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Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

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Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

1881 Western Avenue, Suite 210
Albany, NY 12203

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How Home Insurance Keeps Albany Properties Valuable

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When you think about the value of your property, you likely think about it in terms of your location. After all, that’s what real estate is all about, right? While your proximity to major centers throughout the city or the prestige of your zip code will matter, there’s also another factor that NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency wants you to consider. Home insurance may work as more of a behind-the-scenes influence.

Homes and Time 

Some countries only want things that are brand new, with buildings being torn down that are just a few decades old. Other countries put emphasis on historical buildings that were built to last. There is something to be said for building structures that withstand the test of time, but even homes that have been built with the best craftsmanship can fall prey to problems over the years. Home insurance is what stops the decay through careful repairs and attention. Homes that are treated with  respect not only have more character, but they also tend to sell better when the time comes.

A Collective Effort in Albany NY 

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serves the people of Albany NY, and we’re here to tell you that it’s the collective effort that makes all the difference here. When everyone in the neighborhood buys a policy that can cover damages, it means that catastrophic events that effect everyone aren’t so devastating to the town. It’s what will keep your house looking nice and the house next to you (and the house next to that.) Neighborhoods and streets that are well maintained will be the ones that end up commanding the most money. If you’re looking for more information about policies that can protect you, give NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency a call today.

How Often Should You Update Auto Insurance?

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Your auto insurance is something that does not change regarding needs, but every so often, you might need to adjust your coverage. There are a few different ways that you can determine how to adjust your auto insurance that can help make the process easier overall. For those in the Albany, NY area, the agents with NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can help.

In most cases, the only real need to adjust your coverage comes from the changing of cars and the depreciation that comes with the car. Also, as you pay off your car and no longer have to pay a monthly car payment, you might also be able to drop full coverage for liability only. There are some issues that come with this type of policy change, however. When you drop full coverage, your premiums will decrease, but you will also have less coverage in the event of an accident.

If you do have a car that has depreciated, you may want to adjust coverage to help reduce your overall premiums. Another factor that might make it necessary to change coverage is a change in your driving habits. Those drivers that are on the road often might need full coverage as their risk of an accident is going to be higher than someone that only drives once or twice a month. Also, just like your home, any upgrades might change the amount of coverage that you need to be fully covered when you get on the road.

For those in the Albany, NY area, the agents with NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can help you find the policy that fits both what you can pay and what you need to be fully covered each month when you drive.  

WhyYou Should Inspect Your Roof for Winter

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Winters in Albany, NY can get pretty cold.  By now you have probably had your furnace inspected, cleaned your chimney and are staying warm and cozy in your home. Did you know it is also important to have your roof inspected for winter? Per the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association, thirty nine percent of homeowner’s insurance claims are a result of roof issues. At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we want you and your family to be safe all winter long. If you aren’t sure if you really need to inspect your roof, perhaps these reasons will persuade you.

A Well-Maintained Roof Can Prevent Costly and Unexpected Repairs

During the winter months, your roof must contend with snow, ice, and hail. It must hold up against heavy falling tree branches covered ice and snow. While roofs are designed to withstand these challenges, sometimes they do get damaged. When damage goes unnoticed, you could be in trouble. A weak spot on the roof during a heavy Albany NY winter storm can lead to roof leaks and water damage. By having your roof inspected or examining it yourself, you will have peace of mind that your home is protected all winter long.

Tips for Inspecting Your Roof

If you decide to take a look at in on your own, there are a few important areas to focus on. First, make sure that all of your shingles are firmly attached and in place. Look for holes or cracks in them. Also, check that the metal flashing is intact and your roof vents are in good condition. If you have questions or need assistance, give one of our friendly agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency a call. We are here and ready to help you.

Crossing The Line: Does Your Auto Insurance Change When You Leave Your Home State?

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Bags Are Packed – Let’s Go! – But Wait – Are We Insured?

When you are going on vacation, a road trip, or any time that you cross the state line of the state in which you reside the last thing you are thinking of is whether or not your car is insured. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency agents are trained and equipped to assist you in answering that question way before the first bag is packed. If you handle it first you won’t have to think about it and can focus on the drive ahead. 

The answer to the question has some complexities that is why it is critical to speak with a professional. While some states vary on the state-to-state coverage issue, in general the rule is the same no matter if you live in Albany, NY, the surrounding areas in NY or in other states across the country: your automobile insurance policy will cover you across state lines. The comprehensiveness of this coverage will vary depending on the type of accident you and your car are involved in. Some state laws may supersede aspects of your policy depending upon the incident or accident. 

