Why Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Imagine waking up to find your precious belongings swimming in murky water, your cherished memories literally washed away. This is a nightmarish reality that millions of homeowners face every year due to flooding, the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S.

Yet, many individuals are unknowingly unprotected against this devastating peril because they believe their standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers such events – an unfortunate misconception that often leads to significant financial loss. At Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency in Scotia, NY, we can help you secure flood insurance to protect your home.

Why Flood Insurance is Needed

In the volatile realm of mother nature, floods stand out as one of the most destructive forces. You may not reside near a water body or in a flood-prone area, but this doesn’t grant immunity from the possibility of experiencing a flood. It’s alarming to note that a large percentage of flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low-risk areas.

Knowing that home insurance policies often do not cover flooding gives another compelling reason why embracing flood insurance is an absolute necessity for astute homeowners. Imagine pouring years into creating your dream haven only for it to be whisked away by unforeseen flooding. Bearing this in mind, paying a small annual premium could save you hundreds or perhaps thousands should disaster strike. By investing in comprehensive flood insurance, you’re safeguarding both your property and peace of mind. We can help you explore all of your options at our office.

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you are looking for flood coverage, Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency in Scotia, NY is here to help. We understand the importance of protecting your home from potential disaster. Contact us to start a flood policy. 

Differences between home insurance and condo insurance

You may think of a home and a condo as the same thing, but in terms of insurance, they are quite different. One way they are the same is that both require that you have the right insurance to make sure that you are protected. In Scotia, NY at the Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency, we are independent insurance agents, and we know that we work for you, our customers. 

Master policy

The major difference between a freestanding home and a condo in terms of insurance is that, with a condo, the condo association has a master policy. This master policy covers the exterior of the building and the common areas. What this means to you as a condo owner is that if the roof fails, you are not responsible for replacing it. If someone is injured in the parking lot or at the pool, your liability insurance does not have to cover it. These are the responsibility of the condo association. 

How far the master policy covers the exterior of your condo is where this gets a little confusing. It can be all the way in or just the exterior walls. It is important that you know what coverage you need to add on your own, so read your covenant and make sure your insurance agent knows what it says as well. 

When it comes to content insurance, the type of master policy also plays a role. It will determine if you or the condo association are responsible for things like the fixtures and the kitchen cabinets. 

Loss of use coverage is the same whether it is a house or a condo. 

Consult With Us

Contact Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency in Scotia, NY on the telephone, with an email, or in person to make an appointment to sit down with one of our experienced agents. 

Four things you should never assume about auto insurance

If you own a vehicle in Scotia, NY, you’ll need to purchase an auto insurance policy. We provide auto insurance coverage to area consumers at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency.

Unfortunately, motorists sometimes make inaccurate assumptions about auto insurance.

Here are four things that you should never assume about auto insurance coverage:

You only need minimum coverage.

Investing in more than minimum coverage is always advisable. Simply having enough liability coverage to meet legal requirements in New York doesn’t necessarily mean that your assets are adequately protected.

It’s best if you’re carrying enough liability coverage to cover the full value of your assets to avoid financial loss as a result of a bad accident. 

You can use your personal auto insurance policy when you’re driving for commercial activities.

A personal auto insurance policy is only in effect when you drive your vehicle for personal reasons. If you drive your vehicle regularly to carry out commercial tasks, you need to have commercial auto insurance coverage. 

All auto insurance policies include rental vehicle coverage.

Rental vehicle coverage is a convenient feature of many auto insurance policies that pays for the policyholder to rent a vehicle when his or her vehicle is in the shop for repairs after an accident. 

If you want to have rental vehicle coverage on your auto insurance policy, be sure to read the fine print. While many auto insurance providers include this feature in standard policies, others don’t. Some insurance providers may require you to add rental vehicle coverage onto a standard policy to enjoy this type of coverage. 

All auto insurance providers are the same. 

Some auto insurance providers are better than others. Be sure to do your research and find a reliable auto insurance company with a reputation for satisfying its customers. 

Have Questions? Consult With Us

Get a quote on an auto insurance policy by getting in touch with Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency. We’re here to meet the insurance needs of consumers in Scotia, NY. 

How To Decrease Employee Turnaround

As a business owner, you really can’t afford to ignore any aspect of your employees’ welfare. High employee turnaround is often a signal that company culture is not conducive to strong employee relationships and contentment. Here at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency, we want to help business owners in Scotia, NY make smart business choices. 

Here are a few tips on how to decrease employee turnaround:

Healthy Company Culture

Employee contentment is a direct result of company culture. When a company is intentional about building a nurturing and safe company culture, employees want to stay and grow with you. However, the opposite is also true. When a company culture feels cold, uncaring, or worst case scenario, toxic, employees will find other places to work as quickly as possible. Although company culture doesn’t show as hard numbers, it is still well worth your investment to make sure you have a positive culture.

Open Communication

Another reason why workers are often tempted to move on to a new workplace is when they feel that communication is lacking and that they are not listened to. Your employees are the backbone of your business. You need to listen to them and communicate with them in a manner that is clear, respectful, and responsive. 

Quick Problem Resolution

Problems will arise in any company, but how you deal with those problems will have a huge effect on your staff. Your employees aren’t expecting to never experience problems, but what they are expecting is for you to acknowledge what is happening, listen to their concerns, and act quickly to resolve problems. When problems are ignored at work they often just get bigger and more complicated. 

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you would like to learn about commercial insurance for business owners, please contact us at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency serving Scotia, NY.

Top 3 Ways To Stop Intruders

There are so many responsibilities that come along with home ownership, and protecting your home from intruders is definitely top of the priority list. Here at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency, serving Scotia, NY and the surrounding areas, we want to help homeowners make smart choices.

Here are the top 3 ways to stop home intruders:

Home Security Systems 

Home security systems have proven an effective way to stop intruders. In a lot of cases, just having signs posted on your property advertising that the home is protected by a certain security company is enough to discourage intruders from even considering your home. 

Home security systems are advanced enough today to have you connected with first responders and law enforcement in real time when the system is triggered. This is a proven way to stop intruders and to get emergency help during other types of emergencies as well. 

Updated Windows, Doors, and Locks

Another important step you can take to discourage intruders is to make sure your windows, doors, and locks are updated. Older doors, windows, and locks are easy to access, and intruders know this. Modern home updates of this type will have enhanced security, are stronger, and are more difficult to access. 

Good Security Practices 

The other important way to protect your home is by practicing good security behaviors at home. This includes locking up at night and when you leave the house. It can also include keeping your property well-lit. You also need to be selective about who has access to keys, lock codes, and other means of accessing your home. 

Consult With Us

If you would like to learn about home insurance, please contact us at Rowledge & Falvo Insurance Agency serving Scotia, NY and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to help you.