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DePaulo Agency

2 Windsor Drive
Scotia, NY 12302

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Creating an Emergency Kit for Your Home

You never know when something will go terribly wrong and it always better to be prepared than caught off guard. There are many ways you prepare your home for something unexpected. One of those ways is by having an emergency kit for your home in Scotia, NY. When you are developing your home emergency kit, make sure you include these necessities:

  • Food. Make sure you have at least three days of non-perishable food for each person in the home. You may also want to consider getting food that you do not have to cook in case the power goes out.
  • Water. You want to ensure you have enough water for each person for three days. As a rule of thumb, you should have at least a gallon of water per person per day. 
  • First aid kit. You can get a good first aid kit from the store. Make sure this is always fully packed in case you need it in an emergency.
  • A flashlight, extra batteries, and candles. If the power does go out, you want to make sure you have a way to see around you. Make sure you have a way to light the candles. 
  • Portable phone chargers. If the power goes out, you need a way to use your phone in case you need to call for help. Make sure you always have this backup. 

Having a home emergency kit is imperative to remaining safe and secure in your home. DePaulo Agency wants to ensure you are protected in other ways too. One of these ways is by having a great home insurance policy so you can be prepared for almost anything. Contact DePaulo Agency, serving Scotia, NY, today for a free quote on a home insurance policy and more. 

Is Your Home Underinsured?

Homeowners faced with the economic downturn, rising taxes and stagnant wages look for ways to save money. Many have discovered that by lowering the replacement value on your homeowner’s insurance, the monthly bill goes down. But before you check the win column on that savings, you may want to determine whether or not you just became underinsured. At the DePaulo Agency serving Scotia, NY, we believe it’s important that you are properly insured.

Market Value vs Replacement Cost

Unless your home is fairly new, the difference between what it’s worth and what it would cost to rebuild may be worlds apart. The national average for home-building costs hovers around $125 per square foot. The average home built in 2015 was about 2,600 square feet.

That means average replacement costs for an average new home run $325,000.

Now the average home built during the early 1980s is about 1,700 square feet. But if you incur a total loss due to fire or natural disaster, you will not be rebuilding at 1980s prices. New construction would run you about $212,000. That number also doesn’t account for razing and clearing your lot. While this highlights the danger of being underinsured on average, older homes may cost more to rebuild.

The Older Home Conundrum

As homes age, there can be a cost-beneficial market depreciation for buyers and ultimately homeowners. That real brick fireplace, ornate woodworking, and thick hardwood floors bring an old-world luster that’s difficult to find in new homes. Ironically, that allure often comes at a lower cost than new construction.

But if you suffer a loss, rebuilding will most certainly be based on today’s construction costs. Those hardwood floors, brick fireplace, and ornate woodwork, are often considered high-end items. Recapturing the beauty of your older home will come at a premium. Before saving a few bucks by insuring your home at today’s average replacement costs, get an estimate that details what it would take to restore your home to the way you want it. The two numbers are likely to be significantly different.

The drive to save money on your homeowner’s insurance can end up costing you dearly if you suffer loss. At the DePaulo Agency serving Scotia, NY, we urge people to have policies that realistically cover replacement costs. After all, security is the very basis of any homeowner’s insurance.

January is Predicted to be Cold in Soctia Ny, Here are Four Winter Home Tips

Extreme cold is no stranger to New York. However, there are certain things new homeowners should do when it hits. If you make sure to prepare your home for extreme cold fronts, and if you know in advance what to do if something goes wrong, you can save a lot of money in home repairs this winter.

  1. Protect water pipes in advance of freeze warnings. There are insulated pipe covers for sale in a variety of shades so exposed pipes can be protected from freezing and not clash with the home.
  2. Cover low basement windows and vents leading to the underside of home. Insulated foam panels made to look like shutters make great window covers for ground level basement windows that allow freezing air to seep in during the coldest of nights. Any vents that lead to the crawl space should also be covered on the coldest of nights.
  3. If you have outdoor pets consider bringing them in, at least as far as the garage or a barn. Dogs and cats may have fur coats, but they are not made to withstand freezing temperatures.
  4. Leave strategic pipes on a slow drip to avoided having them freeze in place. Many people leave a bathtub and kitchen sink dripping through the night when there is a risk of a pipe freezing.

Keep in mind that sometimes things do go wrong, when they do it is best to have prepared by having a plan. Where are your main valves to turn of the water to the house? Are you prepared to be snowed in when it comes to medicine, water , and food? Plan for any event and take a moment to prepare for the cold to prevent discomfort and costly repairs.

Contact us at the DePaulo Agency for all of your home insurance needs in and around Scotia, NY.

 

 

How to Prevent Water Damage in a Home

Having home insurance from DePaulo Agency in Scotia, NY, will ensure your home and goods are covered in the event of water damage. At the same time, there’s much you can do to minimize this risk. By keeping your home safe from water, fire and other hazardous risks, you can retain your property value. Here are a few ways to prevent water damage from ruining your home and personal belongings.   

Plant Trees with Care 

Trees and flora should be planted with care to avoid having invasive roots grow into water lines and cause damage to pipes, sprinkler system or septic tank. Damaged pipes could cause water damage to the structure of your home. 

