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When you’re preparing to take a bicycle ride, no matter where or how far you plan to go, you need to make sure that you have a few key items with you. A few may be common sense, but there are others that may not be as straightforward.

Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance, we want to make sure that you are always safe, so make sure that you are prepared the next time you go out for a spin by considering this list of items:

Necessities and Must-Haves

Water – This one should be a no-brainer. You need to have water with you when you exercise, and bicycling is no exception. If your bike doesn’t have a place to keep a water bottle, there are many options that you can install yourself.

Safety Gear – You should always wear a helmet when you ride. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you wear brightly colored or reflective clothing, especially if you’re going to be biking at night.

Identification – In case of emergency, it’s always a good idea to bring identification with you on your trips. If you don’t want to bring your driver’s license, consider investing in an identification bracelet.

Cell Phone – This is another must-have in case of an emergency. If something happens to you or your bike, you’ll need a way to contact someone for help. You may also want to bring along some cash or a credit card. Make sure that you have at least enough money to pay for a taxi ride back home.

Optional but Helpful Items

Snacks – If you’re planning on biking for more than an hour or two, you should think about bringing along a little bit of food. Make sure that you reach for something healthy and nourishing, like a protein bar or trail mix.

Bike Lock – Are you planning to stop anywhere during your ride? If so, you should bring along a bike lock. This will help to ensure that your bike will be waiting for you upon your return.

First Aid – Cuts and scrapes happen to even the most experienced of riders. You can ease the pain by bringing along a small first aid kit. Consider including some antiseptic wipes and bandages, and a couple of aspirin in case you start to get a headache. Also think about bringing a first aid kit for your bike! An air pump and a couple of hex keys may come in handy if you ever need a quick fix in the middle of a ride.

Sun Protection – For most people, it’s a reflex to grab a pair of sunglasses as they walk out the door. While this is a good practice for bike riders, it’s not enough to protect you from the sun. in addition to your sunglasses, make sure that you also put on sunscreen before you leave, and reapply according to the directions on the package. 

Bag or Basket – If you’re thinking about bringing all the necessary and optional items listed above, you may need a way to carry them all! A bike bag or basket will help you store your ID and phone, as well as your snacks, first aid kit, and extra sunscreen.

New or Coming Soon – Innovations

Barbumps – If you find your hands uncomfortable or achy after a bike ride, your handlebars may be to blame. This Kickstarter is all about making handlebars more comfy and relieving the pressure that many cyclists experience. 

Statement Bike Rack – After a successful Kickstarter campaign, this elegant and functional bike rack will soon be available to consumers. A bike rack is a great way to store your bike while it isn’t in use. It even helps to make sure that your bike stays off your garage’s floor and out of harm’s way – and this one does it in style!

Silva Cycle Atom – Have you ever wished that you could convert your energy into power? Look no further! With this device, you can charge a battery pack, light, or even your cell phone!

And remember, if you have any questions about bicycles or cycling, call our friend Ashmont Cycles at 617-282-6552, and stay tuned to the Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency Facebook page to learn more about how you could win a “Street Cruiser” bike from Ashmont Cycles!

As you know, Vargas and Vargas Insurance will be raffling off a “Street Cruiser” bicycle from Ashmont Cycles very soon. We’ve already shared with you some bike safety tips in our blog “Gear Up for Bicycle Safety”. We will be talking about bicycle gear is a soon to be published blog. Bicycles provide major benefits. In this blog, we want to focus on the benefits you can gain by using your bicycle.

Cycling is Good for Your Health

The first benefit is probably the most obvious: getting in the habit of using your bicycle can be a great form of exercise. Routine bike rides can provide copious health benefits, such as:

• Increased metabolism
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Strengthened mental health
• Decreased stress levels
• Bolstered immune system
• Enhanced stamina
• Improved longevity
• Toned and defined muscles

And if these health benefits aren’t enough, consider the calories burned: in an hour of cycling, you will burn 300 calories on average. This means that if you get in the habit of taking a 30 minute bike ride every day, you can lose 11 pounds in a year!

