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Are You at Risk?

Even if you have good automobile and homeowner’s insurance, you may be liable for excessive damages resulting from a major lawsuit.  Consider what would happen if you were to injure a doctor, lawyer, or other highly paid professional in a car or other accident that prevented him from earning his regular income for the rest of his life. A court could easily award damages far exceeding the limits of your auto, watercraft, or homeowner’s insurance policy. Such damages could drastically alter your lifestyle for many years to come.

That’s where umbrella liability insurance comes in.  The right policy will provide the additional protection needed to withstand such an event. 

You May be at Higher Risk for a Lawsuit

Higher-income individuals who cause an accident have a far greater risk of being sued as lawyers seek out those with deep pockets. In such cases an umbrella policy may provide the protection that could be the difference between maintaining your lifestyle vs. paying punitive damages out of pocket for the rest of your life.

An Umbrella Liability Policy May be More Affordable Than You Think

Umbrella liability insurance tends to be more affordable than other types of insurance because it comes into play only after your other insurance has been exhausted.  For example, a $1,000,000 umbrella policy would cover up to an additional $600,000 of protection on a homeowner’s policy with $400,000 of coverage. The same principle applies to automobile and watercraft insurance. Increased savings may be found by purchasing your umbrella policy from the same insurance provider as for your home, car, commercial property, or watercraft.

Commercial Property and Umbrella Insurance

Are you a business owner or landlord? If so, you are at greater risk of incurring a lawsuit. Landlord insurance in the form of an umbrella liability policy can provide additional protection against lawsuits from tenants, as well as from being sued for slander or libel by disgruntled employees.

Do You Have an Adequate Umbrella Policy?

If you would like help in obtaining the right level of insurance protection then please click to contact us, or call us at 800-947-1270.

"Insurance deductibles could have added significant costs to Pennsylvanians already struggling to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy," Corbett said. "Insurance companies have deployed catastrophe teams to Pennsylvania and they have been advised that hurricane deductibles should not be applied to any homeowner's insurance claims.""

For the full article, click here. 

Fire Prevention Month

October is known as fire prevention month. Why? Because homeowners in cooler climates like those common to Reading, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Allentown, PA are beginning to fire up their heating systems, including space heaters. Not only that, but the holiday season is right around the corner, starting with lighting at Halloween, and then extensive kitchen use at Thanksgiving, and continuing through Christmas and New Year’s Eve. 

Candles Burning Brightly

Candles are beautiful when lit, but care should be taken avoid turning that beauty into an event resulting in a homeowners insurance claim.  Candles start over 15,000 fires in the U.S. annually. The top 5 days for candle fires are: Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, Halloween, and December 23.  

Fire Safety - How Safe is Your Home?

How knowledgeable are you and your family about fire safety? The National Fire Prevention Association lists 28 things homeowners should know to help prevent home fires. We know you need homeowners insurance, but we hope you never have to use it. Therefore, please learn and follow our simple fire safety guidelines to avoid home fires. 

Homeowners: Get Your Valuable Free Fire Prevention Report

Our free report explains:

• 15 cooking and candle safety tips
• 9 Christmas decoration safety tips
• 4 general fire safety tips

To receive your free report, courtesy of PuroClean, click here.

Want the guaranteed lowest prices on high-quality, affordable homeowner’s insurance? We quote many competing home insurance companies and guarantee the best deal on homeowners insurance, as well as insurance for your car, life, health, or business.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote, or click for an > instant homeowner’s insurance quote.

New Technologies Lead to Faster Cleanup and Recovery

The bad news – you need to contact your Pennsylvania homeowners insurance agent because your home got hit by major water damage. The good news – today’s technology makes it possible to quickly restore damaged carpet, padding, drywall and more. That’s also good news in terms of costs for Pennsylvania homeowners insurance from Reading to Allentown, Harrisburg to Philadelphia, and Lancaster to Erie!

Dry it Quickly to Avoid Replacement Costs

When water damage occurs, your goal should be to dry your property and all contents as quickly as possible. In the past, restoration experts had few options, often resulting in removing and discarding damaged drywall, carpeting, and padding and replacing them at great expense. Since then, the science of drying has taken major leaps forward, so these items can often be completely restored quickly and at a much lower cost.

Homeowners: Get Your Valuable Free Report and Learn How to Recover Quickly from Water Damage

Our free report will explain:

• How damaged carpet, padding, and drywall can be completely restored
• The powerful water extraction techniques that can save you money and get you back into your home quickly

To receive your free report, courtesy of PuroClean, click here.

