Vargas & Vargas Insurance

1133 Washington St
Dorchester, MA 02124

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Is Buying a Condo the Right Choice for You?

Here in the great city of Boston, we have many choices when it comes to where to live. You can rent an apartment, buy a home, or anything in between. Sometimes, though, people tend to skip over one of the options – buying a condominium. If you’re looking to find the perfect place for you and your family, consider these reasons to buy a condo:

  • You don’t have to handle any of the outside work. Mowing the grass, shoveling snow, gardening, and more will be taken care of by the condo association. Costs for these services are shared by the owners in the development.
  • Unlike homes, condos often have amenities. Some will offer a pool, theater room, gym, tennis court, party room, or many other possible perks.
  • When you’re renting, your customization options are typically quite limited. A condo, however, you can customize to your heart’s content, since you own your unit.
  • Oftentimes, working with a reliable real estate agent or broker can save you time, effort and disappointments, we work with many very experienced real estate agents and brokers, and we can connect you with one of them.
  • You may find a condo with a smaller price tag than a comparable traditional house. This makes condo living a great option, as long as you consider the monthly fees

If you have considered all of these reasons and decide that condo living is a perfect fit for your lifestyle, (it has been for Kathy and me) remember to call Vargas and Vargas Insurance for your Massachusetts condo insurance needs (even if you are told that you do not need unit owners coverage). We are experts at writing personal condo insurance policies, Condominium Master Insurance policies and we can make sure that all of your belongings are covered, in addition to making sure that your policy contains enough personal liability coverage for your needs. Call 617-298-0655 for a free quote today!

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“It was character that got us out of bed.”

Happy Monday, and I hope that you had a great Easter Holiday weekend with family and friends!

I like to start every week with some words of wisdom, and this weeks are:

“It was character that got us out of bed,

commitment that moved us into action

and discipline that enabled us to follow through.”

-Zig Ziglar

This is a followup on my “Change is Hard” message from a few weeks ago. (If you missed that email, reach out and let me know – I would be happy to send it to you!) In that email, I stated:

“Many professionals start their businesses filled with excitement and passion for their new venture, but quickly realize that building a brand is hard work! Once that realization sets in and business problems begin to surface, it is very easy to get disgruntled and lose your motivation for what you originally set out to accomplish.

In the beginning, your passion creates energy that keeps you moving forward, builds excitement for the next project, and helps overcome fears and obstacles. However, maintaining that passion can be difficult as time goes on, and you might find yourself in a “rut,” or longing to reconnect with the spark that once drove your business. Whether this longing resonates with you currently or you’re teetering back and forth on the fence of business growth, it’s imperative to implement 6 practices into your business to regain focus and reignite your flame!”

We covered the first 3 that week, and I promised to tie all 6 together in another email. Well, I’ve kept you waiting long enough! Here are the other three practices:

4. Join a Mastermind group AND participate – A mastermind group can offer new perspectives on old problems, and provide much-needed motivation and support to keep you going when you feel overwhelmed! If you’re receiving and reading this newsletter you’re probably thinking, “Well, I am a part of a mastermind group.” Yes, that’s the first step. But the next step (and the most important step) is to get involved, participate, and implement! To get more involved, start posting in our private Facebook group with questions, ideas, and concerns (this is a safe environment of like-minded professionals, so don’t worry about any negative or uncool comments). In addition, attend your company’s weekly class and ask questions, send out emails similar to this one to the people that know, like (or love) and trust you, and follow-up consistently and persistently every week with you Dunbar’s 150 (Need help getting started? I have a strategy for that!), and ask for help when you need it

5. Systematize, automate and outsource – What’s the most valuable use of your time? To find out, create a list of tasks that you perform each week and ask yourself, “Are there items on here that could be handled by someone else?” If that’s the case, hire a virtual assistant or a right-hand person who can take care of the tasks that suck up your time and keep you from being productive. Also, invest in a time-saving client follow-up system that automates some of your communications. With this technology, setting up follow-up campaigns for past clients take only seconds of your time, and continue for years without you ever touching it again!

