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300 S. Park Ave, Ste. 903
Pomona, CA 91766

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California Insurance Blog

Why House Maintenance Matters

We often move into a house thinking it will be our “forever home”, but plans change all the time.  Sometimes people think they will enjoy life in a suburb, like Pomona, CA only to find out they want to be closer to Los Angeles.  Whatever the reason, THINK Insurance & Financial Services knows that house maintenance is something that should not be overlooked.  Taking the time to fix things before you place your house on the market will save you money in the long run.  

The Cost of a House in Pomona

It has been said that the median price of a house listed for sale in Pomona, CA is $379,894 and the value of houses is predicted to increase 1.4% over the next year.  What we get on a house when it is listed depends heavily on the condition of the house.  

What to Fix Before Moving

         Flooring

  • Floors:  If you have hardwood floors keep it.  If they aren’t new you might get more if you get the floors refinished. 
  • Carpet:  If you have carpeting the bedroom or other areas of the house make sure it is clean.  Tan or neutral carpets work best when selling a house.

        Paint Ceiling and Walls 

  • Wallpaper:  That wallpaper that you loved is not something that buyers will like.  Paying to take it down could be the difference between your house selling or not.
  • Painting:  Paint wood paneling.  Get rid of “popcorn ceilings” to make it sale better.

Kitchen

       Kitchen remodels might be the most expensive thing when listing a house and resurfacing cabinets and countertops may be the cheaper option. 

THINK Insurance& Financial Services wants you to get the best value for the house, so taking time to get these repairs done will save you when you if and when you decide to move. 

 

New California road laws for 2017

If you drive in Pomona, CA, there are some new traffic laws that you’re going to want to be aware of. Fortunately, none of them have a major impact on insurance law, so you don’t need to call your people at THINK Insurance & Financial Services to get a new policy just yet. Here’s what you need to know:

The GPS Defense

For a time, it was possible to contest a ticket for using your phone while driving by claiming that you were actually using your GPS. The new law is going into effect on the argument that you don’t actually need to hold the phone to use GPS. The safest way to do GPS now is hands-free, mounting it on the dashboard and checking directions at stoplights or listening to audio directions. And you’re only allowed to use one finger at a time when using your phone for GPS.

Your Phone Cannot Obstruct Your Windshield

Speaking of phone mounts, make sure that yours does not obstruct your windshield.

Bikers Splitting Lanes

You often see bikers going in-between lanes in order to get ahead of slow traffic. The legality of this has always been questionable with few states having clear laws on the matter, leaving it up to the discretion of the officer and the judge, really. California is the first state to officially declare this legal, but with certain provisions for what counts as safe lane-splitting. For instance, a biker is not allowed to go 50-60 mph when traffic is at a standstill.

Child Seats

Any child under two absolutely must ride in a rear-facing child seat, unless they’re more than forty inches tall, and weigh over forty pounds.

Driving in Pomona, CA presents some dangers, but stay up on the laws and THINK Insurance & Financial Services will take care of the rest.

 

5 Reasons to Care More About Auto Insurance

The moment you buy auto insurance is the moment you likely forget about it. It’s just another responsibility to check off a list. But auto insurance is a major purchase, and one THINK Insurance & Financial Services knows you should pay more attention to.

1. It Protects You

If an uninsured motorist hits you, insurance may be the only thing that helps you pay for the damages. It’s a safety net that keeps your finances from being sucked away, and there are a variety of events it helps you with.

2. You May Not Have the Right Policy

If you’ve chosen the bare minimum of coverage, there’s likely a few scenarios that will end up costing you more than you can afford. For example, California has its limits when it comes to bodily and property damage, and everything else you pay will be out of pocket.

3. Insurance Can Be the Best Source of Advice

Knowing who to can be just as important as the research you may do on your own. If you live in Pomona, CA, you’re going to want to work with someone who can help you and answer your questions as honestly as possible.

4. It’s Not Just About You

Insurance helps every driver on the road, not just you. The roads cannot stay safe if people don’t practice security in their daily lives, and insurance is an exceptionally large part of that.

5. The Company You Keep Is Important

THINK Insurance & Financial Services serves the people of Pomona, CA, and we’re here to make it easy to both obtain and understand insurance. We can help the new and the seasoned drivers alike. If you’re looking for information or a new quote, then give us a call today!

Re-Evaluating the Value of Your Home

After the economic crisis brought on by the real estate market collapse in America that started in 2006, the prices of homes in the Pomona, CA area plummeted, just like they did in many other parts of the country. The good news is that the home values in Pomona, CA have returned to match or exceed what they were before the crisis hit.

