Category Archives: Insurance Discounts

Insurance Policy Myths

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Quick, think:  are you 100% sure that you’re getting the best deal on your auto, home, or other type of insurance?  How can you be sure?  Have you researched different carriers to compare quotes?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been using the same insurance provider for years or if you’ve just recently gotten a policy; there could always be a better choice for you.   Even if your insurance company promises that they’re the best option, you can’t really be sure. In fact, there are quite a few myths that insurance carriers want you to believe:

MYTH ONE: You’re stuck with your current policy. False!  Even if you paid for an entire year to get a discount, you can still switch at any time. If you’ve prepaid, you get a prorated portion of what you’ve paid back.

MYTH TWO: All carriers have the same rates. False!  Think about this:  have you seen TV commercials for your insurance carrier?  If so, that means that they have a big marketing budget.  Where do they get that marketing money?  By charging their customers more!  It’s a smart decision to look for smaller independent agencies who do not advertise as much.  You’ll see the difference in what you pay.

MYTH THREE: Your rate must remain the same for the duration of your policy. False! Had an accident or a ticket that’s keeping your rate high?  That doesn’t mean that it can’t come off your record while your policy is active.  However, insurance companies won’t necessarily drop your rates unless you ask and stay involved.

So, with all these myths uncovered, how do you know which insurance is the most comprehensive and affordable, without spending hours and hours doing research?  How do you know who you can trust to give you straight answers and advice?

At Dagley Insurance, we are an independent insurance agency that does the research for you. We are insurance experts who work for you – not the carriers!  We offer the best coverage, at a rate you deserve.

Don’t get ripped off by your insurance provider. Find out how you can get better insurance rates and save by choosing an independent insurance agency.  Contact us today at www.dagleyins.com!

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Hurricanes Cause Flooding, But What Else Can?

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Everyone knows that it’s hurricane season in Texas right now, and with hurricanes comes flooding.  But did you know that floods can happen at any time of the year?

Because many different factors can trigger floods, it’s a year-round risk.  Here are some of the most common causes:

Spring Thaw
Spring flooding can occur when the winter weather begins to warm up and melt the previously-frozen ground, where water would collect but not seep into the ground.  Each cubic foot of compacted snow contains gallons of water, so when the weather starts to melt the ground, bodies of water such as lakes and rivers can overflow easily, resulting in flood damage.

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
Hurricanes cause massive rainfall which turn into floods hundreds of miles inland.  Hurricanes can also weaken and turn into tropical storms, creating heavy rainfall and floods that can be very dangerous since there was already flooding from the previous part of the hurricane.

Levees and Dams
The point of dams and levees is to prevent flooding; however, there is danger of flooding because of them, too. Levees and dams can deteriorate over time, can be overtopped, or can even completely fail during serious flooding, creating more damage than if the levee wasn’t even there.  If you live near a levee or dam – especially an old one – flood insurance is an absolute must.

Heavy Rains
It doesn’t have to be an all-out hurricane or big tropical storm to cause severe flood damage.  It can simply be a lot of rain.  Some of the worst flood damage to homes occurs when relentless, heavy rain continues for a couple of days.

Flash Floods
Did you know that flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S.?  This is because flash floods can roll boulders, rip up trees, and destroy buildings and bridges. A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a storm.

New Development
Noise and roadblocks aren’t the only problems that come with construction – flooding can come along with it, too. Development and construction can alter the natural drainage and cause brand new flood risks, since new buildings, parking lots, and roads mean less land to absorb excess precipitation from rain and storms.

Flood damage is never fun and can cause many problems, but at least you can prepare for it.  At Dagley Insurance, we offer standard flood coverage and preferred risk flood coverage to meet your specific needs.  Why not visit our site to get a free flood insurance quote today?  We’ll be happy to help!

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We’re Safe From Karl, But Still Must Be Prepared

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It seems we’re out of the woods with Hurricane Karl, but is your home prepared for the remainder of hurricane season, which runs through November?  According to AccuWeather, the 2010 hurricane season could be a Top 10 year for storms.

Here are a few tips on how you can protect your home from ravaging hurricanes and the damage they can cause.

  • Give special attention to your garage door. Lots of people envision their roof being torn off during a hurricane and give the special attention to it. However, the actual vulnerable spot is the garage door.  Why?  Because they aren’t reinforced, and once the hurricane winds get inside the garage, they create a “positive” push at the same time that the wind above your house creates a “negative” pull.  This push and pull is what will cause the roof to blow off.  Fortunately there are kits and tools that can be easily purchased to brace your garage door.
  • Check your trees. Making sure that “dead” branches are trimmed so they aren’t threats to your house.  Trees are one of the biggest causes of home insurance claims, either because broken branches land on your (or your neighbor’s) home or because they break off and blow into glass windows during a storm.
  • Keep inventory of your possessions updated. If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer hurricane damage to your home, you don’t want to go through the headache of trying to remember all the things you owned that may have gotten damaged.  Keeping an updated list, video, or photos of what you own will make the process of going through the insurance claim – and thereby getting back to normal – much easier and faster.  Just remember to keep the list, video, or photos of your possessions somewhere besides your house.
  • Make sure your roof is in check. Hurricane straps are good for making sure your roof is bolted down to the rest of your house.  Also be sure to inspect the tiles on your roof or shingles to ensure that they’re “strong” and will not be flying off during a storm and crashing into glass windows.  (Roofing cement will fix loose tiles.)  You should also make sure that any areas where wires enter your home are sealed, stopping the chance of water damage.
  • Batten down the doors and windows. Of course, if a window gets broken during a storm, your home will suffer wind and rain damage immediately.  However this can also increase pressure under the roof, causing potential for the roof to blow off.  While storm shutters are the most effective form of protecting your windows, boarding them up will help as well.  (Hint: masking tape does nothing.)  Doors should have multiple locking tools to keep them from flying open.  Dead bolts work the most effectively. Remember that all windows and doors need to be secured – not just the ones that are facing the wind.
  • Make sure your insurance is updated and accurate. It’s vital that you have the right amount of home insurance and that any “gaps” in coverage are taken care of.