Remember, though, that you should always consult with your doctor before you start an exercise regimen. It is more than likely that regular bicycle rides will provide a great benefit to your health, but you should always check with a licensed professional first.

Bicycles Benefit the Environment

If you are a regular on this blog, you may remember an article posted at the end of April titled “Are You Green Enough?” in which we explained many ways that you can help the environment. One of these was to use alternative transportation when travelling. 

Riding a bicycle is an excellent example of alternative transportation. Forgoing the use of a car provides many environmental benefits, such as the fact that you don’t need to use gasoline or electricity. This means that biking reduces both air and water pollution. In fact, cycling creates no pollution at all!

Bicycles also reduce road wear – as you know, a bicycle weighs a lot less than a car, and therefore puts a lot less pressure on roads and sidewalks. This means that for every trip taken on a bike instead of in a car, taxpayers are paying less for road refurbishments.

In addition, you can fit over a dozen bicycles in the same space as a single car, thus helping with the current parking problem. Also, studies have shown that cycling can save you time in rush hour – instead of sitting in traffic, cruise by all those motorists on your bike!

Biking Increases Your Safety

There is one more huge benefit to jumping on your bike instead of into your car: you’ll be safer! One study from University College London states that young males age 17 to 20 who drove were at a five times greater risk than those who rode a bicycle. 

If you cycle with the right protective gear, you can help yourself avoid potential injury. And while you can never fully protect yourself against the occasional cut or scrape, you will be at less of a risk for serious injury if you opt to use a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle.

If you need to take a longer trip and opt to use your car, remember to watch out for cyclists. These ten rules may help you to coexist and share the road with bikers. 

Also, remember to stay tuned to the Vargas and Vargas Insurance Facebook page to learn more about our bike giveaway!

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On the last Monday of May each year, Americans celebrate Memorial Day. It is a day of remembering and honoring those military personnel that have given their lives in the service of our country. The holiday’s origin dates back to 1868, just after the Civil War, where soldiers were remembered on Declaration Day. The first large observance of this holiday was at Arlington National Cemetery. The holiday’s name was officially changed to ‘Memorial Day’ in 1967, and the holiday is observed by the US Government and most US businesses.

There are many traditional ways to observe Memorial Day. One of the most well-known is displaying the US Flag. On Memorial Day, it is customary to raise the flag fully before then lowering it to half mast. At noon, the flag is raised to its full height once more. According to The Memorial Day Wikipedia Article, “The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living; who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.” It is also a tradition to adorn the graves of deceased military members with American Flags or flowers. 

Another popular celebration in honor of late military personnel is the Memorial Day Parade. This event traditionally features marching bands and service men and women. If you’re interested in attending your community’s Memorial Day Parade, check out the list of events on bostoncentral.com.

Some military museums also offer families a great opportunity to spend the long weekend learning about our great country. For example, the USS Constitution Museum is having their annual Memorial Day Family Weekend. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is celebrating the holiday by offering free admission for the full long weekend.

In Washington DC, they celebrate with an annual Memorial Day Concert, live from the lawn of the Capitol Building. This year’s event will take place at 8pm on Sunday May 26th, and will be available to watch on PBS nationwide.

Even if you choose to spend your long weekend at a barbecue, make a point to spend at least a little bit of your time contemplating the meaning of the holiday – all those brave service-people who lost their lives in service to our country. 

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Now that the weather has finally warmed up, it’s time to take advantage of our beautiful community! One great way to experience nature and get some exercise is to break out your bicycle. You can ride around your neighborhood, take a trip to a local park, or even get in the habit of taking your bike to work.

No matter where you decide to go, make sure that you gear up for bicycle safety.

Wear The Right Safety Gear

The first rule of bike safety is always the same – never ride your bike without the proper safety gear. Don’t leave home without these pieces of equipment:

• Your helmet.
• Bright or reflective clothing. 
• A bike bell and front and rear bike lights.
• Gloves and sunglasses.
• A cell phone (preferably one with GPS).
• Identification and some money for emergencies.

If you ensure that you have all these things with you when you use your bicycle, you will reduce your risk of injury, and you will be ready for any situation that may present itself.

