How does saving thousands of dollars in car repairs sound?

We’re here to share some maintenance tips that may do just that! Check them out below:

Schedule Inspections and Maintenance

To save money on car maintenance, regularly book check-ups and services. Think of it as preventative maintenance to avoid costly repairs later. For instance, replacing brake pads is cheaper than replacing damaged brake discs. How often you should have your car checked depends on how much you drive – more miles mean more frequent check-ups.

Change The Oil – To keep your gasoline-powered vehicle running smoothly, it’s important to regularly change the oil. This typically costs around $60 and should be done every 5,000 miles. Even if you don’t drive much, you should still change the oil at least once a year, according to Consumer Reports.

Keep The Battery Clean – If you don’t keep it clean, it could develop a crack or not function properly. Test your battery twice a year and inspect it for corrosion.

Replace The Brake Pads – Check the brake fluid every time you change the oil. If it’s dark in color, reach out to a mechanic to get your brake fluid changed and see if a new system is needed.

Replace Your Air Filter – Change your air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles, as using an old air filter can lead to significant – and costly – problems for your air conditioning system.

Lights On For Safety – Keep a close eye on your car’s lights. Make sure your headlights, brake lights, and indicators are functioning properly. Don’t forget to test the brake lights by pressing the pedal or asking for help. Modern cars have a warning light on the dashboard to signal when lights are out. Remember, faulty lights can be dangerous and might lead to fines from the police. Stay safe on the road!

Here’s A Pro-Tip – According to auto mechanic expert Scotty Kilmer, tire rotation for modern cars is an unnecessary expense. He explains that today’s tires are significantly superior to those in the past.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker.

If you want to ensure that you have the best insurance coverage at the most affordable price, our team is ready to assist you. Simply dial 617-298-0655 to get in touch with us. We will be happy to review your insurance policy and make recommendations to ensure that you are properly insured.

Do you need a new insurance agent or broker? Maybe you’re unsure and looking for advice or wanting to switch agents. It’s important to choose the right one, so it’s wise to do your research and evaluate potential agents. Not all agents and brokers are the same. How can you distinguish a good agent from a bad one?

What are the benefit of changing my agent after having worked with the same one for a long time?

Your insurance agent may not be good even if you’re used to them. You may have outgrown them as your needs change over time. You might be missing out on savings if you’ve been with the same agent for a long time. Switching agents can help you find better deals and stay up to date with industry practices. It’s important to work with an insurance broker who will review your insurance annually, compare quotes, and recommend alternatives when it’s time to switch insurance companies for more favorable rates. At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we do this for ever client every single year.

What Is An Independent Insurance Brokers

An Independent insurance broker does not work for a single company but instead serve clients in finding coverage from a network of insurers. Unlike agents who are tied to one company, like Allstate, Liberty Mutual, AMICA, GEICO and many others, independent brokers have the flexibility to work with multiple insurance providers to find the best coverage options and rates for you. They have no vested interests in promoting a particular company, so you can trust that their recommendations are based solely on your needs. Whether you need help navigating a life change or simply want advice on switching to a new car insurance provider, independent brokers are there to provide unbiased advice and help you make informed decisions.

What Is A Captive Insurance Agent

Agents who work exclusively for one insurance company are called captive insurance agents. They are obligated to sell their company’s insurance policies, regardless of whether it is the best fit for the customer. If you choose to work with a captive insurance agent, you may not be getting the best possible insurance coverage or rate. This is because they will only offer you rates that are available through their company, and not necessarily the most affordable options. They are not motivated to help you switch to another insurance company, as their commission is tied to providing good customer service for their company. While they may strive to provide excellent customer service, their primary concern is the success of their company, not the satisfaction of their clients.

Buying Insurance Online

If you lack knowledge about insurance, buying your insurance online can be perplexing. And sometimes, there may be some fine print or confusing legal jargon that you might miss. However, if you choose to use an insurance agent, we can assist you in deciphering all of those details. Even though some online companies call center agents, they may not be able to provide personalized service, and you might end up speaking with multiple people. This can be a problem because if you’ve already explained your concerns to one agent, the next agent you speak to may not have that information, and you’ll perhaps have to start from scratch.

