L & S Agency Inc.

3868 S Park Ave
Blasdell, NY 14219

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Featured Insurance Blog

Four signs that it’s time to make some changes to your home insurance coverage

Home insurance needs and details change over time. You shouldn’t think that you’ll never need to make any changes to your home insurance coverage after you’ve bought a policy.

At L & S Agency Inc., we can help you recognize when it’s time to update insurance coverage on your home in Buffalo, NY.

The following are four signs that it’s time to make some changes to your home insurance coverage:

You’ve invested in new home security features.

It’s a good idea to invest in a home security system to protect your family. Insurance savings are another great reason to have security features like surveillance cameras and home alarms installed in your home.

Home insurance providers often offer discounts on premiums to homeowners who have a home security system. 

You’ve gone into retirement.

It’s not uncommon for home insurance providers to offer discounts to retired homeowners. Retiring could also change your finances so that you want to adjust your deductible or coverage amount.

You should review your home insurance policy after retiring and may want to make some changes. 

Your home has recently been remodeled. 

Remodeling your home can increase your home’s value. This can make it so that you need to change the coverage amounts on your home insurance policy. Make sure you discuss your remodeling project with your home insurance provider. 

Your household includes a new canine member.

Dog bite injuries are one of the liabilities that are typically covered by home insurance. However, you have to let your home insurance company know that you have a dog to get coverage for such incidents. 

Give Us A Call

Homeowners in Buffalo, NY can call us at L & S Agency Inc. to get a quote on a policy. Get in touch with us today to buy the insurance coverage you need to protect your household financially.

Tips to prepare your car for winter

As the winter season approaches here in the snowy Buffalo, NY area, it’s important to make sure your car is ready for the cold weather and snow. Here are some tips from us at L & S Agency Inc. to help you prepare your car for winter.

Tips to prepare your car for winter

1. Check Your Tires

Make sure that your tires have enough tread on them and are properly inflated. This will ensure that you have better traction in snowy and icy conditions.

2. Change Your Oil

Get an oil change before the cold weather sets in so that your engine can stay lubricated and run more efficiently in colder temperatures.

3. Check Your Fluids

Top off all of your fluids, including windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid to keep everything running smoothly throughout the season. 

4. Inspect Your Battery

Colder temperatures can put additional strain on an old or weak battery, resulting in a dead battery when you least expect it. Make sure you get yours checked out before winter sets in! 

5. Check Wiper Blades & Lights

Make sure your wiper blades are still functioning properly so that snow won’t impair visibility while driving in bad weather. Also, check all of your exterior lights to make sure they’re working correctly as well! 

By following these tips, you will ensure that your car is safe and prepared for winter driving! From what tips, or if you want to explore your auto policy, give us at L & S Agency Inc. a call today. We proudly serve the Buffalo, NY area and would be glad to help you find a policy that meets your needs and your budget.

Do Businesses Need Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is protection designed to exceed the limits of your general liability coverage. Although a business may have commercial insurance, it’s not enough to cover catastrophic liability or potential losses from a lawsuit. Anyone interested in learning more about umbrella insurance for their business can count on the experts at L & S Agency Inc, serving the residents in and around the Buffalo, NY area.

Umbrella Insurance Protection 

Regardless of the limits of liability protection for commercial insurance, more is needed to provide comprehensive protection and peace of mind against risk. Anyone interested in securing reliable protection against liability should consider purchasing umbrella insurance. Customers with questions or needing assistance shopping for an umbrella policy that meets their business’s needs can count on our team of experts to provide them with the support they need. They can carefully assess each business’s current and potential future needs, recommend policies that provide adequate benefits, and offer a comprehensive solution.

Once a customer selects an umbrella policy, the agent can submit documents and information to help secure coverage quickly. Additionally, they can assist with any changes that may occur during the policy’s lifetime and with clean submissions. The goal is to ensure the business has coverage that prevents gaps and losses while giving the business owner peace of mind.

Get Information Today 

Anyone who owns a business in or around the Buffalo, NY area can count on L & S Agency Inc to provide them with the information, support, and education to help ensure they get the ideal umbrella insurance protection level. Call or stop by our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our insurance agents to get more information.

Things home insurance won’t cover

Home insurance provides the peace of mind most people require when it comes to their homes. It covers many things that can happen to damage your home, but not everything.  At L & S Agency Inc., serving the residents of Buffalo, NY, we understand that as independent insurance agents, we work for our customers.  We will do everything we can to ensure you have the right home insurance coverage. 

