An annoying dripping tap can keep you awake at night, but a burst water pipe that floods your home or a blocked sewer line that makes toilets, showers and sinks unusable can create havoc in your home and disturb your domestic routines.

•Prevent drains from being clogged by insoluble matter by placing a strainer in each plug hole to capture hair, eggshells, tea leaves and coffee grounds.
•Avoid getting grease and oil into drains where it can solidify and cause blockages.
•Consider the growth habits of trees you plant in your garden. Trees with invasive root systems can break sewer lines. Keep the roots of existing trees under control by regular trimming.
•Keep watch for small leaks and if you notice anything amiss have it repaired immediately to avoid further damage.

One of the most important things a homeowner can do to avoid a minor problem turning into a major crisis is to become familiar with the water shutoff valve. You may be able to fix some minor problems yourself, and it’s useful for a homeowner to know how to replace a worn tap washer or adjust a toilet cistern ball float. Serious problems in your home’s plumbing or drainage systems should only be tackled by a qualified plumbing specialist. Call your agent or insurer if you are uncertain what types of plumbing repairs or water damage may be covered by New Jersey homeowners insurance.

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-For immediate release-

Consolidated Insurance Agents announced today its new association with Bogle Agency Insurance and Merwin & Paolazzi Insurance Agency

Monmouth Junction, NJ (January 16, 2012) – Consolidated Insurance Agents LLC announced today their affiliation with Bogle Agency Insurance and Merwin & Paolazzi Insurance Agency, both of Lyndhurst, NJ, as equity partners.  Coupled with over a dozen producing agencies, Consolidated Insurance Agents LLC is the Garden State’s fastest growing network of independent insurance agencies.

“We are thrilled to add these prestigious agencies to the ranks of Consolidated.  Their decades of industry experience and strong carrier relations complement our current offerings and add over $35M of premium volume,” said John K. Tiene, Consolidated CEO.

Philip R. Bogle, President of Bogle Agency Insurance, a fourth-generation agency, commented, “I’ve been watching the development of agency networks over the years, and we feel strongly that Consolidated Insurance Agents is the right alliance for us.”

 “The retail insurance market is changing and it is more difficult than ever to increase profits.  Joining Consolidated will ensure our ability to compete and grow effectively over the next 15 to 20 years,” said Michael Merwin, president of Merwin & Paolazzi Insurance Agency.

Consolidated, a New Jersey-based network of independent insurance agencies was formed by the Pavese-McCormick Insurance Agency of Monmouth Junction, NJ and the Valvano Insurance Agency of Linden, NJ in 2010. They were soon joined by United Assurance of Fair Lawn, NJ. Today, the member agencies of Consolidated Insurance Agents LLC control over $150 million in premiums and provide direct markets for nineteen independently-owned agencies.

 Member agencies benefit through direct access to standard markets without large volume commitments that provide agents higher retention and new business sales opportunities as well as aggregation of premiums. In addition, they provide their members access to a wide variety of additional products and services agencies need to compete and survive in the current marketplace.

CIA is currently accepting applications from like-minded agents for equity and producing partner opportunities.

To learn more about the program the CIA website address is: www.consolidadedinsurancenj.com.

And to learn more about the Bogle Agency, please visit them at their website and Virtual Insurance Office at: www.bogleagency.com, or via twitter at: @bogleinsurance, or its Facebook Fan Page at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bogle-Agency-Insurance/171280236234707

John K. Tiene

CEO

Consolidated Insurance Agents LLC

3759 US 1

Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852

Office:   (732) 960-2035

Cell:      (609) 923-5280

Fax:      (732) 200-3428

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What do you look for when you’re purchasing New Jersey homeowners insurance?  Your home may be your largest investment, and finding the best insurance to protect that investment can be a complex task. Many homeowners turn to insurance agencies to manage their homeowners insurance needs. But what services would a good insurance agency provide? Here are a few features that you might look for:

• An agency should employ efficient and knowledgeable insurance professionals.
• An agency should provide friendly, personalized service: discussing and understanding your insurance needs, helping to identify the best value insurance product, and after-sales assistance like reminders when policies are due for review or renewal.
• Agency staff should have a wide range of expertise in different insurance products. Your current focus may be on homeowners insurance but it’s important for an insurance agency to be able to be a single point of contact for personal and business insurance requirements.
• An insurance agency should offer expert assistance when a policy holder needs to file an insurance claim. Filing a claim may follow an unpleasant experience like a house fire or burglary, and at such times policy holders look for a combination of sensitivity and professional expertise.