Make Sure That Your Route Is ‘Bike-able’

When you consider taking a ride, you should first ask yourself these four questions to assess the safety of your intended path:

1. Is there room for you to bike? A path, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or wide road shoulder provides bicyclists a safe place to ride.
2. How is the condition of the road? A road with an uneven surface, excessive potholes, debris, rumble strips, or broken pavement can be an unsafe place to take a bicycle.
3. Is it easy to use your bike? Routes that have lots of hills, or where you ride by unleashed dogs or unsupervised children can be dangerous.
4. Is your destination bike friendly? Only bike somewhere if there is a safe place to leave your bike when you arrive. Also, make sure that there is an easy way to get yourself and your bike home if there is an emergency or you cannot ride, such as a bike-friendly bus or train.

If your route passes these 4 tests, then it is a good route to take. If not, you may want to consider a different path, or a different mode of transportation.

Keep Your Bike Properly Maintained

Also make sure that you occasionally check your bicycle to make sure that it is safe to ride. Here’s a quick checklist of what you need to do:

• Check that your seat, handlebars, and wheels aren’t loose.
• Regularly check your chain and oil.
• Test your brakes to make sure that they work properly and don’t stick.
• Examine your tires to make sure that their pressure is at the recommended level.

If you have any questions about bike safety or maintenance, remember to call or drop in on our friends over at Ashmont Cycles in Dorchester. They can answer all of your bike-related questions!

And remember, Vargas and Vargas Insurance will be raffling off a “Street Cruiser” bike from Ashmont Cycles at the opening of the Dorchester Farmer’s Markey on Friday, June 21st, so don’t miss out! Stay tuned to the Vargas & Vargas Insurance Agency Facebook Page for more information.

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When purchasing a home, you receive a title document. The title states that you are the owner of the property, and that you retain the rights to the property. While there aren’t typically issues relating to the true owner of a piece of land, questions do sometimes arise.

In some cases, a lawsuit may arise concerning the property’s true owner. There are many scenarios that can cause this quarrel to occur, including:

• Federal or state liens on the property.
• Unpaid homeowner’s association dues.
• Utility easements.
• Mechanic’s liens.
• Unnamed heirs to the property.
• “Wild deeds” that were never recorded.

In fact, this list is only a small portion of the full list of reasons why a title of ownership may be contested. It’s easy to think that none of these affect your property, but it is impossible to know for sure.

While you can never be certain of the fact that you are the sole title holder for your property, there is a way to protect yourself with an insurance policy. This policy is called “Title Insurance,” and it comes in two distinct forms.

Lender’s Policy

This policy, as the title suggests, is only issued to mortgage lenders. It is intended to protect the lender in the case that the property in question:

• Has a defective or unmarketable title.
• Is subject to title defects or liens.
• Cannot legally be accessed.
• Cannot have a lien.
• Is already subject to a mechanic’s lien.

In most cases, a lender’s policy will be required when you obtain a mortgage (just like they require that you have a home insurance policy). While your lender can require that you purchase a lender’s title insurance policy, they cannot legally require you to purchase from a specific insurance provider, as stated in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).

Take this as an opportunity to do your homework. Find an insurance provider that can offer you the protection you require at a price that fits your wallet.

Owner’s Policy

When your property is no longer covered by a lender’s policy (a lender’s policy is only valid while the property is under a mortgage) you should make sure that you are still protected by a title insurance policy. In this case, you will want to have an owner’s policy.

This policy will provide you with the protection you need, including coverage for any and all legal battles regarding your property’s title, and compensation for any financial losses related to those battles. Typically, the financial compensation that the policy will provide is capped at the value of the property, but this can be changed as a part of the insurance policy.

An owner’s policy is typically broken down into two types of costs: premiums and service fees. Just as with any type of insurance policy, a premium will cover the perpetual costs associated with the policy, and generally vary. In addition, you will be responsible for covering the cost of underwriting the policy and performing a title search. These costs are bundled and charged to you as a one-time “service fee.”

If you have questions about title insurance, or want to find a policy that will fit your needs, call 877-550-0025 and speak to a Vargas and Vargas Insurance representative! 

