Whether you live in a rental home, condo, apartment, or townhome chances are you’ve wondered whether or not your landlord is responsible for your property if anything is damaged or stolen. First, start by reviewing your lease because this is a legally binding document outlining everything from the rental start date to damages to the property. Chances are high that your lease will absolve the property owner of any responsibility for your belongings. 

While this may not be the news that you want to read, there are a couple of reasons why it is the case. First, the property – as outlined by your lease – is rented to you for a specific duration of time which means that whether it is for 6 months or 12 months you have possession and control of the space – not the landlord. As a result, the possessions within that space are under your control and ownership. Second, generally speaking, in order to insure an item you need to have ownership of it like a car, musical instrument, or pet which would absolve the landlord of responsibility because the items belong to you not them.

Luckily, it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom because with rental insurance your personal belongings are covered from damage, theft, and other incidents. Although policies can vary, a typical renters’ insurance policy will include coverage of personal property, liability, and additional living expenses if you have to move out of the space due to the damage. Keep in mind that renters’ insurance does not cover the actual property and accidental or purposeful damage to the place being rented is still a liability. For specific questions and assistance in purchasing a policy, give Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA a call for a no-obligation consultation where our friendly team of insurance professionals are ready to answer all your questions. 

The sizes and types of recreational vehicles (RVs) are many.  These vehicles are grouped together in classes for insurance purposes, but even within a class, there are wide variations in the size and type of RV.  Berks County Insurance in the Reading, PA area can help you with your insurance for an RV because regardless of size or class, you will want to protect your investment from accidents.  

Class A RV’s are the largest type and can range from 26 to 45 feet in length and weigh from 13,000 to 30,000 pounds.  These RV’s are basically a home away from home on wheels which can include everything from separate bedrooms with king-size beds, to space under the RV to store a sports car.  They are however limited as to where they travel due to their size and hook up needs once parked.  

Class B RVs are more commonly known as camper vans and range from 17 to 23 feet and weigh between 4,000 and 9,000 pounds.  These are basic with a bed and some storage space, but can have bathrooms, dining areas, and sleep as many as six people.  

Class C RVs usually have the sleeping quarters over the cab and range from 20-30 feet.  These RVs are usually not big enough to tow anything behind them but can have pull-outs and separate bathrooms. 

Class A-C recreational vehicles are typically motorized and driven on the road without needing to be towed.  Travel trailers are another type of RV which are towed behind a truck or SUV.  These are good for campers who want to store the RV when it’s not in use.  Pop-up trailers are also towed behind a vehicle and range from 8-16 feet and can be as light as 700 pounds.  These lightweight campers fold into themselves for easy storage.  

No matter what type of RV you own, the agents at Berks County Insurance in the Reading, PA area can help you insure it against accidents.  Please visit our website to get started.

Just like cars, motorcycles that are registered in Pennsylvania and operated on roads in that state need to be properly insured. But if you’re not sure what kind of policy you need, then it’s important to work with a knowledgeable agent who can help you. If you’re in the Reading, PA area, Berks County Insurance can give you the information you need to get a quality policy that fits your situation and protects you on the road. Then you can enjoy spending time on your motorcycle when the days are warm and sunny and experience the miles of roads that can lead to adventures all over the state. Whether you stay close to home or you’re planning a road trip, having proper motorcycle insurance is important.

Typically, insurance on a motorcycle covers the basics such as accidents whether it’s just your motorcycle or there’s another vehicle involved. Your passenger may be protected by your policy, as well. You can also get coverage for things like fire and theft protection, and collision insurance to cover damage done to your motorcycle if you’re in an at-fault accident, a single-vehicle accident, or involved in a collision with someone who’s not properly insured. Not all of those coverage types are required if you own your motorcycle, but they may be necessary if it’s financed. The basic coverage, though, is necessary even if you don’t have a lienholder on your bike.

