You might think that your home is safe from floods because you have never seen anything more than a puddle in your yard. Unfortunately, every home is at risk of floods. Floods are unpredictable and can happen near the coast and in dry areas. According to FEMA, about 99% of all American counties have been ravaged by floods since 1996!
And here is another problem. When floods strike in Vista, CA, your home insurance doesn’t protect your home. Unfortunately, no amount of sandbags can hold back flooding. For this reason, you need a stand-alone flood insurance policy from Alta Vista Insurance Agency for optimal protection.
Is flood insurance mandatory?
Although no law in Texas requires flood insurance, if your home or business is mortgage-financed, your lender may require you to purchase flood insurance if you live in a flood-risk zone. In contrast, persons living in low-risk areas may see flood insurance as an unnecessary expense, but flood insurance cushions you from dipping into your savings when floods strike.
What does flood insurance cover?
Whether it’s flash flooding or hurricane flooding, water causes extensive damage to your home. To put this in perspective, a one-inch rise in water levels results in repairs to the tune of $25,000 and above!
When you buy flood insurance, it protects the below:
Building: This covers electrical and plumbing systems, furnaces, carpets, detached garages, and other fixed appliances.
Contents: Covers personal items like furniture, electronics, curtains, ovens, and so forth.
Where to buy flood insurance
You can buy flood insurance from NFIP. This coverage has a 30-day waiting period and covers your building up to $250,000 and contents up to $100,000. Besides, you can purchase flood insurance from private carriers. And the beauty of private flood insurance is that it provides better coverage than NFIP.
Buy flood insurance today!
Are you in Vista, CA, looking for flood insurance? Please get in touch with Alta Vista Insurance Agency for an affordable quote.
In this episode our agent, Seth Arruda talks about some of the serious effects of inflation and construction costs on property insurance. The cost of building has risen and we’re seeing that reflected in new construction, but it can also effect the cost to rebuild, especially after a large catastrophic wildfire.
Update: lumber prices have come down recently but that doesn’t mean they will return to pre-pandemic prices. Also the with inflation and with the additional higher costs involved in building those costs are being passed down to the consumer.
So let’s dive into how the rising costs of building materials and inflation are effecting replacement cost and being properly insured to value.
Want to look at a plan for your personal or commercial insurance? Schedule an appointment!
If you are in the Vista, CA area, you will find that owning a home provides many advantages. This includes having a stable place to live and benefiting from long-term price appreciation. If you decide to purchase a home here, getting the right insurance is important. For condo owners, having a condo insurance plan is a good investment due to the valuable coverages it provides.
Coverage Protects Assets
A key reason that you will want to have a condo insurance plan is that it can protect your assets. If you are going to purchase a condo, you will be making a major investment that needs protection. With the insurance policy, you are going to have the right coverage in place to ensure you can repair your condo if there is damage or another incident that results in a loss.
Liability Coverage
You should also get condo insurance as it will give you liability protection. Condo owners could face liability claims if a leak or other mechanical flaw in their property causes damage to another unit or public parts of the property. Further, you face liability risk if a guest in your condo gets hurt. This risk can always be mitigated by getting a condo insurance plan for your property.
Condo owners in the Vista, CA area need to take their ownership and insurance needs seriously. As you are looking for a new condo insurance plan in this part of California, a great option is to work with Alta Vista Insurance Agency. You will have a lot of important choices to make when looking for condo insurance and Alta Vista Insurance Agency can be quite helpful. The team can address your questions and concerns while providing any support needed to choose an appropriate policy.
If you are in the Vista, CA area, there are many forms of insurance that you should consider obtaining. One of the most important forms of coverage to consider getting is health insurance. This coverage can help ensure that you have access to affordable healthcare. There are several situations when someone here should get a health insurance plan.
When Looking for Access to Care
The main situation when someone should get health insurance is when they are looking for access to affordable care. Seeing a doctor, getting prescription medication, and receiving more significant medical care when needed is important. If you have a health insurance plan, you will have access to affordable care when you need it. This can help to save you money and stay healthy.
When Looking to Comply with Law
While it is important to have health insurance to ensure you have access to care. You may also need coverage to comply with the law. For the past several years, all people have been required by law to carry health insurance. If you do not have evidence of coverage throughout the year, you could be penalized. These penalties are frequently applied at the end of the year when you file a tax return and need to provide evidence of coverage.
Having health insurance in the Vista, CA area is always critical. As you are looking for a health insurance plan, you will quickly find that there are many options to consider. If you are in the market for a new health insurance plan, calling Alta Vista Insurance Agency can be very helpful. The Alta Vista Insurance Agency team understands the value and importance of this coverage and can offer the support you need to choose a new policy.
