Prepare For a Commercial Insurance Inspection Process

Posted on by admin

An inspection of your commercial buildings and land will determine the level of coverage that your commercial insurance policy should provide and identify any issues that require your attention. Use the following steps to prepare for an upcoming commercial inspection.

Purpose

The inspection will reveal the current state of each building on your land and determine the status of your land. During an inspection, structural, electrical, and plumbing materials will be assessed.

An inspector may test the drainage conditions of the land. The results of the inspection will determine the risk of insuring your place of business and influence the level of insurance coverage that you will need to adequately protect your buildings and land.

Cleaning Steps

Prepare your buildings and land for the upcoming inspection. Walk through each building, removing loose items that are in the way. If there are any dirty surfaces that could hinder the inspection process, clean them.

Walk around outdoors. Move loose items and place them in a secure area. If the exterior of each building is dirty, use a hose to rinse it off. Ensuring that your property is clean and orderly will support a smooth inspection process.

Inspection Process

A representative from your insurance company will schedule a time to complete the inspection. You may need to be present during the actual inspection. At the end of the inspection, you will have the opportunity to consult with the representative.

Contact TAS Insurance Agency

Ensure that your commercial buildings and land are always adequately insured. Contact one of our TAS Insurance Agency representatives. An agent who serves Phillipsburg, NJ, will schedule an appointment for you.

Home Insurance Coverage and Trees

Posted on by admin

Home insurance is a valuable investment tool that helps protect you from unexpected and accidental losses of all types. One type of loss could come from trees. The trees around your home may add to the aesthetics of it and may offer the shade you need on a hot day. Yet, they are also large structures that are prone to causing damage to others. 

Protecting your home from tree damage is important. Having enough home insurance to cover an accident that does happen is critical. At TAS Insurance Agency, we help people in and around Phillipsburg, NJ, to keep them protected from unexpected events.

When Can Home Insurance Help with Trees?

If a tree falls on your home due to storm damage, your home insurance company may help with the repairs. You may also get help if your tree falls onto your neighbor’s property, such as causing damage to their home. It may help to cover any damage.

There are limitations that you should consider. For example, home insurance typically does not provide coverage in situations where you have normal wear and tear on your roof due to the tree scraping against it. You also may not be able to get coverage for problems related to a diseased tree falling in your yard. It’s still up to you to ensure trees are safe and your property is well maintained.

When accidents happen, though, your insurance policy could be helpful. After all, it takes just a lightning strike to take a healthy tree down, causing damage to your home and property as it does.

Let Our Team Update Your Policy for You

Make sure your home insurance offers enough coverage to protect you. Call TAS Insurance Agency to help with home insurance in Phillipsburg, NJ, and protect your home.

Get More Liability Coverage With Umbrella Insurance

Posted on by admin

Liability coverage is one of the most important types of insurance coverage that you need. There are a lot of situations in which you may end up owing someone else’s medical bills or other costs. Whether the accident involves your vehicle or takes place in your home, you can be he’d responsible for the costs that follow. You get liability coverage from your auto and home policies, but you’re likely to need more. To get started with umbrella insurance for more liability coverage, call us at TAS Insurance Agency in Phillipsburg, NJ.

More Liability Protection

While you do have some protection against liability in your home and auto policies, it may not be as much as you need. Both your home and auto policies will have a specific amount of liability coverage to give you a layer of protection. The problem is that this may not be enough to pay for an accident that’s serious and very expensive. When you get an umbrella policy, it adds more liability coverage to both policies at once. This gives you better coverage so that insurance can pay for a particularly expensive accident. 

Paying the Overages

With the relatively small amounts of coverage in your home and auto policies, it may not be enough to pay when the cost is high. When you have umbrella insurance, it pays for the overages that are left after the first policy comes through and pays as much as it can. This prevents you from owing those overages from out of pocket. This coverage is highly important in case the worst should happen.

