You may not need the extra insurance offered by the rental car company. If the rental contract does not exceed 30 days and the rental car will not be driven out of the United States, its territories and/or possessions, and/or Canada, then the extra “collision damage waiver” insurance and the “liability” insurance are unnecessary. However, if your travel plans include Europe, then we’ll need to talk.

When you have a New York personal auto policy, you automatically receive rental car protection with that policy.

The building inspector will show up whether you are building a new home, adding to your existing home or rebuilding after loss by fire. Local governments enforce building codes that establish minimum standards for construction that ensure our safety and protect our investment.

This becomes an insurance issue when compliance with the new standards adds cost to the rebuilding of your home and the homeowners policy you purchased covers only replacement of the home that previously existed. The typical policy promises to pay for costs to rebuild the dwelling as it existed when the loss occurred and generally allows only an extra 10 percent of the dwelling coverage limit to pay the extra costs generated by an updated building code. Under most building codes,
if damage to a dwelling exceeds 50 percent,
the undamaged portion must be demolished
and rebuilt.

Suppose your existing home can be replaced for $250,000 and requires an additional $37,500 to construct it to current building code. If half the home were damaged, the typical homeowners policy would pay $125,000, allowing only an additional $25,000 for the cost to demolish and reconstruct the other half of the house and to pay the $37,500 cost of bringing the whole house to code. You would, then, be short about $137,500.

These extra uncovered expenses can be insured with an ordinance or law endorsement for additional premium. Even if your policy insures your dwelling on the basis of replacement cost, you still need this specific coverage. Please call our office if you would like us to quote the additional premium for this protection, so that all the costs to rebuild are covered.

When it comes to preparing for a disaster, all scenarios must be anticipated. There are community response and evacuation plans to take into account; but also, there are personal, business and family emergency plans that must work within the larger community and regional plans. In addition to overall plans and procedures, little things exist to consider: pets; phone numbers; protection of vital documents and records; and medications.

Good planning can go out the window once disaster strikes. That is why the first step in disaster planning must be realizing you will not be prepared for the disaster … that you may have to wait it out. The disaster supply kit is essential in disaster planning.

Of course, you will not have time to shop before a disaster; so, you must select the items in your disaster supply kit carefully. Also, you should store your kit in portable containers that will be easy to remove quickly from your home should the need to evacuate arise.
Your kit should be prepared to serve the number of people likely to be in the building, home or vehicle
at any given time.

Your kit should include:
• three-day supply of nonperishable food;
• three-day supply of water
(one gallon per person per day);
• nonelectric can opener;
• battery-powered radio with extra batteries;
• flashlight with extra batteries;
• sanitation and hygiene items;
• matches in a water-proof container;
• whistle;
• blankets;
• clothing (some articles should be waterproof);
• copies of important identification documents;
• prescriptions and vital medical prescription medications-including spare eyeglasses and
contact lens supplies;
• cooking utensils;
• canned fuel for heat and/or cooking;
• tools;
• items for children and infants;
• pet-care items;
• coins and cash; and
• cell phone chargers.

Surviving a disaster requires planning; with the proper preparation, you’ll be ready to weather the storm.

Summer—a time for getting away or enjoying the comforts of your backyard. And, just as sunscreen should protect you from a terrible sunburn, your insurance policies should protect you from summer’s unique risks.

But are you covered?
We can help answer that question.
Vacations. Thinking of taking a vacation this summer? Travel insurance can provide you with peace of mind—offering coverage to protect against trip cancellations and delays due to unexpected illness, injury or death of a family member; financial default by a tour operator; bad weather or natural disasters that close travel services; and other circumstances that could not have been reasonably foreseen. Lost luggage also may be covered under a basic policy, but expensive items such as jewelry or sport equipment may not.

Summer transportation. If you are renting a car, your own automobile insurance policy will at least partially cover you in the event of an accident or other damages. (See article on page 1.) However, if you’ve decided this is the year to purchase that boat you’ve always dreamed about, remember they need their own insurance policies. Most boats are not covered under homeowners or automobile insurance policies.

Selecting the right insurance agency is a choice that should last a lifetime. As a professional, independent insurance agency, we pride ourselves on maintaining long-term relationships with our clients; adjusting their coverage as personal, business or professional changes take place
.
There’s no room for surprises when it comes to obtaining a new insurance policy.

Choosing insurance is a tremendous responsibility, and we are delighted to assist in that process.
We consider your needs personally, and intelligently.