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Scotia, NY 12302

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Business Income Losses and Commercial Insurance

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Something that many an entrepreneur has wondered: To what extent can commercial insurance help you with business income losses, what kind of business losses are covered, and under what circumstances can we collect?

What we’re talking about when we ask these questions is business interruption insurance. Business interruption is a type of commercial insurance that can help to bridge the gaps where a standard policy might not.

For instance, under a business interruption policy, also known as business income insurance, a beneficiary can collect on lost revenue resulting from, for instance, a fire, flood or windstorm.

Here are the costs that a business interruption policy might cover:

  • Rent and lease.
  • Revenue lost due to temporary closure of a business.
  • The expenses involved with operating from a temporary location.
  • Advertising (specifically, advertising to direct customers to your new location).

The circumstances under which you are able to collect on your business interruption policy aren’t so difficult to understand: If your commercial policy covers whatever type of damage it is that your physical location has suffered, then you can file a claim on your business interruption policy.

Note that this type of policy does not cover, for instance, revenue lost due to a failed product launch. For the most part, the risks that we take in business are ours alone to take. However, a business interruption policy from someone like DePaulo Agency can help to ensure that, should something happen to our offices, our restaurant, our convenience store, that we live another day to keep taking those risks, keep innovating, and keep pushing ourselves to greater heights within our chosen industries.

Professional and General Liability Claims to Protect Yourself

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General liability insurance from DePaulo Agency, a commercial insurer covering the Scotia, NY area, covers the basics of commercial insurance. Generally, these policies include the minimum requirements to comply with state law. It’s possible to add on additional coverage to these basic ones.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage

Bodily injury and property damage coverage is part of general liability insurance. This protects a business against claims regarding bodily injury or property damage stemming from the business’ products or services. General liability insurance protects businesses against false claims and arrests, libel and violations against a person’s privacy. It also protects against a malicious prosecution.

Medical Bills

Sometimes, a client, employee or another person may get hurt on the premise. If it’s at any fault of the business, the person may sue, and the company becomes responsible for medical expenses. General liability insurance covers the business in case any medical expenses would accrue as the result of a lawsuit.

Rental Properties

General liability insurance covers any damage done to properties a business rents. This includes any damage that occurred as a result of an explosion or fire. It’s important for a company to protect themselves in the event something happens to a location that doesn’t belong to them.

Copyright and False Advertising

A business is responsible for any false advertising, whether it was to the company’s knowledge or not. In particular, this includes any copyright infringement done by a company. For instance, this means if products, goods or services are advertised the same as another business, whether the company knew or not, the business is responsible, and a lawsuit from the other business may occur.

To learn more about general liability insurance or to open up a policy, contact the DePaulo Agency today.

Do You Really Need Renters Insurance in Scotia, NY?

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As a renter, you may think that you do not need to have renters insurance to protect yourself. While many landlords will not require you to get renters insurance, some will. Even if you are not required to, you may want to consider it for a variety of reasons. One of the best parts of renters insurance is that it is relatively inexpensive so it is not something that will set you back. it can, however, save you in a variety of circumstance. Continue reading to see you may want to consider getting renters insurance.

  • Your belongings are not covered by the insurance your landlord has. If you rent a home or a condo, your landlord likely has some kind of homeowners insurance or condo insurance on the structure. However, if you want your personal belongings to be protected, you will be out of luck with their policies. Only renters insurance can cover you. 
  • It can also provide you with liability coverage. That means that you will be covered if someone injures themselves on the property. It takes the liability out of the equation for you.
  • It may help you in case of a disaster. If a flood happens at the property while you are renting it and you cannot reside there while it is being repaired, you may have to pay for those additional living expenses out of pocket without renters insurance. With renters insurance, though, it will help pay for that so you are not paying rent and the cost of a hotel room.
  • It is affordable. Like previously mentioned, renters insurance is very affordable so there is no reason not to protect yourself and your belongings with a policy.

To get a quote for renters insurance or to explore your options, feel free to contact us today at DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY.

5 Tips To Save Money While Packing

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So it is time for that big move. Maybe you moving a few block or a few states away. Either way the cost of a move can take a bite out of your bank account. Below are a few ideas on how you save money while packing for your next move.

