A Day in the Life of an Intern (Glamorous)

Posted on August 31, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

I am the marketing intern at Alta Vista Insurance.

Those photos on social media you see? I post those and record every “Happy Birthday” song sang at 1020 S. Santa Fe. (My voice is the extra loud one since I’m always closest to the microphone. Embarrassing. Worth it.)

Here is a curated collection of my photos I edited using one of my favorite apps, VSCO.

A cloudy day at my school, California State University San Marcos.

The day my friends and I went to an escape room in Oceanside. Would recommend the School of Hard Locks, truly.

One morning after a short shift at my old job, I went to the local pier to watch the waves.

The office in Vista, California.

Why VSCO Is The Bomb

If you’re wondering about VSCO, it’s my favorite app for a few reasons:

It makes high quality photo editing accessible and easy.

I love how many elements of the photo I can adjust and that one doesn’t want to spend much time editing, using their free presets improves the quality of the photo drastically.

Also, I really love the editorials they post, which make a melody of beautiful and interesting photos with thoughtful words.

Check out this one they posted on World Photo Day which details some tips on how to take better photos and displays some awe inspiring photos of people around the globe.

Here are some examples of photos I thought were good (left) but not great before and after editing:

A fisherman and newfound friend.

Taken on iPhone 5s.

Thank you for taking this moment to learn more about me. I hope you picked up a tip to set your photos apart and get more joy from the creative process!

Send us your photos from your various lands. Please.

We’d love to see what daily life in your city looks like for you and, with your permission, your photo could be included in our newsletter.

Send ’em over!

Email: anna@altavistainsurance.com

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As Fire Season Heats Up California Already Sees Largest Recorded Fire in History

Posted on August 10, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

A plane drops fire retardant on a burning hillside as the Holy fire continues to burn in the Cleveland National Forest near Corona, Calif. on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. Firefighters are working in rugged terrain amid scorching temperatures that have prompted warnings about excessive heat and extreme fire danger for much of the region. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

California is not off to a good start as we begin an extraordinarily dangerous fire season. We have already seen two of the largest fires in recorded history; the Mendocino Complex Fire and the Carr Fire in Shasta County, make their mark in the last few weeks.

Now, the Holy Fire in Orange County, which started on Monday, has burned more than 9615 acres and is only 5% contained as of this morning’s update from the U.S. Forest Service. About 20,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders.

There are 17 large fires burning in California and firefighters are working around the clock. More the 13,000 firefighters and 2300 members of the National Guard have joined the firefighting effort.

Let’s take a moment to recognize all the men and women that are putting their lives in danger every day to keep us safe from wildfires. We appreciate everything you do.

California is using every resource available. According to the New York Times article, California Fire Now the Largest in State History: ‘People Are on Edge’, There are roughly 5,300 full-time firefighters with Cal Fire, who, along with 1,700 seasonal firefighters throughout the state, are often the first to the front lines of the state’s wildfires. The state also relies on thousands of federal firefighters based in California who respond to fires in national parks and forests. And there are 3,500 inmate firefighters who live in camps throughout the state and are routinely called up — nearly 2,000 were deployed on Tuesday.

According to Marti Witter, a fire ecologist with the National Park Service,

“As large as our firefighting resources are, they’re limited, and we’re rapidly approaching the limits of what our personnel can handle. Everyone’s in the air, everyone’s on the ground, and the fire’s just getting bigger. So it’s pretty extreme.”

For all the latest fire updates and evacuation orders refer to Cal Fire. They have a great interactive map that tells you the locations of all the fires burning in California. You can check out their site here:

CAL Fire

Since we are already experiencing a high fire season you need to make sure your home is secure and you have a plan. The best resources in the state are provided by CAL Fire. They have an amazing program for all homeowners: Ready, Set, Go!. Being Ready for a wildfire starts by maintaining 100 feet of Defensible Space and hardening homes with fire resistant building materials. Be Set by creating a Wildfire Action Plan with your family. Finally, be prepared to Go and evacuate your home. Leave early, before it’s too late.

