Protect Your Basement From Flooding

Your finished basement may very well be your pride and joy. You’ve probably spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time converting your concrete foundation into customized living space. You probably don't want a tidal wave of ground water or sewage making it's way into your new finished space. A flash flood, a cresting river or creek, or a simple summer tropical storm can potentially turn your new carpeting and dry-wall into a giant mold fest. Your finished basement isn't really finished, unless you have taken some of these flood prevention steps to protect it in the future.

Good Night Irene

Have you ever tried to secure homeowners insurance in NY when a hurricane is barreling your way? Not going to happen. As inconvenient is it may be, you need to have your bank or mortgage company reschedule your closing for another day because most, if not all insurance companies will not bind insurance in NY if there is a major storm due to hit. Likewise for NY car insurance as well. At a dealership getting a new car? You might not be able to get full coverage on it during a binding moratorium.

Obviously a hurricane, not unlike an earthquake can cause a concentrated amount of damage in a small area. Multiply that by the wide area a hurricane can hit at once and you have the recipe for disaster. Remember Katrina? Most people dislike insurance companies for this reason, but they forget, the insurance companies have to make a profit too or they will go out of business. If they go out of business, millions of existing policy-holders could be left holding the bag, without any coverage.

In summary, moratoriums in the wake of a potential natural disaster actually protect existing insurance customers as much as it protects insurance companies.

Backyard Grilling Safety

The onset of a New York summer brings with it many things - vacations and travel time, weddings, jet skis and boating...  whatever perks the season may bring your way, it's important to remember the accompanying insurance risks that come with it.
There are dozens of risk exposures associated with some of our beloved summer pastimes and we have discussed many of them in this blog and on our Facebook page, but one of the most common and frequently overlooked is an American favorite and my favorite -barbeque.

Add Appeal To Your Rental Property Without Spending A Fortune

In today's economy, there are a lot of potential applicants to rent your property, however, you still want to attract the best clientele to your property, by having the better property to rent. This can help maintain a stable rent as well as weed out the trouble makers that may be lurking in the shadows. So after you do your due diligence and run your background checks and credit reports, turn your focus to your product. Add appeal to your New York property and make it attractive to the clientele that attract you.

Start with the outside a that is the first thing people see before they even look in your awesome abode. Fertilize lawns, plant flowers, spread mulch and add a fresh coat of paint where needed. Power wash decks, sidewalks and the garage floor. Use low pressure wash on vinyl siding.

Motorcycle Safety Courses

Taking a motorcycle safety course can help you be a more confident rider and prepare you for what to do to protect yourself in an accident.Often people take automobile defensive driving courses to brush up on their driving skills or get a discount on their car insurance, but taking a motorcycle safety course will not only give you an insurance discount, it can teach cyclers important steps to save their lives and the lives of their passengers in the event of a motorcycle accident.

Taking a motorcycle safety course can not only make you a better rider, but you might also get a discount on your insurance. Find courses here: Course Locator

Obviously when a driver in a car makes an error that leads to an accident with a motorcycle, the consequences can be much greater. A small fender bender with a motorcycle can often mean a trip to the hospital or worse.

To find out the benefits a motorcycle safety course will have on your motorcycle insurance in NY, you can click this link: Hudson Valley Motorcycle Insurance. These links can help you save lives and money.

SPF 1,950,321 Sunblock

What's your number? Summer weather is here and everybody should know their own SPF number. These days, no matter how dark or how pale your skin may be, you might want to consider sunblock to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays of today's sun. Especially if you like to do outdoor activities like off roading on ATV's, or boating and riding in personal watercraft like wave runners.

My Best Friend

In the summertime there is no doubt that my best friends are my golf clubs, but in the wintertime my best friend is my roof rake. OK, I'll explain. Here in New York we tend to get quite a bit of snow in January and February. The only thing worse than shoveling snow off your driveway and walk, is trying to figure out how to get it off your roof before it backs up under the gutters and into the eves of the house, causing widespread damage to your walls and ceilings.

