To make the most of your Mass home insurance, you need to ensure that you aren’t paying more than you need to, and that you have adequate coverage. However, that means you need to do two things; do an accurate assessment of your assets, and look for ways to keep the costs of your premiums down.

People sometimes under insure – in other words, they under-value their assets in order to get a lower premium. This is a false economy. It may mean that, if you have to make a claim, the amount your insurance company pays may not be sufficient to replace lost items. Ask yourself if you can afford to pay to replace an item if it is lost or damaged. Unless you can answer yes, you really need insurance that is able to pay the required amount (in an accepted claim) for replacement.

Instead of running that risk (of being under-insured), you should look at positive ways to lower your premiums without compromising your coverage. For instance, do you have your auto or life insurance with a different company from your home policy? The may be discounts available if you have all of your insurance with the same company. Increasing the security of your home may also help with reductions to your premiums as it means creating a lower risk profile for losses due to burglaries.

There are other options you could explore to make sure you get the best value for your Mass home insurance. Why not call and speak to one of our experienced staff members for help with the information you need to make the best decision for financially protecting your assets?

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A home-based business can offer a degree of flexibility in working hours that suits people with families better than having to punch an employer’s time clock. However, before you rush off and resign so you can get your business up and running, do some homework. Look at what your options are for the type of business that might be feasible, and then work out what you might need in the way of essentials like equipment, basic marketing materials and Massachusetts small business insurance.

Life is getting busier, for many working hours are getting longer, our kids have more commitments outside school hours, and it can be very difficult to maintain a sustainable life/work balance. For many people it’s important to be around for family, especially when kids are going through school. Managing on a single income so that one of you can stay home full time may not be a financial option. However, running a small, home-based business that allows you to have some control over the hours you work, and when you work, could give you that much need financial security and still allow you to be available for those all-important occasions for your kids.

While some business activities might be able to be covered by a homeowner’s policy, there can be financial hazards that could catch you off guard if you are not careful. You may only need to raise your limits, or add an endorsement. Alternatively, if your business needs more than an average PC and a corner of the kitchen, you might need to have more comprehensive Massachusetts small business insurance. Call us today to discuss your options.

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One of the main dangers to your home in the event of a severe storm is wind damage, not only from the wind itself but from flying debris that may be hurled against your house. With tornado season under way in many parts of the country, and hurricane season just around the corner, it is well worth taking a few steps to reduce the chance of loose debris threatening your home. Even a fairly small object can cause damage serious enough to lead to a claim on your Mass home insurance if it is thrown against a window or door with enough force.

Take a look around your property and backyard. A few things you might want to consider removing include:

•Loose or dead tree branches
•Rocks
•Trees that could be blown over
•Lawn ornaments including gnomes and statues

When a storm is imminent make sure to secure any larger loose objects such as garden furniture, pool covers and shed doors. Bring whatever you can inside and make sure the rest is bolted down as securely as possible. By reducing the chance of flying objects becoming property damaging missiles you could help to protect your home and decrease the chance of having to make a claim on your Mass home insurance. 

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When times are tough, business does it tough too, as everyone tries to keep spending to a minimum and stretch what funds they have that much further. As a small business owner, you might be struggling to find ways to cut down on expenses, but don’t be tempted to lower your Massachusetts small business insurance coverage – that could be a false economy.

There may be ways you can consolidate your policies, if you have a range of different ones for specific types of coverage. It might be possible, for instance, to change over to a business owner’s policy (BOP) as that combines a few different types of coverage within the one policy, so you only have a single premium. Then you might be able to manage with just a couple of other policies to manage any other risks your business might face.

A Massachusetts small business insurance agent may be your best source of assistance during tough times. He or she is well placed to be able to provide you with information on the latest insurance products and may be able to suggest ways that you can restructure your insurance so you get the best possible value for your money. An insurance agent may also be able to suggest things you can do with your business practice that could attract some discounts on your premiums. Before things start to feel too unmanageable, call our office and make a time to meet with one of our agents to discuss your business insurance requirements.

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When was the last time you checked through your Mass home insurance policy? It may have been a while, which means it’s probably time to get it out and have a look through it. It could be that you bought some fairly basic coverage initially and you may need to make some adjustments.

Another thing to consider is extra coverage for disasters that you may not have purchased when you first bought your coverage. Are you aware that, for the most part, your home insurance policy most likely doesn’t offer you protection against some extreme weather events? You may be able to claim for some fire, storm and hail damage. However, major floods, earthquakes and hurricanes probably aren’t covered, and you may need separate policies for these. 

Flood coverage is particularly important. Read your policy – check the details in the documentation about coverage for water damage. People who live near rivers or in low lying areas know intuitively that there could be a flood if there is an unusual amount of rain – but it doesn’t always mean they think to buy special coverage. However, if you live near a river and do not have adequate coverage, you may not have the financial means to recover if you experience a major flood.

Call one of our agents to assist you in reviewing your Mass home insurance requirements. Discuss with them your options for adding the disaster coverage that is not included.

