Click to Call Text Us
Vargas & Vargas Insurance

1133 Washington St
Dorchester, MA 02124

 Get Directions

Month: June 2017

What Does Commercial Insurance Cover?

Posted on by agentinsure

Unlike car and home insurance, most people are not familiar with what commercial insurance covers. Here at Vargas & Vargas Insurance, serving the greater Dorchester, MA area, we want to take the time to let you know more about what this type of insurance is and what it covers. Here are a few of the things that commercial insurance covers.

Commercial Property

If you own a commercial building, commercial insurance covers this building from damage such as fire, strong winds, and storms. This type of coverage is very similar to home insurance. However, it is for a commercial building and the surrounding property instead.

Commercial Vehicles

Another thing that can be covered under commercial insurance is commercial vehicles. If your business uses cars during the course of your day, those cars and the drivers that use them are insured under a commercial insurance policy. This policy covers car theft, accidents, and injuries that may result from an accident.

Your Commercial Products

The last thing that is covered under a commercial insurance policy are the goods that are stored in the commercial building. These items are insured against things like theft and damage as well. This may include any product you have to sell or items typically found in a building, such as a warehouse equipment or computers, printers, and copy machines.

If you are looking to obtain a new commercial insurance policy or are not happy with your existing one, we can help. Give Vargas & Vargas Insurance a call today. We proudly serve the greater Boston, MA area and are here to answer questions and concerns. Let us help you find the right insurance policy that covers your business needs.

Read More

Keep Your Patio Furniture Looking New

Posted on by cvargas

Has your patio furniture come out of storage for the summer? Being able to sit outside and enjoy the weather is one of the best parts of the summer months, and that is best done on a fabulous patio set. If you have new outdoor furniture, make sure that it looks fresh year after year with these tips:

  • You will probably want to give your furniture a good thorough cleaning when it comes either out of storage or home from the store. Don’t be afraid to rent a high-pressure cleaning tool, as long as your furniture’s cleaning guide says it is ok.
  • A layer of dirt and debris may seem like nothing to worry about, but over time this grime may eat away at your furniture’s finish and make it dull. Cover your patio set when not in use to avoid frequent cleanings, as well as the harsh rays of the sun.
  • Take care of rust as soon as you notice it. Rust will spread if ignored, so use these tips to help with small spots of rust that you see before they have the chance to overtake the set.
  • When the weather gets colder and the season for patio furniture is over, find a warm and dry place to store your set away from the elements.

Want to go the extra mile to protect your patio set? Call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 and make sure that your Massachusetts home insurance policy has an adequate amount of coverage for all of your furniture and other belongings.

Read More

Storytelling Is Powerful Tool

Posted on by cvargas

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.”
– Robert McAfee Brown

Humans are born storytellers, and we do not relate to visual communication very well. Storytelling brings to life a scenario and makes an emotional connection, provoking feelings of ecstasy, sorrow, or peace, and captivating an audience. This is exactly what you need when it comes to your marketing strategy.

We all love a good story, especially when it catches our attention and draws us in. Stories have the power to captivate and increase our customer conversions and referrals from our customers. They also make your audience think of you as the local expert in your field, with the help of your satisfied clients.

Every good business has customers that have had such a wonderful experience doing business with us that they rave to their friends and family about their experience. We should capitalize on these satisfied customers to help promote our businesses. In order to best learn from these customers, you must listen to them.

Making sure that you have people, processes, and technology in place to put your customer first is critical. But none of it matters if you don’t activate it the right way. If you don’t act on feedback or show your customer that you and your company cares each and every day, you are missing out on a big opportunity!

#PeterShankman says in his book Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans that these are the customers that you should turn into Zombie Loyalists by getting them to share your story.

“You get the customers you want by being beyond awesome to the customers you have,”
-Peter Shankman.

According to Peter, “Zombie Loyalists” are fervent fans that help companies massively increase their customer base, brand awareness, and most importantly, revenue. After all, why should you have to tell the world how amazing you are if you can have your existing customers do it for you? Imagine an army of customers who will do your public relations, marketing, and advertising without being asked, each and every time they interact with your business. These are Zombie Loyalists. They are ready to buy what you sell, respond to your email offers and demand that their friends do the same.

So…are your satisfied customers telling your story?

Zombie Loyalists will disappoint you if you are looking for a science fiction horror story about blood-lusting zombies. Instead, this book is for anyone who is in customer service, sales management, and marketing. It will serve as a reminder of what customers – like you and me – deserve from the businesses we patronize.

Your business will see an increase in revenue if you begin taking care of your current clients and giving them an amazing experience every time they have an interaction with you and your company. Let them know your story and ask them to share their experience with their friends and family. Then you will be well on your way to creating your very own army of Zombie Loyalists!

Remember, I’m always here to help you and your clients win. It’s what I LOVE to do.

Go out and use this as a strategy to build your business, and DOMINATE your week!

