Planning a large home renovation project such an addition or a totally new kitchen? Before you get started it is important to make sure that all of the necessary insurance coverage is in order. At Linda Dugan Insurance we serve the needs of our clients in the greater Astoria, OR area protect their homes from any damage, accidents, or mishaps that can occur when there is a big construction project underway at your house. You will need a thorough review of both your home insurance policy as well as that of your contractor.

Review Your Policy and Your Contractor’s Too

Most people will go through the motions and simply determine that their contractor’s insurance certificate is up to date and leave it at that. While this is a good first step, it is better to actually review their policy and make sure that the coverage levels that it provides are adequate. If you are having a major amount of work completed, or have a project that is going to take a long time, you can even have yourself added to their policy as a named insured. Being added to their general liability policy is a simple process that can make a significant difference in how an accident or other damage can affect you and your family.

Before your contractor gets started on that major home improvement project make sure you have the protection you need. The team at Linda Dugan Insurance is here to help you review your policy for completeness and help you determine if your current policy carried adequate coverage. If you are in the greater Astoria, OR area, call or stop by and we will make sure you are covered before you begin any major projects!

If you are in the market to purchase insurance protection for your home, it is important to note that flood protection does not come with your homeowners’ insurance policy. You must purchase a separate flood insurance policy to get the protection you need.

Flood Protection

If you live in or around Astoria, OR, you should know that you have options when it comes to protecting your home with insurance products. In addition to the protection you buy with homeowners’ insurance, you should also purchase flood insurance protection. Flood insurance covers instances and events such as floods caused by plumbing malfunctions and excessive flooding caused by storms. Without flood insurance, you leave your home and valuable at risk. Floods can happen unexpectedly, and if you don’t have the coverage you may stand to lose your home and its contents. In the state of Oregon, some lenders may also require you to have flood insurance depending on the area you live in and certain other factors such as elevation and proximity to bodies of water.

Obtaining Flood Insurance

When purchasing flood insurance, use a company that will help you get the coverage you need and explains all the terms and conditions completely. Linda Dugan Insurance serves Astoria, OR, and looks forward to helping you get the flood insurance protection you need. Call or stop by the office today to get more information on flood insurance and for pricing information.

Floods are one of the biggest hazards that homeowners’ face. It is important to know that homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood incidents. Protect your investment by obtaining flood insurance and give yourself peace of mind.

It’s difficult to define the myths of home insurance, mainly because home insurance simply isn’t talked about all that often. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of incorrect assumptions about it, and unfortunately, those assumptions are revealed after a disaster rather than before. Linda Dugan Insurance wants the people of Astoria, OR to know more about things work before it’s too late. 

You Don’t Need to Inventory Your Possessions

When you lose items for any reason covered under your home insurance policy, you’ll need to recall exactly what you had in the house in the first place. Making a full list of your possessions and keeping that list in a safe place makes it easier to get the reimbursement you need. 

You Don’t Need a Security System 

Thieves are everywhere, and they can do a lot of harm. Even if you think that your possessions simply aren’t worth taking, criminals can do expensive damage to the structure that will be difficult to repair without help. Your home insurance provider knows that a security system can do a lot for keeping them at bay, and will let their thanks be shown by keeping your rates reasonable. It’s an excellent long-term investment for everyone. 

You Can Call Your Home Insurance for Anything 

While you can call your home insurance, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the financial help you need. Home insurance doesn’t cover everything, so you may want to call someone who can walk you through what it does cover. Linda Dugan Insurance can go over the things that are most likely to happen to your home and maybe some less common scenarios that you may not have considered. Call to find out more about how our policies work if you live in Astoria, OR. 

Having home insurance coverage provides peace of mind after an incident that may have occurred due to criminal activity. While we can’t predict every kind of situation in the Astoria, OR. area, there are ways to wisely secure a home. Here at Linda Dugan Insurance we believe in informing our customers. Below are five tips for you to more securely protect your home against crime. Visit us or call 503-440-3909, and we can discuss your concerns more thoroughly.

Landscaping

Keep foliage trimmed back away from the house, especially around doors and windows. Opportunists look for privacy while picking a lock or breaking a window.

Lighting

Have motion sensor lighting installed to deter criminals who like to work in the dark. If the neighbor’s cat keeps turning on your outside lights, they can be reset to avoid that.

