Home Insurance in Dunmore, PA: Do You Have Enough Coverage?

There are no second chances when it comes to home insurance. If you don’t have enough coverage when disaster strikes, you could end up losing everything or almost everything. For this reason, it’s crucial that you have enough insurance to cover all of your personal possessions. Following are a few things you should consider when deciding how much coverage you need for your personal belongings. 

Standard Coverage

Most insurance policies offer standard coverage for your personal belongings that hovers around 50 to 70 percent of the amount of coverage you have for the structure of your home. this amount may be enough for you, but you won’t know until you take a complete inventory of your belongings. 

Replacement Cost

You can use two vastly different numbers to decide how much coverage you need: the replacement cost and the cash value cost. The replacement value cost is the amount that you will have to pay if you were to go out and buy the item new today. The cash value cost is the value of the item today minus any depreciation. If you want to replace all your stuff, you will have to use the former. 

Expensive Items

If you own expensive items, such as jewelry or art, you should cover these via a floater or endorsement on your policy rather than include them in your total belonging valuation. Keep in mind that you should insure expensive items for slightly more than they are worth to account for appreciation. For example, if you have a painting that’s worth $10,000, you might want to insure it for $12,000.

If you don’t know how much your stuff is worth, be sure to hire an appraiser. For more information about how much coverage you should have for your personal belongings, talk to Rodgers-Olver-Polley Inc. today. 

Advantages Of Home Insurance

There are countless advantages to having home insurance when you live in Dunmore. Your home in PA needs to have a policy, even though it’s not required by the state. This is simply so you can enjoy peace of mind, and know that your home and family are safe.

While the state has no laws that state you need home insurance, your mortgage lender may require you to have a policy – and this will require proof of the policy. Many lenders will even add it into the total payment, which is part of your escrow payment.

Having home insurance means that if something happens, such as frozen water pipes that burst or storm damage where shingles have fallen off your roof, you can file a claim. These are worth thousands of dollars and the insurance company would pay for the damages, preventing this money from coming out of your pocket.

If someone became injured on your property, whether it was a contractor or a guest, they could sue you. However, with the right insurance coverage, it wouldn’t be something you have to worry about because insurance would step in to take care of it.

There’s also the potential for total destruction, such as what may happen with a house fire. You don’t want your home to suddenly be gone, because you don’t have the kind of funds to just replace it. However, you may simply have to pay a deductible and the rest would be taken care of by the insurance company.

Ultimately, it is going to be more cost effective to pay the premium on a homeowner’s insurance policy than it would be to pay out of pocket in the event you have something happen.

Contact us today at Rodgers-Olver-Polley Inc. so that one of our insurance agents can guide you through the process of finding the right home insurance policy for you and your family.

 

 

 

 

Don’t Throw That Away! Items to Recycle in Dunmore

There’s too much trash in the world today, and we all contribute to the problem. To save yourself a little cash and make your greater mark on the environment, try recycling these common items in your home. 

Old Books, Junk Mail and Shredded Documents 

These things collect in our home, and when we get annoyed with them, we just want them out of the house. Just remember that it’s far better to turn all that paper or even old greeting cards or postcards into new materials. Don’t let these collect in landfills when you could just find a recycling facility and cleanse your conscious of creating more trash. 

Paper Plates and Party Cups 

Even with food stains still on them, you can recycle these items after a party. Just keep a recycling bin around so your guests remember not to toss it all in the regular trash. You can also compost paper towels, so give your garden a break while you cut down on your output. 

Electronics 

You can’t toss batteries into the trash, or throw away your old laptop in the same trash bag as your leftovers. Find a place to accept your old electronics in your area, so you know they’re not leaking acid and contaminating the water or the ground. Any light bulbs with mercury in them will also need to be recycled in a designated area. 

Cardboard 

Old boxes and any packaging material like cereal containers should go directly in with the recycling too. 

Taking Care of Your Home 

Rodgers-Olver-Polley Inc. serving Dunmore, PA encourages everyone to take good care of their home and the earth. If you need a new homeowners policy or are purchasing your first new home, then give us a call today for a quote. 

3 Tips for Being the Perfect Housesitter

Watching someone else’s property can be a great way to break routine, try something different, and help out a friend for a bit. But how do you know what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing while staying in another person’s home? Here are three tips for being the perfect house sitter.

#1: Find Out Expectations Ahead of Time

Keep things absolutely clear from the beginning by finding out about any expectations your host has while they are gone. If they want you to water plants, take the trash cans out to the curb, or even take care of animals, it is important to know ahead of time. In addition, you’ll want to find out about any requests they have for handling landline phone calls or unexpected visitors. Try to cover as many bases as you can to ensure clarity on both sides.

