Insurance To-Dos After Your Child Moves Out

Posted on October 27, 2020September 21, 2020 by cvargas

So your child is moving out. They are either going to college and getting an off-campus apartment, going out on their own for a job, or starting some other adventure. This brings with it a whole string of emotions from happy to sad and anxious to ecstatic. After the tears, it’s time to think about some next steps for when you are starting to downsize your life.

Home Insurance

On your checklist of to-dos, you will want to check on your home policy after your child has moved. There are a few different things to check. For example, you will want to see if you can change your own policy to be lower now that there are not as many belongings in the home. You may also want to see if your homeowner’s policy will cover your child if they are still in college (which may be the case if they are in the dorms). Alternatively, you may be able to get a discount by getting a renter’s policy through the same company.

In any case, now may be a good time to let your child know that a renter’s policy will help them with liability concerns. It will also protect the belongings that are inside their apartment.

Car Insurance

The other thing that your child will need to take charge of will be their own car insurance policy. This is especially nice as newer drivers tend to require more expensive policies. If they are moving far away without a car, you may be able to put the car they used in your own name without listing them as a driver on the policy any longer. Alternatively, if they are moving and taking their car, they can go ahead and get their own policy. You will no longer need to be responsible for it and can see about downsizing your coverage.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is the premier local independent insurance agency — we work for our clients and not the insurance company. We will customize your insurance coverage to your specific needs at the right price as you downsize. Contact us today for answers to all of your insurance questions.

How much renter’s insurance do you need in Dorchester, MA?

Posted on October 21, 2020October 21, 2020 by agentinsure

It only takes one major event for you to learn that renters insurance is not an option. Still, even with the knowledge that you absolutely need an indemnity policy to pay for damaged or lost items, you may not know the type of renters insurance policy that best fits your life in Dorchester, MA. How much renters insurance does one need to secure a sense of financial stability? The agents at Vargas & Vargas Insurance can help.

Is renters insurance required?

There is no state law requiring every renter to obtain an indemnity policy. Some landlords, however, may require you to show proof of a renters insurance plan before letting you sign a lease to rent an apartment in Dorchester, MA.

You should consider an indemnity policy even if such is not required by the landlord for personal reasons. The building owner is mainly responsible to insure the property grounds. You cannot sue him or her for items lost or damaged in a burglary.

What should a renters insurance plan entail?

The best renters insurance policies offer replacement cost values for items lost or damaged. Such a tenet is especially important if you have a lot of electronics in your unit.

Computers and televisions lose value immediately after purchase. Having an insurance plan that only offers the cash value of such items leaves you to pay for the remaining cost to replace the items out-of-pocket. A replacement cost plan provides payment according to the current market value.

A good renters insurance plan should also offer temporary housing. It is usually up to the landlord to secure housing if a unit is uninhabitable. You should not, however, rely on someone else when it comes to shelter. A good renters insurance plan will pay for expenses related to temporarily relocating upfront.

How much renters insurance do you need?

The amount of renters insurance you need largely depends on your personal preferences and possessions. An agent at Vargas & Vargas Insurance can help you determine how much coverage is right for your living situation. Call today for a quote!

When Is the Right Time to Reassess Your Home’s Value?

Posted on October 20, 2020September 15, 2020 by cvargas

There are times when you think about your home’s value and wonder whether you have the right home insurance coverage. It’s an important thing to consider, and there are definitely times when it is important to reassess your home’s value. This ensures you have the coverage that matches your home and belongings, just in case something happens.

If you were to look at the market right now and think that maybe your coverage is not enough, that isn’t the whole story. Insurance companies use replacement value, not market value, to make assessments of your home’s worth.

What Is Replacement Value?

Replacement value is the cost of replacing the home and all the belongings inside it. This does not take into account the age of the home or any depreciation that has occurred over time. This value is challenging to quantify.