Doors and Windows

Make it a firm habit to lock doors as you come inside. Check locks before you leave the house, and before bedtime. Making this a habit reduces the chances of you accidentally leaving a window open for a week.

Security Systems

Consider a security system that connects directly to rescue and safety personnel who can respond the moment there’s an incident. These systems help during home accidents, as well.

Neighborhood Connections

Hard to define but wonderful to experience is the connection to your neighbors that makes you feel safe and watched over. Be a good neighbor and build relations within your neighborhood that deter crime and strengthen communities.

At Linda Dugan Insurance we have independent agents ready to discuss your home insurance coverage. We can find discounts you may qualify for, and provide tips on home security. Serving the Astoria, OR area, we are available at 503-440-3909.

There comes a time in the course of every homeowner’s life that they consider switching their home insurance coverage. There are some tips that can help you determine if it is time for a switch or just time to change your policy. If you are thinking of a switch and you live in the Astoria, OR area, the agents with Linda Dugan Insurance can help you change your policy to fit your specific needs.

So what might prompt a homeowner to change their insurance policy or their insurance company? The first thing is often going to be the cost of premiums each year. High premiums are almost always the deciding factor when it comes to changing companies. The real issue is figuring out if the change in premiums is worth the change in coverage.

In many cases, companies will offer lower premiums to newer customers. This means that changing your company might save you some money here and there. This, however, might not be the best thing to do as these lower costs nearly always fall off after you have been with the company for a long period. You also have to consider that being with a company for a longer period increases loyalty and also helps to increase the likelihood that you have a dedicated agent or that the insurance agency knows about your policy.

You also need to consider the fact that switching often to save a few dollars here and there on your policy might hurt your chances of a smooth transaction if you do have a claim. For all your questions if you live in the Astoria, OR area, the agents with Linda Dugan Insurance can better explain and help you make a switch if you so choose.  

Having more coverage when it comes to home insurance can sometimes just feel like you’re just having more money taken out of your wallet. Days go by and everything remains status quo, and you start thinking that there’s no reason to plan for the worst because it will never actually happen to you. But this mentality has left too many people in Astoria, OR feeling foolish. Linda Dugan Insurance wants you to have more information about how updating can be your true savior when it comes to emergencies. 

Understanding the Role of Home Insurance 

Your policy is in place to protect you against practically every even that may occur on your property. From a stray dog destroying your expensive shrubs and garden, to your own dog ruining an antique dresser. However, every policy is different, and may not reflect the same needs you have when you first moved into the house.The more you find out about what’s actually in the clauses of your policy, the better you’ll feel about the amount of threats out there. Your home isn’t just something that you bought without research, so it’s important that your home insurance be given the same careful consideration. 

Call Someone Who Knows 

To update your policy, you’ll want to talk to someone who understands the nuances of each event. There may be provisions that can help you more than you think. Home insurance keeps you ready both emotionally and financially, and Linda Dugan Insurance has proudly contributed to that peace of mind for the people of Astoria, OR. If you’re interested in updating your coverage, then now is the time to chat with us. The agents here are ready to answer your questions and get you a policy that protects everything that’s worth protecting, so call today! 

It would be difficult to find someone that actually enjoys the packing, moving, and unpacking process but with a bit of extra planning, you can make everything a bit easier on yourself. It may take some extra time in the beginning but it will definitely save you some time when you are moving and unpacking for your new home in Astoria, OR. Use these tips from Linda Dugan Insurance during your packing process:

• Color code your boxes. When you are packing, you should use different colors for each room and put these colors on the boxes. Then, when you are moving, you can make sure the boxes that go in specific rooms are placed in there. When you go to unpack them, all of the boxes in that room will be there for you.
• Keep a detailed inventory. You should also number the boxes and keep a detailed inventory list of everything that is in those boxes. When you are looking for a specific item, you can go to your list and quickly find the box it is in. 
• Pack a box for the first night. You will be very tired after moving but you will still likely want to get clean and sleep in your bed. Make sure you pack everything you need for your first night in one box so you can get a good night of sleep.

Another step of moving that you need to complete is finding a great home insurance policy for your new home. Whether you have one in place or not, it is worth your time to contact Linda Dugan Insurance serving Astoria, OR. They can take a look at some different policy options as well as help you find something that fits within your budget. Contact them today to learn more.