Finding The Right Insurance Broker Or Agent For Your Needs

Do your homework. Find a broker or agent who genuinely cares about your interests. With numerous options available, it’s tough to choose, especially when every one of them claims to be the best.

Check out reviews and recommendations. Start by talking to people you know, like, so you can trust their feedback. Who did they have a positive experience with? Who do they advise you to steer clear of? These suggestions matter.

If personal recommendations don’t help, go online. Look for insurance agents’ ratings and reviews on platforms like Google, which can guide potential customers. Additionally, when reviewing online reviews, check if the business responds to its reviews. A business that values its clients and reputation will engage with the feedback they receive.

To learn about the insurance options offered by Vargas & Vargas Insurance, you have a few options. You can reach out to an agent by calling 617-298-0655, visiting their website at vargasinsurance.com/contact-us, or even sending a text to 617-409-0329. The team is ready to assist you with any inquiries or issues you may have.

Having the appropriate replacement coverage is vital when it comes to safeguarding your home, which is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make.

Homeowners face many risks that increase with their home’s value. These risks include supply chain disruptions, high parts and labor costs, and inflation. These factors affect the upkeep and repairs needed to maintain a home. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 617-298-0655 or complete our online quote form.

When it comes to insuring a home, it’s important to consider its valuation and the cost of rebuilding in the event of an unexpected incident. There are several types of home valuations to keep in mind, including market value, appraisal value, assessed value, and replacement cost.

Market value: takes into account factors like location, neighborhood, school system quality and desirability to determine a price a buyer would be willing to pay.

Appraisal value: is determined by lenders to make sure homeowners don’t borrow more than the home is worth.

Assessed value: is set by local municipalities for tax purposes, and it usually lage a few years behind the market vale.

Replacement cost: is the amount an insurance carrier calculates to rebuild a home to its pre-loss condition after a significant event.

To ensure that your insurance aligns with the value of your home, we suggest following these four steps:

Getting a replacement cost valuation: for your home can help you figure out if it’s adequately insured. An agent can guide you through this process. Understanding the precise value of your home is crucial for agents to determine the type and amount of coverage required.

It is important to ensure that every aspect of your house is taken into consideration when determining its replacement cost. If you own a luxurious property with unique building materials, superior artistry and personalized features, the conventional industry tools used for this purpose might not suffice, leading to incomplete coverage.

Once we have determined the value of the client’s home, we will ensure that their insurance policy offers the appropriate coverage to meet their specific requirements, so they don’t have to deal with any unforeseen expenses or high out-of-pocket costs in the event of a loss.

Certain insurance providers provide unrestricted replacement cost coverage for dwellings that have suffered complete damage. This implies that if the homeowner experiences a covered loss, the house will be rebuilt or replaced using materials of equivalent quality and kind, even if the cost is higher than the amount specified on the policy.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker

To review your current homeowners insurance policy and explore ways to save money, contact Vargas & Vargas Insurance at 617-298-0655 or visit vargasinsurance.com.

You know all about paperwork if you have or are buying a condo. This includes getting a personal condo insurance policy also known as an HO6 that fits with your condo association’s master insurance policy and bylaws.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we can help you navigate through these documents and find the best insurance coverage for you. The master deed is one of the documents you’ll need to look at, which explains what the condo association’s master insurance policy covers.

• To understand common condo charges, you need to have the condo bylaws.
• If you don’t have them, contact your condo association or check the Massachusetts Land Records website.
• There are three important things to look for in the bylaws.

Walls-in vs. all-in

A condo association has an insurance policy that is included in your HOA fees. The policy covers damage to the building, grounds, and outdoor features. The policy could be either a “walls-in” or an “all-in” policy. You should know the difference so you understand what the policy covers and what your responsibility is. An all-in policy covers everything in your condo that you do not own. A walls-in policy does not cover anything within your walls. You should review your condo association’s policy to find out if it is walls-in or all-in. Knowing the type of policy might not be enough.

