Buried Service Line Insurance Coverage: What Is It?

Service line breaks can be costly and unexpected, as they are not usually visible to homeowners. These lines provide water, gas, electricity, and other essential services to homes. At Vargas & Vargas Insurance we’ve seen how damaging a service line break can be when homeowners must pay for repairs out of pocket due to a lack of coverage on their homeowner’s insurance policy. Homeowners should only have to worry about having to dig up their garden for access if there is a punctured pipe – not the full cost of repairs too.

In this article, we’ll explore the optional endorsement you can add to your policy that provides protection for your home from any service line damages, as well as what is and isn’t covered in the policy.

Does Home Insurance Cover Service Lines?

Service lines are an important aspect of a home, but they are not usually included in a typical homeowners insurance plan. However, it is possible to include coverage for service lines by purchasing an extra endorsement from most insurers. This type of coverage provides protection from any unexpected expenses caused by damaged service lines on the property, such as tree roots blocking water pipes or cracked sewer lines. It would cover the costs for fixing or replacing these utility lines, including the expensive digging required to access them and any landscaping that may be disturbed during repairs.

Once your deductible has been paid, your insurance provider will cover the costs of repairs or replacements. Service line breaks can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, so it is beneficial to add this endorsement to your policy in order to avoid incurring these large expenses out of pocket.

Damages That Are Covered

Service line coverage endorsement typically covers damages such as:

  • Wear and tear
  • Rust, decay, deterioration, and corrosion.
  • Additionally, it may cover damage from tree or root obstruction or
  • Vermin, insects, or rodents.
  • Landscaping or excavation accidents,
  • Freezing,
  • Collapse, and
  • Mechanical or
  • Electrical breakdown may also be covered.
  • Weight from cars can cause the collapse of an above-ground structure.

The Types Of Services Provided Include:

Examples of the various services that are part of a house can be seen here.

  • Telephone cable lines
  • Water Pipes
  • Drains,
  • Natural gas
  • Sewage
  • Fuel
  • Sprinkler systems
  • Liquid flow lines
  • Steam
  • Fiber optics
  • Buried electric wires

Types Of Service Lines Not Covered

These service lines are not included in the service line coverage.

  • Fuel containers
  • Cabling or pipes that traverse a body of liquid
  • Sewage systems
  • Wiring or tubing that isn’t linked up and ready to go

What Does Service Line Coverage Cost

The cost of this coverage is actually very affordable and provides important protection. This coverage would usually cost between $50 and $100 per year for the $10,000 to $20,000 of additional coverage it offers on top of your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Overall cost and premium would vary depending on the insurance carrier. Because this coverage is so affordable and offers important protections, Vargas & Vargas Insurance tends to recommend this coverage for all of our client’s policies.

Protecting your home from service line breaks 

Staying on top of the upkeep and inspections of your home can be tricky, so it’s a good idea to ensure you’re protected from any possible damage by having comprehensive coverage in your homeowner’s insurance policy. As a homeowner, it is essential to understand what is included in your insurance policy and the areas where you may not be covered.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is dedicated to providing customers with the best service possible. We are independent brokers and work with many financially strong insurance companies to customize an insurance plan that meets the individual needs of our clients. For four decades, we have been helping homeowners understand the significance of having the proper homeowners insurance.

Contact us today 617-298-0655

Need A Home Insurance Binder For Your

https://youtu.be/R3ETgKhTyF8

When buying a new house, getting help from a trustworthy insurance agent and an experienced mortgage broker is essential. Even if you have bought thirty homes before, you may not realize that homeowner’s insurance can complicate the mortgage approval process in Boston, MA.

Mortgage Company Requirement

When obtaining a loan from a bank or other lender, you will be expected to provide proof of an insurance policy sufficient to either rebuild the home or cover the mortgage amount. Your chosen mortgage broker or loan officer has to meet the lender’s standards, but it is also important for your home insurance policy to cover what it would cost to reconstruct your house in case of a claimable event and not just the value of the mortgage.

Replacement Cost Versus Mortgage Amount

It is likely that the amount to reconstruct your home will be different from the mortgage amount you take out. You certainly don’t want to miss the difference in case of a disaster such as a fire. For example, if you borrowed $250,000 after making a down payment of $50,000, that means the house is worth $300,000. But reconstructing it (including labor and materials) could cost up to $375,000. It is important to remember that there is a variation between buying and rebuilding your house.

An appropriate homeowners insurance policy would cover up to $375,000, not the amount of your mortgage.

