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Why You Need To Read Your Flood Insurance Policy Carefully Before Buying in a Flood Zone

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Buying a home in a flood zone often comes with a lender requirement to carry flood insurance, but the policy itself deserves close attention. Flood zones are based on risk, not certainty, and insurance coverage can vary widely depending on the property, location, and policy limits.

What Flood Insurance Actually Covers

Flood insurance usually covers damage caused by rising water from external sources, such as heavy rain, storm surges, or overflowing bodies of water. Many buyers assume it works like homeowners insurance, but it does not. Coverage for personal belongings, basements, and certain structural features may be limited or excluded. Knowing what is and is not covered helps prevent costly surprises. 

Policy Limits and Real Repair Costs

Flood insurance policies have coverage caps that may fall short of full rebuilding or replacement costs. In high-risk areas, repair expenses can exceed policy limits quickly. Reviewing these limits before buying helps you assess whether additional coverage or savings are needed. 

Deductibles, Waiting Periods, and Claims Rules

Flood insurance often includes higher deductibles than standard homeowners policies. Most policies also have waiting periods before coverage begins, meaning you cannot buy a policy right before a storm. Claims must follow specific documentation rules, and missing deadlines can affect payouts.

Changes in Risk and Future Premiums

Flood risk can change over time due to development, weather patterns, and updated mapping. Premiums may rise even if you have never filed a claim. Reading the policy closely helps you understand long-term costs and how changes could affect affordability.

Bartal Insurance is Proud to Serve Scranton, PA

If you’re looking for flood insurance in Scranton, PA, we’re glad you found us. At Bartal Insurance, we’re here to help with all of your insurance needs. Reach out to our team today to schedule an appointment with an agent.

Is Flood Insurance Different From Hurricane Insurance?

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Water has the potential to do more damage than fire. Whether water exposure is from heavy rain, a leak or a hurricane, it can ruin an entire Scranton, PA living space. 

The average person doesn’t know if flood insurance is different from hurricane insurance, and for good reason. There is a general assumption that all water damage is the same.

Let’s cut to the truth of the matter.

Floods Are Not the Same as Hurricanes

Damage caused by water from a hurricane is considered different from damage caused by flooding. Flood insurance is completely separate from hurricane insurance. Every homeowner should be aware that standard home insurance policies do not cover damage from flooding.

Distinct flood insurance policies are available from insurance providers such as Bartal Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program or NFIP for short.

Recognize the Value of Flood Insurance

Flood insurance covers the cost of damage to contents within a home. The insurance pays out in accordance with the value of possessions minus depreciation. 
There is also the potential to add replacement cost coverage. Such coverage replaces property lost during flooding with brand new property without accounting for depreciation.

Hurricane Insurance Isn’t Limited to Water

One of the primary distinctions between hurricane insurance and flood insurance is that hurricane insurance includes damage caused by wind and storms. Flood damage is not a core component of hurricane coverage.

Though flood insurance is often stereotyped as egregiously expensive, it is often worth every penny. Get several quotes for hurricane insurance and flood insurance, compare the coverages and rates, and you’ll have all the information necessary to make an informed decision.

Get Your Quote From Bartal Insurance

Your personalized insurance quote is a call away. Contact us to learn more about our coverage options in and around Scranton, PA.

Build Trust, Not Just Projects: The Value of Bond Insurance

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In Scranton, PA, every strong business relationship starts with trust. Whether you’re a contractor bidding on a new project or a small business owner trying to earn your next big client, trust is what gets you in the door — and keeps you there.

That’s where bond insurance comes in. Think of it as your business’s promise in writing. A bond shows your clients that you’ll get the job done, pay who you say you’ll pay, and follow through on every commitment. It’s not just a piece of paper — it’s a quiet, steady way to say, “You can count on me.”