Another aspect of travel that many policyholders are not aware of is the insurance responsibility in the event that you rent a car. Many purchase extra insurance through the rental company unnecessarily. Contact us to find out what to do before you rent.

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is a multi-service agency servicing the Albany, NY and surrounding areas. Contact us today to learn more about what is covered and what is not. It is always better to do this before the accident, before the trip; in short contact us before you need to file a claim.   

Defenses for a Stop Sign Violation

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If a police officer pulls you over and accuses you of running a stop sign, you may think that there is no way you can fight the ticket. After all, it is your word against theirs. However, a stop sign violation can result in your auto insurance rates increasing, as well as costing you money for a fine. Fortunately, there are a few defenses you can use for this type of violation. Here are a few defenses you can use for a stop sign violation in the Albany, NY area.

The Sign Was Obstructed

In some cases, a tree or other item may have been obstructing the sign. If you could not see the sign, you may have a defense. Be sure to take pictures of the obstructed sign to prove your case.

The Police Office Wasn’t Positioned To See You Stop

In some cases, you may stop a bit behind the stop sign line. If a police officer is hidden down a side street, they may have not been at the right angle to see you stop a few feet back from that line. You can use this defense in court by taking pictures of the angle the cop would have seen and showing why they could not have seen you stop from there.

It Was Unsafe to Stop

The last defense you have to a stop sign violation is that is was unsafe to stop. Was it pouring down rain and you had someone following behind you too closely when you ran the stop sign? If so, you may have a defense. If you stopped at the sign, the driver behind you may have slid into you and caused an accident. These cases are hard to prove but you may be able to convince a judge you didn’t stop to protect yourself from an accident or injury.

If you have received a ticket for a stop sign violation and your insurance rates have increased because of it, you may be looking around for a new policy. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the greater Albany, NY area, would love to help you with all of your auto insurance needs. Swing by our office or give us a ring today for a price quote.

What to do in the case that you run out of or are very low on heating fuel.

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It’s the middle of the winter, with many days under the zero-degree mark and you wake up to frost on your windows.  You come to the realization that you must have run out of heating fuel.  This is not the end of the world, but you are going to have to take a few additional steps in the case that this is in fact the issue.  Many people in cold climates such as Albany, NY use an auto-filling fuel service so that this does not end up being an issue.  Some of the more frugal folks out there will chance this event to save a few dollars by choosing the most inexpensive fuel pricing using different companies through the winter months.

Here are the steps to take to get your home heated and everything back on track for the rest of the winter.  Whatever you do, don’t panic, everything will be fine.

Fist, be sure that the absence of fuel is the issue here, emergency deliveries and service can add to overall costs for you.

Second, call your furnace service provider.  They will need to come and make sure there is not any damage to the fuel line or filter to safely turn your furnace back on.

Next, call an oil provider to come and fill or put some fuel into the tank as soon as possible.  Depending on the current demand in your area, you may have to call a couple of providers to get fuel in a reasonable amount of time.

Helping you to keep your home safe and happy is our top priority.  Call us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY, we are here to assist.  

Why You Shouldn’t Increase Your Auto Insurance Deductible to Save Money

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If you’ve searched the Internet to find ways to save money on your auto insurance, you’ve likely come across advice to increase your deductible. True enough, you can decrease the cost of your auto insurance by increasing your deductible in Albany, NY, but you shouldn’t do this. In most cases, our team at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency found that it’s simply not worth it.

Increasing Your Deductible Doesn’t Have a Significant Impact on Your Rate

The portion of your monthly rate that based on your deductible is a fraction of the cost of your auto insurance policy. In fact, with each deductible increase, you will save a few dollars each month in the grand scheme of things. However, you will have to pay hundreds more if you experience a loss. When it comes to increasing your deductible, the benefits don’t outweigh the costs.

With a Higher Deductible, You Are Responsible for Paying More

In Albany, NY, a higher deductible means you pay more if you experience a loss. Unfortunately, many drivers don’t consider this until it’s too late. No one wants to pay more following a car accident or the theft of their vehicle simply because they wanted to reduce their monthly rate.

