Avoiding Preventable Accidents In Your Home This Winter

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Bergen County NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage | Safety & Precautions

NJ Homeowners Insurance
Bogle Agency Insurance, NJ homeowners insurance experts

Being a homeowner is a hefty responsibility and making sure your investment is covered is the most vital step in protecting what is likely the largest and most important investment you’ll make in your life.  Sit down with a Bergen County insurance agent today to review your current policy and make sure you have the proper amount of coverage in place for both your home and your possessions.

Homeowners insurance offers peace of mind, protecting homeowners during times of unforeseen circumstances.  Unfortunately, not all homeowners insurance is equal.  You should review your homeowner’s insurance to make sure it meets your specific needs.  However, while insurance offers safety and protection it is also necessary for homeowners to take responsibility to avoid unfortunate incidents that are preventable.

Bergen County NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage | Safety & Precaution Steps For Homeowners During Winter Include:

  • Keep sidewalks, driveways, and steps clear to help prevent people from tripping or falling
  • Annual inspections and servicing of the heating system, by the utility company or qualified service technician
  • Survey your home for ice build up on the roof
  • Keep electrical meter and connections free of snow accumulations
  • Keep an adequate supply of warm clothes, batteries, and food supplies in case there is a power loss or snow accumulations that keep you indoors for extended periods of time
  • Keep your cell phone charged
  • Make sure you have fuel for your car
  • If you have a snow blower make sure you have plenty of fuel on hand

Bogle Agency Insurance covers Homeowners in New Jersey

Let our team at Bogle Agency Insurance help you with all of your Bergen County insurance needs.  Knowing you have adequate coverage will provide you peace of mind and the ability to relax and enjoy your home.  Our agents can help examine your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure that you have the coverage you need to protect your house and all of your belongings.  We welcome the opportunity to serve as your Lyndhurst NJ insurance agent and advise you on important homeowners safety measures and precautions.

Click here for some great additional information on home safety from USA.gov.

Will Your Homeowners Insurance Cover A Fallen Tree?

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NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage | Bergen County NJ

NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage | Bergen County NJ

Will your homeowners insurance cover a fallen tree? It is a common question when it comes to NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage. As homeowners, we all deal with the intricacies of  homeowners insurance.  Most of us never think about whether we will actually use our NJ Homeowners Insurance Coverage, never mind thinking about what specific incidents are covered. Then one day you need it and you have no idea what is covered. So, what about that fallen tree?

Trees fall and when they fall they may land on something valuable like a car, your home, or your neighbor’s fence. These mishaps can be quite costly, especially because they are unexpected. It is important to know what your insurance covers with respect to the fallen tree. First off, damage to your home and other structures on your property is covered, although there is typically a cap on any structure other than the home. It also does not matter whether the tree was on your property or a neighboring property.

It is also worthy to note that you are responsible for your deductible. This deductible can be significantly different if the tree fell as a result of a classified hurricane. Sit down with your Bergen County insurance agent to discuss the difference and what your coverage is in the event of a hurricane.

Other interesting tidbits related to homeowners insurance covering a fallen tree include:

  • If the tree in question fell on your car it will be covered by your comprehensive auto insurance.
  • Trees knocked over by water or wind will not have replacement coverage.
  • The replacement cost of a tree will be covered if it fell as a result of vandalism.

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance for more information on homeowners insurance in Bergen County New Jersey. We welcome the opportunity to help you understand your policy and where you may be lacking coverage or perhaps where you may be over-insured. Let us serve as your guide to whether your homeowners insurance will cover a fallen tree, as well as answer any other questions you may have.

Click here to view a video from the Insurance Information Institute for more information related to fallen trees.

Staying Safe In Ice And Snow

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Bergen County NJ Homeowners Insurance | Bogle Agency Insurance Lyndhurst, NJ

Bergen County NJ Homeowners Insurance | Winter Weather SafetyThere is no weather condition that stresses the need for good Bergen County NJ homeowners insurance coverage more than icy and snowy weather. From keeping your walkways clear to driving as safely as possible, there are many steps that can be taken ahead of time to prepare for the elements to avoid disaster or inconvenience this New Jersey winter.  Inclement winter weather conditions add hazards to our daily lives that in turn have the potential to create liability issues for homeowners, renters, and drivers. Protection is essential and evaluating your insurance coverage should be a priority. The Bogle Agency offers Bergen County NJ homeowners insurance options out of our offices in Lyndhurst NJ to ensure you are covered for a myriad of circumstances.

