Budde Insurance Agency 101 Blog: Long Island Insurance Specialists

Long Island Watercraft Insurance

2012-02-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

If you are a watercraft owner on Long Island, then you know the best part of the year is on the horizon—the start of spring and boating season! Whether you take a boat out for fishing, enjoy taking a jetski or waverunner out for a fun spin or prefer to drive a motorboat, yacht or sailboat through of one of our many bodies of water and just relax, nothing’s better than knowing you’ve got several months to enjoy the perks of watercraft ownership on Long Island.

With such ownership comes responsibility, though, in the form of purchasing Long Island watercraft insurance from Budde Insurance. There are plenty of risks associated with operating watercraft, from the wrath of Mother Nature to the accidents that can happen in the blink of an eye. At Budde Insurance, we offer “soup to nuts” coverage of your watercraft, including hull insurance, which covers almost everything needed to keep your boat operational.

Our staff provides an unmatched combination of experience and expertise for those in search of watercraft insurance on Long Island. The Budde Agency services the five New York boroughs as well as Long Island. Visit our website and call us at (631) 264-0579 to get a Long Island watercraft insurance quote and to learn about the other types of insurance we offer!

Umbrella insurance

2012-02-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

There isn’t a type of insurance with a better, more accurate moniker than “umbrella insurance.” Like a wide-brimmed umbrella providing you and your spouse plenty of protection from the rain, umbrella insurance offers wide-ranging insurance coverage against the type of lawsuits that can financially ruin a family and send it into bankruptcy.

Today’s litigious society means people must be prepared for a victim of an accident—from a routine one such as a fender bender to something rare and unforeseen such as a guest slipping and falling on the pavement outside your house—to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, umbrella insurance is no longer just for the rich. People of all income brackets need it, just in case. At Budde Insurance, we offer a variety of Long Island umbrella insurance plans that provide families the protection they need at prices they can afford.

Our staff provides an unmatched combination of experience and expertise for those in search of umbrella insurance on Long Island. The Budde Agency services the five New York boroughs as well as Long Island. Visit our website and call us at (631) 264-0579 to get a Long Island umbrella insurance quote and to learn about the other types of insurance that we offer!

Long Island Home Insurance

2012-02-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

Buying a house is the investment of a lifetime for most people, but getting approved for that mortgage is only the first of the many expenses a homeowner will face. Perhaps the most important bill for a homeowner is the one for home insurance. This coverage needs to be all-encompassing and take into account every potential disaster—from the old standbys such as fire, natural disaster or a home invasion to the types of flukes that rarely happen yet can bankrupt families, such as an accident on your property, debris falling on the house or bursting pipes.

At Budde Insurance, we offer comprehensive yet affordable Long Island home insurance coverage that protects homeowners against every nightmarish scenario. Rest easy knowing that your investment of a lifetime is covered even if a “what if” possibility becomes reality.

Our staff provides an unmatched combination of experience and expertise for those in search of home insurance on Long Island. The Budde Agency services the five New York boroughs as well as Long Island. Visit our website and call us at (631) 264-0579 to get a Long Island home insurance quote and to learn about the other types of insurance that we offer!

Commercial Insurance on Long Island

2011-12-01T01:47:00.000-08:00

With its proximity to Manhattan, Long Island is a popular place for small business owners to set up shop. The Island, as the locals dub it, offers far less expensive office space and property than Manhattan yet is close enough to the city for the owners of these small businesses to head into the city at a moment’s notice for important meetings. The neighboring nature of Long Island is also good for the reputation of these small business owners. After all, Manhattan is the business capital of the country, so the closer someone is to the center of commerce, the more seriously potential clients will take him or her.

Another benefit of operating a business on Long Island is lower rates for commercial insurance. Long Island, though, is an expensive place to live and work, so these rates will still account for a large part of the operating budget. Yet Long Island commercial insurance is a must for a business of any size. Here are some of the reasons LI commercial insurance is an essential component of any business:

—It is all-encompassing. Honestly, if everyone took the time to think of all the risks and all the things that could go wrong with owning a business, nobody would ever risk being an entrepreneur. Long Island commercial insurance will cover everything under the sun, from the obvious (property damage and bodily injury) to the types of liabilities (such as completed operations and products liability) that often slip under the radar of even the most attentive person. Commercial insurance on Long Island also includes worker’s compensation, which is vital because going without it can leave an employer vulnerable to heavy fines by New York State. Professional liability insurance is also a must, as protection from a lawsuit for those providing a service.

—Long Island commercial insurance protects your investment. Those who start their own businesses often do so with all the money they have in the bank and with the idea of building something of which they can be proud, which will sustain them for the rest of their lives. All it takes is one lawsuit to bring all that tumbling down. Commercial insurance on Long Island protects a business in case a lawsuit is brought against it and ensures all you have worked to build can’t be erased in the time it takes to file suit.

—Long Island commercial insurance also includes property insurance, which is possibly the most vital component of these policies. You can do everything right and have no on- or off-site accidents and no vehicular issues with employees. All you need, though, is to be in the wrong place at the right time as Mother Nature wreaks havoc with a tornado, hurricane or violent nor’easter that can result in crippling damage to both your property and bottom line.

