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Vargas and Vargas Insurance Blog – 2018 in Review

Posted on by cvargas

2018 has been a great year here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency. We are proud to say that we help the residents of Boston protect their homes, cars, businesses and beyond, and we look forward to continuing our journey to complete customer protection in 2019. If you’ve been visiting our blog this year, you may be familiar with some of the content we have posted. For those of you that don’t subscribe, however, here is a quick recap of what you may have missed this year. Click on the title of the article to visit the full post!

January – Avoiding and Treating Frozen Pipes

When the outside temperatures drop, so too can the temperature in your home’s water system. Prevent frozen pipes by ensuring that pipes are properly insulated and letting faucets drip on especially cold nights. If your pipes freeze, call a plumbing professional for help.

February – What Is Liability Coverage, and Why Do You Need It?

Many of your insurance policies likely have ‘liability protection’ built in. What does this mean? As our post states, “Liability insurance is the critical coverage that offers financial protection if you are sued or held legally liable for damages to another person, such as property damage, injury or negligence.” This makes it an indispensable coverage for you and your loved ones!

March – 10 Essential (and Easy to Forget) Home Maintenance Tasks

Maintaining a home can be a chore, but there are certain things that need to be done in order to ensure the operation and safety of your things. Check out the link to the full blog post for tips on how to keep your fridge in tip top shape, the importance of testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, extending the life of your clothes dryer, and much more.

April – Common Insurance Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In this springtime blog post, we covered the top three mistakes made with three of our most popular products: home insurance, car insurance, and business insurance. At Vargas and Vargas Insurance, we always aim to make sure that our customers get superior customer service, and that all these mistakes are avoided when choosing a policy.

May – Build Better Habits at Work

Do you ever wish that you could be a little more productive at work? In this post we shared tips for how employees can make the most out if their days at the office, and how business owners can encourage employees to be at their best.

June – The Ultimate Guide to Road Tripping

Summer is a favorite time of year for Boston families to take road trips, so we published several tips including destinations that would be perfect for a long or short trip, a ‘to-do’ list for before you hit the road, and some ideas to avoid having all your passengers asking, “Are we there yet?”

July – Flood Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

What is flood insurance? Do you need a flood insurance policy? All our most frequently asked questions about flood insurance are in one place! Get answers to “What is federal disaster assistance?” as well as “What is a flood zone?” and much more in this informative post.

August – The Best Apps for Homeowners

Nowadays, there is a smartphone app for everything. We found eight great apps that every homeowner should check out. How many do you have, and are there any on our list that you might find you can’t live without? Includes recommendations for Android phones and iPhones.

September – The Benefits of Having a Virtual Assistant

As a business owner, do you ever wish that you could take certain tasks off your plate? Having a virtual assistant can do just that. Hire someone that can balance your weaknesses and free up your time so that you can focus on more important factors in your business.

October – Savings Account: Critical for Your Financial Success

Do you have enough saved up for a rainy day? It’s estimated that 7 in 10 Americans would struggle financially after losing income for just one month. This blog espouses the importance of compounding interest, as well as gives several tips on how to boost the amount of money that you save.

November – Cancelling Auto Coverage Can Affect Future Rates

If you’re thinking about cancelling your auto insurance policy, make sure that you talk to your Massachusetts auto insurance agent first so that you can discuss potential repercussions, including increased rates on policies in the future.

December – Steps to Take Before Buying Business Insurance

Business insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. With the help of an experienced insurance agent, you can get the coverage that your business needs for a reasonable price. In this post, we highlight a few things that you should think about before purchasing a commercial insurance policy, including your business’s level of risk and the Massachusetts state requirements for coverage.

What did you think of our posts in 2018? We have lots more great content planned for next year, so make sure that you subscribe to the blog! Happy New Year from your friends at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency and remember – one call to 617-298-0655 and we will help you get the best possible insurance policies!

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Morning Motivation – Week of December 10, 2018

Posted on by cvargas

Did you know that collaboration is one of my favorite activities?

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, I talked about how I was in Michigan speaking at an IAO (independent agency owners) convention. While I was there, I met some amazing young insurance agency owners that give me a great feeling that my industry is not on its deathbed, but that with these rock star owners we may even grow market share!

I got to hang out with these 3 amazing IAO’s – Jason Verlinde from Michigan, Nicholas Ayers from California, and Brandon Smith from Montana. These guys are REAL, they made me love the insurance business even more seeing them in outside their comfort zone, they are so genuinely happy and show it. I spent most of return day doing some one-on-ones with these agents. I came away with some ideas for our business and now that I am waiting for the plane to head back to Boston, I thought that I would put my thoughts to paper.

I started thinking about how many lies I read online about how the independent insurance agency system is broken and that companies like Amazon and Lemonade are coming for us… but I have been hearing these lies for years.

