Category: Home Insurance

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.

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. 

Home insurance is an important investment that protects the financial stability of a homeowner. But what if you own a unique property? Do conventional home insurance policies still apply? Our experts at TAS Insurance Agency, serving the Phillipsburg, NJ area, are here to help you understand the nuances of home insurance for unique homes.

What Qualifies as a "Unique Home"?

A “unique home” can refer to any structure or dwelling that is outside of the typical single-family home, townhouse, or condominium. Examples include historic buildings, log cabins, mobile homes, apartments in converted buildings, and even watercrafts like houseboats. Depending on your local laws and regulations, these types of dwellings may require additional paperwork or inspections before obtaining coverage.

How Does this Form of Home Insurance Differ?

Home insurance for unique homes may differ from standard home insurance in several ways. For starters, the cost and coverage can vary depending on the type of dwelling you own and its location. You’ll also want to make sure that your policy includes additional coverage to protect against natural disasters, vandalism, theft, and other common perils. Additionally, it’s important to work with a knowledgeable agent who understands the specific needs of proprietors of unique homes so they can provide tailored advice based on your particular situation.

We Can Help!

At TAS Insurance Agency serving the Phillipsburg, NJ area, we have years of experience helping homeowners secure home insurance policies for their unique properties. Our experienced agents are dedicated to helping you find coverage for your home that meets all of your needs.

We understand the risk factors associated with owning a unique property and strive to provide our clients with peace of mind. Reach out to us today for more information about our home insurance policies or to get started on getting the proper protection for your unique home.

TAS Insurance Agency has long provided Phillipsburg, NJ area homeowners with the coverage they need for their homes. In doing so, we address the common concerns that often arise, especially when our clients plan a trip away from their homes. Vacations are exciting, but most people forget about protecting their homes while they are away.

Here are some proper steps you should take to protect your home on the inside and the outside:

Inside the house

• Set timers on inside lights to make it look like there is someone at home.
• Unplug all electronics or have them hooked up to a surge protector in case of a power surge.
• Don’t make status updates. Status updates tell potential burglars when you are leaving and when you will be back.
• Alert your alarm company that you will be gone for a while.
• Secure your valuables in a lockbox, or put them in an unusual place where someone won’t think to look.
• Set HVAC to a controlled temperature.
• Insulate pipes and ask a trusted family member or friend to check that the pipes don’t freeze.

Outside the house

• Arrange for lawn care. If the lawn isn’t maintained, it can show everyone around that you are not there.
• Stop mail and newspapers. Newspapers and mail piling up at the door are like a huge beacon to burglars.
• Set outside lights on timers so that they turn on and off to make it look like someone is there.
• Don’t leave spare keys outside. If you can think of a place to hide it, then a burglar will most likely find it. Instead, leave a spare key with a trusted friend or family member.
• Lock the garage even if there is no inside entrance from the garage. If you have an automatic garage opener, disconnect it.

Make Sure to Get Coverage For Your Home

These tips help protect your home from burglary, flooding, potential fires, etc. While all these are important tips, do not forget to get or update the insurance coverage for your most important asset – your home. Contact our team of insurance experts at TAS Insurance Agency in Phillipsburg, NJ for all your insurance needs.

Pest damage is one of those serious home problems that can be so frustrating to handle. Unfortunately, not everybody understands what their home insurance can and cannot do to manage pests in their home. That’s why we at TAS Insurance Agency are ready to answer your questions. We serve the Phillipsburg, NJ area and can help you better understand what your policy covers.

Pest Coverage is Complex

Typically, pest damage is not covered by your home insurance because it is considered preventable damage. In other words, insurance companies believe that pests invasions are caused by homeowner negligence and, as a result, shouldn’t be covered by their policy because it could have been stopped.

That said, your policy may cover what is known as “unexpected damage” that pests cause. One classic example of this unexpected damage is when ants chew into your wiring and cause a fire. While the damage caused by the chewing ants is not covered, a fire is not an expected result of ant infestation.

As a result, your insurance will cover any damage caused by the fire but not by the ants itself. So, if there is significant ant-related damage separate from the fire-affected area, you will have to pay to replace it yourself. These fine points may seem confusing until you talk to a professional about them.

