Many renters are underinsured because they do not realize where their landlord’s coverage ends and their responsibility begins.  For example, if the cable guy slips and falls down while walking through your kitchen, you might be responsible.

Renters Long Island Home Insurance covers you up to the policy limit for accidental injuries to guests that happen within your unit.

As a renter, you may need for your furniture and other personal property such as clothes and shoes; audio, video and computer equipment; CDs and DVDs; sports gear; art; jewelry and everything else you own.  Think about how much it would cost you to replace everything you own.

Renters insurance protects you if your covered property is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed no matter where it is when the loss occurs, such as while you are moving it, or while it is stored in your parents’ basement.

We are dedicated to making your Long Island Home Insurance purchasing experience hassle free.  We strive to give our customers more reason to insure with us.

Did you know there are certain things you could do to get the most out your automobile? Whether your car is showroom-fresh or a piece of “junk” that has seen better days, routine maintenance is the first step in keeping that car on the road. Maintaining your vehicle properly requires more than checking tire pressures each week, getting regular tune-ups, and scheduled oil changes. Not allowing your comprehensive Long Island auto insurance policy to lapse is vital as well so you have the funds to fix any damage that occurs. What else is involved?

Avoid revving the motor unnecessarily and never subject your car to jackrabbit starts when the light turns green. These are habits that cost you extra money in fuel and cause damage to the motor and transmission. Make sure you have a mechanic inspect the belts, hoses, and battery cables every 2-3 months. Many automobiles are now equipped with computer sensors that alert you to engine problems, but remember that these electronic sensors are not infallible. You could avoid problems early with a little preventive maintenance.

There are some products that add a clear layer of silicone to the glass of your windshield. These may help prevent dings and cracks from debris that flies up while driving. The silicone coating may also improve driver visibility during a rainstorm. Even with the best care, there may still be damages or accidents involving your car. Long Island auto insurance may help ensure these events do not take you off the road for long. Speak to your agent about increasing your coverage or obtaining a policy if required!

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Choosing life insurance and annuities for retirement investments can be a complicated task, but because of the many choices, they should be thoroughly researched.

Making sure one has enough money for retirement can be worrisome and confusing.

Outliving one’s retirement funds could possibly be one of the scariest thoughts when thinking about retirement. But there is an investment product available that can help make sure there is enough money available no matter how long one may live.

An annuity can provide income for life. Unlike traditional life insurance where beneficiaries would get a payment when the policyholder of the life insurance policy died, with an annuity the policy holder can collect the life insurance money while they are still living. In fact, many companies that have retirement plans or pensions are actually using annuities to provide those retirement funds to their employees.

Annuities are a great tool for one to consider when choosing a retirement vehicle. Of course, as with any retirement portfolio, an annuity should not be the only retirement choice but should be used in conjunction with other retirement funds such as one’s personal savings and 401K plan.

There are four basic types of annuities:

·         Fixed Annuity: This annuity will provide a certain dollar amount of payments over a specific time period or term.

·         Variable Annuity: The variable annuity will provide varied payments because the payments are based on the performance of the investments in the annuity.

·         Immediate Annuity: In an immediate annuity the annuity payments would begin immediately after the payment of the annuity is made.

·         Deferred Annuity: With a deferred annuity the annuity payments would start at a later time period in order to give the annuity investments time to accumulate more.

Choosing the type of annuity for one’s investment portfolio can depend on many factors including the age of the individual, how much they already have saved for retirement, how much of an annuity premium can they afford, how much they want for retirement and how and when they want their retirement money paid to them.

Annuities are a complex product. There are many other considerations to factor such as the tax advantages and/or disadvantages compared to other retirement vehicles, annuity surrender charges, and available payouts if the annuity policy holder is admitted to a nursing home facility, varying fees such as commissions and surrender charges and the strength of the insurance company providing the annuity.

Because of these considerations and the complexity and importance of what the annuity is being used for, one should always consult a professional to help them find the best New York Life Insurance  and annuity for their personal retirement situation.

In Long Island, auto insurance is very much a necessity. While this statement could be applied to any part of the country, it proves to be especially true in regions that boast large populations. The more people and cars on the road, the more likely you are to be involved in some form of motor vehicle accident.

Many of the collisions that occur each year are due to distractions while driving. One major disruption to safe driving is cell phones. Talking to a friend, waiting on hold for the next available agent, and texting could steal your focus, which should always be on the road in front of you when you are driving.

Cells phones are only part of the problem though. Drivers could be easily distracted by eating and drinking behind the wheel. Having a heated discussion with the passengers and dancing to the music on the radio could also be detrimental to your concentration. Even small things, such as a bee flying into your car or a dropped cigarette could be enough to send your vehicle flying off the road.

