Accidents happen during any season. However, winter, unfortunately, is a very common time for accidents because of the hazardous conditions snow and ice cause on the road. Not to mention, not everyone is an excellent winter driver, which means others may cause an accident on the road. It’s important to know how to prevent an accident on hazardous roads. 

1. Update Insurance Policy  
One of the main things an Albany, NY drivers should do in order to prepare for winter is update their insurance policy. The roads become more hazardous, which leads to more accidents. It’s an excellent time for a driver to update his or her policy to include full tort. This way his or her vehicle is covered in addition to the other party’s.  

2. Drive Slower 
A driver needs to adjust his or her speed based on the road conditions. Ultimately, the driver needs to slow down to be able to handle the car more optimally in winter weather.  

3. Don’t Slam on the Brakes 
Although the driver may feel the need to slam on the brakes to prevent sliding, this isn’t a good idea; it’s how the car will continue to slide out of control. 

4. Watch Other Drivers
Just because a person can handle his or her vehicle in the snow doesn’t mean other drivers on the road can. Wintertime is the ideal time to become more aware of others on the road. If a driver doesn’t already practice driving defensively, he or she should begin doing so in winter.  

To learn more about tips for driving in winter or to update a current policy or purchase a new one, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the Albany, NY area, at 518-608-5797. 

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency services residents in the New York area by providing them with topical information about homeowners insurance.  We want policyholders to get the most from their insurance.  

When you purchase home insurance your investment is automatically protected.   A good policy gives you the assurance that no damages from a disaster will take you unawares.  Although it may not take care of every component you will know you are covered for the regular items.  

A good homeowners insurance policy does not have to cost a bundle.  This type of insurance has a lower premium compared to other policies.  Home insurance also coincides with the kind of home you own which means that your rates will reflect the value of your home, so evaluate your property – and the initial cost of your premium – before you purchase it.

Possessing homeowner insurance gives you peace of mind where home repairs are concerned.  You are far better off having a policy that provides you with all the coverage you need as compared to one with only minimum coverage. There is no need to deal with the stress of worrying about insurance when you can have a policy that gives you everything you need.

These are just some of the various ways you can get the most from your homeowner insurance policy.  There are a lot more benefits besides these that it’s an advantage to know about.  Knowing what you are covered for and just how much a good policy can help you should be a great incentive for purchasing the best policy there it.  To find out all of the benefits of home insurance and what a good policy can do for you go online or call an agent.
 

Buying a new dishwasher or refrigerator can be a much-needed update to your kitchen, but every new purchase usually means that there is an older, possibly broken appliance that you need to get rid of.  Unfortunately, old appliances take up a lot of space in a landfill.  Throwing out your old appliance can do a lot of harm to the environment.

Fortunately, there are better ways to get rid of your old appliance.  Try these ideas out.

1. Advertise the appliance as free.  Many local repair shops look for old appliances because they can reuse the parts that work.  This keeps the majority of the old appliance out of the landfill, and it can help others who need to have their old appliances fixed rather than buy a new one.  Best of all, most will pick them up for free.
2. Call your local recycling center. Appliances use a lot of high-value metals, making them good for scrap even if they’re broken beyond repair.  The problem is that the old appliances have to be broken down into their component materials before they can be recycled.  Because this is labor intensive, not all recycling centers will take old appliances, but many know someone who will strip out the components for extra money.
3. Look for recycling drives.  Occasionally, local appliance stores or government programs will run specials that allow consumers to get a credit for turning in old appliances.  These programs usually are advertised in local newspapers, but ask about them when buying your new appliance.  Often a sales rep will know when the next recycling drive will be held.

After replacing your old appliance with a new one, remember to update your insurance policy.  Call the agents at  NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to help you with this.  

Many states have homeowners insurance requirements, and most banks will not lend for a mortgage without an appropriate level of coverage. So even though you have to have it, what can it really do for you? Ultimately coverage varies by policy, but these are the three most common scenarios that are protected.

Theft

One of the most important parts of home insurance is protecting the assets inside the home. When choosing your policy, you should always consider how valuable the things in your home are. From electronics to jewelry, most items can be covered against theft, usually up to a predetermined value. That means that the disaster of a home burglary can largely be mitigated by giving you the means to replace your valuables.

Human Caused Damage

Another major concern for homeowners is significant damage to the dwelling itself. In cases where human actions cause the damage, such as a car driving into a building or a worker damaging important infrastructure, most policies have conditions that will help you pay for repair or even relocate if necessary.

Liability

This is the concept that most owners overlook, but in many cases the owner of a building can be faulted for injuries to people on the premises. Like any aspect of insurance, the scope of this protection will depend on policy you choose, but protecting yourself from lawsuits should never be overlooked. There are numerous accounts across the country where owners have been found liable for injuries even to attempted burglars.

If you plan or hope to own a home, you need to understand your insurance options. There are many benefits to committing to a good policy, so spend some time to find the perfect plan for your lifestyle. You can schedule an appointment with the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to get expert advice from an agent well versed in the laws and needs of the Albany, NY region.

If you’re house sitting in Albany, NY, you’ve been entrusted with the job of caring for someone else’s living space while they’re away. That can be a hefty job, and one that you need to carefully consider, because it shows the level of faith the homeowners have in you. One of the things some house sitters do, and that you should avoid, is snooping around. It’s natural to be a little curious, and you probably assume no one will know, but that’s not really the point. There’s no reason to go through someone else’s personal things just because they’re away.

Looking for extra bathroom tissue or paper towels makes sense, or opening a kitchen cabinet to find a pan to cook something in, but going through medicine cabinets, dresser drawers, and other out of the way places that aren’t yours should be avoided. Some homeowners have camera installed to catch these kinds of behaviors, and they may also be able to tell if the things they left behind are out of place or have been moved when they come back. You probably won’t be asked to house sit again if you’re a snoop, so make sure to avoid it if you want more house sitting work in the future.

If you do look through cabinets or other areas and happen to damage something, make sure you’re honest and up-front about it. That will make you look better, and will give the homeowners an opportunity to file an insurance claim if the item was valuable. With good coverage from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, both homeowners and house sitters will be protected in the event of a problem. That can provide everyone involved in the house sitting transaction with good peace of mind, and help make them more comfortable with the arrangement, so they can enjoy their time away, or the time spent watching the person’s home.

Decorations set the tone for a Halloween party. Without dim areas, cobwebs and jack-o-lanterns just wouldn’t be the same. Decorations, however, should never create a safety hazard — no matter how good they look. If you’re hosting a Halloween party this October, we have a few suggestions that will help prevent accidents at your get-together.

Make Sure Everyone Can See

When decorating for Halloween, it’s important to make sure everyone can see. When people can’t see, they trip over objects, fall down steps and otherwise injure themselves. To reduce the likelihood of an accident, you can:

• leave lights on in main areas, such as where food is being served
• decorate with holiday-themed lights
• make sure there’s nothing for people to trip over in poorly lit areas

Leaving parts of your home well-lit doesn’t need to detract from your decorations. For instance, you can add a Halloween flair to your dining area with ghost-shaped cookies and an orange cake, without dimming any lights in the area.

Make Sure You’re Insured

Even when safety is kept in mind, accidents can still happen. Before people start arriving for your party, you should make sure you’re protected with liability coverage. Often included in home insurance policies, liability coverage provides protection when you’re found responsible for a covered incident.

If you don’t have enough liability coverage, and you live in Albany, NY, contact us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. We’ve helped many homeowners in the area find the coverage they need, and our independent insurance agents can help you find a new home insurance policy quickly. Just make sure to send us a message before your party starts, so we can get you covered in time.

Saratoga Springs, New York is at the top of the state and is a relatively affluent area. There are many benefits to living in the area, including a full change of seasons throughout the year. Home prices are higher than the state average, though there are many events to enjoy for residents as well.

Home insurance is important to have and it’s possible to save by shopping around. The best thing to do is not wait until there is a loss to find out if you have the necessary type of insurance on your home. If your car is hit while it is sitting on your property, you want to be confident that you can file a claim and have it covered.

Enough coverage should be purchased so you have the ability to replace what is insured. This means that you want to look at “replacement” coverage over and “actual cash value” policy. While the latter is cheaper, it could result in you not being able to repair your car as needed – and this could be a problem.

Car damage on your property can be as a result of a tree hitting your car in Saratoga Springs or even another car slamming into the back of it. You cannot anticipate what is going to happen, but you can ensure you have the right coverage on your home.

We have agents to help you with home insurance and to deal with the car damage if and when it occurs. You need to think about what is on your property at all times and then determine the coverage that will protect it all. We are here to answer questions that you may have. We can then help you to find the most affordable policy by searching for quotes from different companies.

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It is another bustling day in Albany, NY. Maybe you are throwing a party to celebrate opening day of the upcoming Albany Devils hockey season, or having some girlfriends over before hitting Crossgates Mall for a day of fun. No matter your plans, you know that time with friends, family or acquaintances always equals a good time. The fun could quickly be brought to a halt if a guest is injured in your home or on your property.

As your independent agent in Albany, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency wants to make certain that the enjoyable times stay that way. Here are ten things you can do to ensure your visits from guests stay delightful and accident-free:

• Pick up toys and miscellaneous items on the floor
• Use rugs and mats that grip the surface below
• Make sure your stairs and handrails are up to code
• Keep decorative items off of steps
• Clean up spills immediately
• Replace any flooring that has holes or tears
• Keep rooms well-lit
• Throw away mats that are curling on the edges
• Keep walkways clear of leaves and snow, as well as free from ice
• Secure any cords that may become entangled with feet

As your independent agent, we want you to feel confident in your homeowners insurance coverage in case an accident ever does occur on your property. We will be happy to look at your current policy to ensure you have an adequate level of insurance to suit your needs. We can also run a comparative quote to make certain you are paying the lowest price for homeowners insurance.

To get a live comparative quote, or if you have concerns about how a personal injury claim may affect your homeowners policy in the 12203 area, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today. 

Not all homes in Albany, NY, have basements, but there are plenty that do. Basement walls are prone to cracking. In most cases, this is perfectly normal. However, when a small crack here and there turns into a very large crack or multiple cracks, then it is time to have them repaired. It can help to know what causes these cracks in your basement wall because your homeowners insurance may actually pay for the cracks to be repaired.

1. Stress Points – This is the most common cause of small cracks in the walls and are generally nothing to worry about. They will typically occur when sewer, gas or electric lines are being installed. This is because the concrete weakens, which results in the cracking. These cracks are most noticeable around the edges and corners of the windows.

2. Soil Saturation – This is when the soil underneath the foundation of the basement gets a little too wet. It causes the foundation to begin settling, which in turn results in wall cracks. The increased saturation could be a result of improper grading, poor guttering system or even lack of a sump pump.

3. Concrete Shrinking – When concrete is incorrectly poured, it can result in a number of issues. This includes the cracking of your basement walls. This is why it is crucial to have a professional pour your concrete slab because they know how different variables impact the way the concrete dries.

4. Drought – Just as too much saturation can cause cracks, too little saturation can as well. When the soil is too wet, it expands resulting in cracks. When the soil is too dry, it shrinks resulting in cracks. Although lack of rain can cause a drought and the basement cracks, it can also be a result of too many plants near your foundation.

What You Can Do About Basement Wall Cracks

If you just have a few hairline cracks here and there on your basement walls, then there really isn’t anything to worry about. However, when these cracks get longer and wider, it may be cause for concern. You should consult with your homeowners insurance company to see if the damage is covered and then hire a reputable foundation repair company to perform the necessary repairs.

If you’re unsure whether your insurance company will pay for concrete or porch damage caused by a sinking foundation, give us a call to speak to one of our independent agents who serve the Albany, NY 12203 area. We will gladly discuss with you your policy and your options.

We at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency are proud to offer not only auto insurance and commercial insurance, but also a variety of homeowners insurance policies to fit the needs of any homeowner in the Albany area. Homeowners need to have an insurance policy for several reasons, starting with the obvious: Most mortgage lenders actually make it part of the mortgage contract that the home buyer must maintain a homeowners policy.

Another reason that homeowners policies are so valuable is the protection that they provide for the policy holder. That protection includes:

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage is a type of protection for you as the owner of the property. If anyone other than your family were to visit your home and suffer from an injury while they are on the property, you could be held responsible for any recovery costs they may have. This could include doctor visits, hospital time, surgery, rehabilitation, and more.

Personal Possessions

Everything inside your home is covered by your homeowners policy. In a situation such as theft, vandalism, or property damage, your policy would pay for you to receive replacements for the items lost.

The Home Structure

The structure – the actual building of your home – is fully covered by your homeowners policy, as well. If your home is damaged by fire or other environmental hazards, this is the part of the policy that will provide for repairs to the home, or even for the construction of a new home if it is deemed a complete loss.

Don’t get caught without the level of homeowners insurance coverage you need. Instead, you can easily do price comparisons on the internet through NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to find out what options are available!