Ready to get a motorcycle insurance policy, or see if you should make changes to the one you already have? Contact us at Berks County Insurance today. We want all our Reading, PA area customers to have quality insurance options that help them feel safe and protected. Even if you’re not sure whether your policy needs updating, we’re happy to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision. Then you’ll have a quality policy you can be happy with and feel good about.

Owning a boat in the Reading, PA area can be a lot of fun. When you do own a boat here, you are going to be able to enjoy plenty of nice sunny days out on the open water. For those that have a boat, there are several benefits that come when you get boat insurance. 

Provides Coverage for Boat

One of the advantages of having a boat insurance policy in Pennsylvania is that it will provide you with coverage for your boat. If you do own a boat, you will have to spend a lot of money buying and maintaining it. Due to this, you should make sure that your investment is always properly protected. When you have a boat insurance policy, you will receive coverage if needed to repair or replace your boat following theft or damage. 

Gives Liability Coverage

Another reason to get a boat insurance policy is that it can provide you with valuable liability coverage. While you are normally quite safe when operating your boat, accidents do happen from time to time. If this happens and you are at fault in an accident, you are going to be held liable for any damages that you cause. Due to this, you should get liability coverage through boat insurance to ensure you are covered for any damages that result from the accident.

Ultimately, having a boat insurance policy in the Reading, PA area is a good idea for any boat owner. When you are in the market for a new boat insurance policy, you should call Berks County Insurance. The team at Berks County Insurance will be able to assess your situation and help to build you a policy that provides you with the right type and level of coverage. 

Do you have primary insurance that is going to be adequate to cover all of your needs? If you end up with a significant liability claim against you, what would be the impact on your home, your business, and your family overall? The whole idea of umbrella insurance is that it is an additional layer of coverage on top of your existing insurance policies. If the losses from the underlying policies exceed their limits, the umbrella insurance takes over so that you are not liable for those losses directly. There are quite a few common claims where umbrella insurance can prove very helpful.

The first liability claim coverage is in the space of defense costs. If someone sues you, you will have to pay lawyer fees and any of the processing costs that go along with it. Umbrella coverage can help you as you work to pay for these fees to have a proper defense in a courtroom.  

Dog bites are another common liability claim that umbrella insurance can cover. If you take your dog out for a walk, you may end up in a situation where your dog is startled and ends up biting another dog, or someone else. The bodily injury that comes out of this can result in a claim against you. These could be losses that you do not have coverage for on your homeowners’ insurance policy, thus umbrella may take effect.

False arrest is another one where umbrella insurance can be important. It can help you defend yourself, and even pay to help you regain what reputation you lost.

The final common one we see coverage for in the areas of umbrella insurance includes pain and suffering. These are costs outside of just bills and expenses, but psychological stress and impact from a loss.

Umbrella insurance is an extremely powerful thing, providing you with immense value across the board. Working with a provider to analyze the coverage you have in Reading, PA can help you better understand where you are and where you can improve. Work with the Berks County Insurance Group today to start the process of buying umbrella insurance.

Flood insurance is a government program that helps protect homeowners from damages to their home and property associated with a flooding incident. Sometimes, however, flood insurance terms and conditions may be confusing and leave the policyholder with questions about the limits of protection in certain instances. 

Flooding as a Result of Busted Pipes

Flood insurance is designed to protect a home from primarily flooding as a result of a natural disaster or regional issues. For floods occurring as a result of busted pipes, you need to file a claim on your home insurance policy. If you have questions about the limitations of flood insurance, you should consult with a licensed insurance agent to help avoid gaps in coverage resulting from misinformation and lack of understating regarding the fine print included with the flood insurance policy.

Get Complete Protection form Flooding and Water Damage

The best way to protect a home from water damage resulting from a natural disaster or even equipment failure is to work with an agent to get a complete blanket of insurance protection. They can offer insight and information that makes choosing the right policy easy and effective. Anyone who is currently interested in purchasing flood insurance for the Reading, PA area, can count on Berks County Insurance to guide them through the entire process and even help with filing claims in the future. 

