Jewelry often represents something special in your life-whether it be a family heirloom, a special engagement, or a milestone. Perhaps you even treated yourself with something that you have been dreaming of. Whatever the case, it is devastating to have something that is meaningful either damaged, lost, or stolen. How can you protect these precious belongings? Below is some information about how your homeowners, condo or renters insurance policy can help. A homeowners insurance policy will generally provide coverage within specified limits. Coverage varies from one company and policy to the next. For example, one company may limit coverage on theft of jewelry, while another company may provide coverage up to a certain dollar amount regardless of the type of loss. Other companies will place a specified limit for each item. For this reason, it may be beneficial to add a rider to your policy. What is a rider? A rider, also referred to as a floater, is an endorsement that can be purchased on your homeowners policy to provide additional coverage on jewelry or other valuable items. A rider can provide coverage for an item that might not otherwise be covered on your policy. In order to do this, an appraisal or a receipt may be required by the insurance company to ensure that it is insured to the correct value. Jewelry Protection Tips Take photos of the item or collection Save receipts, appraisals and photos in a fire-proof safe Periodically update the value of your jewelry as expensive items can increase or decrease from year to year. Store your jewelry in a secure area of your home Avoid traveling with irreplaceable or extremely valuable jewelry A great time to review your coverages is when your policy renews or when a big change is taking place. Whether you are giving or receiving a special item, it is worth taking a small amount of time to ensure that it is covered. Keep this article in mind this Valentine’s Day! We are ready to assist you with your coverage needs! 607-324-0455

While reviewing your auto insurance renewal, are you stunned by the increase in your policy premium? It is no secret that the price of everything around us has significantly increased over the last couple of years. How is this impacting the insurance world? Let’s take a look at what is driving auto rates. There are several factors that play into this increase. One main factor is that there has been a rise in the severity and frequency of accidents which has led to insurance companies paying out higher claims. Advancements in vehicle technology and inflating costs to repair vehicles along with increasing medical costs has played a large role in increasing premiums. Here are a few additional factors and cost increase percentages that have been provided to us by Mercury Casualty Company: Driving- the amount of drivers on the road has increased by 12.6% and has passed pre-COVID levels. Accidents- with more people on the road, there has been a 26% increase in auto accidents Accident severity- the average cost of each accident has dramatically risen by 34% Labor Repair Rates- labor rates as well as parts has increased by 24% Rental Car Prices- with a low rental car inventory the cost for a rental vehicle has increased by 26% Car prices- when a vehicle is totaled, the cost to replace it has risen significantly: used cars +46.9% and new cars +22.1% We are working daily to find better rates for our customers and are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Feel free to contact us for a FREE quote and to review your current policy coverages.

Spring is approaching quickly and the feeling of getting on your motorcycle for the first time of the year is thrilling. Inevitably there is a great amount of risk that comes with being on a motorcycle as you share the road with cars, pick-up trucks and large vehicles who often have trouble seeing motorcycles. A study from 2016 by The U.S. Department of Transportation found that motorcyclists were 28 times at a greater risk of dying in an accident than those in a vehicle. With statistics like this, it makes sense to pay attention to safety precautions as a driver in a vehicle as well as a motorcycle rider. There are a few things that everyone can do to be extra cautious as more and more bikes enter the roads this time of year. Tips for Drivers Always assume that motorcyclists are closer than they appear. Give them plenty of room on the road and keep a safe distance between you and the motorcyclist. Many drivers tend to ride too close to the vehicle in front of them, which can be extra dangerous for a motorcyclist. Be sure to check your blind spots before switching lanes or making any turns. Tips for Motorcyclists Wear protective and visible gear Obey traffic rules, use your signals and follow the speed limit Inspect your motorcycle before each ride- check your turn signals, brakes, headlights & taillights, fuel, oil, etc. Check the weather before hitting the road Take a safety course. There is a discount available on your motorcycle insurance policy by taking an approved safety course! Following a few simple steps can significantly reduce the chance of being involved in a potentially serious and fatal accident. Please drive with caution and watch for others that are sharing the road with you! Contact us to get started with a motorcycle insurance quote 607-324-0455. We are happy to assist you with all of your insurance needs.

