When To Purchase Home Insurance

If you are new to owning a home, or are considering buying your first home, you may be wondering when you should purchase home insurance. These are some helpful points to get you started so you can feel secure knowing that you are protected in the event of a covered loss.

Purchase Insurance At Closing

As soon as, the paperwork is completed and closing is wrapping up, you should make your homeowner’s insurance purchase. You want to walk away will peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to worry if something happens. Always maintain coverage on your home, especially if you are financing. In fact, in most cases, your insurance can be included with your mortgage so you don’t have to worry and your lender will be protected too.

Make Sure You Buy Enough Coverage

When calculating the amount of home insurance you need, you should not only consider the cost of materials, but the cost to rebuild including labor and expenses. You can opt to purchase replacement or actual value. You should speak with your insurance representative about each option to help you determine which one best suits your needs. Don’t forget to include the contents of your home so if you do experience a covered event, you can replace your major appliances and valuables and get back on track quickly. Don’t forget to keep an updated list of contents and notify your agent of any additions or changes to your home. If you live in Laurel, MD, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can help you get started and answer any questions you may have about homeowners’ coverage.

Don’t leave your investment to chance. Get your home insurance coverage right away and keep it up to date to prevent any uncovered losses you may incur in the future. For more information, if you live in or around Laurel, MD, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can give you the assistance you need. Call or stop by today to get started.

The consequences of not having home insurnace.

Home insurance may seem like a necessity to some or a burden to others. Depending on the value of your home and your financial situation, you may be tempted to drop that extra expense of having home insurance. There are more consequences than meets the eye, so most people should keep up with their home insurance. If you live in Laurel, MD, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial may be able to get you a good deal for home insurance.

Your Bank May Require It

Many banks will mandate that you have home insurance under the terms of your mortgage. You should review your mortgage agreement thoroughly as it may just cause a foreclosure.

You Are Open To Lawsuits

If you have guests at the house and somebody slips and falls, you may have a legal issue on your hands. If a lawsuit is made against you and you are found to be at fault, you will have to cover the damages on your own.

Your Personal Belongings Are Not Protected

If a natural disaster wrecks your personal belongings, then you will have to go out and purchase new stuff on your own. One of the main reasons why people get home insurance in the first place is to protect your personal belongings. Repairs to the house will also be your responsibility.

In the end, it is completely legal to not have homeowner’s insurance if you really don’t want it. Aside from your own personal financial risks, there are no legal penalties for not having it (unlike driving an uninsured car). If you own your house in cash and you are confident that you can cover the risks on your own, then you are free to live without insurance. For the rest of us in Laurel, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial will have us covered.

 

 

 

Tips for Adding Equity to Your Home

You do not have to spend a lot of money to add equity to your home and increase its value. Whether you are interested in raising the price of your home to sell it or are exploring your options, it is good to know some of the easy things you can do in your home. Use these tips from Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving Laurel, MD, to increase your home equity without spending a ton of money. 

  • Modernize your kitchen. Depending on what your kitchen looks like, you can give it a facelift for under $5,000 and get a return of a 3-7% increase in your home equity. You can do things like changing your cabinets, add some backsplash, change the fixtures, and even put in some new appliances. This can change the entire look of the kitchen and can provide you a great return. 
  • Paint some rooms. You do not have to repaint your entire home but you should consider repainting the rooms that have the most damage. If a paint job still looks great, you should not touch it unless you want to change the color. This can cost less than $1,000 and provide you with a return of 1-3% in equity.
  • Upgrade your curb appeal. Sometimes buyers will not even look inside a home if the exterior looks bad. Take some time to make your exterior look better and you could increase your equity by 2-5%.

Whether you are looking to sell or you are just looking for ways to increase equity for the future, these are some great ways to get started. You should also always have a great home insurance policy to ensure that your investment is always protected. Contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving Laurel, MD, to learn more about your options and get some free quotes. 

What Happens When a Party Guest is Injured on my Property?

Party With Caution

One of the joys of owning a home is the freedom to invite friends and relatives over for parties whenever an occasion calls for such. However, parties that involve friends of friends and people you may not know can go south quickly when a party goer is accidentally injured on your property. What you may find out quickly is that you may be at fault for a significant amount of money if you don’t have the proper coverage included within your policy. Your insurance experts at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving Laurel, MD will assist you in determining the type and level of insurance needed to ensure that you don’t find yourself in a situation like this. 

