San Marcos Insurance Group

Are Deductibles Worth the Extra Expense in Chandler, AZ?

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In Chandler, AZ, the agents of San Marcos Insurance Group can help their clients work through the process of determining how much of a deductible they need to make their auto insurance policy affordable. Deductibles can range from $500 to $5000 in some areas. The type of insurance, the book value of the vehicle, and the estimated amount of the monthly premiums all need to be taken into consideration. When you are choosing the level of your deductible, you need to look at how much money you have on hand to make repairs if an accident does occur.

Deductibles are a specific amount of money that you decide to pay before your insurance coverage kicks in. Because it reduces the amount of money your insurance company has to pay out, each level of deductible will reduce your monthly premium by a specific percentage. Some insurance companies offer what is known as a vanishing deductible, which means the amount of the deductible is gradually reduced for each year the insured goes without having an accident or traffic citation. While these seem like a good idea, they do have their drawbacks. Before choosing a deductible amount, the insured should carefully consider how much money they are willing to pay out before making a claim.

Residents who live in communities and neighborhoods near Chandler, AZ can talk to the agents of San Marcos Insurance Group if they have questions about their auto insurance deductibles and how to keep them under control. The agents can help you determine what type of deductible will work best for your particular situation and will help you build a policy that suits your exact needs. Call the agents of San Marcos Insurance Group today and let them guide you through the deductible process.

Adding an Above Ground Pool to Your Backyard in Chandler, AZ

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The summers in Chandler, AZ are hot and it’s not unusual for temperatures to hit the triple digits from June to August. But who wants to stay inside all summer and hide from the sun?  If you’ve decided to beat the summer heat by putting in an above ground pool in your backyard, you’ll want to consider how this effects your homeowner’s insurance policy.  

Having a backyard swimming pool is a wonderful way to spend the summer with family and friends in Chandler, AZ. However, this also means added responsibility for you the homeowner.  You will want to be sure you are covered in the event that something unexpected happens.  

Typically, pools are covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy.  However, you will want to take a few minutes to read over your insurance policy to make sure you are protected.  In many cases, what is called the "property component" of your policy includes your above ground pool.  To know for sure, give your insurance agent a call and discuss your plans to put in a new pool.  Ask if your policy covers things like a tree branch falling and ripping the lining.

As for liability, this is another area to consider.  If someone is injured in your pool and needs to go to the emergency room, you will want to make sure you are covered for situations like this.  You just can’t predict what could happen in your pool and you will want the available coverage to incur any medical or legal expenses.  

At San Marcos Insurance Group, we can help you understand how to be covered for anything that arises from owning and enjoying and above ground pool in your backyard.  To discuss this and homeowner’s insurance in general, call San Marcos Insurance Group today to speak to a friendly agent.  

 

 

 

Prevent Distracted Driving in Arizona

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In 2014, police officers in Arizona made over 10,000 stops that involved distracted drivers. At least 11% of the stops resulted in vehicle crashes. Distracted driving is a major issue all over the country, but in Chandler, AZ, the San Marcos Insurance Group would like to help you navigate safely on the road by knowing how to prevent distracted driving.

Cell Phones are a Risk

Cell phones are the most common reason a person becomes distracted while they are driving. When you use your cell phone, you are taking your eyes off of the road. It may only seem like a second, but that’s all you need to pass by a stop sign or miss a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Talking on your cell phone is not the only way you can be distracted. Texting, watching a video, checking your email, or playing a game are other ways your phone can be the catalyst to an accident.

Eating and Drinking

Sometimes when you are in a hurry, it may seem quicker to have your breakfast or lunch in the car. This can be a great distraction because you are not completely focused on the road. Have your sandwich or coffee before you get in the car. Spilling a hot drink on your lap could cause you to swerve into another car or object.

Drowsy Driving is Dangerous

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year more than 100,000 accidents are a result of drowsy drivers. When you feel fatigued, you should not get behind the wheel. Make sure that you get a good night’s sleep before you drive. If you have to drive out-of-state, bring a friend along who can drive for you while you rest.

In Chandler, AZ, the independent insurance agents at San Marcos Insurance Group have detailed information regarding auto insurance rates.

Does My Auto Insurance Go Down After 25 Years Old?

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Turning a quarter-century old does have some benefits, including being able to rent a car without paying huge fees for being a young driver and potentially lower auto insurance rates. Does turning 25 years old guarantee lower insurance rates? Let’s find out.