It all started with GEICO, then Google tried selling insurance, but they forget that many consumers still rely on independent insurance agents to shop around for them for the right coverage at the right price. GEICO is still around (although Google got out of the insurance game). GEICO loses almost as much business each year as they write due to their lack of service, or by trying to put aftermarket parts on brand new automobile.

It’s amazing how many times I shook a hand or hugged someone and the person did not ask questions about any insurance-related topics, like:

  • How to make their system better
  • How I have survived 39 years as an IAO and still LOVE every day
  • How they can improve retention, how to connect with today’s consumers and increase sales
  • How the generosity leads to reciprocity system works
  • What is the best way to be part of their communities

You see, part of what I spoke about at the convention was not being a “secret cell.” Instead, I talked about the importance of getting out of the office, rolling up your sleeves and giving back to your local community. As business owners, it is so easy to give our money to worthy causes, but that is only half of it, we always skip the most important part, which is showing up and helping out. That is where the magic happens – when people meet you and start to know you. Then, when they have a need for insurance you are top of mind because of the interactions you have had in the past.

I’m not saying you need to be out there 24/7, but how can we give thousands of dollars to local worthwhile charities and not show up at any of the events? When you’re surrounded by the people that you are helping with your donation, it’s an automatic connection, right? Those connections are a critical part of running a successful independent insurance agency!

Next week, I will continue to talk about my experiences at the IOA convention, so stay tuned for more information that I hope will help you in your business.

Carlos

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Recap: Surviving Winter for Bostonians

Posted on by cvargas

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” – Aristotle

There are only a few weeks left in the year, and as snowfall becomes a more regular occurrence here in Massachusetts, we want to make sure that our clients stay warm, healthy, and happy throughout the cold winter months. Here is a quick recap of our full blog post with ideas on how to make this winter the best one yet:

  • Be Warm – Keep the freezing temperatures outside of your home by making sure that your windows and doors aren’t drafty. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees for optimal heating and energy consumption, according to ready.gov.
  • Be Healthy – Colds and flus run rampant in the winter, so get a flu shot and wash your hands often. Exercise at your local gym or try a winter sport to stay in shape.
  • Be Happy – Don’t let the cold get you down – there are plenty of wintertime activities in the Boston area! Or, if you would rather stay inside, now is the perfect time to binge watch a new show, read a book, have a family game night, or try a new recipe that you’ve been craving!

When was the last time you reviewed your insurance policies with a Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent? Call 617-298-0655 and we can chat about your home, renters, or condo insurance policy to make sure that it is providing full coverage for you and your loved ones.

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Steps to Take Before Buying Business Insurance

Posted on by cvargas

At Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we help Boston residents with many types of insurance needs. We handle home and auto insurance, as well as renters and condo insurance. You should also know that we handle many different types of commercial insurance policies for local businesses! If you’re a business owner and you’re in search of the perfect business insurance policy (and let’s face it; who isn’t?) stop and consider the following seven factors:

Determine your insurance requirements

When purchasing insurance for your business, you should first know what types of coverage you are required to have. Every state is different,so you will need someone in your corner that is familiar with the Massachusetts requirements. In addition, there may be requirements based on your industry, or certain obligations that you have if you rent your business space. Also find out about your workers compensation requirements and stay on top of those as your business grows if you hire new workers.

Thankfully, you don’t have to sift through all the legalese on your own. A qualified Massachusetts business insurance agent can help you navigate the often-murky waters of insurance requirements.

Know the risks in your area of business

At Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we know that every business is different. We want to offer you complete protection, so we will help identify your unique risks to ensure that you get full coverage. For example, a restaurant may need coverage for food spoilage and liquor liability, where a tech-based business could require cyber liability coverage and errors and omissions insurance.

No matter what type of business you own, we’ve got you covered.We insure many types of businesses here in the Greater Boston area, and we are confident that we can craft a policy that is tailored to the special needs and risks of your business.

Focus on your amount of coverage…

Business owners know – bottom line is important, but it’snot the only thing that you should focus on when you make decisions for your business. As you talk to your business insurance agent, don’t fall into the trap of asking for only the bare minimum insurance coverage in order to save money.Your insurance coverage is critical in making sure that you are protected in all kinds of scenarios, so your coverage is not the place to skimp. Just remember – your insurance is what will protect you if there is a lawsuit or a fire or another type of huge disaster, so ask your insurance agent how much coverage they recommend. They will be able to find a coverage amount that suits your needs.

…As well as your deductible

So, we firmly stand by everything we said in the last paragraph…but we know that your bottom line is still important to your business. We want you to have the best of both worlds – a great insurance policy at a price that won’t overburden your budget. That’s why you should use an independent insurance agency when purchasing your policy. We can shop several insurance providers to find you one that will offer the best deal. We will be on the look out for discounts that you qualify for and other savings that you could use.