Long Island commercial insurance comes at a cost, but it’s far pricier to go without it. Protect yourself as well as all of your business interests by looking into commercial insurance on Long Island as soon as possible.

Flood Insurance

2011-12-01T01:45:00.000-08:00

Heavy rains are an annual tradition regardless of the season on Long Island, but generally speaking, the area avoids the big-time, headline-making storms that drench other coastal areas of the country. However, when Hurricane Irene made a nearly direct hit on Long Island and Manhattan in August, it served as a sobering reminder of how fortunate the area has been—and just how important Long Island flood insurance is for homeowners.

Irene was the first hurricane to slam into Long Island in more than a quarter century—a run of good luck that was unsustainable and not likely to be repeated. Those who live in the area can’t afford to scrimp or ignore the necessity of flood insurance. Long Island is, obviously, surrounded by water, and even if it doesn’t absorb another hurricane anytime soon, chances are good a homeowner will suffer some kind of flood damage from a drenching “nor’easter.” Here are some reasons a homeowner should invest in Long Island flood insurance as soon as possible:

—As noted, downpours are pretty routine on Long Island, and your neighborhood is surely full of people who learned the hard way that hurricanes aren’t the only act of Mother Nature that can wreak havoc with property. Anyone who has a furnished basement—or even a basement full of decades-old stuff that he or she swears will be sorted through on the next, pardon the pun, rainy day—knows the combination of frustration and helplessness that is generated by walking downstairs and seeing (or feeling underfoot, with the accompanying squishing sound) water damage. Long Island flood insurance will cover everything you have that has been affected, whether it’s furniture, electronics or something you hadn’t seen in years.

—Flood insurance on Long Island is vital come wintertime, too. Even when the nor’easters arrive in the form of a foot or more of snow, the eventual runoff creates a flood worry for homeowners. Those unseasonably warm December and January days aren’t nearly as enjoyable when you’re fretting over the possibility of the basement flooding. It can’t be said enough: Long Island flood insurance is a year-round necessity.

—Those three words: just in case. The weather is acting weirder with each passing year, so to stake your hopes on the next hurricane arriving on Long Island in 2037 is wishful thinking at best and dangerously foolish at worst. As is the case with most insurance, flood insurance on Long Island is something nobody ever wants to have to use. But imagine if the next hurricane is worse than Irene and brings with it even greater devastation. Such a storm would surely yield damaging floods everywhere on Long Island and not just immediately along the coast.

Long Island flood insurance as well as Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens flood insurance should be held by anybody with property on these island areas. The hope of course is you’ll never need it, but what if the worst case scenario applies? As bad as that would be, it’d be worse if you couldn’t replace your possessions and property. Look into securing flood insurance today—and hope you never need it.

Finding Auto Insurance

2011-12-01T01:41:00.000-08:00

When it comes to driving and auto insurance rates on Long Island, studies indicate that Long Island drivers are no worse than the average driver anywhere else in the country. So why spend more than you have to just to get great auto insurance on Long Island?

On Long Island, auto insurance is a must-have—with all the distracted drivers, hot rodding teenagers, and speed demons out there on the road. So while you want to be covered, you also want to save as much money as possible by bargain hunting for the lowest auto insurance rates. So before you start your research, it’s a good idea to know exactly what you’re looking for and what kind of coverage you’ll need. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you begin hunting for wallet-friendly auto insurance rates:

—If the car is an older one, you can save money by eliminating collision damage coverage. If the car isn’t worth restoring in the event of an accident, it doesn’t make sense to make an investment and spend money for something on which you’ll never get a return. Better to have that money in reserve just in case you need to buy a new car on short notice because of an accident.

—Better drivers—i.e. those who don’t have any speeding tickets, moving violations or accidents on their records—get better auto insurance rates. However everyone, regardless of record, can immediately save a little bit of money by taking a defensive driving course prior to obtaining new insurance. Even a savings of 10 percent on your insurance bill can positively impact your bottom line.

—That said, there are certain areas of auto insurance that are necessities, such as liability and medical, which will provide coverage should you damage any property or injure a passenger in your car and/or someone else in another car while you are behind the wheel.

—Some carriers will cut your auto insurance rates a bit by asking you to pay the entire amount at once. If your carrier doesn’t offer this alternative, make sure not to miss a payment. Being late could result in cancellation of the insurance and either force you off the road for a period of time until your insurance is reinstated or subject you to fines from New York State for driving without insurance. And no matter what happens, your auto insurance rates will be higher if you fail to pay the bill and let coverage lapse.

Auto insurance is never free and will force you to dig into your pockets no matter where you live. But Long Island auto insurance doesn’t have to be outlandishly expensive. Have a plan and know exactly what you need when you look for insurance and you, too, can save money!

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

2011-12-01T01:40:00.000-08:00

By its very definition, insurance is a matter of buying yourself some peace of mind in the event that something catastrophic or unforeseen occurs. But as a business owner, worker’s comp is the most pivotal and essential insurance you can buy. Businesses without worker’s comp are dangerously vulnerable. Without this vital insurance, all it takes is a split-second and some type of accident—even something as seemingly routine as an employee slipping on the ice—for all you have worked for and all you have built to come tumbling down.