The Mortgage Company Binder Requirement

Your mortgage broker needs to see an insurance binder with the bank’s name and the proper language. Failing to provide this correctly could lead to a postponement of the closing date. To ensure that you are prepared, a reliable Boston MA, mortgage broker will supply the exact language the bank requires and thoroughly analyze the binder prior to the closing. This way, they can make sure that the binder contains all of the necessary information and meets all of the guidelines set out by the bank. They can also help ensure that the binder is properly formatted and all of the necessary details and terms are included. This can help avoid any potential issues or delays on the closing day. By taking these steps, you can be sure that you are well-prepared for the closing and that everything will proceed smoothly

When is a great time to shop around for your insurance binder

We recommend calling local independent insurance brokers around the time that your offer is accepted and you have scheduled the home inspection process. This will give your insurance broker enough time to shop around for the best coverage at the best price for you and your new home.

Insurance Discounts

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we recommend that homeowners bundle their house and car insurance to get all the possible discounts. We work closely with the top mortgage brokers to ensure they have the necessary paperwork done on time; having an insurance binder is a key part of getting a home loan approved. We are experienced in dealing with all mortgage brokers in Massachusetts.

Local Independent Insurance Agency

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is a local independent insurance broker, we work for you, the customer, and not any one insurance company, and we always have time for you. We shop around with many local and national insurance companies to offer you a tailored fit insurance policy for your specific needs. We have been helping first-time home buyers for over 40  years and teaching them about the significance of their homeowner’s insurance, call us today.

Call us 617-298-0655

How Filing An Out Of State Car Accident Different Than One In Your State

Experiencing a car crash in an unfamiliar place can be frightening. Not only must you cope with the emotional and physical effects of the accident, but you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. You may have many queries at once, but the first one is likely to be “Do I still have insurance coverage when I’m not home?”. Let’s look into this matter further.

Where Does My Policy Cover?

You don’t have to be concerned if your auto insurance doesn’t seem to apply in other states; most policies cover all 50 states, and the U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, and even the Canadian provinces. To make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers before traveling with your vehicle to another state or country, you should speak with an insured attorney. Note that going into Mexico or other South American countries may not be included in your insurance coverage.

What is included in my insurance coverage?

If you are involved in an accident out of state, your car insurance will adjust to meet the requirements of the state where the accident occurred. For example, if you are from Massachusetts, your car insurance will have minimum liability limits of 20/40/20 for property damage and personal injury protection (PIP). If you are involved in an accident in Georgia, their state requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 for bodily injury and property damage liability.

If you are in an accident in Georgia, your insurance policy’s limit for liability will automatically increase to the state’s minimum.

If you’re driving in a state with a lower liability limit than your home state, your insurance policy will provide the maximum coverage on your policy, even if it’s more than what the state you’re visiting requires.

What if the state does not have a “no-fault” policy?

In states that have a no-fault system, drivers must carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This means that if an accident happens in one of these states, the PIP coverage will be used to cover any injuries regardless of who was at fault. In contrast, tort states do not use a no-fault system and the negligent driver is held responsible for any injuries resulting from an accident.

If you suffer an injury caused by a careless driver while travelling in the state of Georgia, which is a “fault” state, the driver would be held accountable for your injury and related costs. The law of Georgia will decide how to settle the incident and the insurance policy held by the responsible driver will determine how medical expenses and lost wages are dealt with.

In a no-fault state, the minimum PIP coverage required by law is the same for both Georgia residents and Massachusetts drivers.
The governing law in a no-fault state will be based on the state in which the accident occurred.

What is the best way to deal with a car accident occurring in another state?

  1. Always follow the standard auto accident checklist when involved in a crash, which includes checking for injuries and the safety of passengers, calling the police and emergency services, assessing and documenting damage, and contacting your insurance company.
  2. Depending on your insurance policy, your insurance may also cover additional expenses such as towing or repair costs.
  3. When speaking with your insurance company, be sure to let them know that you are in a different state so they can determine what coverage is available to you..
  4. Auto accidents can be confusing, so make sure to discuss your accident with your local independent insurance agent

Local Independent Insurance Agency

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is a local independent insurance broker, we work for you, the customer, and not any one insurance company, and we always have time for you. We shop around with many local and national insurance companies to offer you a tailored fit insurance policy for your specific needs. We have been helping first-time home buyers for over 40  years and teaching them about the significance of their homeowner’s insurance, call us today.

If You Sold Your Car, What Should You Do With The License Plates?