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In the US, homes are typically financed with either a 15 or a 30 year mortgage. A mortgage allows homeowners to pay off their residence over a period of time, instead of having to pay potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars up front. 

When purchasing a home, some people cannot afford to put down 20% of the purchase price. When that is the case, Private Mortgage Insurance (also known as PMI) is often taken out on the loan in order to protect against default. The amount you will pay monthly for PMI depends on three main factors:

• The total value of the home you are purchasing.
• The amount you are borrowing in your mortgage.
• Your credit score.

When everything is computed, PMI can add $100 or more to your monthly mortgage payment. While the protection provided by Private Mortgage Insurance is invaluable at the onset of your mortgage, you can typically eliminate the extra cost a little ways into the life of your loan. This is typically done one of four ways:

Pay off more than 20% of your mortgage

Private Mortgage Insurance is only necessary if you owe more than 80% of your home’s value. As you make payments (and therefore have paid off more and more of your home) you should naturally reach the point where you have paid off more than 20% of your mortgage. At this point, call your lender and verify that your PMI charge has been removed.

Reappraise your home

If you have spent money upgrading your home, or if you pay a high interest rate on your mortgage, you may benefit from having your home reappraised. If your appraiser determines that your home’s value has increased, it may push you over the 20% hurdle that is key when it comes to eliminating your Private Mortgage Insurance payment.

This method does not come without risk, though. You will have to pay for your home’s appraisal, and that will typically cost anywhere from $200 to $500 (or more, depending on the value of your home).

Lender Paid Mortgage Insurance

Some mortgage lenders will allow you to use an alternative to PMI. It is called “Lender Paid Mortgage Insurance,” and, as the name indicates, it is mortgage insurance that is covered by your mortgage provider instead of by you.

You may ask: what’s the catch? In the situation that you opt for Lender Paid Mortgage Insurance, your lender will require you to pay a higher rate of interest on your mortgage for the life of the loan. While this can sometimes result in a higher tax deduction, it is normally impossible to cancel. Typically, this route is only recommended if you have a short term loan, or if you plan to move or refinance within 10 years. 

It is also important to remember that Private Mortgage Insurance only protects you from default on your mortgage. This policy is completely separate from your home insurance policy, which protects your home from many types of perils. 

Typically, mortgage lenders will require that you purchase a home insurance policy as a part of their financing agreement. If you don’t know where to start, talk to a representative from Vargas and Vargas Insurance. You can get on the road to peak home protection, just by calling us at 877-550-0025.

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Tides aren’t the only things that are rising nowadays – if you haven’t already, you may soon see an increase in your flood insurance premium. This is thanks to a new act passed through congress last July – the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.

This piece of legislation was passed in an effort to recoup the losses of the National Flood Insurance Program due predominantly to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast back in 2005.

As you can imagine, the reform act document is rather lengthy, and its verbiage is unarguably hard to follow. In an effort to save you some sanity, here is a summary of the two key points of the act that may affect you and your flood insurance:

Loss of Subsidies

In the Flood Insurance Reform Act, certain types of buildings lost subsidies that have been in place since the 1970s. This change has the possibility to significantly raise rates on certain varieties of property, which include:

• Residences that are not classified as a primary residence. This includes second homes, vacation homes, investment properties, and more.
• Any and all business properties.
• Properties that have suffered severe repetitive losses due to flooding.
• Buildings that require a new flood insurance policy (including both new and pre-existing buildings).

In addition to these properties losing their subsidies, this Act has increased the maximum annual rate increase of flood insurance policies from 10% to 20%.

New Standards for Existing Properties

Another major change that the Flood Insurance Reform Act has initiated has the potential to greatly affect older properties. 

When a building is erected, it is built following the existing flood maps and flood specifications, and its flood insurance was always calculated based on the flood maps drawn the year the building was constructed. As flood standards changed over the years, older buildings weren’t penalized. This is all about to change. 

According to the new legislation, all buildings will be evaluated based on current flood maps, not the flood maps that existed the year the building was constructed. This means that buildings in areas that are now considered to be at risk for floods will probably see a dramatic increase in their flood insurance rates. 