Items on your must-do winter checklist include:

  • clear icicles
  • shovel walkways around your home, including the driveway
  • keep all stairs free of ice and snow
  • have sand, cinders, or ice melt available to sprinkle on icy areas
  • keep doors to your home and garage doors closed to avoid excess cold entering your home and freezing pipes
  • have snow tires on your vehicles
  • have an ice scraper, a blanket, and a shovel in each vehicle you own
  • make sure the defroster and heat work in your car
  • check your insurance coverage

Throughout the winter season it should be a priority to keep walkways clear of snow and ice. Preventing the possibility of someone slipping and falling in front of your house or on your property is important. In the event slips and falls do occur knowing you are backed up by a good homeowners insurance policy can relieve the stress and worry of liability.

Sit down with your Bergen County New Jersey insurance agent today to discuss your coverage and how unforeseen incidents on your property can affect it. If you have questions or concerns about your Bergen County NJ homeowners insurance policy or any of your policies, please give us a call today. Our goal is to help you understand the coverage you need and making sure you have the coverage necessary for unforeseen occurrences. Let us help you enjoy a stress-free winter season.

Bergen County Fire Safety For Homeowners

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Bergen County Homeowners Fire Safety Tips | Bergen County NJ Homeowners Insurance

Bergen County Homeowners Fire Safety Tips

Fire safety in Bergen County is important for everyone to practice. It is also a very important element of any Bergen County homeowners insurance policy that homeowners must be sure provides them adequate coverage.  Bogle Agency Insurance will make sure that you have all the right coverage for your home, and also provide Bergen County Homeowners fire safety tips to help keep your family and your investment safe.

From installing smoke detectors to annual chimney sweeps and everything in between, knowing your home is safe and prepared for a fire is essential.  If you have any doubts about how prepared your home is in the event of a fire you can consult your local Bergen County insurance agent or your fire department.

Fire safety tips include:

  • having a working fire extinguisher in every floor in your home.
  • installing smoke detectors on every floor
  • monthly testing of fire alarms
  • installing an alarm system that notifies the fire department if tripped
  • creating a fire escape plan and talk about it with your family on a consistent basis
  • cleaning lint away from clothes dryers
  • keeping things away from light bulbs
  • not overloading your outlets

We honestly could provide a seemingly endless list of fire safety tips, but many of them come down to common sense. The most important thing is to be aware and alert.  Never assume your home is clear of obstacles. Take some time to look around your home each month to make sure it is free of fire hazards.

Homeowners insurance in Bergen County is necessary to cover unforeseen accidents, incidents, damage, and catastrophes.  However, following Bergen County Homeowners fire safety tips will significantly reduce your risk of a house fire.  Knowing your home is as safe and protected as possible is a key element of healthy living.

 Click here for an extensive list of fire safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association.

Contact our team at Bogle Insurance today to learn more about homeowners insurance and Bergen County Homeowners fire safety tips.  Our full service Bergen County insurance agency can help you with all of your coverage needs, including homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and business insurance.  Let us serve as your guide to insurance in Lyndhurst NJ and throughout Bergen County.

Renters Insurance, Why Is It Needed?

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NJ Renters Insurance | Why Is Renters Insurance Needed In NJ?

NJ Renters Insurance | Why Is Renters Insurance Need In NJ?NJ Renters insurance is an option many people weigh and the question on their minds is why is it needed?  The answer to this important question is essential for renters to understand.  Many people are aware of homeowners insurance in Bergen County, noting its necessity for securing a mortgage for one thing but also for protecting homeowners against major catastrophes that can occur. The reality is, however, that renters have possessions too and their personal effects are worth protecting.

Insurance is meant to give policyholders peace of mind, offering the assurance that should something happen they will be protected. NJ Renters insurance covers damage to personal items like furniture, jewelry, bicycles, and the like, in the event of a fire or flood for example. It can also save you should your home be robbed. Renters insurance is typically not very expensive but well worth the investment should you face a circumstance of loss.

Renters insurance in Lyndhurst NJ also covers you against liability should someone get hurt inside of your home. In addition, if something happens to your home that is your fault you will be liable to damages to the property. While you may not leave the stove on on purpose the reality is that if a fire results from your forgetfulness you will be the one responsible for the damages. NJ Renters insurance will save you in this circumstance.

