Indiana Home Insurance: How to Protect Your Home From Hail Damage

In the summer and fall months in Indiana, hail can happen. In some cases, the hail is as small as a beach pebble, in others, it can reach the size of baseballs. This is a weather-related event that will cause damage. That damage will be covered by your home or renter’s insurance. But you don’t want to make an insurance claim unless you have to.

At Irvington Insurance, we feel the same. We want Indianapolis, IN residents to feel secure during and after a hailstorm. Protect your home as much as you can in advance.

Clean Your Eaves and Gutters

Your eaves troughs and gutters are often the first things to do before storm season. Not only will that ensure sufficient drainage during a heavy storm, but it will also prevent damage to the eaves.

If your eaves and gutters are full already, they may not be able to withstand a hail storm with hail the size of tennis balls. Expect the unexpected with hail, and clear those gutters and eaves out before it’s too late.

Get Shutters, and Use Them

Window shutters have a purpose in areas prone to storms. They are not just a home décor piece. Get shutters and use them. This will help to prevent window damage in the event of hail.

It might not just be your window that is damaged. If you are sitting under a window and a giant hail ball smashes through it, you could sustain serious injury and medical costs.

Get shutters and use them, and hailstorms won’t make you so nervous. A window safety film can help you here as well if you don’t want to get shutters.

Clean Up the Yard

Clean up the trees around your home and check that they are healthy. Remove any dead branches on your lawn regularly. Make sure that your lawn doesn’t have a lot of things around that could fly up or cause damage in the event of a hail storm. Plan a place for your car to get parked and covered in order to avoid hail damage there as well.

Get a Quote

When you live in Indianapolis, IN, you know that bad hail storms can happen. At Irvington Insurance, we have you protected from any damage caused by hail storms.

What to do After a Car Accident in Indianapolis

When you have been in a car accident in Indianapolis, it’s important that you take care of yourself and your passengers first. There is a claims process with your auto insurance that you will undergo. However, taking a few steps in the immediate aftermath of an auto accident will help you to navigate the claims process swiftly and easily.

At Irvington Insurance, we want to be sure that all drivers in Indianapolis IN are safe and protected when they are on the roads. Make sure you follow the right steps after a car accident in Indianapolis.

Check for Injuries

Personal injury is always the most important thing to look for after you have been in a car accident. Ask everyone if they are okay, and check for yourself if you can not get a response. 

If there are any injuries at all, you must call the police and ambulance services immediately. Do not move anyone that might be injured.

Move the Vehicle

It is the law to move your vehicle to safety as soon as you possibly can if you can. If you have already called the police, they will want you to move the car. If you are unable to move it, let them know when you call. That is so that they know what to expect and what kind of dispatch they need to send out so there are enough officers to help at the scene of the accident.

Exchange Information and Document

When you have a chance, begin to document the scene with photos and notes. Take as many pictures as you can of the accident, the vehicles, traffic conditions, and even weather conditions. Take pictures of passengers if they are injured.

Exchange insurance and personal information, including your driver’s license, with any other drivers.

After this, you will call your insurance company and begin the claims process. You will be instructed on what to do every step of the way from there.

Get a Quote

When you have been in a car accident in Indianapolis, IN, Irvington Insurance wants to be there for you. This is an overwhelming time, and we want to be sure that your every need is covered. Call us for a quote today.

Which One Is Better: Term Life Insurance or Permanent?

In the history of insurance policies, Whole life and term packages have been instrumental in life insurance. They are the most prevalent options for people looking to buy insurance in numerous regions, including Indianapolis, IN. Irvington Insurance institution has invested heavily to offer you decent life insurance deals. The process of looking for appropriate life insurance coverage is not as easy as it may sound. The complexity of the matter varies from one state to the other. Choosing between term and permanent coverage narrows down to your preferences and the available options. Here is an overview of both alternatives. 

A Background Check to Term Life Insurance

The policy features few complications, so learning it is much simple. It does not come with jargon, making it your ideal choice if you pictured a standard coverage. The process of acquiring it is straightforward and does not need extensive coaching from an expert. With the insurance, your beneficiaries get compensated when you die. One of its chief limitations is that it offers coverage for a short period, prompting regular contract renewal. The policy expires when the stated duration elapses.

The policy is cheaper compared to its counterpart. It is a viable option if you only want to secure the future of your loved ones when death comes. Assess your family setup and see whether term life insurance is the real deal for you.

 A Review of Permanent Life Insurance Cover

The coverage is different from term insurance in two distinct ways. The policy does not have an expiry date, but you must update your premium payments as stipulated in the agreement. Secondly, the option features cash value besides compensating your beneficiaries after death. The convenience of paying standardized monthly premium rates makes it a better alternative for many clients. A portion of your payment serves as your cash value, while the rest serves as insurance coverage after death.

Visit our website today to contact Irvington Insurance in Indianapolis, IN, for all your life insurance queries.

