It’s not uncommon for multiple people to share a house or an apartment these days, which might lead to the question, "Is it possible to share a policy with someone else, such as a roommate or a spouse?". The answer to this question is a resounding yes. However, there are things to remember if you wish to share a policy with others. If shared policies are on your mind, the team here at Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH will help you better understand renters insurance and how shared policies may affect your coverage.

What to Consider With Shared Policies

• Potential complications may arise when sharing policies, especially with roommates. This is due to issues figuring out who owns what when trying to file a claim, a lack of coverage you may receive if your roommate gets angry and intentionally damages something, and problems when someone decides to leave the property. Consider sharing a policy before you fully commit to it.
• Sharing a policy with a spouse makes sense when you both own the same things and live together in one place. If you haven’t already, now might be the time to talk about it if you both have policies and recently moved in together.
• If someone on a policy leaves due to separation or moving out, you will need to contact your provider and change your policy. This isn’t complex, but it can be undesirable.

Find a Renters Insurance Policy With Ruddy Insurance Group

Whether you’re looking for a shared policy or you want to have your own renters insurance, we’re here to help. Start here with Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH. Contact us if you need help or compare renters insurance quotes with us to find the right policy for your needs today.

When it comes to home insurance, it is often about more than protecting your home, which is also why homeowners from in and around Niles, OH, turn to the trusted and professional team at the Ruddy Insurance Group for all their home insurance needs. For your home, regardless of what that looks like, home insurance is the first line of defense for protecting what you care about.

Home rarely looks the same for any two people. For some homeowners, the home looks like that sprawling five-bedroom, two-bath attached garage Victorian-style house with an in-ground swimming pool in the backyard. While others call home that cute little two-bedroom, one-bath house on the corner lot, complete with a white picket fence. For every homeowner, however, more often than not, home is where the heart is.

Home Insurance is About More Than Protecting Your Home

For some people, their home is their greatest investment, and it offers them the pride of being a homeowner. For others, their home has been in their family for generations, and it is the same home that their parents and their parents parents were raised in. Home insurance protects these types of bonds, connections, and meanings because, for so many of us, home is less about what that house we call home looks like but what it means to us that matters most.

Yes, home insurance can alleviate the expense of roof repairs when that Great Lakes storm-maker takes a bite out of your roof. Yes, home insurance can help with fire and flood damage and much more, but it isn’t what home insurance does; what it protects makes a difference.

If you live in or around Niles, OH, and have questions about home insurance, we can help. Contact us to learn more about home insurance solutions and protect the place you call home today with the professional and caring agents at the Ruddy Insurance Group.

Remodeling a home can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with risks during the remodeling process and often increases your home’s value. Both issues have implications for your home insurance, so it is essential that you adequately protect your investment during and after a remodeling project. At the Ruddy Insurance Group, serving the Niles, OH area, our team will work with you to structure home insurance coverage that protects your family during and after the project.

The Impact of Remodeling and Renovating

Most home insurance policies include some protection during the remodeling process. Nevertheless, we recommend (and some policies require) that you notify your insurance agent about your plans before the work begins. Due to potential hazards and injuries, modifying your home insurance coverage or acquiring an umbrella policy may be worthwhile.

Once completed, the changes often increase your home’s size, enhance its fixtures and furnishings, or add amenities that enhance your home’s value and require coverage adjustments. Some additions, such as a pool or hot tub, increase your risk and must be reflected in our policy.

On the other hand, renovations that modernize your home’s infrastructure can reduce your risk. Rewiring an old house, installing new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, or a new roof can reduce your risk and insurance premiums.

So, regardless of your planned changes, we recommend discussing them with your agent in advance to understand how they affect your home insurance coverage.

Working with Ruddy Insurance Group.

The family home is often among our most significant investments, so protecting that investment against unforeseen events is critical. The Ruddy Insurance Group proudly serves the Niles, OH area, and we are here to help you with that process. Call or stop by today to discuss your home insurance options.

At Ruddy Insurance Group, providing homeowners in the greater Niles, OH region with homeowners insurance, we have seen many types of damage done to a home. Water can be one of the most damaging things to a home. Hidden leaks can increase your water bill, cause significant damage to a home, and lead to mold growth. As such, you want to take steps to check for water leaks in your home. Here are a few of the ways you can do that. 