Expertise.com scored 65 agencies in Vista, California and selected the top 8 for 2021!
Recognition as a subject matter expert in homeowners insurance in San Diego, California shows how dedicated we are to helping our clients protect their lifestyles and their most valuable assets, their homes. So, when Alta Vista Insurance was selected as one of the top 8 personal lines insurance agencies in Vista, California for homeowners insurance by expertise.com we were very excited to be recognized for the amazing service we provide to our San Diego community and throughout California.
Our goal is to be an expert in real estate asset protection in San Diego, California. Focusing on property insurance is one of the cornerstones of our clients’ asset portfolios and that’s where we shine. Providing the proper education about the importance of financial protection gives our clients a solid foundation to build wealth and achieve financial freedom. Partner that with a subject matter expert that specializes in personal insurance like homeowners insurance, auto insurance, landlord insurance, flood insurance and earthquake insurance along with commercial property insurance, general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, workers compensation, and cyber liability insurance in California and you have a healthy ecosystem to protect your personal and commercial assets.
“We want to give our clients the personal guidance and advice, so they feel empowered to make educated choices about their insurance. Be the guide in their story. We want to guide our clients through their insurance protection and put a plan together that leads our customers to success, so they can reach new heights. We invite our clients into a story where they have peace of mind and all their assets are properly protected.”
This is another feather in our cap and award to put on our mantel. The last two years, 2019 and 2020 Alta Vista Insurance was selected as Agency For The Future with Safeco Insurance and Liberty Mutual!
“This group includes some of the most innovative agencies in the entire independent agent channel. While they are all unique – each with their own distinct value proposition, customer focus and company culture – what they have most in common is in just how prepared they were to tackle the challenges of 2020 head on. They quickly adapted to the changing market conditions brought about by the pandemic, fully embraced digital to ensure the customer experienced remained strong, and continued to cultivate great corporate cultures to keep their teams engaged.”
-Tyler Asher, President of independent agency distribution for Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance.
The “proof is in the pudding”. I could go on and on and tell you all about the great work we do for our clients but it’s better to hear their stories. Check out some our client testimonials on our Google Business Page.
As an independent agency here in Vista, California since 1978, we’re no stranger to the neighborhood. Ever since then we’ve focused on personal and commercial property in San Diego, California working with real estate investors, property owners, homeowners, and new home buyers to give them the right plan to protect their lifestyles. We also focus efforts on helping other strategic partners in San Diego, California grow their businesses through our expertise and knowledge as an insurance guide to help them reach new heights in their businesses and provide their clients with a personal risk manager. We form long lasting relationships throughout Vista, California and all of San Diego with real estate agents, commercial real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders, bankers, CPA’s and attorneys.
We work strategically with business partners, especially real estate agents, to help those individuals grow their businesses, save time, and save money. One of our main focuses is to help agents close their transactions smoothly and on time and provide their clients with the proper protection they need for their lifestyles so they can live their best life. Insurance is a relationship business. Our goal is to build long lasting relationships with our clients, business partners, and our community.”
Expertise.com based their selections on a number of different criteria. They also looked at our online presence and social proof. They even took the time to test our strengthens with their surprise “mystery shopper” calls to ensure their list of insurance agencies are of the highest quality. Let’s just say, we passed with flying colors! Our staff was friendly, accommodating and answered all questions about bundling personal insurance and available discounts. Their selection criteria consists of five major categories.
1. Availability
Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.
2. Qualifications
Building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards.
3. Reputation
A history of delighted customers and outstanding service.
4. Experience
Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.
5. Professionalism
Providing service with honesty, reliability, and respect.
Recognition and awards tell a story that we’re doing things right and putting our clients in San Diego, California first and we’re just getting started. Leveraging technology and our systems to create a seamless positive customer experience is a big focus as we look at new ways to meet the needs of our customers in the 21st century. We’re using more video and social media to educate our clients throughout the customer journey. Text messaging alerts and automation to keep clients informed about policy notifications and upcoming renewals has been a great addition to our client experience. During COVID-19 we’re able to reach our customers through virtual meetings using Microsoft Teams and book appointments using our online virtual calendar. If you’re looking for a better insurance experience and a personal guide to keep you informed about how to protect your lifestyle, we’d like to welcome you to Alta Vista Insurance.
In California, everyone must register their vehicle within 20 days of coming into the state. And it has to be insured at all times. This required insurance includes several different types of insurance coverage for motorists. However, all of the required coverage still leaves some gaps, and many vehicle owners choose to add to the minimum required insurance.
