NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency provides coverage to Albany, NY residents. We are an independent agency. We offer our clients unique policies designed to help them manage risks. We have relationships with over 30 insurance companies around the country. We look forward to helping you protect your assets.

Home Insurance Roof Inspection Tips

Your Albany, NY home is one of your most prized possessions. Home insurance gives you peace of mind that you are covered during a state of emergency. Home insurance covers any damage to the structure of your home. This includes damage caused by severe weather or an accidental fire. All of your personal items are covered if they are damaged, or you are a victim of theft. Liability coverage is essential if you plan to invite a lot of guests over or if you have a pet. You will be covered if one of your guests is accidentally injured on your property or if your pet damages someone else’s property.

It’s expected that you will perform regular maintenance on your home. As your roof is one of the foundation pieces, it’s important that you take care of it. Regular roof inspections will ensure that it stays healthy. An inspector will check the roof to see if it is showing signs of wear and tear. They also check the gutters and caulking. If you stay in an area that is prone to heavy storms, try to have your roof inspected every few years. Roof damage can lead to major issues in the future such as gutter problems and rotting wood. Keep in mind that you may not be covered for issues such as termite damage and mold. These are considered issues that could have been avoided if you took care of your home.

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about home insurance.

The year 2020 required many companies to revise business models to allow employees to work from home, as this was needed to ensure the safety of employees in the face of a pandemic. If you were one of the many employees who began working from home, it is essential to understand if you are covered by home insurance.

If you live (and thus, work) in the greater Albany, NY capital region, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency’s professionals are available to assist you in determining if working from home creates unnecessary risk or risk that can be mitigated with insurance.   

Standard home insurance typically does not provide enough coverage for employees who work from home. For instance, a typical homeowner’s insurance may not cover damages to equipment owned by your employer. So, contingent on your position, it may be wise to add these coverages –

• Professional Indemnity – covers you if someone claims that your professional advice or service was incorrect or was the cause of financial liability.  
• Public Liability – covers you if anyone (i.e.., clients) gets injured on your property.

While insurance will cover you in your home, various aspects may be problematic when working from home. Depending on the employer, you may find it difficult to be compensated if something unfortunate occurs. These potential problems may include property losses, health-related sickness/injuries, or liability requirements in terms of safety.

Additionally, it is essential to have a complete understanding of what your employer’s insurance will cover.

Working from home can be considered either a blessing or a curse, depending on who is asked. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency operates as an independent agency located in Albany, NY. Our professionals can help you determine your coverage needs before anything happens that requires insurance coverage. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

When you buy home insurance it gives you a feeling of security knowing your house is covered for all the things that can go wrong. Well, almost all the things that can go wrong. Every home insurance policy has exclusions and knowing what they are, places you in the best position to find an alternative way to protect yourself. You can read your home insurance policy to see exactly what the exclusions are or you can talk to your insurance agent. In Albany, NY, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is a full-service independent agency with access to more than 40 carriers allowing us to help you find the perfect policy to serve your needs. 

Owner negligence

Your home is your castle and you need to maintain your castle or your insurance company will probably drop your coverage. If you sustain damage due to not doing necessary upkeep or preventative measures, the insurance company is going to deny your claim. If they do an inspection of your house at renewal time or just a drive-by, they can require you to do the necessary work to make your home compliant with their requirements. 

Sewer back-up

It’s hard to imagine anything more disgusting than having a sewer back up into your house. To add insult to injury, home insurance doesn’t cover sewer backups. You can add the coverage to your primary policy however and you will be very glad you did if you ever need it.

Floods

As shocking as it may be, floods are excluded from home insurance. The federal government offers insurance you may purchase through the National Flood Insurance Program. It covers both your home and the contents. 

Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY to discuss your home insurance needs. We will discuss what you can do to add the protection you need to cover the exclusion on your policy. 

In the Albany, NY area there continues to be plenty of advantages that will come when you purchase a home. Those that buy a property here can enjoy tax benefits, the joy of having a stable place to live, and price appreciation. If you are going to purchase a home here, you need to make sure that you properly cover it with insurance. There are several reasons why you may need to have home insurance here. 

Insurance Required by Lender

One of the reasons that people all over this area of New York need to have home insurance is that it could be required by their mortgage lender. If you have decided to use a mortgage to finance the purchase of the property, you will want to make sure that comply with the lender’s home insurance requirements. Most of the time, you will need to have a full policy in place.

