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Safety or bust! Protect your home while you’re away

Whether you’re road-tripping to a neighboring city or relaxing for a week in the Caribbean, protect your New York home by following this quick checklist. (Keep in mind that with short trips, you might skip some of these to-do’s.)

Security to-do’s

  • Set a timer to turn exterior and interior lights on and off when you normally would, or use a mobile app to control lights remotely.
  • Stop your mail and newspaper deliveries.
  • Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your New York home and, if necessary, bring your recycling and garbage cans to and from the curb on pickup day.
  • Hide and/or lock up valuables, like jewelry.
  • Inform your security system provider and local police of your travel dates, so they can take extra steps to protect your New York home, if necessary.
  • Don’t share your travel plans on social media sites.

Preventive to-do’s

  • Turn off the water supply to your washing machine, sinks and toilets, or consider installing a system that will shut off water where it detects a leak.
  • Unplug electronics and appliances, or use a mobile app to control appliances remotely.
  • If freezing weather is a possibility: Clear gutters and downspouts, remove garden hoses from exterior faucets and open cabinet doors under sinks to keep your pipes warm.

5-Minute Auto Check: Sideways Glances

Are you making your automobile‘s blind spots worse? You could be if you were taught that a driver should be able to see the side of the automobile in the side-view mirrors. Ditch that practice!

  • Follow This New Advice:
    Drivers should position their side-view mirrors so that they don’t see the sides of their New York automobiles while driving, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.      
  • The Benefits Are Clear:
    The new positions minimize blind spots by allowing a following New York automobile to be seen immediately in the side-view mirror after its view is lost from a rear-view mirror.      
  • Adjust Your View:
    While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean your head to the left (against the window). Adjust the right-hand side-view mirror so that you can just view the side of the New York a. When you return your head to normal driving position, you should not see the side of the car. To adjust the left-hand mirror, move your head right (toward the center of the vehicle).

WHIPLASH AND VEHICLE SAFETY

Head and neck injuries (whiplash) that occur in auto accidents can be severe. Some automobiles provide much better protection than others for the occupants. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted numerous safety tests over the years.

The most recent test at IIHS looked at seats and head restraints in 87 different trucks, minivans, and SUVs. Fifty-four of the vehicles tested (62 percent) provided what IIHS termed as “poor” or “marginal” protection from neck injuries in rear impacts. Twenty-one models earned a “good” rating, and twelve were termed “acceptable.”

When an automobile is struck in the rear, the seats move the occupants forward. If the head is not properly supported, it will lag behind the rest of the body, causing whiplash. In order to reduce whiplash injury, the head restraint must be located behind the head. If the head restraint is properly located, it will support the head as the body is pushed forward in a rear-end collision. 

When insurers assign rates to a car, one of the factors considered is its relative safety. Before buying a new car, consult your Long Island Insurance Agency at C.H. Edwards, Inc.  we will have some good information for you about a vehicle’s safety rating and how that safety rating might affect the premium of your insurance policy.

Bonded & Insured Housecleaner

What does it mean if someone that cleans your New York home is “bonded and insured”?

Advertisements for New York home cleaning services often state that the cleaning company is “bonded and insured.” “Bonding” in this context usually refers to the protection afforded to the cleaning company’s customer if an employee steals from the customer. “Insured” should mean that the cleaner carries liability coverage for personal injuries and property damage, as well as workers’ compensation insurance (you should verify that this is what the cleaning company means by “insured”).

While “bonded and insured” is a desirable distinction for a cleaning service, the insurance coverage carried by an individual cleaner or company should be confirmed. Different cleaners may purchase different bond and insurance coverages, which could provide markedly different degrees of protection.

You should ask the cleaning company for a certificate of insurance documenting the coverage in place. You might also contact the cleaner’s independent insurance agent to verify the existence of insurance and liability limits, and to determine whether the cleaner’s work in your home would be covered under the cleaner’s policy.

Long Island Off-Road Vehicle Insurance

Whether you are a New York recreational ATV rider, or use your side by side to manage miles of fence line having it damaged, wrecked, or stolen can cause loss of time and money. We can provide different types of NY off road vehicle insurance to cover different types of vehicle needs for those that live in the greater Farmingdale, Merrick, Hicksville, Plainview and Wantagh area.  Give us a call today at 516-249-5200, our customer services representatives are here to help and answer any questions or concerns that you may have.  We appreciate your business!

PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN RENTING YOUR HOME

You absolutely have insurance issues to consider when renting out your Long Island home. As you might have guessed, rental property owners have some unique insurance needs. A standard Long Island homeowners policy isn’t appropriate for rental property, because:

  •  You do not need to insure the contents of the house, unless you provide furnished accommodations;
  • You need to be more concerned about liability issues; and
  • You need to protect yourself against the loss of rental income. Your tenants may purchase renters insurance, but even if they do, it will not provide any coverage for you as the owner of the property.