Check Your Water Meter

One of the best ways to check for hidden water leaks in your home is to turn off all the faucets in your home and ensure no water appliances are being used. Then check the number on your water meter and watch the meter. If the number increases when you know water is not being used in your home, you have a leak somewhere. 

Watch Your Water Bill For Increases

Another fundamental way to detect water leaks in your home is to monitor your water bill closely. If your water bill has unexpectedly increased and you have not been using extra water or had extra guests in your home, you may have a water leak. Hiring a plumber to do a plumbing inspection is the best way to look for and find a leak in your home. 

A water leak in your home can be costly and lead to severe damage. Unfortunately, you may be unable to find and prevent all water leaks. This is where home insurance can be beneficial. Here at Ruddy Insurance Group, serving the greater Niles, OH area, our insurance agents can work with you to ensure your home and belongings are fully covered in an emergency. Contact us today, and let us help you find the best policy for your needs. 

Home safety is a vital concern for most homeowners. Many accidents happen in the home, most of which are avoidable by taking a few simple steps. At Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest level of customer service. As independent insurance agents, we can provide more choices and work hard for our customers to ensure we find the right policy for them. 

Password your internet network

To keep your private information private, it is essential that your internet network has a password so that strangers cannot hack into your network. Choosing a strong password that you don’t use anywhere else is safest. 

Install a home security system

Many options are available for home security. Many are DIY and affordable, or you can opt for an installed system that is monitored. It can be as simple as a doorbell camera and motion detector lights, or you can have all your windows and doors alarmed. 

Use your door and window locks.

To keep your home safe, use the locks with your windows and the deadbolt on your door. Special lock bars can be used to secure patio doors. 

Protect against fire

Fire is a risk for any home, and there are several things that you can do to help keep your home safe from this hazard. First, make sure that you have smoke detectors on every floor. An annual chimney and furnace cleaning can help as well. 

Clean up fall hazards

One of the most significant risks to safety in the home is falls. Keep hallways and stairs clear of obstacles, cover extension cords, avoid throw rugs, and always have a spotter if you must climb a ladder. 

Contact Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH if you are looking for a new home insurance policy. 

Purchasing a new home is an exciting time in life. It is imperative, though, that you do everything you can to protect this big, new investment. At Ruddy Insurance Group, serving Niles, OH, and the surrounding areas, we make it our top priority to educate our clients on insurance products that can benefit them. Keep reading to learn more about home insurance. 

Why Is Home Insurance So Important?

Your house will be one of the biggest financial investments you make. Not only will this be a financial investment, but it will also be an emotional investment. Your house will serve as a safe place for you and your family to grow together. For this reason, you will want to make sure that this investment is protected in the best ways possible. The foundation of protecting this investment is a solid home insurance policy. 

How Does Home Insurance Work?

A home insurance policy is designed to pay for repairs or replacement of your home should the home be damaged or lost. In most cases, a policy will cover repairs or loss due to fire, natural disaster, or burglary. The money paid to you from the insurance policy can be used to repair your home or build another house. This provides you with peace of mind knowing that you and your family will always have a place to call home. 

What About Flooding?

New homeowners need to be aware that most home insurance policies do not cover flood damage from a naturally occurring flood. This means that if your home is flooded due to plumbing malfunctions or an appliance malfunction, this damage can be covered. However, if your community experiences a flood that damages your home, those damages can only be covered if you have flood insurance added to your policy. 

If you would like to learn more, contact us at Ruddy Insurance Group, serving Niles, OH, and the surrounding areas. 

Home insurance is a necessity for every homeowner. It is a cover taken to protect valuable possessions and assets at home from damage and theft. If you are looking for financial protection for your home, consult Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH to understand the different policies available and get guidance on which one suits your needs best.

What is Home Insurance?

It is crucial to protect your home with coverage that helps with repair and replacement costs in case of damage by fire or theft. Home Insurance cover helps cover the costs when there is accidental damage to someone else’s property or when someone is injured in your home.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Basic home insurance policies offer coverage for damage caused by such perils as windstorms, theft, lightning strikes, fires, and hail. For damages brought about by perils like floods and earthquakes, you will need to buy additional coverages to protect against such risks.

Home insurance pays for repairs and rebuilding costs if your home is damaged. Once you claim to your insurer and the property damage results from a covered peril, you are compensated for losses. 

Different policies cover different things, but generally, home insurance covers your dwelling and any structures around like sheds. It also offers protection to personal property and additional living expenses that are caused by the peril. A home insurance cover pays for medical expenses and offers personal liability coverage as well as legal fees. 