These are some of the important features of a good insurance agency. Shopping for the best New Jersey homeowners insurance will be a breeze with the help of a good local insurance agency, so give us a call today!

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Have you purchased a New Jersey life insurance policy? It’s important to remember that someone other than you will be filing any claim on your life insurance policy, so make sure you have complete records relating to the policy as part of your personal papers.

There are a few essential items of information to be noted.

• Record the name of the company issuing the policy and the address of its headquarters.
• Record the name and contact details of the agency that sold you the policy.
• Record the policy number, type of policy and date it was issued.
• Record the amount of death benefit purchased.
• Identify the beneficiaries you wish to receive the insurance payment.

Be sure to record where the original copy of your New Jersey life insurance policy is stored. It’s important to keep all of this information up to date by recording any changes that may take place over time, such as changes of name. Take copies of your life insurance records and store each copy in a separate place. One copy of the records should be in a place where your beneficiaries will look for them, and a backup copy should be kept somewhere away from your home, in a safe deposit box, a friend’s house, or as a digital record. Keeping this information up to date will ensure a stress-free payout in the future.

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Standard New Jersey homeowners insurance may cover garden trees for a range of risks such as fire, lightning, and vandalism. Homeowners often purchase additional coverage for valuable mature trees and for the risk of wind damage. Fortunate homeowners with large properties and ample, mature trees sometimes hire an arborist to care for trees in the garden.

Arborists are trained and equipped in the care of trees. They provide a range of specialized services:

• Arborists carry out pruning to maintain trees. They can remove branches that interfere with wires and parts of buildings or obstruct streets; remove branches that are dead, weak, damaged, and diseased or infested with insects; train young trees; and work on the shape or structure of trees to improve appearance, lessen wind resistance or increase light penetration.
• Arborists can remove trees as a last resort. An arborist is trained to determine when a tree should be removed and has equipment to carry out this task safely.
• Arborists undertake emergency work on trees. They are trained to work safely on heavy trees and branches that may have fallen or been damaged because of storms.
• Arborists know the characteristics of trees and can recommend varieties to be planted in specific locations.

Having invested in New Jersey homeowners insurance protection for your garden trees, take some time to select the right arborist to care for them. Be sure to hire a trained, experienced professional who carries personal, liability, and workers compensation insurance if appropriate!

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People who live in New Jersey or own a business in the state can benefit from consulting a local insurance agency when they’re in the market for the best value insurance. Insurance agencies represent a variety of insurance companies, and agency staff members are experts in a wide range of insurance products including New Jersey homeowners insurance, life insurance, business insurance and auto insurance.

• Renters’ insurance compensates you for loss and damage to possessions if there’s a fire or burglary.
• Life insurance coverage provides benefits on the death of the policyholder.
• Homeowners’ insurance covers loss and damage of your home and belongings, additional costs if you have to move out of home during repairs or rebuilding after a disaster and liability lawsuits brought against you by third parties who claim to have suffered injury because of you.
• Business insurance products include coverage for property and other business assets, workers’ compensation and professional liability.
• Auto insurance coverage to meet New Jersey auto insurance obligations can be purchased for personal and business vehicles.

Buying New Jersey homeowners insurance, for example, is simple when you consult a local insurance agency. An agency can help with tasks like obtaining insurance quotes, deciding which policies offer the best value for you, and applying for coverage. They can advise you on preparing your home inventory and will keep in touch so that you know when policies are due for renewal. The agency that helps you to arrange homeowners’ insurance coverage can be a single point of contact for any other insurance products you may need.

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Homeowners who are planning home improvement projects sometimes go to classes to develop their DIY skills. Taking classes is a sound way to learn and is a more practical approach that trying to learn on the job or researching the task on the internet. It’s important for DIY enthusiasts to be aware of their own limitations and not attempt specialized jobs like plumbing or electrical installation work that are likely to compromise New Jersey homeowners insurance (or worse, personal safety) unless they are undertaken by licensed contractors.

Here are a few tips to ensure that your DIY job is the best you can do.