Thankfully, this change should only truly affects older homes, and homes built in the last decade or two shouldn’t notice much of a change when flood maps are reevaluated.

If you have questions about your flood insurance policy, remember that Vargas and Vargas Insurance is always here to answer your questions. We have offered flood insurance to our Massachusetts clients for many years, and we can help you determine how all this new legislation will affect you and your home.

We encourage all home and business owners to call 877-550-0025 today to speak to an insurance specialist from Vargas and Vargas Insurance about your flood protection. We will evaluate the effects of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act on your property, and may also be able to save you some money on your flood insurance premiums!

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Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance, we talk to a lot of people about their automobile insurance. We do everything we can to make sure that all of our clients get the coverage that suits their needs. 

One of the auto insurance topics that we discuss most is the policy’s deductible. You can set your auto insurance deductible low or high, and there are some people that are confused as to why anyone would choose to have a higher deductible.

In truth, there are a few major benefits to setting a more elevated deductible. These reasons include:

Higher Deductibles Mean Lower Premiums – If you agree to pay a higher deductible in the event of an accident, your insurance provider will agree to let you pay a lower monthly premium. This monthly savings on your collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage can really add up over time!

According to USA Today, raising your auto deductible from $200 to $500 could save you 15% to 30% of your monthly insurance cost.

File Fewer Auto Insurance Claims – If your car insurance deductible was a $1000, you wouldn’t bother telling your insurance provider about a measly ding in your car, would you? The goal of an insurance policy is to financially protect what you cannot. If you feel confident that you can cover minor dings and scratches yourself, you probably don’t need a low deductible policy.

In addition, it is a well known fact that when you file an auto insurance claim, your policy’s rates may rise. By filing less claims with your insurance provider, therefore, you will be saving yourself from raising your rates due to little, somewhat meaningless, claims.

Who Would Benefit?

You should really only consider this method if you fulfill a few categories. First and foremost, you should have enough money to cover a higher deductible should you ever need to make a claim. This can be accomplished by putting the money you save on each insurance bill into a separate account just in case of an accident.

Second, this method is really only viable for safe drivers. A high deductible is not a good choice for those people that are “accident prone,” as they could end up spending a great deal of money each time they find themselves at fault for an accident.

Who Wouldn’t Benefit?

While increasing an auto insurance deductible is the right choice for some car owners, there are others who would not benefit from this tactic.

As we said earlier, those who make auto insurance claims often would not benefit from this approach. In addition, you should only attempt to save this money if you are comfortable putting aside your savings until you have your auto deductible within easy reach in its own savings account. This step is vital in ensuring that you are prepared for an accident, should one occur. Remember – you never plan to get in an accident, and they always happen at the most inconvenient times!

If you are interested in talking to an automobile insurance expert about how raising your automobile insurance may save you money on your premiums, call 877-550-0025 now to speak to a Vargas and Vargas Insurance representative.

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Once you know that you need a life insurance policy, finding one that fits your needs can seem like a daunting task. The options appear endless – you need to choose whether you want a whole or term life insurance policy, then you need to settle on how much coverage your life insurance policy needs to offer. 

Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance, we are dedicated to helping our customers work through these types of decisions. For example, when you are looking to estimate the amount of coverage your life insurance policy will need to have, you should consider the following factors:

End of Life Expenses

If you pass on, you need to ensure that the burden of your final medical expenses and funeral expenses does not fall on your family. This is done by ensuring that these expenses are covered as a part of your life insurance policy.

Double check your health insurance policy, and make sure that all of your final medical expenses will be covered. If there are any holes or gaps in your coverage, you can use your life insurance policy to fill them in.

Also, it is easy to overlook how costly a funeral can be. Remember that your family will most likely need to cover a bunch of different expenses, including purchasing a gravesite, a casket and burial expenses or cremation expenses. They will also need to cover the cost of a funeral home, and an accompanying service.

Remaining Obligations

A life insurance policy needs to be able to cover your remaining financial obligations. These obligations can range greatly, but typically include mortgages, car loans, student loans, and the like. 