American Insuring Group offers the guaranteed lowest prices on high-quality, affordable homeowner’s insurance by quoting lots of competing home insurance companies. We guarantee the best deal on homeowners insurance, as well as insurance for your car, life, health, or business.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote, or click for an > instant homeowner’s insurance quote.

The storm season is here, and it pays to be prepared with the right homeowners insurance policy. Homeowners insurance is designed to protect you from severe financial loss when your house is damaged. Major home damage in Reading PA, Berks County, Lancaster, Allentown, Philadelphia and other parts of the eastern U.S. often occurs due to flooding.  Fortunately, today’s technologies can restore your home to pre-flooding condition, especially if you act quickly when water damage occurs.

Do you know what to do or who to call when major storm damage occurs? Be sure to contact your homeowners insurance agent as soon as possible, and to take plenty of photos of the damage.  Remember to watch for fallen power lines and standing water that may be electrically charged. Plumbing, roofing, and electrical systems and appliances should all be checked by a qualified professional.  For more information, request our free report.

Get Your Valuable Free Report: What to Do After the Storm

In addition to providing helpful details on what to check and who to call, your free homeowner’s report will explain:

• 2 things you can do to speed your insurance claims process
• How to protect yourself against contractor scams after the storm
• The key plumbing, roofing, and electrical items to check for when assessing damage

To receive your free report, courtesy of PuroClean, click here.

American Insuring Group is proud to offer you the guaranteed lowest prices on high-quality, affordable homeowner’s insurance from a multitude of competing home insurance carriers. With over 25 competing brands of insurance, we guarantee the best deal on homeowners insurance, as well as insurance for your car, life, health, or business. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote, or click for an > instant homeowner’s insurance quote.

We purchase homeowners insurance to protect our homes, and for the peace of mind that house insurance protection can bring. But what can we do when mold builds up in our home, and how can we prevent it in the first place?

Homeowners in Pennsylvania, and in eastern and southeastern states in general, tend to live in humid climates with plentiful rainfall. This combination makes these homes more susceptible to moisture and mold buildup, especially in older homes with porous foundations.  Therefore, homeowners must take extra care to watch for signs of moisture and mold, and to act quickly to resolve such problems before they become a serious health threat.

Is Mold in My Home, and What Can I Do?

Simply put, if you can see it or smell it, then you have mold, and should take immediate action to remove it.  The first step is to find and eliminate the water source.  Then the mold must be cleaned with a detergent solution and all materials must be thoroughly dried. Depending on the scope of the problem, professional help may be required, which may be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy (contact us for details).

Get Your Free Report on Eliminating Mold in the Home

Our free homeowner’s report will show you:

• 4 Ways to Stop Water Buildup in the Home
• 4 Tips for Keeping Your Home Dry and Humidity Low
• 3 Keys to Eliminating Mold

To receive your free report, click here.

American Insuring Group specializes in affordable homeowners insurance from high-quality carriers. We offer over 25 competing brands of insurance to guarantee the best deal on the right insurance for your home, car, life, health, or business. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote, or click for our > instant homeowners insurance quote.

Many PA Homeowners Caught Without Flood Insurance Protection

Many homeowners throughout Berks County, Lancaster County, and elsewhere in Pennsylvania experienced surprising homeowners insurance claims in 2011 due to flooding. Sadly, many lacked proper flood insurance resulting in denied claims and financial hardships that could have easily been avoided.  From Reading PA to Allentown, from Lancaster to Erie, and Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, homeowners were caught uninsured, underinsured, and unprotected against flooding.

Over-the-ground flooding can cause severe property damage and often presents unique challenges to homeowners as they attempt to restore their homes and property, with or without the benefit of flood insurance coverage on their homeowner’s policy.

Flood Plains and Homeowners Flood Insurance – Don’t Be Fooled

As many Pennsylvania homeowners came to realize in 2011, flooding can occur outside of so-called flood plains, so acquiring flood insurance even if you are outside a flood plain can be the difference between financial protection and financial disaster when a surprise flood occurs. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and even thunderstorms can cause extensive flooding even hundreds of miles from the coast.

Property damage specialists at PuroClean offer the following tips for coping with a flood, minimizing property damage, and insuring a speeding recovery:

1. Get professional flood cleanup help quickly
2. Remove all water, mud, and sludge
3. Remove and properly dispose of contaminated porous materials (including carpet, padding, drywall, paper, cardboard, insulation, and particle board furniture)
4. Sanitize semi-porous materials (structural wood, solid wood furniture)
5. Use professional-strength EPA-approved products to sanitize the remaining salvageable structure, fixtures, and contents
6. Professionally and thoroughly dry the structure as quickly as possible using dehumidifiers and high-capacity air movers
7. Install one or more air scrubbers to remove harmful airborne particulates
8. Perform any needed repairs

To download PuroClean’s factsheet on recovering from over-the-ground flooding, click here. 