4 Things You Should Know About Home Insurance

Your home could be one of the most significant investments you have or you will make. So, it makes sense to guide it safely with home insurance. This coverage gives you relief when a covered event damages your property and other personal belongings. It can also bail you out when you are responsible for an accident or injury in your home. 

But how many instances have you heard of someone buying insurance that did not help him? Well, a couple of times. At Irvington Insurance, it’s our work to make sure you understand what your home insurance entails. To that end, we have prepared for you what you need to know before you sign that policy. Let’s navigate through.

Understand the policy before buying

Many people hardly go through the insurance policy before buying it. They put their trust in the insurance agent. It’s essential you understand what you are getting yourself into, the things you cannot claim, and those you can. 

Buy from the right channel.

Purchasing your home insurance from a reputable insurance company is always the best thing. They will walk you through your policy and advise on the coverage that best works for you. Not sure the right insurance company to pick? Don’t worry. When you partner with us, we will handle this for you.

Get the adequate coverage you need

Only pay for the coverage you need. Avoid paying for what you don’t require. Analyze your home insurance needs with the help of a professional and drop what it’s not essential. In the same breath, don’t underinsure your home in the name of saving dough.

Learn the types of home insurance

You need to know the different kinds of home insurance and each coverage type. Some home insurance coverages to consider include:

  • Dwelling coverage
  • Liability coverage
  • Additional living expenses coverage
  • Personal contents coverage

Find Home insurance in Indianapolis, IN

Knowing the basic things about home insurance will help you escape the many myths that surround home insurance. If you are in Indianapolis, IN, visit or call us at Irvington Insurance for more information about your home insurance. We can help you get a quote and answer your questions.

The Consequences of Driving Without Auto Insurance

According to Irvington Insurance, many individuals are driving without auto insurance in Indianapolis, IN. This means that such individuals do not have any coverage to cater for unseen eventualities while driving. In such situations, these drivers are likely to face the following consequences, especially when they are involved in an accident. 

Pay Heavy Fines

All states and districts around the country stipulate that every car on the road should have at least a basic auto insurance catering to associated liabilities. Failure to have such insurance policies will attract some heavy fines, which might prove very difficult to handle. Many people have been forced to pay heavy fines in Indianapolis, IN, after being caught by patrol police driving without insurance.

Pay Losses for Damages Caused

Besides paying the heavy fines to the state or federal government, a person driving without auto insurance will be required to pay for all the losses or damages caused during an accident. In most cases, liability insurance pays for third-party losses and other damages caused by unintentional accidents. However, individuals will be forced to dig deep into their pockets without liability insurance and pay for such expenses.

Cater for Own Damages

Besides paying for losses incurred by third parties in an accident, a person without auto insurance will have to pay for their own damages and sometimes medical expenses, especially when they experience body harm. However, with auto insurance, all the personal damages and medical expenses will always be covered by the insurance organization. A person will not incur out-of-pocket expenses.

Do You Need Auto Insurance?

If you live in Indianapolis, IN, you don’t have to face all these unnecessary fines and expenses. You can get auto insurance from Irvington Insurance to help you cover all the bills and help you save some money. Contact us today for more information about auto insurance.

Navigating Life Insurance

Life insurance can often feel like a confusing and awkward topic to discuss. At Irvington Insurance, serving Indianapolis, IN, we want to help in this area. Having important and challenging conversations is sometimes difficult, but these conversations are a necessary and vital part of your financial planning at the end of the day. We are here to help you navigate the difficult topic of life insurance. 

Why Is Life Insurance So Important?

Life insurance is an essential type of insurance product because it helps provide financial stability for your family when you are not personally there to contribute an income. If you contribute to your family’s income and wealth, you need to understand that you are a vital factor in their financial stability and security. When you die, that security is threatened. You can protect against this threat with a solid life insurance policy. 

How Does Life Insurance Work?

Once a life insurance policy has been established for you, you will invest in this policy each month. In the event of your death, the benefit, the value of the policy, will be paid to your beneficiaries. This benefit can be used to pay for your final expense and help contribute to your family’s income. 

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

One of the most difficult issues to navigate concerning life insurance is how much life insurance needs to be purchased. This is a difficult question because the amount will vary from family to family. The best way to determine this is by sitting down with a knowledgeable insurance representative. They will be able to help you evaluate your family’s unique situation to determine how much life insurance is appropriate. 

If you would like to learn more, please contact us at Irvington Insurance serving Indianapolis, IN. 

A Simple Guide to Home Insurance for First-time Buyers

After all the excitement of trying to find the perfect first home, you may be exhausted as you get ready to go to your closing. Home insurance may be the last thing you want to spend time thinking about. Finding the perfect home insurance is essential to making sure you won’t get any nasty surprises when you make a claim. Given that 1 in 5 homeowners makes a claim every year, you will likely make one at some point. In Indianapolis, IN, Irvington Insurance is a locally owned independent agency that gives our customers more choices. 