First, it’s important to understand that age is simply one factor that auto insurance providers consider while calculating your premium. Another important thing to understand is that insurance companies don’t like to give away money if they don’t have too, so just because you turn 25 doesn’t mean you’ll automatically see lower rates. Often, you’ll need to contact your provider and request that your premium be lowered because of your age. Sometimes, your provider may tell you that they can offer you lower rates when you renew your policy, however, you shouldn’t blindly accept this as something set in stone. Shop around with other providers, such as San Marcos Insurance Group who serves the Chandler, AZ area, then return to your auto insurance provider and ask them how much they value you as a customer. You may see your rates adjusted on the spot when you demonstrate that you’re willing to shop around and leave your provider, if necessary, to get a lower premium.

Secondly, you need to consider that there are other factors influencing your premium. If you just turned 25, but also just bought an expensive luxury car or high horsepower sports car, your premium may actually go up. On the other hand, some lifestyle changes, such as getting married, could result in lower premiums even before you’re 25. Regardless of what your auto insurance provider tells you, the best way to ensure you’re getting the best price is to shop around. If you’re nearby the Chandler, AZ area, the San Marcos Insurance Group can provide you with personalized information regarding your exact situation. Showing your current auto insurance provider that you’re the type of customer that shops around lets them know that they may need to work harder to keep you as a customer, versus someone who blindly renews an auto insurance policy with the same company for years.

Why Does a Policy Get Cancelled in Chandler, AZ

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In Chandler, AZ, agents of the San Marcos Insurance Group can help to identify potential problems within a policy that may pose a problem for drivers who may not have fully read it in its entirety before signing it. It is important to read through a policy completely before agreeing to it. Policies often contain a variety of stipulations that will allow a driver to be dropped if certain things occur. Many of these events may be out of their control. Take a few minutes and review your policy so you understand what is and is not covered. The following list contains a few reasons why policies get canceled.

  • Too many tickets in a one-year period of time
  • Too many accidents in a one-year period of time (Even if the accident is not your fault, it can work against you.)
  • Too many late payments or cancellation notices
  • Not maintaining a valid driver’s license
  • Excessive, non-accident related claims

At the San Marcos Insurance Group, residents of Chandler, AZ can find the answers they need when it comes to professional service and quality auto insurance. Agents at the office are able to answer questions and put the right insurance policy with the right person at an affordable rate. Every state requires its residents to carry at least a minimum amount of car insurance. Don’t let your insurance lapse due to an oversight or because you didn’t realize you were not meeting the requirements of the policy. Call our office today and get the answers you need to remain insured and financially protected from loss. A few minutes with one of our agents will get you back on track.

 

How Arizona’s sun harms your car

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One of the nice things about living in Chandler, AZ is just how bright and sunny it is here, every single day, even in the Winter. Even when the temperatures drop to just a few degrees below freezing in the Winter, the sun still seems to shine through no matter what. This is great if you hate overcast, dreary, depressing gray days. But it’s not always so good for your skin, and it’s not always so good for your car, either.

Your car functions a little bit like your body in the way that it responds to the sun. Too much exposure can result in damage to the exterior, and even overheating. You protect your body by using sunscreen and staying in the shade when you can, and you can protect your car with the same principles.

Too much sun will cause your paint to fade, chip and peel, but regular waxing can help to deflect some of the sun’s rays and keep your paint job looking like new for years to come. You can also buy a car in a lighter color so that it will reflect the sunlight rather than absorb the heat.

Likewise, you want to keep your car in the shade whenever you can. Not everyone in Chandler, AZ has a garage, of course, but you can invest in a cover to throw over your car if you’re going to be leaving it outside for awhile in the sun, or park it in a shady spot like under a tree.

It’s unlikely the sun will do enough damage that you need to put in a claim through San Marcos Insurance Group, but it can do some harm. Let San Marcos Insurance Group worry about major damages, you worry about protecting your car from getting sunburned.

How Does Home Depriciation Affect Home Insurance Premiums

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Your home insurance premiums are a combination of a few different factors that help to set the amount that you will need to pay each month, bi-annually, or even each year depending on how you decide to pay. Your agent can explain more, and if you live in the Chandler, AZ area, the agents with San Marcos Insurance Group can tell you more.

Your home insurance premiums are first and foremost determined based on the overall value of your home. Though there are tons of other factors that go into the premium, the home value is the primary decision maker. Home depreciation is the concept that as your home ages, it is worthless and therefore you might not need as much coverage on it.

When it comes to figuring your home insurance premium, only very large depreciation is going to make a difference in the cost of premiums. Say you took out your policy in 1999, it is now 2017, and that means that 18 years have passed, this is going to amount to a great deal of depreciation and likely some deduction in your premium if you report the depreciation.

For those that took out a policy in 2015 and two years have passed, this is not likely to create much of a change in your overall monthly premium. If you are looking to reduce your premium, you want to speak with an agent about things that you can do to reduce your premium. Your agents can help you decide if adding safety features is going to help or if changing to safer building materials might help. For those that live in the Chandler, AZ area, the agents with San Marcos Insurance Group can help you find the policy that is right for you.  

Tips for Winterizing Your Home

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Every home deserves proper care. Many homeowners, however, find it difficult to fit home maintenance and repairs into their busy life schedules. Fortunately, though, keeping your home in good condition does not have to be a hassle. Here is a quick look at a few tips for winterizing your home.

Clean Out the Gutters

During the wintertime it is especially important that water be able to flow freely through your gutters. If it can’t, it will set in your gutters and likely freeze. This is why you should clean your gutters on a regular basis, especially during the colder months of the year. Fortunately, cleaning them out toward the end of fall is an excellent way to help guarantee they stay as clean as possible during winter. 

Flush the Water Heater

To ensure your water heater is performing at its optimal level of performance, it needs to be flushed once to twice a year. Just like cleaning out your gutters, performing this winterizing task is absolutely free. 

Turn Ceiling Fans to Spin Clockwise

To keep the heat flowing in your home and to improve heating expenses, make sure to turn your ceiling fans to spin clockwise; this helps to ensure the heat is being pushed from the ceiling down toward the floor and throughout your home. 

Replace Filters

Lastly, you will want to make sure your home is winterized by making sure all HVAC filters are cleaned or replaced. The cleaner the filters, the better the air flow in your home, which helps reduce heating expenses.

To learn more about winterizing your home and home insurance, contact San Marcos Insurance Group serving the Chandler, AZ area. 

When It’s Time To Explore A New Auto Insurance Policy

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Driving throughout Chandler, AZ can be fun and dangerous at the same time. You never know what other drivers are going to do. You also never know how the weather will impact driving conditions. Your auto insurance policy needs to be capable of protecting you against every possible scenario.

Looking at Your Policy

One of the first things you need to do is take a good look at your auto insurance policy. You are required to maintain at least the minimum levels as required by the state. If this is the only coverage you have, you may be missing some areas of protection. For example, comprehensive coverage is not required, though it is highly recommended because it will cover things that happen outside of driving. This includes shopping cart incidents, cracked windshields, and much more.

You don’t want to pay out-of-pocket more than what is absolutely necessary, which is why your policy needs to be strong.

Examining Common Incidents

It’s a good idea to look at some of the common incidents that occur amongst car owners in Chandler. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we will be happy to provide you with some of this information as well. This will allow you to build a policy that provides more substantial protection. If something does happen, you will be able to file a claim and have the insurance company pay for everything.

If you have had issues with paying too much out of pocket with your auto insurance in Chandler, AZ, it’s time to explore a new policy. At San Marcos Insurance Group, an experienced insurance agent can help every step of the way. It allows you to learn more about the possibilities that exist with your policy as well as some of the other insurance companies that offer policies in Arizona.

 

 

 

How to Avoid Kitchen Fires

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Nothing is better than a home-cooked meal. But all that activity in the kitchen during cooking time can spell trouble unless a few precautions are taken into consideration. Avoid kitchen fires with these tips.

Don’t Leave the Kitchen

Food that is being sautéed, steamed, or boiled can easily burn once the cooling liquid has evaporated. Once that food is left to cook on a dry skillet or pot, it can easily catch on fire.

Whoever is cooking should never leave the kitchen while anything is on the stovetop. If food is in the oven, be sure to set a timer so that the oven either turns off automatically, or the cook can return to the kitchen to remove the food from oven before it burns.

Don’t Multitask Activities

When the cook is trying to do too many things at once, it’s too easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stove or baking in the oven. This can quickly lead to burned food and worse – a kitchen fire.

San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ recommends planning family activities so they don’t interfere with meal preparation. For instance, don’t expect the family cook to keep tabs on dinner while playing a family game in the living room at the same time.

Keep Kids Out of the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, but kids can get rambunctious and out of control, and there are a lot of dangers in the kitchen during cooking time.

To be on the safe side, keep kids away from hot stoves and pots sitting on the range or countertops. Keep children out of the kitchen as much as possible, or at least on the other side of the kitchen island, where they will be far away from dangerous stovetops and sharp implements. San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ suggests distracting kids with another activity in other room, to occupy them while you’re cooking.

Control Consumption

If you’re preparing a particularly involved meal or cooking in the midst of a party, you may be sipping alcohol as you cook. This is a common behavior during cooking that many consider makes meal preparation more enjoyable. However, indulging in too much alcohol consumption can lead to neglecting kitchen safety.

Control your alcohol consumption so it doesn’t interfere with your ability to monitor safety precautions and food preparation. A good idea for doing this is to alternate having a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage.

With these cooking safety tips in mind, your holiday meal preparation should go smoothly and without any fire emergencies.