Happy New Year's Eve and have a safe and fun time!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Change of Plans - Tague Insurance Fan of the Week #23
Our boss told us to close the office early today, so we followed his instructions. Due to our early closing we had to change our plans for picking this week's winner. Watch the video below to see if you are the lucky Tague Insurance Fan of the Week.
Happy New Year's Eve and have a safe and fun time!
Happy New Year's Eve and have a safe and fun time!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Great Christmas Tree Safety Tips!!
Happy Holidays everyone!! Before decking the halls and lighting that tree, be sure to check out this great article on Christmas tree safety tips, and call Tague Insurance Agency if you have any questions about coverage that your homeowners or renters insurance may provide for potential holiday claims.
CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY TIPS
15 Must Know Christmas Tree Safety Tips
CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY TIPS
15 Must Know Christmas Tree Safety Tips
Let's face these days it seems like there danger in everything we do. But don't worry there are plenty of safety tips to ensure there are no mishaps this holiday season. Below is a list of things you can do to make you have a happy, accident free holiday season.
1. Make sure you buy the freshest tree possible (brittle leaves is an indicator that your tree is dry)
2. Cut off a half inch of the trunk of your tree, this will allow the tree to suck in more water
3. When choosing a spot for your tree, make sure there are no heating vents, radiators, fireplaces or used electrical outlets.
4. Make sure your tree is not blocking any exits
5. Make sure you keep candles and other sources of fire away from the tree at all times.
6. Make sure your Christmas tree lights are for indoor use and are the correct voltage. Also only buy UL lights because they are tested for safety.
7. Try to use miniature lights, they produce less heat and are more energy efficient.
8. Make sure your Christmas tree stand is secure and stable
9. Give you thirsty tree a lot of water and re-fill it everyday
10. Check all of your lights for shorts before you put them on your tree
11. Shake your tree free of dry bristles before you take it inside
12. Turn your Christmas trees off at night and when you're leaving the house
13. Keep flammable items like curtains, paper and combustibles away from your tree
14. Have a fire extinguisher nearby for those rare emergencies
15. Discard your tree right after Christmas to avoid having a dry, dead fire hazard in your house!
And remember, most of all, to have a safe, and happy holiday season!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tague Insurance Holiday Hoodie & Toy Drive!
This holiday season, Tague Insurance is supporting North County Solutions for Change in Vista by collecting hoodies (hooded sweatshirts) and toys for children in our community!
North County Solutions for Change has a driving commitment to ensure that every child has a home. They help homeless families get back on their feet by providing support and permanent solutions to those that need help.
If you would like to support our Holiday cause this year, please bring a new, unwrapped hoodie sweatshirt (any size), or a new unwrapped toy for a child or teen to our office in Carlsbad (2801 Jefferson St). Your donation will help bring a smile to a child's face during this holiday season!
For more info on North County Solutions for Change, please visit their website at http://solutionsforchange.org/index.htm
North County Solutions for Change has a driving commitment to ensure that every child has a home. They help homeless families get back on their feet by providing support and permanent solutions to those that need help.
If you would like to support our Holiday cause this year, please bring a new, unwrapped hoodie sweatshirt (any size), or a new unwrapped toy for a child or teen to our office in Carlsbad (2801 Jefferson St). Your donation will help bring a smile to a child's face during this holiday season!
For more info on North County Solutions for Change, please visit their website at http://solutionsforchange.org/index.htm
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Fan Pop - Tague Insurance Featured Fan Picks This Week's Winner
Tague Insurance thanks our Featured Fan, Chris Long, for coming to our insurance agency in Carlsbad, CA to help pick our winner. We had some fun and Chris got lunch and a crown from Burger King. Watch the video below to see the winner.
We mention in the video a charity that we are supporting this holiday called North County Solutions for Change. Our staff is collecting small unwrapped toys and sweatshirts for the children that this organization helps. If you are interested in donating you can drop your donations off at our office located at 2801 Jefferson Street in Carlsbad, CA. Or contact NCSC directly by going to their website at www.solutionsforchange.org to find out more information.
We mention in the video a charity that we are supporting this holiday called North County Solutions for Change. Our staff is collecting small unwrapped toys and sweatshirts for the children that this organization helps. If you are interested in donating you can drop your donations off at our office located at 2801 Jefferson Street in Carlsbad, CA. Or contact NCSC directly by going to their website at www.solutionsforchange.org to find out more information.
Please become a fan of our Facebook page so you can have a shot at being our Fan of the Week winner. Go to www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Friday, November 12, 2010
Random - Tague Insurance Fan of the Week #16
Congrats to Kevin Bracker on being this week's winner!
Tague Insurance is having a great time with our fans and we are appreciative that you have chosen to be a Facebook Fan of our page. If you need a quote on insurance or have any general questions about insurance we would love to be a resource for your needs. Tague Insurance has been writing auto insurance and home insurance in Carlsbad, CA and San Diego County for over 40 years. During that time we have served thousands of clients and helped them save money on auto insurance and home insurance, as well as business insurance.
Enjoy the video from this week's drawing and enjoy your weekend:
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tague Insurance - Renter's Insurance Needs
If you are renting an apartment, condo, or home there are some very important things you should consider.
Did you know that you may be able to fully offset the cost of Renter's Insurance by combining your Auto Insurance and Renter's Insurance with the same company?
For example: one of our companies offers a basic Renter's Insurance policy for about $120 per year. The average savings on the combined auto policy usually runs about $90-$150 per year depending on the cost of the auto insurance. Tague Insurance can save you money today.
In addition to saving money you need to understand some of the important protection that a Renter's Insurance policy provides you. Take a look at the article below for some valuable information. Please feel free to contact Tague Insurance with any questions you have.