How Often You Should Reassess Your Home’s Value

It would be best if you had your insurance policy reassessed whenever you have made improvements to your home. Also, as the market changes, you will want to have the policy assessed. Why is this important? You don’t want to have something happen, only to find out that you only have half of your home’s worth covered in your insurance plan. It is best to get a new appraisal every couple of years, and a new insurance assessment annually.

In the end, it is better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to your home insurance policy. Proactive steps now give you the comfort that, if something happens, you have the coverage that you need so that you can focus on rebuilding.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is one of the premier local independent insurance agencies. We work for our clients and not the insurance company. We will customize your home insurance coverage to your specific needs at the right price, and we’re here to answer all of your insurance questions. Contact us today to get started.

How Often Should You Reassess Your Home’s Value?

Posted on October 7, 2020October 6, 2020 by cvargas

There are different types of home valuations that you can choose from. The value of your home depends on your chosen type of valuation. There are different ways and reasons why homes are valued. The different types of home valuations differ based on the reason, who carries out the process, and the effect on the rates and coverage of your home insurance.

Some home valuations affect home insurance directly. It is important to critically appraise your home insurance policy if you realize there is a decrease or increase in its apparent value. Also, it is important to have enough home-dwelling insurance coverage in the event of a disaster. It is devastating to lose your house to a disaster and realize it was insured for less than its value.

Several factors affect the value of a home. They include size, age, location, condition, and building materials. You might need different types of valuations for different reasons. Therefore, home valuations fluctuate based on the situation.

Reassessing Your Home’s Value for Insurance Coverage

It would help if you had your home reassessed to ensure your coverage is a good fit. It would also help if you reassessed the value of your home every year. This will help you decide on the best coverage. This helps in avoiding payment of high premiums. It also ensures that any possibility of loss is satisfactorily covered.

Reassessing the value of your home every year helps in incorporating any recent improvements to your house into your insurance coverage. Even if there are no improvements, reassessment ensures that you have adequate coverage limits to cover the entire cost of rebuilding.

In reassessing the value of your home, you need to measure how much coverage you need. Also, inspect for perils not included in the coverage, and recheck your deductible. You need to compare your current premium to the premium you paid the previous year. Be sure you store all your documents safely.

Vargas & Vargas is one of the premier local independent insurance agencies. We work for you by customizing your insurance coverage consistent with your specific needs at the right price. Contact us today for expert responses to all your insurance questions.

Downsizing to a Condo vs. a Smaller House

Posted on October 6, 2020September 10, 2020 by cvargas

There are different financial and practical reasons to downsize to either a small house or to a condo. The reasons for downsizing are all good, provided you are ready to move to your new community and the finances work in your favor.

Before you decide to downsize to a smaller house or a condo, you need to:

Assess your needs
Decide where you would like to live
Price it out
Realize that a smaller space is not necessarily cheaper
Avoid underestimating your emotional considerations

Benefits of Downsizing

Downsizing to either a condo or a smaller house has its considerations and potential drawbacks, and it is vital to learn more before making an offer. Moving to a condo or a smaller house is not only for singles or couples. It’s even for large families interested in changing their lifestyles.

Downsizing to both a small house and a condo means owning less, which can make you happier. Having a few things and fewer rooms reduces your chore time. This leaves you more time to take part in activities that can enrich your life.

Unique Considerations of Downsizing to a Condo

Condo living also gives you the luxury of less maintenance. You will not have to spend your time doing gardening related chores, such as mowing the lawn. While every condo community is different, most of them have an extensive list of amenities compared to small house communities.

Condo communities are characterized by the proximity of the quarters to each other. When you live in such close quarters, you enjoy a sense of community that is different from what you will find in a typical neighborhood of small houses. Taking great pride in your community makes it easier for you and your neighbors to become friends.

Downsizing to a condo can be more expensive compared to moving to a smaller house. Considerations of location and convenience might increase your payment for a condo.

If you have questions on how to start the downsizing process, Vargas & Vargas Insurance can guide you through the process and get it done for you. You can depend on our expertise for your insurance needs and referral to experts in your local area.

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Month: October 2020