Thanh Nguyen with the SoCal Team One Fire Management Team suggested having a packed bag ready to go.

“Even if you’re miles away, you want to be prepared if you’re near the fire area or in an environment that can burn,”

It is also important to create your wildfire action plan. Your Wildfire Action Plan must be prepared, and familiar to all members of your household well in advance of a wildfire. Also, prepare your own emergency supply kit. Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate. Plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time. Each person should have a readily accessible emergency supply kit. Backpacks work great for storing these items (except food and water) and are quick to grab. Storing food and water in a tub or chest on wheels will make it easier to transport. Keep it light enough to be able to lift it into your car.

All of this information can be found at readyforwildfire.org. This is a great resource for California residents to learn more about wildfires and how they can take preventative measures and be prepared in the event of a wildfire. They have interactive maps, brochures, instructional videos and links to available resources and more.

You can download the brochures for their Ready, Set, Go! program here.

Ready

Set

Go

Want a property specialist to conduct a full fire insurance review for you or your client? Setup a needs based analysis with Alta Vista Insurance and we’ll do a full risk review through our ART of risk management.

Get My Needs Based Analysis

3 Tips to Avoid Expensive Auto Losses

Posted on July 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Do you have employees driving for your business?

Check out these tips to ensure you experience the fewest auto losses possible:

Develop a system for hiring
Provide Driver Training
Supervise Effectively

Looking for an outline of how to put these things in place? We gotcha covered.

By systematically managing your drivers with a program that works for you and your employees and practicing the same steps for each hire, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.

1. Develop a System for Hiring

Find ways of hiring qualified, positive, competent candidates.

Ideas include: anticipate job openings to reduce a rushed hiring process, consider applicants’ history of stable employment, check their MVR, and publish the opening in as many different places as possible.

This will help you acquire the largest pool of candidates, giving you your choice!

The Hartford Financial Services also suggests including a few tests in the hiring process.

Not sure how to regulate or plan these tests? Check out the free resource from Hartford, one of our preferred vendors.

Hartford Financial Services created this incredible resource which includes: Driver Employment Application, Driver Evaluation Form, Driving Test Evaluation Form, Road Test Evaluation Form (with tips!), a Vehicle Collision Form, Supervisor’s Vehicle Collision Form, AND Vehicle Condition Reports (truck, van, automobile). Click here for free access to a systematic way of hiring!

2. Provide Driver Training

Using a combination of a basic overview of any equipment employees will use, mentorship, supervision, consistent group meetings, and self-teaching, new employees’ training and road to excellence (no pun originally intended) will hasten.

3. Supervise Effectively

Create and outline goals. Make them measurable and attainable!

Motivate employees with clear, concise instruction

Measure work and any important data

Review goals regularly to adjust the plan or motivate change.

Evaluate every driver’s success and safety. Discuss any driving problems that arise with that employee.

Why do all this?

Avoiding auto losses on a fleet will save money, improve company morale, and increase productivity.

For more expert info, watch the Commercial Auto part of our video series on Contractors Insurance. Click below!

Get More Out of Your Commercial Auto Policy

Resources: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

3 Things Home Buyers Need to Know About Insurance

Posted on June 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Before purchasing a home there many variables to consider. One thing you want to be sure about is your protection for your assets. Here are a few things for first-time home buyers to consider when they reach the insurance inquiry stage in their real estate purchase.

1) Compare multiple insurance companies

Compare coverage, price and financial stability. You are not required to buy from a particular insurance company, however you want an insurance company that is stable and responsive when handling claims. Shop for value, not price. Customer service and ease of doing business are key when selecting an insurance company that is right for you.

Your mortgage lender can, and probably will, require you to have homeowners insurance.You aren’t required to buy from a particular insurance company. Instead, compare coverage, price and customer reviews. Be sure you get the right type and amount of coverage. Shop for value, not necessarily rock-bottom price. Since you’ll mainly deal with insurance companies during times of disaster, make sure the company you choose has great customer service reviews.