Fortunately, there’s a policy designed especially to meet the needs of rental property owners. Most insurers who deal in commercial insurance can sell you a policy specifically for rental property. However, there are many variations among rental property policies. Some provide replacement cost coverage, while others only insure property on an actual cash value basis. Some policies only provide coverage for one or two named perils (such as fire), while others provide much broader coverage. Because of these variations, you may have to shop around to find a policy that provides complete coverage. A good rental property policy should provide the following: 

  • Broad coverage for the physical structure of the house, on a named-peril or open-peril basis
  •  Coverage for other structures located on the property (garages, sheds, etc.)–This coverage is often limited to 10 percent of the coverage for the house
  • Coverage for your property left on the premises (appliances, maintenance equipment, etc.)
  • Coverage for loss of use, if you lose rental income because of a covered peril
  • Liability coverage for injuries or property damage that occur on the insured property
  • Medical payments coverage, for medical expenses that arise from injuries to others on the insured property

Reduce Your Premium on Your Homeowners Insurance

Here are a few no-nonsense tips to help you reduce your Long Island home insurance premium without squeezing a single ounce of coverage from your policy:

  • Raise your deductible. If you can afford it, raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 or even $2,500 could reduce your premium by 20 percent based on the information provided by the Insurance Information Institute.
  • Call us about discounts. If you live in a new home, have a home security system or purchase multiple policies (auto/motorcycle and home) with one insurer, you are probably eligible for a discount.
  • Have a representative at C.H. Edward, Inc. shop for the best home insurance premium. If you are paying too much with your current insurer, compare Long Island home insurance quotes and find similar coverage for less.
  • Lastly, a non-insurance tip: Go ‘green’ on your utilities! A few ideas include turning down the thermostat a degree or two in winter; using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning in the summer; installing low-flow showerheads to reduce water usage; buying energy-efficient appliances; and turning off lights and electronics when they aren’t in use. These small tips can save you big on your household bills, leaving you with more money for expenses like Long Island home insurance.

4 WAYS TO MINE YOUR TALENTS THIS SUMMER

Whether you have a job or are looking for one, summer can be the perfect time to take a step back, assess where you are and brush up on your skills.

Assess your strengths. If starting a new job or setting out on a new career path, try not thinking about a former job or skill set. Instead, consider the things you excel at that will “expand your career options.”

Know how to network. Think on and offline: i.e.,  going back to old-fashioned handshaking here. The use of social media such as LinkedIn and having in-person conversations and meetings with business contacts. Also, blogging about areas within your expertise is another great way to connect with people.

Be a life-long learner. That includes on and off the job. Find hobbies you love. Perhaps take a class you enjoy.

Feel the fear. In addition, move forward, anyway. No one goes through something like losing a job or starting their own business without fear.  People wait for it to just go away, and it won’t.  Instead, use fear as fuel. For example, take advantage of your apprehension and use it to pick up the phone and make calls. Even small steps will help build confidence.

Vacant Home Insurance 

Most homeowners are not aware that their house needs special insurance coverage if it becomes unoccupied, vacant, or 
someone else is living in the home. This type of insurance is called vacant homeowners insurance. If your home 
becomes vacant, some homeowners insurance policies will cease coverage if your home is left empty for just 30 days! 
The large homeowners insurance companies don't like to insure vacant homes. (Most don't provide the coverage at all.) 
Those that do, offer very limited coverage at very expensive premium rates. To insure your vacant home and give you the 
right advice on what policy will work best for your situation, you need the help of an experienced team who understands 
vacant homeowners insurance policies.














We have the solution for your situation. Give us a call at 516-249-5200.





		

		
	

	
		
						
						


		

			
							
								
					

						
						

							
								Unsolicited Insurance Repair Provider Scams a Growing Problem							
													

							
									
							
		


Insurance scams account for upwards of $30 billion in total losses to the insurance industry each year, according to NICB.org.   In addition, one particular type of fraud–unsolicited repair provider scams–are on the rise. 


 Some common subjects for these type of fraudsters include auto glass repair, cosmetic body work, house siding and roof repair, sinkhole damage, pest damage and many others. 


 


The NICB recommends consumers take the following steps to avoid becoming victim to fraudsters:


 


·         Contact your insurance company first.


·         Get more than one estimate.


·         Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be detailed.


·         Demand references and check them out.


·         Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and their vehicle’s license plate number. 


·         Never sign a contract with blanks; unacceptable terms can be added later.


·         Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished and ensure reconstruction is up to current code.


·         Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance carrier.


·         Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them.


·         Never let a contractor interpret the insurance policy language.


·         Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.