Monitor Changes in Water Bill

An unexpected increase in your water bill is a warning sign that there could be water leaks in your home. By keeping an eye on your water costs, you can be alerted to an unusual jump in price that signals possible leakage. Even small water leaks inside bathroom or kitchen walls or cabinets can cause a lot of damage over time.

Clear Gutters

Twice a year in spring and fall homeowners should clear their home’s gutters to avoid water backing up unto the roof of their home. As leaves, dirt and debris clog up gutters, they block the flow of rainwater. This water can accumulate on the roof and eventually leak into a home, damaging the roof, walls and flooring.

Avoid Chemicals to Unclog Drains

Kitchen and bathroom sink clogs are fairly common in most homes. Most drain cleaners contain strong chemicals that can corrode water pipes over time, causing water to leak into your home. By using a drain snake to unclog sinks, you reduce the risk of damaging water pipes, which will protect your home from water leakage.  

To learn more about safeguarding your home from water damage, contact DePaulo Agency, Scotia, NY, today. We can provide you with full home insurance coverage that will protect you from any eventuality.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Gutters in the Fall

There are many important things you should do in the fall to prepare your home for the upcoming winter months. Knowing these things can help prevent damage to your home and help prevent you from having to file a homeowner’s insurance claim for damage. Here at DePaulo Agency, we would like to tell you about the importance of cleaning your gutters in the fall in Scotia, NY.

Prior to the rain and snow season, it is important to take the time to clean our your gutters. This includes removing all debris from the gutter, such as leaves, sticks and excess amounts of dirt. If these items are in the gutter channel, rain and water may not be able to flow through the gutter as it should. The biggest problem with this is that in freezing temperatures, this water can freeze. And as it freezes, and more water falls, the block of ice gets larger and larger. Eventually, it can form an ice dam on your roof or become so heavy or large that it cracks the gutter or causes the gutter to collapse. Unfortunately, many homeowner’s insurance policies will exclude claims if they feel the damage was caused due to no maintenance. As such, cleaning your gutters is extremely important.

If you are wondering if your homeowner’s insurance policy will preclude a claim based on poor maintenance, or you simply want to look into starting a new homeowner’s insurance policy, give DePaulo Agency a call today. We serve the greater Scotia, NY area and would love to help you with all of your homeowner’s insurance needs.

 

5 Tips To Save Money While Packing

So it is time for that big move. Maybe you moving a few block or a few states away. Either way the cost of a move can take a bite out of your bank account. Below are a few ideas on how you save money while packing for your next move.

1. Collect boxes yourself

At a lot of stores will give you boxes for free. If you make it a habit of asking every time you go to the grocery store you can get all the boxes you need free of charge. If you wait till it’s too late those boxes can cost up to $3 a piece and that will add up quickly.

2. Ask your friends and family to help

What are friends for? Hiring help is expensive and most people are glad to lend a hand because they know there is a good chance they will want to call that favor back in.

3. Get rid of stuff you are not going to use

This will save you space and therefor money. It will also give you less to hassle with while packing and unpacking. If you are going to get a new place you might as well have a new start.

4. Save your newspapers to use like bubble wrap

Bubble wrap can be very expensive and since it is made from plastic it’s also not great for the environment. Newspapers are a free and a more environmentally friendly way to protect your fragile belongings.

5. Update your homeowners or renters insurance

Make sure you have the protection you need for your new place. Because fire, damage, and theft are always a real possibility not mention any personal liability you might incur. The best way to do that is to have a talk with a great insurance agent at DePaulo Agency or visit them at

4 Ways To Prepare For A Power Outage

If there is a power outage in Scotia, New York, are you prepared? There are four different ways or you to prepare adequately so that you can deal with the power being out for days at a time. It isn’t going to cost you much money to be prepared, and can ensure that you and your family are well fed and kept safe.

Hot Water

It’s always important to have access to hot water. Water can be heated in a variety of different ways. Once you have access to the hot water, you have the ability to sanitize, do laundry, and even purified water. All of this can make it a lot easier to deal with a power outage, especially if it lasts for several days.

Food

You are going to need food, regardless of how long the power is out. Even though your refrigerator and freezer may be stocked, the food isn’t going to last for long once there is no power keeping the temperature cold. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you know what the temperature is – and water bottles kept in the freezer all the time can help to keep the food cold or for longer.

Additionally, you want to make sure that you have food that doesn’t require heating or refrigeration. Jerky, peanut butter, granola bars, and a long list of other no-cook foods should be kept in your pantry.

Light

You need to make sure you have plenty of light, which is why it’s a good idea to have batteries as well as lanterns. Keep plenty of batteries and candles on hand.

Warmth

Especially in the winter months, you want to make sure that you are able to stay warm. You won’t have the heater to keep you warm, which is the reason to have plenty of blanket. It can also be advantageous to use bubble wrap as a way of insulating the windows.

At the DePaulo Agency, we look forward to providing you with peace of mind. Call and talk to one of our agents today to get quotes on homeowner’s insurance and learn more about how to prepare for a power outage in Scotia.