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Recap: Rainy Day Activities

Posted on by cvargas

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

At Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we love days when the sun is shining – but we also know that it’s important to embrace the rainy days! The next time that you’re besieged by a day of grey skies and rainclouds, don’t despair. Instead, gather up your family and try out one of the following activities:

  • Pull out the arts and crafts! There are hundreds of craft tutorials online for kids and adults of all ages, and you probably have the materials on hand already!
  • There’s not much better than a good book on a rainy day. Find a cozy spot and host a family read-a-thon. Bonus if there are healthy snacks involved! Also encourage everyone to share what they’re reading about.
  • Like arts and crafts, cooking is an activity that can be tailored to all ages. Have kids help prepare dinner or bake something yummy for dessert! Having kids help make food also makes them more likely to try new foods.

Still need something to do on a rainy Boston day? Talk to your Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent about your policies! Make sure that they are up to date and ask about the benefits of an umbrella insurance policy for extra liability protection. Just call 617-298-0655 to speak to a friendly and knowledgeable insurance agent.

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Home Inspection for Your Condominium Purchase

Posted on by cvargas

Condominium Buyers often ask:

Should I have an inspection done by a Certified Home Inspection service? 

The answer is a definitive YES!

While a Condominium (Condo) typically features construction and/or maintenance features addressed by Condominium Management, the Buyer should conduct an inspection for two main reasons.

First, the interior of the Condo. This area is not the responsibility of Condo Management. A Buyer needs to be aware of concerns such as deferred maintenance for appliances, windows, bathroom fixtures and interior plumbing.  You want to avoid a costly repair in the first 3-5 years after your purchase.  Likewise, the Condo Buyer needs to be aware of potentially catastrophic issues that could cause reconsideration of the purchase.  Lastly, the inspection may reveal items that are of immediate concern, leading to a request for a repair or pricing credit from the Seller.

The second reason you want to complete an inspection is to determine the overall “physical health” of the Condo.  A roof in need of a future repair is as much of a concern to a Condominium Buyer as to a Home Buyer.  Any repairs to the common areas of a Condominium are paid for from the “Capital Expense Reserve” fund.  Should there be a major repair on the near horizon, such as a roof replacement, the Condo Buyer wants to determine there are sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund to cover the cost of repair.  Otherwise that Buyer, once they are an Owner, could be subject to an assessment or multiple assessments as well as an increase in the maintenance fee, resulting in an increase in their monthly payment.

The bottom line answer to the question posed by Condominium Buyers is a resounding yes when it comes to obtaining an inspection by a Certified Home Inspection service as part of the purchasing process.

Review your current insurance policy now to be 100% sure you have all the appropriate coverages before it’s too late. The review is free of charge. Call us now at 617-298-0655 or text us at 617-409-0329. Click here to Visit our Contact Us page.

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Morning Motivation – Week of April 1, 2019

Posted on by cvargas

Happy Monday once again, friends!

Have you been looking forward to my positive words of wisdom for the week?

As I mentioned last week, the term “multitasking” was originally used to describe how microprocessors in computers work. Machines multitask, but people cannot.

Many people believe they are excellent multi-taskers, despite the challenges of performing two tasks at once. Think of the many times when you do several things at once, like talking on the phone while cooking. Did you ever burn the soup? Or maybe the soup is fine, but the person on the other end of the phone conversation says, “Hey! Are you listening to me?”

Consider the amount of attention that each of these simple tasks requires. One, or both, may be simple enough to be carried out on autopilot. Or, not.

While we may be okay performing simple tasks simultaneously, what about more complex tasks? Can you give full attention to your PowerPoint presentation while watching your favorite movie? Watching it while you work is fun, but maybe you’re making your work more difficult and time-consuming. How many times did you revise that PowerPoint slide while giggling at a favorite line in your favorite movie? I’ll bet it happens often.

Your brain was designed to focus on one thing at a time, not many things.

Your brain compensates when you ask it to latch onto multiple targets, switching back and forth, back and forth. You focus on the more urgent task; the other task slides into the background. Your brain realizes you’ve been neglecting that task, and, switches again. And again.

When you’re bouncing back and forth like this, an area of the brain known as Brodmann’s Area 10 activates. Located in your frontopolar prefrontal cortex at the very front of the brain, Brodmann’s Area 10 controls your ability to shift focus from one task to another. People who think they are excellent multi-taskers are really just putting their Brodmann’s Area 10 to work.