Review your documents carefully to see what is covered for you. You may wonder why you need to know this if you can’t choose what is covered. But you can actually get extra coverage with your personal condo insurance policy. For example, if your master policy doesn’t cover things like drywall, carpeting, and appliances, you can increase your limits to include them. You can also consider optional coverages like water-backup or flood insurance.

Loss assessment information

Condos have loss assessments that tenants should be aware of. The condo association may ask every tenant to pay a certain amount if a common area is damaged and the master policy doesn’t cover it. This applies to damage and medical liability situations. For example, a tree falling on a commonly owned building or someone getting injured in the property’s swimming pool. To avoid loss assessments, tenants should review their master deed to know which areas are the responsibility of the condo association and which are the unit owner’s responsibility. Tenants should also make sure they have enough coverage on the loss assessment portion of their personal condo insurance policy.

You might have to pay for damages up to the amount stated in your policy. We suggest getting $50,000 in coverage as it’s affordable and worth it. Different insurance companies have different rules, so ask your agent for more information.

Choosing A Deductible

Your master condo insurance has a deductible, which is the amount you need to pay before the insurance company pays for a claim. When selecting coverages for your personal condo insurance policy, you should consider this deductible value. The dwelling coverage portion of your policy covers the deductible you would have to pay on your master policy if a claim resulted in damage to your condo’s building, grounds, or outdoor features.

Master policy deductibles can vary from $5,000 to as much as $50,000 or more. You should ensure that your dwelling coverage is at least the same amount as your master policy deductible.

Include the value of things in your apartment on your dwelling coverage. These things include walls, flooring, carpets, counters, and built-in appliances.

Finally

Your condo association may not provide you with all the information you need when buying a condo. You need to read all the documents, including the fine print, to make informed decisions about your personal condo insurance policy. If this seems overwhelming, we can help. We’ve reviewed condo documents for clients to ensure they make the right insurance choices.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker

Vargas & Vargas Insurance has been serving clients for more than four decades, making them a trustworthy choice. They can help you find the coverage that suits your needs and answer any questions you may have. Contact them today at 617-298-0655 and let them assist you in finding the ideal policy for your situation.

Backyard swimming pools and hot tubs, whether luxurious in-ground Olympic models or simple inflatable ones for kids, come with safety and insurance considerations. It’s important to be aware of these factors before installation. If you have any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office at 617-298-0655 or submit an online quote form.

It’s important to know what your town considers a “home pool” and what safety and building codes you need to follow. This information can vary based on the size and depth of your pool. To ensure you are meeting the local standards, reach out to your municipality and ask about the relevant regulations. You may need to install a fence of a certain size, locks, decks, and other safety equipment for your pool. By taking these precautions, you can create a safe and enjoyable environment for your family and friends to enjoy.

According to the insurance industry, a pool is deemed an “attractive nuisance.” Although it is a source of pleasure, having a pool increases your liability risk. It is recommended that you get in touch with your insurance agent and review your policy if you own a pool or are thinking of installing one. Homeowners have an obligation to safeguard unsuspecting kids from the potential hazards of an attractive nuisance. If you have a pool, practical steps to take may involve putting in place.

To ensure pool safety, several measures can be taken. These include:

A fence around the pool

Using an automatic safety cover

Using a solid or mesh safety cover

Posting a sign to indicate any potential dangers

Making sure that safety equipment is easily accessible

Your homeowner’s insurance policy covers property damage and liability incidents on your property. Pool owners need more liability coverage due to increased risk. An umbrella policy can protect your assets if damages exceed your primary policy’s limits. Consider umbrella coverage with a pool, as you are responsible for incidents on your property.

