Category: Vehicle Insurance

Elite Home Warranty Explains: 6 Things to Do When Preparing for a Home Appraisal

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6 Things to Do When Preparing for a Home Appraisal

Getting ready to sell your home is emotionally and financially stressful. There’s just no other way to say it— selling and moving aren’t pleasant! If you’re getting ready to have your home appraised, here are some things to know beforehand. 

 

What is Your Home Really Worth?

The point of a home appraisal is for buyers to get a real estate agent’s professional opinion on the true value of the property. These opinions are unbiased and take into consideration the housing market, buying trends, location, home condition, and more. Try not to take the appraisal personally, as many of these things are out of one’s control. 

 

Tips to Get Ready for a Home Appraisal 

Fortunately, there are a few things you can control before the appraisal. If you’re stressing over your home being undervalued, this is normal for sellers. To set clear expectations for you and potential buyers, what should you do before getting it appraised? 

 

1. Gather Home Documents

Get all the important property-related documents ready. This includes insurance, warranties, lists of repairs or new appliances, house systems you’ve replaced in the home, and tax documents. Make sure to let your real estate agent know all the major upgrades you’ve made on the property, as that can increase the value. 

2. Schedule the Appraisal Early

Don’t wait until the last minute to get your property appraised. You want to allow plenty of time to clear up any necessary repairs, financial details, or suggestions from your agent. Additionally, appraisers can be booked out, so make sure to schedule your session in advance. 

3. Clean Up & Improve Your Curb Appeal 

Buyers typically don’t want to buy a broken down home. Tidy up as best you can, and audit your home’s curb appeal: What exterior features stand out the most? How can you add to the overall attraction of the home and make it more welcoming, if possible?

4. Make Necessary Repairs

It might be essential to make repairs on the inside or outside of your home. If there are any leaks, broken wiring, outdated appliances, or faults in the foundation (like the roof or flooring), the price is likely going to be significantly lower. 

5. Consider a Warranty 

Buyers tend to feel more comfortable buying a home that comes with some kind of home warranty in place. If you already have a home warranty, it can add value to your property both with the agent and future buyers. Make sure to search for the best home warranty companies to get a reliable home warranty coverage in place.

 

A warranty gives buyers peace of mind because in the case that something goes wrong with the house after buying, they’ll be covered. They won’t have to invest a lot of money into sudden repairs.

 

6. Have Realistic Expectations 

What is your neighborhood like? The location of your home affects its overall value. For example, if you live in an up-and-coming suburban area with plenty of new schools and restaurants, higher-income buyers are likely looking to move in. If your home is next to an airport or busy highway surrounded by run-down shops, the appraisal may be a bit lower than you expected. 

 

Thinking of Selling in the Future? Improve the Value of Your Home Now

If you’re wanting to sell someday but not any time soon, you can take preventative action to ensure your home’s value remains high. Take care of your house systems and appliances with a complete home warranty. This way, if you need any repairs or major replacements, you’ll be covered and won’t need to pay out of pocket every time. 

Contact Elite Home Warranty today to get the right home warranty for your home, whether selling, buying, or appraising.

 

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Should You Get a Home Warranty for Your First Home?

Homeownership is no walk in the park, especially when you’re a first-time homebuyer. On top of a mortgage, maintenance bills, HSA, and homeowners insurance, do you really need to pay extra money for a home warranty? 

 

If you’re wondering whether or not you should get a warranty on your new home, we’re here to help you decide for yourself. 

 

What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty is when a homeowner pays a warranty company an annual or monthly fee to receive discounts or coverage on repairs if anything goes wrong. This is not the same as home insurance, where disasters like fires or crime are covered. Instead, a home warranty helps cover the cost of appliances, home systems, and expensive electronics. 

 

Home warranties cover items like:

 

  • Washer and dryer
  • Refrigerator 
  • Home entertainment center
  • Electrical system
  • Plumbing system
  • Water heater
  • HVAC system

 

Often, warranty companies provide full-house or partial-home coverage, which can get expensive if a new homeowner isn’t in a place financially to pay seemingly unnecessary costs. 

 

Who Needs a Warranty on Their Home?

Anyone who wants an added layer of long-term financial protection can use a home warranty. Think of it this way: if your new home— which you invested a major down payment into— suddenly experiences electrical damages, it could end up costing you thousands of dollars out of pocket. 

 

With a home warranty, you pay a smaller fee to ensure the warranty company helps you cover the repairs. Also, when you need to find a reputable electrical company to come fix your house, warranty companies usually have a list of trusted providers in your area. 

