Category Archives: Insurance

Four mistakes to avoid when you purchase umbrella insurance

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One of the best ways to ensure that you have coverage for every possible liability you could experience in Bethlehem, PA is to get umbrella insurance that will offer comprehensive insurance. While it’s smart to purchase umbrella insurance for those who have a lot of assets to protect, you need to avoid potential mistakes to make the smartest investment in this insurance product.

The following are four mistakes it’s important to avoid when you purchase umbrella insurance from a provider like Saucon Insurance Agency:

Neglecting to analyze what coverage you already have before making a purchase

Umbrella insurance is typically as additional coverage on top of what one already has. It’s therefore important to analyze current coverage before purchasing it to see where there are gaps that are leaving the policy holder susceptible to liabilities and financial loss. You need to look at the policies you have and analyze nuances in depth to see where insurance or gaps and coverage are leaving you vulnerable.

Purchasing umbrella insurance without first undergoing a loss analysis to analyze your liabilities

Take advantage of a loss analysis to examine all the claims you have made on your insurance policies up to this point. Consider whether your policies have easily covered your needs or whether your claims have been denied or only partially fulfilled in the past.

Not getting the opinion of a claims consultant

Before purchasing, discuss coverage options with an experienced and knowledgeable claims consultant for invaluable advice on what umbrella insurance can do for you. 

Not getting coverage for recreational possessions and liabilities

A lot of people are more focused on business and practical assets and overlook recreational assets. Yet recreational assets can be very valuable and open consumers up to unique liabilities against which they need to be protected.

Reasons You Should Buy Supplemental Flood Insurance

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If you live in the greater Bethlehem, PA area, flooding caused by heavy rain or rivers and creeks overflowing into your home may not be covered by your home insurance. The only way you are covered is by purchasing a supplemental flood insurance policy. Many people wonder if this is something they need and what the benefits are. Here at Saucon Insurance Agency, we want you to know the benefits of purchasing flood insurance so you can make an informed decision as to whether it is right for you. Here are a few of those benefits.

Your Home is Covered if it Floods

The biggest benefit to purchasing flood insurance is that your home is covered if it floods. Flooding can cause a significant amount of damage to your home. Additionally, removing all of the water and moisture from the home, as well as any dirt, mud and mold that are brought in by the floods can be pricey. Flood insurance covers all of this, protecting your financial investment in your home.

You Are Reimbursed the Fair Market Value Of Your Water Damaged Belongings

The other major benefit to buying supplemental flood insurance is that it helps to reimburse you for the fair market value of the items in your home that are damaged by flooding. This includes your furniture, electronics, clothing, toys and other household goods that cannot be salvaged. All of these items can add up quickly if you are not covered.

If you are interested in learning more about supplemental flood insurance, or are ready to purchase a policy in the greater Bethlehem, PA area, call Saucon Insurance Agency today! We are more than happy to answer any questions you have or help you find the right flood insurance policy for your needs.

Planning an RV Adventure? Start the Process with RV Insurance

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The open roads can take you through mountains, down valleys through forests and even to the beach. With a recreational vehicle, you’re able to enjoy the experience with amenities like a bed and a shower. Before going on your trip, you should get RV insurance, so you can enjoy every minute of your trip.

1. Helps You Budget

If you don’t figure out how much money insurance is going to cost you, especially if you choose to pay biyearly, you might have less money for your journey than you thought you would. Plus, if you get a quote for an insurance policy from Saucon Insurance Agency, serving Bethlehem, PA and the surrounding area, you’ll know how much money you have to spend on your trip before you actually begin the planning phase. 

2. Feel Safe Going Anywhere

You can feel safe going anywhere in your RV once you have insurance. By getting insurance, you’ll be able to go on a trip anywhere in the U.S., or even out of the country, and know you’re covered if you get into an accident. Take as long of a trek as you like because you’ll be covered the entire time. 

3. Accident Won’t Spoil Your Trip

An accident would ruin your trip if you didn’t have insurance. You could find yourself having to spend your own money to cover the cost of the accident. Without insurance, you could find yourself worrying about how to pay for the damage, which would ruin the rest of your trip, if you’d even be able to finish your trip. However, when you have insurance, an accident won’t spoil your trip because you’ll be covered. 

Contact Saucon Insurance Agency, serving Bethlehem, PA and the surrounding area, to get a quote and a new policy. We’re available by calling 610-868-1800.

Is Actual Cash Value or Agreed Value on Boat Insurance Right for Me?

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Whether this is your first boat or you just upgraded to a more impressive yacht in Bethlehem, PA, it’s time to purchase some boat insurance. Saucon Insurance Agency is ready to help you purchase the right policy that protects not just you and your guests, but also your wallet if you are involved in an accident.