1. Collect boxes yourself

At a lot of stores will give you boxes for free. If you make it a habit of asking every time you go to the grocery store you can get all the boxes you need free of charge. If you wait till it’s too late those boxes can cost up to $3 a piece and that will add up quickly.

2. Ask your friends and family to help

What are friends for? Hiring help is expensive and most people are glad to lend a hand because they know there is a good chance they will want to call that favor back in.

3. Get rid of stuff you are not going to use

This will save you space and therefor money. It will also give you less to hassle with while packing and unpacking. If you are going to get a new place you might as well have a new start.

4. Save your newspapers to use like bubble wrap

Bubble wrap can be very expensive and since it is made from plastic it’s also not great for the environment. Newspapers are a free and a more environmentally friendly way to protect your fragile belongings.

5. Update your homeowners or renters insurance

Make sure you have the protection you need for your new place. Because fire, damage, and theft are always a real possibility not mention any personal liability you might incur. The best way to do that is to have a talk with a great insurance agent at DePaulo Agency or visit them at

Driving in Scotia and Avoiding Road Rage

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Did you know that aggressive driving directly influences about 66 percent of traffic fatalities? Yes, you read that right. If road rage could be better treated and handled, there are far fewer deaths that would occur on our roadways. This is why it’s imperative to make sure you are avoiding road rage as much as possible. Fortunately, there are several tips you can follow to help ensure you stay as safe as possible while traveling, as well as keep those safe who are traveling with you. 

Make sure you have a firearm permit

If you’re going to carry a firearm on you when traveling, you will need appropriate licensure. Even more important is that you make sure you won’t use the firearm in any type of road rage incident. With firearms being used in more than 30 percent of aggressive driving incidents, it makes sense that keeping these guns at bay during road rage is the smartest move to make. 

Avoid drinking and driving

Abusing alcohol and other drugs is a sure way to end up in a vehicle accident that involves road rage. When this happens, regardless of whose fault it is, having alcohol or drugs in your system and being behind the wheel of a car will land you in jail for at least a DUI. To avoid road rage, make sure you are aren’t drinking and driving or abusing drugs. 

To learn more about avoiding road rage in Scotia, contact DePaulo Agency today. A qualified agent is ready to answer any questions you may have about road rage, as well as provide you with great advice on topics related to insurance. 

ATV Owner Tips

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Living in Scotia, New York can be one of the best locations to drive in ATV. If you are going to own one of these vehicles, there are some tips that you should follow that will help you to get the most out of the overall driving experience.

Safety First

Safety should be your first focus, and this includes having the necessary protection. You may want to invest in shin pads and knee guards. You should never got on your ATV without having a motorcycle helmet, gloves, goggles, and over the ankle boots.

Drive What You’re Comfortable With

You should only drive an ATV that you are comfortable with. If the engine is too strong, it could easily overpower you – and this is when accidents can happen.

Work Your Way Up

Work your way up to the more advanced paths. Start with flat surfaces and as you get more experienced on the vehicle, graduate to some of the more complex trails.

File the Paperwork

File the paperwork with the state and make sure that you have an insurance policy so that your ATV is covered in every possible way.

Choose a Safe Parking Place

Where you choose the park your ATV when it isn’t being driven is important. Theft is common with these vehicles because it is so easy to simply push it off of the property. Ideally, you should be locking it up inside of a garage or shed. If it has to be left outdoors, cover it with a tarp and use heavy-duty chains to secure it in place.

At the DePaulo Agency, we can talk to about how to be safe with your ATV throughout New York. Call and talk to one of our agents today where we can help you to get a good policy and answer any questions that you may have along the way.

 

 

5 Ways to Give Back

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It’s the season of giving and many people are wondering just what they might be able to give to their community. We here at the DePaulo Agency value the village of Scotia as well as the wider Schenectady County area so we’ve put together a list of our favorite local volunteer options.

1. Volunteer to Help Animals

We are lucky to have a great privately funded shelter here in Scotia, NY and they are always looking for volunteers to help keep these pets in transition happy. People of any age can volunteer, including kids! In fact, having children volunteer to help animals can teach them a great deal about responsibility. This is also a great volunteer opportunity because there are a number of ways anyone can help ranging from being a foster home to helping with special events.

