First Time Homebuyers Tips

Posted on July 20, 2021 by AgentInsure

Deciding to purchase a home in Albany, NY can not only be exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Your first home is a huge milestone, and you should start preparing now to make your new home buying process much more manageable. Then, once you have purchased your new home, call our agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency for information about how we can help protect you, your home, and your belongings.

Determine a Budget

It is one thing to want to buy your dream home as your first home. However, it would be best if you were realistic in determining your home buying budget. There are online mortgage calculators that can help estimate your monthly mortgage payment. In addition, knowing your budget can help you weed through the many listings in the area to focus on what you can reasonably afford.

Start Saving

Buying a new home usually requires a sizable down payment ranging from three to 20 percent of the total cost of the house. Therefore, the sooner you start saving for your down payment, the sooner you can start searching for your home and apply for a loan.

Raise Your Credit Score

Buying a home requires you to have decent credit. Most lenders prefer to grant loans to borrowers with credit scores of 680 or higher. However, the Federal Housing Administration does accept credit scores as low as 500 with a higher down payment. Check your credit report and dispute any errors and create a plan to pay down your debt.

Are you excited about purchasing your first home in Albany, NY? We are here to help you with all your insurance needs. Call us today at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency for additional information on how to protect your new home.

How Is My Car Insured Against Floods?

Posted on July 13, 2021 by AgentInsure

Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes happen unexpectedly in all parts of the world. They cause massive property loss thus need to insure the property. Vehicles are mostly affected by floods which wreak havoc with the car, damage engines, and cause electrical failures which ruin it. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY, is one of the most trusted companies in providing flood insurance.

Is Flood Insurance Important?

Flooding is among the list of the costliest natural disasters that affect a nation. It is difficult to predict future climatic conditions. Insuring a car against floods gives the owner satisfaction to know that any unbudgeted and unexpected flood-related damages are covered.

Living Outside Flood Designated Areas

The government uses scientific models to predict where flooding will occur next. The models become quickly outdated hence may not fully reflect today’s risk for flooding. Evidence shows that more than 20% of flood insurance claims fall outside areas marked as flood zones, suggesting that possessing a cover is extremely important regardless of location.

Flood Damages Are Costly

FEMA reports that flooding causes billions of dollars in damage every year, with an average of $8.2 billion in damages annually. It indicates that the price of purchasing flood insurance is way low compared to the losses incurred. Without car flood insurance, you’d pay for the costs of repair and renovations entirely on your own.

What To Know Before Purchasing Flood Insurance

It is easy to purchase flood cover directly from a professional dealer. The waiting period is usually 30 days before a flood insurance policy takes effect. It’s thus better to make the purchase earlier.

Purchasing Flood Insurance

When buying a flood insurance package, it is wise to discuss with an insurance agent to figure out several factors. These include how much coverage to buy, the cost of flood insurance, the duration of cover, what it exactly covers, among other critical facts. If you are in Albany, NY, and you are looking for a reliable insurance partner for your motor vehicle, reach NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today for excellent services.

Do You Need Life Insurance If You’re a Single Person?

Posted on June 21, 2021 by AgentInsure

As an individual who’s not married and may be without any immediate family living with you, you may wonder if you should have life insurance. The answer isn’t so clearcut on this one. The NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency of Albany, NY can assist you when it comes to finding the answer to this question.

Single People May Want to Consider Life Insurance

Many young, single individuals don’t spend much time thinking about their financial future. They may not realize that their circumstances will change someday, for example, they might get married and have children at some point.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to purchase a life insurance policy at a young age. Your policy costs may increase as you get older. You might be able to locate in at a rate that is beneficial when you’re a 20-something bachelor rather than a parent in their 30s or 40s.

Life Insurance is Ideal for Single People with Children

Even if you don’t have a spouse, it obviously doesn’t mean you have no family. Since the number of single-parent homes has tripled in America compared to 1960, this is the demographic to which more insurance companies are paying attention.

It’s important that you think of what challenges your child could deal with financially if something happens to you someday. They’ll need resources in place to make sure that they have at least their basic needs covered. You really don’t want to leave this up to chance.

A Solution for Single Individuals and Single-Parent Families

Life insurance gives you that reassurance that your loved ones will be taken care of if something happens and you’re no longer around to provide for them. Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency of the Albany, NY area with your questions today.

Is having a commercial insurance plan in Albany always needed?

