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Insurance When You Tie The Knot

2/10/2015

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February is all about love.  In fact, it is estimated that as many as 4 million people will get engaged on Valentine’s Day!  

And with all of that love and wedding planning in the air, it can be hard to think about the boring parts of a marriage.  

So I want to make it easy for you.  Here are a few things you need to think about in regards to your insurance policies when you tie the knot.


  1. Combine your auto insurance policies.  If you both own a vehicle, the easiest thing to do is combine your policies by adding your spouse and their vehicle to your policy.  We can take care of this in just a few minutes!  
  1. Make sure you and your spouse are listed on every policy.  You both need to be on the homeowners or renters insurance so you can get assistance if needed.  Do all of them at the same time and you won’t have to worry about it again.  
  1. Schedule an overall review.  When you combine two households you will obviously have more belongings!  Speak with your agent and verify that you have enough content and liability insurance to cover any new assets.  
  1. Purchase life insurance.  It’s your honeymoon and you don’t want to think about death, but now is the time to get this very important coverage in place.  It doesn’t cost much and will give you peace of mind that the person you love will be taken care of in the future.  It’s really the very best gift you can give to those you love.  
The best part of this?  It doesn’t have to be hard!  In fact, one short appointment can take care of every item on the list.  Give us a call today to schedule a review with one of our agents.  ​
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Scheduling Jewelry On Your Insurance Policy

2/10/2015

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Valentines and proposals are in the air!  And this means that you might find yourself with a new diamond ring or expensive piece of jewelry in your home.

Many people spend thousands of dollars on beautiful jewelry but don’t take the time to find out how to insure it.  And this can be a big mistake!

If you have homeowners or renters insurance, then your jewelry is covered as part of the contents of your home.  But there can be problems...


  1. We don’t know what it is worth.  It’s hard to get the full value of your jewelry back if you don’t know all of the specifics!  Weight, color, cut, size, and so forth are all factors in the value.  Ten years from now you might not even remember how much you paid.  
  1. You probably have a large deductible on your homeowners insurance.  Typically your contents coverage deductible is around 1% of your home value.  So if your home is insured for $200,000, then your deductible is $2,000.  If your ring is stolen, you’d be responsible for the first $2,000 before insurance kicked in!  
But there is a simple solution to avoid all of these problems.  Our homeowners and renters policies allow you to “schedule” jewelry for a small additional cost.

You bring in the receipt and appraisal of the item and we add all of that information to your policy.  (Sometimes we don’t need all of this, just call us first and we can let you know.)  

You will be charged based on the value of the item, but typically it’s less than $40 per year! (Sometimes much less, sometimes a little more.  It all depends on how much insurance is required.)  

Plus, scheduled items don’t require a deductible.  So if your ring is lost or stolen, you pay nothing out of pocket but get to replace your precious jewelry.

So next time you open a jewelry box and put a sparkling diamond on your finger, make sure that you are insuring your investment.  

Have questions about scheduling items on your homeowners insurance?  Call us today for assistance!  
​
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Life Insurance Is For Those You Love

2/10/2015

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A lot of people put off purchasing life insurance because it seems like a hassle.  You don’t want to do any sort of medical appointment.  It’s an extra expense.  And, for the most part, you just plain don’t want to think about death.

But life insurance isn’t about you.  It’s about the people you love.  And what better time than February to think about love! 

So let’s get real.  You do a lot for your family and if you have family members who depend on your income, then you need life insurance.  And the sooner, the better.

For one, life insurance is cheaper when you are young and healthy!  With each birthday you’ll see your quote go up unless you lock in a great rate now.  And you don’t want to look for life insurance after you’ve been diagnosed with an illness.    

Another great thing about life insurance is that there are a lot of options.  And we’re here to discuss all of them with you.  You can purchase a policy for the short term or even as a long term investment.  It all depends on how much you can afford to spend and what your family needs are.  

Whatever your situation, sitting down and discussing your needs and budget with an agent is a great first step.  Call us today to set up a free, no-obligation appointment!  ​
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February Home Maintenance Tasks

2/10/2015

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Each month in 2015, we’ll be sharing a short list of tasks that you can do to help take care of your home, vehicle, and family.  Consider them a helpful reminder of what needs to get accomplished throughout the month to keep your important items protected.

Here’s what’s on the list for February:
Purchase A Fire Extinguisher - If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, now is the time to get at least one.  Plan a family meeting and teach everyone in the household when and how to use it.  It’s an easy way to prevent a small kitchen fire from getting out of hand.  

Schedule High-Value Jewelry On Your Insurance Policy - Did your Valentine surprise you with a new piece of jewelry?  Make sure it’s covered!  While your Homeowners or Renters policy will cover jewelry, there are some limitations.  Get an appraisal and bring it in so we can discuss the best course of action.  (This also applies to artwork, guns, and other collectibles or antiques.)    

Seal Up Drafty Windows - Feel cool air blowing in around windows or doors?  Seal them up now!  You’ll be glad you did when those summer air conditioning bills arrive.  

Newlywed Insurance Review - Did you get married this month?  Call us to schedule a newlywed insurance review!  We’ll look at your individual policies and discuss how best to combine them for your new household.  

Show The Love! - There is no better way to show your family how much you love them, then with the proper amount of life insurance!  We can give you a quote on an affordable term policy and help you get this important coverage in place quickly.  [

We LOVE our clients!  Let us know if we can assist you in any way with your auto, home, business, or life insurance.  ​
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Patrick Stokes, Owner/Broker
2162 Via Ventana
Santa Maria CA 93458
Phone: (805) 878-0987
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  • Home
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    • Legal and Privacy
  • Contact
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