Home insurance is not as hotly price-competitive as auto insurance, but you can still save from hundreds to more than $1,000 a year in premiums by shopping around. About 9 percent of our survey respondents had switched insurers in the previous three years, mostly because they got a better price from their new carrier. And those who switched for a better price were just as satisfied with their later claim payments as those who stayed put. Residents of California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and other states whose insurance departments publish rate comparisons for standardized coverage can zero in on the lowest-priced insurers and then contact them for custom quotes. If your state doesn’t offer such guidance, contact an independent agent who sells insurance from multiple carriers.

2) Set up your payment out of Escrow, and use an Impound Account

If you’re like most homeowners, you’ll tack monthly insurance payments onto your mortgage check. The lender will pay your insurance premiums (usually your property taxes, too) out of your escrow account. Lenders prefer this option because it lets them know your insurance premiums are being paid, and their investment is well protected. Most likely, you’ll need to pay for one year of insurance at closing. Bring information about the insurance policy you have chosen and the money to cover the first year’s premium.

3) Look at Bundling and Saving

Consider buying your homeowners and auto coverage from the same company for as much as a 30 percent savings. Discounts are also available if you add more policies, like a motorcycle, watercraft, or personal umbrella. If you experience a significant loss, like a fire or storm, that is covered by your homeowner policy and have other policies that are affected, like an auto or motorcycle, the carrier may waive all deductibles after the home policy deductible is paid. Contact me and we can conduct a needs based analysis to identify your possible exposures and ways you can maximize your insurance protection while reducing your out of pocket expenses.

Purchasing a new home in California? Click here to get more information!

Learn More!

5 Insurance Tips For Your New Digs

Posted on June 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Your property insurance specialist, Raymond, has the answers to 5 key questions for those seeking to best protect their lifestyle by insuring their home.

(Psst…If you like the looks of Raymond and would rather watch the

video version of this article, click the button!)

Watch the Video!

1. Okay, Raymond, what is covered by a California Homeowner’s Policy?

Your standard homeowner’s insurance policy will cover you for catastrophic losses and sudden and accidental occurrences. Some examples would be wildfire, lightning, or if a pipe bursts in the home.

2. What is not covered?

Among other things, earthquakes and floods are not covered. These require a separate policy. Ask your insurance agent about getting coverage for these unusual circumstances today.

3. How much coverage do I need?

On your standard homeowner’s insurance policy, you are insured for the reconstruction cost of your home, not for the market value of the home or land. Need more coverage? Talk with your insurance agency today to discuss options.

4. What about my contents?

Contents are covered on a standard homeowner’s insurance policy but check with your agent to ensure you’re covered for the replacement cost of your dwelling and contents. Fortunately for the insured, no depreciation is considered in the replacement of contents. Let’s say you purchased a couch ten years ago. You will be insured for the replacement of a couch of the same original value without depreciation.

What about my high value items?

For high value items like jewelry, fur, art, etc. there are sub limits on the insurance policy. You will need to add Scheduled Personal Property to your policy. Scheduled personal property is an additional insurance policy for valuable items. Scheduling requires an appraisal. Schedule those to ensure the meaningful items in your home are fully protected.

5. In the event of legal trouble, am I covered?

…

Watch our video to learn more!

Some of the things you can learn in the video are:

How to get the absolute best insurance agent taking care of you and your home
The complete list of top insurance need-to-knows when buying a new home in California
- including answers to questions like: “In the event of legal trouble, am I covered?”

…and a few more insightful tips from our expert.

Click for clarity on one of the most important aspects of owning and taking care of a home.

Watch The Video!

Expert Advice on Life Insurance

Posted on June 12, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Life happens, and often at the most inconvenient time.

Most clients I speak with don’t know where to start when it comes to life insurance. They think it will be a difficult and scary process.

As someone very familiar with the matter, I can assure you, having a policy provides peace of mind and is easier than you might think.

There are two different types of policies:

Term Life Insurance (lasts 10, 20, or 30 years)
Universal (permanent) Life Insurance.

Most clients I speak to are interested in term life insurance because this is a policy which will typically get them to retirement or will cover them until the kids are out of the house and/or the mortgage is paid off.