I know you’re reading my message, thinking, “But I can juggle multiple tasks!” Tune in for my next message to see why that may not be true.

Carlos

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Recap: End of the School Year

Posted on by cvargas

“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.”

– Oprah Winfrey

Now that it’s nearly April, it’s time to help your kids focus on getting to the finish line that is the last day of the school year. In case you missed our full blog last week, here is a quick recap of the tips that we gave to help you stay sane for the last few months before summer vacation begins:

  • Once spring break ends, it can be hard to get back into your family’s normal school routine – but this routine is the key to many children’s success.
  • Having a goal (with an accompanying reward) can help children keep on pace to finish out the year strong.
  • Does your kid need any new school supplies? Replace anything that’s falling apart and clean out their backpack for good measure.
  • Keep an organized calendar so that you can help your kids stay on top of end of the year parties, award ceremonies, etc.

And remember, take advantage of the fact that your kids are still in school by using your time to talk to your Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent about your insurance portfolio. Now is a great time for an insurance check-up for your house, car, business, and more – and you can get all this done by calling our office at 617-298-0655. Don’t wait until the insanity of summer vacation begins! Call now!

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Indoor Activities for Rainy Days

Posted on by cvargas

Spring has sprung here in Boston, and we’ll bet that you’re ready for the warm, sunshiny days ahead. As in life, however, not all days can have sunshine. Sometimes you need to be prepared for days with rain. The best way to deal with a rainy day is to make the best of it and enjoy the indoors, especially if you have children that need entertainment (and to burn off a little energy). Pick out an activity (or several) from the following suggestions and see if you can’t make a rainy day great!

A Perfect Time for Arts and Crafts

If it’s grey and rainy outside, it’s the perfect time to break out some arts and crafts in an attempt to get your creative juices flowing! Don’t have a project in mind? That’s ok! There are hundreds of online tutorials with project ideas for kids and adults alike. The best part is that you probably already have the supplies on hand – paper, scissors, glue, and other crafty staples will get you hours of fun with your kiddos.

If you’re in a pinch for a fun crafty activity, there are even websites that allow you to print out coloring pages and activity books from your home printer. Find something with a fun pattern or your child’s favorite characters and go to town… they’ll forget about the rain in no time!

Cozy Up with a Good Book

Rain is naturally relaxing, making it perfect weather for reading! If you don’t currently have a book in progress you can go to the nearest branch of the Boston Public Library for access to books, eBooks, audiobooks, and much more. Also check the library’s calendar – they often offer free classes and activities for kids!

For older kids, encourage them to get a head start on next year’s summer reading list, if you know what books are going to be included. Sometimes, these books are old enough to be available in eBook format for free on Project Gutenberg – a site that provides free copies of books with expired copyrights.

Spend Some Time in the Kitchen

It can be hard to find time to teach kids basic life skills – especially when the sunshine beckons. Take advantage of the rain and let the kids help with some meal preparation. Depending on the age of the kids in question, they can help measure and add ingredients, mix things, chop, or even make something by themselves (with some guidance).

Kids are also much more likely to try new foods and flavors when they are involved in preparation – so pick out something new and different to encourage your kids to try new things! They will feel a wonderful sense of pride at having produced the meal and be excited to share it with the family. You can make it an even more special occasion by inviting someone special over to enjoy the meal – like a member of your extended family or your children’s friends.

Games and Cards and Puzzles – Oh My!

Board games, card games, and puzzles are a great way to spend some quality time with your family when the weather refuses to cooperate. Odds are that you have several of these in your closet already, so there is no cost associated with the hours of fun provided by these activities.

Card games are a favorite around the Vargas and Vargas Insurance office because a deck of cards is so versatile. There are dozens of different games that you can play with a single deck, so finding something fun and age-appropriate for smaller kiddos isn’t an issue. A quick online search can reveal ideas for new games that you and your loved ones will enjoy for the rainy afternoon.

Unbury Lost Treasures

It’s no secret that kids and adults alike get bored of their toys. Sometimes, however, something can have a fun nostalgia factor after it hasn’t been used in a while. The challenge is to find something that has regained its sense of fun! Give something new life and enjoy it one last time, even if afterword it goes in your ‘donation’ pile.

If you’re desperate to find something for your kids to do on a rainy day, ask them to clean their room – they are almost guaranteed to find something in there to amuse themselves in order to keep from tidying up!