Home Insurance Exclusions

Flood

Floods cause an immense amount of damage all over the world every year. Only a few inches can cost thousands of dollars in damage to your home. Traditional home insurance does not cover water damage due to a flood. You can, however, purchase a flood insurance policy if you live where there is a danger of flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program offers flood insurance,

Owner neglect

The insurance carrier who holds your insurance expects that you will do the required maintenance to keep your home in good condition. What that means is that if your roof is old you need to replace it before it causes damage inside your home and they won’t pay for damage that results from it. If you get termites, the damage is your fault because you didn’t get your home treated for it. No coverage for wear and tear is included.

Earth movement

Earth movement covers several different potentially damaging events, including earthquakes, landslides, mudslides,  and sinkholes. You can, however, add this coverage to your policy if you have need of it. 

War

War, warlike or hostile actions are excluded from home insurance policies. Typically, it is assumed that this sort of damage would be so great that the insurance company would go bankrupt if they had to pay for this much damage. 

Get in touch with us

Call L & S Agency Inc, serving the greater Buffalo, NY community, for a no-obligation quote. 

Reasons You Should Consider Participating in a Defensive Driving Course

AT L & S Agency Inc, we are pleased to provide auto insurance to residents in the greater Buffalo, NY area. We strongly recommended to our customers that they participate in a defensive driving course. When you hear this, you may wonder why we encourage this. 

Here are a few benefits associated with participating in a defensive driving course:

You Can Learn to Drive Safely

One of the reasons why you should consider participating in a defensive driving course is so that you can learn to drive safely. No one is perfect, and everyone can learn. As such, there is always something new for you to learn by participating in one of these courses. 

You Can Decrease Your Chances of Being Involved in an Accident

Another benefit associated with participating in a defensive driving course is that you can decrease your chances of being involved in an accident. Statistics show that those who take defensive driving courses are involved in fewer accidents. 

You May Be Able to Get a Discount On Your Auto Insurance Policy

Lastly, many auto insurance companies offer you a discount if you participate in a defensive driving course or a safe driver driving course. This can be a great way to learn safe driving techniques while also possibly getting an auto insurance discount. 

Get or Update Your Auto Insurance Coverage

A defensive driving course may teach you new tips to help keep you safer on the roads, can help to decrease the chances of you being involved in an accident, and may be able to help you get a discount on your auto insurance policy. If you are in the market for a new auto insurance policy, the team at L & S Agency Inc, serving the greater Buffalo, NY area, would love to help you. Call or email us now to get started. 

How Does Umbrella Insurance Work for Boats?

Buffalo, NY residents are not obligated to purchase umbrella insurance for their boat policies, yet many people choose to do so.

This is because there are many benefits to this financial investment:

At its most basic, umbrella insurance coverage is designed to work alongside existing policies in a particular area. For example, if you already have boat indemnification, an umbrella policy will extend past the limits of what your standard insurance offers. 

Typically, umbrella insurance will provide benefits once the initial policy’s limitations have been breached, as it typically has higher limits and can extend to situations outside the purview of other insurance. Your L & S Agency Inc. representative can discuss the specifics with you in greater detail.

Because a boat is a costly investment, your potential for damage can be higher than with other possessions. In addition, a collision with another vessel can create significant financial outlay in the form of medical bills and property damage. 

Buffalo, NY boat owners can also be involved in wrecks on land during times when their watercraft is involved in transport. Guests can injure themselves while on board, causing injuries in need of medical care. These can also lead to lawsuits to recover lost wages and medical expenses. 

Accidents can occur when young adult children or passengers decide to take the boat for a spin. Storms can threaten your property, as can theft or vandalism. Investing in an umbrella insurance policy when the stakes are high removes the risk that such expenses will come out of pocket. 

Let Us Work For You

L & S Agency Inc. seeks to make sure you are properly insured in all aspects of life. Contact us today for more information via phone, the internet, or by stopping in person to speak with one of our agents. 

Why would a Buffalo property owner need home insurance?

Buffalo, NY has continued to be a great place to own a home. When you are a property owner here, you will enjoy having a stable place to call home while also benefiting from long-term value appreciation. If you do choose to purchase a home here, it would be wise to get a home insurance plan to go along with it.

There are various reasons why someone would want this coverage:

Cover Your Home and Assets

The primary reason that someone in the Buffalo area will want to have this insurance is so they can cover their home and assets. If you are going to buy a home, you will be making a very significant investment. When you get an insurance policy, you will be able to start protecting this investment. This can be very helpful if the home is damaged due to vandalism, fire, or another covered claim. 

Insurance is Often Required

It would also be a good idea to get this insurance to ensure you meet your requirements. Most property owners will be required to carry home insurance from their mortgage lenders. If you have taken out a mortgage, you may also have to escrow your payments on a monthly basis as it will help avoid a coverage lapse. 