Be Aware of the Potential Dangers in Your Home

As a homeowner, it is important to realize what parts of your home may pose an injury risk to house guests. This is especially true when children are involved. Children tend to be unpredictable at times, especially during the excitement of a party. What may seem like a safe part of a home for an adult, may be extremely dangerous to children. This can include stairs, heavy furniture that isn’t anchored to a wall, or exposed electrical outlets for younger children. Speaking with your Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial agent and sharing details about your home will guarantee that your insurance agent will help you make the best decision.

Pool Owners 

 Homeowners in Laurel, MD with a pool should consider liability coverage a necessity as part of a home insurance policy. Due to the unpredictability of others when it comes to using a pool, homeowners can never be too cautious when it comes to this part of their home. Working to ensure that your pool is as safe as possible, at all times will prevent most accidents, but nothing is ever fooled proof. Being sure that you have the proper coverage included within your home insurance policy will prevent the severe damage of any party fouls.

5 Reasons You Need Home Insurance in Laurel

Home insurance is something most people buy because they feel they have to. They only find out how necessary the purchase was when something goes wrong and they’re forced to deal with the consequences. If you live in Laurel, MD though, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can help you understand why you should answer any questions you have now. 

1. Support With No Strings 

When bad things happen, you may be forced to rely on the kindness of your loved ones or a neighbor. While it’s excellent to have resources to turn to, it’s also nice to be self-sufficient. Having home insurance can fill in the gaps when you need it most. 

2. Better Home Prices 

When you sell your house, home insurance is part of the other careful maintenance you’ve done to improve your property. Buying more coverage is similar to picking out more expensive bathroom fixtures when you’re remodeling. 

3. Better Safety 

Neighborhoods that look great tend to be avoided by the criminal element. When everyone is aware of what’s happening on their property, there’s less of a chance you’ll experience a break-in. 

4. Random Scenarios Can Be Covered 

If your mailman slips on your top step and injures his back, you can be covered if he tries to sue you. There are a number of things that can happen on your property, and home insurance can fight against practically all of them. 

5. You Have Someone to Call 

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can help you figure out all of these facts and more, both now and if something goes wrong. For a quote or to have your questions answered, call us today to speak to an agent who can help you decipher what you need and what you don’t in Laurel, MD.

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial: Home Insurance

Mother nature isn’t always kind. Regardless of where you call home, we’ve all lived through thunderstorms, hail, hurricanes, floods, and many other natural disasters. These events taught us that nature isn’t always our friend. Hopefully, we also learned the importance of home insurance. 

Home insurance policies protect our homes, which for most of us, is the most expensive and significant piece of property we own. We depend on home insurance to provide the money we need to repair our roofs, siding, and the exterior of our homes. We also need to protect the structure and foundation of our property when our neighborhood is hit by a flood or a hurricane. While not everyone is in a region where flooding or hurricanes are a concern, many others are. Don’t ignore these serious threats to your home. Call an agent and ask if you’re in a flood plain or at risk for property damage from a hurricane. 

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial also covers losses due to a fire. You never know when your home will fall victim to a lightning strike or an electrical fire. Don’t wait for that to happen. Prepare yourself and your home for the worst. 

Home insurance is vital to our families and our communities. Don’t choose just any insurance company; work with a company you can trust. Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial offers affordable home insurance policies. They’re experienced staff will work with you from day one. They’ll help you find the best policy for your family, without losing sight of your budget. 

So, if you’re in the market for quality home insurance, look no further than Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD. Contact them or visit their office today to speak with an experienced representative. You, your family, and your home will thank you. 

Home Insurance Add Ons You Need in Maryland

The exact kind of home insurance you need will vary based on where you live. The home insurance you need in Texas varies from that in California, and both are different from what you need in Laurel, MD. At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we want to make sure you are properly protected for any situation. Here are few of the home insurance add-ons you should consider when living in the area. 

Flooding Insurance

From rainfall to melting snow, you may be surprised as to how often flooding occurs in Laurel, MD. Additionally, heavy storms can creep up the coast and cause other problems connected with the sudden downpour of water. As flooding occurs more frequently than many realize, this is an insurance add-on you need to look into. 

Technology and Computer Coverage

This is similar to what renters pay when opting in for renter’s insurance. Your home insurance policy protects the house but it may not protect everything inside the house (make sure to discuss this when going over your policy to know exactly what your current policy covers). If you have valuable electronics, computers and other forms of technology, you should look into this kind of coverage. 