For more information on home insurance, contact us at Dagley Insurance today!  We offer free quotes and will customize your home policy to fit your budget and lifestyle.

Stay tuned at facebook.com/dagelyinsurance for further news on Hurricane Karl.

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Expensive Bites: Your Dog Could Cost You $25,000

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Did you know that more than 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year?  Roughly 900,000 of those people require medical attention as a result of the bites, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dog bites accounted for more than 1/3 of all home insurance liability claims paid out in 2009, equaling $412 million in costs.  During the last six years, the cost of the average dog bite lawsuit has been growing by almost 30 percent:  in 2009 the average lawsuit was $24,840 – rising slightly from $24,461 in 2008.  The lawsuit costs are rising due mainly to increased medical expenses, and they’re rising fast.

Think your dog could never attack anyone?  Neither did the owner of the bulldog who bit off a woman’s in 2006.  The Santa Rosa bulldog owner insisted that the animal had never bitten anyone or acted aggressively, but ended up paying out a $1 million lawsuit.

These dog bite lawsuits can be a major headache for dog owners – especially because it’s already difficult to get a home insurance policy if you have a certain breed.  The difficulty and expenses may grow if these dog bite lawsuits continue to increase.

So what’s the best advice for dog owners?

If you’re having trouble with a dog you already own, the best thing to do is to prove that the dog has completed an obedience program.

If you don’t yet have a dog but are planning to own one, be careful when choosing one. The current leading types of “red-flag dogs” are Pit Bulls, Chows, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Siberian Huskies, wolf hybrids, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers – but the list is always growing and changing.

You may also want to invest into an umbrella policy. If your fuzzy little friend decides to attack someone and that someone decides to file a claim, an umbrella policy will provide you more protection than just having a regular homeowners policy.  Having an umbrella policy has gotten many dog owners out of some sticky scrapes.

For more information on homeowners insurance or umbrella policies, contact us today!  At Dagley Insurance, we specialize in Texas and Colorado home and umbrella insurance, and lots more.  Visit www.dagleyins.com today!

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6 Tips for Texas and Colorado Insurance Discounts

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Over the past couple weeks our dedicated social media team at Dagley Insurance & Financial Services has been posting tips on our Facebook page that can help our loyal and prospective insurance customers save money on their Texas and Colorado home and auto insurance policies.

For those who aren’t fans (why not?), we decided to share the tips in a single blog entry to provide a single resource for anyone with access to the Internet.

Insurance Savings Tip #1: Take a driving education course! The course is good for an insurance discount lasting three years which more than makes up for the incremental cost of the driving course.

Insurance Savings Tip #2: Renovate your home; upgrading your homes heating, plumbing, electrical or roof may create insurance saving opportunities. Reducing electrical fire and water damage from a leak, hail-resistant roofing, or a new furnace can open a door of savings, just talk to your local agent.

Insurance Saving Tip #3: Take the Smartride! Nationwide has created a special online learning center to help parents and teens talk about driving smart. The Nationwide Smart Ride Site is full of online learning sessions, interactive quizzes and tests.

Insurance Savings Tip #4: Add a security system to your home. Discounts of up to 10% are available when you install a monitored alarm in our home. Note: It’s always best to consult your trusted agent first to learn how to receive the maximum discount.

Insurance Savings Tip #5: Good students are disciplined and, chances are, they paid good attention in Driver’s Ed. For this reason, Nationwide rewards students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher with a Good Student Discount. Visit us online to find out more info or give us a call (281-644-1000) to speak with our educated customer service agents.

Insurance Savings Tip #6: Be sure to tell your insurance agent where you went to school, what you do for a living and any groups or associations you belong to. You could receive up to 10% discount if you belong to one of our partner alumni associates, fraternities, financial institutions, professional groups, or sports organization.

With a little education and some good habits, insurance savings are available from many different places. More than anything, we at Dagley want to be seen as your trusted insurance partner, so we’re happy to share knowledge that will keep money in your pocket while keeping you protected.

If you think your insurance provider is over-charging you for inadequate Texas/Colorado, home, auto, or business insurance, let us know and we’ll be happy to research a policy that works for you.

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