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As winter is moving out the door and spring is moving in, every homeowner should prepare their home for the spring! If Home Insurance costs you a substantial amount of money each year, then you should love your home! Show that you care by following these easy steps to show some spring time love.

 Clean your windows – Each season your homes windows will be dirty from daily activities on the inside and the harsh environment on the inside. After cleaning your windows you will give your house a new sparkle and shine!

 Clean fans and HVAC systems – After the winter, your fans will have accumulated large amounts of dust, and your HVAC systems will no longer release clean fresh air like they should. Clean your fans and HVAC systems to live a healthier life.

 Vacuum and clean out your carpets – By vacuuming and cleaning your carpets you will eliminate any dust mites and critters that found a place to stay warm for the winter! Also, you will bring a fresh sent to your home before the stuffy allergy season begins.

 Check for interior and exterior damage – While your home withstands winter storms and harsh cold weather, it is not uncommon to have some exterior damage. Your gutters may have become loose, a shingle or two may be missing from your roof or even a piece of siding may be missing from your home. Interior damage can occur also. Some homes are not designed properly, as a result homeowners may have water and snow that worked its way underneath the shingles and has started to rot out the roof, this incident is called an ice dam. Check your ceilings after ever winter for water staining to ensure your home is safe to live in.

 Add new plants to your garden – Express how excited for the spring you are by bringing some life to the exterior of your home.  Some plants may have been damaged by the cold winter months. To express your excitement about the new spring season throw out the old and bring in the new and bring some color to your garden!

 Vargas & Vargas Insurance Agency cares about you and your home. Show your home the same love and care that we express to our clients. For all of your Home Insurance needs, call Vargas & Vargas Insurance Agency at 877-550-0025

Small businesses depend on each and every member of their team to maintain productivity. In some cases, there may be individuals who have particular skills that are crucial to continued operations. While your Massachusetts small business insurance package might offer you excellent general coverage, you may need to consider specific coverage to offer financial protection in the event that something happens to a person on whom your business is very reliant.

Key person coverage is a form of life insurance that is designed to provide financial protection for this type of situation. Unlike a personal life insurance policy, it is held by your business and the business becomes the beneficiary in the event that something happens and you need to claim on the policy. 

You should discuss this with any employees you are considering for this coverage. They may or may not already have life insurance. However, if they don’t, you could suggest that they take out a personal policy to protect their family’s financial future, as your policy will not do that. 

Massachusetts small business insurance can work best for your business if you take the time to work through all the specific risks your business may face. That way, you can work with your agent to put together a collection of policies that are designed to offer back up in case you suffer any losses or damage due to those risks. 

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Making a claim on your Mass home insurance is something you may hope you’ll never have to do when you buy the policy. However, apart from major disasters like burglaries or extreme weather damage, there can be any number of small, annoying incidents that may occur in the course of ordinary day to day life that might lead you to make a claim. This can lead to increased premiums at renewal time, so perhaps you could fix some of these incidents without making an insurance claim? 

An example might be having kids who like to play ball. It may not be long before a ball accidentally goes through a window of your house – if the cost of repair is only a small amount over the amount of your deductible, it may well be worth ignoring your right to claim on your policy.

You have to weigh up your options. A small broken window that you may be able to fix yourself might not cost a lot. Even if you decide you need the services of a contractor, it might cost you more in the long run, particularly if you make a number of small claims on your Mass home insurance. However, a large plate glass picture window could be quite a different proposition. Big sheets of glass are expensive and you may need a skilled glass specialist to cut, deliver and install it – that might be worth a claim for financial assistance. Your home insurance can be your best resource for large and medium sized incidents – but perhaps some smaller problems can be fixed out-of-pocket.

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Many small businesses carry the four basic Massachusetts small business insurance policies – property, commercial vehicle, liability and workers’ comp. However, while these will cover you for many standard risks you may face with your business, there are many extra policies that can offer you protection for more specific risks that you should perhaps consider.

Basic property insurance will cover you for standard risks. However, there are a number of exclusions you will find if you read carefully through your policy. These can include, among other risks, losses due to:

•Floods
•Earthquakes
•Hurricanes
•Terrorism
•Internet crime

In addition to these, liability is a fast expanding area. Your general liability insurance is designed to cover you financially against injury claims from individuals who are hurt while on your premises. However, there is a range of very specific liability policies that can offer protection against a number of different potential risks, including coverage for:

•Errors and omissions – for cases involving allegations of negligence or errors in services supplied.
•Product liability coverage –for situations where faulty products might cause a loss to a client
•Directors’ and officers’ liability – for law suits relating to activities of directors and officers.

Every business is unique and, therefore, faces specific risks that are peculiar to their activities and operations. To ensure that your business is adequately covered by the best combination of extra policies, in addition to your basic Massachusetts small business insurance package, you should discuss your options with your insurance agent, who can help guide you through the range of available products.