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or have owned a house for many years, all homeowners should have an insurance policy to protect their house as well as their belongings. Some people question whether or not homeowners insurance is required in the same way that auto insurance is. The answer to that is there is no law stating that you must have homeowners insurance, but we strongly encourage everyone to have a policy to protect your investment. If you have a mortgage on your home, many lenders require you to have homeowners insurance. How much coverage do you need? When considering a homeowners insurance policy, the question is… how much coverage do I need? Before we talk about how much coverage you should have, let’s talk about the different types of policies-replacement cost vs. actual cash value. A replacement cost policy is a very common type of insurance coverage that pays to replace or repair your property if you experience a covered loss. The total cost to rebuild your house in a replacement cost policy factors in today’s prices, building codes and construction method which can be higher than your home’s actual value. Another type is an actual cash value policy which pays you to replace your property minus the depreciated amount. When looking at the amount of coverage you need for your house, a few things are taken into consideration including: Square footage of your house The type of roof Recent improvements Overall condition of your home The type of heating system Age of your wiring and plumbing Your insurance agent will use these factors to determine the amount of coverage you need. What are the coverages I will see on my policy? Typical coverages found on your policy are: Coverage A- your dwelling Coverage B- other structures (example: your garage, or a detached shed) Coverage C-personal property Coverage D-loss of use (if you need to stay somewhere else while your house is being repaired, this coverage will help towards the cost of living elsewhere) Personal Liability- coverage if you are found liable for the injury of someone that is on your property Medical Payments- compensates others who sustain an injury while they are on your property or someone you accidentally injure. Questions about your homeowners insurance? Contact your local team of agents at Rink Partridge Agency! Visit our office at 360 Seneca Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or call us at 607-324-0455.

As we see a change in the weather, it has been documented over the years that the types of claims for this time of year change as well. Fall is here and it is time to get prepared and understand the various claims that arise to help you as a homeowner or motorist protect yourself. Animal collisions Deer and other animals are on the move! Pay close attention when you are driving for animals in the road or on the side of the road- especially in the early morning and evening hours. Fall and early winter get both large and small animals venturing into areas they normally avoid. Activities such as hunting play a role in this, so it is important to be aware and drive defensively. Rear end collisions These claims increase more in the fall due to road conditions such as increased rain and changing weather. Always give yourself plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Fire and smoke Fires starting from candles, fireplaces and cooking increase during the fall months as people begin to hunker down in their homes as the temperatures drop. While candles and cozying up next to the fire can be enjoyable in the cold weather, it also poses a threat to your home. Ensure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are fully charged and still effective. Water damage/freezing pipes Damage as a result of rain or freezing pipes occur more frequently between October-December than any other time of the year. Something to keep in mind is as temperatures drop, if it has a source of water, it has a potential of freezing. A burst pipe is expensive enough before factoring in the amount of water damage to your structure and personal belongings. Take the necessary and rather simple measures to ensure that your pipes and your home are ready for freezing cold weather. Unfortunately, sometimes things are out of our control and there is nothing we can do. However, staying prepared and knowledgeable about the various types of claims that rise during this time of year is the best way to protect yourself ahead of time to reduce the amount of these risks. Regardless of the precautions that we take, protecting yourself with a quality insurance policy is beneficial. Contact an agent here at Rink Partridge Agency (607) 324-0455 to review your home or auto insurance needs.

As fall approaches there are many families who are watching their children go off to college, perhaps for the first time. This might raise a few questions regarding your homeowners insurance and how it may provide coverage for your child while they move onto their next chapter. Generally, college students are covered under their parent’s homeowners insurance policy while they live on campus in two ways; it covers their personal belongings and personal liability if the student is responsible for damage caused to a third party.  Personal Property coverage: This helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing your belongings if they are damaged by a covered peril such as fire or theft. This means that if their laptop is stolen from their dorm room, your insurance policy can help replace it. Most insurers will limit the amount of money they will pay out for property theft or damage that occurs away from the insured residence. Personal Liability coverage: If you or a family member is held liable for damage or injury to a third party, this coverage will help pay for expenses such as medical bills, legal defense and property repairs. This coverage generally extends to students living in a dorm. Coverage Limits Off premises theft- property stolen or damaged away from your home is covered up to 10% of the personal property coverage section of your policy. Most policies will require your college student to live on campus, be a full-time student and be under the age of 21 (depending on the insurer). Your insurance company may limit the liability coverage to a fraction of your coverage if there is an incident involved with your kid while they’re away at college A basic policy has limits as to how much it will pay out for certain categories of expensive items such as jewelry, furs or electronics. You may want to consider increasing coverage limits by purchasing a scheduled personal property coverage if your student will have an expensive laptop or other expensive college items. In many cases, college students are not eligible for coverage under their parents insurance if they decide to live off campus or if they are above a certain age. They may want to consider purchasing a renters insurance policy. We here at Rink Partridge Agency are happy to assist you with policy questions or with quoting your renters insurance needs. Give us a call at 607-324-0455 or stop by our office to speak with an agent about your insurance needs.

