MD

3 Steps To Winterize Your Home

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As temperatures drop, preparing your home for winter is one of the best ways to prevent costly damage and ensure your family remains comfortable throughout the season. Winterizing helps protect against frozen pipes, heat loss, and unexpected repairs, saving you money and stress when the weather turns harsh.

Protect Your Pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the most common and expensive winter problems. Insulate exposed pipes in your basement, crawl space, and garage. Keep a trickle of water running during extreme cold, and disconnect outdoor hoses before the first freeze. If you’re leaving home for an extended period, set the thermostat to at least 55 F to keep water flowing. Using a thermostat that you can control via your smartphone when you’re away can help keep your home at the desired temperature.

Inspect Your Heating System

Have your furnace or boiler serviced before winter to ensure it’s running efficiently. Replace filters, clean vents, and check for leaks or strange noises. If you use a fireplace or wood stove, have your chimney professionally cleaned to reduce the risk of fire and carbon monoxide buildup.

Seal and Insulate

Drafts can waste significant amounts of energy. Inspect windows and doors for gaps, and then apply weatherstripping or caulking as needed. Adding insulation to attics and basements can further improve energy efficiency and help maintain consistent indoor temperatures.

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial: Proud To Serve Laurel, MD

At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving Laurel, MD, our team is here to help you find the right home insurance for your needs. Contact us to schedule an appointment to chat with one of our agents.

Can You Use Auto Insurance for Golf Carts?

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Golf carts make it easy to get around town, the golf course, or any large property. However, golf carts can also be expensive to repair or replace if they are damaged. Will auto insurance in Laurel, MD, help cover the cost?

Standard Auto Policies

Standard policies are typically designed for vehicles such as cars and trucks, rather than golf carts, which are often considered recreational vehicles. As a result, most policies do not cover them. However, some insurance companies may let you bundle policies to help save time or money. Contact an agent at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to learn whether your policy covers your golf cart. 

Home Insurance Policies

Contact your home insurance company if you primarily use your golf cart on your property. Recreational or liability policies are only required if you drive it on the road. These may not cover things like theft or damage from natural disasters. However, home policies often cover recreational vehicles that are damaged on the property. 

Golf Cart Coverage

You’ll have various coverage options available, just like you do with car insurance. If you drive your golf cart on the road, you need a liability policy with the state minimum requirements. You can also get collision or comprehensive coverage to ensure damage to your golf cart is covered, even if the accident isn’t your fault. Some policies may cover recreational vehicles that are parked on your property, even if you have homeowners’ insurance.

Golf cart owners in and around Laurel, MD, have several options when it comes to insurance policies. An agent at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial will be happy to help you learn more. 

What Type Of Home Insurance Do Landlords Need?

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Homeowners’ insurance provides the protection you need to ensure your property is taken care of, whether it’s repairing a roof after a tornado or removing a fallen tree from your house. There are various types of insurance available, including specific insurance for landlords.

Legal Requirements

Most jurisdictions don’t legally require landlords to obtain landlord home insurance, just like homeowners’ insurance. However, some banks or lenders require landlords to obtain appropriate insurance to protect their investments. Many financial institutions require proof of insurance and periodically contact insurance companies like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to ensure there isn’t a lapse in insurance. A lapse in coverage can come with severe penalties.

Landlord Insurance

Landlords don’t obtain standard homeowners’ insurance for their rentals. Instead, they need insurance that is commonly referred to as landlord insurance or rental property insurance. There are a few key differences between homeowners’ and rental property insurance.

Rental property insurance is carefully curated to meet landlords’ needs. It commonly covers damage to the home’s structure but often excludes additional coverage for personal property, which is the tenant’s responsibility.

It may provide more comprehensive coverage in other areas, such as bodily injury and liability, to help landlords protect their assets. Some insurance policies include lost rental income, which means the insurance company may reimburse you for lost income if the house is considered uninhabitable.

Agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial understand the unique needs of landlords in Laurel, MD. Our representatives will work with you to ensure you understand your policy and what’s covered. Contact us to learn more today. We’re currently serving the Laurel, MD area.

What are the advantages of combining auto and umbrella insurance?

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Insurance policies, such as auto and home insurance, are acquired to protect individuals and their families from the financial impact of certain events. However, every insurance policy has a "policy limit" – the maximum amount it will pay in claims. In most cases, the policy limit is sufficient to cover your liabilities, but in the event of unusually high liabilities, the policyholder may be responsible for paying the amount exceeding the policy limit. This is where umbrella insurance comes into play, covering those overages. If you have questions about the benefits of umbrella or other insurance, feel free to contact our team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving Laurel, MD.

Addressing Your Potential Liabilities

While most auto accidents are minor, some result in severe injuries or even death, leading to liabilities that exceed your policy limits. In such catastrophic accidents, those liable may be responsible for the difference between the total award and the amount paid by the insurance company. This could put their savings, home, or other assets at risk. This is where umbrella insurance proves its worth.

Umbrella insurance covers the liabilities that exceed your base auto or home policy limits. Since umbrella insurance is only activated in "worst-case" scenarios, claims are relatively uncommon, making the rates quite affordable. This means you can gain an additional layer of financial protection and tranquility at a reasonable cost, ensuring your accumulated assets are not put at risk due to unlikely but catastrophic events.

Working With Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial

Contact the Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial team serving Laurel, MD, to discuss how umbrella insurance can protect your family or business. We are ready to assist you, so stop by or call (301) 604-4444 to schedule an appointment.

