Earthquake Insurance!

I must say, I never though I would be talking about earthquake insurance here in New York, until now. Do you have earthquake coverage on your home? Probably not. Can you get it here in New York? Maybe.

Earthquake insurance is a kind of property insurance in NY which handles destruction brought on by  earthquakes .  Earthquake premiums are determined in different ways by each NY based insurance company and can vary extensively based on a number of factors.  Earthquake insurance covers damage caused when the earth shakes or cracks, also known as ground movement.

Tips to Secure and Insure College Dorm Stuff

The first time my friend dropped by his son’s dorm room, he was amazed at how many gadgets he and his roommate had managed to stuff in a tiny space! In addition to the necessary clothes and books, it was crammed with electronics: laptops, iPods, cell phones, printers, stereos, an electric guitar and amp, television, refrigerator, microwave oven, and one very nice bicycle. Figuring out the value per cubic foot boggled the mind! 

The only thing more surprising than the sheer value of the personal goods that kids take to college today is the frequency of theft, as your local NY insurance agent can warn you. In many dorms, the norm is to leave the room door unlocked or even open to encourage drop-ins. This creates significant security risks. In fact, dorm rooms turn up on the list of the top five most popular places for laptop theft. Also, given the portability, students drag their laptops to cafes, libraries, and other unsecured places. 

10 Ways to Safeguard Your Home

Did you know that a burglary occurs every 15 seconds? You can take some simple steps to keep from becoming a victim. The main idea is to make your home less attractive to burglars who are looking for a quick, easy target. The basic strategies are to make it hard to get in your home and to make it look as if someone is at home.

1.       Always lock your doors when you leave. Use a high quality deadbolt lock on all of them. Don’t forget the garage door and back doors—the prime entry spot. Almost half of all burglaries are committed by thieves who gain entry through unlocked doors or windows.

Renters Insurance: A Smart Idea!

I remember fondly my first apartment -- one of four spacious apartments in a lovely Victorian home in upstate New York. When I rented it, I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as renters insurance. I had always heard of “home insurance” and thought it was something I should buy after I purchased a home in case my house burned down or such. 

Tune Up Your Homeowner Policy

After a long, harsh winter, March heralds a welcome transition to spring in the Hudson Valley. Just as prudent homeowners replace smoke alarm batteries every spring and fall, they can leverage the seasonal prompt to see if it is time to change existing homeowner insurance policies. Think of it as a spring “tune-up” of your insurance policies.