When you have a home, one of the things you have to pay attention to is your roof. If it’s leaking, you could be in real trouble because of the water damage that will occur. Places like Marlborough and West Hartford also have a lot of older homes, and the chance of having a leaky roof on an older home is much higher than it would be for a new one. One of the things you’ll need to focus on if you’re going to make an insurance claim for your roof is what caused the leak. Most Connecticut insurers will cover the damage for certain types of leaks, but not for others.

A hurricane that caused harm to your roof, for example, wouldn’t be covered unless you have a hurricane policy – and most people in Connecticut don’t carry that kind of insurance. The rarity of those types of storms keeps that kind of insurance policy from being required there, but if there is a hurricane you would like find that the leak in your roof caused by it wouldn’t be covered. To avoid the risk of not being covered, talk to an independent agent like us about your insurance policy.

By working with us to get the proper coverage, you’ll know that leaking roofs and all kinds of other problems will be covered by your policy. That can provide you with a lot of peace of mind, and also help ensure that you don’t have financial troubles if your house is damaged in a storm or if the roof simply gets too old and starts to leak. Some insurance companies will require that you get your roof replaced if it looks too bad, so you won’t have a leak and the company won’t be obligated to pay a claim. Keeping your roof in good shape is important to keep your insurance rates low.

If you own or plan on buying a home in West Hartford or elsewhere in Connecticut, you will need to know a few things about homeowners insurance. Whether you’re getting your first policy or looking to change insurance companies, as an independent agent I can tell you that there are some questions you can ask to make your shopping a bit more effective.

The first thing you need to find out when looking at any homeowners insurance policy is what is covered and what is not. There are multiple levels of homeowners insurance coverage and you need to know if you’re talking about a policy that covers every item in your home as well as the structure itself, or if it just insures the structure against certain specific types of damage. These are things you don’t want to find out when you call with your first claim.

When talking to your independent agent, another good question to ask is about amounts of coverage. Make sure you understand if you’re talking about a policy that gives replacement cost or guaranteed replacement cost and what the maximum amounts are. It defeats the whole purpose of insurance if your house is destroyed and you end up not having enough money to replace it and still owing money on your mortgage. Another good question to ask is what is the limit of coverage for your valuables, in and outside the home.

In terms of cost, you should ask your independent agent about the appropriate deductible size for your situation, and how adjusting that might save money. You should ask about any discounts you might qualify for and what safety features you could add to your home to qualify for more discounts.

Homeowners insurance is an absolute necessity for anyone who owns a house, townhouse or condo in West Hartford. Connecticut homeowners should definitely not be afraid to ask questions when shopping for a policy, because the right questions will help you to find the right policy for you.

When a homeowner’s child goes off to college there are a lot of different issues to consider within the insurance arena. College students take a lot to college with them such as microwaves, small refrigerators, computers, personal clothing, furniture and more. Have you ever wondered if these possessions away from home are insured under your homeowner’s policy no matter where they are staying, a house, apartment, fraternity, or dorm room?

Connecticut homeowners who have a child in college will need to contact their independent agent to see what their policy reads about an insured person. A student should be named on the declaration page. Connecticut insurance companies say that all personal property extends to any children away at college. Review your policy with your independent agent to make sure that your student has the coverage they will need while away. Let the agent know what your child is taking with them to assess the need for a stand-alone policy for items not ordinarily covered in a basic homeowner’s policy.

What needs to be considered are the perils of loss from personal property that is not listed as a natural disaster where a special policy will need to be purchased? The tools that college students take to college these days are expensive items, so parents need to play it safe and make sure that the private possessions of the student are protected, because it would be a hard thing to replace expensive possessions after loss and no insurance.

Students need to take photos of all of their college possessions and keep it in a safe place in the event that a natural disaster, or theft occurs, vandalism happens or a natural disaster strikes. Give us a call and an independent agent in Connecticut can help sort out the college dilemma. Make sure your student is covered in the event of any losses.

Renters in West Hartford, Connecticut often overlook the need for renter’s insurance. They may think that because they rent that they do not have to worry about many of the problems or issues that are faced by homeowners. If their apartment burns down, for instance, their landlord will need to pay to build a new one, and they will simply move to another apartment. There is some validity to this line of thinking, but renters should keep in mind that they need to protect their personal property.

A renter’s insurance policy covers everything that a renter owns. These policies can cover everything from expensive electronics to family jewelry and more. As an independent agent, I have spoken to countless renters who thought that they didn’t need a policy. They thought that their used furniture or other personal possessions weren’t worth getting a policy. However, once these clients looked at how much it would cost to replace their possessions, they realized that they needed to protect their property.

The right insurance policy can protect your personal property from flood, fire, theft, and more. In fact, if you move, most policies even continue to cover your personal property until you get to the driveway of your new home. If you lose some of your property while moving from West Hartford to another area of Connecticut or even to another state, the renter’s policy will continue to cover you.

In some cases, renter’s policies can even cover your liability to guests. For instance, if one of your children’s friends gets hurt while playing at your rented home, your policy can help to ensure that you will not be forced to pay their medical bills.

As your independent agent, I would love to speak with you more about how a renter’s policy can protect your possessions and your family.