Get Your Umbrella Policy

To make sure you have enough liability coverage, you need to get an umbrella policy. To get started, give us a call today at TAS Insurance Agency in Phillipsburg, NJ. 

8 Things to Know About Flood Insurance

Posted on by admin

For many, flood insurance is a bit of a mystery. Is flood insurance included as part of a home insurance policy? What is covered under flood insurance, and what qualifies as a flood? At TAS Insurance Agency in Phillipsburg, NJ, we feel the more you understand your loss prevention coverage, the more likely you will be protected when there’s a problem. You don’t need to be an insurance expert, but here are some things you should know about flood insurance.

8 Things to Know About Flood Insurance

1. Flood Insurance Is Not a Part of Most Base Home Insurance Policies

Flood insurance is managed by FEMA and is separate coverage from that of a standard home insurance policy. Flood insurance needs to be applied for and acquired as separate coverage. 

2. How Is Flooding Defined?

For flood insurance purposes, flooding is defined as water that comes from external sources like rain, snow, and rivers or lakes that have exceeded their banks and caused damage to property. The TAS can help in your acquisition of flood insurance.

3. Your Need for Flood Insurance Can Change

Climate change, construction, and new developments can change your risk of flooding over the years. Floodplains can change, and groundwater levels can rise. It is important to assess your risks annually and consider if you should add flood insurance.

4. How Big is The Risk From Flooding

Flooding risks are adjusted annually, but recent figures state that about 146 million Americans are in danger of experiencing flooding in their communities. In addition, about 6.5 million are at risk for moderate flooding and 1.5 million are in danger of being impacted by major flooding. The potential for flooding exists in the vast majority of the United States.

5. Flood Insurance Can Help Pay Living Expenses

If your home becomes unlivable due to damage from a flood, flood insurance can help pay for hotel and restaurant costs while flooding recedes and repairs are made.

7. Your Mortgage Broker or Finance Company May Require Flood Insurance

If your home is financed, and you live in a flood zone or area of a higher risk of flooding, the holder of your mortgage may require flood insurance. This is to minimize their risks when flooding occurs.

8. Businesses Should Consider Flood Insurance

Since business insurance generally doesn’t include coverage from flooding, business owners should also assess their risks and consider flood insurance.

Consult With Us

TAS Insurance Agency serves the Phillipsburg, NJ area with a range of insurance products to minimize the financial damage from a variety of financial losses, including flooding. Contact us for an insurance review and price quote. Protect yourself with the TAS Insurance Agency by your side.

How Auto Insurance Makes the Riverview Arts District More Enjoyable

Posted on by admin

Phillipsburg, NJ is part of the impressive Riverview Arts District (RAD). This designated area attracts and supports all types of artists, galleries, and cultural events. So it’s easy to see why driving around the area is a fun and inspiring way to explore the creative side of Jersey City Heights.

Driving with auto insurance makes things better in several ways: 

  • You gain peace of mind knowing you’re protected from financial losses in case of an accident or theft. Auto insurance doesn’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle. It can also pay for medical expenses and compensate other parties for their damages.

  • You can explore alternative places and experiences with your car without worrying about the risks. Let’s say you want to admire the public art that decorates the streets, walls, and buildings in the District. You can drive around to see the murals, sculptures, installations, and graffiti by artists like Shepard Fairey. It doesn’t matter what you want to do, you can drive with confidence and have fun along the way.

  • You get to enjoy the advanced technology and features of your car, like the navigation, entertainment, and safety systems. These can make your driving experience more fun. For instance, the GPS can show you how to get to the art galleries and studios that showcase the works of emerging and established artists. Their work comes in a variety of styles, mediums, and genres, like painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and more. Some galleries and studios you can check out in the area are the Distillery Gallery Artspace and the Shua Group.

  • You can enjoy the cultural events and festivals that celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the RAD. There are plenty of events offering opportunities to experience new music, dance, theater, poetry, and more. Some events and festivals to attend are the Jersey City Heights Art and Music Festival, the RAD Film Festival, the RAD Art Market, and the RAD Open Studios.

