Stuber Insurance Agency

Do I Need Earthquake Insurance?

sisabelle — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:01:49 +0000

On August 23^rd 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake spread across the East Coast. The rumble only lasted a couple of seconds, but the incident was enough to shake up citizens in a less literal sense. Many questioned how they would have coped if the disaster had been bigger.

States such as Californiahave become well-versed in earthquake protocol due to the frequency of quakes. Buildings and the residents who occupy them have become equipped with techniques for dealing with seismic waves – everything from structural supports to emergency evacuation plans. What most don’t realize is that earthquake risk factors are equally prevalent through the entire US. In the past year alone, the United Stateshas been the site of 500 earthquakes. Since 1990, 39 states have hosted quakes and all 50 have felt their residual damage. The potential for dramatic loss only increases as developmental projects boom. Contractors are encouraged to build in high risk areas when real estate space becomes limited, thereby stacking the odds of widespread destruction. (CNN Money – “Buying Earthquake Homeowners Insurance”)

Homeowner polices do not typically cover earthquakes. However, coverage can be added for an additional premium to your policy. Mindful consumers should certainly consider investing. Rates vary based on location and can include the following factors:

Your home’s age
Building materials. Wooden houses tend to fair better than their brick counterparts
Your home’s foundation’s soil consistency
How close your house is in relation to a fault line

Deductibles can range from 2-20% of overall restoration costs – a small price to pay compared to restoring your entire residence from the ground up. (“Earthquake Insurance Costs”)

Ray Martin, a Financial Consultant for CBS News, puts the decision in plain terms: “Pull out your homeowner’s policy, look up the limit for dwelling coverage, and ask this question: ‘Do I have the right types and enough coverage to rebuild my home?’
If you have the slightest doubt, then call your insurance company and ask them the same questions and get their answers.”

Stuber Insurance Agency is happy to field these inquires. One call places you in touch with an Agent that is ready to meet all of your personal insurance needs. We strive to provide customers with tailored protection plans that are truly unshakable.

Equip Your Emergency Kit With Flood Insurance!

sisabelle — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:11:05 +0000

New Jersey’s weather has never been categorized as extreme. The state boasts four seasons with appropriate temperatures and coinciding accumulation. Hurricane Irene changed all assumptions. Irene was the first tropical storm to hit the area in over a century. The eye of the storm progressed up the coast before making its exit nearSandy Hook approximately three hours after its arrival. The sheer size of Irene, as opposed to its duration, was the primary cause of damage. Irene’s 500 mile reach pummeledNew Jersey with high winds and torrential rains well before the storm touched down on land.New Jersey had already undergone an exponentially wet summer. Water without a place to filter became an instant issue. Suddenly, residents were faced with a serious crisis: flooding.

Communities watched in horror as river banks crept into backyards, spilling over into homes and prompting mass evacuation. Though many were thankful to be safe, the real test came when it was time to assess Irene’s aftermath. Damage estimates totaled to 1 billion dollars. Houses that hadn’t been completely destroyed were sunk deep in murky pools. Some sought out rehabilitation help from their homeowners insurance and were shocked to discover that flood damage is not covered on a homeowners policy.

Though it may seem frivolous to have flood insurance, Irene proved that citizens cannot remain ignorant. The Facts On Flooding, provided by newjerseyfloodinsurance.org, reiterates the problem’s underreported pervasiveness: “Your home has a 26% chance of being damaged by floods during the course of a 30 year mortgage, compared to a 6% chance of fire.” Furthermore, since 1987,New Jersey flood insurance polices have paid “31.4 Billion in flood insurance claims and related costs.”

Contrary to popular belief, flood insurance eligibility is relatively easy to obtain. David Stuber, CPCU/CIC states: “Many people don’t think they qualify for flood insurance if their mortgage company does not require it. That is not the case. If a property is located in a flood zone, coverage is available. The name and address of a property owner determines what flood zone they fall under. The majority of towns in NJ participate in flood programs.” A community’s flood risk is never stagnant because sea levels are constantly changing. It is therefore imperative for individuals to frequently check their status through report centers such as Climate Central.

Stuber Insurance Agency prides itself in presenting its customers with the very best in flood insurance coverage. Stuber Insurance’s comprehensive package is written through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP was established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The purpose of this Act was to enable nation-wide flood coverage via the combined efforts of the federal government and private insurance industry. Flood insurance through NFIP *covers up to $250,000 in property damage (*single family) and can also defray the cost of preventative flood measures (sand bags, pumps, temporary levees etc.)

