you as to how it will affect your insurance costs.

5.      Additional coverages available:  Regarding natural disasters you will want to make sure your policy covers any gaps in your current insurance. You should consider an umbrella insurance policy  which will give you the added protection above and beyond you current policy. Additionally, you might want to consider special insurance for home business use  if you conduct any type of business from your home.

6.      Evaluate the outcome with your independent insurance agent:  It is important to review your findings and concerns with your insurance agent. Your agent may also be able to offer you additional coverages that would best fit your Long Island home insurance needs.

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.