Avoid a Financial Upheaval by Adding Flood Insurance Protection to Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

Remember, a flood can cause a major upheaval in the lives of any homeowner. Be sure to carry the proper flood insurance on your Pennsylvania homeowners insurance policy. Then, whether you hail from Reading or Lancaster, Philadelphia or Allentown, Pittsburgh or Erie, you will be grateful that you had the foresight to plan ahead.  Your family will thank you as well.

Need flood insurance for your home in Pennsylvania or elsewhere? Contact the commercial and homeowners flood insurance experts at American Insuring Group near Reading PA.  We’ll make sure you’re covered with the right homeowners flood insurance to get your home and property restored quickly and thoroughly. Click the Contact link above, or call us at (800) 947.1270 or (610) 775-3848.

With the average homeowners insurance policy renewal premium rising by as much as 25% or more, most home insurance buyers are asking themselves how to pay less for a house insurance policy.

Big Storms, Big Damage, and Rising Homeowners Insurance Costs

Recent home insurance claims in Berks County, Reading, Allentown, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Harrisburg and elsewhere in Pennsylvania are paralleling the number of catastrophic storms to hit the U.S. recently. Homeowners insurance companies are filing for and receiving greater and greater premium increases for their policyholders.  The pricing trend will likely continue for the next couple of years. As a result, smart homeowners will be looking for ways to reduce their rising house insurance costs.

Act Now to Jump Start Your Homeowners Insurance Savings

A smart way to begin is by calling American Insuring Group for a homeowners insurance rate comparison based on over 2 dozen Insurance companies we represent.  Our professional staff will begin by getting quotes from these companies for the exact level of insurance protection you now carry.  Then our agents will ask some in-depth questions about your home's construction and other factors to make sure your house insurance policy covers your home for its full reconstruction cost. That’s key, because if your house burns down or is destroyed by a storm you need to be covered for the cost to rebuild it on your property, which is typically more than the cost to purchase a similar used home in your area.

After we find you the best homeowners Insurance policy quote from our long list of companies, we’ll ask additional questions to make sure you have the right home insurance coverage for your particular needs and lifestyle.

Let the Insurance Savings Begin!

Next, we’ll show you all the ways we can save you big bucks on your house insurance, INCLUDING:

• UP TO A 15% DISCOUNT FOR INSURING YOUR AUTO AND HOME WITH THE SAME COMPANY
• UP TO A 25% DISCOUNT FOR INCREASING YOUR HOME INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE
• UP TO A 15% DISCOUNT FOR HAVING A CENTRAL ALARM OR SPRINKLER SYSTEM
• UP TO A 10% DISCOUNT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
• UP TO A 30% DISCOUNT FOR BEING CLAIM FREE
• UP TO A 10% DISCOUNT FOR LONGEVITY WITH THE SAME INSURANCE COMPANY
• UP TO 20% DISCOUNT FOR UPDATING MECHANICALS

At American Insuring Group LTD, the BIG BUCKS savings run on and on and on!  Call today for your Homeowners Insurance quote today.  Remember our pledge: "If we can't save you money on your insurance, dinner is on US!"  That applies to your house insurance policy regardless of where you live, from Reading to Lancaster, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, or Erie to Allentown.

Call us at 1800-943-2198 and start saving big bucks today.

Small Business General Liability Insurance – What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You

The number of small businesses operating from home has exploded in recent years due to downsizing and other factors. As a result, nearly half of all US homeowners are exposed to some type of business liability risk in their home. From the moonlighting laid-off contractor to the babysitter, to the part-time consultant, most small businesses operating from home have inadequate general liability insurance protection.

A business operating from home is almost completely excluded from liability insurance coverage in standard homeowners insurance policies, yet most small business owners mistakenly think they are properly insured.  The resulting lack of business liability insurance coverage leaves the in-home small business owner dangerously exposed to financial ruin from a lawsuit due to injury or property damage.

Do Your Business Insurance Homework

The key is to do your homework. Don't assume you have business liability insurance coverage under your homeowners insurance policy.  The annual revenue limitation for an in-home business to be covered under a homeowners insurance policy is a paltry $2,000.  Any higher, and most homeowners policies will exclude the exposure.  Even when operating for a time below the $2,000 revenue ceiling, there are limitations to what types of business exposures are covered under a homeowners insurance policy, and these often include many restrictions.

