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Scotia, NY 12302

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Cyber Insurance

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Most business transactions take place over the Internet, whether if it’s reaching out to prospective customers to gain their interest or completing a purchase. Thus, an avenue has been created for cyber attacks to occur.

The biggest insurance secret in the Scotia, NY business community is cyber liability, which has been in existence for approximately ten years. Often, companies of all sizes fail to ever realize that their data has been breached before it’s too late. The results are financial losses for small and large businesses.

Data breaches have become part of the marketplace every day life; companies must better manage for this potential risk by having cyber insurance offered by the DePaulo Agency that can significantly reduce the loss from a cyber attack.

What is Cyber Insurance?

Cyber insurance is designed to lower the threat of a breach with different coverages that range from data, product and service security. Businesses receive protection on the expenses associated with an investigation of a data breach attack. Cyber insurance allows websites to protect themselves from third party damage done by a writer’s reckless post that has brought a liable charge against them. All threats from hackers to extort money are protected while legal attempts to recover the data that was stolen in a breach are simultaneously taking place.

How to Acquire Cyber Insurance

Keep in mind that cyber insurance is still evolving, so the risk from a breach attack hasn’t been completely understood at this time. Small and large commercial businesses are still gathering information on the cost to protect themselves from data breaches and other cyber attacks. Its important for business leaders to identify what type of insurance is best to combat the different cyber attacks that occur within their industry. A standard needs to be set before another breach occurs.

With an excellent cyber insurance policy, Scotia, NY businesses can protect themselves from losing their market after a cyber attack. It’s important to speak with the DePaulo Agency and get the answers you need today.

The Basics of Filing Storm Damage Claims

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When it comes to storm damage, there are certain things that every claimant should know. Though it might seem like a simple and straightforward claim, storm claims have the potential to be much more difficult than you might imagine. If you live in the Scotia, NY area, the agents with DePaulo Agency can help you get your claim approved.

The first step to any storm claim is to document the damage. Common storm damage for vehicles might be dents, broken lights, broken windows, etc. An adjuster is going to be looking to see if the damage could, in fact, have been caused by the storm, what the extent of the damage is, and how much it will take to fix. If you have hail damage, for example, you want to take pictures of all the damage so that you can start to get your car back in shape.

Another thing to consider is that you should make sure you have your time frame exact. An insurance company is going to look to see if there was a storm when you claimed it, what type of storm it was, and what potential for damage there was with the storm that you are filing a claim about. They are also going to ask what type of shelter there was for your car, and what type of warning you had.

You want to make sure you answer all questions thoroughly and truthfully so that your claim will not be sent back. Your storm damage claim does not have to be complex and difficult to file. With the help of the agents at DePaulo Agency, those living in the Scotia, NY area can get fast and efficient help that they need to get their storm damage claims filed and ready to pay out. Storm damage is awful, getting it fixed is not impossible.

Reasons to have insurance in Scotia, NY

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Scotia, NY residents will need insurance for a number of different reasons. Insurance protects you from the unexpected and the chances of something unexpected happening goes up a lot in when you live in a big city, or in a place that has inclement weather a good portion of the year. Scotia, NY has both of these things, making insurance a real necessity. Below are some good reasons to have insurance in Scotia, NY through a broker like DePaulo Agency who serves the greater Scotia area, so that you, your family and your livelihood are properly protected and insured.

PROTECTING YOUR HOME

If you own a home in Scotia you are going to need a good comprehensive homeowners policy to protect against a variety of things, like fire, storm damage or burglary. If any of the aforementioned things happen, or something freakish like a car driving into your living room or a pipe freezing, bursting and flooding the house, your home insurance policy will cover it and keep you from having to pay more than your deductible, so you can have your home back without breaking the bank. Without home insurance in Scotia, NY an unexpected event could literally leave you homeless.

PROTECTING YOURSELF IN THE CAR

Driving is the one way most people are incredibly vulnerable to the unexpected on a regular basis and the same goes in Scotia. Car accidents are the norm in a big city like Scotia, especially because they have bad weather through a good portion of the year, causing cars to skid and slide unpredictably. With a good auto insurance policy, you can protect yourself from ending up in an accident where you won’t have enough money to pay for physical damages, medical care for those involved or protect yourself against a lawsuit due to the accident itself. Talk to your broker about what is best for you! 

Is Comprehensive Auto Insurance Worth It?

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Comprehensive auto insurance can mean different things to different people, but essentially you’re getting coverage on yourself and your car as well as any other car, person or property you may hit. There are certain events, such as hit-and-run accidents in Scotia, NY, that may not be covered under comprehensive auto insurance, but most major events will fall under the comprehensive package. 

Is It Worth It?