Though we cannot predict when a natural disaster like Irene can strike, we can better equip our ‘emergency kit’ by purchasing policies that will support us at a moment’s notice.

Warren County Arts Festival Saturday April 21st

sisabelle — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:17:06 +0000

Come and enjoy the Warren County Arts Festival this Saturday April 21st! There will be great food at local eateries and live music, as well as other activities. Among the musicians scheduled to perform that day are Jody Price, Christine DeLeon, and Brian Molnar.

You can expect to see dozensof participating artists and vendors, Washington businesses, and special activities, throughout the day in the Downtown.

The festival takes place along Route 57 throughout the Downtown and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rain date for the festival is Sunday April 22.

Go to www.washingtonbid.org for more information.

Spring Forward: Spring Cleaning and Safety Updates

sisabelle — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:06:58 +0000

Temperatures are getting warmer and now that it’s spring, it’s time for spring cleaning and making spring time repairs around the house. Taking care of our homes is important, so take a moment to understand how taking care of things around the house can impact your insurance with these spring time tips:

Spring cleaning inside the house
Time to dust, sweep, vacuum and scrub! For many of us, this can also mean cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, where we might find ourselves using chemical based cleaning agents. Make sure that if you’re using these using chemical cleaners you properly ventilate the room you’re in, because sometimes the fumes from these products can be quite powerful. It can be as simple as opening windows and make sure you keep interior doors open to allow air to flow throughout the house. These simple steps can help you prevent getting too dizzy, or potentially passing out if you breathe in too many fumes. It’s also critical to keep and store these products safely- keep them in a cool dry place that isn’t accessible to small children or pets, and always follow the instructions on chemical cleaning products.

You should follow similar rules for ventilation and storage when working with paint or wood stains. In addition to fumes, paint also poses separate risks to hardwood floors, carpets and furniture, so whether you’re just touching up a window frame or redoing the whole room, make sure you use drop cloths to protect floors and furniture. In fact, if you can, move all furniture and area rugs out of the room when painting, but if you cannot, make sure they’re clear of the walls and covered. The last thing you want is a paint stain on your carpets, hardwoods or your furniture.

Never dispose of paint or chemical cleaners down your sink- if you want to get rid of extra or expired cleaning products and paint, contact your local municipality about how and where you can dispose of these items safely. Many communities will designate certain days when they will collect these items so that they can be disposed of appropriately. If you were to improperly dispose of these items you could be found liable for any property or environmental damage they may cause, including clean-up costs and fines from local, state and federal authorities, and under a standard homeowners policy you would not have coverage if you dumped the chemicals, and those costs would come out of pocket.

Checking for Unwanted Guests
No, not the in-laws, but wild animals. During the winter months when temperatures drop, humans aren’t the only ones looking to get in out of the cold. If animals get into your home they have the potential to cause damage to the house, your belongings and they may leave a mess. Certain types of damage by animals may not be covered by your insurance policy, but if you discover damage that appears to be the work of an animal, notify your Insurance Agent and take appropriate steps to remove the animals, and consider hiring a professional pest control firm if you aren’t comfortable doing so yourself.

Reduce your risk of a fire loss
While you’re cleaning the house, take a few moments to check fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. As you go through the house replace all of the batteries in your smoke detectors and test to make sure they work. If you own a fire extinguisher- check its pressure. Most municipalities have inspection requirements for fire extinguishers in public or commercial buildings, but not for private homes, so it’s important you check on at least an annual basis. While extinguishers have a longer shelf life than most products, over time they may lose pressure and the last thing you want to have happen when facing a kitchen fire is to have the extinguisher fail to actually extinguish a fire. When purchasing a fire extinguisher for your home, see that it’s classified for A, B and C fires. These classifications refer to different types of fires- ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids/gases and electrical fires. You want to make sure that your extinguisher is capable of handling these different types of fires.

Dust off the insurance policy
Finally, spring is a great time to review the “whole picture” of your homeowners or renters insurance. Stuber Insurance Agency has the ability to write insurance with multiple insurance companies, because, like the seasons, your insurance needs change. Contact us now to make sure your coverage fits you and your family’s needs.