TAS Insurance Agency Is Here To Help

Auto insurance is not a license to drive recklessly but a way to protect yourself and others on the road. When you have a good policy, you can feel secure when experiencing the artistic and cultural scene of Phillipsburg, NJ. Contact our experts at TAS Insurance Agency to learn more. 

Do You Need Commercial Insurance for Your New Jersey Business?

Posted on by admin

Our agents at the TAS Insurance Agency serving the Phillipsburg, NJ area know how hard you have worked to open your own business. This is the reason they want to help ensure that your business is covered by the proper amount of commercial insurance.

Do You Need Commercial Insurance for Your New Jersey Business?

All New Jersey businesses that have one or more employees are required to have a workers’ compensation insurance policy in place, or they can be approved for self-insurance. This type of insurance will help pay the wages and medical bills of employees who are injured on the job.

All vehicles owned by your business or personal vehicles used for business purposes must have a commercial liability auto insurance policy in place. This will help pay for any injuries or property damage that may occur if you or own of your employees is involved in an accident.

Commercial Liability Insurance

Commercial liability insurance is very important to have when you own a business. This is because it will protect your interest in your business if someone is injured while visiting your business or because of your business. For example, if someone slips and falls in your store, this type of policy will help pay for their medical bills and can help you out if litigation occurs in court. Another example would be if you own a tree trimming business and a branch falls on someone’s vehicle. This type of insurance would help pay for the damages to their car, truck, or SUV.

Commercial Property Insurance

This type of insurance is important to protect not only the building that your business is housed in but your inventory as well. If your business or inventory is damaged or destroyed by a fire, vandalism, or a natural disaster, this part of your commercial insurance policy will help you rebuild and get your business back on track. This will also help you replace any inventory that’s been lost to one of these events or because of theft so that you can protect your livelihood.

Call for a Quote!

Call our agents at the TAS Insurance Agency serving the Phillipsburg, NJ area today to get your policy started and protect your business!

Four reasons why you might need to make some changes to your home insurance policy

Posted on by admin

Homeowners need to realize how important it is to update their insurance coverage through the years. Consumers in Phillipsburg, NJ can consult us at TAS Insurance Agency to learn more about any changes they should be making through the years on their home insurance policy. 

The following are four reasons why you might need to make some changes to your home insurance policy. 

You’ve put an addition on your home.

When you buy home insurance, you usually need to provide your home insurance provider with information about your home such as your home’s square footage.

If you put an addition on your home, your home’s square footage and potentially its value will change. When your home’s square footage and value change, your home insurance provider should know. That’s why policyholders should update their home insurance when they make an addition to their home. 

You’ve bought a second property that you’ll live in some of the time.

If you’re no longer living in your home full-time, this could impact your home insurance needs. Discuss such changes with your insurance provider to see if your policy needs to be updated. 

You’ve invested in home security.

If you’ve recently invested in home security, you might be able to qualify for home insurance discounts. That’s why you should definitely let your insurance provider know if you’ve recently bought security features like surveillance cameras or a home alarm system. 

Real estate market prices have changed significantly in your area in recent years.

A home insurance policy should insure you for your home’s full value. If your home increases in value because real estate market values have gone up, you might want to invest in added coverage. 

Reach Out To Us

For home insurance solutions in Phillipsburg, NJ, you can rely on TAS Insurance Agency. We are an insurance provider offering coverage that will protect your home’s value and address the risks you face as a property owner. Get in touch with us now for a quote on a home insurance policy. 

Common misconceptions about umbrella insurance

Posted on by admin

Umbrella insurance is a specialized type of insurance that offers protection above and above the terms and conditions of other policies. Here is what is typically covered by umbrella insurance: Injuries, property damage, specific litigation, personal liability issues, and more. Understanding umbrella insurance might not be easy, especially because there are myths about it.

TAS Insurance Agency serves clients in Phillipsburg, NJ and nearby areas. Here we debunk some of the umbrella insurance myths.  

