In Hershey, PA, when it comes to insurance and fallen trees, it can get a little tricky.

You’ll want to read your policy and call your agent to be sure, but it generally breaks down like this:

• If the tree falls on an insured structure, like a fence, a shed, a dog house, or the home itself, you can file a claim and, assuming there are no other exclusions in play, your insurance company will pay for the removal, and any repairs.
• If the tree simply falls on flat ground and doesn’t damage anything, you’ll have to pay for the removal yourself.

It is possible to buy an insurance policy that covers landscaping concerns, but most homeowners find this not to be worth the extra expense.

If you have a fallen tree that needs to be removed, you’ll generally want to follow this simple rule: Don’t do things you don’t know how to do.

The job may seem easy enough, chainsawing the tree into sections and then hauling it off in a truck, but if you don’t have any experience with chainsaws, this job can be incredibly dangerous. If you’re not a pro at tree removal, hire a pro.

Note that the tree may have caused some underground damage such as a broken pipe or a fractured septic tank, in which case you may be covered, so check the damages before you call your agent. In a classic good news/bad news scenario, you may find that you need more repairs than you thought, but that your insurer can possibly cover them.

If you’re shopping for home insurance in Hershey, PA, get in touch with Options Insurance Agency by visiting our office or by phone. Options Insurance Agency can connect you with the policy that you need.

One of the most significant investments you will ever make in your lifetime is the one in your home. They say home is where the heart is, so you will need the right insurance coverage to protect it for many years to come, but how do you choose a home insurance policy?

First, you will want to get quotes from various insurance companies and speak with their agents to determine if discounts are available and the criteria needed for those. Many companies allow discounts for things like burglar alarms, storm shutter installation, smoke detectors, and water safety systems. Also, if you already have a policy with a company, for something like auto insurance, you may receive a discount for having multiple policies with one insurance company. You will need to assess the types of coverage offered along with limits and deductibles. Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA can help you with all of these issues.

When it comes to deductibles, you can choose how small or large a deductible you have when you and your insurance agent create your insurance policy. The deductible is important as this will be the amount you will have to pay out-of-pocket if a disaster or theft occurs at your home. The higher your deductible is, the less your insurance premiums will be, but it will mean shelling out more money before your insurance company pays out their portion.

You also need to consider the amount of insurance coverage you want to have on your home. There is a difference between the market value of your home and how much it would cost to replace your home in case of a disaster. This amount will include the cost it will take to repair your home or rebuild it.

Ultimately, when it comes to creating your home insurance policy, you need to work with your agent to build the perfect policy to protect your home. The home insurance policy experts at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA are ready to assist you with all of your home insurance needs.

If you’re new to homeownership, you may have questions concerning home insurance coverage. Home insurance protects your home and belongings against theft and unforeseen disasters. Improper coverage puts you at risk of paying thousands of dollars to repair your home or replace your goods on your own. By consulting with Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA, you can make wise insurance decisions and avoid costly mistakes like the following:

Choosing the Wrong Policy or Company  

When choosing home insurance, it’s important to shop around and compare what different insurers have to offer. Read reviews of insurance companies online to see how customers rate their services, policies, and prices. Choosing a trustworthy insurance company is just as important as getting a good price on your policy as you’ll have fewer problems making a claim.  

Getting Insufficient Coverage

Your home insurance should save you money by protecting your dwelling and personal goods against theft and disasters. Insufficient coverage could wind up costing you money in paying for damages out-of-pocket. Ideally, your coverage should be enough to rebuild your home or replace your goods in the event of a total loss.

Paying Too Much

Some policies offer non-essential protection that raises the cost of your premium without improving your coverage. At Options Insurance Agency, we’ll personalize your policy to ensure you get the essential protection you need at an affordable cost.

Not Adding Important Coverage

Standard home insurance policies may not fully protect high-end items due to the limits of the policy. By not getting extra protection, you risk losing these items or paying for their replacement yourself in a disaster. Adding important coverage to your policy, when needed, will fully protect your assets.

For quality insurance coverage to safeguard your home and valuables, contact Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA.   

Owning a home can be a great long-term investment and decision. When you do own a home, it is important that you have it properly covered by insurance. There are several benefits of home insurance that make it a great option for anyone that owns a home. 

Provides Property Protection

One benefit of having home insurance is that it can provide you with very valuable property protection. A full home insurance policy will provide you with protection against a variety of concerns including fire, weather damage, and vandalism. Due to the importance of this type of coverage, most home lenders will also require that you carry this insurance at all times.

Personal Property Coverage

An additional benefit that comes with home insurance is that your personal belongings will be covered by insurance as well. Most people will have a certain level of personal property coverage in their home insurance policy. For more expensive items, such as jewelry or collectibles, you can get an additional insurance rider to the policy to give even more coverage. 

Liability Protection

Finally, you will also want to have home insurance because it will provide you with liability protection. When you have liability protection in place it will give you coverage in the event you are found liable for an accident that occurred on your property. This could prove to be very valuable in some situations. 

If you own a home in the Hershey, PA area and are looking to learn more about home insurance, you should contact the Options Insurance Agency. The insurance professionals at Options Insurance Agency are very knowledgeable about home insurance and all the ways it can help you. The team can then help you get into a policy that properly protects your home and gives you peace of mind. 

No matter what how big your home may be or where it may be located, purchasing home insurance is an important part of the process. For residents of Hershey, PA, the following is three hidden benefits of home insurance.