Love Your Valentine’s Day Gift? Insure It!

sisabelle — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:20:35 +0000

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and thoughts of people everywhere turn to… jewelry.
Those who don’t buy shiny things for Valentine’s Day may prefer other types of valuables, such as electronics, artwork, antiques, wine and furs. All totaled Valentine’s Day spending will tally approximately $17.6 billion of retail sales, with $4.1 billion of that being spent on jewelry, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Consumer Trends report.

Whatever the purchase, American consumers should take steps to safeguard and insure their valuables. Homeowners insurance generally covers valuable and precious items such as jewelry, but they usually have limits, so it’s important for consumers to call us to make sure they’re covered.

While most homeowner’s insurance policies cover risks such as fire, lightning, and windstorm, they may exclude many events that create financial losses- for example, a claim that is submitted because “my three-year-old dropped my new diamond earrings into the toilet and flushed” may not be covered under a typical policy. To cover these kinds of incidents—or other situations that the insurance industry has dubbed “mysterious disappearance” —you’ll need what’s known as a valuable articles personal property endorsement on your homeowner’s contract. Some homeowner’s insurance carriers also sell stand-alone valuables policies.

Another reason to contact Stuber Insurance Agency? Typically insurance policies restrict the dollar amount of coverage for individual valuable items in the case of theft ($1,000- $1,500), so you want to make sure that if jewelry is ever stolen, you’re not stuck with coverage that is less than the value of the item.

A New Addition To Our Sales Staff

sisabelle — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:14:52 +0000

It is my pleasure to inform you of a new addition to our sales staff. His name is Michael J. P. Sauer, he is fully licensed in Property, Casualty, Life, and Health insurance, and a 2008 Graduate from Grove City Collage in Grove City Pennsylvania.

During his free time he likes to go backpacking at the Delaware Water Gap, play pick-up soccer, basketball, and reading theological books. He also enjoys playing the guitar and singing bass in his church’s choir.

As a partner in the Agency he is quite excited about building a substantial number of new clients, please feel free to give him a call at 908-852-4444, and he will be pleased to help you with your insurance needs.

Sincerely,

Walter H. Stuber, CLU, CIC

Homeowners Fire Safety for the Holidays

sisabelle — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:13:26 +0000

Homeowners Fire Safety for the Holidays

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) analysis shows that although the number of Christmas tree fires is low, these fires represent a higher level of hazard. On average, 1 of every 9 Christmas tree fires resulted in a fatality compared to an average of one death per 75 non-confined home structure fires overall. Further, 49 % of Christmas tree fires spread beyond the room of origin.

Properly maintaining a cut Christmas tree is important to retaining a high moisture content in the needles of the tree to limit accidental ignition and prevent rapid flame spread. A tree which has dry needles can readily ignite with a flaming source and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover in residential scale rooms.

Watch How Quickly a Tree Fire Can Occur: Click Here

Rental Car Insurance: To Buy or Not to Buy?

sisabelle — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:01:38 +0000

As the holiday season approaches, millions of Americans will take to the roads to visit family and friends. Since many will make the trip in a rented car, it’s an appropriate time to discuss one of the most frequently asked questions of agents and brokers all over the country: “Should I buy the insurance from the rental car company?”

Following are a few considerations when mulling this important decision:

DAMAGE WAIVER & YOUR PERSONAL AUTO POLICY

First, the good news: In many cases, a personal auto insurance policy will cover damage to a rented vehicle. That said—don’t get too comfortable! There are other costs associated with damage to a rented vehicle that the policy will not cover. For this reason, careful consideration should be given to purchasing the damage waiver offered by the rental car company.

On your personal auto policy, “Collision” insurance covers your vehicle for damage resulting from a collision with another object. “Comprehensive” (sometimes called “Other Than Collision”) covers your vehicle for theft, vandalism, falling objects and other causes not resulting from a collision. If you have a car loan, your lender will require you to purchase both. If you pay the loan off, the choice to purchase collision or comprehensive—and both or neither—is up to you.

Your personal auto policy will only cover damage to the rental car if you have the appropriate coverage type on at least one vehicle you own. For example, if you damage the rental car in a collision, you must have “collision” coverage on at least one vehicle covered by your personal auto policy. But if the rental car is stolen, vandalized, or damaged in any way not resulting from a collision, you must have “comprehensive” coverage on at least one vehicle covered by your personal auto policy. The key point: If your personal auto policy excludes the coverage type that damages the rental car—and you reject or violate the damage waiver—you will become personally responsible for paying all costs related to the damaged rental car out of your own pocket!