Personal Umbrella 

This is an add-on that most homeowners should look into. With personal umbrella insurance, it can protect you against potential lawsuits from both people you know and those just walking past your home. 

Every property is different. Even those properties located specifically in and around Laurel, MD. The property you have may need a different policy add on to properly protect it and to safeguard your investment. Whatever your property is, at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial we are here to assist. So whether you have questions regarding insurance policies or are ready to begin protecting your home, give us a call. We’re here to help.

Types of Home Insurance

Home insurance can be as complicated as auto insurance if you are not sure what type of policy or coverage you need. With the right help like that provided by the agents with Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, those in the Laurel, MD area can get the coverage they need.

There are a few different types of home insurance, the most basic policies cover things like damage from storms and natural forces. These can include things like tornado, wind storm, ice and snow, and even falling trees. This is going to help you keep your home safe from the forces of nature that may strike at any time.

Most basic policies also cover fire. This means that if your home burns down due to forces that were unforeseen and unpreventable, your homeowner’s insurance will help pay to repair or replace or may pay out enough to get an entirely new home. These basic coverages are in place to help protect your property and make sure you can replace or repair your home in the event of a monumental disaster.

For some, hurricane home policies, flood policies, and more specialized policies may be needed. If you do not live near water, flood insurance is likely not necessary. If you do not live near the coast or in an area that is affected by hurricanes you are likely not to need hurricane insurance either. If you are having trouble deciding what policies work best for you and what policies you need, you can always talk with an agent that can help outline what policies you need.

Just like auto insurance, if you have a mortgage on your home you are required to hold home insurance. If you own your home outright, you can opt out of home insurance.

For all your home insurance questions if you live in the Laurel, MD area, contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today.

Recycling in Your Home

We do a lot of things to protect our home and make our quality of life better. However, one thing that many people are not yet doing is finding a way to recycle items in their home. Recycling not only makes your home life better but it also helps the environment as a whole. It is important to recycle but sometimes we do not always know what we can recycle. Use these tips to get started today.

  • Plastic: Plastic is something that most people know they can recycle. However, sometimes this is limited. You can recycle a lot of plastic items in your home other than plastic water bottles. A good example of this would be plastic grocery bags. Before you throw anything away that is plastic, make sure you cannot recycle it first.
  • Paper: Paper is also one of those things that people know they can recycle but they do not do it enough. There are so many paper products in homes that can be recycled such as paper plates, paper cups, junk mail, and more.
  • Glass: Glass is something that can be recycled but not all people consider this when they are recycling. To recycle glass, all you have to do is rinse it out before you put it in the bin. It is very easy to recycle and should be taken advantage of.
  • Batteries: Batteries are not always something someone considers to recycle but you may even find a place in Laurel, MD, that will pay you to recycle them. You can recycle all kinds of batteries such as AA, AAA, laptop batteries, and cell phone batteries. If they no longer hold a charge, you can probably recycle them somewhere. Do some research to find a place to recycle your batteries and make some extra money on the side.

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving Laurel, MD, wants to help you find the perfect home insurance policy for your needs and budget. Contact us today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Winterizing Your Pipes

During the winter months, water sitting in pipes can freeze in Laurel, MD due to freezing temperatures. When water freezes, it expands. If this happens in the pipes, the expansion can cause the pipe to crack or burst. When water flows through that damaged pipe, you will have a flood on your hand. This is why winterizing pipes is so important. Unfortunately, many homeowner’s don’t know about winterizing their pipes. Here is some information you need to know.

What Winterizing a Pipe Involves

When a pipe is winterized, all of the water is removed from the pipe. This helps prevent the pipe from freezing. Depending on the type of pipe, you may be able to drain the water from the pipes or you may need to call in a professional plumber to remove the liquid from the pipe.

What Pipes Need to be Winterized

You should always winterize pipes that aren’t used during the winter months. This includes sprinkler systems, pool pipes and all of the pipes in summer homes. Additionally, if you plan on being gone from your home for longer than two weeks in the winter, your home’s pipes should also be winterized to prevent problems.

Winterizing your pipes can prevent you from having to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance because it prevents damage to your home. In addition to thinking about winterizing your pipes, the fall is also a great time to think about your homeowner’s insurance. If you are not sure if your home is adequately covered or if you want to get quotes for a new policy, contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for all of your homeowner’s insurance needs in the greater Laurel, MD area. We can help you determine if your current policy has enough coverage or help you get a quote for a new policy with more or less coverage, depending on your needs. Give us a call today and let us help you with your homeowner’s insurance needs.