Bringing Things to Code

Once the disaster happens, your home must be brought back up to code before it is legally inhabitable. This could be quite costly in the absence of a suitable insurance policy. However, by purchasing a high-quality policy, you will ensure you have the monies needed to repair your home after a disaster strikes.

Pet Bites

Moreover, if you own a pet that can attack or bite humans or other animals, you will also benefit from a high-quality home insurance package. The damages from a dog bite can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Unless you have a policy that covers this, you will be on the hook for costly medical bills and other expenses after your pet has attacked a human or another animal.

Power Outages

In all actuality, most of us are never fully prepared for the damages that can occur as the result of a power outage. Not only can this cause damages to the home itself, but it can also cause things such as food, beverages, and other items to go bad or spoil. However, by purchasing a high-quality home insurance policy, you will be covered if your home is subjected to a long-term power outage.

Overall, for residents of Hershey, PA, Options Insurance Agency is an excellent choice for purchasing a home insurance policy. Call, email, or stop by our Hershey, PA office. Options Insurance Agency is read to answer your questions and help you get started on a home insurance policy.

Winter in Hershey, PA can be a bit harsh on a home, and if folks don’t prepare for the things that a temperature change can impact, it can turn into big problems in the coldest part of the year. The most common problem tends to be the pipes, but a pipe burst is not the only problem that can occur. This is where winter prevention that is done regularly in the Fall can be both a headache saver as well as a big boost for how your Hershey, PA insurance provider treats you regarding your homeowner’s insurance. Here’s how, and the tips are really easy according to Options Insurance Agency:

• Got outdoor pipes that are exposed? Wrap them up with some insulation tape. Easily found at a hardware store, it gives just enough layer around the pipe to prevent freezing and pipe bursting as the water inside turns to expanding ice.
• Lots of ice on your roof typically? A simple copper heating wire net keeps the snow from piling up on your roof and the weight off. The wire is heating just enough to make the snow melt. It’s not hot, but the snow can’t build up due to the slight warmth.
• Clear your gutters. Jammed up gutters trap water, which can be heavy, causing the gutters to tear off. Clearing them out keeps the rainwater moving down and out, versus ruining your home.
• Speaking of gutters, run a simple chain from the top of the gutter to a simple rock pile at the bottom if there’s no downspout. Water will run down the chain, and the rocks prevent the drainage from damaging your cement or digging a hole from impact in the lawn.
• Turn your water off when gone on extended vacation. This avoids a water leak going for days because no one sees it at home.

To find out more tips or how to improve your insurance policy with your changes, call Options Insurance Agency. Our staff are experts in finding insurance discounts based on home improvements, and a simple email can save you a lot!

If you own a home in Hershey, PA, you should protect it with insurance coverage. Home insurance not only protects your structure but your personal belongings. A home insurance policy from Options Insurance Agency can protect you against theft, fire, storms, or other natural disasters. Here are some of the most important facts you should know about homeowner’s insurance.

Coverage

You can personalize a home insurance policy to meet your individual needs. If you own an expensive home, you may want higher limits on property damage to fully protect your investment. Valuable goods can be protected with additional coverage from an insurance rider. You can also choose the type of protection you want to match the risks you face where you live. The more coverage you have, the less you’ll pay out of pocket in the event of a disaster.

Deductible

You can choose the deductible on your home insurance policy. This is the amount you’ll pay before your insurance takes over. A high deductible reduces the price of your policy. You should have financial resources to pay that deductible, however, without it hurting your budget.  

Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost

When insuring your home and belongings, you can choose between actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. Actual cash value covers the cost of repairing your home or replacing goods after depreciation. With replacement cost, your insurer will cover the cost of replacing your home or goods without taking off depreciation. A policy with replacement cost coverage will cost more but could pay off big time in the event of a major loss.

Discounts

You can get discounts on your home insurance by bundling home and auto policies. Home upgrades that improve your security, plumbing, or electrical systems could also make you eligible for a discount on your policy.

To learn more facts about home insurance, contact Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA.

One of the most confusing situations a homeowner may find themselves in is having a flooded home. Some floods are caused by a leaking water heater, a broken appliance, frozen or burst pipes, or an overflowing pool or sink. These are covered by home insurance, but some situations are not covered. You may need a special coverage from an insurer like Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA for flood damage.

When doesn’t a home insurance policy cover flood damage?

The following are situations that your standard home insurer will not cover in case of flood damage:

Rising water from heavy rains or storm

Essentially, any flooding that’s caused by nature is not covered under your home insurance plan. Flood insurance is the only coverage that will protect personal belongings and appliances that are damaged due to floods, but it won’t cover the structure (floors or ceilings). Once you take out a flood plan, you still need to get coverage for protecting your possessions (home insurance).

Damage caused by unresolved maintenance problems

While your homeowner’s coverage will help with the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged possessions, the coverage will not protect you if the damage came from a maintenance issue that you had not resolved. Problems can include a continuous leak near a faucet or any other plumbing fixture.

Water backup from a drain or sewer

You won’t be covered by your homeowner’s policy when water backs up into your house via an outside drain or sewer. However, you can buy an additional water or sewer backup coverage that can help in this kind of event.

Although it’s important always to carry out routine home maintenance to prevent water damage, you need to have flood insurance coverage to protect your possessions in case of floods caused by nature. Contact Options Insurance Agency that serves the Hershey, PA area for more information and a quote.