How to Winterize Your Home in New Jersey

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As the colder months are fast approaching, it is time to winterize your Newark, NJ home. There are a handful of different tips you need to perform, each of which will improve energy efficiency throughout the year, cut down on drafts and also help avoid those nasty winter colds.

HVAC Inspection

This should be performed annually. An HVAC inspection will clean out your vents, correct minor issues and make sure the furnace/boiler or other heating unit is functioning properly. This not only improves energy efficiency but it will improve air quality as well. This is also a good time to change out your furnace filter.

Check Windows and Doors

More air is lost around winders and doors than anywhere else in the home. It is also an area you can easily correct yourself. Check the weather stripping around all access points. If anything is cracked or missing, make sure to replace it. Also, fill in cracks around the frames to prevent air from escaping your warm home.

Insulate Your Pipes

Living in Newark, NJ, you probably have heard stories from friends or family members who have had burst pipes. Insulating pipes not only can help prevent this from happening but it also improves hot water transfers which in turn reduces your energy bills.

Storm Doors and Windows

Storm doors and windows can be easily installed around the house. These doors and windows act as a secondary barrier at protecting your home from leaking warm air. You’ll see an instantly lower energy bill after you go about installing these around the house. Plus, storm windows look much better installed than using the plastic wrap option. While plastic wrap is good if you’re in a pinch and only have a few dollars to spend, storm windows will last and provide improved insulation.

Should You Increase Your Auto Insurance if You Are Planning on Driving Through a State With Higher Minimum Coverage Requirements Than You Carry?

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If money is tight in your household, you may have the minimum amount of auto insurance that the state requires. This helps to keep your auto insurance premiums low. However, the minimum amount of auto insurance that you are required to carry varies from state to state. As such, if you are traveling out of state for work or for pleasure, you may find yourself wondering if you need to increase your coverage if one or more of the states you will be traveling in has higher minimum coverage requirements.

What most people do not realize is that even thought your policy limits say they are good in the state you reside, they are actually good nationwide. And if your current minimums do not meet the minimums in other states, your auto insurance automatically boosts the limits up to the minimum when you are in these states. And no, you don’t have to notify the insurance company you are traveling in these states or on vacation. It is something that is automatically done if you are in an accident in the state.

The only time this is not the case is if your auto insurance specifically states that the policy amounts do not automatically adjust in another state. This may occur if you are involved in multiple accidents out of state. Unless your policy specifically precludes it, your insurance will self adjust when you are in other states with higher minimums than you carry, ensuring you don’t have to change your policy amounts as you travel.

If you are looking to increase the coverage amount of your auto insurance policy, or are simply shopping around for a new one, E.S.T.I.R. Inc. can help. We provide a full range of insurance products, including auto insurance, to the greater Newark, NJ area. Call us today or stop by our office to learn more about our products, get answers to your questions or obtain a quote for an auto insurance policy.

Keep your family and home protected in 2017

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Whether you have purchased your first home that you intend on starting your family in or your next home after the kids have left for college, it is always important that you protect your nest and your family with the right home insurance. You Newark NJ area home is the heart of a bustling metropolitan area and should be protected against weather mishaps like hurricanes as well as the unforeseen incidents. When you have the right home insurance backing you, it allows you to live your best life, with peace of mind in your own home. 

Our agents at E.S.T.I.R. Inc. understand how important your home is to you and that protecting it is at the top of your priority list. We also know that purchasing home insurance for the first time or choosing a new insurance can be a tricky process filled with many questions. Our agents encourage you to come to our offices prepared to ask, inquire, and voice any of your concerns that you may have. We will happily walk you through the process of choosing the right policy to protect your home and your family. Here at E.S.T.I.R. Inc. , your needs are our priority.

Do not hesitate! Call our office today to talk to one of our knowledgeable agents about how we can help you protect your home, your family, and your peace of mind. Stop by our office and we will be happy to help you sort through your options, answer your questions, and address your concerns. Don’t wait to protect your home and family from the unpredictable. Contact us today!