Coverage is Needed to Provide Adequate Protection

Even if your home was not bought with a mortgage, you should still get home insurance. Having home insurance is the only way that you can adequately protect yourself and your home. With a full home insurance policy, you can receive great coverage and protection for your dwelling. Additionally, you will also receive liability coverage that will be very valuable if you or your property ever cause damages or bodily injury. 

When you do get home insurance in the Albany, NY area, you will get a lot of valuable coverage. If you are in the market for a new policy, you should call the team at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. If you do call the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency you can learn more about your insurance options and how it can cover you. 

Are you about to sign up for homeowners’ insurance? This can be a difficult task especially if you’re unaware of some of the finer details of what it’s all about. It definitely will pay off if you do a little research and know what questions to ask when you go to an agent like those at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, which serves the Albany, NY region.

Here are some questions you should be asking when you first talk to an insurance agent.

What does the standard policy cover?

The standard home insurance policy typically will cover four areas: liability, personal property, dwelling, and additional expenses.

• Liability coverage is for bodily injuries that occur in your home.
• Personal property covers any personal belongings that you have in your house.
• Dwelling coverage specifically is used if there are damages to the structure of your house.
• Additional expenses coverage is for if you are displaced from your home due to extensive damage or something other serious reason and it will cover hotel expenses and transportation.

What level of home insurance do you actually need?

There are actual cash value and replacement costs. You should consider which of these you need and talk to your agent to learn which is ideal for your situation. If you intend to live in the house for many years then it might be better to go with a replacement cost in your policy.

Do you require an inspection of the property before getting insurance?

It may be required to have a home inspection first. You can check with your agent to determine if this is the case so that the company can evaluate the risks and calculate your rates properly.

How do you set a deductible?

Think about if you want a lower or higher deductible. This determines the amount that you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket before the policy kicks in to cover the rest. A higher deductible means you’re paying less on a yearly basis though it will cost you more if you do have damages to your property.

For advice on these topics and more, talk to a NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency of Albany, NY agent right away.

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency that serves the Albany, NY community. We strive to help our clients find the insurance coverage that they are looking for, while also maintaining our commitment to providing excellent customer service.

Home Insurance

At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we use our relationships with multiple insurance carriers to ensure that our clients find the home insurance coverage that they need. Your home insurance policy will cover your property in the event that it is damaged due to a severe storm or a flood. Your personal items are also covered if they are somehow stolen.

Looking Ahead To The Summer

During the summer months, you’ll likely do some traveling. However, it is important that your home is protected while you enjoy the summer. Here are some things to consider during the summer.

Inviting Family Over

If you plan to invite your friends and family over during the summer for a cookout, make sure that you have liability coverage. Liability coverage will protect you in the event that someone is injured. If you have a pool or trampoline in your backyard, consider adding umbrella insurance coverage. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency will sit down with you and help you evaluate your options.

Travel Protection

If you are one of many people who enjoy going on vacation during the summer, your home insurance policy will cover you while you are not at home. You can also add coverage to protect your belongings while you are out of town.

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency Can Assist You

Stop by our office in Albany, NY to learn more information! We will advise you through the process to help you find the home insurance coverage that you need.

With summer right around the corner, now’s the time to prepare your home for the season. By planning ahead, you can get everything done in time for the summer holidays. These tips from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency can help you get started in prepping your Albany, NY home.

Check Your AC

Service your AC to make sure it’s in good working order for the heat of summer.  Have your technician inspect and clean out your unit and change worn out parts. By getting this done in a timely manner, you won’t be caught unprepared when the first wave of hot weather hits.  

Deep Clean the Interior of Your Home

If you’re planning to have family over for the summer holidays, take time to deep clean your home to include kitchen, bathrooms, windows, and fans. Move furniture around to reach those out of the way places and professionally clean carpets to remove deeply entrenched dirt and grime.

Paint Interior Walls

Touch up your walls with a fresh coat of paint to make your home look and feel fresh and clean. You may even want to change your color scheme to create a whole new environment. Painting will enhance your ambiance and set the mood for special occasions with your family. 

Declutter 

Declutter your home by putting winter clothes, winter sports gear, portable heaters, and other winter equipment in storage for the summer. This gives you more space to accommodate visitors and makes your home look and feel more spacious. Decluttering also reduces the risk of accidents and makes your home less of a fire hazard.

Review Home Insurance

Review your home insurance in Albany, NY to ensure you have the protection you need for the busy summer season. For quality home coverage at reasonable costs, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today.