Contact Us Today

There are many great reasons to own a home in the Buffalo, NY area. If you decide that you want to purchase a home here, it is very important that you pick the right insurance for it and the team with L & S Agency Inc. can help. As you start looking for coverage, our team of insurance experts at L & S Agency Inc. will give you the guidance that you need to build a plan that will properly meet your needs and protect your home. 

When should you review your auto insurance policy?

Like most types of insurance, your needs don’t usually remain the same forever. Like your life, your insurance needs to evolve and you need to review your auto policy to make sure the coverage you have is what you really need. L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY is locally owned and customer service oriented. We place the needs of our customers first while working to find the best fitting auto insurance policy for the best price. 

When should you review your auto insurance policy?

The most obvious time to review your auto insurance policy is when your policy renews. The top page of your policy is the declaration page and this has all the relevant information you need to consider before actually renewing. Have you paid off your car loan? Do you need to keep collision and comprehensive coverage? Is your liability coverage adequate? Do you need to add roadside assistance coverage? 

Another time to review your auto policy is when you get a big increase in your policy premium. What has changed since your last renewal? It may be time to look at other carriers and your independent insurance agent can help. 

If you are adding a new vehicle or a new driver, checking your coverage is important. Do you need gap coverage? If you just purchased a brand-new vehicle, your insurance coverage needs to be enough to pay for the loan you have on your vehicle. Is your deductible where it should be? Is your liability coverage where it should be?  Especially if you have added a teen driver, you may want to increase your liability coverage. 

You should review your auto insurance coverage at least yearly and your insurance agent should be doing some comparison shopping for you to make sure you are getting the best deal. 

Get Auto Insurance Today

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY when it is time to review your auto insurance policy. 

Do You Need Umbrella Insurance? Find Out Here

An umbrella insurance policy is an insurance policy that provides coverage beyond the limits of your underlying policies. It can provide additional coverage for personal liability, legal fees, and more. Getting an umbrella policy is a big decision; that’s why L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY is here to explain the basics.

How does an umbrella insurance policy work?

Umbrella insurance provides coverage that goes above and beyond your regular insurance policy. If you’ve ever been in a car accident or had a disaster hit home, you may have experienced the financial distress that can occur when insurance limits are exhausted. In these situations, an umbrella insurance policy can be beneficial.

An umbrella insurance policy’s coverage kicks in once the primary insurance policy hits its limit. It’s an extension of your existing policy, so you can’t have umbrella coverage alone.

Benefits of having personal umbrella insurance

Umbrella insurance benefits individuals and families because it provides a level of coverage not otherwise available through the personal insurance market.

For instance, an individual without umbrella insurance would have no coverage for economic damages resulting from a car accident in which the cost of recovery and court fees exceeds their insurance policy limit. It’s an excellent idea for those who own expensive assets, such as valuable jewelry, entertainment systems, and luxury vehicles.

Give Us A Call

L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY offers umbrella insurance to protect you from significant financial losses. Umbrella insurance can cover damages from lawsuits, car accidents, home disasters, and more. If you’re interested in learning more about the security an umbrella policy can provide, please reach out to us today.

Do I Have to Purchase Home Insurance?

There are some people who think insurance in New York isn’t necessary, but that’s actually not the case. If you experience loss or damage through fire, smoke, theft, water damage, or an explosion, you’ll probably want to insure your furniture, clothes, and other possessions. L & S Agency Inc in Buffalo, NY is here to help answer your questions on this important insurance coverage.

Home Insurance: Why You Need This Coverage

If you don’t have home insurance, you’ll be responsible for paying for replacements on your own. 

Although home insurance isn’t required by law in the state of New York, it is required by mortgage lenders in order for you to acquire a loan. Mortgage companies also require that your homeowners’ insurance policy covers the full value of your property. Without proof of this coverage, the company will deny your loan application. 

Mortgage companies require home insurance for good reason. Unforeseen events can happen, and home insurance, which covers things like various natural disasters and personal liability, is there to provide you with financial protection in case any of these things happen. 

Home insurance policies can range from the most basic policies to more extensive ones, which include endorsements for further financial protection. 

With your home insurance policy, you can rest assured that your policy will cover your losses resulting from theft, a fire, water damage, smoke, or other unexpected event and that you won’t be placed in a position of financial jeopardy as a result of your losses. 

Contact Us Today

If you’re in the greater Buffalo, NY area and you’re looking for an affordable home insurance policy that will provide you with the financial cushion you need and help you obtain that mortgage loan, look no further than L & S Agency Inc. Call us today and one of our experienced agents will get in touch with you about your various insurance options.