Err on the side of caution

If you’re faced with a decision of how much coverage to purchase for your business, we recommend that you err on the side of caution.Just remember – you never know when or why your business might be affected by something devastating, so purchase a little bit more coverage, or buy that extra bit of umbrella insurance. You’ll be glad that you did if for some reason you ever need to use it.

Become familiar with your policy

Once you have a commercial insurance policy in place, it is your responsibility to become familiar with it. If you’re brave, you can read over it yourself… if, however, that makes your eyes glaze over (and don’t worry, it happens to everyone) ask your insurance agent to go over the basics of your coverage with you. It is also important to make sure that you review your business insurance coverage at least every year so that you can refresh yourself on the protection that you have, as well as update your policy based on any changes that are happening in your business.

Ask an insurance expert for help

Owning a business is tough, but if you know the right people it doesn’t have to be. Thankfully you have Massachusetts insurance experts in your corner and ready to help with all your insurance questions, concerns, and needs.

Want to talk to a Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent about getting a commercial insurance quote for your business? Don’t put it off any longer – the process is simple. Just call 617-298-0655 to get started and we will have a free quote for you in no time.

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Morning Motivation – Week of December 3, 2018

Posted on by cvargas

Can you believe that it is December already? I feel like this year has just barely begun! Let’s start this month of festivity off with some words of wisdom:

Did you read my post last week about using your hands during presentations? This week, I have another point to make along those same lines.

If we have ever been in the same space, you know that I am a “handshaker” and “hugger” and when I shake someone’s hand I will often tap them on the elbow to show my warmth to them. When I do this with my wife present, however, she always warns me that not everyone likes to be touched, Do you mind it if someone you know touches you on the elbow as they shake your hand and say hello?

Now let me ask you this – when you speak to a group of people, are you an anchorperson or a weatherperson?

Let me explain… when we speak, we have a choice between being an “anchorperson” or “weatherperson.”  As we all know from watching the news, an anchorperson sits stock still at a desk, rarely using their hands, while weatherpersons wave their hands and arms about broadly to indicate weather patterns on a map. If you are reading this post it is highly unlikely that you are in sales, are an entrepreneur or solopreneur, that you were auditioned for your position, or that you were hired because of your skills. If instead you were hired on the basis of the personality you presented during your interview and vetting process, then that personality was your natural style and you should stick with it.

Next week I plan to talk about the status of the insurance industry, and how it’s not on its deathbed like some people would have us believe. It’s going to be a good one, so don’t miss it!

Carlos

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Surviving Winter in Your Boston Home or Condominium

Posted on by cvargas

Winter is in full swing once again here in the Boston area. What are your favorite winter activities? We want to share some tips for staying warm, healthy and happy this winter in your home, apartment or condo. Choose one or try them all! Hopefully they can make your winter a little more joyous.

How to Stay Warm

The average low temperature in Boston for winter months is easily below freezing, so staying warm can be a challenge. Before you crank up the heat, check to ensure that the cold air is staying outside where it should be. This is best done with energy efficient (and non-draft-prone) windows and doors. See about refitting your home’s windows and doors if you are falling victim to drafts – these will cost you money year-round, cooling your home in the winter and heating it in the summer.

Do you have a programmable thermostat? Setting it to 68 degrees will heat your home while also conserving energy, according to ready.gov. Make sure to lower it by 10 or more degrees at night, though, to save approximately 10% on your heating bill. Also see if you can close the heat vent and shut the door to any unused rooms in your home or condo to cut your heating costs even further. It is also prudent to ensure that you have a back-up heat source in case of a power loss.

How to Stay Healthy

During the winter, more people stay indoors, and this means an increased number of germs in your home, apartment, or condo. Stay healthy by getting a flu shot if you can, and by washing your hands often. Also, regularly disinfect the surfaces of your home that are touched often. Just in case someone in your household falls ill, have the necessary medical supplies on hand so that you don’t have to make a rushed trip to the pharmacy.

Staying healthy in the winter also means finding the opportunity to exercise. Not many people want to go for an outdoor jog in the middle of winter in Boston, but there are plenty of alternatives that will keep you fit until the warm weather returns. Many people will choose to exercise at their local gym, where cardio and weight equipment are available year-round. Some gyms in the area also offer indoor pools and/or fitness classes that can keep your exercise routine fresh and new. There are also plenty of options available for people that would rather exercise at home, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment.

If you would rather continue to get your exercise out in the fresh air, choose an appropriate wintertime activity. Ice skating can be a great cardio workout, you can also try something more off-the-wall, like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Just make sure that you are dressed appropriately, and that you take plenty of breaks from the cold and that you stay hydrated as you work out outside.

How to Stay Happy

As we mentioned, the cold weather of the winter often means spending more time indoors. For some people this can lead to wintertime blues and boredom. Instead of being unhappy that you must spend so much time inside, try to be thankful for the extra time in your cozy home. Get your family together to play a board game, binge watch a tv show that looks interesting, cook up a new recipe, or check something off your reading list.