• Consider hiring professional power tools and equipment if you want to do a professional job. Hiring is a much more cost effective option than purchasing expensive equipment that may not be used again.
• Don’t skimp on materials. Good quality paint, for example, is easier to use, provides better coverage and lasts longer than cheap paint.
• Remember that pre-planning and preparation are vital. Careful preparation before undertaking a woodworking task, for example, helps to avoid the risk of inaccurate measurements, incorrect cutting of wood and consequent wastage.
• Always make personal safety your top priority. Wear protective clothing, have someone hold your ladder, and avoid unnecessary risks. A DIY job won’t be so satisfying if you have broken your leg or suffered a burn!

One of the most important DIY skills you can learn is patience. It may be frustrating to have to wait for the right materials or parts to be available, but being patient rather than rushing in unprepared will help ensure that the job is done safely and competently. While you’re waiting for something to arrive, why not take the time to review your New Jersey homeowners insurance to ensure that the value of your recent home improvements is reflected in your coverage?
 

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Your home’s roof and roof drainage system – the roof gutters and downpipes that collect rainwater and snow melt and move it into the storm drains – are there to protect you from the elements.  Damage to these important components of your home must be repaired quickly to avoid their condition deteriorating and causing water damage to the building’s structure and contents. Keeping your roof and roof gutters well maintained will avoid water damage and repeated claims on your New Jersey homeowners insurance.

Your roof should be checked for damage regularly, particularly after extreme weather like heavy wind or hailstorms. Look for loose shingles, broken or cracked roof covering, and unsecured roof gutters or downpipes. You may be confident about repairing your roof if you find damage, but working on the roof isn’t for everyone. You should consider hiring a roofing contractor to do roof repairs if you are uncomfortable working at heights, or if you don’t have proper equipment such as long, strong ladders to allow you to work on the roof safely.

The time spent on gutter maintenance can be reduced if you have leaf guards fitted over your roof gutters. Leaf guards filter out leaves and other debris before they get into the gutters where they can cause blockages and overflows.

A licensed roofing contractor has the experience, skills and equipment to safely undertake work on your roof and roof drainage system. Consider hiring a local licensed roofing contractor to repair and maintain your roof. Diligent maintenance can help prevent water damage in a storm, and may help you to avoid a claim on your New Jersey homeowners insurance.
 

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Starting a new business often means that the owner exists for months being frugal, investing whatever income is earned straight back into business development projects. This is a precarious business model, and an unexpected, unplanned expense can threaten the very existence of an enterprise if it does not have a steady flow of cash or a reserve of capital. It’s important for a new business owner to consider purchasing NJ liability insurance to cover the risk of lawsuits being filed claiming damages.

There are different types of liability insurance products designed for the particular risks faced by various businesses. General liability insurance helps to protect a business from damage that can be caused to a third party or to the property of a third party. Owners of retail stores often carry general liability insurance for the risk of someone being injured by tripping and falling in their business premises.

Professional liability protects a business, its owners and employees from the risk of lawsuits brought by customers who claim to have suffered harm because of mistakes made in the course of providing services. Businesses such as accountancy practices and beauty salons are among the types of enterprise that often carry professional liability insurance.

An uninsured lawsuit could cost a business dearly. Liability insurance protects the business owner’s investment, allowing judgments awarded against the business to be paid by the insurer rather than from business funds – up to the limit of coverage. Talk to your insurer or agent about NJ liability insurance if you wish to protect yourself from the cost of lawsuits.

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New Jersey homeowners who want to live more sustainably have many options: conserving water, using energy efficient appliances and using renewable energy are all good ways to start going green. As a bonus, viewed from a financial perspective most green alternatives are less expensive to run than the traditional devices that they replace. Installation of some facilities like solar panels may attract state and federal subsidies, and installing solar powered intruder lights may be considered by an insurer to be a security enhancement. Homes with good quality security features may qualify the householder for reduced New Jersey homeowners insurance premiums.

Here are a few of the ways you can make a difference to the amount of energy your household consumes.

• Install solar outdoor lights – solar lighting uses electricity generated during hours of sunlight and stored in a battery ready for use after sundown.
• Use energy efficient light fittings such as low wattage compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Conserve water when washing dishes.
• Choose energy efficient Energy Star appliances when replacing electrical equipment.
• Avoid using clothes dryers in warm weather. Dry clothes naturally in the fresh air and sunshine.

Going green doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” thing: starting to conserve water and electricity are steps in the right direction and are infinitely preferable to doing nothing. Don’t forget to speak to your agent or insurer about New Jersey homeowners insurance products that may interest the environmentally conscious home owner.
 

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