A home insurance inspection is commonly conducted by insurance companies to assess the overall condition of your property. While it may sound intimidating, it is also necessary in order to ensure the house is insured to value. The inspection also helps the company evaluate potential risks that could arise at the time of a new insurance policy or renewal of an existing policy. Who performs the inspections? After the homeowners insurance policy is written, an inspector is hired by the insurance company to visit the property and take notes, photos and measurements. Depending on the situation and the company, they may allow your insurance agent to take the photos and submit them directly to the company. What does an inspector look for? In most cases the inspection is exterior, but in some cases the company will request for an interior inspection to be completed. The critical areas include the electrical, plumbing, roof and structure and HVAC system, but they will also look for potential red flags that may increase the chance of a claim. Additional details they will focus in on include: Water damage Signs of mold or mildew Animal infestation Rot or decay Cracks in the foundation Chimneys and fireplaces If you are receiving a discount on your policy such as a home security system, the inspector may also look for that verification. What do you need to do after the inspection? After the inspection is completed, you may be notified if there are some issues that need to be corrected. They will give you a certain amount of time to make the improvements or to make changes to the insurance policy. Anytime a new policy is written or as the 3-year renewal approaches, the company may be inclined to complete an inspection. It is always best to reach out to your independent agent with any questions and or concerns.

Coverage A: Dwelling Dwelling coverage protects your house and permanently attached structures such as an enclosed porch or garage. Coverage B: Other Structures Separate structures on your property such as a detached garage, shed, pool house, guest house or gazebo are protected under this coverage. Coverage C: Personal Property This part of your policy protects your personal belongings, with a few limitations that you should know about. The standard homeowners policy will place a specific limitation of coverage on certain items such as jewelry, furs, firearms as well as a few other belongings unless they are specifically “scheduled” on your policy. Unless you select the replacement cost option, a standard policy will pay for items that are damaged, lost or Stolen on an actual cash value basis (original value less depreciation). Certain personal property are excluded under your policy such as: -personal property of a tenant -paper records or drawings -software or disks -animals, birds or fish -aircraft or aircraft parts It is important to read the exclusions and limitations outlined on your policy. Coverage D: Loss of Use This part of your policy provides protection for the additional living expenses after a loss to be able to maintain your normal standard of living. Coverage E: Personal Liability Liability insurance covers you for money up to your policy limits if the court finds you responsible for damage to another person’s personal property. Coverage F: Medical Payments to Others Medical payments insurance is homeowners coverage that compensates others who are injured while on your property or others whom you accidentally injure. This coverage excludes anyone who lives in your household.

Before hitting the open road on your motorcycle this season, you need motorcycle insurance coverage that you can count on. Whether you need a policy with liability coverage only or a policy that fully covers your bike, we have something for you! Let’s take a look at the coverages available on a motorcycle insurance policy. Required Coverages Liability: Similar to your auto insurance policy, New York State requires all registered motorcycles to carry bodily injury liability coverage in the minimum of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident to cover other parties’ medical bills and other related expenses if you are at fault for an accident. Property damage liability in the minimum of $10,000 is another required coverage that pays for another parties’ vehicle and property repairs if you are at fault. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury : This coverage goes hand-in-hand with the liability coverages mentioned above but instead of covering others, this coverage is for you and your passengers. The minimum limits are the same; $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage safeguards against motorists who do not carry enough insurance to cover you or your bike if you’re hit by another drive. Pedestrian Personal Injury Protection : Also referred to as “no-fault insurance” the pedestrian personal injury protection covers medical and other related expenses for injuries incurred by a pedestrian that result from motorcycle, regardless of fault. The minimum requirement in New York State is $50,000. Optional Coverages Comprehensive coverage : provides protection for things that are often out of your control including theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, fire and weather-related damage. Collision coverage : covers your prized possession if it strikes another object or vehicle, regardless of who is at fault. Other coverages : check with your carrier to see if roadside assistance, accessory coverage, medical payments, and total loss coverage are available on your policy.

A home inventory can help you determine whether your policy is providing enough personal property coverage and may help save time and stress when filing a claim. If your personal belongings are destroyed, damaged or stolen from a covered claim, a detailed checklist of what you lost will be an excellent resource for you and your insurance adjuster. What should I include on my checklist? Many insurance companies have a template accessible with the details that should be included on your home inventory checklist. This information includes the name of your items, purchase price, when and where you bought it, as well as other details such as make/model and serial numbers (if applicable). Steps to creating a checklist  Choose a method-you can handwrite your worksheet or you can complete it on a phone, tablet or computer. Take pictures Begin with valuables- think about the items that are the most costly to replace (such as collectibles, appliances, furniture, antiques, electronics, etc.) Consider an insurance rider for items such as jewelry, firearms and fine art to ensure adequate coverage Creating a home inventory can save time in the event of a claim and help ensure your belongings are covered properly. Remember to save receipts, be specific in your item descriptions and save photos with your checklist in a secondary location… such as with your agent! We are here to help you with all of your insurance questions and needs 607-324-0455

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.