When you are a renter it is important to understand that your landlord’s property insurance will cover structural damage to his property but not account for any of your belongings. It is often hard to envision something awful happening to your home but in the event of a catastrophe you will have no recourse to cover your loss if you do not have renters insurance. In a nutshell, renters insurance protects you and your belongings.

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance today for answers to all of your insurance questions. We welcome the opportunity to inform you, filling you in on what is and what is not covered by typical renters insurance policies. Let our knowledge and experience serve as your guide to insurance in Bergen County. Let us answer you questions about renters insurance and why it is needed.

Protect Your Business From Hurricane Damage

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NJ Business Insurance | Hurricane Damage Protection

NJ Business Insurance | Hurricane Damage Protection

It’s easy to relax and feel very little, if any threat from a hurricane when your business isn’t directly on the coast. But just because major hurricanes don’t hit your area of NJ often, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared when it does.  All it takes is one, and in Bergen County NJ it’s not if we will have to deal with a hurricane, but when. With that in mind there are steps to protect your business from hurricane damage and get the most out of your NJ business insurance.

The best way to recover from a disaster smoothly is to have a plan in place ahead of time. Performing a business impact analysis is the first step to a solid recovery plan. Considered the impact to every department and every process of your business that has the potential to be disrupted should your area be hit by a hurricane. Does your NJ business insurance cover all your vulnerabilities?

Once you have your business impact analysis set, then perform a pre-loss assessment. This will keep you from being caught off guard by the potentially high costs of being hit by a hurricane or any natural disaster. This will also help you to not rush to any poor decisions in the heat of the moment like getting price gouged by unscrupulous contractors. Calling a professional restoration company to perform the pre-loss assessment for you can get you solid estimates for different repair scenarios. This ultimately allows you the ability to know exactly how much, and what kind of NJ business insurance you really need.

One of the best pieces of advice we could give you on steps to protect your business from hurricane damage, is to partner with a contractor you trust ahead of any weather events. Establishing a trusting relationship with a contractor allows you to save time and money. They know if you are hit with a hurricane that they are already hired to do the restoration work. You already know what they will charge. With these details already in place you will be on the road to opening your doors back up in much less time than if you had to go through a hiring process. You are also guaranteed an experience restoration expert will be on the job.

One final piece of advice on steps you can take to protect your business from hurricane damage, is to create a response plan, and practice it with your employees. Set up a system of communication so you are easily able to reach employees, customers and emergency services. It is important to your business to be able to have the lines of communication open as soon as possible. If nothing else, you will want to check and make sure everyone is okay. Once that is established, you can then get down to planning out when employees will be able to get back to work. A phone, text or email chain work best in these situations. Also plan a meeting place in the event all lines are down. It is important that every employee understand the response plan and are able to follow all the steps.

There is nothing you can do to avoid your business being hit by a storm like a hurricane. But when you think ahead and follow steps to protect your business from hurricane damage, you can limit the loss and stress in the days and weeks to follow.

 

Questions To Ask When Buying Homeowners Insurance In NJ

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Questions To Ask When Buying Homeowners Insurance In NJ

Whether you are a first time home buyer in NJ or you are looking to update your current homeowners insurance policy, it is important to begin by choosing a trusted company who has a long track record of happy customers. When you choose the right company to insure your home, you can sit down and talk through all the important issues that need to be taken into consideration when covering your home. Here are important questions to ask when buying homeowners insurance.

What Is The House Worth?

First, you need to decide on the home’s insurance value. This is based on what it would cost to rebuild the house, not the market value of the house. You can work with your agent to figure this out by using tools that consider the size and building materials used in the home.

What Is My Deductible?

You will have to choose your deductible amount when choosing a homeowners policy. You can save money on premiums by choosing a higher deductible amount. This also ensures that you will not be making several small claims, keeping you a more attractive customer and lessening the chances of being dropped by the insurer. Just be sure that with a high deductible, you have an emergency fund available to cover you.

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance will not be covered in a standard homeowners policy. If your home is at risk of flooding, you can buy flood insurance through your homeowners insurance agent. At Bogle, we can help you acquire flood insurance. If you have a mortgage on your home, the mortgage company may require you to have flood insurance if the home is at risk. This includes many areas in New Jersey.

Are The Contents Of My Home Covered?