Get Help Today

If you think that your home is likely to experience pest-related damage and you want to get protection, please don’t hesitate to contact us at TAS Insurance Agency serving Phillipsburg, NJ to learn more. We can help you understand what your policy does and does not cover and will identify an option that makes more sense for your needs as a homeowner, saving you money and time in the process.

Home insurance is one of the most significant things you can do to protect your home. It offers different types of protection from hazards you may not have even thought about. It offers coverage at home and away from home. When you are in the market for home insurance in Phillipsburg, NJ, TAS Insurance Agency has a team of professionals who will make sure you have the home insurance you need. 

Feeling safe in your home means several different things. It means keeping you and your family safe from dangers outside of your home but also from dangers within your home. 

Outside the Home

These days, having a home security system is inexpensive and can be installed by almost anyone. You can choose to have a monitored system or one that just lets you know who is outside of your home. Being able to see your home from your phone even if you are not at home allows you to feel safer than not having that ability. 

Having good door and window locks helps to make your home a safer place. In order for them to work, however, you have to use them all the time. 

Keep tall bushes away from your home to give you and your neighbors a good sightline of your home. 

Inside the Home

Inside your home, you need to make sure that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are operational. Change the batteries every 6 months. Get your furnace and chimney cleaned every year. 

Avoid clutter on stairs and in hallways. Falls cause many serious injuries every year in homes. Keep poisonous chemicals and medicines out of the reach of children. If you have pets, keep plants that may be poisonous away from areas that they frequent. 

Your home should be your safe place. Contact TAS Insurance Agency in Phillipsburg, NJ with your home insurance needs.

TAS Insurance Agency serves the Phillipsburg, NJ community. For over 10 years, we have helped our clients find the coverage they need to navigate life’s risks. We work closely with our clients on an individual basis to help them find custom policies that align with their needs.

The Truth About Common Home Insurance Myths

Owning a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make in your life. It’s important to protect your assets. Home insurance covers your Phillipsburg, NJ property. The policy covers any damage to the interior and exterior of your home. Your personal property is also covered if you are a victim of a burglary. Liability coverage protects you if an accident occurs. Perhaps your pet accidentally scares the mail carrier, and they slip and fall, or you accidentally put a dent in your neighbor’s wall. Liability coverage will protect in these situations. While researching coverage, it’s important to learn the truth about these home insurance myths.  

Flood Damage Is Covered

Flood damage is not covered under your home insurance policy. You’ll have to add extra coverage to protect your items if a flood occurs in the area.

Home Insurance Covers Maintenance Issues

This is incorrect. You are expected to take care of your home by performing regular maintenance. If problems arise due to mold or termite damage, you may not be protected, as those are seen as issues that could have been prevented with proper maintenance.

Don’t Take Inventory

Failing to take inventory of your personal items is a huge mistake. Taking inventory of your personal items can help you recover all of your missing items if someone steals things.

TAS Insurance Agency Will Help You Find The Right Policy

Visit our website to learn more information about home insurance.

You have home insurance because it protects your dwelling, personal belongings, provides liability protection and covers you against loss of use. But do you know how much home insurance you need? Are you overpaying or underpaying your premiums? 

Buying home insurance is one thing, but buying adequate home insurance is another thing. For this reason, stay on as TAS Insurance Agency of Phillipsburg, NJ helps you to figure out how much home insurance you need. 

How much insurance do you need for your dwelling?

To answer this question, you need to understand the difference between replacement cost and market value. It’s easy to confuse the two, but that’s why you have an insurance agent to guide you. Market value includes the value of the land. It’s the price you get if you were to sell your house today in an open market. On the other hand, replacement value is the amount it would cost to build your home today. 

 

If you want to determine the amount of home insurance you need, using the replacement value is more accurate. But since building costs go up every year, it’s vital to update your home insurance policy to capture the changes in the building costs. For instance, if you purchased your house five years ago at $200,000, today it would cost, let say, $300,000 to rebuild. In this case, you need to insure your home against $300,000. Otherwise, you would need to finance the $10,000 difference if a disaster were to strike today.

How much should you insure your content for?

Similarly, if you want to determine how much you should insure your belongings, consider the cost of replacing them now and not how much you paid to buy them. If you were to lose your assets today, how much would it cost you? This amount will be your insured value.

Are you still unsure of how much home insurance you need? Please contact TAS Insurance Agency. Besides, you can visit our Phillipsburg, NJ offices to chat with one of our agents.