Three steps to buying flood insurance in Maryland

Buying flood insurance is essential in Easton, MD. You need to purchase a flood insurance policy to protect yourself financially against flood damage. We can help you at Ashley Insurance.

The following are three steps to buying flood insurance in Maryland. 

Determine the flood risk in your area

It’s important that you’re aware of what the flood risk is in your area. You may pay more for flood insurance if your home is located in a high-risk area.

At the same time, you might enjoy lower-cost coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if you are located in a high-risk area. Make sure you look into NFIP coverage in your area. 

Research insurance agencies in your area

You need to figure out who’s offering flood insurance in your area. If you are buying a home, you can ask your real estate agent about flood insurance concerns.

You can also use the Internet to research the area and find flood insurance options where your home is located. 

Get quotes on policies and choose one.

Once you have determined a few promising options, you should get quotes on policies. Get quotes on numerous policies so that you can analyze your options and choose the best one. 

Find a policy that offers you quality coverage at a decent rate. Also, consider factors like coverage features and customer service on policies from all of the different providers you’ve gotten quotes from.

Flood insurance is a long term product that you’ll be relying on in the future. This means it’s vital to find a reliable and high-quality provider. 

Are you ready to go through these steps to find flood insurance in Easton, MD? Feel free to get in touch with us at Ashley Insurance for assistance. We offer a variety of flood insurance options in Maryland. 

What type of life insurance is best for me

Life insurance is something you do for your family. But few people know a lot about it. Many people get a life insurance policy as part of a benefits package from their employer, and they leave it at that. This is not really a good idea, especially if you are the type who likes to change jobs every few years. If you have to take over the payment yourself when you leave your job, you will likely be paying more than you need. Getting a new policy as you get older gets more expensive. At Ashley Insurance in Easton, MD, we are a locally owned independent agency dedicated to getting you the best insurance for the right premium. 

Deciding what type of life is best for you depends on a couple of things. Your age, how long you want your policy to last, and do you want to have more than just a death benefit. 

Term Life

Term life insurance has a period of being active. It only lasts for a given number of years. When the term of your policy ends, the policy is gone. Some term policies allow you to extend the term, but if it is 20 years later, you won’t be paying the same amount you did when you took it out. The premiums are affordable and if you need a large amount to protect a growing family, this is a good option. 

Whole Life

Whole life insurance lasts for your whole life. It earns dividends, and it allows you the option to borrow from the accumulated cash value. It is an easy way to save while getting protection, but it cost more than term life. 

Both types of life insurance have benefits and drawbacks, and you probably should have both as part of your financial plans. Talk to the team at Ashley Insurance in Easton, MD to discuss your life insurance needs. Come into our office or give us a call for a no-obligation quote.

Common Misconceptions About Commercial Insurance You Should Know

Commercial insurance is one of the most important investments for any business owner. However, there are many misconceptions about this type of insurance.

In order to get a better understanding of how commercial insurance works, take a look at the list of myths prepared by Ashley Insurance, serving Easton, MD: 

Small businesses do not need commercial insurance.

No business is too small to benefit from commercial insurance. Commercial insurance policies offer a wide range of coverages for all types of companies, such as business interruption, liability insurance, coverage for the building, and even coverage for the products you sell. They all help to protect your business against lawsuits, disasters, theft, and other losses regardless of the size of your company. 

There is no need to get commercial auto insurance on a car that is used for business purposes.

The truth is that your standard auto insurance will not cover your vehicle used for commercial purposes. Therefore, if one of your employees gets involved in a car accident while driving your car, your auto insurance will not cover the damages. 

A standard home insurance policy covers a home-based business.

If you operate your business from home, you may be surprised to find out that your homeowners’ insurance will not cover business-related damages. This means that your equipment and inventory are not protected by home insurance and need a separate policy. 

In order to protect your business, yourself as a business owner, equipment, and your employees, you need to have proper commercial insurance. If you have any questions about this type of insurance and need more information, Ashley Insurance, serving clients in the Easton, MD area, is ready to assist you. Do not hesitate to visit our website or give us a call to discuss the options available and find the perfect coverage. 