If you’ve been given a car by a relative for free and you know you have savings to buy another car should it be totaled, you probably don’t need comprehensive coverage. You may want to up the limits on your policy if you haven’t looked at it in a while, but buying comprehensive coverage is likely not necessary. However, most people aren’t sure of how they’ll get to work if their car is no longer an option, nor are they prepared to buy something new or pay for expensive repairs if they do happen to cause an accident. It can be extremely stressful on the responsible party, and one that they’re not ready to bear. In this case, buying the comprehensive auto insurance is both helpful for your finances and for your state of mind. 

Making Better Choices 

DePaulo Agency can help you decide on a better policy if you should need one — whether it’s comprehensive or not. We won’t push you toward one decision or the other, we’ll just give you the facts and the possible consequences of each potential option. Insurance can get confusing, and sometimes people just need a short conversation to sort out more about the basic facts and situations. To find out more about about comprehensive coverage in Scotia, NY, call DePaulo Agency to speak to our staff and get the answers you need today. 

The Homeowners Insurance Guide for Your Scotia, NY Residence

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If you own a home in Scotia, NY, you have some amount of homeowners insurance in place. When is the last time you reviewed your coverage to determine if your policy meets the risks or potential for financial loss associated with your home? If has been awhile since you have performed an evaluation of the insurance protection for your Scotia NY home, an independent agent for the DePaulo Agency can help you get up-to-date.

Understanding what your homeowner’s insurance covers and what amount is appropriate are an important aspect of owning a home. Disaster can strike at anytime. Without an adequate amount of insurance in place to cover you from financial loss to your home can leave you having to come out of pocket to make necessary repairs or pay bills associated with any resulting injury or illness.

What is Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance is designed to provide you with the means to be made whole if you face a financial loss. A financial loss is a reduction in value that occurs when some insurable event happens to your homes, such as a fire, theft, vandalism, or any other occurrence that is not intentional but accidental in nature.

Determining How Much Homeowners Insurance is Appropriate

The State of New York’s Department of Financial Services suggests that the best way to determine how much insurance you need is to have a valuation of your home. It is important to know how much your home is worth since it is this amount that represents the amount of risk you are subject to when a loss occurs.

The replacement value for your homeowner’s insurance is determined by its value, less the deductible paid. The deductible represents the amount of risk you are willing to take on about the insurable amount you are covered for. To determine if you have enough insurance, as well as the correct type, work with an independent insurance agent of the DePaulo Agency.

Creating an Emergency Kit for Your Home

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You never know when something will go terribly wrong and it always better to be prepared than caught off guard. There are many ways you prepare your home for something unexpected. One of those ways is by having an emergency kit for your home in Scotia, NY. When you are developing your home emergency kit, make sure you include these necessities:

  • Food. Make sure you have at least three days of non-perishable food for each person in the home. You may also want to consider getting food that you do not have to cook in case the power goes out.
  • Water. You want to ensure you have enough water for each person for three days. As a rule of thumb, you should have at least a gallon of water per person per day. 
  • First aid kit. You can get a good first aid kit from the store. Make sure this is always fully packed in case you need it in an emergency.
  • A flashlight, extra batteries, and candles. If the power does go out, you want to make sure you have a way to see around you. Make sure you have a way to light the candles. 
  • Portable phone chargers. If the power goes out, you need a way to use your phone in case you need to call for help. Make sure you always have this backup. 

Having a home emergency kit is imperative to remaining safe and secure in your home. DePaulo Agency wants to ensure you are protected in other ways too. One of these ways is by having a great home insurance policy so you can be prepared for almost anything. Contact DePaulo Agency, serving Scotia, NY, today for a free quote on a home insurance policy and more. 

Is Your Home Underinsured?

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Homeowners faced with the economic downturn, rising taxes and stagnant wages look for ways to save money. Many have discovered that by lowering the replacement value on your homeowner’s insurance, the monthly bill goes down. But before you check the win column on that savings, you may want to determine whether or not you just became underinsured. At the DePaulo Agency serving Scotia, NY, we believe it’s important that you are properly insured.

Market Value vs Replacement Cost

Unless your home is fairly new, the difference between what it’s worth and what it would cost to rebuild may be worlds apart. The national average for home-building costs hovers around $125 per square foot. The average home built in 2015 was about 2,600 square feet.

That means average replacement costs for an average new home run $325,000.

Now the average home built during the early 1980s is about 1,700 square feet. But if you incur a total loss due to fire or natural disaster, you will not be rebuilding at 1980s prices. New construction would run you about $212,000. That number also doesn’t account for razing and clearing your lot. While this highlights the danger of being underinsured on average, older homes may cost more to rebuild.

The Older Home Conundrum

As homes age, there can be a cost-beneficial market depreciation for buyers and ultimately homeowners. That real brick fireplace, ornate woodworking, and thick hardwood floors bring an old-world luster that’s difficult to find in new homes. Ironically, that allure often comes at a lower cost than new construction.