This is, of course, assuming that these obligations are not covered by another type of insurance. For example, a car loan is sometimes covered as a part of your car insurance. If you are unsure of your loan coverage, just ask your insurance agent to review your policies. 

Anticipated Expenses

If you have children under the age of 18 at home, you may wish to include some money for them in your life insurance policy. As an added benefit, this money can sometimes be earmarked. This will ensure that the inheritance is only spent in the way you intend, typically for college tuition or other educational expenses.

Future Needs

In addition to covering these three specific things, you need to make sure that your life insurance policy covers the rest of your loved one’s needs. This is best quantified by looking at your household’s current expenses. Add up all of the little things that your family spends money on – like groceries and entertainment.

When you are calculating these additional expenses, remember to do your best to account for a changing cost of living due to inflation!

If you need help estimating these figures, remember that a life insurance expert is only a phone call away! With a quick and easy call to Vargas and Vargas Insurance at 877-550-0025, you can speak to an insurance representative that will walk you through the steps of determining what level of life insurance you need to make sure that you and your family are protected in case of the unthinkable. So don’t wait – call now!

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With both Arbor Day and Earth Day upon us, it’s time to think about what you are doing to help out this gorgeous planet that we all call home. Going green may be easier than you think, and you can do something to help out the environment in almost every facet of your life.

Here are 10 quick and easy ways that you can save some energy (and some of your hard-earned money) by helping the environment:

At Home

• Use Cold Water: Did you know that 85% of the energy used when washing clothes is spent on heating up the water? If you wash in cold more often, you won’t waste all that extra energy!
• Unplug Appliances: Even if an appliance is off, it is using a tiny amount of energy if it is plugged in. Take one extra step and unplug your appliances when they’re not in use to avoid this unnecessary energy loss.
• Manage Your Thermostat: Air conditioning and heating use a lot of energy. If you can keep your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer, you can save energy and save money on your heating and cooling bills!
• Use Green Fixtures: You can save a lot of water by switching to low-flow showerheads and toilets. If you don’t want to switch over your whole house at once, consider trying these in the bathrooms that are used most often.

In the Car

• Use Alternative Transportation: If you can, take a walk or bike to the place that you are going. Also remember, you can sometimes save money on your car insurance by driving less!
• Make Less Trips: Instead of doing errands one at a time, make an effort to do one errand trip a week. It may seem like a hassle, but you will save a lot of gas.
• Drive Smart: When you do need to get in the car, make sure that you do your best to drive in an energy efficient manner. 

At Work

• Turn Off Your Electronics: At the end of the day, make sure that all of your hardware is fully powered down. Sleep mode will save a little power, but fully shut down electronics are much greener.
• Save Paper: If you need to print something, make sure that you use both sides of the paper. Also, make sure that paper is recycled instead of just thrown out.
• Get a Plant: A little greenery will brighten up your office, and it is appropriate with Arbor day right around the corner. Having some greenery at the office also serves many other purposes. A plant will help filter the air you breathe, and can even absorb indoor air pollution!

Do you see how easy it is to help the earth? Even if you only pick out a few of these methods to try out, you will be saving precious resources and helping fuel the green movement. Also, remember that we at Vargas and Vargas Insurance want to help you save on your insurance policies! For a free quote or evaluation, call one of our great team members at 877-550-0025 today!

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As a business owner, you do everything in your power to make sure that your business is marketed to as many potential clients as possible. You may do this through word of mouth advertising, running advertisements in local papers, or through the power of social media.

The next step in your business plan should be to close the deal. You must show your customers that the product or service you provide is valuable, and that they will miss out if they decide to pass you up on your offerings.

If you aren’t trained or practiced in sales techniques, here are some tips on how you can show potential clients the value of your business:

Give the buyer choices

Not every one of your customers will be looking for a premium, all-inclusive package. If you offer different tiers of your products or services, you can broaden your business’s customer base. For example, Vargas and Vargas Insurance offers business insurance policies that can be customized to fit the needs and the budget of any Massachusetts business that needs proper coverage and protection.

Quantify the buyer’s benefits

In this day and age, everything centers around a purchase’s ROI, or return on investment. In layman’s terms, this is exactly how much benefit a client will get from a purchase. If a customer perceives a deal to have a positive ROI, they are much more likely to buy from you.

