What To Do When Your Home Is Vacant

Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially when it doesn't move quickly.  With a new job looming or the purchase of a new house, you may have no choice but to leave the home vacant for a short time until it sells.  

The problem?  Vacant homes fall under different insurance rules and can leave you at risk.  Homes are typically considered vacant when the utilities are shut off and/or furniture has been removed.  If you forget to tell your agent that your home is vacant, you might not be covered in the event of a loss

Insurance companies view a vacant home as a higher risk.  There are more opportunities for vandalism and no one living there to protect the home from fire or storm damage. 

So what should you do when moving?

First you need to talk to your insurance agent and get the details on your policy.  Since policies vary by state and insurance company, there is no single right answer.  Sometimes an insurance company can make an exception to your current homeowners policy if you give them a heads up ahead of time.

If you do have to purchase a separate policy to cover your home as a vacant home, many carriers allow you to do this for a shorter period of time such as 3, 6 or 9 month increments.

Explain the situation to your agent.  Ask what coverage is included and what is excluded (specifically for vandalism).  Also, you want to find out what changes can be made to protect your home. For example, investing in an inexpensive alarm or camera system might help not only in the insurance cost but also in your peace of mind. You can also look into having your real estate agent or a property manager periodically check in on the property every few days to be sure that the house is okay.

Selling a home doesn't always follow a quick timeline.  If you're facing the possibility of leaving your home vacant, contact us first and find out how to best protect yourself and your property.  

                                                                             

At the Bryan Insurance Agency, we are the leading agent for vacant homes and homes under construction in the Hudson Valley and Long Island. Contact us for a quick tips sheet on how to keep your home safe. You can reach us at 888-565-2212 or online at http://www.bryanagency.com 

Renters Insurance - Why You Need It

If you are currently renting your home or apartment, it’s time to learn more about renters insurance! 

Homeowners insurance covers the house itself and the items inside.  But if you don’t own the home, you don’t need insurance to cover it.  All you need is coverage for your actual personal belongings.

It might not seem like a lot, but all those little items add up!  When you think about the cost to replace your furniture, dishes, sheets, clothes, books, and everything else filling up your home, it’s probably a lot more than you thought. 

Renters insurance is an affordable way to protect what you’ve worked hard to acquire.  And it’s probably a lot cheaper than you’d expect!  In fact, many times the discount you receive on your auto insurance for having multiple policies can almost pay for the entire renters policy!

Renters Insurance will cover personal belongings within your home as well as a limited amount of property off premises (such as items in a storage building) or your laptop when it’s in the car. 

It also includes important liability coverage.  If you accidentally cause a fire that burns down the property, your insurance pays the landlord to replace it (protecting you from a damaging lawsuit).  In fact, many landlords now require that tenants carry a certain amount of liability insurance before they approve the lease. 

So if you’re renting, it’s time to look at protecting your valuables.  Give us a call today or visit us online and ask for a no obligation quote on renters insurance.  And don’t forget to find out how much you’ll save on your auto insurance too!  

At Bryan Insurance we are the leading experts in New Windsor, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New York for renters insurance. 

Insuring Your Wedding Rings

Did you know that June is the most popular month for weddings? 

I’ve seen many of my clients planning and preparing for their wedding over the next few weeks.  So I thought I’d share an insurance tip this week just for engaged couples and newlyweds.

You’re spending a lot of money on your wedding and those new rings.  Make sure they’re covered! 

Jewelry is covered under your Homeowners or Renters insurance.  BUT…the coverage amount can be limited and on top of that, you will have to pay your normal deductible if something happens to that piece. If you don’t cover the individual piece of jewelry specifically, you might not have enough coverage to replace it if it were to be lost or stolen.

Here’s what I recommend: Get an appraisal of your rings from the jeweler.  Then bring in a copy and we can quickly let you know what it would be to add the rings to your policy.  (We can also discuss deductibles or special coverage.)  Depending on the value of the ring, you might spend only a few dollars a year to know that your valuable jewelry is insured. This is peace of mind knowing that even if the stone fell out you are covered worldwide.

If you are renting or getting ready to purchase a home and don’t have a policy, now is a great time to schedule a free consultation to discuss what coverage you’ll need and give you a ballpark figure for what it will cost.  Renters Insurance is very inexpensive and can give you a lot of peace of mind as you combine your two households.

But the best tip I can give?  Talk to a local insurance agent you can trust!  We’ll look out for you and help you get the right coverage at an affordable rate.  Call today or visit us online for a free quote. 888-565-2212

At the Bryan Agency, we are your leading local insurance agent in New Windsor, Long Island, and New York for Wedding insurance, home insurance, and jewelry insurance.

Insuring Your RV, Boats: Keeping Summer Fun & Safe

Summer is on its way.  Before we know it there will be Memorial Day barbecues and long weekends at the lake.  (Next weekend to be exact, if you can believe it!)

That's why now is a great time to review insurance coverage on all of your summer toys.  Check out the things to consider (and review with us) before the big toys come out of winter storage.

1.)  RV - Your motorhome or travel trailer needs insurance coverage, especially if you'll be driving or pulling it this year.  Even if you don't have a loan on your RV, you will want it covered for theft or damage.  Whether they are parked on a lake lot for the season or driving cross country, we offer several RV policies to fit your needs.  Just call us for a quote.

 

2.)  Boat & Jet Ski - The same thing goes for your boats and jet skis.  You've made a big investment and it's important to protect them.  Not only should you worry about damage to your boat, but also make sure you have the proper amount of liability coverage.  Don’t forget your life jackets! 