Carlos

Read More

The Best Business Networking Groups

Posted on by cvargas

If you are a small business owner, a solopreneur or in sales, marketing is an imperative part of what you do. How do you get your name and your business ‘out there?’ One of the best ways to spread the word about what you offer is to be a member of one (or a few) local networking groups. Here are a few examples of groups you could join, along with short descriptions from their websites:

  • Business Networking International (BNI) – “By joining BNI, you’ll increase your exposure to like-minded professionals, gain referrals from a global network and sharpen your networking skills with exclusive member resources.”
  • Boston Business Women – “Boston Business Women aims to provide women with a platform to build connections, support personal and professional growth, and gain the tools and resources needed to succeed in both business and life.”
  • Rotary International – “The collective leadership and expertise of our 1.2 million members helps us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, locally and globally. We are united by common values and vision for the future as we sharpen our focus with targeted specific causes that will reach communities most in need.”
  • Kiwanis International – “We are passionate about making a difference. Helping kids grow and succeed is at the heart of everything we do. We believe our neighborhoods and our world are best served when people of all ages and different backgrounds work together to share their time and talents.”
  • Infinite Business Networking – “The mission of Infinite Business Networking is to help grow and nurture each other’s business through word-of-mouth referrals and professional development.”

Here’s one tip, though: if you are interested in joining one of these groups, make sure that you have enough time to dedicate to your membership. Just having the card isn’t enough – you need to be an engaged participant in meetings and activities in order to get the most of the experience. You also need to have a pretty good description of what you do, who your best customer is, and for best results, attend each meeting with a “story” or “drop” some knowledge on the others in the group.

In addition, when joining these types of organizations, it’s important to realize that the relationships that you build and the referral system in place are both two-way streets. It’s not enough nowadays to just give someone your business card. You need to build a relationship. And if you want to gain referrals, you have to expect to give referrals and don’t forget to follow up, follow up, follow up with everyone that you meet!

If you need some advice and guidance on joining a business group or just how to be a better networker, I am available to help.

And if anyone you know is ever in need of a great Boston insurance agent, please tell them to contact us at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency. We appreciate your referrals!

Carlos

Read More

Storytelling Is A Powerful Tool

Posted on by cvargas

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.”
– Robert McAfee Brown

Humans are born storytellers, and we do not relate to visual communication very well. Storytelling brings to life a scenario and makes an emotional connection, provoking feelings of ecstasy, sorrow, or peace, and captivating an audience. This is exactly what you need when it comes to your marketing strategy.

We all love a good story, especially when it catches our attention and draws us in. Stories have the power to captivate and increase our customer conversions and referrals from our customers. They also make your audience think of you as the local expert in your field, with the help of your satisfied clients.

Every good business has customers that have had such a wonderful experience doing business with us that they rave to their friends and family about their experience. We should capitalize on these satisfied customers to help promote our businesses. In order to best learn from these customers, you must listen to them.

Making sure that you have people, processes, and technology in place to put your customer first is critical. But none of it matters if you don’t activate it the right way. If you don’t act on feedback or show your customer that you and your company cares each and every day, you are missing out on a big opportunity!

My friend Peter Shankman says in his book Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans that these are the customers that you should turn into Zombie Loyalists by getting them to share your story.

“You get the customers you want by being beyond awesome to the customers you have,”
-Peter Shankman.

According to Peter, “Zombie Loyalists” are fervent fans that help companies massively increase their customer base, brand awareness, and most importantly, revenue. After all, why should you have to tell the world how amazing you are if you can have your existing customers do it for you? Imagine an army of customers who will do your public relations, marketing, and advertising without being asked, each and every time they interact with your business. These are Zombie Loyalists. They are ready to buy what you sell, respond to your email offers and demand that their friends do the same.

So…, are your satisfied customers telling your story?

Zombie Loyalists will disappoint you if you are looking for a science fiction horror story about blood-lusting zombies. Instead, this book is for anyone who is in customer service, sales management, and marketing. It will serve as a reminder of what customers – like you and me – deserve from the businesses we patronize.

Your business will see an increase in revenue if you begin taking care of your current clients and giving them an amazing experience every time they have an interaction with you and your company. Let them know your story and ask them to share their experience with their friends and family. Then you will be well on your way to creating your very own army of Zombie Loyalists!

Remember, I’m always here to help you and your clients win. It’s what I LOVE to do.

Carlos

Read More

Space Saving Tips for Your Home or Apartment

Posted on by cvargas

 

When you’re looking to live in Boston, you can find it all – minimalistic or ornate, compact or spacious. If you are living somewhere more compact and need to make the most of the space you have, here are a few tools that you can use to increase your storage:

Curtain Rods

Thinking of a curtain rod probably evokes images of window treatments and shower liners. But there are so many more uses for these versatile objects! Use a small tension rod in your under-the-sink cabinet for spray bottle storage. A longer tension rod can create a dust ruffle on some beds, leaving room for under-the-bed storage. Ribbons spools can be threaded onto a rod for a gift-wrapping station during the holidays. The possibilities are endless!

