Protect Your Home While on Vacation this Summer

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Summer is the perfect time to take a vacation with the whole family. Leaving your home empty can increase the chances of your home getting broken into while you are away. Make sure to follow these safety tips to ensure you home stays safe while you are away this summer.

  • Do not let your mail pile up. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail each day so it does not sit in your mailbox. You can also ask the post office to hold you mail while you are gone so that is does not pile up.
  • Make your home look lived in. Keep your car in your driveway, or ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway. Plug some interior lights into a timer, so that your home stays light and bright at night.
  • Let the local police know. Most local police departments will drive by your home while you are away to make sure that everything is normal.
  • Keep your lawn short. If you are going away for a long period of time, make sure your gardener continues to mow your lawn and trim your hedges. An overgrown front lawn is a good sign that a home is empty, making it an easy target for burglars.
  • Lock up. While it may seem obvious to lock your front door when you leave, that is not the only place that a burglar can get in. Make sure to do a quick walk through of your house before you leave and check all your windows and doors to ensure they are locked.
  • Do not post about your vacation. Keep the news of your family vacation off of your social media. Burglars will know exactly when you are leaving and when you are coming back if you post about it.

It is also important to make sure that you have the right homeowners insurance coverage to protect your home and assets if your home is broken into. Contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency for all of your homeowners insurance needs in the Conejo Valley area of California.

Don’t Get Caught Without Insurance When Using Your Summer Toys!

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The sun is out, and the water is warm! People everywhere are loading up their trailers with their boats, RVs, motorcycles, jet skis, sea doos, and WaveRunners! Your summer toys face all sorts of risks when they are in the water, and even more when being towed on the road! Don’t get caught without insurance! Many insurance policies exist to protect you from the financial burden of an accident.

A marine policy can be purchased to cover your watercraft. With this type of coverage, you will be protected from bodily injury and property damage to your, or another person’s watercraft. If an RV or motorcycle is more your style, you will need to purchase a separate insurance policy that is individualized for your special vehicle.

No matter what type of summer toy you are planning to insure, be sure they are insured to value they are worth. Keep your insurance score low to ensure a lower premium rate. In the event that you need to file an insurance claim, do so immediately. Keep a thorough record of everything that happened, and be sure to get the contact information for everyone involved. Pictures of the scene are the best form of evidence when filing a claim.

If you are interested in purchasing insurance coverage for any of your summer toys, give the agents at Cappuccino Insurance Agency a call. Located in Westlake Village, their friendly insurance agents will be able to find the policy that best suits your needs. Give Cappuccino Insurance Agency a call, today!

Final Expense Insurance 101

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Nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one, but certain things can definitely make it worse. Final expense life insurance exists in order to cover medical bill expenses, and take the financial burden off of your loved ones in the unfortunate case anything should happen to you. These matters are difficult to talk about, but this form of coverage will give your family time to grieve without having to worry about fiscal matters.

It is important to understand the difference between final expense term life insurance and final expense whole life insurance. Typically, a final expense term insurance policy will cover you until the age of 80, depending on your carrier. If you purchase a final expense whole life insurance policy, you will be covered until the end of your life, starting after you sign the contract.

If you are worried that you will be turned away due to your current health, stop! You can qualify regardless of your health status, or current health insurance rate. Additionally, you have the option to leave an annual monetary gift to specific individuals on the dates of your choice. This is just one way to show them you love them, even after you are gone. Before meeting with your insurance agent, spend some time thinking about your final resting place, and funeral preferences. This will help you to estimate your final costs.

Don’t let your family get caught paying for all of your credit card debt, and funeral costs. Do the right thing, and purchase a final expense life insurance policy as soon as possible. As an independent insurance agency, Cappuccino Insurance Agency collaborates with multiple carriers. Through these carriers they can provide you with a final expense insurance policy tailored perfectly to fit your needs and your budget.. Contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency, today!

 

Driving without Distractions

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Distracted driving was the cause of over 3,000 deaths in 2012 according to the U.S. department of transportation.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is considered anything that diverts the driver’s attention from driving. Distractions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Texting
  • Eating
  • Grooming
  • Reading
  • Talking (on a phone or to other passengers)

Preventing Distracted Driving

Follow these three tips to reduce distractions while driving:

  • Out of sight, out of mind

Cell phones are known for many kinds of distractions from their GPS capabilities, to talking or texting while driving. Keep your cell phone in your purse or pocket while driving so it’s not a temptation to use.

Keep loose items stored away in the car. Anything that could fall or roll and cause you to look or reach for it, will cause a dangerous distraction. Before leaving the house, make sure that all equipment is stored. If you are transporting kids to a sports activity, this can often be challenging. Add a bin or box to your back seat or trunk and use it as a safe storage space.

  • All Systems Go

Adjusting the radio, mirrors, seats, or air conditioning can all result in distracted driving. Make sure that the car is ready–and all functions are where you need them to be for your comfort and the comfort of others in the car. Complaints from passengers will zap your attention as well.

  • Give it your Full Attention

Not only should the car be ready to go, but you should be, too. Don’t save eating and grooming for your drive. Make sure that all passengers have had something to eat ahead of time and that you are ready to go. If you must leave the house without getting yourself ready, leave extra time when you get to your destination to eat or put on makeup. ,

Secure your children and your pets. If you’re in for a long ride make sure you have something that will occupy both so that you’re not dealing with complaints or fights from the little passengers behind you.

These tips and more found at exchange.aaa.com.

At Cappuccino Insurance Agency in the Conejo Valley, we invite you to drive safe. Contact us today to discuss your auto insurance coverage needs.

Check out this distracted driving: http://sfglobe.com/?id=951&src=share_fb_new_951

Tips for Homeowners Insurance and Fire Protection in Conejo Valley, California

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The most recent fires in Southern California is the latest disaster to affect homeowners in California. Yet, the fires do ignite an interest in the need for homeowners to have home coverage. Here at Cappuccino Insurance Agency we encourage clients to examine their homeowners insurance to ensure that it includes fire protection.

Fire insurance policies typically cover a wide range of property damage. For example, damages related to fire including smoke, explosions, and damaged sprinklers are normally covered with this type of policy. Lightning, earthquakes, and heavy wind damage are also typically included in home coverage. Other areas to consider when adding fire coverage to an insurance policy is whether overflowing or bursting water pipes and reservoirs are also covered.

Homeowners should note common mistakes that are made when purchasing fire coverage. The contents of a home may not be included in fire protection. Also, some policies only replace items at their actual cost, not at the replacement value. This is an issue when the replacement costs are greater than the original costs of items. A tip here is to have a recorded video and digital listing of the items of value in a home. Storing these items outside of the home, such as in a safe deposit box, can help homeowners greatly in the recovery process following fire or smoke damage to a property.

For those homes that are destroyed in a fire or due to smoke from neighboring fires, burglary or theft occurring in the damaged home may not be covered in a policy. Finally, homeowners should inquire about discounts related to fire protection. For example, some policies may include discounts for having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home. To learn more about how to protect your home from fire damage and destruction in Conejo Valley, California, please contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village!