What is included with an auto insurance policy in Maryland?

Almost everyone that resides or works in the Easton, MD area should consider getting a car. If you do purchase a car in this area of Maryland, it will provide you with a variety of amenities and conveniences that can make your life easier and more efficient. If you do get a car here, you need to make sure that you always properly protect it with insurance. There are several forms of coverage that are included in your auto insurance plan that make it a great investment.

Coverage to Repair or Replace Car

If you get an auto insurance plan with collision and comprehensive coverage, you are going to receive the protection that you need to repair or replace your car entirely. An auto insurance policy that has this coverage will provide you with the means to handle any damages associated with theft, auto accidents, or other situations that result in a loss. Due to the benefits of this part of your auto insurance policy, any lender will also require that you have it at all times. 

Coverage for Liability Risk

You can also receive important coverage to mitigate your liability risk. Those that drive a car are always at risk of causing an accident. While the damages associated with these accidents can be significant, you can always offset the risk by getting auto insurance as it provides you with liability insurance coverage as well.

Having an auto insurance plan in the Easton, MD area is always a good idea and usually a requirement. When you are looking to get insurance, you should call the team at Ashley Insurance. The professionals at Ashley Insurance can help you to better understand all of your insurance needs to make sure you get into a reliable policy. 

Reasons You Need Boat Insurance

If you are a boat owner or you are planning to purchase one, you should understand how important it is to protect your possession. The best and most reliable way to do it is to get boat insurance. If you still believe that boat insurance is an unnecessary luxury, here is the list of top reasons why you should have it. 

To Protect The Boat Itself

A boat is not cheap, and for most owners, it is an expensive investment. The purpose of boat insurance is to protect this valuable investment from theft, accidents, vandalism, and breakdowns – whether the boat is in the water, at the dock, or on the trailer. A typical boat insurance policy covers the following things: engines, furnishings, lifesaving equipment, sails, hulls, and covers. 

To Protect Yourself

If you damage another boat or injure another passenger or swimmer while you are using your boar, you will be liable for covering bodily and medical injury costs. If you have boat insurance, it will provide you a defense attorney who will represent you in court. Your insurance company will also pay for all the damages you have caused. 

To Protect The Environment

If your boat sinks to the bottom of the ocean or lake or leaks fuel and oil into the water, you will be responsible for cleanup and removal. It is an expensive and time-consuming process required by law that can put a strain on your budget if you do not have proper insurance. 

If you are from Easton, MD, and you have questions about boat insurance, do not hesitate to contact Ashley Insurance. Our experienced agents will provide you with all the detailed information about this type of policy and help you find perfect insurance coverage for your boat. Call Ashley Insurance serving Easton, MD today to find out about the options available.

Why You Need Flood Insurance

Flooding can dramatically impact the structure of your home. It can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars in damage. However, even minor flooding can lead to costly repairs, which you may find yourself paying out of pocket. Instead of paying for the flood damage out of pocket, though, there are other options. Flood insurance will protect you from flooding and allow you to maintain peace of mind while living in Easton, MD. If you’re interested in flood insurance, the staff at Ashley Insurance can help. 

Flooding Insurance Coverage

Flood insurance will cover areas of your home that traditional insurance doesn’t. If a pipe bursts within your home and floods, you will want to cover the damages. Perhaps your home floods due to a significant storm or considerable thaw. Flood insurance will protect you from paying for this completely out of pocket as well. Flooding needs to be addressed quickly because it can lead to mold spore development, which not only spreads through the house, but it is dangerous to breathe in. So, protect your home with flood insurance.

Protect Your Property With Flood Insurance

Flood insurance is a valuable investment designed to protect your property beyond what traditional home owner’s insurance offers. Flooding doesn’t just occur during a major storm or from a burst pipe but also during a fire. Because you can’t forecast when a flood might hit, you need to prepare for it. The team here at Ashley Insurance can work with you in safeguarding your home. This way, if you live around greater Easton, MD, you have access to our staff and our knowledge of flood insurance. So, if you’re considering this insurance coverage or want to know more, all you need to do is give us a call at your earliest convenience. 