Homeowners’ insurance varies depending on the pool type. In-ground pools are usually covered by dwelling or other structures coverage. Above-ground pools may be classified as personal property or other structures if damaged. You should speak to your insurance agent to check if your limits are sufficient to cover above-ground pool repairs or replacement in case of damage.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker

If you want to know more about the homeowners insurance provided by Vargas & Vargas Insurance, you can either call an agent at 617-298-0655 or visit their website at www.vargasinsurance.com/contact-us. We will be happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

No matter who you are – single person, a family of three, or a retiree – and you do not own a home or condominium, having renters insurance is a must.

We speak with our customers who rent often and find a lot of confusion around insurance. Some don’t understand why they need it, and the idea of an additional expense turns some off. However, when we get the opportunity to explain why renters insurance is beneficial, there are five points that we always make sure to cover.

Your Landlord’s Insurance Does Not Protect Your Belongings.

Your landlord’s insurance policy covers only what the landlord owns. For example, suppose a fire burns your rental property. In that case, the policy will cover rebuilding the structure and common areas and replacing permanent items such as major appliances and lost rental money. However, it will not cover any of your possessions. Anything you own is your own responsibility.

You May Have More To Lose Than You Realize.

Think how much it would cost to replace your phone, laptop, TV, furniture, and clothing. The bill could easily be over $5,000. A Renters policy would cover the cost if those possessions were stolen, damaged, or destroyed. You would pay a deductible (usually a few hundred dollars) and the insurance company would pay the rest.

This type of policy covers fire, flooding, theft, smoke damage, electrical surges, and water damage from a neighbor’s bathtub overflowing. We recommend clients photograph and inventory their possessions, then price them online or in a store. People are usually surprised by the monetary value of everything they own.

Renters’ Policies Can Protect You From Many Potential Issues.

You threw a party in your apartment. It started small but got bigger as your friends invited their friends. Someone you didn’t know slipped on a spill and went to the hospital. This could put you at risk of a lawsuit and your landlord’s insurance won’t help. A Renters policy would cover legal and settlement costs. You can customize a policy with Animal Liability, Identity Theft Protection, and Extra Personal Property Protection.

Renters Insurance is Very Affordable

The Insurance Information Institute states that the national average cost of Renters insurance is $180 per year. That’s pennies per day for the security it provides.

Getting a Renters policy from the same company through your local independent insurance broker that insures your car may help you save money on Auto insurance. Many insurers offer discounts for customers with multiple policies. This discount could cover the cost of the Renters’ policy.

Your Local Independent Insurance Broker

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is your local independent insurance Independent Agent, we work with you to customize a policy to suit your very specific needs. We understand that everyone’s needs are different, and that’s why we take the time to carefully review your situation and develop a policy that fits your needs perfectly. We’ll also make sure you’re getting all the discounts you’re eligible to receive so that you can save on your premiums.

With over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands with Vargas & Vargas Insurance. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with the best coverage possible. So don’t hesitate to call us today at 617-298-0655 and let us help you find the perfect policy for you.

When you hear the term “Big One,” you may think of California or the Pacific Northwest. But the strongest earthquake in the lower 48 states occurred in the heartland. In 1811 and 1812, a series of quakes hit the New Madrid fault near present-day Memphis, Tennessee. It was estimated at 7.7 on the Richter scale and could be felt in New York City.

According to the United States Geological Survey, New England has a low to moderate earthquake hazard. Most earthquakes in New England have been <5.0 magnitude (Mw), but some significant earthquakes >Mw 5.0 occurred in the last few hundred years.

A 2009 study by the Mid-America Earthquake Center at the University of Illinois showed that a quake of this magnitude now could damage more than 700,000 buildings in eight states. The USGS states that earthquakes affect more than half the US population.

Despite this, only 7% of Americans have earthquake insurance. Sales have gone down in recent years because it can be expensive. Premiums may cost hundreds of dollars, and the coverage has some restrictions that make many people not want to buy it.

When it comes to Earthquake insurance, there are a few things to know. Understanding one’s options and what to expect from the policy is important.

