Source: Safeco Insurance Company
Getting a CLUE
A little detective work can reveal a lot about a property's history, and could save you from unexpected surprises later. Before you buy your dream home, order a loss report. The five years of claims history the report offers can give you a better perspective on your biggest financial investment.
It's Called CLUE, But It's No Mystery
Most insurance companies, including Safeco, use the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to see if a home has had significant losses in the past five years. The information helps consumers decide whether to insure a house, and if so, for how much. CLUE reports are available online. Buyers and sellers can request a copy as they begin the home-buying process.
The Internet Accelerates Information Sharing
Before CLUE, insurance companies would call the home's previous insurer, or insurers, to find out if damage was repaired. Internet technology made this information sharing much faster and more convenient for everyone. Now, a CLUE report is readily available to insurers and consumers, and accelerates the insurance application process.
The Earlier You Find Out About Risks, the Better
If you're buying a house, it's a good idea to request the CLUE report at the same time you make your initial offer. That way, if there has been serious damage or repair to the house, you can let your home inspector know what to look for. CLUE reports also help home sellers. Reviewing the report before listing a house allows a seller to be completely honest or make sure repairs have fixed the original problem.
Calls Are Tracked, But Not a Factor
In some states, CLUE reports may include calls homeowners have made about potential claims, even if no payment occurred. At Safeco, these "claims without payment" are not a factor in the acceptance or pricing of new policies.
We hope the information from Safeco Insurance regarding CLUE reports was helpful. If you would like to get more information about auto or home insurance please contact Tague Insurance Agency at 760-729-1143. Tague Insurance is located in Carlsbad, CA and proudly serves the insurance needs of San Diego County.
Tague Alliance is a sister company of Tague Insurance and Tague Alliance currently has 52 member agencies located throughout Southern California. No matter where you live or work in Southern California we have professional insurance agents who can help you save money on your car insurance, home insurance, and business insurance.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
9 Ways To Save On Car Insurance
The circle of safety: How Do You Get the Most for Your Money? 9 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance...
By Tague Insurance Agency
9 Ways to Save Money…
so you’re shopping around for auto insurance. What do you need to know? Well, there are lots of ways – at least 11 – that you can save money. Many of these money-saving ideas may apply to you.
1. One Insurer, Multiple Policies – Do you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy? If so, is it with the same insurance company that provides your auto insurance? If the answer is no, you’re paying too much – for both policies. Almost every insurance company that sells auto insurance wants its policyholders to also buy homeowners or renters insurance from that company.
These insurers offer so-called multi-policy discounts. Usually, these discounts are at least 10% and some insurers apply the discounts to both the auto and the homeowners/renters policy.
* Tip. Talk to your agent about multi-policy discounts.
2. Good Driver, Good Price? – It’s no secret that the better your driving record, the less you will pay for auto insurance. But did you know that most people qualify as “good drivers” and are eligible for discounted premiums? Some good drivers pay a lot more than others, however.
Many auto insurers are actually a collection of several insurance companies in which each caters to a certain type of driver. The worst drivers go in one company, the best in another, and a lot of people wind up in one of the middle companies.
These middle people pay less than the worst drivers, but more than the best. The thing is, many of these middle people have driving records that are just as good as those who are insured by the companies that offer the lowest rates. Yet these middle people are paying more. Why?
The usual reason is that they don’t know any better. No one told them which insurance company in the group had the best prices. And, probably, no one told them there was even a group of insurance companies. If you have a spotless driving record, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be paying the lowest price a group of insurance companies has to offer.
* Tip. Make sure you’re getting the best discount for your driving record. Talk to your agent. And remember, be a safe driver. It will save you money.
3. The Beauty of Mass Transit (Coaster, Sprinter, Trolly, Car Pool) – Do you drive to and from work? If you do, you are literally paying a premium to do so. Insurance companies charge you significantly higher premiums if you drive to work. And, the longer your commute (in miles, not minutes), the higher the premium.