2. Help Enrich the Sciences

The Dudley Observatory is just outside of Scotia and remains the capital regions official observatory. With STEM field jobs on the rise, it’s important for children to take an interest in science. The observatory is doing just that and can always use more help with running their film series, coordinating special events, and raising funds.

3. Explore the Arts

The Schenectady Theatre For Children is aimed at bringing theater arts to school aged children. Not only do their programs bring joy to children, but exposes them to classic performances they might not otherwise see. The performance group has been around for 40 years and continues to run on donated time and money from their fantastic volunteers. 

4. Feed the Hungry

Concerned for the Hungry is an established food redistribution group that feeds countless low income families locally. They always need help gathering inventory, sorting donations, and redistributing the food to the needy. They have jobs that people of any age can do, all they need is a bit of your time.

5. Create Homes for Neighbors

Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County helps put up numerous homes every year and they couldn’t do it without the help of volunteers. You can donate time, supplies, or both to help!

Contact one of our friendly independent insurance agents at DePaulo Agency today to discuss your current policies or to inquire about a new one.

The Most Important Things to Consider Before Driving Abroad

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Scotia, New York, located just outside of Schenectady, gets incredibly cold in the winter. Snow buries the entire upstate New York area every winter due to the weather coming off the nearby Great Lakes, making it one of the snowiest parts of the continental United States. In other words, you might be looking to get out of Scotia come winter, maybe on an international trip to somewhere warm. So if this is your plan, or you’re just heading out of the country from Scotia, New York any other time of the year, and you’re planning on driving in this foreign destination, you should consider a few things.

First off, research whether you can drive in your ultimate destination with just your American driver’s license. Each country has different rules about drivers and their licensing requirements. Many require foreign drivers to have an International Driving Permit, or IDP, which can be purchased for a small fee from the National Auto Club or AAA. You must also be 18 to obtain an IDP.

Yet when it comes to auto insurance, international coverage usually can’t be done through your insurance provide in the United States. Of course, there are a few exceptions. For travels to South America, Asia, Europe or most anywhere else, coverage will need to be obtained from an independent insurance company that specializes in insuring those who drive abroad, like the Depaulo Agency, who serves the Scotia, New York area.

Considering the nature of insurance is to protect you from the unforeseen and unpredictable things in life, there is no better time to have an auto policy when driving internationally. You never know what to expect on these types of adventures, which is exactly why you are going on it in the first place. That, and to escape the cold.

 

4 Ways To Prepare For A Power Outage

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If there is a power outage in Scotia, New York, are you prepared? There are four different ways or you to prepare adequately so that you can deal with the power being out for days at a time. It isn’t going to cost you much money to be prepared, and can ensure that you and your family are well fed and kept safe.

Hot Water

It’s always important to have access to hot water. Water can be heated in a variety of different ways. Once you have access to the hot water, you have the ability to sanitize, do laundry, and even purified water. All of this can make it a lot easier to deal with a power outage, especially if it lasts for several days.

Food

You are going to need food, regardless of how long the power is out. Even though your refrigerator and freezer may be stocked, the food isn’t going to last for long once there is no power keeping the temperature cold. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you know what the temperature is – and water bottles kept in the freezer all the time can help to keep the food cold or for longer.

Additionally, you want to make sure that you have food that doesn’t require heating or refrigeration. Jerky, peanut butter, granola bars, and a long list of other no-cook foods should be kept in your pantry.

Light

You need to make sure you have plenty of light, which is why it’s a good idea to have batteries as well as lanterns. Keep plenty of batteries and candles on hand.

Warmth

Especially in the winter months, you want to make sure that you are able to stay warm. You won’t have the heater to keep you warm, which is the reason to have plenty of blanket. It can also be advantageous to use bubble wrap as a way of insulating the windows.

At the DePaulo Agency, we look forward to providing you with peace of mind. Call and talk to one of our agents today to get quotes on homeowner’s insurance and learn more about how to prepare for a power outage in Scotia.