3.)  Motorcycle - Ready to hit the road for a long drive?  Remember to brush up on your safety skills and always wear a helmet.  Don’t forget to make sure your motorcycle has liability coverage just like your vehicle!  We can help you determine what coverage you need.  

4.)  Swimming Pool - If you own a pool, then you need extra liability coverage including a Personal Umbrella Policy.  Why?  Because there is a lot more risk of someone being injured when you have a pool.  Don’t skimp on your coverage and make sure you have the pool area secured and safe.  For less than $12 a month you could buy an extra $1 million in coverage!

Summer is a lot more fun when you know that your high price summer fun toys are properly insured and protected.  Take 10 minutes to call us for a quote or to review your current coverage.  We are experts at summer fun & all the toys!  888-565-2212 or visit us online.

At the Bryan Agency we are the leading agents in the Hudson Valley and Long Island in home insurance, umbrella insurance, motorcycle insurance, boat insurance, and RV insurance coverage.

Discounts, Discounts, Everywhere... But Are You Getting All of Them?

 

 

Discounts are the best way to save on your insurance premium each and every month.  But a lot of people are missing out on them!  With a little bit of paperwork from you to your agent, you could see great savings.

1.)  Security Discounts - Does your home have a security system or fire protection system?  Some of these devices will help you save big on your home or renters insurance.  If you have a certificate of installation (and even if you don’t), let us know and we’ll see if you qualify.

2.)  Driver Training & Defensive Driving - Did your child take Driver’s Ed?  Did you take a Defensive Driving course?  These classes will typically qualify for discounts!  Just bring in a copy of your completion certificate and we’ll get it added to your policy. Did you know you can now take the course online from the comfort of your couch? www.HVDDonline.com

3.)  Good Grades - Good grades will help you save!  Some of our policies offer a discount for full time students 25 years of age and under who maintain a high GPA.  Give us a call to see the requirements for your policy. 

4.)  Payment Discounts - There are many different options when it comes to paying your premiums.  Some policies offer discounts for paying in full or a reduced installment fee if you put the payment on auto-draft.  We can advise you of all the payment options so you pay as little as possible.

5.)  Multi-Policy Discounts - When you have all of your insurance in one place, you save more!  If your auto and home insurance is spread out between multiple companies or agencies, let us help you consolidate.  You’ll be better protected (with less gaps in coverage) and save money!

The key?  Talk to your agent!  When we schedule regular annual reviews, we can review your policy discounts and make sure you are receiving the best coverage at the best price.  Call today (888) 565-2212 or visit us online to schedule an appointment.

At the Bryan Insurance Agency we are your local car insurance agents for the Hudson Valley, New Windsor, and Long Island and other surrounding New York areas.

Protect You & Your Family During Severe Weather

Did you know that March is Severe Weather Preparation Month? 

While here in New York it may still feel like winter outside and you can barely see the ground through all of the snow, trust me it won’t be long until spring arrives.  And with it comes spring storms!  Is your family prepared?

First things first, make sure you have designated a safe place to go to if the weather gets bad.  It could be your basement, a closet in the center of the house, or a room with no windows or outside walls, like a bathroom.  Make sure this space is cleared out enough that you could easily get your family inside if needed.  (You don’t want to be clearing out the closet at the time of a tornado or bad storm!)

Next, put together a small emergency kit. Set it up in a backpack so it’s all in one place. What would you need if the power was out?  Consider putting in flashlights, extra batteries, canned food, and plenty of water.  (Don’t forget supplies for your pets too!)

Keep emergency phone numbers in your cell phone contacts, including the phone number for your insurance company!  You could even save a note in your phone with your policy numbers too.

While we can’t prevent bad weather, it’s always great to be as prepared as possible.  Take care of your family first and know that we’ll be there to protect your belongings. 

For more ways to protect you and your family, contact us at 888-565-2212 or www.bryanagency.com. At the Bryan Insurance Agency we want to be sure you and your family are protected. Call us for a free second look. We are the top insurance agency for car insurance, home insurance and business insurance for New Windsor, Long Island and the rest of New York.

4 Simple March To Do's to Protect Your Family and Save You Money

 

 

What do you need to do this month to keep your home running smoothly and your family protected?  There are a few simple things that you can do and take less than 30 minutes of your time. Schedule one each week in March! Read below to find out! 

1.)  Change Batteries In Smoke & CO Detectors - When the time changes, it’s a great idea to change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  This way you always know that they are working and in good order!  The spring time change this year is on Sunday March 8th. 

2.)  Make A Severe Weather Plan – March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. That being said, it is the start of spring and the stormy season. Designate a safe place in your home in case of bad weather.  Stock it with basic emergency supplies and throw in an extra flashlight and batteries too! Here are some tips on downloading

3.)  Check Your Credit Report – Did you know that March is Credit Education Month?  When was the last time you checked to see that your credit reports were accurate?  If it’s been over a year, stop by www.annualcreditreport.com and order a free copy today. 

4.)  Review Your Insurance Discounts – I’m all about the discounts. Did you know that on any given car insurance policy, there are up to a dozen discounts available to you? ONE DOZEN, 12, aka a whole lotta savings opportunities! Are you getting all the discounts you qualify for?  Call us at 888-565-2212 or visit us online to review your policy and see if there are any changes that need to be made. 

And as always, give us a call if you have any questions or need assistance with car, home, business, or life insurance. At the Bryan Insurance Agency we are the top insurance agency in the Hudson Valley area serving New York, New Windsor and Long Island. Contact us today at www.bryanagency.com/contact or 888.565.2212.

 

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