In Massachusetts, all drivers are required to register their vehicles and purchase compulsory auto insurance coverage. To ensure that drivers comply with state insurance laws, drivers must turn in their license plates before canceling their auto insurance policy. And if you are transferring your Vehicle’s ownership, it is your responsibility to properly register and insure the car before driving on state roads.
Leaving your license plate on the car could make you liable for the actions of another driver.

Before You Turn In The Plates, Are You Planning To Buy A New Vehicle?

If the answer is yes, then you have seven days from the sale of your old car to register a similar one with the same license plates.

In Massachusetts, you have seven days after disposing of a car to transfer the plates to the new vehicle.
You must be at least 18 years old, the new vehicle must be of the same type and have the same number of wheels, and you must carry the transfer documents to prove the registration transfer.

To use the 7-day grace period, you must transfer the title of your old car to a new buyer.

It the answer is no, then cancel the plates immediately. This is because your Auto Insurance follows your registration, not the vehicle itself. If you don’t cancel the plates, you will still be liable for any excise tax associated with that vehicle and cannot cancel insurance coverage either.

How Do I Cancel My License Plates

In order to terminate your vehicle’s insurance coverage, you will need to submit a Plate Return Receipt. Here is the link for the state of Massachusetts:

https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/PlateReturn/intro.aspx

To cancel your plate, you need your email address, the type and number of the plate, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and a Driver’s License. Once you have finished cancelling your MA plates, please inform our office and send us a copy of the Plate Return Receipt for proof that coverage for the vehicle has been cancelled. As a courtesy to our customers, we offer various RMV services such as Registration and Title Applications, plate transfers, registration renewals etc.

If You Are Junking Your Car

If you have been in an accident, your car might be totaled and not worth selling. Sometimes, old cars simply have little value or have major mechanical problems like a blown motor or damaged transmission. In such a case, you might choose to donate your car to a non profit, Click here to learn more about donating your car, or have your car towed to a junkyard where it will be crushed. Your license plate still has the same function – it identifies you as the owner of the car. As soon as your car is out of your possession, you have no control over what happens with the license plate. Remove the license plate when you take your personal possessions out of the car. This is a good idea to be safe, especially if you are thinking of selling the car

If You Are Returning A Leased Vehicle

When returning a leased car to the dealership, you are still responsible for all of the belongings that came with the vehicle. This includes the license plate. Before returning your leased car, make sure you have everything that came with it, including the second set of keys, cargo covers, spare tires, original floor mats, and third row seats. Remove all your possessions from the car and take off the license plates.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is always available to help you, with your Massachusetts auto insurance policy, you can contact our team at 617-298-0655 when transferring ownership of a vehicle, turning is a leased vehicle, or donating your car. We can help you understand your auto insurance policy in Massachusetts.

What Is The Purpose Of An Escrow On A Mortgage, And How Does It Work?

mortgage escrow

An escrow account is like a holding tank.

When you take out a mortgage from a bank or lender, they will also set up an escrow account for you. This account is used to pay your property taxes and homeowner’s insurance premiums on time, every year. Even though these costs are annual, your lender will require you to pay a monthly amount towards each cost. This way, the balance accumulates in your escrow account and ensures that these expenses get paid on time. Some, mortgage lenders require borrower escrow accounts because it minimizes the risk of falling short of financial obligations as a homeowner. In a foreclosure, unpaid taxes or insurance can result in liens against the property. This makes it harder for the mortgage lender to recover the original loan.

Lenders have a strong incentive to keep borrowers on track with escrow accounts that smooth out the non-mortgage costs of owning a home. By doing so, they can avoid costly penalties and interest charges.

Should you use an escrow account?

An escrow account is often required when obtaining a conventional mortgage, with a down payment of less than 20%. With an FHA or VA loan, this requirement may not be in place. There are reasons to have an escrow account, such as making payments and covering potential shortfalls.

Assuming you have an option, setting up an escrow account can be a convenient way to pay for mortgage, home and mortgage insurance, and property taxes. The funds collected in the account can provide a buffer if there are any unexpected increases in premiums or taxes.

Escrow Drawbacks

Escrow accounts tie up your funds, but you can earn interest on them. -You may be required to deposit several months of property taxes when you open the account, depending on the time of year.

If Your Mortgage Doesn’t Include An Escrow Account

You will need to be prepared to cover these substantial costs yourself.

