Fall has finally arrived in Albany, NY, which means it’s time to get your home ready for the cold months ahead. Although fall may be a busy season for homeowners who are preparing for the New York winters, it is also the ideal time to take advantage of the mild weather to contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency about reviewing your insurance policy as well as repair any damages before the snow arrives. Here are a few ideas to help keep your home in good condition during the winter.

Check the Plumbing

Problems with the plumbing seem to always happen at the worst times, one particular time is during the winter, which seems to be a common season for plumbing problems. There are a few things you can do this fall to avoid costly plumbing repairs this winter, including:

• Fix any minor leaks
• Inspect and insulate pipes
• Disconnect outdoor hoses
• Close the shut-off valve for exterior water spigots

Check the Roof

Preparing your roof for the snow and ice should be done in the mid to late fall. Inspect the roof for any missing and/or loose shingles. Repair or replace damaged shingles as soon as possible. Check the flashing to ensure there isn’t any damage and check the gutters to make sure they are clean and clear from any leaves and other debris.

Lawn Equipment

Thoroughly clean all lawn furniture and equipment before storing it for the winter. Taking your lawn mower and other equipment in for cleaning and routine maintenance means it will be ready for you next spring. If lawn furniture is stored outside, remove all pillows, cushions and umbrellas to prevent them from getting damaged during the winter and make sure to cover furniture left outdoors with a heavy-duty tarp.

Remember to walk around the perimeter of your home and check for any cracks or crevices that may allow the cold air of winter to enter your home. Cracks, holes and crevices can also let the warm air escape, which can raise your energy costs, so caulk all openings before the winter arrives.

Fall is the perfect time for residents of Albany, NY to contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to review their current policy or to inquire about a new policy.

Accidents happen during any season. However, winter, unfortunately, is a very common time for accidents because of the hazardous conditions snow and ice cause on the road. Not to mention, not everyone is an excellent winter driver, which means others may cause an accident on the road. It’s important to know how to prevent an accident on hazardous roads. 

1. Update Insurance Policy  
One of the main things an Albany, NY drivers should do in order to prepare for winter is update their insurance policy. The roads become more hazardous, which leads to more accidents. It’s an excellent time for a driver to update his or her policy to include full tort. This way his or her vehicle is covered in addition to the other party’s.  

2. Drive Slower 
A driver needs to adjust his or her speed based on the road conditions. Ultimately, the driver needs to slow down to be able to handle the car more optimally in winter weather.  

3. Don’t Slam on the Brakes 
Although the driver may feel the need to slam on the brakes to prevent sliding, this isn’t a good idea; it’s how the car will continue to slide out of control. 

4. Watch Other Drivers
Just because a person can handle his or her vehicle in the snow doesn’t mean other drivers on the road can. Wintertime is the ideal time to become more aware of others on the road. If a driver doesn’t already practice driving defensively, he or she should begin doing so in winter.  

To learn more about tips for driving in winter or to update a current policy or purchase a new one, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the Albany, NY area, at 518-608-5797. 

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency services residents in the New York area by providing them with topical information about homeowners insurance.  We want policyholders to get the most from their insurance.  

When you purchase home insurance your investment is automatically protected.   A good policy gives you the assurance that no damages from a disaster will take you unawares.  Although it may not take care of every component you will know you are covered for the regular items.  

A good homeowners insurance policy does not have to cost a bundle.  This type of insurance has a lower premium compared to other policies.  Home insurance also coincides with the kind of home you own which means that your rates will reflect the value of your home, so evaluate your property – and the initial cost of your premium – before you purchase it.

Possessing homeowner insurance gives you peace of mind where home repairs are concerned.  You are far better off having a policy that provides you with all the coverage you need as compared to one with only minimum coverage. There is no need to deal with the stress of worrying about insurance when you can have a policy that gives you everything you need.

These are just some of the various ways you can get the most from your homeowner insurance policy.  There are a lot more benefits besides these that it’s an advantage to know about.  Knowing what you are covered for and just how much a good policy can help you should be a great incentive for purchasing the best policy there it.  To find out all of the benefits of home insurance and what a good policy can do for you go online or call an agent.
 

Buying a new dishwasher or refrigerator can be a much-needed update to your kitchen, but every new purchase usually means that there is an older, possibly broken appliance that you need to get rid of.  Unfortunately, old appliances take up a lot of space in a landfill.  Throwing out your old appliance can do a lot of harm to the environment.

Fortunately, there are better ways to get rid of your old appliance.  Try these ideas out.

1. Advertise the appliance as free.  Many local repair shops look for old appliances because they can reuse the parts that work.  This keeps the majority of the old appliance out of the landfill, and it can help others who need to have their old appliances fixed rather than buy a new one.  Best of all, most will pick them up for free.
2. Call your local recycling center. Appliances use a lot of high-value metals, making them good for scrap even if they’re broken beyond repair.  The problem is that the old appliances have to be broken down into their component materials before they can be recycled.  Because this is labor intensive, not all recycling centers will take old appliances, but many know someone who will strip out the components for extra money.
3. Look for recycling drives.  Occasionally, local appliance stores or government programs will run specials that allow consumers to get a credit for turning in old appliances.  These programs usually are advertised in local newspapers, but ask about them when buying your new appliance.  Often a sales rep will know when the next recycling drive will be held.

After replacing your old appliance with a new one, remember to update your insurance policy.  Call the agents at  NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to help you with this.  

Many states have homeowners insurance requirements, and most banks will not lend for a mortgage without an appropriate level of coverage. So even though you have to have it, what can it really do for you? Ultimately coverage varies by policy, but these are the three most common scenarios that are protected.

Theft

One of the most important parts of home insurance is protecting the assets inside the home. When choosing your policy, you should always consider how valuable the things in your home are. From electronics to jewelry, most items can be covered against theft, usually up to a predetermined value. That means that the disaster of a home burglary can largely be mitigated by giving you the means to replace your valuables.

Human Caused Damage

Another major concern for homeowners is significant damage to the dwelling itself. In cases where human actions cause the damage, such as a car driving into a building or a worker damaging important infrastructure, most policies have conditions that will help you pay for repair or even relocate if necessary.

Liability

This is the concept that most owners overlook, but in many cases the owner of a building can be faulted for injuries to people on the premises. Like any aspect of insurance, the scope of this protection will depend on policy you choose, but protecting yourself from lawsuits should never be overlooked. There are numerous accounts across the country where owners have been found liable for injuries even to attempted burglars.

If you plan or hope to own a home, you need to understand your insurance options. There are many benefits to committing to a good policy, so spend some time to find the perfect plan for your lifestyle. You can schedule an appointment with the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to get expert advice from an agent well versed in the laws and needs of the Albany, NY region.

If you’re house sitting in Albany, NY, you’ve been entrusted with the job of caring for someone else’s living space while they’re away. That can be a hefty job, and one that you need to carefully consider, because it shows the level of faith the homeowners have in you. One of the things some house sitters do, and that you should avoid, is snooping around. It’s natural to be a little curious, and you probably assume no one will know, but that’s not really the point. There’s no reason to go through someone else’s personal things just because they’re away.

Looking for extra bathroom tissue or paper towels makes sense, or opening a kitchen cabinet to find a pan to cook something in, but going through medicine cabinets, dresser drawers, and other out of the way places that aren’t yours should be avoided. Some homeowners have camera installed to catch these kinds of behaviors, and they may also be able to tell if the things they left behind are out of place or have been moved when they come back. You probably won’t be asked to house sit again if you’re a snoop, so make sure to avoid it if you want more house sitting work in the future.

If you do look through cabinets or other areas and happen to damage something, make sure you’re honest and up-front about it. That will make you look better, and will give the homeowners an opportunity to file an insurance claim if the item was valuable. With good coverage from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, both homeowners and house sitters will be protected in the event of a problem. That can provide everyone involved in the house sitting transaction with good peace of mind, and help make them more comfortable with the arrangement, so they can enjoy their time away, or the time spent watching the person’s home.

Decorations set the tone for a Halloween party. Without dim areas, cobwebs and jack-o-lanterns just wouldn’t be the same. Decorations, however, should never create a safety hazard — no matter how good they look. If you’re hosting a Halloween party this October, we have a few suggestions that will help prevent accidents at your get-together.

Make Sure Everyone Can See

When decorating for Halloween, it’s important to make sure everyone can see. When people can’t see, they trip over objects, fall down steps and otherwise injure themselves. To reduce the likelihood of an accident, you can:

• leave lights on in main areas, such as where food is being served
• decorate with holiday-themed lights
• make sure there’s nothing for people to trip over in poorly lit areas

Leaving parts of your home well-lit doesn’t need to detract from your decorations. For instance, you can add a Halloween flair to your dining area with ghost-shaped cookies and an orange cake, without dimming any lights in the area.

Make Sure You’re Insured

Even when safety is kept in mind, accidents can still happen. Before people start arriving for your party, you should make sure you’re protected with liability coverage. Often included in home insurance policies, liability coverage provides protection when you’re found responsible for a covered incident.

If you don’t have enough liability coverage, and you live in Albany, NY, contact us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. We’ve helped many homeowners in the area find the coverage they need, and our independent insurance agents can help you find a new home insurance policy quickly. Just make sure to send us a message before your party starts, so we can get you covered in time.