Home insurance is a domestic package for protecting your house plus possessions, including the building, clothes, electronics, furniture, and other assets in case of theft or damage during fires. Ideally, basic home insurance offers basic coverage for;

• Dwelling protection
• Personal property
• Liability protection
• Other structures protection

Every coverage has a limit towards covered losses, and these limits are adjustable according to your specific needs. If you are looking for home insurance in Niles, OH, Ruddy Insurance Group can help you get a policy fit for your needs.

In the Niles, OH area, owning a home can be a preferred form of housing. Those that are property owners will benefit from having a stable place to live and will also likely see their home values increase as the years go by. If you do buy a property when you are here, you likely need to get insurance for it. There are situations when someone will need to get a home insurance plan in place.

When Trying to Protect Home

A common situation when someone will need to get home insurance in the Niles area is when they want to protect their property. With a home insurance plan, you will get the coverage that can be used to repair your property if it is damaged by a storm, fire, vandalism, or other situations that results in a loss. In many cases, this form of coverage is also required by a mortgage lender as it ensures their collateral is protected.

When Looking for Liability Coverage

You will also want to get a home insurance plan when you want to get liability protection. Property owners in Ohio should always take their liability risks seriously. Those that are property owners will take on liability risk on a daily basis. The best way that someone can mitigate this risk is by getting an appropriate home insurance plan as it will contain a liability risk provision.

Property owners in Niles, OH would clearly benefit by getting a home insurance plan. If you are in the market for an insurance policy here, you should call the Ruddy Insurance Group. The team of professionals at the Ruddy Insurance Group understands how important and valuable this coverage is. They can help you further assess your needs and build a plan that is ideal for your situation. 

Understanding Your Homeowners Policy

Your basic homeowners can seem a little complex plus other riders and additional insurance can make it overwhelming. Your agent should be experienced and able to help you understand key terminology and what you really need to know. Once you have a grasp of common terms, your homeowners will be a breeze to understand and speak with your agent about.

At Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH, we take time to listen to our clients. Our agents want to get you the best coverage at the most affordable price for your home insurance. When you get coverage with us, you can be sure we will be on your side in the event of claims and emergencies.

Some Common Terms

It can get overwhelming learning all the fine print of your policy, but luckily there are some key terms that are easy to understand. Here are some important terms you are likely to hear and what they mean:

• Premium – One of the most common terms. This is what you pay an insurer to cover your home. 
• Rider – These are typically separate from your main policy and cover particular property. 
• Declarations page – This discusses your annual premium and gives an outline of your coverage.
• Exclusion – These are items, conditions, or property not covered by your policy. Be sure to discuss what is excluded from your agent.
• Actual-Cash-Value – As it states, this is the actual value of the items before they were destroyed.

Quality Homeowners Insurance in Niles, OH

Contact Ruddy Insurance Group in the Niles, OH area today to discuss your options for homeowner’s insurance as well as any other coverage you may be interested in. Our agents have years of experience helping customers like you get the best coverage at the most affordable prices. Give us a call today.

Home security systems are a great choice for homeowners and renters who want to protect their home and family from intruders and other unexpected events. Systems range from very basic to extremely complicated. At Ruddy Insurance Group, agents offer Niles, OH residents advice on how home security systems can benefit them in terms of both insurance and energy efficiency.

You Get What You Pay For

Surveillance cameras can start as low as $80 if you can find them on sale. Some of the more basic systems cost around $100 to start, while professionally monitored systems with all the bells and whistles can cost you well over $3,000 plus installation costs. Systems that are monitored professionally require contracts and monthly fees. 

DIY Systems Are Extremely Efficient

Many people opt for DIY systems because of their affordability. A do-it-yourself system means that you are in charge of the installation, monitoring, and moving of your system if you choose to sell your home. In most cases, monitoring is easy because it can be performed through an app that you download to your smartphone or other electronic devices. 

Home Automation and Energy Efficiency

Many of the more advanced systems offer home automation. When a home is fully automated, you can adjust your thermostat and control your lights through an app when you are not at home. 

Residents in the Niles, OH area can discuss the different home security options with an agent from Ruddy Insurance Group. Being fully informed about the benefits and advantages of having a home security system will help you choose which system not only fits your budget but allows you the best possible security. Call the agents at Ruddy Insurance Group today to find out how a home security system will affect your insurance.