Your business can leverage this fact by making ROI a selling point of your products or services. When speaking to a potential customer, outline all the benefits your product. It can help even more if you can quantify these benefits. Showing concrete evidence to support the products or services you sell can help you take a huge step toward making a sale.

Show the buyer their potential losses

If a customer won’t make the deal based solely on what they will gain, sometimes you can tip the scale in your favor by also showing them what they will lose. 

It is not uncommon for a customer to shy away from making a rushed decision, and for good reason – rash decisions can lead to negative consequences. Your job, though, is to make sure that your customers know what they’re going to lose if they delay acting on your offer. Make your examples specific too: explain their potential losses of reputation, profits, quality of life, or anything else that your product or service stands to improve.

If you and your business are able to take advantage of these three simple tips, you will start to close sales like a pro. With some training for your staff and a little practice, you could see your business’s sales and profits start to slowly rise over time. 

You can even take this opportunity one step further by encouraging your buyers to tell their friends about your products. After all, every business owner knows that the benefits of word of mouth advertising can be astronomical!

Call the Vargas & Vargas Insurance staff today to review your business insurance. You want to put your business in a position to sustain itself in case of an insurance loss. Contact us at 877.550.0025.

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It’s that time of year already! The Boston Marathon is right around the corner. Many people wonder why anyone would run more than 26 miles just ‘for fun.’ The truth is, running can be a great way to exercise, lose weight, and reduce stress, among many other reasons.

You don’t need to be marathon ready to reap the benefits, however. Start slowly and build yourself up. Your body will start conditioning right away, and you will be able to exercise longer and longer as you build up muscle and endurance. 

Ready to give running a try? Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:

How to Get Started

Before you hit the pavement, there is one piece of equipment that you will need; good running shoes. Take heed – this does not mean those old tennis shoes that have been buried in your closet for the last 10 years. Your shoes will be your foundation, so you need to make sure that they are solid. If you need help picking out a new pair, check out this guide from REI.

Once you have the right shoes, you need the right mindset. It’s easy to get overly excited when you start something new. Reign in your energy, and start slow. It is important to let your body ease into the effort that running takes. Start out running for a few minutes, then walking for a few minutes. As that process gets easier, you can increase the amount of time you run in each set. Eventually you will be able to run outright. 

Running Safety Tips

Before you do your running for the day, make sure that you stretch out your muscles first. A few minutes of walking and another few minutes of stretches can significantly reduce your risk of injury while you run.

In addition, there are a few safety precautions that you should take depending on where you choose to run:

If you are a treadmill runner, make sure that you are familiar with your machine. Read all of its instructions before you begin, and always wear the safety key if one is available. Also make sure that your treadmill is in a safe place, and away from children, pets, and fragile objects. 

Outdoor runners have a few more safety concerns. If outdoor running is more your style, make sure that you follow this list of safety tips:

• Ensure that you are visible. Wear reflective or bright clothing so that drivers can see you easily.
• Carry the essentials. While you want to run as unburdened as possible, you should always carry identification (like this Shoe ID) and a cell phone. In case of emergency, you may also wish to carry a small amount of cash or an ATM card.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t tune out the world if you run outdoors. You need to pay attention to what is going on around you! Make sure that you can hear everything as well – don’t blast music or an audio book, as it could hinder your ability to hear car horns or other pedestrians.
• Tell someone where you will be. It is important that someone know the route you will be taking, in case of emergency. If possible, leave a map of your course with a friend or family member.

If you follow these tips and guidelines, you can start reaping the health benefits right away! Running can help you burn fat, improve coordination and versatility, relieve stress, and prevent loss of bone and muscle, among many other factors.

Running is even so beneficial that it can help you to prevent medical catastrophes such as heart attacks, stroke, and certain types of cancer. We know that you are protected by your health insurance if these conditions were to affect you, but wouldn’t you rather prevent them in the first place? If you do need to discuss your health insurance coverage, please call our office at 877.550.0025.

Photo credit: KJohansson/Foter.com/CC BY