Homeowners insurance will automatically cover your possessions up to a percentage of your home’s insurance value. Many time this percentage will be set at 75%. So by that logic, if you are insured for $200,000 you automatically will have your possessions covered up to $150,000. There may be a lower limit for items such as jewelry. Therefore, if you have a high amount of valuables, you may want to add some additional coverage for them. To streamline a claims process, inventory the contents of your home and keep that list updated. You can do this with photos and/or videos of each room. That way, if you have an incident you will know exactly what is missing or damaged.

At Bogle Agency Insurance, we have been in business for nearly 100 years with a long track record as a trusted NJ insurance company. Contact us today to talk about your homeowner’s policies!

 

Why You Should Consider Earthquake Insurance in NJ

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Earthquake Insurance in NJ

EarthquakeIn New Jersey we worry about hurricanes, nor’easters and snow storms each and every year. Flood insurance is a must for many areas on top of your standard homeowners. However, there is one type of insurance that often gets overlooked in New Jersey. But, it was proven just this month that it is a very wise investment. If you haven’t thought about it yet, here are some reasons why you should consider earthquake insurance in NJ.

 

Earthquake Shakes NJ

It is true that roughly 81 percent of the biggest Earthquakes happen along the “Ring of Fire” which is the Pacific earthquake belt that runs up the west coast of the United States. While most of your major earthquakes occur there, that does not mean that there are not many more major and minor ones going on all over the country, and the world all the time. Just in 2011 alone there were two significant earthquakes. One centered in Virginia that cause significant damage to the Washington Monument, and one in Oklahoma that was the state’s largest quake ever recorded in modern times. And of course, NJ was shook by an earthquake just this past month centered in Bernardsville.

 

Expect The Unexpected

Most U.S. households and businesses don’t carry insurance to cover earthquake damage. And it is not covered in your standard policies in New Jersey. An earthquake is something you can’t predict and can’t prevent. Less than one percent of the people affected by the 2011 Oklahoma earthquake were insured, while half the total losses from the 2011 Virginia quake were uninsured as well. It’s not something you expect and you hope it will never happen here in NJ. But the fact is it does happen and for a minor investment you can be protected from the unexpected.

Get Covered For Earthquake Damage Now!

New Jersey residents are not covered from earthquakes, landslides and sinkholes as a part of conventional homeowners policies. Now is the time to consider adding these provisions to your policies. Bogle Agency Insurance in Lyndhurst,  New Jersey is here to help. We can guide you on making the best decisions for the safety of your home and your family.

Basic Preparation Tips Will Reduce Flood Insurance Claims

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Basic Preparation Tips Will Reduce Flood Insurance Claims

Basic Preparation Tips Will Reduce Flood Insurance Claims

Although floods can happen at any time, and for any number of reasons including failed dams, new construction and even droughts, there is no better time to seriously assess your flood insurance coverage than hurricane season. Most flood insurance policies take at least 30 days to kick in so you’ll want to be sure that you get yours in place right away. Once in place, you still will want to take safeguards to insure you prevent the need to make any claims. Following these basic preparation tips will reduce flood insurance claims.

The first thing to do is to prepare your property for a flood. Even just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. So, by taking just a few minutes to prepare your property you can greatly reduce the damage that would be done by a flood. Simple things like clearing your gutters, and keeping trees and bushes trimmed go a long way against wind and running waters. Another important, yet overlooked tip is placing your furnace, water heater, washer and dryer up on blocks at least 12 inches above the flood levels.

Creating a list of important personal possessions and documents, and placing them in a safe location that will remain dry during a flood is the next important step to take. Things like insurance policies and agents contact information, household and business related documents, financial records, birth certificates, marriage licenses and major purchase receipts are the kind of things you will be happy to have safe when they are needed.

While you have taken the very important steps to secure your property and possessions, the most important thing to protect is your family. Creating an emergency family plan is the key to staying safe and calm during a natural disaster. Make sure if you have small children they understand when to call 911 and how to do it. Keeping all emergency numbers next the phone also helps keep any panic to a minimum.  Keeping first aid items and water well stocked in the home reduces the need to leave the house during unsafe conditions. If it is necessary to leave the home during a disaster, work out an emergency route and meeting place with your family.

It does not take much time, money or effort to put these safeguards in place. You will be grateful that you did if the unfortunate time comes that your home and family face a disaster. But following these basic preparation tips will reduce flood insurance claims, and keep your home as untouched by disaster as possible.