Extra Shelves

When you’re short on space, never miss an opportunity for a shelf. And get creative with where you place extra shelves – bookshelves in the den or living area are good, but putting small shelves in your cabinets will take your storage game to the next level!

Furniture with Storage

Nowadays, there are nearly limitless options for furniture that include storage. Inside the ottoman is a great place for blankets and pillows, under-the-bed storage would be perfect for all those clothes that aren’t in season. And don’t forget about over-the-toilet cabinets for toiletries and more.

To make sure that all of the items that you store are protected, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 for a renter’s insurance or home insurance quote.

Read More

No one saves us but ourselves.

Posted on by cvargas

“No one saves us but ourselves.
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path.”
-Buddha

Yesterday was an exciting day in our family. Our youngest son, Matthew married his best friend. We are all so very proud. Matthew and new bride, Cristiana have known each other since preschool. They attended school field trips together. They were friends long before they started dating, they hung around together with the same group of friends, and experienced all of the stuff that teenagers do when they are together in a group.

But in High school, they started dating, and slowly some of the teenagers in their group faded away, and their relationship developed. They went off to college and figured out how to get along on their own, get up for class, and stay away from trouble. Cristiana graduated with a teaching degree and is gainfully employed in her field.

Matthew, in his sophomore year of college, decided that he wanted to commute to school. Kathy and I thanked him for the consideration, but we had planned to pay for his 4 years of post education, tuition, boarding expenses, and all.  He said it was not about the money, the college scene was not what he wanted – there were too many parties, and too many raucous events (he inherited this part of his being from his mother). All in all, there were too many distractions. He wanted to start working in sales and needed to be closer to home. He had a plan.

He graduated the top of his class with a marketing and communication degree, and is now one of the managers at Enterprise Rent-A-Car at Logan Airport, overseeing 200 employees and 11K automobiles.

(I suggest Enterprise to every parent that I speak to that has a son or daughter that is looking to start in the working world. They hire the largest number of college graduates in the nation each year and have the best sales training program anywhere. They teach their employees all of the skills needed for a successful career in nearly any field of business.)

Matthew decided to take advanced classes, take extra classes, and commute – he had a plan and was going to work for it.

Why? I believe it’s because he was … DRIVEN. He had a goal, had a plan, and was taking action to reach that goal. I am SUPER proud of him and his new wife, Cristiana!

But, you think, I hear you ask, “Carlos, what does that have to do with real estate, mortgages, law, and business?”

Everything!

“There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path.
Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.”
-Ralph Marston

My son was on one road, and chose to change road he was on half way through his college career. He chose to follow a different path, he tried to make the right choices.

I hope that you are on the right road, and that you are having your best year EVER!  But, if you are like some business people, you may be stumbling, wandering from day to day, you may think that you need some help following a different path, to achieve better results, or you need a different course of action. Maybe you need to put a new system in place to achieve better results.

It’s not too late to start! You still have time to change your plan to get better results.  It’s not enough to have a desire to win – you need a plan. Stop chasing the newest shiny gimmick that comes your way (for now) and focus on what brings success, connecting with the people who know, like (even LOVE) and trust us.

I hope you choose to use my son’s story to inspire you and to maybe make changes in the path that you are on to be more successful!

If you need some to listen to your plan, or someone to give you some advice, I have shared my success plan with hundreds of professionals and would love to also do so with you, leave a reply below and we can schedule a time to meet.

And, know that you are loved!

Carlos

Read More

Hurricane Season 2017 is Here!

Posted on by cvargas

The 2017 hurricane season in the Atlantic will run from June 1 until November 30. Estimates for the upcoming season are already beginning to surface, and they aren’t mild – Weather.com is currently predicting a total of 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes, three of which will be major. This is right in line with the 2016 season, which had 15 named storms, 7 hurricanes (4 major).

Do you know what your home insurance policy will cover if a hurricane causes damage? While every policy is different, most offer protection for damage caused by heavy rain, wind, and hail. In addition, your home insurance may offer coverage if your home is severely damaged resulting in your need to seek shelter elsewhere – this is often called ‘loss of use.’

One important thing to note is that your home insurance probably doesn’t include coverage for damage due to floods – that is covered by a separate flood insurance policy. Since hurricanes and flooding often go hand in hand, flood insurance is something you might want to consider adding to your insurance portfolio in order to ensure complete protection.

Let’s talk numbers: in total, the 2016 storms caused over $16 Billion in damage. It’s not unheard of for a hurricane to affect us here in Massachusetts, so make sure that your belongings are protected. This includes your home, car, and more. To get a complete car and home insurance evaluation before the first threat forms, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655.

Read More

Our Services

Reviews

Partner Carriers

  • Arbella Insurance
  • Commerce
  • Mass Property
  • New London County Mutual
  • Norfolk and Dedham
  • Palomar
  • Pilgrim
  • Plymouth Rock
  • Safety
  • Travelers
  • Vermont Mutual