There are different types of home insurance. Some set the maximum value of the insurance coverage to a certain value amount. Other insurance policies have an annual escalation clause to take into account the replacement value of the home. The more sophisticated insurance policies that insure the replacement value are, in general, superior. The replacement calculation should be renewed each year and taken into consideration when setting the home insurance values.

This is a good point for consideration. Pay attention to anything significant things that may have changed in the home over the previous year.

All of these improvements create the need for a new re-evaluation of the replacement cost of a home. This is a good reason why it is a great idea to conduct a home replacement valuation each year. The total figure from this analysis is very useful to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

This is how to make sure you have the proper level of home insurance to cover the costs to rebuild your home if necessary because of a disaster.

Be sure to check with your agent at Think Insurance & Financial Services in Pomona, CA for any questions about your home insurance and to make sure you have adequate coverage for replacement value.

It is always better to been prepared in the case of a serious disaster emergency and to have proper home insurance coverage for the replacement value of your home.

Why Auto Insurance Should Go Above State Minimums

When you buy auto insurance, it’s important to look at what you’re getting. You want to get a policy you can rely on in Pomona, CA. This means not only adhering to the state minimums for liability, but going above and beyond these as well.

Why Go Above?

The state dictates the minimum level of coverage you must have an auto insurance policy. This means an insurance company won’t allow you to go below these levels. Although it costs more to add more coverage, it’s not a lot in most instances.

Your goal should be to reduce the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket in an accident. Most of the time, you will pay your deductible, and that’s it. However, there will be instances where you have to pay for an accident beyond what the liability coverage on your policy covers. For example, if you have $25,000 worth of property coverage and you cause $40,000 worth of damage, you might be held financially responsible for the remaining $15,000.

How Much Above?

The amount you decide to go above the state minimums is up to you. Not only do you want to consider increasing the liability levels, but also adding coverage that the state doesn’t require. This includes comprehensive coverage, so you are covered against things that don’t involve driving.

Our agents at THINK Insurance & Financial Services will be able to help you determine how much above state minimums you should go. This will depend on your budget as well as the kinds of accidents you have been involved in throughout the past few years.

Contact us at THINK Insurance & Financial Services today to find out more about auto insurance. Our independent agents will be able to get quotes from multiple companies and help to find an affordable policy.

5 Reasons to Care More About Auto Insurance

The moment you buy auto insurance is the moment you likely forget about it. It’s just another responsibility to check off a list. But auto insurance is a major purchase, and one THINK Insurance & Financial Services knows you should pay more attention to.

1. It Protects You

if an uninsured motorist hits you, insurance may be the only thing that helps you pay for the damages. It’s a safety net that keeps your finances from being sucked away, and there are a variety of events it helps you with.

2. You May Not Have the Right Policy

If you’ve chosen the bare minimum of coverage, there’s likely a few scenarios that will end up costing you more than you can afford. For example, California has its own limits when it comes to bodily and property damage, and everything else you pay will be out of pocket.

3. Insurance Can Be the Best Source of Advice

Knowing who to call can be just as important as the research you may do on your own. If you live in Pomona, CA, you’re going to want to work with someone who can actually help you, and answer your questions as honestly as possible.

4. It’s Not Just About You

Insurance helps every driver on the road, not just you. The roads cannot stay safe if people don’t practice security in their daily lives, and insurance is an exceptionally large part of that.

5. The Company You Keep Is Important

THINK Insurance & Financial Services serves the people of Pomona, CA, and we’re here to make it easy to both obtain and understand insurance. We can help the new and the seasoned drivers alike. If you’re looking for information or a new quote, then give us a call today!

Ways to Have a More Successful Yard Sale

Yard sales are good ways to make some extra money while also making some more room in your home by removing things that you no longer use. However, when you want to have a yard sale in Pomona, CA, you simply cannot have one on a whim if you want to be successful. Use these tips from THINK Insurance & Financial Services so you can have a more successful yard sale this year:

  • Invite your neighbors to join. If you live in an area with several residences, you should ask if anyone else wants to join in. The more people you have, the more traffic you will have because they can help spread the word and people like to come to big yard sales.
  • Clean the items before selling them. Even if they are not blatantly dirty, you should clean them before you put them out. People are more likely to purchase things that are clean than they are if they are dirty or dusty.
  • Plan it for the weekend and advertise. You should make sure you schedule it for the weekend so you can get more people to come. You should also take the time to put some signs out ahead of time so people can see them during the week.