When speaking to new clients about life insurance, here are a couple of things I ask them to think about:

Think about your mortgage, car payments, and bills, etc. What would it cost to keep your family just as they are now financially if something were to happen?
Do you want a plan you can put into place and not think about again? Or do you want a plan that offers things such as benefits for critical, chronic or terminal illness?

After getting a sense of what you want to protect we can then look at products and an application.

Putting a policy in place can protect your assets and loved ones. With a trusted insurance adviser to help you through the process, your life insurance fears can be dealt with, potentially providing a well-planned solution at a time when the unexpected happens and you can’t be there.

Call me today at 888.724.2124 or Get a Quote Here!

Get Started

Home Insurance when purchasing a property

Posted on June 11, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Before purchasing a home, consider these variables as you reach the insurance inquiry stage.

1) Compare multiple insurance companies

Shop for value, not price.

2) Set up your payment out of Escrow, and use an Impound Account

If you’re like most homeowners, you’ll tack monthly insurance payments onto your mortgage check. The lender will pay your insurance premiums (usually your property taxes, too) out of your escrow account. Lenders prefer this option because it lets them know your insurance premiums are being paid, and their investment is well protected. Most likely, you’ll need to pay for one year of insurance at closing. Bring information about the insurance policy you have chosen and the money to cover the first year’s premium. For all cash purchases you are not required to provide insurance for the closing but it’s a good idea to purchase home insurance for peace of mind.

Most likely, you’ll need to pay for one year of insurance at closing, as lenders prefer this option.

3) Look at Bundling and Saving

Consider buying your homeowners and auto coverage from the same company for as much as a 30% savings. Discounts are also available if you add more policies, like a motorcycle, watercraft, or personal umbrella. If you experience a significant loss, like a fire or storm, that is covered by your homeowner policy and have other policies that are affected, like an auto or motorcycle, the carrier may waive all deductibles after the home policy deductible is paid. Contact us and we can conduct a needs-based analysis to identify your possible exposures and ways you can maximize your insurance protection while reducing your out of pocket expenses.

Do I Need Workers Compensation Insurance?

Posted on June 4, 2018January 12, 2021 by Deborah Rogy

She slips…

She falls!

Who’s responsible?

To help you answer this question, we’ve put together a brief summary of your legal responsibility as an employer:

Employers have a legal responsibility to their employees to make the workplace safe. Unfortunately, accidents happen even when employers and employees take every safety measure. That’s what workers comp is for.

Protect and Provide

Workers comp protects employers from lawsuits resulting from workplace accidents. It also provides medical care and compensation for lost income to employees who have been hurt in a workplace accident.

Because of this, in almost every state, businesses are required to buy workers compensation insurance.

Protect Yourself & Your Business

What does it do?

Covers workers injured on the job (whether they’re hurt on the workplace premises or elsewhere, or in auto accidents while on business).
Covers work-related illnesses.
Provides payments to injured workers, without regard to who was at fault in the accident, for time lost from work and for medical and rehabilitation services.*
Provides Death benefits to surviving spouses and dependents*

Don’t I already have workers comp insurance under a BOP?

Workers compensation insurance must be bought as a separate policy.

Although in-home business and business owners policies (BOPs) are sold as package policies, they don’t include coverage for workers’ injuries.

If you already have workers comp, click the button below to ensure you’re getting the lowest rate and best coverage

OR if you don’t have workers comp, click below to learn more about it and receive a free quote.

*Note: Each state has different laws governing the amount and duration of lost income benefits, the provision of medical and rehabilitation services and how the system is administered.

For example, most states regulate whether the worker or employer can choose which doctor treats the injuries and how disputes about benefits are resolved.

Protect Yourself & Your Business

Property Claims and Your Real Estate Transaction

Posted on May 31, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

When your clients buy a home, are they purchasing the dreamy future they hope for, free from property claims?

Would you like to know early on (before you put in heaps of effort) how to avoid issues with your real estate transaction?

Wouldn’t you like to give your clients peace of mind?

Alta Vista Insurance provides our real estate partners with one thing that limits complications during and after the sale.