6. Follow-through on new systems and ideas – One of the most important principles in success is follow-through. When you make a plan to implement a new idea or system into your business, the dedicated follow-through is what will make it a success or a failure. There will be obstacles to overcome with any new venture, but the key to a successful follow-through is staying the course through those frustrating and sometimes downright demanding moments of growing pains. It’s also important to compare the amount of change you’re implementing vs what you and your team can realistically handle. Think of it this way: Following-through on one new system or idea will be way more beneficial to your business than starting 10 new systems and ideas and not executing any of them!

And know that you are LOVED!

Now, go out and DOMINATE your week!

Carlos

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Get The Recognition You Deserve With NAHREP’s Top 250 Award!

Get the Recognition You Deserve with NAHREP’s Top 250 Award! 

The Top 250 Award has become one of the most recognized and decorated programs in real estate. Honorees earn recognition from their peers and industry leaders as drivers who set the industry standard. Nominate a real estate agent or a mortgage originator for the Top 250 award before March 31.
Click here to learn more

Also, check out NAHREP Boston’s  1st Annual Business Rally #BETOP10

Topics Include:
– NAHREP 10: Principle 2- Be in the Top 10% of your profession
– How To use Social Media to promote your business
– How to Grow Your Business Through Networking and Referrals

Thursday, April 6th, 2017 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Registration starts at 2:30 PM
Networking from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Food will be provided, Performance by Pachanga Latina

Hilton Boston/Woburn: 2 Forbes Road, Woburn, MA 01801

MEMBERS: $39, MEMBERSHIP & EVENT BUNDLE: $69

ATTENTION MEMBERS:
Please click on “Enter Promotional Code.” Type in your email address used to register to NAHREP. Click on “Apply,” member tickets will be shown. Choose the number of tickets. Click on “Register.” For help, please call (857) 288-1493
For questions and sponsorship opportunities Email us at boston@nahrep.org or call (857) 288-1493
Click here to learn more

Hispanic homeownership increased for the second consecutive year, click here to read more.

We are here to help you or anyone your are working with, with their home or condominium closing. Whether it’s to review their current insurance policy or provide them with a quote, we would love to hear from you.  Just send an email to our team at quotes@vargasinsurance.com with your buyers’ information and we will do the rest!

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Friends Are The Most Important Ingredient

“Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life.”
– Dior Yamasaki

I thought this week I would give you a few Facebook tips that I have found very helpful in our business.

In the presentations that I do, I’m often asked for tips and strategies to create and connect with friends and customers on Facebook.

Here’s a few:

  1. When a person “likes” your Facebook post, always respond with a comment with their name in it. Use their name to personalize the comment.

If you start to type their name in, Facebook will fill it in, and it will tag them.  If you want to make it more personal, you can back out their last name, which is what I suggest.

Here are some examples:

Mary, I love that you enjoyed this.

Mary, I knew this message would resonate with you.

Mary, I love it when you like what I share.

2. In the beginning of the post that you do, encourage people to share it with others. What I do is simply write on the top of the post:
“This is worth sharing with your friends.”

Or

“Please share.”

Put a message either at the top of your post or at the end of the post encouraging people to give it away.

  1. When someone shares your post, send them a “private message” thanking them for doing so.

    Here are a couple of examples:

    Mary, thank you for sharing my post.

    Mary, I am so glad that you found my post helpful, thank you for the share.

    Mary, thank you for the share! I hope that you are well and business is going well, let’s meet for coffee soon.

  2. If a person comments, always “like” their comment and respond to it with a question.

For example, if a person says, “That is really cool”, you would comment and ask them what is it about his that you found to be cool?

Just have some fun with it.  When people comment, don’t let them hang, go back and say something about what they said.  You want to encourage and facilitate a conversation and therefore build the relationship with them.