Renters’ Insurance Needs
Persons who live in apartments or rent a residence are fortunate. Most insurance companies can protect their assets and belongings by using a policy that is designed especially for tenants. Typical policies cover your possessions for common causes of loss, additional living expenses related to making other living arrangements, medical expenses for treating people injured on your premises and, of course, lawsuits.
Property Coverage
Protection under a standard renters policy is on an actual cash value basis (item’s replacement cost less depreciation).
Example: Stewart’s kitchen catches fire and his five year old refrigerator is destroyed. A new model of the refrigerator costs $750. His insurance company pays him $162, explaining that it’s the effect of five years of deteriorating value. Most companies offer coverage on a replacement cost basis if you purchase a separate endorsement.
Theft Limitations
Certain types of property are quite vulnerable to being stolen, therefore very limited coverage is available for items such as jewelry, furs, gems, gold, silverware, pewterware, money, securities, guns and accessories. Protection can be increased by adding additional coverage to the tenant policy or by purchasing a personal article floater policy.
Additional Living Expenses
A typical tenant policy provides a limit equal to 20% of your contents insurance limit. If your contents limit is $15,000, then your additional living expenses limit will be $3,000.
Liability Coverage
Liability insurance covers you for injury you cause to others and for damage to property that belongs to others. The policy also provides for the cost of a lawyer (if necessary) and most court costs. Examples of liability claims include: slips and falls; beaning a neighbor’s child with a baseball; hitting a golfer with your errant hook shot; or a friend breaking her hip when she trips on a skateboard your child left on the stairs.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 1998, 2001, 2009
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Best Pumpkin Vote: Tague Insurance Fan of the Week #14
The Tague Team fan captains (Jen, Robin, and Tony) each had a baby pumpkin with which they could do as they chose. The goal was to get the most votes from our Facebook fans. Jen did a spectacular decorative carving on her pumpkin and the majority of voters chose her pumpkin. I guess our fans have an eye for beauty and skill!!!
Since Jen was the winning fan captain she drew this week's winning fan...watch the video below and stay tuned each week for the Tague Insurance Fan of the Week drawing.
Since Jen was the winning fan captain she drew this week's winning fan...watch the video below and stay tuned each week for the Tague Insurance Fan of the Week drawing.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fan Flip - Tague Insurance Fan of the Week #12
Congratulations to our winner....you won a $25 Visa Card!!! Tague Insurance sincerely appreciates our Facebook Fans.
Spread the word to all your Facebook Friends to Like our page so they have a chance at winning.
*** Winners: please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your gift card.
Spread the word to all your Facebook Friends to Like our page so they have a chance at winning.
*** Winners: please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your gift card.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ping Pong Picker - Fan of the Week #11
Week #11 Drawing....If you are the winner please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your $25 Visa card. Please tell your FB Friends to "Like" our page so we can hit 500 Fans by the end of the year!!!!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tague Insurance Celebrates 40 Years In Business
Steve Tague started the Tague Insurance Agency in Carlsbad, Ca forty years ago. Steve has been a fixture in the local Carlsbad community. Dedicating his time over the years to the Boys & Girls Club and other organizations.
The staff at Tague Insurance enjoy working with local residents as well as clients from all over Southern California. We are blessed to serve over 5000 clients with personal and business insurance.
Congratulations Steve on 40 years...we look forward to many more wonderful years ahead! Thank you to our clients who have made these past 40 years possible, without you Tague Insurance would not exist.
The staff at Tague Insurance enjoy working with local residents as well as clients from all over Southern California. We are blessed to serve over 5000 clients with personal and business insurance.
Congratulations Steve on 40 years...we look forward to many more wonderful years ahead! Thank you to our clients who have made these past 40 years possible, without you Tague Insurance would not exist.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Fan Bounce - Facebook Fan of the Week #10
Tague Insurance brings you another Facebook Fan drawing. Tague Insurance loves rewarding our fans. Some of them are auto insurance or home insurance clients, some are fans that do not currently work with Tague Insurance. We look forward to these fun drawings each week and hope that our Facebook Fans find them funny and enjoyable.
Congrats to this week's winner, Christopher Rusk. You won a $25.00 Visa card!!!
Congrats to this week's winner, Christopher Rusk. You won a $25.00 Visa card!!!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
When A Loss Occurs You Have A Duty To Preserve Your Property
Duty To Preserve Property
When a loss happens under an insurance policy, besides a need to get the damaged or lost property replaced or repaired, the property owner has a number of immediate responsibilities. Besides being obligated to report the loss to her insurance company and to cooperate with the insurer in handling the claim, she also has a responsibility to minimize the loss. This obligation holds for both personal and commercial loss situations.
Most insurance policies contain specific references to the duty to protect property from further harm. It may be called a Neglect provision or Preservation of Property; regardless, insurance companies rely on their policyholders to make a reasonable effort to reduce the level of loss under their policies.
Here’s an example. Jenny’s restaurant staff is in an uproar as a fire has been discovered in a small storage area located behind the main kitchen. It’s after closing time, so Jenny only has to worry about clearing her employees out of the building and she orders everyone out and then arranges a role call to be certain that everyone is safely accounted for. Then she makes a call to the Fire Department. All the while, she stops anyone from attempting to extinguish the fire. As it turns out, the fire spreads from the storage area and into the kitchen, severely damaging the heart of her restaurant. After investigating the loss, Jenny’s insurer reduces her claim payment by $10,000. The lower payment is justified by their finding that the loss would not have been nearly as severe if Jenny had allowed her staff to use the available fire extinguishers and had made the emergency call more quickly.
Policy wording with regard to the duty to protect property typically notifies the policyholder that he or she is expected to take any and all available measures to save or preserve property in the midst of a loss. This does leave room for interpretation, but the obligation does fall comfortably in between the extremes of using heroic measures and failing to make any effort to protect property. A failure to meet the obligation can result in either a partial or, in extreme instances, a total denial of coverage for a given loss.