 

Unless you feel comfortable eating the cost of potential repairs or appliance replacements in a house you buy, a home warranty is a smart option. 

 

What Type of Home Warranty is Best?

Different home warranty companies offer different types of coverage. Some only offer complete home warranties to homeowners. Others offer warranties to homebuyers who are concerned about potential equipment or system issues upon purchasing the home.

 

You should find a home warranty that meets your needs and covers the items you most want to protect. 

 

What to Know Before Buying a Home Warranty

Here are a few tips if you’re trying to find a home warranty that’s right for you:

 

  • Always ask what the warranty covers, and how the company goes about repairing or replacing items.
  • Read the terms and conditions carefully, as some companies include hidden fees that surprised homeowners later on. 
  • If your home is equipped with all new appliances, you might be able to find a warranty that only covers home systems.
  • Learn about any limitations or pay-out agreements in your plan. 
  • Warranty costs may vary depending on the location, size, and age of the home.

 

If you’re overwhelmed with expensive warranty plans or confusing contract agreements, don’t worry. There are warranty companies that cater to new home buyers like you.

 

Are Home Warranties Worth It?

Getting the coverage your home needs is always worth it if you can’t afford to pay for large repairs. Accidents happen, home items get old, and home maintenance is necessary for any homeowner.

 

Getting a warranty that suits your needs is your best option. For this reason, Elite Home Warranty offers appliance, system, and even custom warranties to give you the coverage that gives you peace of mind. To get a free quote for your home today, reach out to the Elite team.

 

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Auto And Renters Insurance – How To Get The Best Rate


Did you know you can save up to 15% on your auto and renters insurance by buying both policies from the same insurance company? This is called the auto/home discount. Keep reading to learn more ways you can reduce your insurance bill.

Get Other Discounts

The auto/home discount is not the only discount that can save you money. Insurance companies offer other discounts that you can take advantage of for both your auto and renters policies:

Auto discounts include: * Good Student Discount for getting good grades

  • Safe Driver Discount for maintaining a safe driving record
  • Discounts for safety features such as automatic seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes
  • Discounts if you've taken a defensive-driving course
  • Discounts for anti-theft devices such as an car alarms

Rental discounts Include:

  • Non-smoker discount if no one in your home smokes
  • Senior's discount if you're a senior citizen
  • Discount for safety features such as smoke detectors, deadbolts, and window locks
  • Discounts for fire-resistive materials in the construction of your rental home

Raise Your Deductible

Both auto and rental insurance comes with a deductible. This is the amount you are responsible for paying on any claim before the insurance company starts to pay. You should set your deductible as high as you can afford, because the higher your deductible, the lower your premium.

Shop Around

The best way to save on your auto and rental insurance is to shop around for the best price. Don?t just get one quote and assume that quotes from other insurance companies will be the same. In fact, quotes can vary by hundreds of dollars from one company to another.

The Internet lets you easily get quotes from multiple A-rated insurance companies. All you do is go to an insurance comparison website and complete a simple questionnaire. You'll then receive quotes ready for you to review and compare.

The best insurance comparison websites even let you talk with insurance experts, so you can ask questions about your auto and rental insurance and get advice on how to get the lowest rate (see link below).

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A-Z Guide to Expat Medical Evacuation Plan

With the rise of rapid globalisation, we are seeing an increasing number of people being posted in developing countries to help the business expand and succeed. This is an excellent step for companies to take, but the health and wellbeing of your expat staff need to be accounted for. 

 

Part of group medical health insurance is the expat medical evacuation plan. When living abroad, staff are at risk of catching viruses and illnesses that may require urgent medical attention - even evacuation from the country. That’s where the evacuation plan comes in. 

 

Why is an Expat Medical Evacuation Plan Needed?

Many international health insurance plans include a medical evacuation plan so that if your staff have a life-threatening or limb-threatening condition, they will be seen to urgently. This plan is especially useful in remote areas and developing countries where medical access is limited. 

 

When your staff move to another country, it is to ensure that your business grows and operates the way you want it to. Being able to provide them with a medical evacuation plan ensures they have peace of mind and the knowledge that they will receive the best medical care. 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted how important these plans are. They may not be needed for many years, but when something like this hits it impacts everything. Being able to give your staff access to immediate treatment during a pandemic is invaluable. 

 

What Does an Expat Medical Evacuation Plan Include?