You should have a great home insurance policy to protect all of the things you are keeping as well as your finances. If you do not already have one in place, be sure to contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services serving Pomona, CA. They can help find a policy that fits your needs and your budget. If you do have one, they can make sure you do not have gaps in coverage and that you are not paying too much.

Why You Need Homeowners Insurance in California

Living in a city like Pomona, CA comes with many perks, but a disaster-free zone is not one of them. California is known for its sunny skies and frequent earthquakes. You cannot take a chance on going without homeowners insurance in a region such as this.

Sunny Today, Shaky Tomorrow

California sits on the large and potentially destructive San Andreas Fault. You can quickly go from a vibrant homeowner to someone without a place to lay his head if a violent earthquake sweeps through the state and triggers what many call the sleeping San Andreas giant. While homeowners insurance cannot safeguard against all financial loss, it can ensure that the value of your home is credited back to you and your family.

A Lawsuit is Lurking

Many tourists visit the region throughout the year, and some come with the preconceived notion that all Californians are wealthy. You should not discount the probability of lawsuit simply because you live in Pomona, CA and not Hollywood. Homeowners insurance pays for court proceedings and settlement in the instance of you being found liable in a lawsuit.

The Bank Says You Must Be Insured

The lender is always looking out for its interests, which means that it will require proof of homeowners insurance. Some banks in California even require borrowers to obtain earthquake coverage so that the cost of the loan will be covered should a tragedy take place.  Homes located in areas where wildfires often occur may also require additional insurance for damages caused by fire.

Don’t Get Caught Uninsured

No one is going to twist your arm and force you to obtain homeowners insurance after paying off your loan. It is, however, in your best interest to maintain assurance that reimburses the value of your investment instead of preceding indemnity and coming up empty.

When is it Time to Trade In My Old Car?

You might be fond of that old car. She has a name. The cracks on the dashboard have been loving taped or glued, and she still gets you to work in the Pomona, CA area most of the time. But the visits to the repair shop are increasing. You wonder if it’s time to trade in your old friend, or does it make sense to keep her on the road?

No Monthly Payment Means It’s Cheaper, Right?

You paid off the car years ago.  You’re figuring that $200 to $300 a month is cash in your pocket. However, if you are replacing belts, shocks, fuses, door panels and an assortment of other parts regularly, the dollar amount might be higher than you think. Make a pros and cons sheet and enter of cash spent recently.  Is it more than a new car payment? If it is, it might be time to head to the dealer.

Insurance Will Cover an Accident, Right?

If you haven’t checked the blue book value of your vehicle recently, you might want to. Car repairs can easily reach $5,000 due to a simple fender bender. If your reliable commuter car has a cash value lower than that, you could be shelling cash out of your pocket to get it back on the road. If there’s not enough in the savings account to cover that contingency, changes are in order.

Is It Still Keeping You Safe?

Older cars lack the crumple zones, dual-stage airbags and other safety advancements available on newer models. A new car could save you more than cash in an accident. How safe is your kid in that back seat?

Your Pomona, CA auto insurance agent can help you weigh the pros and cons of maintaining your old vehicle. Give them a call today to check on the current valuation of your car.

Three Ways to Maintain Your Home This Fall

Fall is a great time to do projects around your home and getting it looking great. It isn’t too hot like in summer and it isn’t yet cold like in winter. However, while many of these projects are optional, there are a few things that you should be doing to maintain your home in fall time. These tips can help prevent larger problems that can happen during the wet, icy and windy winter months. Here are a few of those things.

Trim Your Trees

One of the best things to do in the fall months is to trim back your trees. Dead limbs can fall when it is windy out, which can cause damage to your home, cars, or even people. Trimming your trees can help you prevent having to file a homeowner’s insurance claim for damage.

Maintain Your Sidewalks and Walkways

Concrete sidewalks and walkways can develop cracks in them. During the fall and winter months, it is darker outside earlier and it can be harder to see these cracks, which can be a tripping hazard. Fall is a great time to fill them in, or even find a way to light the area well.

Have Your Roof Repaired

If your roof has missing shingles, cracked tiles or is otherwise damaged, you want to have it repaired in the fall. Rain can seep in and cause more damaged, which can lead to you having to file a homeowner’s insurance claim. Having the roof inspected and repaired helps prevent this.

Are you looking to buy a new homeowner’s insurance policy? Or do you simply want to find out what may or may not be covered with your existing one? Then contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services, serving the Pomona, CA area. Let us help you with your homeowner’s insurance needs today!

 

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