A rainy day is also the perfect day for an insurance review! No need to even pick up an umbrella – Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency is only a phone call away. Dial 617-298-0655 and talk to a Massachusetts insurance agent about your coverage, and what you can do to ensure that an insurance claim isn’t the cause of a ‘rainy day’ in your future. The rain may even remind you to ask about an umbrella insurance policy – one of the best forms of protection for your peace of mind.

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Morning Motivation – Week of March 25, 2019

Posted on by cvargas

Are you ready for the start of another great week, friends?

You know that I start each week with some positive words of wisdom, and this week’s are:

When you hear the word “multitasking”, images of highly efficient and successful people most likely come to mind… but what if I were to tell you that our common belief about multi-tasking, as the end-all-be-all of good work ethic, is all wrong?

I’m anti-multitasking–at least for people.

Did you know that the term “multitasking” was coined to describe how computers operate? Computers are excellent at multitasking, but humans? Not so much.

Now, maybe you’re thinking: “But, Carlos, I am GREAT at multitasking!”

I imagine you are pretty good at accomplishing multiple tasks at the same time. But, my argument is this: If you focus on one task at one time, you can be much better at everything you do.

There’s a dark side to the conveniences of the Digital Age. With smartphones that function like handheld computers, it has become increasingly difficult to leave our work behind. Sometimes it seems like we’re expected to be accessible 24/7.

How often are you ever focused on just one thing? Most of us try to meet these demands by multi-tasking.

Many of us have bought into the myth that we can achieve more through multi-tasking. In the next few weeks, I’ll show you how you can accomplish more work in less time. Spoiler alert: multi-tasking is not the answer.

Don’t miss my message next week: “Why is multitasking a myth?”

Carlos

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Recap: Car Insurance Facts

Posted on by cvargas

“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.”

– E. B. White

As the famous writer E. B. White indicates, cars are a pivotal part of life. You likely rely on your car to get nearly everywhere you go, but answer this: is your car properly protected? With a five-star insurance policy, you can be confident that you will be taken care of if something ever happens to you or your vehicle.

How much do you know about your Massachusetts auto insurance policy? Here are just a few of the interesting and informative facts that we shared in our longer blog post last week:

  • What you pay for auto insurance depends on many factors, including how much you will drive, who will be behind the wheel, and more.
  • Don’t listen to car insurance myths! For example, the color of your car is not one of the factors that determines your premium amount, and your insurance will not cover you anytime anything happens to your vehicle.
  • Getting great coverage doesn’t have to break the bank. Insurance providers offer many discounts – you just need to work with the right agent to get a great price!

Want to see what Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency can offer? Call our office at 617-298-0655 and speak to one of our auto insurance representatives about getting your free quote. We will search many insurance providers to make sure that you get a great deal at a fantastic price, and there’s no obligation to see what we can offer – so call today!

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A Parent’s Guide to the End of the School Year

Posted on by cvargas

It’s that time of year – kids are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The school year is going to be wrapping up soon, so how will you as a parent help your child or children to buckle down and finish the year off strong, while simultaneously planning activities for summer vacation? Don’t worry – your local independent insurance agency is here to help!

Stick to Your Routine

Many parents complain that once Spring Break is over, kids start to realize that the school year is wrapping up and they want to act like it’s already over by begging for extra treats and later bedtimes. Remind your kids that they still have things to learn in the next few months, so it’s important to stick to your usual school-time routine.

For younger kids, it may help to create a paper countdown chain to show how many days are left until the last day of school – it’s an easy craft that can help children to visualize the length of time until summer vacation starts. Many parents also use this type of craft to count down to other celebrations and major days – for example, the start of a vacation, the first day of school, birthdays, Christmas, and more!

Now is also a great time to teach kids about the importance of goal-setting! Motivate kids by letting them set an ‘end-of-the-year’ goal and choose a reward for completing that goal – for example, finishing out the school year with good grades. This reward could be a new game or toy, a trip to their favorite restaurant (with dessert!) or going with a friend for a day of fun at a local attraction. Get creative and help your kid choose a reward that will motivate them to stay on-task at school and will encourage them to complete tests and projects to the best of their ability.

If you haven’t yet, this is also the perfect opportunity to teach older kids about SMART goals. Sit with them and help them create a goal for the end of the year that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Stay Organized

What is the current state of your child’s school supplies? Sometimes, a few new folders or colorful pencils are all it takes to get kids back on track and excited about finishing out the school year strong. After several months of classes, it may also be time to have kids give their backpacks a thorough cleaning and reorganizing their supplies. Loose papers and inch-long pencils will easily clutter up a backpack and make it nearly impossible to find anything.