Posted on June 14, 2021 by AgentInsure

When someone is looking for a new career path, owning their own business is a great option to consider. If you are a business owner when you are in the Albany, NY area, you will find that there are a lot of opportunities to be successful. However, you will need to ensure that you continue to protect your business as well as you can. A great way that this can be done is by investing in commercial insurance, which likely will be needed for a few reasons.

Coverage Needed to Protect Company

The main reason that businesses here will need to get a commercial insurance plan is that it is needed to protect their company. Business owners will have to make a lot of investments to get their company off the ground, including the purchase of major assets. Your commercial insurance plan can protect these assets while also providing valuable liability protection.

Coverage is Frequently a Requirement

You may also need to have a commercial insurance plan as it is often a requirement. There are a lot of situations when someone is going to need to carry commercial insurance for their business. Some common situations include if you have raised money from outside investors or have taken out a bank loan. It is important that you carry the coverage needed to comply with your requirements.

Owning a business can be a great idea for those that are in Albany, NY. If you would like to start a company in this area, it would be wise to call NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to discuss your insurance needs. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can offer the help you need to choose an insurance plan that is going to properly cover and protect your business for years to come.

How can home insurance in Albany protect someone?

Posted on May 31, 2021 by AgentInsure

When you are a resident in the Albany, NY area, there are several housing options to consider. One great option to think about is buying your own home. There continue to be a lot of benefits that come with homeownership. If you would like to purchase a property here, you also need to have insurance for it. A home insurance plan can protect an Albany property owner in a few different ways.

Coverage Offers Protection for Dwelling and Personal Assets

A key advantage that is received when you get home insurance is that it can protect your dwelling and personal assets. If you are ever a victim of a fire or other situation that causes a lot of damage, the cost of remediation and repair can be significant. With a home insurance plan, you will have the financial support needed to make the necessary repairs or asset replacements.

Liability Coverage

Property owners should be aware of their various personal liability risks. You could be held responsible for any damages that are related to accidents that occur in your home or on your property. As damages for an injury claim can be very significant, you will want to protect yourself as well as you can. A full home insurance plan will offer the right coverage needed to protect your home.

Anyone that is a property owner in the Albany, NY area should consider purchasing their own home. If you are going to buy a home here, you should call NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. The insurance professionals at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency know the value that comes with home insurance. They can offer you the support that is needed to understand your needs and options and build an appropriate plan that is ideal for your situation.

How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need?

Posted on May 26, 2021 by AgentInsure

If you live in Albany, NY, and have a car, you really need to consider auto insurance. Remember that some drivers on the road do not have automobile insurance policies. This means that they are putting you in grave danger every time you are on the road. However, how much auto insurance you need is a major question. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency highlights what you need to consider.

Bodily Injury Liability

The first and most essential aspect you should consider is bodily injury liability. It is a crucial cover specifically designed to help you address the bodily injury you will get after an accident. Your family members and other people on the cover will also access this coverage as listed on the policy. In this case, different people include the passengers in the car during the point of the accident.

Property Damage Liability

There is a high chance you will damage property belonging to other individuals. This is something you should also cover with an insurance company. The property damage liability is very effective in helping you address and pay all the damages you will be caused to property belonging to other people in case of an accident.

Collision Coverage

Repairing a car is very expensive. That is why you need collision insurance coverage. This is an essential cover that can help you fix the car when you’re involved in a collision. It is also an effective policy that can help you to replace the vehicle when damaged beyond repair. This coverage covers other foreign objects other than a collision with other vehicles.

What Next?

In Albany NY, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can help you find the insurance policy you need. In this case, the auto insurance policy that you should have should address all the major needs that are likely to arise when driving such cars. Contact us today for more information about auto insurance.

What type of life insurance should I get?

Posted on April 19, 2021 by AgentInsure

People that live all over the Albany, NY area will have many different insurance needs. A life insurance plan is a good type of coverage to get. This form of protection offers financial protection to those that rely on you. When looking for life insurance there are a few different options, the most common of which are term and whole life. It is important to consider the benefits of each option when determining which is right for you.

Term Life Insurance

A good type of life insurance to get term life insurance. With a term life policy, it will provide you with coverage for a specific period of time. You can build a policy on your own that matches your needs for coverage amount and term length. This is often an ideal option as it is easily customized and monthly premiums tend to be more affordable compared to other types of coverage.

Whole Life Insurance

Another type of life insurance to consider is whole life coverage. A whole life policy is ideal as it can provide you with coverage for the rest of your life. Further, while the premiums tend to cost more, there are investment advantages. Some of your monthly payment will go into an account that will slowly appreciate in value. Eventually, you will reach a point where you can convert this account to cash or post it as collateral to a loan.

Picking a life insurance plan in the Albany, NY area is a big decision. When you are shopping for coverage, it would be ideal to call NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. The professionals that you speak with at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can offer you great guidance and advice. This can help you pick an ideal policy that meets your needs.

Commercial Insurance Requirements in New York

Posted on April 5, 2021 by AgentInsure

If you own and operate a business in New York, you need to understand and put in place the required amount of commercial insurance to protect your business that you have put your hard-earned money into, along with your time and hard work. The commercial insurance agents at the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY know and understand the importance of commercial insurance requirements for your business.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Under New York law, it is required for you to have worker’s compensation insurance in place if you have three or more employees, either full-time or part-time. Worker’s compensation will cover the medical bills for your employees if one or more of them are injured while they are on the job or become sick because of something related to their job. It will also reimburse them for their wages for the time they have to be off of work.

Commercial Auto Insurance

In New York, all motorists must have at least a liability auto insurance policy in place and that applies to you and your business also. If your business owns vehicles, you must have at least liability insurance on each vehicle. Also, if privately owned vehicles are used for your business, you must ensure that those vehicles are covered under at least a liability auto insurance policy. This type of policy will cover any injuries or property damage that are caused by you or one of your employees in an accident if it is deemed to be your fault or the fault of one of your employees.

Other Commercial Insurance Coverage

In addition to the commercial insurance policy requirements set forth by the state of New York, you can also obtain more coverage for your business. General liability insurance will protect you if a customer or some other visitor to your business is injured in an accident or if an accident is caused by your business. Professional liability insurance is also available that will cover you in a lawsuit if you are accused of something like slander or libel. Cyber liability insurance will protect your customers if there is some sort of cyber-attack on the data records of your customers.

To determine which commercial insurance coverage options you want to obtain for your business, call one of our commercial insurance agents today at the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY today for an appointment or quote!

What is a home inventory and why should you have one

Posted on March 23, 2021 by AgentInsure

Homeownership brings a sense of pride and achievement. For most people, it is the largest investment you will ever make. Having good home insurance to protect it is important. So many things can happen to damage or totally destroy your home. Having a home inventory is an important part of what you do to protect your home. If you live in or near Albany, NY, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is your local full-service independent insurance agency. Let us do the work of shopping for the best insurance for your needs.

A home inventory is a detailed listing of all your possessions. If you ever suffer a loss and file a claim with your home insurance carrier, the inventory will help to make the process a lot less painful. Trying to create the list when your home has burned to the ground or been blown away by a tornado is not something anyone wants to do. By creating one when everything is where it should be and storing it safely, you will be able to collect your insurance money and be on the way to returning your life to normalcy.

Making a home inventory takes time but doesn’t have to be terribly complicated. You can do it with a pad and pen going from room to room. You don’t have to do it all in one day unless you want to. Be as detailed as possible and include more information than you think you might need. Take pictures to store with your inventory. If you have receipts or invoices showing where and when things were purchased that will help guarantee you will be able to replace exactly what you had.

At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY, we are here to help with all your insurance needs. Contact us for a no-obligation quote.

Why do I need auto insurance in Albany?

Posted on March 8, 2021 by AgentInsure

If you live in the Albany, NY area, you will likely want to own a car. When you are a vehicle owner in this state, you will find that it is a lot easier to get around town and complete all the tasks that you need to handle. If you are interested in getting a new car, it would be helpful to also think about insurance. There are several reasons why someone here needs to have auto insurance.

Insurance is Legally Required

A key reason that people in this area of New York will need to have auto insurance is that it is legally required. When you want to drive a car in this state, you need to abide by New York’s laws that require you to carry liability insurance at all times. If you do not maintain this coverage and you are caught driving without it, you could face some penalties.

Insurance Will Protect Car

You will also need to get an auto insurance plan when you are here because it can protect your car. If you do purchase a vehicle, you will want to know that it is properly covered and protected. A great way that you can do this is by getting auto insurance with collision and comprehensive protection. With this coverage, you will know you are protected if your car is stolen or damaged.

If you are going to get an auto insurance plan in the Albany, NY area, it would be a good idea for you to call the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. The team with the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can offer you the guidance that is needed to understand your options. They can then help you build a policy that properly addresses your needs.

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