Month: October 2016

Texas Homeowners: Avoid the Pitfalls of the Fall Season with These Handy Tips

Posted on by AgentInsure

Fall weather has a lot of great qualities, even for those living in San Antonio, TX. While Texans may not have as powerful a change in the weather compared to up there in the Midwest, there is still plenty of fun to be had. You still have some beautiful golden leaves on the ground and you still have the awesome festivities associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving. What could be so bad about fall? As it turns out, quite a few things in fact.

To start, as fall rolls around, the weather begins to cool off more. This is certainly relaxing, but if your house is not adequately insulated, this could mean that you are spending more money to heat your home as well as running the risk that the cold, dry weather could adversely effect your home’s health and wellness. Specifically, dry weather allows for moisture to get into your woodwork and furniture, which adversely effects the quality and longevity of both. If you are not properly insured for this kind of thing, you may find that you are forced to pay out of pocket in order to fix or replace these things, and in this economy, you do not want to be stuck footing that bill.

Other things that any homeowner should do – no matter if they are new or old – include checking out their roof and attic to make sure that the cold weather cannot seep in through these areas. Additionally, if you store things in your attic, do note that doing so may put these things at risk to exposure.

If you live in the San Antonio, TX area and want to make sure that you are properly ensured for the coming fall months, Access Insurance Services is here to help you out.

Speed Trap Tickets Have Insurance Costs Too

Posted on by AgentInsure

People might ask themselves what exactly is the relationship between a car insurance policy and triggering a speed trap? There’s no accident or damage caused, no one got hurt, and the insurance company didn’t receive a claim. So what’s the issue? It has to do with risk. When an insurance company provides a policy to a consumer, they are doing so based on an estimate of how safe that driver will be and how unlikely the person will result in a claim and loss. When the same driver then starts producing speeding tickets in speed traps or similar, the formula changes. Unlike other traffic violations, speeding tickets are considered strong evidence of flat out risky driving behavior as well as a violation of law. Both have a very negative effect on an insurance company’s view of a driver’s safety going forward. No surprise then, an insurance provider is going to increase the cost of a coverage plan in the future if a pattern of risky driving is seen with multiple tickets.

However, some folks believe one ticket should not trigger a sudden increase in insurance cost. Again, a speeding ticket is very strong evidence of conscious risk-taking behavior. One doesn’t accidentally speed, especially if having been a driver for a while. Insurers companies are not blind to this situation and adjust their risk accordingly. That said, people change, and insurers take that into account as well.

If you or someone you know has been a driver with one too many speed trap tickets and now seeking insurance coverage for driving in the San Antonio, TX area, getting help from Access Insurance Services may be smart way to get on the road. Their experts can guide drivers through the insurance maze and find a policy that provides a second chance for improvement and risk reduction over time. Drivers who’ve made mistakes are not left out in the cold.

 

 

What to Do When a Pipe Bursts

Posted on by AgentInsure

Having a pipe burst in your home is no fun for anyone. It is a costly repair, and it can take some time to clean up the damage. In San Antonio, TX, we often do not think of pipes bursting because it is rare that the temperatures will get low enough to cause freezing pipes. When it happens, though, many people wake up to a terrible surprise that is costly. Use these steps from Access Insurance Services, so you can navigate frozen pipes and get them repaired.

  • Turn off your water immediately. The moment you notice that you have had a pipe burst, it is important to turn off the water to your home. Taking this step will help limit the amount of damage you will have in the home as a result. When the water is not flowing, you will have less of it in your home leaking from the pipes. This is the first step a professional will have you do so it is good to do first. 
  • Call a professional to get it repaired. When a pipe bursts, you will have to get it replaced. However, first, you will have to get rid of the damage and take care of any water damage inside your home. Call a professional to come out and take care of this for you because it is a big job, and you will want your pipes to be repaired just like they were new. 
  • Prepare for colder temperatures in the future. You probably do not want this ever to happen again, so it is important to take steps to prevent it. You should consider insulating your pipes with pipe sleeves. On colder nights, also always take preventative measures to prevent freezing pipes. 

Contact Access Insurance Services, serving San Antonio, TX, today for a quote on home insurance or to take a look at your current policy to see if you have any gaps in coverage.