Need to get out of the house? You’re in luck! There are lots of activities in the Boston area in the winter, so you don’t need to feel like you’re cooped up – even when the city is blanketed in snow! Family activities are especially popular this time of year, including the Holiday Bricktacular at Legoland Discovery Center, Santa Saturdays at the Franklin Park Zoo, and Snowmazing! at the Boston Children’s Museum, among many others.

A few more favorites from the agents here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency include seeing The Nutcracker at the Boston Ballet, catching a Holiday Pops performance at the Boston Symphony Hall, and seeing the Christmas trees at Faneuil Hall and the Boston Common. There are plenty of events happening in the area, so bundle up and have some fun out in the city to ward off the boredom often brought by the cold weather.

We also want to make sure that you know that Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency is here for all your home, renters, and condo insurance needs this winter (and all year-round). If you want to have a chat about your current insurance policies, or if you have an insurance question, all you have to do is call us at 617-298-0655. One of our friendly and knowledgeable agents will be happy to take care of you!

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Morning Motivation – Week of November 26, 2018

Posted on by cvargas

Hello friends! I hope that you had a great weekend and Thanksgiving holiday and that you are ready for an amazing week! Did you enjoy reading my email last week about my ongoing Daily Video project?

You know that I LOVE to start each week with some positive words, and this week’s are:

It’s funny, I read the above quote the week before I was one of the speakers at an independent insurance agents meeting in Michigan, and it sent shivers up my spine.  I practiced my 45 minute presentation for almost a week, and guess what? I still went off script!

Here is something else that I was thinking about before my presentation as I was watching the two speakers on stage after me using their hands to describe their presentation: Many of us talk with our hands, right?

Some people have the tendency to be really dramatic and use their hands to describe in detail what they are saying, and some people don’t use their hands at all. Which camp are you in?

When presenting, I often ask myself “What should I do with my hands?” I have been cautioned against choreography; I’ve seen some presenters attempt to illustrate their talk with specific gestures and wind up tying themselves into knots, or worse, looking weird and fake. I have found that I use my hands and arms how I would naturally, to illustrate what I am saying, it feels natural to me and takes the extra pressure off of me while I am up on stage. I do try to extend my hands and arms periodically, trying to bridge the gap between the audience and me, as AT&T used to say “Reach Out” with your hand in handshake position.

As you watch presentations, do you ever notice how a speaker is using their hands, and whether it’s adding to or detracting from their presentation? I would love to know!

Until next week,

Carlos

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Recap: Cancelling Auto Insurance

Posted on by cvargas

“My mom sent me money for a car, but the cops impounded it because I had no insurance.” – Martin Henderson

Have you been considering cancelling your Massachusetts auto insurance policy? There are many reasons why this may seem like a good idea, including if you are getting rid of the car, taking the car off the road for extended maintenance, or if you are going through a major life event like marriage or divorce.

The issue arises when you apply for your next insurance policy. When deciding on your premium amount, insurance providers consider many factors – one of which is sometimes whether you have cancelled a policy in the past. This means that cancelling a current policy could affect your rates in the future!

Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance, we also want to make sure that you also never drive without auto insurance. Even a seemingly simple fender bender can result in a lot of money in repairs, let alone a multi-car accident with serious injuries.

So, if you’re thinking about cancelling your auto insurance for any reason, first call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655. We can help you analyze your situation and tell you how your decision will affect your future insurance premiums. We may even be able to help you come up with an alternate solution that will be better for your situation.

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Morning Motivation – Week of November 19, 2018

Posted on by cvargas

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Are you ready for another one of my famous motivational quotes?

If you happened to catch my post from last week about giving a keynote speech to a mastermind group of plumbers, A/C, and heating specialists here in Boston, you will know that giving presentations used to be way out of my comfort zone. Pushing limits seems to be a theme of this year (and of my life in general). Here is another example of how I am constantly testing my own limits:

What seems like a long time ago, I was double dared by one of the professionals that I have been coaching. She said “Instead of posting a daily inspirational quote, do it in video form!” She told me she dared me to do daily videos for one year.

Well, I never stand down from a challenge, never mind a double dare, so I started shooting a daily positive affirmations on March 6th, and am currently over 200 days toward my goal. You can watch all of them here.  

I have learned from this new daily routine that I have become really great at video editing (check out my first few videos compared to the more recent ones) and that I LOVE my daily routine of finding a subject and then shooting a video. I usually start the process around 6AM and it’s a great way to begin my day in a positive manner and keep it positive.

Have a self-kind and FANTASTIC week ahead! And make sure you check your inbox next Monday to hear about a question that I had during my latest presentation to a group of independent insurance agents.

Carlos

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