Water damage is considered the number one cause of weakened foundations. When water invades your home, it eventually causes serious structural damage. Not only does the water itself cause extensive damage, but with water comes a range of other issues, including termites, mold, and mildew, which can cause even more damage to your home in Albany, NY. Just a small amount of water can cause significant damage to your home, so it’s essential that you take the precautions against water damage. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency has put together a few tips to help protect your home from expensive water damage.

Routinely Check Hoses and Faucets

Hose and faucets with persistent leaks eventually cause mold and mildew, rot and even termites. It is important to routinely check all the hoses and faucets in your home for leaks and repair them as soon as possible. To check for leaks, look for dark spots inside sink cabinets, a rocking toilet, ceiling stains, and drips.

Only Run Water Appliances When You’re Home

As tempting as it is to start the dishwasher or washing machine before leaving for work or to run errands, it’s best to stay home while these appliances are running. The reason you should stay with these appliances is that all it takes is for a hose to break or the washing machine to overflow and you’re instantly facing serious water damage. If you are home when a problem occurs, you’ll be able to act quickly and deal with leaks when they happen, but if you’re away, by the time you get it home, it may be too late to prevent extensive damage. One thing to keep in mind is that just one burst hose has the potential to pump out 500-600 gallons of water into your home within an hour; this can result in a lot of extensive and expensive damage.

Maintain the Plumbing System

There’s nothing better than having access to a shower with high water pressure, but if the water pressure is too high, it may cause problems. The recommended water pressure for residential systems is typically between 40-70 PSI. The excess water pressure can put stress and pressure on the hoses and pipes, which may them to fail. Along with checking the water pressure, it’s also important to routinely check for leaks and pay attention to the signs of potential plumbing problems, such as noisy pipes, rusty water or moisture on walls or floors.

There are several ways your home can experience water damage, so it’s important to pay attention to areas where there is water, including the roof, gutters, plumbing system, and basement. If you do notice a potential problem, it’s essential that you repair the problem immediately.

Residents of Albany, NY interested in learning more information about home insurance should contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency.

Buying a home is always a very big decision that needs to be taken quite seriously. For those that are in the Albany area, it is also important to consider your home insurance needs. While it can seem like a complicated process, there are several tips that could be followed to help someone get into a quality home insurance policy that provides the right protection.

Know their Needs

When you are looking for home insurance in the Albany, NY area, it is important to consider your personal needs first. Most people will need to have coverage to rebuild and replace their property and personal assets as well as liability coverage. However, others may need additional coverage including insurance riders for valuable assets or additional liability coverage. By spending time considering your needs, you will make sure that you get coverage for all relevant risks.

Get Professional Support

Along with considering your own personal insurance needs, you should also seek out the advice and wisdom from a professional. Choosing your own home insurance policy can be a complicated process. To make it easier, you should speak with an insurance professional that can help you to build a policy. These insurance professionals will be able to provide you with guidance and support that could help you to get into the perfect policy for your situation.

There are clearly many great reasons to get home insurance in Albany, NY and speaking with a professional would always be helpful. Those that are in the area should contact the team NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to discuss their insurance needs. The NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency will carefully assess your individual needs and personal situation to help get you into the right policy that gives you the coverage you need. 

The agents of NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serve residents in Albany, NY and many of the surrounding communities. They understand the stress and frustration tornadoes and other types of storms can cause when they result in damage to a person’s home or property. The agents work with people every day who have experienced various types of weather-related events.

Tornado Damage

In most cases, tornado damage is covered by your homeowners’ insurance policy. While hurricanes and floods require a special type of rider, tornadoes do not. If your home is damaged during a storm, your homeowners’ policy is written to pay for the cost of the repairs to your roof and any other area of your home that has been affected.

Filing a Claim

Once the storm is over, you will need to immediately call your agent. An inspector will be sent to your home to determine the extent of the damages. It’s important that you take as many pictures as possible and document as much of the damage as you can so that everything is reported. The next step is to talk to your agent and file your claim. As soon as the claim has been approved, you will be able to start making the repairs to your home.

If you live in Albany, NY contact the agents of NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to discuss your homeowners’ insurance policy. They can look over your old policy and recommend changes that may work better for you. Schedule an appointment today to make sure you have the coverage you need. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Albany, NY is a great environment for living, working, and raising your family. Your homeowners policy gives you the needed security and protection you need so you know that if anything happens your family will be able to move on without starting all over again.

But is home insurance required by law? There is no law in New York which requires anyone who owns a home to purchase an insurance policy. However, you may still be required to have a policy, and there may even be limits and deductibles you are required to meet.

Just as a landlord may require tenants to have renters insurance to protect their personal possessions, your mortgage holder will probably require you to hold a homeowners policy. The bank or lender which holds the mortgage also has an interest in the property, meaning that if the house burns down before you finish paying off your mortgage, the lender suffers a loss too.

At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we work with our clients to find the policy that best suits their individual needs. Besides the structure itself, you will want to protect your possessions inside the home. 

Basic coverage will protect fixtures like your big appliances and flooring, but you can also get coverage for personal items like movies, clothing and bedding. While not necessarily covered by a standard policy, you can add protection for other items not covered, like valuable jewelry.

You want to protect your home in Albany, NY even if you have paid off your mortgage. If you are like most people, your home is your biggest investment.

If you want to make sure you have the protection you need, we at  Twin Bridges Insurance Agency are happy to help. Call today with any questions or a free quote.

Many homeowners in or around the Albany, NY area have discovered problems that originated in the crawl space area of their home. This area houses the pipes, insulation, and wiring needed for your home, and damage to this area can be costly and time-consuming. What many homeowners are finding, however, is the benefit of crawl space encapsulation and how it is assisting home insurance policies from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. 

Preventing Mold & Mildew

With the crawl space encapsulation, the area is covered in thick plastic, preventing moisture from getting into the covered areas. When moisture builds in an area over time, mold and mildew will continue to grow and can work its way into the home. This will cause structural damage to the home as well as health issues for the occupants. 

Improve Air Quality

By creating a vapor barrier beneath your home with the crawl space encapsulation, the air quality that comes from this area and into the home ventilation is not carrying mold and dirt particles. The air is much cleaner and essentially filtered before coming into the home. 

Decreased Energy Bill & Save Money

Because the crawl space is essentially sealed and not allowing exposure for damages, your energy bill will decrease. Because there are no drafts and the area is sealed, the heat and cool air will be preserved in the home, minimizing the need for the HVAC system. Because you have incorporated this energy saving maintenance on your home, you may be eligible for tax incentives for your home. 

The agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency proudly serve the insurance needs to residents in or around Albany, NY. Give our agency a call today for a home insurance quote that fits your needs.

Do you own a great deal of collectible and antique items? Then you should see to it that the value is protected by getting these possessions insured. Find out exactly what you can do in your unique situation by contacting NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, which serves the Albany, NY area.

Are Your Belongings All Covered in Home Insurance?

It is important to look into what is covered by your home insurance policy. In many instances, antiques and other rare items you own just won’t be included in the policy. In fact, there is a coverage category that specifically is for collectibles.

Why You May Need Collectibles Insurance

There are several emergency situations that can lead to damage of your precious collectibles or antiques. For instance, your wine collection may become damaged during a heat wave. Also, you may have pipes break in your basement where you are storing a baseball card collection, and they may develop mildew if not discovered right away, or if you are not able to dry them properly.

Each of these scenarios can be quite devastating for an avid collector. Even though your possessions likely have a sentimental value to you as well, you can at least recover what they are worth if you have the appropriate insurance coverage.

Avoid Problems By Talking to an Insurance Agent

It is ideal to discuss what you have in your house with a reputable home insurance agent, like the professionals at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency of Albany, NY. You’re sure to have greater peace of mind when you have a good policy in place. The threat of a fire, flood, other types of natural disaster, or various other emergencies should not leave you stressed. Reach out to the experts today.

If your home has suffered wear and tear over the years or you need more space to accommodate your growing family, you may want to renovate your Albany, NY abode. Home renovations provide a practical means for upgrading and restoring a home. If home renovations are in your immediate future, talk to us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to see how these renovations will affect your home insurance coverage and cost.

Increase in Home Value   

Major home improvements like a new roof, new bathroom and kitchen remodel will increase the value of your property, especially if you use costly materials to get that “designer look.” You’ll need to update your insurance to cover the new value of your home.

Ideally, you should have enough dwelling coverage to replace your home if it’s lost in a fire or natural disaster. Once renovations are done, your NY Twins Bridges Insurance agent can help you determine how much dwelling insurance you need to fully protect your home.

Protection for New Renovations

You’ll also need to update your policy to add home renovations to your coverage as they weren’t a part of your policy when you first got it.

Discount on Insurance Cost

Home upgrades that improve the safety and security of your home may qualify you for a discount on your home insurance premium. These include upgrades to your electrical, HVAC and plumbing system which can help reduce the risk of fire and water damage. A new alarm system or home automation system will enhance the security of your property which may result in paying less for your coverage. By updating your insurance policy you can take advantage of these savings.

To learn more about home insurance options, coverage and costs, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY.

Owning a home is a great long-term financial option. For those that are in the Albany, NY area, owning a home also comes with a lot of important decisions that need to be made. One important choice that you will have to make is whether or not you should get a home insurance policy. There are several reasons why having a home insurance policy is a necessity. 

Give You Property Coverage

Since your home is a very valuable asset, you need to make sure that it is properly covered by insurance. One of the best ways to do this is by having home property coverage. When you have home insurance, you will receive coverage for a variety of losses including storm damage, fire, vandalism, and even theft. This can give you peace of mind that you are covered during a tough situation.

Liability Protection

You will also receive the liability coverage that you need. If you own a property, you will be taking on responsibility whenever someone enters your home. If they are hurt while on your land, you could be deemed liable. Since this could then lead to a big lawsuit, you will want to have coverage in place to protect you. When you have a home insurance policy, you will also get a liability insurance coverage that will give you the support and protection that you need. 

If you own a home in the Albany, NY area, the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency could be a big help. When you contact the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, the team will be able to explain to you all of the reasons why you should have home insurance and the protections that it provides. This will then help you to choose the right policy for your situation. 

Are you overwhelmed with the process of purchasing home insurance in Albany, NY? If so, you need to use the tips and information here. The fact is, buying insurance doesn’t have to be stressful, but you may need a bit of help to get started. One of the best things you can do is work with a reputable insurance company, such as Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. Some other helpful tips that will make this process a bit easier can be found here.

1. Bundle

One of the first things you should consider doing when buying home insurance is to bundle the policies you already have. For example, you likely have car insurance and life insurance – so why not bundle these policies altogether? The fact is, this is not only convenient, but it can also help you save a significant amount of money and who doesn’t like to save money?

2. Compare Quotes

The next step in purchasing home insurance is to compare quotes. While you may want to bundle with your existing insurance provider, this isn’t going to necessarily give you the best price. As a result, it may be smart to shop around all of your policies. Who knows, you may walk away saving several hundred dollars off of your premiums each year.

3. Work with a Reputable Agent

One of the absolute best things you can do when it comes to purchasing home insurance is to work with a reputable agent. They will be able to help you find the policy that best meets your needs.

If you are ready to purchase home insurance for your Albany, NY home, be sure to use the tips here. Working with NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serving the Albany area is beneficial as you try to find the right policy for your needs.

First-time homebuyers find it particularly hard to navigate through the process. While the steps of buying a home vary from person to person or from state to state, the below tips can help people that intend to buy a home in Albany, NY.

Be realistic
While you should be picky about the kind of home you want to own, keep in mind that you might not find a perfect home. List down the features that you wouldn’t compromise on and look for a house with such. 

Stick to a pre-determined budget
Before you begin looking for a suitable home, work out a budget and stick to it. Consider your monthly expenditure and factor in your expected monthly payments to establish whether it is affordable. Keep in mind that apart from your monthly repayments, you will be incurring maintenance costs. 

Explore your financing options
Establish the rates of monthly payments you will be most comfortable with and get quotes from multiple lenders. Also, consider the lenders’ responsiveness before settling down on one. Remember to ask the different financiers about the discounts you are eligible for. 

Hire a real estate agent
A buyer’s agent is best placed to advice you on the available listings that have the features you desire. Apart from hiring a person that you will get along with, consider their knowledge about the area as well as their reputation. 

Consider a home insurance plan
One of the mistakes that first-time homebuyers make is cutting down on the cost of their home insurance policy by going for a less expensive policy. In most cases, this implies less coverage and more expenses from your pocket should you file a claim. To avoid this, factor in your insurance policy as you set your budget. 
NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is available to discuss home insurance plan to Albany, NY first time homeowners. Contact us for a free estimate.