Be certain you factor in these additional expenses and remain up to date on your tax and insurance payments. If you neglect to pay your property taxes, the state or local government could enforce fines and penalties or put a tax lien on your house. You could also be faced with foreclosure. Furthermore, if you don’t pay your taxes or insurance, your lender may:
1. Add the amounts to the balance of your loan
2. Include an escrow account in your loan
3. Force place insurance that only covers the mortgage company for the loan amount that you owe them and for you and bill you for it. And this type of insurance bought by the lender, is usually more costly than homeowners insurance that you cover yourself.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we always have time for you. You can reach our team at 617-298-0655 or by clicking here to reach out to us.

Caring For Your Motorcycle During the Off-Season in Dorchester, MA

For motorcycle owners in Dorchester, MA, the off-season can be a great time to keep your ride in top condition. With proper care and maintenance, you can ensure that your motorcycle runs smoothly when the spring arrives.

Cleaning and Waxing 

Before putting your motorcycle into storage, you must give it a thorough cleaning and waxing. Use a mild detergent and soft cloth to clean your bike, then apply a wax coating to protect against the elements. This will help to protect your bike’s paint job from any dust or dirt that may accumulate while it’s in storage. It will also help prevent rust or corrosion from taking hold when exposed to moisture. 

Lubrication Maintenance 

Another critical step is lubricating your bike’s moving parts before storing it away for winter. This includes everything from chains and cables to brakes and bearings, so pay special attention to these areas during the lubrication process. You should also check all nuts and bolts to ensure they are tight, as loose parts can cause significant damage down the road if not taken care of now. 

Insurance Coverage Review 

Finally, reviewing your insurance coverage when preparing for the off-season months is always a good idea. Ensure that you have adequate coverage for any potential losses or damages that could occur while your bike is in storage. If you’re looking for a reliable motorcycle insurance policy, look no further than Vargas & Vargas Insurance. We offer competitive rates throughout Dorchester, MA, and beyond—so don’t hesitate to contact us today if we can assist you with finding the proper coverage.

To learn more about our insurance policies or get started with a free quote, don’t hesitate to contact Vargas & Vargas Insurance today! We look forward to helping you get ready for the off-season!

How A Hard Insurance Market Affects What You Pay For Insurance

In the property and casualty insurance industry, prices, coverage availability, and capacity can be affected by changes between soft and hard markets. Up until now, the insurance industry has been in a soft market for nearly 15 years but is now shifting to a hard market.

In a soft market, there is fierce competition with premiums that are stable or decreasing. To sustain or get more business share, many insurance companies are liberalizing their underwriting rules and lowering what they charge. This makes it possible for insurance brokers to obtain better coverage and better insurance premiums for their clients. A wider range of coverage is accessible, with some additional riders included at little or no extra cost.

The Causes Of A Soft Insurance Market May Include

An active, prosperous economy,

A positive interest rate environment,

Low/favorable claims activity,

A plentiful supply of capital,

And substantial policyholder premium surplus.

The Causes Of A Hard Market Could Be Attributed To

In comparison, a hard insurance market is when premiums are increasing, insurers are not willing to negotiate terms and underwriting standards become stricter. Insurers also pay close attention to rates and manage coverage availability in response to certain factors that shape the insurance market cycle.

Economic downturn/insecurity,

Financial markets turbulence,

Dwindling insurance capital/lessened rivalry,

Disastrous occurrences/heightened claims activity,

And global affairs (e.g., pandemic, climate change, etc.).

For instance, large losses from global natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires can generate immense property insurance claims. Additionally, other occurrences can also lead to increased claim frequencies impacting other areas of business., such as Covid-19, sizable litigation remunerations, or a greater number of distracted driving cases.

How does Reinsurance work

You may be wondering about reinsurance. Reinsurance is a form of insurance that all insurance companies take out to protect themselves from large financial risks.

For example, if your home is insured for $500,000, your insurance company may only insure a percentage of this amount; they then purchase reinsurance to cover the rest of your coverage. This will make sure that if there ever is a major loss event, the insurer has enough resources to meet their obligations.

How Economic Conditions Affect Your Insurance

Economic conditions have the potential to influence an insurance company’s capacity to issue new policies. During a recession, businesses may buy less insurance or have lower risks. Revenue might decline, and layoffs occur, which would lead to lower premiums for the carrier. Furthermore, this situation usually results in low-interest rates, which reduce insurers’ investment profits.