Regardless of wherever and whenever you get a flat tire, let’s agree that it is an inconvenience. When you notice that your tire is flat, one thing you definitely do not want to do is continue driving with that flat tire. This can cause serious damage to your wheel which can turn a rather minor repair into a full tire replacement. Driving with a flat tire can be dangerous, so it is important to safely get your vehicle off the road and follow the necessary steps to change your tire. What do you need to do to repair your tire to get on with your day? Here are a few steps: Put your emergency blinkers on and get your vehicle safely off the road Remove the spare tire from your vehicle (often times found in the trunk) Take the wheel cover off- you can use a flat head to do this Loosen the lug nuts on the tire part way, but not entirely Align the jack with the grooves underneath your car and raise the car all the way up Remove the lug nuts the rest of the way from the defective tire Replace your tire and tighten the lug nuts part way, but not completely Remove the jack and then tighten your lug nuts the rest of the way Put the wheel cover back on by hand to avoid dents and dings from a hammer or other tools Now that you have a spare tire on your vehicle and you are ready to go, be sure to read the instructions that pertain to the spare (such as the maximum speed you can travel as well as how far you can go). Remember that if you break down during a storm, on a busy freeway, at night, or in any other dangerous condition it might be safer to call for help rather than taking matters into your own hands. Always put the safety of you and your passengers first. Many insurance companies offer roadside assistance at a very low rate as part of your monthly premium. Check your policy to see if you have coverage for roadside assistance, or speak with your friendly and local agent at Rink Partridge Agency, Inc. We are happily at your service! 607-324-0455.

Special event insurance is a policy that provides coverage for your investment in a specific event: such as a wedding, birthday party, baby shower, etc. Planning a private event can be costly, so it is a good idea to consider special event insurance when you start putting down deposits and purchases for your event. Keep in mind that there is generally a time restriction as to when you can purchase the policy, not too close to the event, but also not too far out. So, what does special event insurance cover? It may provide protection for liability, injury, cancellation fees and non-refundable deposits. Event Cancellation Coverage Event cancellation coverage can help reimburse you up to your coverage limits for lost deposits, if something unexpected forces you to cancel or postpone your event. A few examples include reimbursements for payments to DJ’s, photographers, caterers or other vendors. Every policy is different, so be sure to check the types of situations that may or may not be covered for this type of loss. Event Liability Coverage Event liability coverage can provide protection if property damage or injury takes place during your event and you are found responsible. Many venues require you to carry some sort of liability protection. Liquor liability coverage can be added to your policy to help protect yourself from liability that may arise from alcohol-related situations (subject to policy conditions and exclusions). When looking into wedding and special event insurance, keep in mind that all companies and policies generally offer different limits and coverage options. We represent multiple companies, positioning us to find the best coverage and rate for your special day. Give us a call at (607) 324-0455 or stop in to see us for a quote! 

Spring break is approaching quickly. For some, that means taking a trip for some fun in the sun. If you are planning on taking a spring break vacation this year, it is good to be prepared before leaving. Preparing for vacation should begin by ensuring that your home and your journey is safe. Here are a few home and auto insurance tips to take into consideration before leaving for your fun get-away. Homeowners Insurance Before you leave, make sure that your homeowner’s insurance is up to date, and consider reviewing your coverages to make sure that they are adequate for your needs. Being away for extended period of time is opportunity for theft, but here are a few things you can do to protect your home while you’re gone: Consider getting an alarm system/other security device. Even a motion sensor light can help protect your house. Make sure all windows and doors are locked Keep the heat on- if it suddenly gets cold, pipes could freeze Have a trusted family member or friend check on things while you’re gone and bring in your mail Renters Insurance Many of the home protection tips apply to your renters insurance, but here are a few things to think about: The building is protected by your landlord, but your belongings are not. Consider purchasing a renters policy to cover your belongings to help guard against damaged or stolen property Auto Insurance If you are taking a road trip- double check your auto insurance. Driving is dangerous, especially long distance. If you are leaving your car at home, consider taking pictures of it before you leave in case any damage is done while you’re gone. Park it somewhere safe, secure, and make sure it is locked. Before hitting the road check your vehicle’s tire pressure, brakes, fluid levels and windshield wiper blades Stock your car with a portable jump-start as well as emergency supplies. Are you ready for your spring break vacation? Remember to make sure you are protected for peace of mind while you are away. If you have any questions regarding your insurance policy, give us a call 607-324-0455 or stop in to see us!