Your Homeowners Insurance Does Not Protection Against Earthquake Damage.

A standard Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by an earthquake. It may, however, cover damage to the home caused by fires following the quake.

Proper Earthquake insurance is available as a rider on your insurance policy to a standard Homeowners policy. In some areas of the country, coverage is provided by private insurers as a separate insurance policy.

Some Earthquake Coverage Have Limitations

Some home insurance policies can be tailored to provide extra protection for items such as detached garages, pools, jewelry, and firearms. Earthquake insurance may not offer coverage for these extra structures and items and may have less coverage for alternate housing if your home needs repairs or rebuilding.

Earthquake Deductibles Tend To Be High

Earthquake insurance can be expensive, particularly in high-risk areas. Its deductibles are higher than a standard Homeowners policy’s, usually ranging from 5 to 15% of the policy limit. For example, a common Homeowners policy deductible is $500, but a 15% deductible on a $200,000 policy limit would be $30,000. In cases of major damage, this is a welcome tradeoff. However, with minor to moderate damage, an Earthquake insurance claim may not be worth it.

How Much Does Earthquake Insurance Cost?

How much is earthquake insurance? It can cost from $800 to $5,000 a year. The deductible is usually 5-20% of the coverage limit.

We have a policy for our condominium in Dorchester. It’s a rider on our HO6 policy and costs $287 a year. The deductible is 5% if there is a loss from an earthquake. The price can change depending on certain factors.

Your Local Independent Agent Can Assist You In Deciding If Earthquake Insurance Is A Good Fit For You.

Earthquake insurance is often recommended for homeowners who live in high-risk areas, like near a fault. A quake can cause severe damage, so the coverage is important. For homeowners in low-to-moderate risk areas, an independent insurance agent can help compare rates and policies from multiple companies to ensure the policy is adequate.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance can help you decide and compare rates and policies from multiple companies. He or she can help you be confident your policy is up to protecting you financially if the Big One does hit close to home. Call us today at 617-298-0655.

Car enthusiasts! We have some important news to share with you today that’s been causing quite a stir in the world of auto insurance. 🤯 Some major car insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm have recently made changes to their policies regarding Kia and Hyundai vehicles, and this news may have left many of you confused and concerned. That’s why we’re here to shed some light on the situation and provide you with valuable insights.

Kia and Hyundai vehicles have unfortunately become targets for theft due to certain vulnerabilities in their manufacturing. Recently, details on how to hotwire these vehicles have spread across social media, making them more susceptible to theft. As a result, car thefts have skyrocketed, prompting insurance giants like Allstate, Progressive, and State Farm to take action. They have decided to limit the number of new policies they write for these specific vehicles.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Both Kia and Hyundai have swiftly responded to this issue by releasing free software fixes to address the hotwiring vulnerability. They strongly urge all owners of their vehicles to check if their car has received the update. The update is easy to access and install, and can help ensure your car’s safety and security.

It’s important to note that these changes don’t necessarily mean that Kia and Hyundai vehicles are unsafe or unreliable. On the contrary, these companies are doing their best to keep their vehicles up-to-date and secure with the latest technology. It’s simply a matter of being proactive and taking the necessary steps to protect your car and your wallet.

We hope this update has provided some clarity on the situation and given you greater peace of mind. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help!”

Vulnerability can pose a challenge when it comes to obtaining coverage from major insurance providers. That’s why our team of dedicated independent agents is here to help. We will work with you to explore the insurance market and find the best coverage plan that meets your needs. We are committed to providing our readers with the most up-to-date information to enable them to make informed decisions about their insurance coverage.

When it comes to protecting your vehicle, knowledge is power. It is essential to stay informed about the latest software updates, as well as to seek expert advice from our team. By doing so, you can ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to protect your vehicle and maintain your peace of mind on the road.

Our team at Vargas & Vargas Insurance is always ready to provide reliable and comprehensive guidance, so you can have the assurance that your vehicle, you home and your life is properly protected.