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Purchasing the right business insurance policy is an important task.  While policies can vary depending on business size, the type of industry and its sales, there are four basic types of business insurance that all companies should purchase.  These types provide safe and adequate coverage to the business and its employees.

Property Insurance:  In addition to insuring the building, property insurance covers the company’s physical assets, such as office computers, inventory and machinery.  It may also provide operating funds while the business recovers from unforeseen losses, coverage for equipment breakdown and debris removal after a fire or flood.

Liability Insurance:  While every business works to ensure complete customer satisfaction, a lawsuit can still happen.  People may claim that the business gave them a defective and harmful product, or a service error could have been made, provoking them to sue the company.  Liability insurance pays the damages for which the business is found liable and any accrued attorney fees, medical bills and legal defense expenses. 

Business Vehicle Insurance:  A business vehicle insurance policy provides coverage for any auto that the business owns.  This policy pays third parties the cost for physical injuries or vehicle damage for which the company is liable, up to the policy limits.  Additionally, a business vehicle insurance policy may pay to repair or replace the auto.  If driving your own car for business purposes, discuss this with your agent. 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance:  Massachusetts’ employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance to protect their employees.  It pays for medical care and replaces lost wages when an employee suffers an injury on the job.  If an employee dies as a result of injuries, the policy provides compensation to his/her family.  to learn more about business insurance and receive a free quote for this insurance at: http://bit.ly/wwgfSX.

For any business insurance policy and coverage questions, call Vargas & Vargas Insurance at 877-550-0025 or visit their website, vargasinsurance.com.  Vargas & Vargas Insurance is dedicated to finding the right business insurance policy that fits your company’s needs and budget.

What type of coverage does your Mass home insurance
include? Many residents have policies that compensate for universal
risks such as fire, theft, and vandalism. How about tornadoes? According
to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service,
Massachusetts saw 9 tornadoes from January 1st, 2001 to December 31st,
2010. During that decade, twisters created $1.815 million worth of
damage.

•    Princeton experienced a tornado on June 17th, 2001 which cost the affected residents $25,000.
•    On June 30th, 2001, Bellingham citizens watched a twister roll through their area but fortunately it caused no damage.
•    On July 23, 2002, West Brookfield homeowners were hit with $50k of repair bills after a storm ravaged the area.
•    August 20-21, 2004 brought 2 tornadoes to the state – the first, in
Pittsfield ($25,000 of damage) and the second in Franklin ($1.5
million).
•    Great Barrington was the next to be hit on June 29, 2005, but the tornado dissipated without damaging property.
•    The strongest in the decade struck on July 11, 2006 in Wendell,  costing residents $200,000.
•    New Braintree saw a storm on July 19, 2007, but incurred no repair bills.
•    Another struck on July 23, 2008 in South Swansea and caused $15k of damage.

While a tornado
may only strike about once a year in the state, there is no way to know
if that twister will whirl by harmlessly or decimate an entire
neighborhood. It is best then to be prepared with the appropriate Mass home insurance to ensure you can access compensation after the disaster.

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When purchasing insurance Boston MA residents may consider the various risks they face throughout the year, some of the most common being hurricanes, tornadoes, and winter storms. One thing that often does not come to mind is the things some people will unfortunately resort to during a disaster. One such act is looting.

There is a certain percentage of the population that will take any opportunity on offer to relieve us of our possessions. Whether it’s after a flood, a tornado or an earthquake, home owners often report having returned home after an evacuation period to find prized possessions missing. It’s an ideal time for looters – emergency services usually have their hands full, and residents and business owners have been told to evacuate or have done so for their own safety.

While you may be spared any real damage to your home during a natural disaster, you still may suffer loss at the hands of looters. To have your home damaged and then find that your possessions have been stolen would just make the experience all the more devastating – Mother Nature and human nature at their worst, at the same time!

For every home owner and business owner it’s always important to have the backup of an insurance policy that can compensate your losses in a range of circumstances. Do you have adequate insurance? Boston MA residents and business owners who need policies or are seeking quotes are welcome to contact us.

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When it comes to insurance, Boston, MA residents typically need at least one type of policy. Do you own a house? Then you will probably need home insurance. Do you rent? You could benefit from renters coverage. Do you drive a vehicle, whether for work or pleasure? By law, you must have a certain amount of auto insurance. Individuals also often invest in health, dental, and life insurance. No matter what type of coverage you are in the market for, getting a policy requires a certain amount of personal information.

Your name will obviously be needed. Along with your name, you will probably need to submit your contact information, including your mailing address and phone number. Your social security number may be requested as well, to verify your identity.

Purchasing an insurance policy may require certain other records, including your credit report, to be checked. Should you be applying for auto coverage, your driving history could be requested from the local Department of Motor Vehicles. The details of your car loan, if you have one, may also be asked for.

Many times, depending on your credit, the type of policy and the amount of coverage you are buying, a down payment may be required to complete the purchase of insurance in Boston, MA. Boston residents who are protected by an insurance policy may be able to minimize the impact of certain financial calamities in the future.

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