#2: Respect Boundaries

Respecting boundaries is also important. If the homeowner asks that you don’t go in a certain room or have guests over, follow these guidelines. Also, remember your basic manners. Rifling through drawers or looking through the medicine cabinet is generally considered a faux pas of house sitting. Imagine what rules you would want followed if someone was staying in your home and stick with them.

#3: Go Above and Beyond

One of the easiest ways to be the perfect house sitter is by simply going above and beyond. Nobody likes coming home to a messy house, so try to keep the place as neat or neater than it was when they left. Change sheets, put away any dishes, and generally try to make everything look as good as possible before turning your key in to your host.

Homeowners that are looking to hire a house sitter also have one thing they need to consider—insurance coverage. Before leaving town, it is imperative that you have a policy that suits your needs in case an unexpected event occurs while you are away. For your free quote, please contact our team at Rodgers-Olver-Polley, Inc.

 

4 Tips for a Having a Safe Halloween

Are you ready for this year’s neighborhood trick-or-treaters? Here are four tips for having a safe Halloween.

Trim Back Vegetation

One important step to take when preparing your home for Halloween guests is to trim back vegetation. Low tree branches pose a risk of someone bumping their head while coming up to your porch, while bushes and shrubs with thorns may catch on clothing or cause scratches. Instead of taking the risk, make sure the plants in your yard are well-maintained.

Eliminate Any Tripping Hazards

In addition to trimming back vegetation, it is important to eliminate any tripping hazards. Items that could pose a potential problem include unrolled garden hoses, yard equipment, or even decorative items. Loose walkway bricks, cracked concrete, and other similar landscape problems should either be fixed or roped off to prevent an incident from happening.

Turn Up the Lights

One of the easiest ways to prepare your home for Halloween visitors is by turning up the lights. Keep as many porch and outdoor fixtures illuminated as possible. Make sure any long driveways or walkways you have are well-lit and easily visible by trick-or-treaters. In addition to increasing visibility, this also helps let parents know that your home is a safe place for your child to visit.

Make Sure Your Pets Are Safely Confined

Another way to get ready for Halloween festivities is by making sure your pets are safely confined. While many animals are calm on a normal day, having so many little people in strange costumes coming up to the door can be alarming. For the safety of the both the children in your neighborhood and your beloved companion, it is important to keep them in a separate room or special crate until the evening is over.

It is also important that you have up-to-date homeowner’s insurance coverage. Anytime someone visits your home—even if it is just a trick-or-treater on your porch—you run the risk of having a liability claim. By working with our team at Rodgers-Olver-Polley, Inc. you can rest assured that you have the exact coverage you need in case of an unexpected incident. Please contact us today.

Stay Safe While Grilling in Dunmore, PA By Taking These Precautions

Summer in Dunmore, PA is a great time for grilling. With a beautiful, blue sky overhead and the sun shining, few things are more relaxing than cooking up some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. It may have been some time since some Pennsylvania residents last got their grills out, though. Therefore, we at Rodgers-Olver-Polley Insurance wanted to share a few safety reminders with everyone. Hopefully, following these suggestions will ensure that you have a fun time barbecuing and that you won’t have to file a homeowners insurance claim for a grilling accident.

Four Safety Precautions for Grilling

As with many forms of cooking, there are two main risks with grilling: causing a fire and getting food poisoning. With a few precautions, though, these are easy to avoid. Remember, when you go to barbecue, make sure:

  • your grill is away from all buildings
  • there aren’t any low-hanging branches overhead
  • your food remains chilled in a refrigerator or cooler until the grill’s hot
  • you cook all meat and seafood thoroughly

Homeowners Insurance for Accidents

No matter how careful you are, you can’t completely rule out the possibility of an accident. Homeowners insurance isn’t meant to protect you from food poisoning, but some policies may cover grilling-related fires.

If you’d like to know whether your current homeowners insurance policy would cover a grilling accident in your backyard or on your deck, give us a call. We have independent homeowners insurance agents who are licensed in Pennsylvania and serve Dunmore. They’d be happy to review your current insurance, and they can compare it with other policies that are available.

For general information, you can visit our website. For individual assistance with your homeowners insurance policy, give our office a call today.

 

Why Are Independent Agents Needed For Buying Home Insurance?

Honesdale, Pennsylvania is a small town in Wayne County with a lot of history. It is proud to be the home of the Historical Society’s museum. There are also many outdoor sites that are breathtaking to view at any time during the year.