The end of the school year is also a time that tends to be chock full of class parties, award ceremonies, banquets, recitals, and more. Stay on top of what events you need to attend and make sure that you put them on your calendar as early as possible so that you don’t overschedule yourself or your kids. Now is also the perfect time to plan ahead so that you know how you’re going to handle a scheduling conflict if one occurs.

Another great way to stay organized at the end of the school year is to ask your child to gather contact information for his or her classmates now, especially if your school doesn’t hand out a class directory. This will help during the summer if your child wants to invite one of their friends out to have fun during the break.

Plan for the Summer

Sometimes, these last few months of school is all about making it to the end. While you use the above tips to keep kids focused on getting to the end of the school year, it’s not a bad idea to let them help with making plans for their summer vacation (as long as it won’t distract them too much from their studies). Whether you’re planning a staycation, a road trip, a cruise, or flying to a new and exciting destination, let your children help with the planning. Younger kids can choose travel activities and get excited about some of the specific places and attractions you will be visiting, and older kids can also learn some money-handling skills by being involved with the budgeting of your trip and helping to prioritize expenses.

While your kids are still in school, take advantage of the temporary peace and quiet to call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency and prepare yourself for potential summer shenanigans. Have one of our expert Boston insurance agents perform a free evaluation of your current insurance policies, including your home insurance, car insurance, etc. They will be able to tell you if you have enough coverage, and help you fill any existing gaps. They may even be able to find you a new policy at a great price! Don’t wait until school’s out for summer: call 617-298-0655 today.

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Morning Motivation – Week of March 18, 2019

Posted on by cvargas

Happy Monday again, friends!

I love to start each week with some positive words of wisdom, and this week’s are:

Last week I started talking about the clutter that we all have in our heads that crowds out the great thoughts that come to us on a daily basis. I sad that I would share with you my simple solution, so here it is:

I take a “thoughts” journal notebook everywhere that I go. Every time I have an idea, I write it down in my journal. Every time I think of something I need to do, I write it down in that notebook. Every time that I have a meeting, I keep my notes in the journal. Then, about twice a day, I grab my notebook and prioritize what needs to be done, and then actually do it or delegate it (delegation and leveraging is where the actual power is).   

This keeps my head clear of the clutter, gets rid of the feelings of being overwhelmed, and frees my mind to plan even more massive results for our business and my life! Then I simply start prioritizing which of those activities will give me the biggest most massive results, and I actually get them done (or have them done for me).

All this by simply investing in a $10 thoughts journal. I used to buy mine locally, but my local stationary store stopped carrying this particular type of journal, so I get it from, you guessed it, Amazon.

By the way, I carry this journal everywhere that I go, including to meetings, coffees, lunches with referral partners and friends, and Toastmasters. When I go to bed, it is on my night stand because it helps me clear the clutter before I go to sleep (which gives me a great night’s sleep!) I have also found that some of my best ideas have come to me while sleeping and I write them down as soon as I wake up.

Take action and make it happen! I would love to hear some of your best ideas too!

Next week, why multitasking should be a “four letter word!”

Carlos

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Recap: Room-by-Room Safety Tips

Posted on by cvargas

“Precaution is better than cure.”

– Edward Coke

Your home is your safe place, but there are probably dangers lurking inside that pose a threat to you and your family. Make sure that you put safety first with the tips that we posted in last week’s blog, where we went room by room identifying safety concerns and how to prevent potential incidents, including:

  • Be wary of tripping hazards in your living room, like area rugs and children’s toys.
  • Kitchens should be equipped with a fire extinguisher. Never store sharp tools or knives in open drawers.
  • Beware of dryer lint buildup! Clean filters after each load and clean the harder to reach areas regularly.
  • Bedrooms should each have a smoke alarm and working window that can function as an escape route (bedrooms on the second floor should also have an escape ladder for said window).
  • Equip bathrooms with plenty of non-slip bath mats to avoid accidents when floors become slick.
  • Do your research on pool safety and grilling safety before taking part in these outdoor activities.

As much as you do to prevent incidents, you can never guarantee that nothing will happen to your home. That’s why you need a Boston home insurance policy from Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency. Call 617-298-0655 to get your free quote and find out what we can cover so that you feel protected.

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