Get the right type of insurance coverage to prepare for any mishaps or flooding events with the help of Berks County Insurance, serving Reading, PA. Call or stop by today to speak with an agent and start protecting your home and property. 

Berks County is a great place to retire. Pennsylvania is a state that is very laid back for retirees making it attractive as a destination for seniors.  As you start making financial decisions about your retirement you may be asking yourself,  ‘Do I need life insurance after I retire?" This is a big decision and one that Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA would be happy to discuss with you. 

It is tempting to think of life insurance as you get older as less than necessary. Keeping up the premiums may seem as if it would put some stress on your new retirement budget or you may think that it just isn’t needed. Before you decide that it might not be necessary, you need to take a look at the reasons that you purchased it originally. Do you still have a spouse or partner who counts on your income to maintain their lifestyle?

When you die, some of your retirement income may go away with you, but will the income that is left be enough?  Hopefully, you are not going into retirement with a lot of debt. Some people still have a mortgage that will need to be paid, as well as a car payment and credit card debt. Have you already prepaid your final expenses? Do you want to leave money to your children or grandchildren? 

Determining whether or not you need life insurance after you retire depends in large part on your overall financial plan. You may not need the same amount that you needed when you were younger and a different type may be better for you. Talking to the experienced team at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA can help you to make the right decision for your situation. Give our office a call or stop by and let us help you to protect your financial future.

 

Your commercial insurance doesn’t directly reimburse you for personal financial losses. However, by covering your business assets, commercial insurance prevents you from incurring substantial out-of-pocket expenses. For example, imagine that a pipe bursts and damages your inventory. Without insurance, you would have to pay for the cost out of pocket or by dipping into personal savings. Ask the agents at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA for the type of commercial insurance you need to protect your business and prevent a substantial personal loss. 

How Commercial Insurance Protects Your Assets

You may be wondering what commercial insurance covers. It protects the physical aspects of your business and safeguards the future of your business. Every policy is unique, but some events are almost universally covered. This includes explosions, damage from aircraft, vandalism, theft, and vehicles. Some of these events are rare, but it’s a great relief to know that you aren’t responsible for the damages if they do.

Commonly covered items include:

• Building
• Inventory
• Outdoor sign
• The property of others
• Furniture, fence, equipment, and landscaping
• Property of others

When you start or continue to operate a business, there are enough things to worry about without risking your savings on unforeseen events. Your insurance agent can answer any concerns you might have and help you choose the right commercial insurance options. 

Contact Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA to set up an appointment or to purchase commercial insurance to protect your business assets and keep your personal wealth intact. There are many options available to tailor your commercial service to the needs of your business. Let us help you get protected.

 

Most people are not experts on life insurance. As a matter of fact, it is a subject that is often shuffled to the back burner to be dealt with at some later date. Life is good in Reading, PA and It seems rather macabre to be thinking about dying when you have so much life left to live. Life insurance, however, is one of those things that are better purchased when you are young, preferably less than 35 years old. How much life insurance is enough is not a one size fit all kind of question. The knowledgeable agents at Berks County Insurance are there to ask the right questions to help you determine how much and what type of life insurance is best for you. 

• Who are you responsible for?
• Do you have a spouse, children, dependents or parents who count on your income in order to survive?  
• How long would you need to provide income for the people who depend on you?
• Do you have a mortgage or any other outstanding loans or debt? 
• Have you provided for your final expenses? 
• Do you want to leave a legacy to any of your dependents or to any other person? 
• Do you have children whose education you want to provide for? For example a college education or private school in younger children. 

These basic questions will provide the information that is necessary to make a practical decision about the amount of life insurance that you will need to protect your family. If you live in Reading, PA or the surrounding area, it is time to talk to the team at Berks County Insurance. Why not give our office a call or stop by to discuss the amount of insurance that is enough for you in your particular situation and what type of insurance you should be purchasing.