Boats Depreciate Like Cars

As soon as you put your new boat in the water, it starts to lose value much like a new car.  By the time your first season is over, your favorite party pontoon could have lost a quarter to a third of its original purchase price. If you have replacement on your boat insurance policy, you likely will get Actual Cash Value as part of the standard coverage if your boat is damaged in an accident. The insurance carrier will determine what the current value of the boat is and send you a check for that amount, not what you paid at the dealer.

Protect Your Vintage Vessel

Actual Cash Value works if you have a small boat with a simple outboard motor as you’d probably be able to absorb the difference in insurance payment vs. cost of another boat without too much fuss. However, if your boat is either a custom luxury yacht or a vintage vessel featuring teak decking and built-in furniture, you may wish to opt for Agreed Value on your policy. You’ll have the boat appraised and pay for coverage based on the real cost of fixing or replacing the damaged ship.

It’s always a good idea to spend a few minutes talking to your Saucon Insurance Agency representative in Bethlehem, PA before finalizing your new boat insurance policy to fully protect your latest investment.

Be Prepared for A Winter Weather Related Power Outage

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If the power goes out during a winter weather event in Bethlehem, PA, it is vital you are prepared for the long haul. The Saucon Insurance Agency recommends you prepare an emergency kit to keep your family safe in the event of a prolonged power outage.

Stock Your Emergency Kit

Ready.gov recommends you include:

  • A power source for phones and medical equipment
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Rock salt, kitty litter, and a shovel
  • Wood for a wood-burning stove or fireplace
  • Space heater
  • Generator with extra gas
  • Extra blankets and clothing
  • Water and food

Take Action

Keep a radio handy and contact the power company for estimates on the length of time the power will be out. Close doors or hang thick blankets to block off extra rooms in your house. Family members should gather in a room with a well-ventilated heat source. Each family member should put on additional layers of warm clothes as the temperature drops. You may prevent a water catastrophe by letting water trickle. Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed to preserve food. After about 4 hours, transfer food from the fridge to a cooler, or even a snow bank. As long as you don’t open it, food can last in the freezer for about two days.

Under ideal conditions, you should be able to stay warm and safe in your home for about a week. If it is clear your resources are dwindling, contact the authorities to determine the location of the nearest warming shelter. They will be able to guide you to the proper channels if you are unable to get out on your own. Saucon Insurance Agency encourages you to make a plan before severe winter weather strikes. Bethlehem, PA experiences its fair share of erratic winter weather. Our agents can offer guidance to help you keep your family safe in the event of a prolonged power outage.

What You Need To Know About Insurance In PA

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If you live in Bethlehem, PA, most of the laws and regulations governing the insurance industry and drivers aren’t so different than those found in every other state, but there are a few things you’ll want to know when you get behind the wheel in Pennsylvania.

The main thing to know is that Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. What this means is that each driver will be expected to pay for their injuries in the event of an accident. Whoever may be at fault in any given accident, each driver involved will typically be expected to seek compensation through their insurer.

No-fault laws were first enacted to reduce the burden on the courts and, by proxy, the taxpayer. With so many traffic-related lawsuits clogging up the courts, no-fault laws came through as a swift, efficient, and seemingly reasonable solution to the problem.

Rear end laws are an interesting area of Pennsylvania regulation to look into. In Florida, the person in the rear in a rear-end collision is automatically found to be at fault, and the charge is difficult to fight. In other states, the rear-ender is typically found to be at fault, but it’s not by default. In Pennsylvania, a whole series of laws are set aside to determine fault. Your best bet to navigate these laws is to start making notes immediately after a collision so that you can make sure that you have your facts straight if you need to make your case in a courtroom.

With adequate insurance and safe driving, Pennsylvania is a great place to go for a drive. Call us for some free quotes and get exploring.

Home Insurance in Bethlehem, PA

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For some people, home insurance is not a requirement. In fact, in Pennsylvania, you are not required to have it by law. However, if you have a mortgage, you may be required to have home insurance according to the terms of your agreement. Whether you are required to purchase home insurance or not in Bethlehem, PA, do you know when you should purchase it?

Purchase Home Insurance As Soon As You Purchase the Home

The absolute best time to purchase home insurance is when you purchase a home. Once you put an offer on a home and it is accepted, you need to call us to get a great policy for your home. You want to have the insurance in place immediately, so you are protected no matter what happens.

Why Purchase Before Closing?

You may be wondering why you should purchase before closing. While you do not yet own the home, setting up the policy to begin on closing day is best practice. You do not have to ensure the policy goes into effect before closing but you want it to begin the day you officially own the home. If for any reason your agreement falls through, you will still be able to cancel the policy since it has not yet started.

