Category: Home Insurance

You’ve just bought your first home. This is an exciting moment. You are most likely dealing with a lot of details. Don’t forget that home insurance is one of those important details. At L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas, we can help you navigate the insurance choices you need to make. Keep reading to learn more. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A home insurance policy is the best way to protect your housing stability. This means, that if your new home is damaged or lost for some reason, you can rest assured knowing you can still provide housing for your family. Without a home insurance policy in place, a family will be responsible to pay for the repair of replacement of their home out of their own pocket. For many families, that would be an impossible financial burden. But home insurance provides a way to pay for those expenses so that you always have peace of mind. 

The types of damage that are covered can include damage from storms, fires, vandalism, or natural disasters. It can also include damage caused by indoor flooding.

You should be aware that indoor flooding is flooding that takes place as a result of plumbing issues or an appliance that has malfunctioned. This is not the same as naturally occurring flooding. Most homeowners will need to get additional flood insurance to cover damage from naturally occurring flooding. 

You can talk with an insurance agent to get more details on flood insurance. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, or any of our other insurance services, please contact us at L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY, and the surrounding areas. 

Your home is your safe place, you should not only feel safe there, but you should also be safe. There are some steps that you can take to make sure your home is as safe as it can be. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we are an award-winning agency that makes the needs of our clients our primary concern. We will make sure that you have exactly the insurance that you require. 

Protect against fire

Fire is one of the greatest dangers that homeowners face. Nothing will ever completely take away the danger of fire, because you can’t protect yourself against things like lightning, but you can protect your home from other common causes. If you use your fireplace, you should get your chimney cleaned every year. You should also change the batteries in your smoke detector every six months. If you don’t have a smoke detector, get one. It can save your life. 

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer. It has no odor and there is no way to know that your furnace (gas or oil) is producing this poisonous gas unless you have a working carbon monoxide detector. Every year, entire families die from it. Don’t be one of them. 

Trip and fall hazard

Trips and falls are a serious danger in the home. Falls are responsible for 22% of all deaths. Keep walkways and stairs clear. Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways and add salt and sand to avoid falls. If you must have rugs, make sure they have non-slip mats. Place a non-slip mat in the tub and shower. If you must climb a ladder, be sure that you have a spotter to keep you from falling. 

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY if you have home insurance needs. 

L & S Agency Inc. provides coverage to the Buffalo, NY community. We work with multiple carriers throughout the East Coast. This allows us to offer our clients an assortment of policies and coverage options. It’s important to us that our clients find a policy that aligns with their individual needs.

How Winter May Impact Home Insurance

Home insurance allows you to protect one of your most valuable assets. You are covered if your home suffers interior or exterior damage. All of your personal items are covered if they are stolen or damaged. Liability coverage is important, as you are covered if you cause damage to someone’s property or if someone is injured while visiting your property. Home insurance protects you in emergency situations.

Buffalo, NY is well known for its harsh winter conditions, which means that is a great time for you to review your home insurance policy. Winter storms and high winds can cause damage to your home. Check your pipes to make sure that they don’t freeze. If the pipes freeze, that can lead to extensive water damage and possible mold issues. It’s important that you take care of your home, as you are not covered for any issues that arise because of poor maintenance. You may have to amend your policy to cover hail damage. Hail has the potential to damage your roof and siding during the winter. It can also make things slippery, which is a potential liability issue. Make sure that your landscaping is in order before winter. Check your gutters and shutters to make sure they aren’t clogged. Try to cut any bushes around your home and nail anything loose.

L & S Agency Inc. Will Help Your Protect Your Investment

Visit our website to learn more information about home insurance.

If you are a new homeowner you know when you have a mortgage you are required to have home insurance. Home insurance is not one size fits all even if you are comparing two similar homes. Home insurance is made up of different components and each of those components needs to be considered individually to make sure you have the right amount of protection. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we are locally owned and operated. We are an independent agency that is consumer-driven, and we believe we work for our clients, not the insurance companies. 

You have options

The first thing to understand is that as a homeowner, you have lots of options when it comes to choosing home insurance. When you’re dealing with an independent agency, you have choices. Different carriers offer different combinations of coverage, and you need to discuss the things that really matter to you with your agent.

Know your risks

Liability coverage protects you from legal actions against you. As a homeowner, you stand a good chance of being sued at least once in your lifetime. If you have a dog, you need to make sure they are a covered breed. A swimming pool or a trampoline opens you up to greater liability. If you love to entertain and have people in your home and yard, this is a greater risk. 

Cover your content

Your personal property is an important part of your home coverage. Certain categories have limits. You need to know if you have expensive jewelry or electronics you probably need a policy rider to extend your coverage. You can choose actual cash value or replacement cost as to how your items will be replaced. Replacement cost is the value of your item at today’s cost and actual cash value takes depreciation into account. 

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY for all your home insurance needs.

If you are a new homeowner you know when you have a mortgage you are required to have home insurance. Home insurance is not one size fits all even if you are comparing two similar homes. Home insurance is made up of different components and each of those components needs to be considered individually to make sure you have the right amount of protection. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we are locally owned and operated. We are an independent agency that is consumer-driven, and we believe we work for our clients, not the insurance companies. 

You have options

The first thing to understand is that as a homeowner, you have lots of options when it comes to choosing home insurance. When you’re dealing with an independent agency, you have choices. Different carriers offer different combinations of coverage, and you need to discuss the things that really matter to you with your agent.

Know your risks

Liability coverage protects you from legal actions against you. As a homeowner, you stand a good chance of being sued at least once in your lifetime. If you have a dog, you need to make sure they are a covered breed. A swimming pool or a trampoline opens you up to greater liability. If you love to entertain and have people in your home and yard, this is a greater risk. 

Cover your content

Your personal property is an important part of your home coverage. Certain categories have limits. You need to know if you have expensive jewelry or electronics you probably need a policy rider to extend your coverage. You can choose actual cash value or replacement cost as to how your items will be replaced. Replacement cost is the value of your item at today’s cost and actual cash value takes depreciation into account. 

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY for all your home insurance needs.

Buying a home in Buffalo NY is an exciting and overwhelming task at the same time. Apart from choosing designs, location, and other aesthetics, you need to think about home insurance and other money-saving opportunities when moving into your new home.  If it’s your first time buying a home in Buffalo, here are a few tips to get you started.

Do your homework

A little research goes a long way towards helping you understand what you want and create a plan on how you will achieve it. On your to-do list, including your budget, the location, house size, and the features you need in your new home. Next, research how homes cost in the area you have selected to know whether to adjust your budget or not.

Start saving early

Buying a home is not a small project. It involves using large amounts of money for various activities like move-in expenses, closing costs, and even insurance. Therefore, you need to have a reasonable amount of money to buy a house, move in and pay insurance without feeling broke.

Set your budget

A budget helps you stay financially safe when buying a home. It prevents you from buying a home based on price and also protects you from overpriced properties. When you stick to your budget, you are able to have reasonable expectations and handle other insurance needs without worry.

Explore mortgage options

There exist various mortgage options based on your needs. Take your time to explore each and determine which works for you regarding down payment, eligibility, and repayment rules.  Insurance experts at L & S Agency Inc. can help you choose.

Consider a home inspection

Conduct a thorough home inspection before signing any agreement. This allows you to negotiate the price better or have repairs done before you move in. Sellers will generally lower the cost or agree to do the repairs rather than blow the deal.

Don’t forget to buy adequate home insurance. Our insurance professionals at L & S Agency Inc. can help you find a policy that matches your needs and budget. Call us today.