While you may not be able to prevent all distractions and accidents from occurring, you could limit the financial burden they cause by making sure your car insurance is in effect. Driving without Long Island auto insurance could leave you shouldering heavy repair bills after a collision!

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With high real estate costs, high demand for property, and a higher cost of living than the average city, it is essential to save money whenever possible when you live on Long Island. Home insurance is one area where you may be able to save money. 

The following tips may help you see savings right away:

How can you save money on your home policy? Those who also have car, life, and health insurance should consider bundling their policies if possible. Much like bulk stores, insurance providers may offer savings to those who buy in “bulk”, so make sure to ask about multi-policy discounts if this applies to you. 
 
When you have a low deductible on your home insurance, you may feel that this is saving your money each time you file a claim. The truth is that lower deductibles often translate into higher policy costs. The reason for this is that a low deductible, in the eye of your insurer, means that you are more likely to file a claim – or multiple small claims. Homeowners with deductibles of $500 or more could see savings on their insurance premium rates.

Long Island home insurance does not have to be expensive or complicated to purchase. Contact one of our agents today to find out if you qualify for savings!

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Putting a new roof on your home is a big, expensive job. Educating yourself on roofing materials, warranties, and roofing contractors can save you money and headaches down the road.

Avoid using your workmanship warranty by choosing the right roofing contractor. Get a recommendation for an established, licensed or bonded roofer. Just as you have proof of your Long Island Home insurance you must verify their references, as well as certificates of insurance associated with their business insurance. Insist on a detailed, written estimate. The estimate should include all material and labor charges, as well as start date and estimated completion date. Payment schedules should be specifically enumerated. If you have doubts about the contractor, consult your local Better Business Bureau or check with the chamber of commerce.

Your roof’s materials will defend your home from wind, rain, hail, and possibly fire. Costs of a new roof vary greatly depending on the type of product used, and certain products are more common in different parts of the country. In fact, your homeowner’s association may even dictate the type of material required. To compare prices, it is important to know how roofing materials are measured. A roof is measured in “squares,” and a square is 100 square feet of area, or a 10-foot-by-10-foot section. If your roof has a steep pitch, you can expect increased costs due to the greater safety concern and installation time.

Check the ratings on the roofing material you want to install. Standards exist to measure the products resistance to wind and fire. A test designed by Underwriters’ Laboratories, UL 2218 testing, measures a roofing products resistance to hail. Under that test, Class 4 roofing is anticipated to provide the greatest impact resistance to hail.

Roofing products receive a  Class A ratings which indicate the roofing material is effective against severe fire exposure, Class B ratings are effective against moderate fire exposure, and Class C ratings are effective against light fire exposure. Use your common sense to determine the basic fire resistance of a given type of shingle; i.e., a wood shake shingle will afford less protection than a clay shingle.

As with any consumer product, read the warranty’s fine print carefully! Save one wrapper from a bundle of shingles to keep on hand in case you have to consult the warranty. Different types of warranties include:

·         Pro-rated – claims paid based on the age of the roof.

·         First owner – subsequent owners of the roof are not covered.

·         Flat roof warranty fee – a warranty for a flat roof may not be cost-effective. Check with your contractor for other options.

·         Wind – applies only to roof damage caused by wind.

·         Hail – applies only to damage caused by hail.

·         Materials and defects – if your contractor installs the product incorrectly, you can bet the manufacturer will not cover resulting damage.

·         Workmanship – the terms of your workmanship warranty should be written into the contract for service and will vary depending what the parties negotiate.

By educating yourself and following a few suggestions, you can choose the right roofing materials for your home avoid any resulting problems and negotiate a contract with a reputable contractor, all the while ensuring your home is protected from the elements for years to come. Always protect your home with Long Island Home insurance.

With mortgage loans harder than ever to obtain, many homeowners are opting to remodel their existing homes rather than move to a new home. This may be especially true in high cost real estate areas, such as Long Island. Home insurance costs are often affected by a remodel, so there are many things to consider before starting your project.

While building structures from wood may be cheaper, they also result in higher insurance rates due to their increased flammability. Conversely, structures built from cement and steel may help lower your rates. Consider the durability and maintenance requirements and the susceptibility of the materials to weather damage when deciding what materials to use.

Those who live in a coastal region or flood zone should carefully determine if any home additions could increase their home’s risk of flooding. These risks can greatly affect your insurance costs and should be avoided if at all possible.

Taking out a loan for your remodeling project may also increase your home’s insurance premium, particularly if your original mortgage is paid off. Insurers typically lower the rates for homeowners who own their home outright due to the simple philosophy that you take better care of items that fully belong to you.

Now could be a great time to remodel your home, providing you plan ahead to avoid spending more money in the future on your home. Long Island home insurance for you property may need to be increased if you’ve made substantial changes. So be sure to contact an agent to learn more about how your renovations might affect your coverage!

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