Don’t choose just by price.

While the price is an important consideration in any insurance purchase, it shouldn’t be the only one. You don’t want to overpay, but you also want to make sure the policy you choose has the coverage you need. 

Choose your deductible carefully.

Your policy’s deductible is what you pay out of pocket on each claim you file. Even if you have more than one in a year. With a higher deductible, you may pay less, but it may not be a good value. You need to be able to pay the deductible if you file a claim. 

What type of content coverage to choose

Content coverage comes in two types, replacement cost and actual cash value. When you file a claim, the payout is very different. With actual cash value, you will receive the amount worth today, taking depreciation into account. A 10-year-old sofa is not worth the same as a new one. With replacement cost, you will receive the amount a 10-year-old sofa would cost you to replace today. 

Exclusions

Your home policy doesn’t cover everything. Floods, earthquakes, sinkholes, and sewer back-up are common exclusions. 

Contact Irvington Insurance in Indianapolis, IN for all your home insurance needs. 

 

Auto Insurance Variables Indiana Drivers Should Consider While Researching Policies

Irvington Insurance serves the Indianapolis, IN community by offering residents multiple types of insurance coverage. We strive to help our clients find the policies they need to protect what matters most. For over 70 years, we have enjoyed serving the community.

Auto Insurance Variables

Auto insurance is a valuable asset as you travel around Indianapolis, IN, and beyond. You are protected if your vehicle suffers damages. You are also protected if a fire or natural disaster arises. Liability coverage protects you if your vehicle causes damage to someone else’s property. You are also protected if another person riding in your vehicle suffers injuries due to an accident. To ensure that you find the right policy for your needs, think about these variables. Your driving record is important. If you have a clean driving record, you will have a different type of policy than someone who has many tickets or a previous accident on their driving record.

Consider the amount of driving that you do regularly. If you are putting a lot of miles on your vehicle, that increases the likelihood of being involved in an accident. You will need a different type of policy if you don’t drive your vehicle regularly.

The place where you store your vehicle is also important. If you don’t have a garage, try to find a storage facility to place your vehicle. This helps ensure that your vehicle is safe when you aren’t driving it. You can add coverage to your garage or the storage facility to protect your vehicle if a fire or inclement weather damages the structure.

Irvington Insurance Will Help You Stay Safe On The Road

Visit our website to learn more information about auto insurance.

How a Life Insurance Policy Helps You Save For the Future

Your financial advisor may not have mentioned a valuable method for saving for your future that also protects the fiscal health of your family in the event of your death. They typically suggest an individual retirement account (IRA), investment accounts, and money market accounts. Irvington Insurance wants to suggest a life insurance policy with a cash value account.

Purchasing a life insurance policy with a cash value account component lets you save for the future while providing a death benefit to your family. This type of whole life policy costs a little more than term life insurance. Still, your premium covers both the life insurance policy with a death benefit for your beneficiaries and a cash value savings account. The savings account may be parlayed into an investment account that links to a stock index, typically the S&P 500.

Many advantages exist to a policy with a cash-value account. First, you can borrow against the account if needed to obtain a mortgage for your Indianapolis, IN home. 

Another huge benefit is that you typically avoid paying taxes on the money as the account builds. Like an IRA, you can deposit your premium pre-tax as a paycheck deduction. This lets you save without paying taxes on the deposits. You only pay taxes on the money when you withdraw it or when you take out a loan using it for collateral. You can withdraw from the account once it reaches a specific level, but you cannot do so without incurring a penalty.

Contact Irvington Insurance serving the Indianapolis IN area for more information on this life insurance that also lets you save money for your future. Call us today.

How Often Should You Review Your Home Insurance?

Your home insurance is a crucial part of protecting your largest asset and the things that matter most to you. At Irvington Insurance, we can help all of our Indianapolis, IN area customers cover their homes with the right types of policies for their needs. Whether you have a small starter home or something much larger, there are some great ways to protect it and keep it safe from harm. A good insurance policy is a significant part of that and can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind and helping you get back to living life instead of worrying.

Your homeowner’s policy should have periodic reviews, though, because your circumstances and situation may change over time. You could add to your house, remodel it, or bring in new belongings that would need additional coverage. No matter what kinds of changes your home and life undergo, you can sleep better at night when you know you have a good insurance policy protecting you. Generally, it’s a good idea to review your home policy every time it renews, which is typically once per year. Your agent will often ask about the policy at that time, but if they don’t, you can still ask for a review to make sure nothing needs to be changed.

Reach out to us today at Irvington Insurance, and let us help you with your home insurance policy. If you’re in the Indianapolis, IN area, we can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your home’s coverage. Our knowledgeable agents will be happy to answer your questions, so you can feel good about the type and level of coverage you choose when you review your policy and make sure it’s the right one for your current needs.