New Drivers Should Get Advice When Choosing Their Auto Insurance Plans

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Learning to drive and becoming a licensed driver is a significant milestone for most people. It’s often seen as a rite of passage, signaling a step closer to adulthood. However, along with the ability to drive comes a host of other responsibilities, including understanding how to operate a motor vehicle safely. These responsibilities are why many Laurel, MD area drivers turn to the professional and friendly team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for all their auto insurance queries and concerns.

New Drivers Should Seek Advice When Choosing Their Auto Insurance Plans

If you’re new to driving, chances are you’re also new to auto insurance. The good news is, there’s plenty of help available. Experienced drivers, such as friends or family, can often provide guidance. Additionally, knowledgeable agents, like the team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, can assist new drivers in selecting the right insurance plans and getting the protection they need. Whether you’ve been driving for three days or thirty years, at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we’ve got you covered.

Auto Insurance Solutions for Laurel, MD Area Drivers

Do you live in or near the Laurel, MD area? Are you a new driver or do you have questions about auto insurance for you and your vehicle? Our experienced and friendly team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can help. Contact us to find out more and schedule an appointment for the auto insurance solutions you need and deserve at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today.

Does Home Insurance Cover Vandalism?

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If you’re a homeowner whose property has recently been vandalized, you may wonder about your options. Vandalism can be unsettling and expensive to repair. If left unaddressed, it may even decrease the value of your home. Addressing the damage promptly is crucial to maintaining your property.

At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, servicing Laurel, MD, we’re here to assist. If you have a home insurance policy, we can help you determine your coverage level and the next steps following the vandalism. Here’s what you need to know.

Does Home Insurance cover Vandalism?

Most home insurance policies cover vandalism. Review your home insurance policy to understand what’s covered by your home insurance and the level of coverage. If you have questions about your coverage, speak to your insurance agent. Your home insurance agent can answer your questions and clarify any aspects of your policy that you don’t understand.

What Should I Do If I Need to File a Home Insurance Claim for Vandalism?

If you need to file a claim with your home insurance, the first step is to contact your insurance agent. If your home was vandalized, you may be asked about any police reports you have filed. You may also be asked to provide pictures.

Every home insurance company has a different process for filing an insurance claim. That’s why it’s important to speak to your insurance agent to get started: your insurance agent will guide you on how to open your claim. To learn more about how the professionals at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, servicing Laurel, MD, can assist you, call us today.

Crashes Are No Accident: Safe Driving in Maryland

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If you drive a car, you are well aware that you must have auto insurance. Auto insurance will cover the costs of the other driver’s damages if you are declared to be at fault in an auto accident. If you live near the Laurel, MD, area and need an auto insurance policy, we invite you to call us at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. Our family-owned, independent agency has been proudly serving area clients since 2005.

Always Be Safety-Minded When Driving

When you’re driving, you should always be safety-minded. According to Zero Deaths Maryland (a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation), we believe auto crashes are no accident. Our data shows crashes can be avoided with simple preventative measures. These measures include wearing your seat belt whenever you’re in the car and never texting while driving.

Crashes Are No Accident

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation statistics, there were 300 auto fatalities in Maryland during 2023. So far, in 2024, there have already been 274 fatal crashes. Between 2018 and 2022, there was an average of over 29,000 crashes with injuries.

The Maryland Department of Transportation created the Zero Deaths Maryland campaign to educate citizens about how to avoid being one of those grim statistics. Their studies show that most crashes causing injury or fatality occur when people are distracted, impaired, inattentive, aggressive, or unbuckled.

Call Us Today for an Appointment

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial is proud to be an independent agent. We will always provide you with a customized list of options. We will answer any questions about the best insurance choices for you and your family. Residents of the Laurel, MD, area will find that we are knowledgeable about auto insurance policies. Call us for an appointment today, and let’s work together to find your best possible coverage.

Liability Coverage and Homeowner’s Insurance

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When Most Think about Insuring Their Home

When most people think about insuring and protecting their home, they think about protecting it from theft, storm, fire, and wind damage. Homeowners insurance is, of course, the primary method most individuals use to protect these homes.

A Serious Daily Threat to Your Financial Future

Many overlook another severe daily threat to your financial future. That’s the risk of being sued for an injury that might happen on your property. This is where liability coverage on your homeowner’s insurance policy plays such a significant role.

At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial of Laurel, MD, we believe the better you understand your insurance coverage, the more likely you will choose us to safeguard your investment.

What You Should Know about Liability Coverage

Here’s what you should know about your homeowner’s insurance policy liability coverage.

You Have a Duty to Protect Visitors

Whether visitors are friends, relatives, neighbors, contract workers, or delivery people, you are responsible for ensuring their safety while on your property. You could be held financially accountable for injuries if they should get injured by a dog, slip and fall, or trip due to a loose rug or broken concrete.

This could be expensive in terms of settlements or judgments, and the associated legal costs could be devastating. Your homeowner’s insurance policy’s liability coverage can provide valuable relief.

While it can be easier to value your home’s structure, contents, and outbuildings, liability claims might be more challenging to calculate. Your liability coverage serves as your financial backup.

Learn More and Get a Quote Today

Learn more about the importance of liability coverage and get answers to your questions today. When you reach out to us at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial of Laurel, MD, you will learn more about the liability aspects of your homeowners insurance and how they defend you. Contact us today.

Do You Need Comprehensive Auto Insurance?

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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

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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!