Liability Coverage
Part of the required coverage for vehicles is liability coverage. This includes a required minimum amount of coverage for bodily injury liability for one injured person in an accident that you caused. There is another higher amount required for all of the injured people in an accident that you caused. In addition, there is property damage liability coverage required for damage that you cause to another party’s vehicle or building during an accident. However, all three of these numbers are relatively low, and it’s a good idea to get more coverage than just the bare minimum for liability coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you were in an accident that a motorist causes without auto insurance, uninsured motorist coverage pays for the resulting bills up to its maximum. This coverage includes a required minimum for each person who is injured in this accident. A higher amount is required for everyone who has a bodily injury from an accident. This coverage also includes a small amount required for property damage when an uninsured motorist causes damage to your property.
Get Your Auto Insurance
No one wants to get a ticket and fees, so it’s important to keep auto insurance at all times. If you need auto insurance, contact us at Alta Vista Insurance Agency in Vista, CA.
Renters insurance is a type of policy designed for a property you are renting that provides protection in the event of a sudden or accidental occurrence known as a covered peril. These policies protect your tenants in the event of a loss and include three key benefits: coverage for the person, their belongings and stuff, and additional living expenses. The coverage in the policy is referred to as personal liability, personal property, and loss of use.
In California, not everything is covered under renters insurance, so we’ll show you how each plan can be tailored accordingly to fit your tenant’s lifestyle.
Here’s a great resource you can provide to your tenants to educate them about the importance of renters insurance.
1. Does Renters Insurance Protect Landlords in California?
With renters insurance, landlords can protect themselves and their business against liability from tenant’s negligence. It can also protect you from additional costs due to natural disasters or other occurrences. When your tenants carry renters insurance, they protect themselves and it can add an additional layer of protection which can lead to fewer claims filed.
2. What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
We talked about the three key coverages that renters insurance includes: personal property, liability, and additional living expenses. Personal property will cover your contents and belongings inside the property from a covered peril. Things like clothing, furniture, appliances owned by the tenant, and electronics up to the limits of the policy. In California, a good recommendation is including replacement cost coverage for personal property. This provides full replacement for your tenants’ contents and belongings. Without replacements cost, personal property would be covered on an “actual cash value” basis, which could lead to tenant complaints. Liability is the second most important coverage on a renters policy and is overlooked in most cases. In the event of an accident like a slip and fall or personal injury matter like slander liability coverage will pay for claims that arise if a tenant is found responsible or liable for the injuries. It can also cover accidental damage to someone else’s property caused by a tenant.
This can help landlords and property owners reduce claims to their commercial property insurance and reduce out of pocket expense to their business. Another great reason to require renters insurance from your tenants.
The third coverage is loss of use. This will cover any additional living expenses for your tenant if their unit is damaged and needs repair. Things like, a stay at a hotel, or the cost to sign a temporary lease while the repairs are being completed. In California, it can also cover additional living expenses if your tenants are in a mandatory evacuation zone due to a catastrophic wildfire.
Fire
Fires are a common peril and can happen due to many different reasons. Whether it’s a kitchen fire, a faulty wire, neighbors negligence, or even a wildfire the damage that is caused can devastate a home or apartment building. Some renters insurance plans will cover fires if your tenant is negligible, like if they forgot to blow out a candle or left the stove on. Between the fire and smoke damage your building could cost more to repair than you think.
Water Damage
Water claims are the number one cause of loss in California and a huge pain point for landlords, especially when you own a building with multiple stories or units that share walls with each other. If a pipe bursts behind the walls it can cause major damage to the building and the interior, like your tenants belongings or furniture. Your landlord insurance covers your structure from water damage that is sudden or accidental and renters insurance covers your tenants “stuff” inside their unit.
Earthquakes and Floods
In California earthquakes and floods are catastrophic perils that require separate policies. When we say flood, we’re talking about outside water due to storm surge or rising water, like a tsunami. Earthquakes and seismic activity can cause total losses to buildings and force tenants out of their homes without a place to live. Tenants can also purchase coverage to protect themselves from these natural disasters separate from their standard renters policy. Your landlord insurance will cover your building but it will not cover any property owned by the tenant. That is why renters insurance is a must for your tenants and their policy will cover their belongings and in most cases replace them. Renters insurance with these additions gives landlords and tenants peace of mind that they can recover from a large natural disaster, like an earthquake or flood.
Theft
Having a safe home environment is important to your tenants. Living in an area with security is an important factor when choosing a place to rent. Proper basic protective devices like deadbolts, locks on windows, and even burglar alarms can deter break ins and theft which can reduce damage to the building and filing claims. In the event of a theft, renters insurance can help your tenants replace the items that were stolen. Make sure your tenants document the loss with the proper authorities, that way the renter’s insurance company will pay claims for theft to their property. Tenants can also purchase special coverage for valuable items like jewelry, artwork, guns, and antiques.
