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3868 S Park Ave
Blasdell, NY 14219

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Things home insurance won’t cover

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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

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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

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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?

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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.

Rental Vehicles and Auto Insurance in New York

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Rental vehicles are used when you cannot use your car for some reason, and this happens when there is a car accident or you are renting a car for your vacation or excursion. Your auto insurance is part of this process. How does this work? For expert advice, reach out to L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo NY.  

Rental Vehicles and Auto Insurance: What You Need To Know

Renting a Vehicle and Having Insurance Coverage

You have rental car coverage if you have any automobile insurance policy legally in the state of New York if you have fewer than five vehicles and do not have only a truck. This type of vehicle does not include rental car coverage. 

Your policy would pay for any damages to the rental vehicle, even if the cost is higher than a $10,000 property damage liability limit, for example. 

Rental Reimbursement Insurance

If you have Rental Reimbursement insurance you would use this if there was damage to your vehicle and you needed to use alternate transportation during a repair or until your vehicle can be used, such as due to an auto accident. A different type of insurance, Comprehensive,  automatically gives you a rental car if your vehicle is stolen. This helps you not worry about driving while you and your agency are resolving your auto accident or vehicle theft problem.

Call Us Today

Contact L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY today so you can get the coverage you need for your rental vehicle and other insurance needs. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

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Having liability insurance is an important way to keep yourself and your finances protected. When you have both home and auto policies, there is another type of insurance that you may need for better protection. Umbrella insurance is a unique type of coverage that adds to what you have in your other policies. If you want to know more about umbrella insurance, call us today at L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

More Liability Coverage

Both home and auto policies come with different types of coverage, and one of those is liability protection. The problem is that many of these policies have too little liability protection built-in. This can mean that your policy doesn’t pay all of the liability you owe for medical bills and property damage. When this happens, you end up with an overage, and that is yours to pay from your own pocket. To protect against this happening, there is umbrella insurance. 

Adding to Your Existing Coverage

If you were to add extra liability coverage onto your home and auto policies, it could be prohibitively expensive. It is much less expensive to get an umbrella policy, and it adds extra liability to both of those policies at the same time. When there is an accident that occurs with your vehicle or in your home, your home or auto policy will come in to pay what it can. It will only pay up to its maximum payout, and that might not be much. When there are more bills left after that, your umbrella policy will then come in to pay the rest of it. 

Get an Umbrella Policy

If you are interested in getting an umbrella policy, or you want to know more about them, contact us at L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY.

 

What New Homeowners Need to Know About Insurance

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You’ve just bought your first home. This is an exciting moment. You are most likely dealing with a lot of details. Don’t forget that home insurance is one of those important details. At L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas, we can help you navigate the insurance choices you need to make. Keep reading to learn more. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A home insurance policy is the best way to protect your housing stability. This means, that if your new home is damaged or lost for some reason, you can rest assured knowing you can still provide housing for your family. Without a home insurance policy in place, a family will be responsible to pay for the repair of replacement of their home out of their own pocket. For many families, that would be an impossible financial burden. But home insurance provides a way to pay for those expenses so that you always have peace of mind. 

The types of damage that are covered can include damage from storms, fires, vandalism, or natural disasters. It can also include damage caused by indoor flooding.

You should be aware that indoor flooding is flooding that takes place as a result of plumbing issues or an appliance that has malfunctioned. This is not the same as naturally occurring flooding. Most homeowners will need to get additional flood insurance to cover damage from naturally occurring flooding. 

You can talk with an insurance agent to get more details on flood insurance. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, or any of our other insurance services, please contact us at L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY, and the surrounding areas. 

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