Do You Need Comprehensive Auto Insurance?

If you’ve paid off your car and don’t have lender requirements for insurance, you have the option to only maintain liability insurance as required by law to protect other cars when you drive. However, dropping comprehensive insurance in Laurel MD isn’t always the best idea. Comprehensive insurance has added benefits which protect the value of your car in the case of an accident which isn’t covered by another driver’s insurance or in the case of theft or vandalism.

Bank Loan Requirements

Bank loan requirements are relatively simple and straightforward. Even with the best of intentions, people will refuse to continue paying for their car loan if the automobile has been wrecked or is no longer driveable. Insurance against such an occurrence protects the bank as it pays of the money you were lent . Additionally, it protects you by paying off the money you owe rather than allowing your credit rating to be destroyed and prevent from not only being able to buy another car but take any other type of loan you may need to better your life.

Protecting Your Investment

If you can afford to buy your car outright without a loan, choose a less expensive used model which doesn’t need a loan, or if you’ve completely paid off the car over time, you don’t have a legal obligation to maintain comprehensive insurance although it’s a good idea to. It is still your car and will be difficult to replace if an unforeseen accident occurs. Beyond simply providing for your legal obligations insurance protects your interest in the investment of an automobile.

Be sure to discuss your needs with our insurance agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving Laurel MD to find an appropriate policy which best suits your personal situation.

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!

Why Laurel, MD auto insurance is important

Located smack between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Laurel, Maryland is an ideal place for people who work in either city to own a home and raise a family. With everything close but far enough way that walking or biking is probably out of the question, it also means residents of this town will need a car of some kind to get from place to place. That’s why it’s incredibly important that those who live in Laurel, MD also have auto insurance of some kind. The reasons for this are listed below.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

While everyone is supposed to have auto insurance in the event of an accident there are many people out there who do not, or don’t want to stick around after an accident occurs. There is also a chance that you could be at fault for the accident and cause injuries to yourself or others in your vehicle. So you will need auto insurance to cover these medical bills just in case something like this happens, so it doesn’t leave you paying an exorbitant amount in the future for an accident that happened in the past.

PROTECT OTHER VEHICLES, AS WELL AS YOUR OWN

Auto insurance also protects your vehicle from any damage that may be inflicted upon it in the event of an accident. But it also protects other vehicles on the road that may be damaged in an accident that is deemed your fault. Without auto insurance or enough coverage on your policy, you could be forced to pay for the repairs to a number of vehicles that could cause a serious financial problem in the future.

HAVE PIECE OF MIND

Just knowing you are covered in the event something unpredictable like an accident occurs makes it easier for you to drive and live in a place like Laurel, MD. And there is no real price you can put on piece of mind.

Laurel, MD means auto insurance policy options

When it comes to choosing the right insurance policy for your Laurel, MD vehicles, there are plenty of options. Rather than spend all your time going around from company to company, trying to find a great deal, you can work with the independent agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to find a policy. That way you can get information from a lot of different companies all in one place. That can give you peace of mind and the best insurance policy for your vehicle and your needs. Some people want only minimum coverage and others are interested in much more, but it’s still important to choose the right company.

With the number of companies that offer auto insurance today, it can also get confusing when it comes to what type of insurance you need, how much it costs, and which companies are rated the best. If you find a company that is inexpensive but have trouble when you make a claim, that might not be the right company for your auto insurance needs. There are a lot of companies that service the Laurel, MD area, so asking an independent agent to help you choose the right policy is often a much easier, better way of locating what you need and making sure your car is financially protected if you get into an accident.

With Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, you can get an independent agent who will work with you and give you all the advice you need in order to find the right policy. Getting your questions answered is important, and so is knowing you have someone on your side when you need it. As your life changes, so might your auto insurance needs. Keeping in touch with your agent can help you always have the right auto coverage.

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.

 

Freezing Temps and Pipes: What You Should Know

When the weather drops to freezing temperatures, there are increased risks of freezing pipes. However, there are some things you can do to avoid freezing pipes and all of the financial responsibilities that go along with it. Uses these tips from My Mid-Atlantic Insurance Financial to prep your pipes and prevent some burst pipes. 

  • If you have a pool or a sprinkler system in Laurel, MD, before the temperature drops, you should drain the water from the pipes. Do not put antifreeze into these pipes because it can be harmful to the environment as well as your family or pets. 
  • If you have any hoses that you use outdoors, empty them and bring them inside so they will not freeze. If your valve is outside, you should leave it open so the water inside can expand if it freezes. This will prevent it from causing the pipe to break. 
  • Consider insulating your pipes if they are exposed to the outside. You can check for exposed pipes in your crawl space and around your home. If there are any exposed pipes, getting them insulated will help prevent them from freezing.
  • On cold nights, if there is a likelihood of freezing temperatures, you should leave a faucet dripping so there is continuous water movement which can prevent freezing. Additionally, you can open you cabinets to expose your pipes to the warmth inside your home. This will allow the warmer air to circulate around the pipes. 

