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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.

Flooding is the United States’ #1 natural hazard. We want consumers to know that while Long Island Home insurance won’t cover them against flooding, they can protect their home and property by purchasing a New York flood insurance policy separately through your independent insurance agent.

Many people are under the misconception that they are ineligible for flood insurance because of where they live, or their mortgage status. But the truth is, as long as your hometown is an NFIP community, most homeowners, business owners and renters can get flood insurance. We urge consumers to remember the flood insurance basics:

·                You CAN get flood insurance nationwide.

·                You CAN get flood insurance if you live in a floodplain or high-flood-risk area.

·                You CAN get flood insurance if you live outside a floodplain, or a low-to-moderate flood-risk area – and at lower cost.

·                You CAN get flood insurance if your property has been flooded before.

·                You CAN get flood insurance from your independent insurance agents in your area.

·                You CAN get flood insurance even if your mortgage broker doesn’t require it.

You CAN get New York flood insurance through C.H. Edwards. Inc…call us today!

Few things are as scary as experiencing a natural disaster first hand. That was certainly true for the Long Island New York residents who recently lived through the fury of Hurricane Irene. From strong winds to flooding, the damage done to residents in the area could take more months to repair. However, having adequate Long Island home insurance along with flood coverage could make the aftermath of damaging weather events a little more manageable.

There are also many things you can do to prevent or minimize damage from hurricanes when you know your region is likely to be hit:

• Any unsecured or lightweight objects in your yard should be brought inside or anchored to the ground.
• Homeowners that do not have shutters should nail plywood boards over their windows.
• Cars, boats, and other vehicles should be moved to covered shelter.
• Drain one or two feet of water from your pool to prevent flooding.
• Sandbags should be placed along the bottom of exterior doors to stop water seepage.
• Before you evacuate, unplug appliances, and shut off utilities.

Many residents have begun to rebuild and repair their communities, a strenuous process for anyone who didn’t have sufficient Long Island home insurance in place. The overall damage of Hurricane Irene was estimated to be several billion dollars. Even a small shortfall on insurance coverage can present a significant problem in the event that a home is substantially damaged or completely destroyed, so make sure your policies are up to date!

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Many American households could boast at having multiple household cleaning products in their cupboards. However, the danger of these chemicals is often ignored. Each year, emergency room staffs across the country deal with accidental exposure and ingestion of some very nasty substances. Consider how often your children bring friends home with them after school. Each play date has the potential to become fatal with cleaning agents and chemicals readily available. Such liability issues may be covered by your Long Island home insurance, but it is far more important you take steps now to address these hazards:

• Do not build a collection of cleaning products. Only keep in stock what you use on a regular basis.
• Keep chemicals in dry and cool environment that is not accessible to kids or pets. A sturdy lock could help keep out the curious.
• It is a good idea to always keep chemicals in the original container to avoid confusion later on.

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use. Remember to use products only for their intended purpose.
• Never mix the chemicals.
• You should avoid all open flames when working with chemicals. This includes smoking.
• Clean spills up immediately. Wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles or gloves.
• When it is time to dispose of any hazardous material, be sure to utilize the local collection program.

By safely handling and putting away chemicals, cleaning products, and other dangerous substances, you may be able to prevent injuries, damage to property, and possibly a Long Island home insurance claim. Where are your hazardous materials stored?

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Many consider adding on a New York insurance umbrella policy for added coverage. Umbrella insurance is designed to give one added liability protection above and beyond the limits on homeowners, auto, and watercraft personal insurance policies. With an umbrella policy, depending on the insurance company, one can add an additional 1-5 million in liability protection. This protection is designed to “kick-in” when the liability on other current policies has been exhausted.

Umbrella insurance is much more affordable than you may think. And in today’s world, anyone can get hit with a lawsuit. That’s why it’s more important than ever to consider an added layer of protection for your assets-and your peace of mind.

Consider adding a New York Insurance umbrella policy to provide enough coverage to where you shouldn’t have to worry about liability costs in the future

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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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.

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.