Purchase a Homeowners Insurance Policy with an In-home Business Liability Insurance Extension

Purchasing an in-home business liability insurance rider is the easiest and most economical way to cover your in-home business liability exposure.  Many homeowners insurance policies offer this rider for as little as $150 annually.  Some in-home business insurance exposures do not qualify for the homeowners rider. In such cases a stand-alone general liability insurance policy is the solution.

Need to upgrade your homeowner’s policy to properly insure your in-home business? Contact us for a free, no-obligation business insurance review at 1-800-943-2198.

INSURING YOUR CASTLE

The biggest and most important investment the average american family will make in a lifetime is his or her home.  The all-American dream is owning a home. Of course, choosing the right house insurance to protect that cherished home is an extemely important decision. 

Most homeowners insurance policies are similar in the types of perils that are insured.  The typical homeowners insurance policy is written under a form HO-3 "Special Form Perils" policy.  This policy typicallly insures your home against all direct perils with "named exclusions". This which means that if the cause of loss is not excluded, then the peril is covered. Standard exclusions are:

FLOOD, EARTHQUAKE, SINKHOLE, NUCLEAR, WAR, WEAR & TEAR

GUARD AGAINST THE PITFALLS OF CHEAP HOME INSURANCE

Even if most insurance companies cover the same perils, (things that can happen to your home), it doesn't mean all policies are equal.  The problem with cheap home insurance is that you often do not have a comprehensive policy, and, tragically, often this goes undiscovered until you have a claim. 

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE?

Often we see new home buyers getting house insurance quotes from companies insuring the dwelling for the purchase price.  Although your lender will be fine with insurance covering the dwelling amount provided it is at least equal to your loan amount, dwelling amount coverage will not be adequate in the event of a loss.

An Example of the Pitfalls of Underinsuring Your Home:  

Mr. & Mrs Smith just purchased their first home, an underpriced beauty in an older neighborhood.  Their real estate agent congratulates them for having achieved the American dream. They sign an agreement of sale and call the 1-800-cheap-home-insurance number they hear every night on TV.  Since they are purchasing their home for $100,000, the agent on the other end has no idea of the neighborhood or specific features of Mr. & Mrs. Smith's dream home. 

The agent quotes the Smith's a standard house insurance policy, and suggests insuring the dwelling for the amount they paid for the home ($100,000).  The bank is fine with the quote and accepts the policy because the dwelling is being insured for what the Smith's are paying for the home, which more than covers the bank loan. Settlement goes through and the Smith's feel safe and secure.

Six months later, a northeaster slams the area and knocks out power to the Smith's home.  Candles are lit to shed some light in the home and boy, what a mistake.  Next thing you know, a call to 911 and the Smith's evacuate their dream home with just the clothes on their backs. 

The house is a total loss!  Everything is gone.  The Smith's call up 1-800-cheap-insurance to file their claim as they sit in their hotel room worrying if they made a good decision with their homeowners insurance policy. 

A few days later, the Smith's find out that the home they purchased for $100,000 will actually cost $225,000 to rebuild at today's costs for materials and labor.  They start to get a sick feeling when they realize their cheap home insurance is not going to even remotely cover their loss. 

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY FROM A LOCAL "INDEPENDENT" INSURANCE BROKER

What could the Smith's have done differently to get the proper homeowners insurance coverage?  First, they should have contacted a local, independent insurance broker who could have gotten homeowners insurance quotes from a number of house insurance companies, resuting in the best price available.  Secondly, an experienced local agent would have encouraged the Smith's to consider the age, area and square footage of the home in calculating a proper rebuilding cost for the home. 

Thirdly, an experienced independent agent would know the "out of the ordinary" local perils that could damage the home such as a sinkhole, earthquake, or  surface water runoff.   For example, homes in a low lying areas should homeowners insurance policies with an extention of coverage for sewer back-up & sump pump overflow. 

THE AMERICAN INSURING GROUP DIFFERENCE

At The American Insuring Group LTD, our licensed professional agents will take the time to properly advise you on the house insurance you need and the optional coverage available.  We strive to give our clients exceptional advice and professional customer service so they know they will be covered in the event of a claim. We review your home insurance quotes in detail and explain each item of coverage and how it applies in real life.  All homeowners insurance policies have limitations and conditions, so our agents will take the time to explain them and discuss whether your needs justify a modification of the house insurance policy.   

It's always a good idea to get a second opinion on your home insurance policy.  Call American Insuring Group, LTD today at 1-800-947-1270.