Home insurance is a must if you want to protect your home. You never know when a fire, flood, storm, or something else is going to occur and damage your home. The damage caused could end up being tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. You don’t want to be the one responsible for paying for all of this as it could leave you homeless. It’s best to seek out independent agents to help you find a policy that will work for you in Honesdale.

Independent agents are going to help you save on your home insurance. There are many companies that offer homeowner’s insurance in Pennsylvania and you will want to get quotes from several of them. This will make it easier to do some comparison shopping. The last thing you want to do is go with the first policy that is offered to you because it could be the most expensive. The only way to know is by getting multiple quotes.

It can be difficult to figure out what kind of coverage you want. You can choose a basic policy or get more specific on what is covered. You may want not only fire protection, but also smoke protection. You may also want coverage on your foundation in case it sinks. Our agents can help you with all of this so you can enjoy peace of mind.

Our independent agents are standing by to take your call. Pick up the phone today and let us help you with a policy in Honesdale that you can rely on.

Home Insurance In Dunmore: The Importance Of Getting Quotes

Dunmore, Pennsylvania has a significant amount of history, dating back to the 1800s. It is a growing town of more than 13,000 people. Various businesses exist in the area and it is also close to Scranton, providing many more job opportunities as well as arts and entertainment.

As a homeowner in Dunmore, you want to make sure you obtain home insurance. This will keep you well protected against any and all that could happen to your home. Fires, floods, storms, and more have the potential to damage your home and cost you a lot in repairs. Coverage is possible within your policy so you don’t have to be financially responsible for it all.

We are an agency who is not only going to get quotes for you, but also help you to navigate the insurance options in Pennsylvania. If you have questions about the level of coverage that you should get on your home, you can simply turn to one of our agents.

Quotes are of the utmost importance so you can do some comparison shopping. When you bought your home, you likely found one home insurance company, they gave you a quote, and you took it. Now that you are in your home in Dunmore, it’s a good idea to take a step back and look at some of the options.

By getting quotes, you can:

– Learn more about the companies

– Find out about coverage options

– Compare prices

Our home insurance agency can make the process of getting quotes very easy. You don’t have to call all of the insurance companies on your own. All it takes is one phone call to us and we will do everything on your behalf.

Are you ready to purchase home insurance in Dunmore? Call now.

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Homeowner’s Insurance In Honesdale: What You Need To Know

Honesdale is in Wayne County Pennsylvania and located close to the metropolitan area of Scranton. It has history that dates back into the 1800s and many homes that were built during that time are still standing. The economy is diverse and various activities are provided throughout the year, making it a popular place to be amongst residents.

 

When you buy homeowners insurance in the 18431 area, there are many things you want to know.

 

First, there are multiple insurance companies out there. You want to find a company that provides you with the full level of coverage you desire at a competitive price.

 

Second, you can choose the kind of coverage you want. This includes basics like fire, flood, and theft, but you also want to think about how to protect yourself against a personal injury claim. Someone can make a claim in Honesdale that they were injured in your home. Without the protection, you would have to pay out of pocket.

 

Third, quotes can be obtained to help you make comparisons. Think about adding personal injury claim coverage to your policy in Pennsylvania, along with various other coverage options so you have peace of mind and a high level of protection.

 

We have agents who will explain homeowner’s insurance and what your options are within a policy. Our agents are independent, which means we work with multiple companies and can help you find one that works best for your needs in 18431. We take the time to answer questions and guide you through the entire process.

 

Call and speak to one of our agents today where we can help you find the coverage you need at a price you can afford. It can be one of the best things for your home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

 

Is A Sinking Foundation Something That Can Really Happen?

Dunmore, Pennsylvania is close to the metropolitan area of Scranton. The population is around 14,000 and has been increasing slowly over the past several years. The area is known for mild summers and cold winters and it’s common to see snow during the winter months.

A sinking foundation is a relatively common issue, though it varies from home to home. This is something to be aware of as you purchase homeowner’s insurance because your policy should have the necessary coverage.

There are various reasons for why your porch or foundation could be sinking. It may have to do with soil compaction, site preparation, as well as poor drainage around the home. You probably won’t notice anything the first few years of being in the home, but over time, you could start to see cracks around the base of the home.

With the winters filled with snow and the summer months with some rain, homes in Dunmore have been known to experience sinking foundation. If you are aware of this ahead of time, you can be sure your homeowners insurance policy is written in such a way that it protects your home in the 18512 area.

You would be able to place a claim with the insurance company and an adjustor would come out to view the damages. From there, you could have the repairs made and the majority of the money would be covered by the insurance company. You would just have to pay the deductible.

We have agents to help you figure out the risk of a sinking foundation in Dunmore and answer any questions that you may have. This will ensure you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is covered for anything that may happen. Call and speak to an agent today.