You Can Save More Money Using Other Strategies

The rate you pay for your auto insurance is based on a lot of factors, not simply the amount you agree to pay for your deductible. As such, when you increase your deductible, you are only tweaking a small aspect of your auto insurance policy. There are other ways you can reduce your auto insurance rate without incurring an additional expense, including:

  • Maintaining a safe driving record

  • Avoiding speeding tickets

  • Driving a vehicle with a good safety rating

  • Avoiding accidents

When you employ multiple strategies to reduce the cost of your auto insurance, you increase your savings overall.

At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we offer a suite of competitively priced auto insurance products. If you need auto insurance or you want to compare the coverage you have with what we offer, give us a call today.

 

 

What You Should Do If Your Car Starts Sliding On Ice to Avoid an Accident

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If you are involved in an auto accident, there is a good possibility that your insurance rates will rise. While you cannot prevent all auto accidents, you can prevent or reduce the likelihood you are involved in them by knowing what to do in certain scenarios. One scenario is when your car is sliding across ice in Albany, NY. Knowing what steps to take can minimize your chances of being in an accident in this scenario. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency would like to share two tips with you on what you should do if you find yourself in this situation.

Tap On Your Brakes, Don’t Slam Them

If your car begins to slide on an icy road, your first instinct may be to slam on your brakes. But this can cause your brakes to lock up, causing you to slide even more. Instead, lightly tap on your brakes to reduce your speed and eventually come to a stop.

Turn Into a Slide

When you begin to slide, you may turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction, hoping to correct the slide. However, you should always turn your wheels in the direction that the back of the car is sliding. This helps you gain control of your car so that you can slowly begin to correct the way you are sliding. If you steer in the opposite direction, you can overcorrect, causing your car to slide in the opposite direction quickly, causing an accident or even causing your car to roll.

Unfortunately, you cannot prevent all accidents. But having the right insurance coverage can ensure that an accident doesn’t turn your life upside. If you are not sure if you have enough coverage or are in the market for a new auto insurance policy in the greater Albany, NY area, give NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency a call. We would love to help you with all of your auto insurance needs.

What Do You Do When a Pipe Bursts?

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When the weather gets colder in Albany, NY, you need to take precautions to avoid any bursting pipes. But what do you do when one occurs? Take these steps if it happens to you so you can get your home back as soon as possible. 

  • Turn off the water right away. If you have realized that your pipes have frozen over, even if you do not have a water leak yet, you should go ahead and turn off the water. When the pipes defrost, the liquid will come through the pipes where they have broken because of the expanding water.
  • Call a plumber immediately. After you have shut off the water, make sure you get someone out to repair the pipes as soon as possible. A professional will know what to do and can help take care of the issue for you in no time at all.
  • If you have had a water leak, be sure to call someone who can clean up the water and treat your home for mold. If water has escaped into your home, you may have water damage and you have the possibility of mold so you will want to get this treated right away so you can avoid a costly mold removal later. 

Prevention is the best way to avoid this from happening, but if it ever does happen, now you know the right steps to take to fix it. If you are looking for home insurance to protect you if your pipes do burst, be sure to contact our office, serving Albany, NY, today. We will take a look at your current policy to ensure there are no gaps in coverage and even get you quotes to see if we can find a better policy at a better price. 

Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY today for free home insurance quotes. 

When Can Auto Insurance Help the Most?

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Auto insurance policies are full of clauses that seem to be written to confuse rather than instruct. There are too many possible events to cover in just one policy, which is why it may seem a little vague. If you live in Albany, NY, and want to know more about how auto insurance helps you in the most dire of situations, then read on for more information. 

When You Injure Someone Else

Every driver makes mistakes, but some errors are worse than others. Injury on the road is serious, and depending on the person you hit, can mean many bills and accusations stemming from the original incident. For example, if a person has chronic back pain after the accident, they may continue to file claims for months later. Insurance keeps you legal without having to pay those costs out of pocket. 

If You Need to Get to Work 

Just one accident can become a mess of non-stop logistical problems that wind up getting in the way of your everyday life. While your errands can likely wait, your job really can’t. And your boss probably has so much patience for late arrivals. Insurance keeps you from having to rely on other people or an often unreliable public transportation system. It also means that you can rest easy about keeping your income. 

At the Worst of Times 

Accidents can make us all very upset, but not having someone to turn to can just make it worse. The residents in Albany, NY need a partner they can trust, which is why our agents are people you can trust when you’re feeling extremely vulnerable. Let someone else take over some of the worst details, so you can concentrate on getting back to your life.