In contrast, the damage waiver usually offered at the rental counter will cover the damaged rental car regardless of what’s covered by your personal auto policy.

LIMITATIONS IN YOUR PERSONAL AUTO POLICY

What else could you possibly owe the rental company following an event or crash? These include administrative fees and the depreciated value of the vehicle after repairs—neither expense is covered by your personal auto policy. In addition, most personal auto policies only pay up to the actual cash value (ACV) of the damaged vehicle. If the contract requires the damaged rental’s replacement, the ACV payout may not be sufficient to cover the entire expense.

Again, in contrast, the damage waiver will cover all such expenses.

Also, the rental contract likely will require you to pay the rental company’s “loss of use.” These are expenses they incur resulting from the inability to earn income from the damaged rental. This cost could be hundreds of dollars or more. Some personal auto policies will pay a limited amount for this expense (such as $20 per day or $600 total). Others will not cover it at all.

In contrast, the damage waiver will pay the full cost of the rental company’s loss of use.

NO CLAIM NECESSARY

If something happens to the rental car, purchasing the damage waiver gives the rental agency management of the process. This will allow you to avoid filing a claim and possibly help keep the cost of your insurance from going up. It also will keep your deductible in your pocket.

LIMITATIONS IN THE DAMAGE WAIVER

Don’t forget that the rental car company’s damage waiver is a contract. It will include a list of restrictions that, if violated, may terminate the waiver and leave you personally responsible for paying the costs associated with the damaged rental car. Examples of such restrictions may include:

• Damage to rental while driven by someone not specifically named on the contract.

• Damage to rental while driven on unpaved roads.

• Damage to rental while it’s being occupied by more passengers than available seatbelts.

• Damage that occurs while pushing or towing.

This list is only a sample; the typical damage waiver may include additional restrictions.

Moreover, the car rental company’s loss damage waiver covers “diminished value,” the economic reduction in value of a repaired auto due to it having been damaged. Almost all auto policies and many credit card coverages exclude diminished value. What’s the impact to you? If you don’t take the damage waiver, you could get hit with a diminished value claim of $1,500 or more, depending on your type of damaged rental car.

DAMAGE WAIVER COVERS VEHICLE DAMAGE ONLY

Perhaps the most important fact to remember is that the damage waiver only applies to damage to the rented vehicle. It is not a substitute for liability, medical payments, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, and any other personal auto insurance coverage.

OTHER PRODUCTS OFFERED BY RENTAL COMPANY

In addition to the damage waiver, most rental car companies offer a few optional insurance-type products. For example, some may offer a liability enhancement that gives you the option to increase the liability limits you already carry on your personal auto insurance policy. Depending on your available auto liability insurance, this option may be worth consideration.

Others may offer options such as accidental death, trip cancellation, or damaged luggage insurance during the rental period. Such options vary by company and may provide insurance dollars you cannot get elsewhere. However, they should not be purchased without first reviewing your current home, health and auto insurance policies as there may be duplication.

CONCLUSION

In light of the information above, you should seriously consider—and probably buy—the damage waiver from the rental car company. Deciding whether to purchase other products from the rental firm, however, depends largely on the insurance already available to you from other sources. For assistance in determining coverage you already have and comparing it to the rental company’s options, please feel free to call our office.

Business Travel Note: When you rent a car on a business trip, that’s an entirely different set of decisions, so again please contact us.

service@stuberinsurance.com

October Snowstorm Results in Emergency Declaration for New Jersey

sisabelle — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:31:10 +0000

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal Disaster aid has been made available to the State of New Jersey and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm on October 29, 2011.

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm in the counties of Cape May, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. William L. Vogel has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Vogel said additional designations may be made at a later date if Requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

For further information, visit the FEMA Declaration Page.

Service@stuberinsurance.com

Free Home and Auto Insurance Quotes Now On Facebook!

sisabelle — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:37:41 +0000

We are now offering free home and auto insurance quotes directly from our Facebook page as well as our website. Just click on the link below and you can receive a free quote for your home, auto or both from up to 10 different companies in an instant!

Get a Free Home and Auto Quote Now