  1. Don’t forget to wish your friends a happy birthday on their birthdays.
  2. Use the list feature to sort our your friends, clients, colleagues, acquaintances, etc.  Learn more about Facebook lists here.

Why is this Key?  I call it the “Law of Familiarity”, the more communication, in whatever form, you have with people, the more familiar they become with you.

The reality is that people love to do business with the people they know, like and trust, and they love to refer others to people they are familiar with. Facebook is the ultimate way to create a high level of familiarity with others.

I LOVE connecting with people. In fact, if there was just one thing I feel that I am THE EXPERT in, it is branding and marketing. I use what I have learned to work with a few local business folks on how to connect and grow their brand both online and offline.

I am so committed to these local business friends that we have a Monday accountability call each week. The good news is that I have room for a couple more of these Monday accountability calls. So, look at 2017 – if you’re trying to START or GROW your personal brand, let me know. We’ll spend a little time together, and I will give you an assessment and a clear direction on HOW TO CRUSH 2017 to BOOST YOUR PERSONAL BRAND. Want to meet in person? We can do that too. All you have to do is comment below now, and I promise to make time for you because you are important to me.

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What Happens to a Mortgage When the Owner Dies?

It’s a topic that no one wants to discuss, but that everyone should be talking about. Have you done any estate planning? After all, the fact is that we will all die one day, and it would be a huge burden lifted from the shoulders of your loved ones if you were prepared. Thankfully, there are lots of resources available to help make sure that your affairs are in order when your time comes.

One of the most important things that you should iron out is what will happen to your home. If you have a mortgage, there are several things that you need to consider. After all, the mortgage payments won’t just disappear!

If you have a co-borrower, the mortgage will automatically pass to them. If there is no co-borrower, a co-signer is the next person who would assume the property. If neither of these positions are filled, a Boston estate planning lawyer can help you construct a plan regarding passing your home to a person of your choice, whether it’s a child, grandchild, or someone else. When you die, your home (and your mortgage) will be transferred to that person, and it will be up to them whether to continue payments or sell the property.

Have you thought about having some extra life insurance or mortgage protection insurance to help pay for your property when you pass on? If you want to explore your options, call our agency and speak to a knowledgeable agent about what you can do to leave a parting gift for your loved ones.

Do you have any more questions about your mortgage? If so, please let me know! I have many friends in the mortgage industry and would be happy to help you find all the answers you are looking for. Also, we are always ready to answer your homeowners, automobile, homeowners, business insurance questions! Call or email me at cvargas@vargasinsurance.com, and we can find a time to chat and answer all your questions.

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Must Have Apps for Real Estate Professionals

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A smartphone is a must in today’s world, especially for a Real Estate agent. You probably use yours several times a day to talk to clients and schedule showings, but are you using your phone to its fullest potential? Here are four areas where you may be able to leverage your app store to make your life easier:

  • Social Media – Social Media doesn’t rest, so you need to be prepared to post and interact with clients and followers at all times. Your phone is a key player in having your profiles at your fingertips. You obviously need Facebook, but also try apps like Instagram, Vine, Snapchat, HootSuite and (my favorite) Buffer
  • Organization – Staying organized on the go is a key trait for Realtor success. Apps like Dropbox, Tempo, and (my favorite) Evernote and more will help you have all of your documents and appointments at your fingertips, no matter where you are.
  • For Showings – Did you know that there are apps that you can use to help you with your listing appointments? Route 4 Me helps you determine an optimal route to get clients around town efficiently, and Supra eKey can turn your smartphone into a lockbox key!
  • For Listings – In addition to using your social media accounts to promote your listings, you can use apps like Camera+ to take and edit pictures of your listings for your social media posts, or you can use your iphone like I do.  There is also a DocuSign app to help you send, track, and sign documents digitally to help sales go through smoothly.

What are the apps that you can’t live without? Tell us about the apps that we missed, and we may use them for another app feature in the future! And, as always, stay tuned to the blog for more technology tips.

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