What Are The Most Common Misconceptions About Umbrella Insurance?

  • Umbrella insurance is very expensive. The cost of this insurance type is determined by the risk. When it comes to insurance, the cost increases with risk. Therefore, you will spend more if you wish to insure expensive assets and you have young drivers in your family. 
  • It is only for people with significant assets. One of the most widespread misconceptions about umbrella insurance is that it is only necessary for people with substantial assets. This is not true though. Even if you do not have much property, a lawsuit can bankrupt you.
  • Umbrella insurance covers jewelry, works of art, electronics, etc. The harm you cause other people is covered by this policy. Personal property is not covered. For instance, if someone is hurt inside your home or if your boat damages expensive property, or if you hit someone with it. Additionally, it can shield you from legal actions that may follow liability assertions.

Reach Out To Us

Do you live in Phillipsburg, NJ or any other surrounding towns? Are you shopping for umbrella insurance and need help choosing the right policy? TAS Insurance Agency is here to assist you. We specialize in different types of insurance, including umbrella insurance as well. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. 

Water Damage VS Flood Damage: What You Should Know

Posted on by admin

At TAS Insurance Agency, we serve the Phillipsburg, NJ area with a wide range of loss prevention products, including home insurance. One of the most misunderstood areas of protection in a home insurance policy is that of water damage.

Many policyholders believe basic home insurance includes flood insurance. It does not.

Flood insurance is additional protection administered by FEMA and needs to be added to your basic homeowners’ insurance policy. Water damage, however, is likely included under your basic policy.

What’s the difference?

Flood damage generally occurs from natural sources like rain, rivers, oceans, lakes, and overflowing streams. When this rising water enters the home, the damage it causes is usually considered flood damage.

Water damage generally comes from internal sources in the home, such as water pipes that have leaked, malfunctioning appliances like washers or dishwashers, overflowing toilets, or sewage pipe backups.

While your basic home insurance will likely cover water damage based on your specific policy provisions, flood insurance is a different story that you should be familiar with.

As the climate changes, flood plains are changing, and more people are at risk from flood damage than ever before. If you haven’t reviewed your home insurance in years and are not sure of the status of flood insurance protection, reach out to us. We can review your policy to ensure you are protected from both water damage and flood damage.

We Can Help!

At TAS Insurance Agency, we don’t just provide insurance protection to the Phillipsburg, NJ area – we deliver peace of mind. For your home insurance review and price quote, contact us today. We look forward to assisting you.

The Owner’s Responsibility: Explaining Deductables

Posted on by admin

In Phillipsburg, NJ and throughout the state, deductibles are the policy owner’s responsibility to pay out-of-pocket costs when comp, collision, or personal injury protection (PIP) becomes a factor. Auto insurance covers the most significant part of the bill with these policies, whereas there is no out-of-pocket cost when liability alone is a factor in an accident. 

The monthly premium covers the insurance on the damages, but at-fault drivers must pay a minimum which varies between different insurance companies. No one is at fault when the comp is a factor, but the policyholder still must come up with the minimum cost per the policy. One thing to note is that the lower the deductible, the higher the premium. 

Factors in Comp and Collision Deductibles

Vehicles that are financed are required to have comp and collision. The minimum deductible depends on the requirements of the finance company or bank at the time of purchase. Some companies have a minimum deductible of $250 to as high as $5K. 

When an accident happens, and the driver is at fault, the insurance companies will look into the repairs or total loss of the vehicle. They will calculate the cost of repairs or the car’s book value and subtract the deductible from the price. The insurance company will then cut a check for the final amount; the policy owner is responsible for the rest. 

Deductibles from PIP

PIP deductibles can start at $250 and go as high as $250,000. This covers all personal injuries in accidents as the deductible works the same for the medical bills as for the comp and collision. 

Contact TAS Insurance Agency Today

Feel free to inquire with us at TAS Insurance Agency concerning auto insurance for Phillipsburg, NJ and the surrounding locations. Give us a call for more information.