* Tip. Some drivers should consider mass transit. Yes, there’s a price there, too. But you will reap the savings of gas and lower insurance costs.
4. High-Profile, High-Cost – The type of car you drive is a major factor in what you pay for insurance. Is your vehicle a magnet for thieves? Is it more expensive to repair than most cars? If the answer to either of the last two questions is yes, you’re paying more than the average car owner for insurance.
* Note. To get detailed information on your vehicle(s) – or a vehicle you’re thinking of buying – write to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at
5. Raise Your Deductible – The deductible is the amount you pay before insurance kicks in if you have a claim. For example, if you have a $250 deductible and you have an accident in which your car sustains $1,000 in damage, you pay the first $250 and your insurer pays the balance, $750. The lower the deductible you choose, the more you pay. If you have assets, you can probably afford to absorb at least $250 and probably $500 if you have a claim.
* Tip. If it’s been years since you’ve had an accident, you may be better off raising your deductible and paying less each year for insurance.
6. Drop Unnecessary Coverages – Let’s say you have an older car, one not worth very much. There’s really little point in having collision and comprehensive coverages. You don’t have much to protect. Remember, too, that you have to subtract your deductible from any potential payout you might get.
* Tip. As a general rule, any car worth less than $1,000 shouldn’t have collision and comprehensive coverage. Between the deductible and the extra expense of these coverages, the cost is probably greater than the benefit. How much is your car worth? An auto dealer can tell you, or there are plenty of books that have values of vehicles going back many, many years.
7. Discounts, Discounts, Discounts – Auto insurance companies offer several discounts for a variety of reasons. The car has automatic seat beats, air bags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, etc. The driver is a good student, which is especially valuable if you have teenage children who will be on your policy.
* Tip. Make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available to you!
8. Taking the Defensive – Many insurance companies also offer discounts to those who have taken defensive driving courses recently.
9. Low-Cost and High-Cost Areas – Are you planning to move? If you are, you should take into account the cost of insurance. Generally, the more urban the area, the higher the premium. The costs can vary even within a community.
* Fact. Rates can really vary from state to state and zip code to zip code. If you’re living in
Whatever your driving record or coverage needs, you should shop around, or let an experienced insurance professional shop around, for the best deal for you. There are literally thousands and thousands of coverage options from hundreds and hundreds of insurance companies.
In addition, not only should you try to get the best deal you can, you also need to make sure you have all the coverage you want/need. Using an Independent Insurance Agent is usually your best bet to get the most value for your auto insurance dollar.
At Tague Insurance Agency, we take a personal interest in our customers. We like to share information that comes to help you protect yourself and your family from financial loss. If you have any questions, regarding this information or your insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 760-729-1143 or email us at info@tagueins.com. Don’t forget to visit www.tagueins.com for more insurance resources.
Tague Insurance Agency Blog
by Tony Veteto
Have a great day and we look forward to bringing you valuable insurance information on this blog.
Welcome to our current and prospective clients. This is our new blog and we invite you to subscribe. The purpose of the Tague Insurance Agency blog is to bring you relevant information that will help you make better decisions when dealing with your insurance needs.
Our clients look to us for their car insurance, home insurance, and business insurance needs. Tague Insurance Agency has been serving the insurance needs of Carlsbad and San Diego county residents since 1969.
The most important insurance need is to be taken care of when you have an insurance claim. How do you get the best odds of having your insurance claim handled well? Simple, find an independent insurance agent who works with only top rated insurance companies like Metlife, The Hartford, Travelers Insurance, Safeco Insurance, etc. These types of companies are well established and generally handle claims with top notch service. Tague Insurance Agency represents our clients, not any one insurance company. What does this really mean for you? It means that the staff at Tague Insurance Agency will do everything in our power to not only find you the best value for your car insurance and home insurance; we will strive to provide the best customer experience possible.
To our current clients we say thank you for choosing Tague Insurance Agency, and to prospective clients give us a call to get personalized service and the best value for your car insurance, home insurance, and business insurance.
Have a great day and we look forward to bringing you valuable insurance information on this blog.
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