When seeking worker's comp, employers need to strike a balance between finding a comprehensive plan and one that doesn’t bust the budget. Knowing what to look for in a worker’s compensation plan, as well as having an estimate of how much it will cost, is especially important for worker’s compensation on Long Island and worker’s compensation in Queens (two of the most expensive areas in the country). Here are some things those seeking worker’s compensation on Long Island or in Queens & Brooklyn should have in mind before they go shopping for insurance:

—With rare exception, every business needs worker’s compensation. Only the following types of businesses are exempt: A sole proprietorship, a business that is a partnership by New York State law, or a very small corporation (i.e. one or two people) that is entirely owned by those one or two people and which employs nobody. So if you’re thinking of trying to scrimp on worker’s comp—don’t.

—Worker’s compensation on Long Island protects the employer from just about every scenario in which injury, illness or death occurs on the job, including protection against most possible lawsuits for something that happens in the workplace and both temporary and permanent disability payments for an employee hurt on the job. Worker’s compensation insurance also provides medical services to those injured on the job and a death benefit for the survivors of an employee who suffers a fatal injury in the workplace. The insurance carrier also provides legal representation for an employer.

—Employers must hang a notice of worker’s compensation coverage in an easily visible area of the office. Your insurance carrier will likely give this poster to you. Failing to hang the poster in the office can subject employers to a $250 fine per violation.

—What happens if you don’t have worker’s comp and someone gets hurt on the job? Simply put, it can bankrupt a business. The fortunate ones would “only” be responsible for the $2,000 fine issued by New York State for every 10-day period in which you weren’t compliant as well as whatever award the employee wins in court, including medical costs and additional compensations. But if the employee is badly hurt or the event results in a fatality, those medical bills could be half a million dollars or more.

Worker’s comp is a necessary expense for businesses of any and all sizes. The benefits it provides far outweighs the risks of living without it. Contact an insurance broker about worker's compensation on Long Island today!

Long Island Commercial Insurance

2011-12-01T01:37:00.000-08:00

Long Island is a popular place for small business owners to set up shop: Close enough to Manhattan to regularly conduct business in The Big Apple, yet with real estate that is far less expensive than in New York City. Unfortunately for many small business owners, they often spend their office space savings on commercial insurance. There’s no need to rob Peter to pay Paul here though—The Budde Agency is ready to help small business owners find the great deals that are available for commercial insurance on Long Island!

Like anywhere else in the country, Long Island commercial insurance coverage runs the gamut from general liability business insurance, professional liability, worker’s compensation and disability to commercial real property and commercial automobile and vehicle insurance as well as many other services. Comprehensive Long Island commercial insurance is essential for the small business owner, because without it, the business is vulnerable and prone to crippling expenses at any time. Yet with small business owners needing to pay strict attention to their finances, commercial insurance on Long Island must be affordable, as well.

The Budde Agency has more than 75 years of experience in finding Long Island commercial insurance for businesses of all sizes. Our staff will work with you to find the lowest quotes and the best coverage for commercial insurance on Long Island. Just because we’re in one of the most expensive areas of the country doesn’t mean you have to bust your budget getting the Long Island commercial insurance that best protects your business!

The Budde Agency provides an unmatched combination of experience and expertise for those in search of Long Island commercial insurance. The Budde Agency services the five New York boroughs as well as Long Island. Visit our website and call us at (631) 264-0579 to get a Long Island commercial insurance quote!

Long Island Auto Insurance

2011-12-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

If you live on Long Island long enough, you come to know that at least two commonly held beliefs about auto insurance on long island are not true. First, we’re NOT the worst drivers in the country, or even worse than average. And second, it’s not wildly expensive to get the right auto insurance on Long Island. Let’s face it, auto insurance on Long Island is vital for all drivers and automobile owners of every age. Whether you are on one of the crowded, fast-moving LI highways or just in a parking lot, there are a lot of cars jostling for position in a small amount of space and unfortunately, accidents happen.

When they do, you need to be prepared. Long Island auto insurance rates are neither too high nor too low—just about standard, when compared to the rest of the country. So don’t believe the hype: It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to get Long Island auto insurance, and you shouldn’t let Long Island’s image as an expensive place to live discourage you from moving or settling down here!

At Budde Insurance Agency, we have spent more than 75 years finding the best Long Island auto insurance rates and coverage for our clients. Nothing makes us happier than watching someone walk into the office filled with trepidation over the idea of getting expensive Long Island auto insurance—and walk out with a smile on his or her face after getting a new policy and finding out it’s not that expensive after all. Whether you are a parent adding a new teenaged driver to your insurance, an adult merely shopping around for a better price or seeking coverage for a commercial auto fleet, there are always deals to be had out there on Long Island auto insurance.

Our staff provides an unmatched combination of experience and expertise for those in search of auto insurance on Long Island. The Budde Agency services the five New York boroughs as well as Long Island. Visit our website and call us at (631) 264-0579 to get a Long Island auto insurance quote!