Freezing pipes can cause a lot of trouble for your home. While it may not seem like a big deal when it is still freezing but once the temperatures rise, you will have a lot of water in your home. Contact My Mid-Atlantic Insurance Financial serving Laurel, MD today to get a quote for home insurance so you can protect yourself in case your pipes do freeze and you need extra home protection. 

Managing life changes: Navigating unexpected events

Life comes with unexpected changes from relocation to job changes to major illnesses, and these changes can impact your life in a wide variety of ways. In order to get through these difficult moments, you have to be prepared and have a plan in place to work through the challenges so they don’t become overwhelming. Managing life changes before they occur can help make them much easier to work through. 

There are many ways a sudden, major life change can impact your life. A job loss, illness, or death can have both an emotional and financial impact. Because of that, it can be hard to get through these life events successfully. You have to deal with the emotional challenges of the life change as well as the financial. The good news is that there are plans you can put in place to protect yourself and your family when major life events occur.

Insurance should be a component in your plan to manage major life changes. Insurance can help protect against financial strain if you or a family member becomes seriously ill or injured or in the event of a death in the family. By helping alleviate some of the financial burden that comes from a major life change, you and your family are free to deal with the emotional challenges. This can help make major life changes easier to manage.

There are many types of insurance that can help you manage major life changes that may arise in your life. For more information about insurance to protect you and your family during major life changes, contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today.

Different Kinds of Commercial Insurance

Protecting your place of business is a must. Not only is it your livelihood but it likely is for all your employees as well. With the amount of work and money you’ve invested into the property, it is important to protect it wherever possible. At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we understand the importance of protecting your business with the right kind of commercial insurance. Whether your business is in Laurel, MD or a different region all together, understanding the difference of commercial insurance types is a must, so you know what to select when purchasing insurance for your business. 

Property Insurance

This is one of the most common forms of commercial insurance, and if you own property, having this insurance is a must. It protects against loss and damage that harm the property. This often includes fire damage to a work place and possibly flood related damage sustained in the event of a fire. 

Boiler and Machinery Insurance

This is typically for older buildings or for a facility where you use large machinery in the production or manufacture of items. It can protect against equipment breaking down and property damaged sustained due to the machinery breaking down. 

Debris Removal

Here’s something you might not consider ahead of time. If your property is damaged in the event of a fire and needs areas replaced, other insurance coverage may not pay to have the debris removed. Debris removal is expensive, in which case debris removal insurance fills in these payment gaps. 

Glass Insurance

Depending on your storefront and where you are located, your glass might be a prime target for break-ins and other forced damage. Replacing the glass constantly is expensive to do. Having glass insurance makes it easier to repair the glass and restore your workspace. 

What kinds of insurance will cover my damage after an auto accident?

If you own a car in Laurel, MD, then you know how important it is to have good insurance coverage.  At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we pride ourselves on offering a lot of options in auto insurance to our customers.  Determining the best option for you and your budget, however, can be tricky.  

One of the most common concerns that our customers have is exactly what types of damage are covered by their insurance policy.  In Maryland, a basic insurance policy that only meets the state-required coverage will only provide funds to repair the vehicles of the victims of an accident that you are found to be at-fault in.  Essentially, this means that if you cause an accident, the other person’s car will be repaired by your insurance, but yours will not.  For this reason, these policies are generally not recommended unless the driver can afford to repair or replace his or her vehicle on their own.

Collision or comprehensive insurance policies will cover the damage to your personal vehicle in the event of an accident, however.  These policies will provide funds to both you and the victims of an accident to have your vehicles repaired or replaced.  Only comprehensive insurance, however, will provide funds to repair or replace your vehicle if it is vandalized, stolen, or damaged in a natural disaster.  Collision insurance only covers accident damage.

If you want to save money on your auto insurance, give the agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial a call.  They have years of experience helping Laurel, MD customers find the policy that’s right for them.

Do single people need life insurance?

A lot of people make the assumption that if they’re single, they don’t need to be bothered with life insurance. The truth is that anyone who has loved ones who would suffer as a result of their death needs to have a life insurance policy in place to protect them.  If the following situations apply to your life, then you need to have life insurance.

  1. You don’t have enough assets today for your final expenses. If your estate can’t cover your funeral, then it will have to be paid for by someone else. Small policies are often sold to singles specifically for this reason. Fortunately, they are relatively cheap.
  2. You have relatives who depend on you. Kids and/or elderly parents that rely on you for financial support will be effected by your death. Life insurance funds can be used to replace child support payments as well as provide funds to attend college. They can also provide lifelong care and/or someone to take over the tasks you normally do for your parents. 
  3. You own a business. If your death would be the end of your business, then you need to be insured. While many banks will insist on a policy if you have a business loan, it’s also a good idea to keep a policy that will compensate your employees and provide them with some severance as they look for new jobs.

If any of these circumstances apply to you, then call the agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. They have years of experience helping people find the life insurance policy that is right for them at a price that fits into their budget