But if you suffer a loss, rebuilding will most certainly be based on today’s construction costs. Those hardwood floors, brick fireplace, and ornate woodwork, are often considered high-end items. Recapturing the beauty of your older home will come at a premium. Before saving a few bucks by insuring your home at today’s average replacement costs, get an estimate that details what it would take to restore your home to the way you want it. The two numbers are likely to be significantly different.

The drive to save money on your homeowner’s insurance can end up costing you dearly if you suffer loss. At the DePaulo Agency serving Scotia, NY, we urge people to have policies that realistically cover replacement costs. After all, security is the very basis of any homeowner’s insurance.

January is Predicted to be Cold in Soctia Ny, Here are Four Winter Home Tips

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Extreme cold is no stranger to New York. However, there are certain things new homeowners should do when it hits. If you make sure to prepare your home for extreme cold fronts, and if you know in advance what to do if something goes wrong, you can save a lot of money in home repairs this winter.

  1. Protect water pipes in advance of freeze warnings. There are insulated pipe covers for sale in a variety of shades so exposed pipes can be protected from freezing and not clash with the home.
  2. Cover low basement windows and vents leading to the underside of home. Insulated foam panels made to look like shutters make great window covers for ground level basement windows that allow freezing air to seep in during the coldest of nights. Any vents that lead to the crawl space should also be covered on the coldest of nights.
  3. If you have outdoor pets consider bringing them in, at least as far as the garage or a barn. Dogs and cats may have fur coats, but they are not made to withstand freezing temperatures.
  4. Leave strategic pipes on a slow drip to avoided having them freeze in place. Many people leave a bathtub and kitchen sink dripping through the night when there is a risk of a pipe freezing.

Keep in mind that sometimes things do go wrong, when they do it is best to have prepared by having a plan. Where are your main valves to turn of the water to the house? Are you prepared to be snowed in when it comes to medicine, water , and food? Plan for any event and take a moment to prepare for the cold to prevent discomfort and costly repairs.

Contact us at the DePaulo Agency for all of your home insurance needs in and around Scotia, NY.

 

 

How to Prevent Water Damage in a Home

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Having home insurance from DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY, will ensure your home and goods are covered in the event of water damage. At the same time, there’s much you can do to minimize this risk. By keeping your home safe from water, fire and other hazardous risks, you can retain your property value. Here are a few ways to prevent water damage from ruining your home and personal belongings.   

Plant Trees with Care 

Trees and flora should be planted with care to avoid having invasive roots grow into water lines and cause damage to pipes, sprinkler system or septic tank. Damaged pipes could cause water damage to the structure of your home. 

Monitor Changes in Water Bill

An unexpected increase in your water bill is a warning sign that there could be water leaks in your home. By keeping an eye on your water costs, you can be alerted to an unusual jump in price that signals possible leakage. Even small water leaks inside bathroom or kitchen walls or cabinets can cause a lot of damage over time.

Clear Gutters

Twice a year in spring and fall homeowners should clear their home’s gutters to avoid water backing up unto the roof of their home. As leaves, dirt and debris clog up gutters, they block the flow of rainwater. This water can accumulate on the roof and eventually leak into a home, damaging the roof, walls and flooring.

Avoid Chemicals to Unclog Drains

Kitchen and bathroom sink clogs are fairly common in most homes. Most drain cleaners contain strong chemicals that can corrode water pipes over time, causing water to leak into your home. By using a drain snake to unclog sinks, you reduce the risk of damaging water pipes, which will protect your home from water leakage.  

To learn more about safeguarding your home from water damage, contact DePaulo Agency, Scotia, NY, today. We can provide you with full home insurance coverage that will protect you from any eventuality.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Gutters in the Fall

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There are many important things you should do in the fall to prepare your home for the upcoming winter months. Knowing these things can help prevent damage to your home and help prevent you from having to file a homeowner’s insurance claim for damage. Here at DePaulo Agency, we would like to tell you about the importance of cleaning your gutters in the fall in Scotia, NY.

Prior to the rain and snow season, it is important to take the time to clean our your gutters. This includes removing all debris from the gutter, such as leaves, sticks and excess amounts of dirt. If these items are in the gutter channel, rain and water may not be able to flow through the gutter as it should. The biggest problem with this is that in freezing temperatures, this water can freeze. And as it freezes, and more water falls, the block of ice gets larger and larger. Eventually, it can form an ice dam on your roof or become so heavy or large that it cracks the gutter or causes the gutter to collapse. Unfortunately, many homeowner’s insurance policies will exclude claims if they feel the damage was caused due to no maintenance. As such, cleaning your gutters is extremely important.

If you are wondering if your homeowner’s insurance policy will preclude a claim based on poor maintenance, or you simply want to look into starting a new homeowner’s insurance policy, give DePaulo Agency a call today. We serve the greater Scotia, NY area and would love to help you with all of your homeowner’s insurance needs.