When the insurance market starts to harden, it’s imperative to be working with an independent insurance broker with extensive knowledge of the marketplace and strong relationships with multiple insurance companies, and who reviews your insurance policy not just when you first purchase the policy but at renewal time to ensure you have the ideal protection for your requirements at the most competitive rate.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we are always available to you. If you choose us as your provider, we will work hard to make sure you have the most suitable coverage at the most competitive rate. Please contact our office at 617-298-0655 so that we can examine your insurance needs and guarantee that you are fully protected.

Life Insurance is Really Love Insurance

Life insurance is one of those things that you should never go without. Should you cease to exist, your family will face an incredible financial burden on top of losing your regular income. If you truly love your family, make sure you have a good life insurance policy.

How Life Insurance Relates to Love

When you love someone, you don’t want to see anything happen to them. You’re constantly striving to be in their corner while doing what you can to make their lives easier to manage.

But what happens should something happen to you? How will your loved ones fare financially should the unexpected occur? With the world’s state today, it’s a considerable risk just walking into a grocery store.

Ensuring Sustainable Family Lifestyles

How much of your family’s lifestyle requires your income? I’m not talking about designer clothes or expensive toys every week. A lifestyle could include everything from the types of food your family eats to paying for intramural or city-league sports.

Perhaps you cover everyone’s expenses for going to the gym every month.

Covering Death Expenses

When you die, there is a slew of expenses that follow. For instance, a casket, embalmment, burial plot, headstone, funeral services, and much more tally up very quickly. Even if you plan to be cremated, there is a cost there as well.

Life insurance helps cover those expenses so the ones you love don’t have to worry.

Personal Care for Those You Love

Child care can cost an overwhelming amount of money, especially for someone who lost a second stream of income due to your death. Or, maybe you help cover expenses for dependent caregivers for your elderly family members.

Who is going to take care of those expenses if you’re in a fatal car accident?

College and Education

College tuition and basic education are extremely expensive in the United States. While some students qualify for loans and grants, a lot of them do not.

If you’re paying for your child’s education, are they able to finish school without your income?

Debts that You Co-Sign

There are a lot of reasons why you might co-sign for a loan, property, or other purchase for someone. In fact, it’s quite common to co-sign the financing for an automobile for a child.

If your life comes to an end because of a hurricane, does your insurance help those you love handle those debts?

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost

The cost of life insurance depends on many factors, such as age, health profile, and lifestyle. A 40-year-old in good health can purchase $500,000 of a 10-year term policy for around $20 per month. And the same 40-year-old can purchase 500,000 life insurance policies for around $30 per month. It is important to review your life insurance policy regularly to make sure that it still covers your family’s needs and obligations.

Love Your Family Enough to Be Covered

Sure, a lot of what I pointed out above are hypotheticals. Still, never underestimate the fragility of human life. All it takes is someone not paying attention on the road, a natural disaster, or an act of evil in a public space to end yours.

While some may think it’s unsettling to plan for their demise, it’s better than trying to wing-it should something happen to you. You want the ones you love to be financially protected through your life insurance policy. Otherwise, they could be on the hook for an incredible amount of debt.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we can help you find the best life insurance policies for your specific needs and wants. Contact us today and find out how we can help you protect the ones you love in the event something happens to you.

The last thing you want is for your death to result in ruining your family’s ability to remain sustainable.

Should I Bundle My Insurance Policies?

One way to save money in premiums is by bundling insurance policies together. This is when you use the same provider for all of your insurance needs. It’s kind of like getting a “buy in bulk” discount.

Most providers will offer discounts for bundling policies because it helps them make more money. Essentially, you’re giving insurance providers more business, and to show appreciation, many will have significant discounts.

However, there are times when bundling might not be the best option. This, of course, depends on your provider. In rare instances, bundling could actually cost you more in the long run.

This can depend on a lot of factors, and as I said, it’s not very common.

Why Consider Bundling Your Insurance?

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of bundling insurance is the cost savings. When combing things like home and auto insurance through a single provider, you could save instead of paying higher premiums to two different insurers.

Another element of bundling is the convenience factor. Instead of having two online portals or two completely different agents, everything is often handled from a single point of contact.

It’s simply much easier to manage overall. Especially if one insurer already has all of your needs covered and knows the ins and outs of your situation.

How Much Can Bundling Insurance Save You?

Every insurer is different. How much you save depends on your provider and how they calculate your rates. However, many of the most popular providers will offer anything from 6-23% by bundling insurance policies.

On average, you could possibly save around 14% of your premiums every year. Again, though, this depends greatly on the insurance company.

In any case, it’s worth finding out how much your insurer will discount by bundling. After all, there’s nothing wrong with asking, right?