Typically, an expat medical evacuation plan will include:

  • Organising the logistics of evacuation, alongside the medical teams on the ground
  • Communicating with our global network of medical teams
  • Dealing with any passport and visa issues
  • Making sure all bills are paid quickly
  • Translating any medical forms or claim forms into your chosen language 
  • 24/7 service to keep you updated and offer assistance 

 

This tends to be what comes with every standard evacuation plan. However, there are extras that you can get that include:

  • Repatriation to your home country
  • The cost of having a loved one with you for support
  • Evacuation for cancer treatment and advanced diagnostic tests

 

Repatriation is an additional benefit that should be seriously considered. This is where your staff member is transported to their home country for treatment, or it can allow them to be transported over the border to another hospital. It’s something many employees would prefer.

 

The expat medical evacuation plan will also cover the costs of ambulance fees, including air ambulances, which can be as much as $220,000 without insurance. Additionally, the cost of treatment and care is also included so that your staff don’t need to worry about the bill. 

 

Usually, there is an option to choose between domestic and international evacuation - the former of which is always included and the latter which can count as repatriation (an extra). Domestic evacuation is where you are transported to a hospital within the same country by road, sea, or air. This can include an air ambulance or a private plane, depending on location.  

 

To Conclude 

Your staff are the core of your company, and if they don’t feel safe and cared for they are likely to go somewhere that gives them the security they need. An expat medical evacuation plan means that they will always get the treatment they require, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans are more important than ever. 

 

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Get Auto Insurance For Your Teenager


Teenage is an age when a person wants to possess the whole of the world. At that point of life nothing looks blank and nothing looks impossible as well, because we are so filled with energy. Hence one of the most cherished desires is to have a personal car of his own which he can drive to wherever he likes. But owning a car is not a very tough task rather the tough task is to maintain it and drive the car safely.

There are a few things, which as a parent you are required to do in order to secure the future of your son or your daughter. The first few things are to have a valid driving license, which is rare these days. Many people who even have a driving license do not like to drive with it. Teenagers have a tendency to flirt with the law and you should never be a party to these things because it is the matter of life of your son or daughter and if for any moment he or she is found guilty of any wrongdoing then his/her driving career will get marked.

These things will be counted throughout the life of a person. Hence it is your responsibility to determine whether he/she has a driving license or not. Once you have done this then the next thing, which is to search for the best possible insurance policy for your son, which will cover everything because this will provide the safety to your son or your daughter. For this purpose you will need to have the complete knowledge of all the insurance things going round the market. You may think that you have sufficient knowledge about this thing but you should also know that an insurance policy keeps changing day by day and hence any insurance policy, which may have been around your time, might not be available today.

You should try to get as many as auto insurance quotes as you can because they are the best way to get that insurance policy which will suit your teenager?s career the most. The best place where you can find them is the Internet because there are numerous websites over there, which will be helpful to you. At that you will need to fill up a simple form which will be then used to determine your exact requirement and based upon that you will get the possible results from the company or from the website.

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Crime And Bad Conditions Hit Winter Car Insurance Claims


Car insurance provider Esure has warned motorists that driving in the winter months is substantially more likely to result in accidents. According to statistics the accident rate increases by 31% in winter, a rise that is due to reduced daylight and inadequately gritted roads. This has been particularly pronounced in the opening months of this year, when icy conditions and high winds swept all parts of the nation.

20% of drivers polled had been involved in an accident because of icy roads whilst 63% complained that gritting is not carried out frequently enough. And it is not just in transit that problems occur; 42% said that they had been forced to stay indoors as roads were not safe enough to drive on.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at Esure, emphasised the importance of safety over convenience: ?It is of the utmost importance to be aware of road safety during the winter months and to judge carefully when it is safe to drive ? if you feel it?s unsafe? then leave your car at home and take public transport instead.?

But the threat of accidents is not the only danger on the roads during winter. Police across the country are reporting an ever-increasing number of ?frosting? incidents. This is a form of car crime where ?Jack Frost? thieves steal a vehicle that is unattended due to the driver warming up the engine. It is a far more common crime that might be imagined with 66,000 victims every year. Joanne Mallon, car insurance manager at Sainsbury?s bank, said: ?When it's freezing outside it can be tempting to leave the engine running to speed up the defrosting process while you nip back inside to get ready. But this can have terrible consequences if your car gets stolen.?

And the car insurance companies are unlikely to be sympathetic either, as by leaving the vehicle unattended the driver is deemed to have failed in their ?duty of care.? The message being spread by both police and insurers is to make sure that the keys are never left in the car?s ignition even when the vehicle is defrosting on the owner?s driveway. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC foundation stated: ?Your car keys are the weakest link in the car security chain so never give the car criminal the chance to steal your keys. Never leave your keys in the car when filling up with petrol or when defrosting the car.?

However, Adrian Webb, communications manager at Esure, is anxious not to discourage motorists from defrosting their windscreens: ?If you merely clear a small hole to peer through the windscreen you are more likely to have an accident, and cause serious injury or even kill somebody.? Once again any claim made due to a poorly defrosted windscreen is likely to fall on deaf ears as the driver has failed in their duty to drive with all-round visibility. Webb also advises against more traditional methods of defrosting windscreens: ?Windscreen technology has improved in recent years making this less likely, but pouring hot water on a cold windscreen isn't the wisest thing to do.?

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Auto-car Insurance-how To Choose With Cheap Quote


You may aware that in most parts of the world and in most states too, driving a car is illegal without proper insurance. So, you must have an automobile insurance if you are a car owner. Over the years I?ve been witnessing practical experiences that the automobile owners often use to repent of not choosing a proper auto insurance.Choosing a right kind of car insurance may not be any driver?s first priority, the first one logically being the safety of their owners often pay the price after an accident wiped the peace and tranquility out of their life.

Car or auto insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company where you agree to pay the premium, while the insurance company agrees to reimburse your loss under terms and conditions against property, liability and medical coverages as stated in your insurance policy. Property coverage pays for damage to and/or theft of the car. Liability coverage pays for policy-holder?s legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage. Medical coverage pays for cost treating, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses. The insurance policy provides different kinds of inbuilt and additional coverages. So, you have to choose a right kind of policy after researching a little bit, using online auto insurance quotes of different car insurance companies which serves you the best according to your needs.

Bodily Injury Liability coverage is applicable where injuries are caused to someone in a road accident by the policyholder or his family members listed on the policy. If you are involved in a serious accident and are sued for a large sums of money, you will have to choose good liability insurance for your protection.

Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection(PIP) coverage pays for injuries to the policyholder and occupants inside the car in an accident. PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may include funeral cost, if any.

Property Damage Liability pays for damage you can cause to another car. It can also include damage to other objects of property your car might hit, for instance fences, telephone booths, lamp posts, building or other structures.

Collision Coverages pays for damage to the policyholder?s car, called it own damage, which resulted from a collision with another car, object etc. It should be noted that due to certain operative clauses, even if you are to blame for or at fault for the collision, the costs of repairing of your car will be reimbursed to you by insurance company. But the deductible has to born by the policy-holder which generally ranges from $250-$1000 in U.S. Comprehensive Coverage will pay you for the loss (other than collision with another car) due to damage by fire, explosion, falling objects, missiles, earthquake, windstorm, hail , flood , vandalism and riots, contact with animals, theft etc. In other words, comprehensive coverage assure reimbursement for damages caused by forces other than another car or object.

Uninsured and Under-insured Motorist Coverage reimburses you in case you are hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver and will also be helpful if you are hit as a pedestrian.

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5 Steps To Cheap Car Insurance Premiums


Car insurance is compulsory, but it's not necessary to pay more than you have to. A few simple steps combined with some time surfing for competitive car insurance rates really can save you serious money at renewal time.

Step 1 - Cut the Risk and Cut the Cost
The easiest way to cut your car insurance premiums is to cut the risk and accept a higher voluntary excess. An insurer's standard excess may be ?100 but if you meet the first ?250 of any claim, you'll see a reduction in your premium. This is because you're taking on more of the risk so you get a discount. But it's a gamble, be aware that you might have to meet the cost of a broken window after an attempted theft or a bill for repairing bodywork damage after a car park crunch.

Step 2 - Security Means Savings
Fitting security devices can also result in cheap car insurance premiums. All major insurers insist on Thatcham rated security equipment, usually a minimum of an alarm. If you live in a high-risk area for car crime, it makes sense to fit extra security. It saves you money when your insurance renewal is due and gives you extra peace of mind.

Step 3 - Annual Mileage, Less Means More in Your Pocket
If your annual mileage is, 5,000 miles or less, ask insurers if they offer discounts for agreed mileage restrictions.

Step 4 - Named Drivers Trick
Adding a named driver to your policy can increase or reduce your premiums depending upon the named drivers age, sex and driving record. Adding a young driver will increase your premiums, particularly with a limited or poor driving record. However, adding a driver over 30 years old with a long and clean driving record can cut premiums, particularly if the named driver is female!