A roof rake will let you get potentially harmful snow off your roof with ease, and they cost very little. Some insurance companies may even give a preventative safety discount on your NY homeowners insurance for them. I use my roof rake quite often this time of year. A good roof rake is about two feet wide and can usually extend out about twenty one feet. They won't damage shingles and they can prevent ice damming too.

Get Your Finances In Gear For The New Year

This time of year, thoughts turn to year-end financial matters: paying holiday bills, preparing your tax return and more. It’s also a great time to review the general state of your finances to see if you need to make any changes in the coming year.

Many people don’t consider the importance of insurance in an overall financial plan. But the fact is, no matter how hard you work to build wealth, failure to purchase adequate insurance can be your undoing. On the other hand, paying for coverage you don’t need can also sting your budget. Finding the right balance can be challenging.

For The Road Ahead Be Safe, Be Smart On A Long-Distance Road Trip

Whether you’re traveling alone, with a buddy or with your spouse and a car full of kids, there are few things more “American” than the long-distance road trip. Countless vacation travelers will drive the highways looking for fun and making memories with every mile. If traveling down the “holiday road” is in your plans, take the time to prepare for your trip. You’ll have a more enjoyable vacation if you plan carefully. Here are a few driving tips, courtesy of Hudson Valley Agents:

5 More New Car Safety Features You'll Want To Get

Given that car safety is a predominant concern these days, let’s look at the rest of the of the top 10 auto safety features as highlighted by Edmunds.com. (By the way, if you don’t know Edmunds yet, check it out for smart objective tips for savvy consumers.)

Since you are more likely to be in a vehicle accident than almost any other kind of life-threatening situation, when you get a new vehicle, you might want to consider purchasing one that offers you additional safety features. The good news is that these new technologies not only might save your life, but some can also save you money. Just ask your Newburgh NY Insurance brokers.

RV Insurance Safety While Traveling

When traveling by RV, getting the most for your money is one of the most prevalent things RV'ers think about; because RV'ing is expensive. One of the best ways to save money on RV expenses is to make sure you are not paying too much for your RV insurance in NY. But saving money is not the only thing on the top of the minds of avid RV'ers.

Personal safety while traveling on the open road is also another top issue. I found an excellent piece on this issue at the following link Personal Safety While Traveling.

Your Family Home: What Your Insurance Does and Does Not Cover

Home insurance has become so standard that it can come as a shock to find out that insurance companies only invented it a mere 50 years ago when they figured that it made sense to offer a single, comprehensive policy to cover both liability and property. While your Newburgh NY insurance agents can offer you any of the various forms that have since evolved to meet the needs of owners of single family dwellings, over 80% of such policies in force today are of a form known in the industry as “HO3.” These policies cover just about everything except those specified as excluded, such as earthquakes and floods.  Even though there are exclusions, they are often called “all risk” coverage as any risk not listed as excluded is covered.

North East Hurricanes Are Real

It looks like this may be the year the insurance companies have been warning us about here in the northeast. So far three hurricanes have tracks that take them dangerously close to the North Atlantic shore line, one has already passed us without concern. However, it is better to be prepared, arm yourself with knowledge and take precaution. I found an excellent resource in the "Disaster Safety Organization", click their link for a complete hurricane related knowledge base. DisasterSafety.org

Remember to check your coverages with your New York homeowners insurance agent as soon as possible to avoid any potential loopholes or gaps in your insurance too.

Surveillance Camera in Home Caught Burglar on Video

Check out this excellent blog post on home security. This is why insurance companies give lower NY homeowners insurance rates for security systems: 

Surveillance Camera in Home Caught Burglar on Video

Survive A Car Accident

The longer you drive the better chance you will have an accident. This pertains to your everyday driving as well as your whole lifetime of driving. It's the law of large numbers and it's why your car insurance in New York costs more when you drive further to work. You will most likely not be able to go through your entire life without getting into a car accident. Now with that said, lets ensure you survive to tell the tale someday. Read these tips below to improve your odds: