New jewelry for Valentine’s day?

New Bling from Your Valentine? Make Sure It’s Covered

No one can put a price on sentimental value, but insuring your jewelry will keep it financially protected should it ever be lost or stolen. So, if you receive a gem for Valentine’s Day, here are a few things to help you understand and protect its value.

First, have it appraised. That can help you assign a dollar value to this meaningful item. Keep your receipt or appraisal with your home inventory records and take a picture of the item, too. If it’s not something you’ll use often, consider storing it in a safe or a safety deposit box.

Then, once you know the value, think about how the item will be financially protected.

If you’ve purchased homeowners through Erie Insurance, you probably have a $3,000 limit for the theft of specific types of personal items, automatically. If you own jewelry, watches, furs or precious stones that are worth more than $3,000 combined, or if you own any one item that’s worth more than $3,000, you may want to purchase additional insurance.

ERIE offers several options that can help you protect these valuables:

• Purchasing an expanded or enhanced endorsement. For an additional premium, you can increase your per item coverage limits from $3,000 to $5,000 for extra theft coverage. With this option, you can make a claim on any one item up to $5,000. The homeowners deductible applies.
• Purchasing a personal inland marine policy. You can add a personal inland marine endorsement to your Erie Insurance homeowners policy or purchase a separate personal inland marine policy from ERIE. These policies specifically cover expensive items such as jewelry, furs, watches or precious stones. This type of policy provides comprehensive coverage, including theft, misplacement or losing a valuable item. The policy can be purchased with no deductible. Or, for a reduced premium, a deductible can be applied.

Thinking about how to protect your belongings doesn’t have to be hard. Give us a call. We can help you review your coverage and determine if more coverage is needed.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Happy New Year!

Making Good on Your New Year’s Resolve

Don’t drop the ball on your New Year’s resolutions. This year, try some resolutions that are easy to keep and will protect you and your family well into next January and beyond.

1. Don’t be a distracted driver – Many vehicle crashes are avoidable if you pay attention to the road. Inattentive driving accounted for nearly 6,000 crash fatalities and an estimated 515,000 injuries in police-reported crashes in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Distractions typically include talking, eating, grooming, attending to children, watching a video, reading, adjusting a navigation system and using a cell phone.
2. Keep your home warm – The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), winter storms are the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, resulting in about $1 billion in insured losses annually. The average water damage and freezing claim was $5,531 in 2007, the most recent year for which there are figures from ISO’s Property Claims Services.
3. Protect your home – Each year billions of dollars are paid out in homeowners insurance claims, with residential theft averaging over $1,800 in losses per burglary, according to I.I.I. Keep your yard well lit and put indoor lights on a timer. If you’re going on vacation, have mail and packages picked up and ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep an eye on things. Before the trip, invest in an alarm system — it’ll help keep your house safe and could earn you a discount on your coverage.
4. Check your coverage – Homeowners spend billions on additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs each year. Review your insurance coverage to include improvements, major purchases and increased rebuilding costs. If a new addition or gazebo, for example, is destroyed or damaged before you increase your coverage, then you may be responsible for the cost of repairing or rebuilding the addition. If you rent and don’t have renters insurance, talk to your agent as soon as possible.
5. Test the detectors – You’ve heard it before, but many families simply forget to test their smoke detectors. Make sure yours is in working order with new batteries and that one is installed on every floor and in every bedroom. Test them regularly. The National Fire Protection Association offers a free smoke alarm installation guide online. Also make sure that your home is equipped with at least one working carbon monoxide detector.  Properly working carbon monoxide detectors can help protect you and your family by providing an early warning before the deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level.

For more ideas on how to protect your home and family throughout the year, contact our agency. If you have questions about your insurance coverage, we can help with that, too.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Watch out for deer!
• Getting ready to use your fireplace or woodstove?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Are You Ready for Winter?

The bliss and tranquility that often accompanies the proverbial “Winter Wonderland” could turn chaotic if you don’t follow the proper cold weather safety precautions. Do you know what to do if you get stranded in your car? What can you do to prevent ice storm damage? Here are some tips for preparing for and dealing with winter storm.

Before the storm:

• Know the winter terminology that may appear across the bottom of your television screen or on the local radio station.
  • Winter Storm Watch: Severe winter weather may affect the surrounding area.
  • Winter Storm Warning: Severe winter weather conditions are on the way. Take cover and be prepared.
  • Blizzard Warning: Blinding snow and dangerous wind chills are expected for several hours. Sustained winds of 35 mph are expected to sweep the area. A traveler’s advisory is issued if driving conditions are expected to be dangerous or slow moving.
• Winterize your car long before the first snowfall hits. Winter weather is unpredictable and may surprise you early in the season. Prepare or purchase a disaster kit for your car or truck
• Winterize your trees and bushes by trimming long branches. The ice and wet snow that accumulates on branches can cause damage to your home, car or neighbors.
• Salt and shovel walkways often.
• Drain your pipes if you go on vacation or experience a power outage to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.
• Make certain that each family member has a warm winter coat, gloves or mittens, hat or scarf and water-resistant boots.
• Keep your gas tank full in the winter months to protect your fuel line from freezing.

During the storm:

Be patient. Most deaths that occur during a winter storm are not caused directly by the storm, The three leading causes of winter storm related deaths are:

• Traffic accidents: Slow down and leave ample space between your car and other drivers.
• Heart attacks from shoveling snow: Consider hiring a professional snow removal service.
• Exposure to cold: Wearing hats and boots will help prevent hypothermia.

After the storm:

• Once the storm conditions subside, assess your home and property for ice and storm damage.
• Contact our office as soon as possible if you need to file a claim. After business hours, contact ERIE’s Extended Hours Claims Service at (800) 367-3743.
• Dry any wet building materials or contents promptly to avoid mold, mildew or further damage. These include materials and items such as carpeting, furniture, insulation and drywall.
• If you have access to a camera or video camcorder, document your losses. This will help speed up the claims process. Compile a list of damaged items.
• Hold off on permanent repairs until your ERIE adjuster approves your reimbursement.
• Keep all receipts related to repairs and temporary housing.
• Carefully brush the heavy accumulation of snow off your roof.
• Keep gutters clear, if possible, and shovel snow away from downspouts, basement window wells and stairwells.
• Beware of high water runoff and possible sewer problems as the snow melts.
• To prevent flooding, be sure your street storm sewer is clear of snow, ice and debris.
• Check your sump pump periodically to ensure that it is handling the amount of water from thawing snow. Auxiliary pumps are available at home centers. Wet vacs, fans and humidifiers can also help to keep the area dry if a sump pump fails.

When all is said and done, enjoy the Winter Wonderland. But remember to be safe and that Erie Insurance and our agency are here to help.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Watch out for deer!
• Getting ready to use your fireplace or woodstove?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety

Gobble Gobble!

Be the best, and the safest, cook this Thanksgiving

We’ve all heard about the dangers of distracted driving. But how about distracted cooking? According to the Home Safety Council, cooking is the number one cause of home fires. The reason is that people start to cook something and then forget it’s on the stove.

It’s especially easy to get pulled away from the stove around the holidays, when family and friends gather for feasting. So if you’re cooking this year, check out these tips to prevent fires and burns before getting started. Number one on the list: Always stay in the kitchen while cooking on the range.

Also, you may want to think twice before frying the turkey… here’s why.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Watch out for deer!
• Getting ready to use your fireplace or woodstove?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Getting ready to use your fireplace or woodstove?

Are you thinking about building a nice warm fire? Here’s a great article with safety tips from the US Fire Administration:

More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.

Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility …Fire Stops With You!

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
• Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
• Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
• Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.

Safely Burn Fuels

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.

Protect the Outside of Your Home

• Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
• Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

Protect the Inside of Your Home

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
• Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.

For the original article and more information, see: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/heating/fireplace.shtm

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Even Renters Need to Protect Their Homes

It may not be a house, but your apartment is still a home, filled with memories and personal belongings. The best way to keep them financially protected is with renters insurance.* (Your landlord’s insurance should cover any structural damage that might occur, but it won’t cover your personal things.)

Most importantly, renters insurance includes protection against thieves. Since the burglary rate for renters is about 50 percent higher than for homeowners, according to the Insurance Information Institute, renters insurance is a worthy investment to consider. It also covers:

• Personal property, wherever it may be. (If you go camping or traveling, your tent, luggage or other belongings will be financially protected).
• Loss of use, which covers the additional living expenses you incur due to temporary relocation.
• Personal liability for bodily injury, property damage or personal injury claims brought against you anywhere in the world.
• Medical payments to others who are injured in an accident arising from your premises or personal activities.

Want to know more? Give us a call. If you purchase ERIE’s Tenantcover Policy, you may also be eligible for a discount on your ERIE auto insurance policy. 585-589-4477

*Coverage exclusions and limitations may apply. See policy for details.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of NewYork (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Safety tips: Reducing your chances of a home burglary

The following insurance tips are from the International Risk Management Institute’s Personal Lines Pilot newsletter.

U.S. residences were burglarized more than 1.5 million times in 2008, according to the latest FBI studies. Nearly 65 percent of the thefts occur during the day because people are often not at home during the weekday. Proper home theft prevention ideas and techniques, however, can reduce the odds of a home burglary. Consider the following loss control techniques to reduce your chances of suffering a home burglary.

• Invest in a burglar alarm with a central monitoring station. Research indicates that homes without security systems are about three times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. If a burglar is aware that a home has an alarm, he or she is more likely to avoid that home.
• Property identification programs are another deterrent to burglary. Many of these programs involve the use of stickers on which your driver’s license number is imprinted. These are then placed (and become permanently imprinted) on all valuable personal property, such as stereos, televisions, and computers. This makes it more difficult for burglars to fence or pawn the property.
• Safeguarding dwelling components such as doors and windows make it tougher for burglars to enter the home. Many home security experts recommend all exterior doors be 1 3/4-inch thick solid wood, metal, or composite material. Strike plates on door jams are typically installed with 1/2-inch screws; however, these should be replaced with 3-inch long screws so that locked doors cannot be kicked in easily. Doors should also have deadbolt locks, with at least a 1-inch throw and a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws.
• Exterior lights with a motion-sensing switch should be installed; timers on lights are also recommended.
• Keep your garage door secure and locked even while you are home.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2010
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Earthquakes – are you covered?

If you felt the recent tremors in western New York, you might be wondering if your home insurance provides any coverage for earthquakes.

Probably not.   (but coverage is available)

Standard homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, and other land movement.  Most insurance companies offer coverage as an option, usually with a fairly large deductible applying.

The cost is usually quite reasonable in our area. A basic home might have a premium of $40 or $50. The cost goes up for higher valued homes, and brick homes cost more to insure than wood-frame homes.

Most insurance companies have a waiting period after an earthquake where coverage can’t be added (7-14 days typically). This is because there are often additional tremors and aftershocks following an earthquake. But if you are concerned, give your agent a call to get coverage added as soon as it is available again.

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Protect against bike theft

Here’s an interesting article I found from Erie Insurance:

Protect Against Bike Theft

If your bike is worth more than a few hundred dollars, you may want to give your agent a call to make sure it is properly protected.

Have fun biking!

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Identity recovery coverage: should you add it to your homeowners insurance?

Get Your Good Name Back

ERIE’s affordable Identity Recovery coverage quickly restores the credit and reputation of identity theft victims

While the overall economy is still a little sluggish, it’s boom time in the shady business of identity theft.

There are more than 10 million victims of identity theft each year, and the Identity Theft Resource Center predicts that rising unemployment will drive more people to commit identity fraud in 2010. The organization predicts that, while online scams will persist, more thieves will turn to low-tech methods such as stealing Social Security numbers, dumpster diving or “phishing” for credit card numbers.

Here are a few ways to protect your identity:

• Shred your documents
• Be wary of sharing personal information online or by phone. If you’re shopping online, don’t provide your Social Security number and make sure the Web site you’re using is secure.
• Don’t use your Social Security number for a password
• Consider purchasing ERIE’s Identity Recovery Coverage, an insurance product that can help you recover your identity should it ever be stolen.

To read the full story of what experts expect from identity thieves in 2010, check out the full story on eriesense.com. And, if you’d like to purchase extra protection, we can help.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

Related posts:

• Should you take a higher deductible to save money?
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• 3 good ways to make a home inventory

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Kids heading to college? Check your insurance

If have a child heading to college, you should check in with your insurance agent to make sure your coverages are up to date.

Your homeowners insurance likely will provide some coverage automatically. Homeowners policies cover “resident relatives,” so as long as your child’s legal residence is your home address, they are covered. Some companies (like Erie Insurance) provide full coverage for personal property worldwide, while other companies limit the amount of coverage or the territory of coverage.

You may want to consider extra coverage on valuable items that will get a lot of use at college. Laptop computers, musical instruments, and other valuable portable items may be exposed to breakage or other damage that a typical homeowners policy doesn’t cover.

If your child chooses to live in an apartment rather than a dorm, the landlord may require a separate renter’s policy. This can get complicated if unrelated people share the apartment.

If they leave their car at home, you will probably be eligible for a significant discount. On the other hand, if they take the car to college, some companies rerate the coverage based on the new location – often at a significant increase in cost.

Related posts:

• Do you need special coverage for your jewelry?
• What insurance should you have if you rent an apartment?

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Do you need special coverage for your jewelry?

Do you have valuable jewelry? Homeowners and renters policies cover jewelry, but with limits for theft coverage. For instance, Erie Insurance automatically provides $3,000 for theft of jewelry (other companies often have much lower limits, typically $1,000).

The best way to cover jewelry is to add a special endorsement or rider.  Special jewelry coverage provides the limits you need, and typically expands coverage to include loss of a stone and mysterious disappearance (we even paid for a diamond ring that was lost while swimming). For more valuable items, you will need an appraisal or bill of sale with a detailed description.

Some homeowners policies have an option to increase the limit for theft of jewelry.  This works well if you have several items and theft is your primary concern.

Give me a call or drop me an email if you have jewelry you would like to protect.

Related posts:

• Making a home inventory
• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• What insurance should you have if you rent an apartment?

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Safety tips: Safeguard your home when vacationing

Are you heading on vacation this summer? Here are a few tips from Erie Insurance and Albion Agencies to help you safeguard your home while you are traveling:

Secure your home:

•  Lock and fasten all doors and windows, including those within an attached garage. For added security, insert a nail or a screw into the frame of lower-level windows above the closed pane to prevent them from being lifted.

•  Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track.

Create an “at-home appearance:

•  Leave a locked vehicle in the driveway or let a neighbor park their vehicle in your driveway.

•  Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are out of town.

•  Inside, use timers to turn lamps, radios and televisions on and off at regular intervals.

•  Outside, keep the perimeter of your home well lit by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting.

•  Stop your mail and newspapers, or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick them up. If you are planning an extended vacation, arrange for someone to mow your lawn.

Other precautions:

•  Trim trees and shrubs near any point of entry to your home.

•  Install motion sensitive lighting outdoors.

•  Put cash_, jewelry or important papers in your safe deposit box. Do not leave valuable items in the bedroom (that’s the first place a thief will look).

•  Make sure valuable items inside your home are not visible from the street.

Related articles:

• Do you need to buy the insurance when renting a car?
• Water safety for children
• Homeowners Insurance: How much coverage do you need?

Do you have any ideas for insurance safety articles? Please drop me an email, or comment below. Thanks!

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

3 good ways to make a home inventory

When you have a major home or renters insurance claim, most insurance companies are reasonably understanding of the difficulties that you have in remembering everything you had. Even so, you will need to submit a list of your personal belongings and other contents with estimated values.

There are three good ways to keep a record for yourself and have some evidence in case of any disputes:

• Video - Make a video of the inside of your home.  Walk through your home room by room, showing all your belongings. Comment along the way, pointing out valuable or unusual items. Don’t forget the garage, basement, and attic.
• Home inventory form – Use a form to list your contents room by room. Include an estimate of replacement cost. For valuable or unusual items, note where you bought them and any details that will help establish their replacement value. You can just make a list if you prefer, but a home inventory form can help you organize everything. Erie insurance has a good home inventory form on their website (we can get you a copy if you have any trouble accessing it).
• Online inventory – There are services that allow you do a home inventory on their site, avoiding the need for off-premises storage (assuming that you remember your log-in information when you need it).  Some even allow you to upload photos and receipts. One of the best is available at no charge from the Insurance Information Institute.

If you use a form or video, be sure to keep it off-premises, maybe in a safety deposit box or at a friend’s house. It won’t do you any good if it burns up with your home.

Whichever method you use, keep it updated whenever you make a major purchase.

Related posts:

• Homeowners Insurance – How much coverage do you need?
• What insurance should you have if you rent an apartment?
• Here are some spring home safety tips

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.

Real claims: Who pays for an apartment fire?

Suppose you cause a small fire in your apartment (in the real claim an appliance was left on too long and caused substantial smoke damage).  Your landlord has insurance for the building, and you don’t have insurance on your belongings because you don’t have that much to worry about.  So you just replace what you need and everybody’s happy, right?

Not quite. Your landlord submits bills for the smoke damage, clean up, and any lost rents to his insurance company.  The insurance company reviews the bills, and if everything is in order they write a check to the landlord. Then they send you a letter…

The insurance company has the right to “subrogate” (take legal action in place of the policyholder) against the person responsible for the damage. The letter you get might say something like this: “Our investigation has revealed that you are responsible for the recent fire. The landlord’s damages totaled $5,250. Please remit your check to us  in this amount within 30 days to avoid legal action.”

This claim could have been much worse if the building had caught on fire.  Then the tenant could have been responsible for the cost to rebuild the entire building.

So what could have been done? If the tenant had taken out renters insurance, the liability portion of the policy would have kicked in to cover the landlord’s damage. Of course, there also would have been coverage for the tenant’s belongings.

A basic renters policy usually costs about $100.  If you get it with your auto insurance, many companies give you a significant discount for having both coverages together.

Related posts:

• What insurance coverage do you need if you rent an apartment?

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.