Step 5 - Shop Around and Save Even More
The biggest car insurance savings come from shopping around. There can be massive differences between the lowest and highest car insurance quotes for exactly the same car and driver(s). Start off using good comparitive online quotation sites, take their best quotes and go direct to the cheapest car insurance company for more specific quotes.

So next time your renewal quote arrives, don't just accept it and give your money away to the insurance company. Use the steps above and get the right cover at the right price.

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So, You Want the Cheapest Car Insurance?


You want the cheapest car insurance, right? Sure you do- who doesn't! That said, there are literally thousands of people out there that are overpaying for their car insurance each and every month. That said, if you know what you are doing when you buy your car insurance you will absolutely be able to get the cheapest car insurance available to you. There are a few things that you can look into in order to see if the coverage that you get is affordable and worth your time. Take a few moments to look into these different things and you may just see that you are able to get your insurance at a cheaper price.

One of the first things that you need to do in order to get the cheapest car insurance is to make sure you are collecting all of the discounts that you have coming to you. For example, if you have a long history of being a good driver you may be able to get a safe driver discount. Are you currently receiving that discount? Who knows- make sure to ask your agent. There are likely other discount programs offered by the insurance company that you work with. Take the time to look into all of the discount options to see which one will best fit your needs. Another strategy that you can use in order to get the cheapest car insurance is to lower your level of coverage. This should be done carefully, however. If you are driving a newer car you will want a high level of coverage because there will be high costs associated with any repairs that you may need in the event of an accident. If, on the other hand, you are driving a later model car you will not need to have the same level of coverage since your car will not be that expensive to repair. Talk over the different options with your agent to see what is the best fit for you. Just making a small change to your level of coverage could literally save you hundreds of dollars per year. Once other thing that you can do in order to get the cheapest car insurance is shop around. Simply put, collect a bunch of car insurance quotes from competing companies and see who is going to give you the best deal in terms of price.

Once you locate the best price you will be able to make a purchase that you are comfortable with. You will be able to quickly and effortlessly get quotes online. You can go on the websites of the different insurance companies and request free rate quotes be sent right to your email inbox. In a matter of a few minutes you should have a handful of quotes that you can compare for the best deal. Getting the cheapest car insurance is easy! Take your time and look around for the best deal possible. Also, talk to your agent to see what they can do for you. Making a small change to what you are doing now could help you save thousands over the course of time! Copyright ?? 2012 Mike Miscal

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A Reliable Insurance Cover For Your Personal Vehicle in UK


Buying a car is not the end of the game as there are a lot of other procedures that follow. The most important is to get an insurance cover for your vehicle in case it is damaged, meets with an accident or gets stolen. These are something which is considered mandatory in order to get your car on the roads. Its like a sort of government clearance and legal fitness certificate to officially bring your four wheeler onto the road. Your personal vehicle needs to have a full protection cover in the form of insurance to ward off any emergency situation like accident or theft.

In fact the UK government has made it a mandatory feature in the motor vehicle amendment act to have your personal vehicle insured in order to obtain a legal fitness certificate and thereafter you could go for driving. Failing to do so would result in maximum penalization and even a jail term. Therefore, you got to look for an agency which provides customers the best motor vehicle insurance policy without any hassles. Each and every day thousands of new cars get registered in England and Wales. So owners must keep in mind that in order to roll out their new cars on the road, it is essential to have a legal clearance from the government, in the form of insurance. Without which it would be impossible to take your new vehicle for even a spin on the roads. This feature is a very remarkable one as it gives an owner the peace of mind when he / she is driving on the city roads or on the highway with their loved ones.

Some of the major insurance companies in UK provide customers the best user friendly service in regards to cheap motor vehicle insurance. The only thing that you need to do is to make a call and they with their consultants and brokers are at your doorstep, offering you smart car insurance related solutions at the most affordable cost. Nowadays people do look for professional agencies who provide smart legal cover to individuals who own a car. As per the government of UK, motor legal protection is a must if you are thinking to purchase a car of your own. It is at this juncture, the services of a reputed insurance brooking house comes into the picture as they provide you tailored services. A car insurance cover is a mandatory feature once you own a vehicle in England, be it a brand new or an used one. These agencies provided personalized and hassle free motor vehicle insurance related solutions to the general customers who look for best and affordable solutions. Any car insurance legal cover requires a lot of paperwork and formalities to be followed. So these agencies with their professional experience in this field provides customers, value for money solutions in lieu with the said government guidelines. So it is a must to hire one such professional legal and insurance solutions provider which is reputed in the whole of England for its customized services. car insurance legal cover

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