How Can Life Insurance Protect Me in Maryland?

When you think of life insurance in Easton, MD, your first thought might be that it’s designed to protect your loved ones should something happen to you. Whether it’s your spouse, parents, children, or other loved one, you’ll know that they’ll be taken care of even if you’re not there to help. But Ashley Insurance wants you to know that there are a wide variety of policies, some that may be able to help you should you need it somewhere down the road. 

Permanent Life Insurance Policies 

Many permanent life insurance policies come with the option for you to use your plan as an asset rather than just a standard insurance plan. If you need to borrow from your life insurance, should you need it for an unexpected expense (e.g., home repairs, grandchild’s education, etc.), you can secure a policy that will help. Many people will use this as a safety net along with the rest of their portfolio. It’s an excellent way to augment your worth and diversify your interests. 

Find Out More 

If you’re interested in learning more about which plans are available, what will happen if you need to use them, and how they will help your loved ones after you’re gone, Ashley Insurance is here to help the people of Easton, MD start getting the answers they need. Unlike term policies, which will run out of time and expire, a permanent life insurance policy is available for as long as you need it.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’re looking to upgrade your policy, or you’re just shopping around for a quote. We help people from all walks of life start making the long-term plans that keep them secure well into their Golden Years.  

Commercial insurance to prevent large potential losses

As a general rule, commercial insurance is an important way to keep a business running if there is ever any kind of incident that could end up costing significant amounts of money. Ashley Insurance is a provider in Easton, MD that can provide the right type of coverage for all kinds of businesses. 

Why is commercial insurance important? 

When a business deals with a significant loss, there may be property damage, lawsuits and legal fees, and damage to the business reputation. If these losses are large enough, the company may need to layoff staff, make major changes due to decreased revenue, and even cease operations altogether. Commercial insurance is the only way to protect against the possibility of a significant incident that affects the whole company.

A commercial policy that is specific to your line of business can protect things like equipment, property, vehicles, inventory, and other necessary items that your business needs to function. A major accident can end up costing thousands or millions of dollars. Without the right kind of insurance, it is doubtful that any business can sustain such a loss, pay for the damages, and keep functioning without issue.  The right insurance policy is a guarantee that the business can keep moving on from one of these terrible scenarios.  

Learn more about commercial insurance

Agents with Ashley Insurance serve the Centreville and Easton, MD area with advice and guidance related to protecting your business from various kinds of losses. They can recommend a policy that will work for your business based on its size, value, and other vital factors.

Get in touch today to find the right insurance policy for the safety and future of your company. 

Why liability insurance is required on auto policies

Drivers in Easton, MD and all over the United States are required by law to have some kind of basic liability insurance if they operate a motor vehicle on the government’s roads. This is done to protect drivers, property owners, pedestrians, and others in case they sustain losses and need to find a way to be paid. The driver at fault who caused the accident needs to find some way to cover their expenses and legal judgments without losing everything.

The basic liability insurance requirement makes it possible for all of this damage to be paid for by drivers, who only have to spend a small amount for coverage each year in exchange for protection in case of an accident by an insurance provider like Ashley Insurance. 

Car accidents, lawsuits, and financial losses

An unfortunate reality of auto accidents is that they often result in a legal battle between personal injury attorneys and insurance companies. If a driver is found to be at fault for an accident, their insurance provider may have to defend against a lawsuit on their behalf and payout any losses. Having drivers pay into a liability policy is important because these losses can be very large at the time. The driver would usually not be able to pay thousands of dollars worth of losses out of their own pocket or savings.

Speak with an auto insurance agent today

If you have any other questions about liability coverage or auto insurance in general, you can contact an agent with Ashley Insurance. We serve the Easton. MD region and nearby areas with superior customer service and knowledge related to the auto insurance process. Reach out to our office for a quote.