What If You Do Not Purchase Before Closing?

If you failed to purchase home insurance before you closed on the home, you have not missed your window. You should, however, make the purchase as soon as possible so you can gain coverage immediately. Do not wait until something happens. Instead, protect yourself and your investment with a great home insurance policy.

We can help you find the ideal home insurance policy for your home in the Bethlehem, PA, area by calling us today.

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall: Three RV Safety Tips That Reduce Cost All Year Long

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Let’s face it, owning an RV is expensive; particularly for those who enjoy putting their RV’s on Pennsylvania’s open road at any point throughout the year. As more people have adapted to the RV lifestyle, it has become increasingly important that RV owners enjoy their RVs in a safe manner by employing regular safety tips that will save them money all year long, such as the three tips indicated below:

1. Propane Safety Tips

Do not paint propane tanks with a dark color because it absorbs the sun’s rays a lot easier, which causes an explosion due to overheating. The stove, oven or heater burners should not be lit while traveling or refuel while using propane based appliances (or while the engine, is running.)

Have a certified dealer check your propane tank an on-going regular basis – particularly before long road trips to identify broken or leaking lines.  Lastly, have a propane gas detector installed

2. Take Caution When Using the Brakes

Since RVs trailers use air brakes as opposed to hydraulic brakes used in automobiles, they feel different from automobiles, which causes a slight delay when the brakes are hit. Some RV drivers believe the solution is to hit the breaks hard and fast.  However, this causes an abrupt stop, putting everyone’s safety at risk.

3. Familiarize Yourself with Your RV’s Height

Some of the more common RV related accidents are due to RV drivers running into bridges and overpasses because they simply forget the height of their RVs while driving. To prevent this from happening, make note of your RV’s height and exact clearance and leave it in view at all times to void such occurrences.

For these and other related RV safety tips that will save you money all year long, please visit Saucon Insurance Agency online today.

Bethlehem, PA: Do Different Types of Boats Require Different Types of Insurance?

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There are many different kinds of boats. Fishing boats are mainly used to fish and are not necessarily built to carry more than two or three people. Pontoons boats are not designed for speed. Instead, they are normally the first choice for people who want to spend a lazy day relaxing on the lake. Speed boats are used for skiing, tubing and cruising the lake. With each boat having its own unique purpose, they also have a specific level of liability that must be considered when purchasing an insurance policy.

While policies for designed for boats in storage are written to cover the replacement value of the craft, insurance policies for other types of watercraft, including jet skis, must also account for certain levels of public liability and damage. Your insurance agent can help you go over all of your options and advise you on what types of insurance are available to adequately protect your type of watercraft. They may also help you receive discounts by finding ways to bundle all of your insurance policies into one. This can save you money and allow you to remain fully protected against financial loss.

The residents of Bethlehem, PA can turn to the agents of the Saucon Insurance Agency when it comes insuring their home, car and boat. Different types of boats require different kinds of insurance. Fishing boats, ski boats and pontoons all serve unique purposes and may carry different levels of liabilities. Your insurance agent can help you determine how much insurance your need depending on the amount of money you owe on the boat and the amount of liability that is generally associated with your type of boat.

5 Tips to Disaster Prep Your Business

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The sky can fall or the ground can rise at any moment, leaving your company in tatters in the wake of a natural disaster. Get your business ready for the possibility of tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more with these disaster prep steps.

1. Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit

If a disaster hits unexpectedly, the lives of your employees and customers can depend on how close vital supplies are. Keep an emergency supply kit in stock according to the Red Cross guidelines, calculating the number of people as your typical number of employees and an average number of guests.

2. Develop and Implement Disaster Plans

Panic is dangerous in already tense situations. Keep people calm by having a clear plan of action for every type of disaster, eliminating the question of what to do from their minds.

3. Look for Disaster Readiness Resources

Our country does its best to look out for others, especially when circumstances veer out of control and into chaos. For example, small business owners may be eligible for disaster relief loans in the wake of an incident, but you’ll need to apply in order to take advantage of them. Check on the local, state, and federal levels for resources, and keep their contact information in your disaster prep kit from step one.

4. Seek an Outside Readiness Assessment

It can be hard to see where your disaster plans are lacking, especially if you don’t have any experience in managing similar situations. Once you’ve taken your first steps towards preparedness, call in an outside viewpoint like the Red Cross’s Ready Rating service to see how your company does.

5. Cover Your Business Assets with Commercial Property Insurance

The quickest way to recover from a disaster is to have the appropriate insurance plans in place. To give your business coverage against the overzealous winds of change, ask Saucon Insurance Agency for a quote on acquiring property insurance for your assets.