Can You Bundle Policies Later?

Most insurers will allow you to bundle policies as time marches on. This means that if you buy homeowner’s insurance and then two years later decide to add automobile coverage, you still have access to discounts.

Remember what I said earlier; it’s all about giving the insurer more business.

There might be some who don’t offer the best discounts if any at all. In that case, I suggest calling around to see if you can find a better alternative.

What Happens if You Cancel One of the Policies?

Canceling one of your policies may wind up costing you more money. Obviously, without a “bundle” of different services, you’ll revert back to the normal annual premium.

Then again, this also depends on how many accounts you’ve bundled together. Some companies will bundle home, auto, and life insurance. If you cancel, say, the auto insurance, you might still get the discount since you have home and life insurance policies remaining.

You should contact your provider to find out more information about what you can bundle together.

Why It’s Important To Work With A Local Independent Insurance Broker

While it may be tempting to go with the big national insurance companies, working with a local independent insurance broker can save you money on your insurance. Here’s why:

1. As a local independent broker, we have access to a variety of insurance companies, so we can shop around and get you the best possible insurance rates.

2. Local independent broker, we know the ins and outs of the insurance market in our area, so we can help you find discounts and savings that you might not be aware of.

3. Bundling your insurance policies with a local independent brokercan often save you money. That’s because many insurers offer discounts for bundling multiple policies with the same insurance agency.

4. Working with a local independent broker gives you someone to talk to face-to-face about your coverage needs and concerns. You’re not just a number to us, so we’ll take the time to really understand your situation and find the best coverage for you.

Bundling Insurance Policies Can Save You Money

How much can you save by bundling policies? At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we’ll help you answer that question by using our network of providers to find the best deals for you. Contact us today to see how much we can help you save by bundling your policies together.

It’s convenient, and it could result in saving quite a bit on your premiums.

How Your Credit Score Will Influence Home Insurance Rates

There are many things that will affect how much you pay for home insurance. Of these, a credit score can make a big difference in how much you pay.

Much like using your credit to secure a loan or an account with most banks, your score will help insurers determine risks.

For this, they’ll use a “credit-based insurance” score, or CBI.

The Key Difference Between Credit-Based and FICO Score

Although both the CBI and FICO use the same data, the processing is a bit different. Insurers are using most of the data associated with your credit, but not all of it.

Unlike trying to apply for a line of credit, the CBI is essentially used from the perspective of property risks and management.

What Affects your Credit-Based Insurance Score?

Essentially, a lot of the same factors are at play when using a credit-based insurance score as everything else. As I said before, the biggest difference is what data is used when determining your rates.

So, what kind of things will affect your CBI?

Length of Credit History Affects Your Score

The longer you have a history of credit, the better. Unfortunately, this can hinder some of the younger people looking to buy a home and secure insurance.

This is why it’s important to start working on your credit as soon as you’re able.

Credit and Bank Accounts in Good Standing

The number of bank and credit accounts you have in good standing are great benefits toward your CBI and FICO scores. This tells insurers that you’re responsible and can manage your finances well.

In fact, a lot of people will hang on to bank accounts they don’t necessarily use often simply because of how long they’ve had it.

Zero Late Payments and Your Credit Score

Having no late payments on your account is another vastly important factor.

Now, this doesn’t mean that a few late payments here and there will result in an overwhelming poor score. But keep in mind, they will affect your insurance rates.

Overall Credit Usage

How many credit accounts do you have maxed out? The percentage of how much credit you have available for each account will weigh in on your CBI.

Try to pay down your credit as much as possible when applying for new accounts or when looking for new insurance.

Debtor Collection Issuance

Have you had debt collectors call you up in the last seven years? Having a debt collector against your credit score will impact virtually any type of account.

But keep in mind that every agent is different when figuring out your CBI. Having a debtor against your credit may not weigh too heavily, depending on the account.

Recent Multiple “Hard” Hits Affect Credit Score

Having several hard hits on your recent credit history will decrease your score. Mostly, this is because it throws up a red flag to issuers that you run the risk of over-extending your monthly finances.

In other words, don’t apply to every credit card company that comes your way right off the bat. Too many recent inquiries will sink your score quite quickly.

How is Your Credit Score for Insurance Rates?

A poor credit score can make it more difficult to buy properties, but it can also increase your home insurance premiums. At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we’ll use our network to find the best policies for you. Contact us today to find out how we can help you, even if you have terrible credit.

You may wind up saving more than you thought.