Click Here for Smoother Transactions

For uninformed home-buyers, future property

claims can tack on an unexpected and

unavoidable price tag.

Because a home’s future relates to its past, requesting a free CLUE© report from Alta Vista Insurance Agency will save you and your clients time, money, and worry. Sellers can authorize the release of a C.L.U.E. report as part of the negotiations for the home purchase.

What is it?

C.L.U.E., the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, is a loss history information exchange provided by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions Inc. Insurance companies access and use prior loss information in the underwriting process through it. Think of it as “the cloud of claims.”

Where is the information from?

Each month, participating insurers submit loss information to the C.L.U.E. information exchange, which is loaded to the C.L.U.E. database. When you or your insurance company receive a C.L.U.E. report, it includes all losses accessed by the search criteria that were reported to us within seven years of the date of the request. Home warranty claims are not included on a C.L.U.E. report.

First, look for claims associated with the address your client is looking at. The report can sometimes show claims filed on another location owned or occupied by the seller. So if the owner has a palace in Pakistan and a town home in Carlsbad, check the address. The sandstorm is definitely unconnected to the Carlsbad address.
Beware of claims frequency rather than severity. Frequent claims indicate a potential ongoing problem your client could inherit. Water losses, mold, fires occurring in the home (not wildfire), and theft or burglary. These types of losses could indicate morale hazards or the home could be in a questionable area.

Need-to-Know

Buyers and sellers need to be aware of how changing guidelines can affect them when purchasing new insurance or when selling their home. Effective this year, many admitted insurance carriers will decline a risk if there has been a significant water loss (inside water damage, not weather-related) on the property within the last 3-5 years. This would include damage exceeding $2,500. Be aware that typically, losses follow the homeowner who filed the claim, impacting their cost of insurance or insurability when moving to a new location. However, some claims losses in the past cause new homeowners to inherit high insurance costs. Due to the rise in frequency and extensive costs resulting from water damage claims more and more companies are looking at water losses in new business and declining.

In these situations, your client’s insurance costs will go up, potentially making or breaking their willingness to move forward on the purchase.

The cost of the damage is important and can indicate the severity of the incident and the amount paid by the insurance company for the loss. Accidents happen. Just because a property has been impacted by a large claim or series of claims does not mean your client should avoid buying that house. Review the report together and request a disclosure from the sellers about how the claims were resolved. Were all repairs completed and was everything built back to code? Was the home replaced with like kind and quality?

Talk to your insurance agent about the loss(es) that were filed, how the insurance companies handled the claims and how this will impact insurance for the home moving forward.

Call us today as we have access to specialty markets and will find a solution to insurance issues like these.

A smoother real estate transaction is always possible when you partner with Alta Vista Insurance.

Click Here for Smooth Transactions

We’re the key to making your real estate transactions run smoothly!

Posted on May 30, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Real estate agents have a lot of contacts.

Normally, they refer their clients to a preferred mortgage adviser. They also have a preferred escrow company representative they use for all of their transactions. Same goes for the home warranty company and the title insurance representative. One thing missing from a lot of real estate advisers’ business plan, however, is an insurance adviser.

By incorporating an independent insurance adviser into their business plan, real estate agents can close more transactions throughout the year.

Also, they can ensure those transactions run smoothly and efficiently so their clients are able to close escrow on time and have a pleasant experience through the buying process.

Real estate agents sell more than property; they sell lifestyles.

By incorporating home warranty, escrow, mortgage, and insurance into an integrated business plan, real estate agents can offer their clients the concierge-level service they expect.

At Alta Vista Insurance Agency, we specialize in real estate transactions. We’re focused on the actual transaction and understand the deadlines and the challenges that need to be overcome to help the client close escrow successfully. Along with the mortgage company and the escrow company, we all work together as a cohesive unit behind the scenes for the real estate agent to make sure their clients go through escrow smoothly and efficiently, and that they’re satisfied with the level of service they receive.

Go to our website today to get started in our real estate process where you and your client gain access to a FREE CLUE© report, and we ensure you’re getting the lowest rate and highest quality service.

Real Estate Agents, Click Here!