Why Newark Needs Better Auto Insurance Coverage

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It’s extremely tempting to see the price tag for liability auto insurance and choose that as your policy option. The upfront cost is really all people see sometimes, especially when there are so many other things to pay for in any given month. However, the people of Newark, NJ need to think beyond just the matter at hand to all the possible scenarios that may just end up being too much to handle without better car insurance. 

The Costs of Crashes

Just one minor crash can end up being a very major affair. E.S.T.I.R. Inc. has seen people be caught unawares when they file a claim and are denied based on the terms of their policy. Without coverage, an uninsured motorist could hit you, and there would be no recourse that you would have to get your car fixed. Or you may have your car broken into to take a very expensive stereo, only to find out that the loss will be something that comes entirely out of your pocket. There are a number of situations that aren’t covered, and it’s better to find out about it before it becomes a real problem. 

A Better Way 

Newark, NJ has people from every walk of life, and it’s especially important to start looking at buying a policy that covers the many things that could possibly go wrong. Dealing with E.S.T.I.R. Inc. means talking to agents who have your best interests at heart, and having a contact number where you’re treated like a person. When something goes wrong, it’s stressful to deal with having to tell your story three times to three different people. Instead of putting yourself through that, give us a call to find out more about our quotes and policies. 

 

Problems That May Void Your Home Insurance In Florida

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Home insurance covers a wide range of damage to your home, but many homeowners are unaware that they may be doing things that could cause their insurance to be voided, especially in Florida. That’s why E.S.T.I.R. Inc. (who serves a wide range of areas, including as far south as Florida all the way up to Newark, New Jersey) is here to inform you of a few ways you might accidentally void your home insurance.

Inaccurate Information On Your Application

Whether you purposefully or accidentally put inaccurate information on your application (such as failing to mention certain problems plaguing your home), doesn’t matter: it can still void your home insurance. Read over your application several times to check for inaccuracies before signing.

Multiple Claims

Home insurance agents often get suspicious if you make multiple claims over a period of a few years. In Florida, this may come in the form of claims for damage from hurricane or even underground termites. This might lead the insurance agent to suspect negligence and void your claim or policy in response.

No Receipts On Claimed Items

Your policy will cover the items in your home, but if you don’t have receipts for them, you can’t prove their worth. As a result, most Florida insurance agents will simply void your claim, causing you to suffer severe losses as a result. Keep your receipts in a safe to protect them from damage.

Suspected Deliberate Damage

If your insurance agent expects that you may have caused deliberate damage to your home, they will not only void your claim, but likely your policy. Even worse, they may turn you into legal authorities for fraud. It’s important to prove that the damage caused was not deliberate, such as by including eye-witness testimony, in your claim.

If you are worried that you may have performed any of these problems on accident, please contact us at E.S.T.I.R. Inc. We can help people like you from Florida all the way to Newark, New Jersey get the home insurance coverage that they deserve. We’ll make sure you don’t make any of these unfortunate mistakes.

Layers of Rental Car Coverage

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If you travel, you are bound to require a rental vehicle. There are also cases where you may never drive but have a day of errands or even leisure in Newark, New Jersey and find yourself needing a rental but there is a question about insurance. If you own a vehicle, you likely have New Jersey’s minimum coverage. The Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act requires all auto owners to have basic insurance to be road-legal while driving. Most rental services will offer loss damage waivers (LDW) and collision damage waivers (CDW), taking the place of your collision and comprehensive insurance but the exemptions differ and come with deductibles. In other cases, it could null and void if the accident is your fault. But there is a way to lessen the potential for disaster.

Non-owner car insurance covers drivers who do not own a vehicle but do drive on occasion. Be that a rental or a friend’s car, having supplemental insurance is never a bad idea.  Not only are you ensuring that you do not go into debt because of the unpredictability of an accident, but you are also protecting yourself from future choices. Non-owner insurance is ideal if you will be without a vehicle for a period of time. By purchasing non-owner insurance through E.S.T.I.R. Inc. , you are also avoiding higher insurance costs for when you do buy a car and insurance. 

Rental car insurance varies in price and coverage. The waivers are often confusing, and chances are you are paying too much for an insurance plan that you could obtain for yourself. Relying on a third party that is a stranger may lead you to find yourself in a bind. E.S.T.I.R. Inc. auto insurance ensures the safety of your wallet and well-being. Give them a call today.