Here’s another example. The Laggleson family goes outside to check for any damage to their home after a violent windstorm. Besides a lot of scattered debris and an overturned patio set, they notice that a large limb from their Chinese Elm was blown onto their roof, creating a large gash. Several hours later a rainstorm comes through the area and the rain that pours through the hole damages expensive furniture stored in the attic as well as damages creates drywall damage to a bedroom ceiling and walls.
Scenario One – the initial damage occurred early on a Thursday morning with the storm occurring in the afternoon. The Lagglesons decided to go on to work and school and to handle things after returning home.
Scenario Two – the initial damage occurred on a Sunday morning, around 3 a.m. with the storm occurring around 6 a.m. The Lagglesons made several frantic calls but could not find anyone willing to come out to their home to deal with the open roof until Monday morning.
In both scenarios a failure to preserve the property after the initial loss created additional damage. However, it is only in the first scenario that the policyholder may suffer a consequence. In such cases, the loss circumstances have a significant bearing on how the insurer may respond and the policyholder’s actions are critical. A reasonable effort under the circumstances may mean all the difference.
If you need more help in understanding your responsibility after a loss, be sure to discuss your concern with an insurance professional.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2010
When a loss happens under an insurance policy, besides a need to get the damaged or lost property replaced or repaired, the property owner has a number of immediate responsibilities. Besides being obligated to report the loss to her insurance company and to cooperate with the insurer in handling the claim, she also has a responsibility to minimize the loss. This obligation holds for both personal and commercial loss situations.
Most insurance policies contain specific references to the duty to protect property from further harm. It may be called a Neglect provision or Preservation of Property; regardless, insurance companies rely on their policyholders to make a reasonable effort to reduce the level of loss under their policies.
Here’s an example. Jenny’s restaurant staff is in an uproar as a fire has been discovered in a small storage area located behind the main kitchen. It’s after closing time, so Jenny only has to worry about clearing her employees out of the building and she orders everyone out and then arranges a role call to be certain that everyone is safely accounted for. Then she makes a call to the Fire Department. All the while, she stops anyone from attempting to extinguish the fire. As it turns out, the fire spreads from the storage area and into the kitchen, severely damaging the heart of her restaurant. After investigating the loss, Jenny’s insurer reduces her claim payment by $10,000. The lower payment is justified by their finding that the loss would not have been nearly as severe if Jenny had allowed her staff to use the available fire extinguishers and had made the emergency call more quickly.
Policy wording with regard to the duty to protect property typically notifies the policyholder that he or she is expected to take any and all available measures to save or preserve property in the midst of a loss. This does leave room for interpretation, but the obligation does fall comfortably in between the extremes of using heroic measures and failing to make any effort to protect property. A failure to meet the obligation can result in either a partial or, in extreme instances, a total denial of coverage for a given loss.
Here’s another example. The Laggleson family goes outside to check for any damage to their home after a violent windstorm. Besides a lot of scattered debris and an overturned patio set, they notice that a large limb from their Chinese Elm was blown onto their roof, creating a large gash. Several hours later a rainstorm comes through the area and the rain that pours through the hole damages expensive furniture stored in the attic as well as damages creates drywall damage to a bedroom ceiling and walls.
Scenario One – the initial damage occurred early on a Thursday morning with the storm occurring in the afternoon. The Lagglesons decided to go on to work and school and to handle things after returning home.
Scenario Two – the initial damage occurred on a Sunday morning, around 3 a.m. with the storm occurring around 6 a.m. The Lagglesons made several frantic calls but could not find anyone willing to come out to their home to deal with the open roof until Monday morning.
In both scenarios a failure to preserve the property after the initial loss created additional damage. However, it is only in the first scenario that the policyholder may suffer a consequence. In such cases, the loss circumstances have a significant bearing on how the insurer may respond and the policyholder’s actions are critical. A reasonable effort under the circumstances may mean all the difference.
If you need more help in understanding your responsibility after a loss, be sure to discuss your concern with an insurance professional.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Fan Crush - Tague Insurance Fan of the Week Drawing #9
Tague loves rewarding our Facebook Fans with our weekly Fan of the Week drawing. Congratulations to this week's winner. Please visit our Facebook Fan page and click the "Like" button. Being a Fan of Tague Insurance's Fan page does not allow people to access your private information. People only see what you post or make public. So you can become of Fan of Tague Insurance with comfort and confidence. Start enjoying the fun we have and maybe we will have a chance to quote your personal and business insurance. We have been saving our clients tons of money for years. In fact, Tague Insurance has been saving people money for exactly 40 years! Call us today to start saving on your auto, home, or business insurance.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Tague Insurance: Facebook Fan of the Week Drawing #8
We are pushing toward a goal of 500 Facebook Fans by 12-31-2010. Please become a Fan of Tague Insurance on Facebook. You could be one of our lucky weekly winners! Tague Insurance enjoys having fun with our clients and prospects, but at the same time is very serious about providing the best insurance coverage at the most affordable rates. We would love to provide you an estimate for your auto, home, life, or business insurance.
Remember to become a Facebook Fan today! Congrats to our Week #8 Fan of the Week....
Remember to become a Facebook Fan today! Congrats to our Week #8 Fan of the Week....
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tague Insurance: Facebook Fan of the Week Drawing #7
Congratulations to our winner....you won a $25 Visa Card!!! Tague Insurance sincerely appreciates our Facebook Fans.
Spread the word to all your Facebook Friends to Like our page so they have a chance at winning.
*** Winners: please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your gift card.
www.tagueins.com
Spread the word to all your Facebook Friends to Like our page so they have a chance at winning.
*** Winners: please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your gift card.
www.tagueins.com
Friday, September 3, 2010
Tague Insurance: Facebook Fan of the Week Drawing #6
This week Tague Insurance introduced the "Featured Fan" to help assist our staff in choosing the Fan of the Week winner. Thanks to our Featured Fan and congratulations to this week's winner!
Please tell all your FB Friends to come and Like our page. All Tague Insurance Fans have a shot at being the Featured Fan and or winning the Fan of the Week drawing!!! Spread the word.
Please tell all your FB Friends to come and Like our page. All Tague Insurance Fans have a shot at being the Featured Fan and or winning the Fan of the Week drawing!!! Spread the word.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tague Insurance Fan of the Week Drawing #5
Tague Insurance congratulates this week's winner. Remember to tell all your FB Friends about our Tague Insurance Facebook page and ask them to become a Fan.
Fan of the Week Winner Week #5...watch the video to see if you are a winner! If you did win please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your $25 Visa card. Have a great weekend and please tell your FB Friends to Fan our page.
Fan of the Week Winner Week #5...watch the video to see if you are a winner! If you did win please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your $25 Visa card. Have a great weekend and please tell your FB Friends to Fan our page.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tague Insurance: Fan of the Week Drawing #4
Tague Insurance congratulates this week's winner. Remember to tell all your FB Friends about our Tague Insurance Facebook page and ask them to become a Fan.
Fan of the Week Winner Week#4...watch the video to see if you are a winner! If you did win please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your $25 Visa card. Have a great weekend and please tell your FB Friends to Fan our page.
Become a Fan of Tague Insurance today and you could be a winner in our Fan of the Week drawing! Go to www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Fan of the Week Winner Week#4...watch the video to see if you are a winner! If you did win please email your mailing address to info@tagueins.com so we can send out your $25 Visa card. Have a great weekend and please tell your FB Friends to Fan our page.
Become a Fan of Tague Insurance today and you could be a winner in our Fan of the Week drawing! Go to www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Tague Insurance: Fan of the Week Drawing #3
Congratulations to the winner of our Week# 3 drawing! Please tell all your Facebook Friends about the Tague Insurance Fan page so they can have a chance to win as well. We want to get to 1000 Fans in the near future and we need your help to get there.
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Tague Insurance Facebook Fan of the Week - Drawing #2
Tague Insurance congratulates our winners from the week two drawing! Please tell all your Facebook Friends to become a Fan of Tague Insurance on Facebook. We are trying to have a little fun with insurance. Check out the video below to see who won:
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Tague Insurance launches Facebook Page With A Bang
Tague Insurance wanted to kick start our Facebook outreach to our clients and prospects by holding a 100 Fans in 10 Days incentive. We gave out $150 in prizes to five lucky winners. Go check out our Facebook page to see the video and details of this incentive.
Become a Fan of our Tague Insurance Facebook page for a chance to be one of the weekly winners!
Status Update:
The drawing is complete...the winners have been selected! Thank you to all our FB Fans. Watch the video below for the drawing and winners. If you are a winner please send an email to info@tagueins.com with your mailing address so we can send out your winnings. Reference: Facebook Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scHYzNv5lks
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Become a Fan of our Tague Insurance Facebook page for a chance to be one of the weekly winners!
Status Update:
The drawing is complete...the winners have been selected! Thank you to all our FB Fans. Watch the video below for the drawing and winners. If you are a winner please send an email to info@tagueins.com with your mailing address so we can send out your winnings. Reference: Facebook Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scHYzNv5lks
Check out Tague Insurance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tagueinsurance
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tague Insurance - Homeowner Policy Coverage
When you own a home it is important to have a basic understanding of the coverage on your home insurance policy. Tague Insurance wants to make sure that you have an opportunity to get some understanding of the main coverage items. The article below is a very basic yet understandable overview of a few key coverages.
Homeowners Coverage – Part 1
Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages. They are usually presented as policy sections and are often labeled Coverages A through F. This article discusses Coverage Parts A, B, and C, which protect property.
Coverage A, Dwelling
The homeowner policy's first coverage section protects your house and any attached structures, such as garages, decks or fences. The typical policy covers your home when it is damaged by many perils (also known as causes of loss) including fires or storms. However, the following causes of loss are usually excluded from coverage under the homeowners policy:
Earthquake
Flood
Faulty maintenance
Damage from insects or vermin
Wear and tear, gradual damage or deterioration
Coverage B, Other Structures
This coverage section protects structures that are not attached to the home, such as a detached (separate) garage, storage or utility shed, playground equipment and swimming pools.
Coverage C, Personal Property
This covers your possessions, whether they are at your home or away with you on vacation. Personal property is often covered on a named peril basis. This means that only the causes of loss listed in the policy section are covered. The coverage is also subject to limitations and exclusions. Types of property having significant value, such as jewelry, fine arts, collectibles, etc., may require special protection. Talk to your agent about scheduling (adding) coverage on a floater which broadens and extends coverage for high-valued possessions.
Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost
Commonly, protection under sections A and B is provided on either an actual cash value or a replacement cost basis. Actual cash value is defined as replacement cost minus depreciation. Replacement cost is the actual cost to replace the structure, regardless of depreciation. Check your policy to see which type of coverage you have. Coverage under section C is usually provided on an actual cash basis. However, your agent may be able to add replacement cost to your possessions just like that found in Coverage A.
Please be sure to read Part two, which briefly discusses other coverage.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc., 1996, 2003, 2010
Homeowners Coverage – Part 1
Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages. They are usually presented as policy sections and are often labeled Coverages A through F. This article discusses Coverage Parts A, B, and C, which protect property.
Coverage A, Dwelling
The homeowner policy's first coverage section protects your house and any attached structures, such as garages, decks or fences. The typical policy covers your home when it is damaged by many perils (also known as causes of loss) including fires or storms. However, the following causes of loss are usually excluded from coverage under the homeowners policy:
Earthquake
Flood
Faulty maintenance
Damage from insects or vermin
Wear and tear, gradual damage or deterioration
Coverage B, Other Structures
This coverage section protects structures that are not attached to the home, such as a detached (separate) garage, storage or utility shed, playground equipment and swimming pools.
Coverage C, Personal Property
This covers your possessions, whether they are at your home or away with you on vacation. Personal property is often covered on a named peril basis. This means that only the causes of loss listed in the policy section are covered. The coverage is also subject to limitations and exclusions. Types of property having significant value, such as jewelry, fine arts, collectibles, etc., may require special protection. Talk to your agent about scheduling (adding) coverage on a floater which broadens and extends coverage for high-valued possessions.
Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost
Commonly, protection under sections A and B is provided on either an actual cash value or a replacement cost basis. Actual cash value is defined as replacement cost minus depreciation. Replacement cost is the actual cost to replace the structure, regardless of depreciation. Check your policy to see which type of coverage you have. Coverage under section C is usually provided on an actual cash basis. However, your agent may be able to add replacement cost to your possessions just like that found in Coverage A.
Please be sure to read Part two, which briefly discusses other coverage.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc., 1996, 2003, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tague Insurance - Insuring A Safe Summer
The article below has some great information on things you should consider as Summer approaches. Tague Insurance is here to help our clients obtain the insurance coverage they need to protect their families and businesses. San Diego County is a wonderful area with tons of fun Summer activities to do so make sure that you "insure" a safe Summer!
Are You Liable For Summer Fun?
Ready, Set, Summer!
Summer generally arrives with a huge surge in personal activities. School ends and parents start searching for leisure and recreational activities for themselves and their children. The activities range from elaborate vacations or summer-long camps to simply buying play and sports equipment (or getting it out of storage) and renewing park and pool passes.
Summer Fun's Dark Side
It is important to remember that good, clean fun can also have consequences when things go wrong. Using sports equipment such as tennis racquets, baseballs, baseball bats, Frisbees, lawn darts, or horseshoes has the potential to harm others. Danger accompanies the operation of skateboards, bikes, mopeds, go-karts, and radio-controlled cars, helicopters and planes. An even larger area of concern may involve inviting friends over to use your driveway, play equipment or swimming pool. The potential liability comes from either you having fun at the expense of other persons or their property, or failing to take precautions that persons you've invited to your residence (or other places) are safe to enjoy themselves.
How To Preserve Your Fun
The easiest way to prepare for your summer liability is to ask yourself some questions:
What can I do to keep other persons safe from my activities?
Am I prepared to be responsible for people I hurt or property I damage?
How do I make my home and yard safe for fun-seeking visitors?
Am I keeping my guests to various events safe?
While accidents happen, many can be prevented by making sure that you and your children enjoy your activities responsibly. Operating bikes safely and in low traffic areas reduces the chance that others will be hurt. The proper use of games and equipment also make the likelihood of having someone injured more remote. In other words, it's important that your family uses sports and game equipment safely and appropriately. Adult supervision is critical for potentially dangerous activities such as the use of motorized recreational equipment, trampolines, and swimming pools (including small wading pools). It's also important to make certain that guests you invite for camping or hiking trips are watched after carefully. In many instances, you are responsible for the safety of your guests when you invite them to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly boating or other activities involving water-related equipment.
Home Inspection
Another way to reduce the chance of others being hurt is to do an inspection of your home and yard. Do you have an adequate fence (with secure or self-locking gate) to protect young children from a pool when you're not around? Is your playground equipment well-maintained and strong enough to support the weight of the children using it? Is your yard and driveway free of tripping hazards? Are dangerous items such as tools, chemicals and lawn equipment kept out of reach of children? If you can answer "no" to any of these questions, you're inviting trouble.
Insurance Plays A Role
When accidents happen, they may be followed by medical expenses and, more seriously, lawsuits. You must be protected against such financial consequences. Don't assume you have coverage, especially when an activity involves motorized or powered equipment. You may have to add coverage to your homeowner policy or even buy special coverage for mini-bikes, mopeds, boats, all-terrain vehicles, etc.
So make safety a part of getting ready for summer fun. It's also smart to include a visit or call to your insurance professional to make sure you have the right coverage to support a fun summer.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2000, 2005
If you need to review your auto insurance, home insurance, or business insurance please contact Tague Insurance today. We are a local independent Carlsbad CA Insurance agent who has been writing insurance in Carlsbad and San Diego County for over 32 years! We love helping our clients get the protection they need by insuring the things that are most important to them.
Tague Insurance Agency
2801 Jefferson Street
PO Box 429
Carlsbad, CA 92018
Phone (760) 729-1143
Fax (760) 729-8617
info@tagueins.com
www.tagueins.com
Are You Liable For Summer Fun?
Ready, Set, Summer!
Summer generally arrives with a huge surge in personal activities. School ends and parents start searching for leisure and recreational activities for themselves and their children. The activities range from elaborate vacations or summer-long camps to simply buying play and sports equipment (or getting it out of storage) and renewing park and pool passes.
Summer Fun's Dark Side
It is important to remember that good, clean fun can also have consequences when things go wrong. Using sports equipment such as tennis racquets, baseballs, baseball bats, Frisbees, lawn darts, or horseshoes has the potential to harm others. Danger accompanies the operation of skateboards, bikes, mopeds, go-karts, and radio-controlled cars, helicopters and planes. An even larger area of concern may involve inviting friends over to use your driveway, play equipment or swimming pool. The potential liability comes from either you having fun at the expense of other persons or their property, or failing to take precautions that persons you've invited to your residence (or other places) are safe to enjoy themselves.
How To Preserve Your Fun
The easiest way to prepare for your summer liability is to ask yourself some questions:
What can I do to keep other persons safe from my activities?
Am I prepared to be responsible for people I hurt or property I damage?
How do I make my home and yard safe for fun-seeking visitors?
Am I keeping my guests to various events safe?
While accidents happen, many can be prevented by making sure that you and your children enjoy your activities responsibly. Operating bikes safely and in low traffic areas reduces the chance that others will be hurt. The proper use of games and equipment also make the likelihood of having someone injured more remote. In other words, it's important that your family uses sports and game equipment safely and appropriately. Adult supervision is critical for potentially dangerous activities such as the use of motorized recreational equipment, trampolines, and swimming pools (including small wading pools). It's also important to make certain that guests you invite for camping or hiking trips are watched after carefully. In many instances, you are responsible for the safety of your guests when you invite them to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly boating or other activities involving water-related equipment.
Home Inspection
Another way to reduce the chance of others being hurt is to do an inspection of your home and yard. Do you have an adequate fence (with secure or self-locking gate) to protect young children from a pool when you're not around? Is your playground equipment well-maintained and strong enough to support the weight of the children using it? Is your yard and driveway free of tripping hazards? Are dangerous items such as tools, chemicals and lawn equipment kept out of reach of children? If you can answer "no" to any of these questions, you're inviting trouble.
Insurance Plays A Role
When accidents happen, they may be followed by medical expenses and, more seriously, lawsuits. You must be protected against such financial consequences. Don't assume you have coverage, especially when an activity involves motorized or powered equipment. You may have to add coverage to your homeowner policy or even buy special coverage for mini-bikes, mopeds, boats, all-terrain vehicles, etc.
So make safety a part of getting ready for summer fun. It's also smart to include a visit or call to your insurance professional to make sure you have the right coverage to support a fun summer.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2000, 2005
If you need to review your auto insurance, home insurance, or business insurance please contact Tague Insurance today. We are a local independent Carlsbad CA Insurance agent who has been writing insurance in Carlsbad and San Diego County for over 32 years! We love helping our clients get the protection they need by insuring the things that are most important to them.
Tague Insurance Agency
2801 Jefferson Street
PO Box 429
Carlsbad, CA 92018
Phone (760) 729-1143
Fax (760) 729-8617
info@tagueins.com
www.tagueins.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
Tague Insurance - 15 Things You Need To Know About Insurance
15 things you need to know about insurance MSN Money By Jeff Wuorio Insurance is complicated and confusing. This guide answers some basic questions on where you need coverage and how much. Winston Churchill once described the former Soviet Union as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." The same description might hold true about insurance in its varied forms. What you need, what you don't need and how much are confusing questions for many. Accordingly, here are 15 of the most commonly asked questions about insurance, along with some answers that should prove helpful to you in developing a comprehensive, cost-effective network of insurance coverage. 1. What sorts of insurance do most people need? Basically, most people need to be concerned with insuring four areas: their possessions, their life, their health and their finances. 2. When you're talking about possessions, does that mean that homeowner's insurance is the most important? Probably, since a house is likely to be the single biggest investment most of us make. The general rule of thumb with homeowner's insurance is not to skimp. If you can, pay a bit extra to obtain guaranteed replacement coverage, which mandates that the insurer will replace your home if it's destroyed regardless of how much it costs. If you only specify a certain amount of coverage, you could end up paying the difference if it doesn't meet all your replacement expenses. 3. Once I have guaranteed replacement coverage for my home, I'm all set, right? Maybe, maybe not. It's important to know what your homeowner's insurance covers and what it doesn't. For example, particularly pricey items such as big-screen televisions and extra fancy stereo equipment are often excluded from policies or, at the least, inadequately covered. The same goes for antiques, collectibles, expensive jewelry and furs. To protect these and other items that your policy doesn't, obtain riders that specifically cover those things. Additionally, homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. So, go to your local town or municipal office and see if your house is in a flood plain. If so, contact the federal government's National Flood Insurance system to get flood policies offered by private insurers. (A link to the Federal Emergency Management Association's National Flood Insurance Program is on the left.) Likewise, seek out earthquake insurance if you live in an area that might be hit by a quake. 4. I have a home office. Do I have any special insurance needs? Oh yes. A great deal of home office equipment, such as computers, fax machines, copy machines and the like, are generally excluded from most conventional homeowner's policies. As such, you have to obtain separate insurance to cover them. Insurance becomes particularly important if you see clients in your home office. That means you likely need liability insurance as well, so check with your insurance agent to make certain all your bases are covered. 5. Does homeowner's insurance cover me if, say, someone slips on my front steps, breaks a leg and sues me? Not completely. Homeowner's insurance policies (and, for that matter, renter's insurance) have liability limits, so it's a good idea to investigate an umbrella policy. This adds additional liability coverage, upwards of $1 million and even more for a relatively cheap price (although the prices vary considerably from state to state). Not only does it add extra liability coverage for where you live, but you also get additional liability coverage for your car. 6. Is car insurance an absolute must? Absolutely. Every state requires that drivers have some sort of automobile insurance in place. Even if they didn't, it would be sheer madness to drive even one inch without some form of protection. Slam into someone else and wreck another car or kill someone, and your financial life could very well be ruined without the protection of auto insurance. 7. Why is auto insurance so expensive and how can I hold down the cost? The biggest bite of auto insurance comes from liability protection, which is effectively divided into bodily injury protection and property protection. This is one element of auto insurance you shouldn't shortchange. Look for minimum coverage of at least $100,000 per person, another $100,000 for property and $300,000 per accident. Additionally, if you can swing it, add on uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you in the event you have an accident with a driver who has no insurance. To make this more affordable, consider raising your deductibles (that portion of the expense you have to pay before your coverage kicks in). Pushing up deductibles to $500 or even higher can significantly cut your premiums. Another way to trim costs is to eliminate collision coverage, which covers damage to your car. That's probably not wise if your car is new, but give it some thought if your car's got a few years on it and driving around with a ding or two is no big deal. Other ways to cut costs: Drive safely (drivers with good records get better deals); insure every car you own with the same company (multi-car packages often mean lesser premiums); don't smoke (statistics show smokers have more accidents than non-smokers); and, if you're still in school and pulling down good grades, let your insurer know it (good marks can often cut premiums). 8. What about life insurance? Do I have to have that? Does anyone depend on you financially? In its most basic form, life insurance covers a person's income. So, if no one, such as a spouse, child, or parent, is depending on your income, then life insurance is optional. However, if you're married, or there is someone whose well-being depends on what you make for a living, life insurance can prove an essential form of protection. There is one interesting wrinkle that goes against the maxim of no income, no insurance. If you work and your spouse stays home with your kids, give some thought to taking out insurance on your spouse. The idea here is, should your spouse die, the death benefit could cover the expense of child care, which can prove rather hefty. 9. How can I figure out how much life insurance I need? It's something of an inexact science, but try MSN Money's Life Insurance Needs Estimator. 10. What sort of life insurance should I consider? For the most part, term life insurance works the best for most people. It's the cheapest and most simple insurance you can get. You pay the premium and you're insured. It's particularly effective if you follow the time-honored wisdom of buying term and investing the difference, which is what you would have to pay to get some sort of cash value insurance, or "whole life." If things work out, by sticking with cheap term and maintaining a systematic investment program, chances are that one day you'll have a nice large cache of cash. 11. So you should never buy anything but term life insurance? It's not quite that cut and dried, because there are some instances where cash value insurance works quite well. For one thing, if you doubt you'll be able to, in effect, "invest the difference," cash value programs are a form of forced savings. In fact, there are some tied to mutual funds that can offer reasonable rates of return. And, since life insurance death benefits are exempt from taxes, they can prove an effective estate strategy to pass assets along to your heirs. The downside to most cash value plans is that they're more expensive than term and you have to plan on holding onto them for a while so you're not hit with heavy "early surrender" charges. 12. Health insurance is probably something I can't do without, right? Correct. Recent estimates hold that more than 40 million Americans lack health insurance. Make sure you’re not one of them. The good news is that most employers offer health insurance to employees, usually at fairly reasonable group rates. Most plans boil down to a choice of two options, known as managed care and fee-for-service. Managed care, which carries such monikers as HMOs, PPOs and the like, has relatively inexpensive forms of coverage. Doctor visits and other services can be dirt cheap for employees, often costing only a couple of dollars per visit. The downside is that you usually don't get a doctor of your choice, as programs specify certain physicians from which you may select. Moreover, managed-care programs are often infamous for making you wait days and even weeks to get in to see someone. Fee-for-service, on the other hand, carries more expensive premiums than managed care. The major advantage is that you can generally go to any doctor you want. Generally, fee-for-service policies will pay 80% of patient expenses after deductibles, with you as the employee responsible for the remaining 20%. Like other forms of insurance, you can trim fee-for-service premiums somewhat by increasing your deductible. If you're self-employed or, by chance, your employer doesn’t offer health coverage, make certain you get something in place. 13. What exactly is COBRA? COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. Under COBRA, if you resign from a job or are terminated for any reason other than "gross misconduct," you can continue under your former employer’s health-care coverage for up to 18 months. In many cases, spouses and dependent children are also COBRA-eligible. The downside is that the premiums are expensive since, in effect, you're paying both your and your former employer's share. The idea of COBRA is to continue a form of coverage until you arrange for some other sort of health insurance. 14. Does health insurance help if I'm sick or injured and laid up for awhile? Partially. Health insurance only helps to pay your medical expenses. To keep income coming in if you can't work for a time, look into getting disability insurance. This is one of the more commonly overlooked types of insurance, and one that most working families really need. It pays you an income if you're incapable of generating your own income for any period of time. Some employers offer it, but in many cases, you'll have to look for it on your own. Look for policies whose waiting periods are no longer than 90 days. This is the time you have to wait until you start getting disability payments. 15. What about long-term care insurance? Is that something that should be considered? Again, it depends. Long-term care insurance helps pay for nursing care and other like expenses when you get older. That's a good thing, no doubt about it. The drawback is that the premiums are expensive and become all the more so the older you get (By the time you're in your 70s, expect to pay several thousand dollars a year). One important consideration in long-term care insurance is whether you can genuinely afford the premiums without sacrificing your lifestyle; on top of that, think whether you can keep living the way you want if the premiums jump by 20% or 30%. |
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Too much house, too little insurance
 | Too much house, too little insurance Many homeowners lack sufficient property coverage By Ray Martin, CBS.MarketWatch.com |
And this underinsurance problem is painfully exposed when homeowners face a total and unexpected loss as have many in California and in Florida. According to John Garamendi, the California Insurance Commissioner, a large proportion of the more than 3,700 homeowners who suffered a total loss due to the wildfires there last year are finding out that the money their insurance is providing is falling far short of what they need to rebuild.
In an industry that prides itself on customer service and providing security to its customers, it's difficult to believe that property-insurance companies would knowingly allow their customers to underinsure their homes. After all, buying the right amount and right type of insurance means larger policy premiums and profits for the insurers.
Add to that the fact that among the millions of insurance claims totaling approximately $26 billion a year; fewer than two percent are for the total loss of a house.
Pointing fingers
So why is this happening? Insurance companies are quick to point out that homeowners all too often do not step up to the responsibility of buying adequate coverage for their homes. When homeowners remodel and improve their homes, they often forget to follow through with a call to their insurance agent to update their coverage.
Another contributor is the surging price of lumber, steel and other building materials and the rising costs due to new building codes. Escalating labor costs also contribute to higher construction bills.
Consumer groups such as the Consumer Federation of America, however, paint a much different picture. They say that homeowners depend on their insurance agents to properly assess replacement values and to sell them the right type and amount of coverage.
They say that many agents today lack the training to properly asses the value of the homes they insure and often rely on over-the-phone interviews and computer-program estimates to provide quick quotes to close a deal in the competitive world of selling homeowners insurance.
The result is that consumers often buy cheaply priced coverage that they falsely believe will replace their home in the event of a full loss.
A need to know
Every homeowner needs to know that the old-fashioned "guaranteed replacement coverage" that provided homeowners peace of mind that their home would be replaced regardless of the rebuilding costs is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Most homeowners policies sold today are called "extended replacement coverage" or "specified additional amount of insurance," which only provides coverage up to the dwelling limits specified in the policy plus an additional amount of up to 20 to 30 percent -- and not a penny more.
And if you have an existing policy with "guaranteed replacement coverage" expect a notice from your insurance company upon the policy anniversary that your current coverage will replaced with this new and more limited form of coverage.
This development places more responsibility on homeowners to ensure that they have adequate coverage.
Some insurance companies say they have been forced to limit replacement coverage as homeowners have been slow to increase their coverage limits as home values appreciated and rebuilding costs have surged. But some insurance company representatives fear that as this new coverage is rolled out to existing policy holders, homeowners will do nothing and as a result will be underinsured -- and ignorant about it.
Assessing replacement value
To protect against underinsuring their homes, homeowners should insist on a through analysis of replacement value, including an inventory of the number of rooms and bathrooms and specification of the quality level of the existing construction as well as any special features.
Many insurance companies are now using Marshal & Swifts Residential Component Technology home-valuation program to calculate replacement values and suggesting this as the proper coverage limits to set in your policy. If this valuation is incomplete, and the homeowner does not buy enough coverage, the homeowner will bear the consequence.
Ideally, the insurance agent should also visit the home to asses its replacement value and take into account the specific risks to the home, local market conditions and current building codes that would contribute to the costs of replacing the home.
| Homeowners also need to know the difference between HO-3 and HO-5 form of homeowner's coverage -- these are the two most common policies offered. While both forms of coverage insure damages caused by all risks to a home's physical structure, the fundamental difference is that only the HO-5 policies fully cover damages and loss of the home's contents due to all risks. Having a guarantee that your personal belongings will be covered no matter what kind of disaster strikes is particularly important if you have a larger home, many furnishings, expensive jewelry, art or a home office. Homeowners with outdated policies may find that their current policy dwelling limits only insures a percentage of their homes' current replacement value. It is important to note that as long as your dwelling limits in your policy are 80 percent of more of the replacement cost of the dwelling, you are fully covered for a partial loss. But if you have a full loss of your home, and you do not have the full amount of the dwelling replacement value covered, you will only be paid for part of the replacement costs -- and chances are this gap in coverage will amount to a lot of money. Also, many homeowners have upgraded their homes and these improvements boost the home's replacement value, meaning insurance limits should be increased accordingly. Finally, not only have home values gone up, the price of materials and labor has also increased. Homes lost in disaster areas typically have to be rebuilt to conform to new building codes, to protect against wind damage or earthquakes for example, adding to the costs to rebuild the home. Many insurance companies offer a feature that automatically increases the value for which the home is insured each year. Ask your insurance company about this coverage escalator. The cost of this rider and coverage increase is then automatically built into your premium each year. If the home is located in a flood plain, no policy will cover flood damage. The federal government provides flood insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and claims are often serviced by your insurance company. Some owners of high-risk properties may have to resort to obtaining coverage through Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, or FAIR Plans, which are state mandated insurer organizations that cover high-risk properties in 36 states. Put out One thing most homeowner's policies do cover is "loss of use." Many Florida residents have been forced to evacuate their homes as the recent hurricanes descended on their area. What these homeowners need to know is that their costs to stay in a hotel and other related living costs are generally covered at an amount that is typically about 30 percent of the overall policy dwelling coverage. If your home is insured for $200,000, for instance, you may be entitled to up to $60,000 in reimbursement for your expenses associated with your loss of use. Keep in mind that if you do want to increase the amount of coverage on your home, you can't do so when the peril is upon you. Insurance companies generally place a moratorium on coverage changes in areas in the path of a storm, typically several days before the expected peril is forecast to strike. Certified Financial Planner Ray Martin writes on personal finance for CBS.MarketWatch.com and also appears on the "The Early Show" on CBS. He is co-author of "The Rookie's Guide to Money Management." |
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tague Insurance - Home Insurance and Auto Insurance Questions
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
1. Have you considered increasing your deductible to lower your premiums?
2. Are your liability limits adequate to protect your income and assets from a negligent lawsuit?
3. Do you presently insure all of the vehicles in your household?
4. Are all the licensed drivers in your household listed on your automobile policy?
5. If you own a pickup or a van, does it contain any customized equipment?
6. Do you own any camping or recreational vehicles (including electric or gasoline driven golf cart)?
7. Do you have a non-factory installed stereo system?
8. Do you have a vehicle, not your own, furnished for your use?
9. Do you have rental car coverage in the event your car is damaged in an accident?
10. Have you reviewed your auto insurance in the last two years?
11. Would you like to review the current limits and other coverage's on your vehicles to see if they are still suited to your needs?
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE / RENTERS INSURANCE1
1. Do you own any antiques, fine art, or paintings?
2. Do you own any jewelry, furs, or silverware valued over $500?
3. Do you own any guns?
4. Do you have replacement cost contents coverage added to your policy?
5. Do you presently have either a burglar, fire or smoke alarm in your home?
6. Have you remodeled your home recently? Do you plan to in the near future?
7. Would you like an estimate of your home's replacement cost at today's prices?
8. Do you own a second home or any other real property such as a mountain cabin or farm property?
9. Do you conduct any business or give private lessons in your home?
10. Do you own any rental or investment property?
11. Do you have an Excess Liability (umbrella) policy which extends your automobile and homeowners liability coverage to $1,000,000 or more?
12. Would you like us to send a form to assist you in making an inventory of your personal property?
13. Have you reviewed your homeowners coverage in the last 2 years?
14. Do you currently have a photo inventory of your personal property?
15. Would you like a review of your current homeowners coverage?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Getting a CLUE from Tague Insurance Agency
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.
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.
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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