Lawsuits
Tenants can be sued for a number of reasons due to their own negligence. A slip and fall accident by a guest or if a tenant is responsible for damaging someone else’s property can lead to liability claims that can be costly and stressful. Requiring renters insurance for your tenants in California can mitigate claims for the landlord if their tenants are responsible for damages or if guests are injured and seeking payment for their pain and suffering.
3. How Renters Insurance Protects Landlords
Rising Cost of Insurance
I think we’ve made good case for making renters insurance a requirement for tenants. It offers many benefits to renters to help them protect themselves while giving landlords another tool to protect their real estate investment. When landlords file claims it can lead to higher insurance premiums and in some cases your policy can be non-renewed if there is a frequency of multiple claims. Requiring tenants to provide renters insurance to protect themselves can reduce your exposure to claims and prevent rising insurance costs.
When landlords require renters insurance from their tenants, it creates an additional layer of protection against liability and additional fees due to catastrophic natural disasters, like wildfires in California, and sudden or accidental occurrences.
Managing risk exposures while reducing out of pocket expenses is very important when reviewing your real estate investment portfolio. If you own an investment property you should be working with an agent that specializes in helping landlords and real estate investors stay informed about potential exposures to their business and protect their real estate investments. Hiring a risk manager like Alta Vista Insurance is a sound business strategy to help you be financially protected, build wealth, and achieve financial freedom.
To book an appointment to talk about your investment property click the link here and let us help you create a plan to protect your real estate portfolio.
When it comes to life insurance, most people don’t think much about it until someone brings it to their attention. For many people, that is when you find out you are getting some through your employer as a benefit. When you decide to start thinking about the future and creating a financial plan to get you there, life insurance may fit that plan. Having a financial advisor or a trusted insurance agent is a good place to start. At Alta Vista Insurance Agency in Vista, CA, we are a full-service independent agency.
When should I start buying life insurance?
The obvious answer is as soon as you can afford it. The younger and healthier you are, the less you will pay for a policy. If you are buying term insurance, you should buy a term long enough to get you through the years when you will have the greatest need. Whole life lasts for your whole life, but it will be priced best if you take out the policy when you are young.
What other benefit does life insurance have beyond the death benefit?
If you have a whole life policy, it accrues cash value. If you need it, you may be able to borrow against that cash value. You may also be able to use the cash value to pay the premium if you are going through a tough time.
Do I need to buy life insurance if I get some from work?
This is a thorny question, and the answer is probably yes. You may not be getting as much from work as you really need, and if you change jobs, you may not be able to take your life insurance with you. Having your own life insurance will guarantee you are never without coverage.
Contact Alta Vista Insurance Agency in Vista, CA for your life insurance needs.
Owning your own home provides a great feeling of accomplishment and security. Your home is probably one of the biggest investments you will make in life. Not only is it a huge financial investment, but your house also holds great sentimental value as being the place your family calls home. For these reasons, as well as others, your home must be properly insured. At Alta Vista Insurance Agency, serving Vista, CA, we take great pride in educating our clients and future clients on these important insurance topics. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about home insurance.
Why Is Home Insurance Important?
Because your home is such a huge financial investment, there is much at risk if your home becomes damaged or unlivable. If your home sustains damage due to fire, natural disaster, or burglary, you could find yourself in a financially vulnerable position. Home insurance is set in place to defer this financial vulnerability so that you and your family can recover from a disaster.
Beyond the risk of damage, there is also the risk of someone being injured in your home or on your property. If this happens, you could be held liable for their medical expenses and possibly legal expenses in some cases. Insurance can also protect you in these situations.
What Does Home Insurance Cover?
Home insurance will cover:
Property damage – If your home is damaged due to fire, natural disaster, or burglary, your policy will pay to have your home repaired or replaced or your possessions replaced in the case of burglary.
Liability – If someone is injured on your property, liability will pay for medical expenses or legal expenses.
If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact Alta Vista Insurance Agency, serving Vista, CA today.
Morgan is out the studio. In this episode, my agent, Mark Lamb joins me with Edward Hull from Carlsbad Tax Services, a local tax firm in Carlsbad, California.
We dive into some of President, Joe Biden’s new proposed tax plans and a few different tax strategies that business owners, property owners, and high income earners can take advantage of to keep more money in their pockets.
This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
For the latest up to date tax information contact Carlsbad Tax services and click the button below.