Bond Insurance

For Scranton, PA contractors, bonds are often required before a project even begins, especially for public work. But beyond the legal must-haves, bond insurance helps you stand out. It tells potential partners that you run a serious, reliable operation. For small businesses, that reputation can open doors and lead to long-term success.

At Bartal Insurance, serving Scranton, PA, our team is committed to helping local businesses find the right bond coverage tailored to their specific needs. We specialize in performance bonds, bid bonds, license bonds, and other types of surety bonds. We’ll walk you through what each one means, what it protects, and how it can help your company stand apart in a competitive market, giving you the confidence to focus on your business.

Because at the end of the day, building trust is just as important as building projects. With the right bond insurance, you can do both — confidently — and get down to what you do best: operating your business.

Reach out to Bartal Insurance, serving Scranton, PA, today to talk about your bond options and get expert guidance from people who understand local business inside and out.

Recognizing the Red Flags of Classic Car Insurance Scams

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Scams have quickly gone from obvious to sophisticated. Scammers are using authentic photos and videos to trick you into buying a coveted vehicle. They may email you or contact you through social media. They lure you to a phishing website or payment page. When you fulfill your end, you never hear from them again. Tracking the scammer down is a dead end. Meanwhile, your funds end up in an offshore account. The team at Bartal Insurance, serving Scranton, PA, wants to help keep you safe from scams like this.

What Are Some Classic Car Insurance Scams?

Falsifying auto theft is spreading across classic car insurance agencies now. Those scams hurt legitimate policyholder claims and affect premiums. Exaggerated damage, auto repair, and ghost broker scams are also prevalent. Additionally, email and social media scams are preying on fear, sadness, anger, or other emotions to convince Scranton, PA residents to take action without thinking things through.

Other classic car scams involve buying a car sight unseen and purchasing vehicles through phishing websites. Those sites mimic trusted websites, but they have fishy information or noticeable grammatical errors. Unintentional insurance fraud occurs when your insurance agent tells you to ignore a discrepancy in your application or policy. Always review your policy for errors and correct them. Staged car accidents involve drivers causing accidents on purpose for insurance money, and roping in innocent drivers.

Scammers never take a break from defrauding everyday people, but Bartal Insurance won’t rest, either. We constantly monitor your insurance and block scammers from using your information for profit. We encourage you to be aware and stay safe online to keep these criminals from accessing your information. Contact us for more information about classic car insurance scams and fraud. We’re currently serving Scranton, PA.

Specialized Coverage Offered by Classic Car Insurance

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If you’re a proud owner of a restored vehicle in Scranton, PA, and occasionally showcase it at exhibitions, standard auto insurance may not offer adequate protection for your prized possession. Classic car insurance provides several benefits that offer more extensive protection for your collectible vehicle. It’s typically less expensive than standard auto insurance. Bartal Insurance is here to help you understand why this policy is essential for your unique vehicle.

Who Requires Classic Car Insurance?

Classic car insurance policies are suitable for individuals who restore vehicles, own a hot rod, or possess a highly customized, luxury, or exotic vehicle. Classic cars are sometimes referred to as vintage or antique vehicles. While there’s no strict definition of a classic car, many insurance companies consider vehicles aged 25 to 30 years old as classics. However, if you own a special vehicle that you use primarily for exhibitions and believe it has features worth preserving, you could qualify for one of these policies.

How Classic Car Insurance Stands Out

The most significant difference with this policy type is that you can agree on a value for the vehicle if it sustains substantial damage or is totaled. This is because many cars of this type increase in value through restoration or additional special features added after the initial purchase. The agreed-upon value takes into account the current market value, vehicle condition, improvements, and the cost of special-order and replacement parts.

Other benefits include:

  • Reduced premiums in exchange for low-mileage use
  • Protection when stored
  • Special endorsement when restoring an undrivable car
  • Coverage for damage at car shows

You can still drive your classic car on the road if you don’t use it as your everyday vehicle.

Contact Bartal Insurance today to learn more about securing a classic car insurance policy in Scranton, PA. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment.