Home Owners Insurance: An Important Step in Buying a Home

When buying a house, a first-time home owner may not think about home owners insurance. They’re too busy worrying about finances, moving, and finding that perfect media room or kitchen. However, it’s good to remember that home owners insurance is an important aspect of investing in real estate—one that is often required with most lenders.

Home owners insurance is the best way to be sure that your house and the assets within are protected in case of an accident or natural disaster. Most policies are chosen during the final closing of your new home and most lenders require home owners insurance to protect the portion of the property that they own.

The first step to acquiring home owners insurance is to assess the value of your home and assets. This may involve creating an inventory list and/or taking pictures of your possessions, depending on your insurance company’s requirements. This allows you to determine the best category of insurance for optimal coverage.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as your agent assists your search for home owners insurance

• Home owners insurance is divided into a variety of categories based upon the value of your assets
• Many companies offer several types of coverage—learn where you fit in
• Talk to your insurance agent to ensure you’re getting as much coverage as possible
• Appropriate coverage will assure that you have little to no loss in case of accident or disaster

Buying a home is a big occasion. Protect your real estate and property investments with home owners insurance. Call your local insurance agent to learn more about your Arlington home insurance coverage options.

Keeping Your Motorcyle Safe This Winter

Any serious biker knows that riding in the winter, even in many southern states, is entirely too bone-chilling to enjoy. But before you store your precious motorcycle for the winter, there are some cautionary steps you should take to prepare your bike for storage. The following list will ensure that your motorcycle will be ready to ride as soon as the weather grows warmer.

• Storage location: The best place to store your motorcycle is inside in a heated space, like a garage or shed. Find a safe corner away from windows and sources of moisture where your bike can stay for a few months. If this is not an option, you can opt for a commercial storage facility with heat or a garage or shed with no heat. Avoid storing a bike outdoors.  
• Wash and repair: Give your bike a good wash and wax to remove any contaminants that may cause corrosion.  Top off all fluids and lube the chain and cables. Perform any necessary repairs or routine maintenance as outlined in the owner’s manual.  
• Tire care: Check the tire tread and replace them if needed. If not, inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure. Parking your bike on a sheet of plywood or atop wooden boards can help maintain the life of your tires.  
• Oil change: Dirty oil can wear your engine down prematurely, so now is a good time to perform an oil change. Drain the old oil and refill the engine with an oil of the viscosity recommended in the owner’s manual. Double check to see if a different grade is needed during the winter.  
• Fuel stabilizer: Add fuel stabilizer to your gas tank according to the instructions on the packaging. Start the engine and let the motorcycle run for a few minutes so the stabilizer can travel through the fuel system.    
• Battery: Your battery can drain, even when not in use. You may choose to remove the battery and charge it during the winter. But an overcharged battery can cause just as many, if not more, problems than a dead battery. Invest in a battery minder and charger, which will cycle on and off to keep your battery in good condition.  
• Cover: Avoid covering your motorcycle in a plastic tarp because they trap moisture. Instead, purchase a breathable cover designed to fit your bike model.

Even a stored bike should be insured. Call Pickard Insurance Agency at 877-596-2559 for more information on Dallas motorcycle insurance.

Keeping Thanksgiving Safe

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many people, but it’s also the number one day for home cooking fires across America. It’s easy to lose track of what’s cooking when there are so many tasks involved in planning a holiday meal. However, safety should always be a top priority to ensure a happy holiday for everyone.

Cook With Care

The leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. When frying, grilling or broiling food, always remain in the kitchen. Feel free to complete other household tasks while simmering, roasting, baking or boiling, but remain in the house and listen for timers going off. Wear clothes that fit snugly, especially while cooking over the stove; dangling sleeves can easily catch fire.

Avoiding and Treating Burns

Use the back burners when possible and turn pan handles inward to reduce the risk of accidental tipping. Protecting your hands is a must when preparing for the holiday. Wear oven mitts or use potholders when handling hot objects.

If you do get burned, immediately submerge your skin in cool water for three to five minutes. If your clothes catch fire, take part in the good ‘ole stop, drop and roll. If any burns appear to be higher than a first degree burn, seek medical help as soon as possible.

To Fight or To Flee?

If you think you can safely fight a small fire, try some of these methods. Keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby for smothering grease fires that ignite inside a pan. Simply don the oven mitt and slide the lid over the pan, then immediately turn off the burner. If a fire ignites in your oven or microwave, leave the door shut and turn off the appliance right away. Do not open the door until the fire is completely out.

If a fire appears too big to contain or extinguish, exit your home immediately. Close any doors behind you as you leave to prevent spreading. Alert everyone in the house to leave and call 911 on your way out.

The Dangers of Turkey Fryers

Turkey fryers are the biggest fire hazard one can face on Thanksgiving. These top-heavy fryers have a tendency to tip over, spill hot oil and overheat. These appliances should only be used outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Birds must be completely thawed and dried before being lowered slowly into the fryer. Cover your skin to protect against oil splatter. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and call 911 if a fire ignites.

A safe holiday is a happy holiday. Call Pickard Insurance Agency at 877-596-2559 for more information on Arlington home insurance.

Were You Hit By An Uninsured Driver?

Getting in a car accident is a frustrating experience. Many people immediately start thinking of the hassle of filing a claim and getting repairs done, not to mention any medical treatment that may be necessary. But if you get out of your car and realize that the other driver is uninsured, frustration can be tested to its limits.

What does this mean for you? You are within your rights to hire a qualified lawyer and sue the uninsured driver. However, most drivers who won’t pay for insurance don’t have many assets and you may not be able to recover damages even if you win the lawsuit. In many cases, each driver will pay for the damage to their own car. This means that you would pay your deductible and your insurance provider would cover the rest.

Another option is available for people who want to reduce the risk of accidents with uninsured motorists. You can add uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage to your auto policy for additional coverage. This protection applies to you, members of your family who live in your home, your children who reside elsewhere, passengers in your car and people who drive your car with permission. Be sure to check with your independent agent for the specifics of your policy.

Most states require drivers to purchase liability insurance, but many drivers cancel their policies or let it expire after registering their vehicle. Approximately one out of every seven drivers is uninsured, for a national total of about 14 percent. These numbers increase during a bad economy.

Protect yourself and your loved ones from uninsured motorists with extra coverage. Call Pickard Insurance Agency at 877-596-2559 for more information on Arlington auto insurance.

Insurance For Your Boat During The OffSeason

Even though the Texas weather barely reflects it, summer is coming to an end. School is back in session and everyone is getting back to the same old day-to-day activities that they get a break from for a few months out of every year. This means putting away the swimsuit, stashing the beach towels away and getting the boat covered up for the impending cooler months. For some reason, though, many people believe that they don’t need boat insurance simply because their vessel is in storage. Unfortunately, far too many individuals find out the hard way that this is simply inaccurate.

Is Year-Round Boat Insurance Necessary?

It’s first important to consider the fact that boating accidents are going to occur regardless of what month of the year it is. In fact, the percentage of people killed in boating accidents during September is the same percentage as in June. Many people would say, “But I don’t use my boat during the fall.” This is a good point, but completely irrelevant to boating insurance. As can be gathered by the following information, not having boat insurance during the fall and winter months is a mistake.

Off-the-Water Boating Mishaps

There is an abundance of things that can happen to boats off the water that can be detrimental to boat owners without insurance. Most vessel owners, for instance, don’t realize that there were 6,070 reported watercraft thefts in 2011 alone. Most of these thefts occur in states bordering an ocean, but every single state in the continental U.S. saw boat thefts that year.
While theft can be a huge issue with docked and stored boats during the months of fall, it’s definitely not the only danger. Mishaps such as flooding or fire, for instance, can completely destroy a vessel. Sadly, fellow humans present another danger due to the risk of vandalism. If any of these unfortunate events occurs when an individual doesn’t have boat insurance, they’re simply out of luck.

Can Injuries Still Occur?

Most people don’t realize it, but their boats can still lead to a lawsuit even if they’re docked. Accidents that happen around a boat, even if it isn’t on the water, could possibly create a liability issue for the owner of a vessel. Some people think that they avoid this potential issue by storing the boat at their home, which they think ensures the boat’s coverage on a homeowner’s policy, but this isn’t foolproof either. This is because even the most boat-friendly homeowner’s insurance policies usually only cover canoes and other smaller boats.
The simple fact is that boat insurance is an essential part of owning a vessel, and this holds true whether it’s in use or not. Boat owners without year-round insurance are putting themselves at risk for loss and, in some cases, even a lawsuit. Because of the dangers that boats and their owners face throughout the year, having boat insurance at all times is an absolute necessity.
Don’t leave your boat unprotected. Give Pickard Insurance Agency a call today at 877-596-2559 for a free quote on Arlington boat insurance.

Shop and Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Arlington

Using the Internet to get an insurance quote in Texas can save you a considerable amount of money on your car insurance. The method is an easy and fast one. Just submit your information using our online auto insurance rater, and our system will give you a quote within minutes. You can also get quotes from multiple insurance providers, enabling you to make side by side comparisons between them, all from the comfort of your own home.

The reason that a lot of people in Texas overpay on their insurance is they don’t shop around. Comparing auto, home and business insurance quotes will help you find the best rates and coverage. You can also start, save and complete the online application for car insurance whenever you want. This single application normally includes several quotes from various carriers, so you don’t have to be concerned with being charged for multiple quotes.

As an independent, we can shop your insurance for you, and give advice on the best coverage for your circumstances. Complete an online quote for Arlington car insurance today.

How to Save on Your Teen's Car Insurance Rates

Have a new teen driver? Be prepared to pay rates that are through the roof. Insurance companies know that younger drivers get into more accidents than older, more experienced ones, and use that to their advantage when you are looking for teen driver rates.

Insurance companies might vary the rate depending on a few different things, one of which is their gender. Teen males have historically been more expensive to insure because they are seen as higher risk. Teen drivers between the age 16 and 19 are 4 times as likely to have a wreck compared to those over 19. Although insurance companies want your business, they also have to protect themselves.

Although teen insurance is expensive, there are 5 few things that can help reduce that rate that you are given:

1. Maintaining a B or higher average grade in high school.
2. Receiving certificates from safety courses.
3. Bundling the policy with others.
4. If your teen went to college 100 miles away without their vehicle.
5. Raising your deductible

Keeping your record clean is another easy way to save money on your premiums. Something as small as not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign can result in a ticket and can raise your rates. Have discussions with your teen about these infractions and what they mean for the monthly premium. Similar to the original rates given, males tend to see a higher increase in premium per infraction than females.

It might seem like insurance companies are biased, but their numbers and research back up the rates. In order to keep the lowest rate for your teen go over what we listed out above. Remind them that their grades are more important than just getting into college, to abide by the laws and to buy in to their safety driving courses. It can save you money in the long run.

Contact us to discuss your teen's insurance policy at 877-596-2559 or go online to get an Arlington auto insurance quote.