Is It Time to Shop for New Home Insurance?

Your home is likely one of your largest investments financially, and it is definitely one of your most important investments emotionally. Your house is where you and your family spend time and make precious memories. You want to do everything you can to protect your home. One of the most important ways you can protect your home is by having sufficient home insurance. At Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc serving Lynnwood, WA we love helping our clients make sound insurance choices. Keep reading to learn more about shopping for new home insurance. 

Why Should I Shop For New Insurance?

Most people think that if they have an insurance policy in place, then why should they ever shop around for a new one? The truth is circumstances change over time, and your insurance policy may not be reflecting those changes. When your policy is not updated periodically it can cause you to be spending money on things you may no longer require, or you may find yourself underinsured. Either way, this can put your home in a vulnerable position. 

When to Shop for New Home Insurance 

Home insurance needs will change along with your home. If you have made any major improvements to your home, this will increase the value of the home. When the value of the home is increased, the amount of insurance coverage must increase as well. If changes have been made to your home or property which would increase your risks of liability, your insurance policy should be updated to reflect this as well. In order to understand all of the ways your insurance needs may have changed, it is best to sit down with an insurance representative to discuss such changes. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, please call our staff today at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc, serving Lynnwood, WA. 

Why would I need commercial insurance?

The Lynnwood, WA area continues to be a very popular place for people to live and visit. This has led to a consistent level of population in the area and demand for new businesses, which makes it a great place to start a new company. When you are going to start a business in this area of Washington, you should spend time carefully assessing all of your insurance needs. There are several reasons why a business here would need a commercial insurance policy.

Insurance Protects Business

The primary reasons a business will need commercial insurance is that it will protect the business. With a full commercial insurance policy, you will receive coverage for your business assets and liability protection. Both of these types of coverage will prove to be extremely valuable if you ever suffer from a covered loss.

Insurance is Often Required

You may also need to get commercial insurance because it could be a requirement for your business. Many business owners today have different insurance obligations that need to be met. Some situations when they will need insurance is if they have raised money from outside investors or have taken out a business loan. These stakeholders typically have specific requirements, which will protect your company and its investment. 

Picking the right commercial insurance policy for your Lynnwood, WA business is a big decision. As you are looking for a new insurance policy here, it is very important that you speak with someone that you can trust. The team at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc can offer you sound guidance that will help you build a policy that is right for your business. Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc is able to do this by working hard to understand your business and risks and building a policy that mitigates them as well as possible. 

What is Covered in Auto Insurance?

When it comes to obtaining auto insurance, it is important that you know details about auto insurance. Whether you want the minimum auto insurance legally required by your state or you want full coverage that will cover as much as possible, it will behoove you to know what all is covered in auto insurance. It is also important to know what is covered in your state for every state has its own regulations concerning different types of auto insurance coverage. Thus, the following are various types of auto insurance and what each one covers: 

  • Bodily injury liability- this applies to someone’s injuries caused by the designated driver, you.  When driving another person’s vehicle with their permission, you and your loved ones are covered. 
  • Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP)- the policyholder’s vehicle covers passengers and the driver’s injuries. 
  • Property damage liability- covers the other person’s property damages from a car accident caused by you or a driver who you permitted to drive your car. 
  • Collision-whether you are at-fault or not, your damages, you and your passengers’ injuries,  and the other party’s injuries and damages are covered. This coverage is also for damage caused by potholes.  Also, if the accident was not your fault, your insurance company can fight for you in getting reimbursed from the other party who is at fault.
  • Comprehensive- you will get reimbursed for losses due to accidents caused by an object or another vehicle, acts of nature, such as a windstorm, earthquake, or hail,  and other derivatives of damages, such as fire, or vandalism. 
  • Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage- this covers you, your family, and someone you permitted to drive your car when an accident is caused by a driver with no or not enough insurance. 

Conclusion

If you live in the Lynnwood, WA, or any area in Washington and you need assistance with auto insurance, contact Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc has been serving Lynnwood, WA and surrounding areas for decades. Thus, they will steer you in the right direction with auto insurance. Contact them now!

Why do I need home insurance?

Those that live in the Lynnwood, WA area should consider purchasing a home. When you own a home here, there are a lot of long-term benefits that come along with it. While you can benefit in the long run by having home insurance, you do need to make sure that your property protected with insurance. There are several reasons why insurance could be needed. 

Needed to Protect Home

A primary reason that you will need to get home insurance is that it can protect your valuable asset. A home is a very big investment that you need to protect as well as possible. With a home insurance policy, you are going have support if your home is damaged or you are a victim of theft or vandalism. Additionally, you can receive a liability protection policy that will protect you in the event you are found liable for an accident. 

Needed to Ensure Document Compliance

You will also need to get home insurance to stay in compliance with a variety of different obligations. A full home insurance policy is going to be required if you take out a mortgage to finance the purchase of the home or if you live in a condo association. It is important that you understand the home insurance rules that you have when selecting a new policy.

Those that are shopping for a home insurance policy in the Lynnwood, WA area need to carefully consider their personal needs and options. If you are going to get a new home, it would be a good idea for you to call Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. The team at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc can give you all of the guidance and support that you need to pick a policy that offers you the right protection. 

Three mistakes to avoid when you buy commercial insurance in Washington

You need to invest in commercial insurance to protect your livelihood. Unfortunately, many business owners experience devastating consequences because they failed to invest in commercial insurance and unexpected expenses came up.

At Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc, we provide commercial insurance in Lynnwood, WA. The following are three mistakes you need to avoid when you buy commercial insurance in Washington. 

Failing to read the fine print on your policy

You should definitely set time aside to read through your policy details. This way, you’ll understand what you’re eligible to file a claim for. Unfortunately, some business owners aren’t aware of everything their policy covers and therefore don’t file a claim when they are eligible to do so. 

Not purchasing coverage for possible revenue losses

One type of commercial insurance available covers revenue loss from various events. This is a very important type of insurance to invest in.

You never know when an accident or setback can come up that significantly reduces your income under the expected level. That’s why it’s so important to invest in the business interruption or business income coverage. 

Keeping the exact same policy despite significant changes at your company

Business owners should periodically reevaluate their business insurance needs. As your company grows, you need to reconsider what your financial risks are. You’re probably going to face more risks and need more commercial coverage as your business expands. 

Every time your policy terms comes to an end, set some time aside to reevaluate insurance needs. Invest in more coverage as necessary to ensure continued success. 

Get started finding the right commercial insurance solution with our help at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. Contact us today to insure your Lynnwood, WA business. 

Why should you maintain your car battery?

If you have a dead battery, you have a dead car. Nearly everyone has had the inconvenience of turning on the ignition only to hear the sickening sound of the engine not turning over. A dead battery means a jump or a tow truck and a trip to the dealer to get a replacement, not to speak of a check to see if you have a fault in the charging system that is draining the battery.

Clearly, as Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc serving Lynnwood, WA is pleased to explain, maintaining your battery and your car’s charging system is important to prevent you from getting stranded.

Keep the terminals clean by checking them about once a month and, if you find dirt or rust, disconnecting the battery and applying a wire brush.

Make sure that accessories such as the car radio are turned off when you first start the car.

If you are not driving for a lengthy period, for instance, because you are going on vacation, disconnect the battery. Some accessories such as the clock use a little bit of charge even when the car is not in use. Also, you should drive your car at least twice a week for about 30 minutes to keep the battery charged.

Make sure that the battery and charging system is checked when you take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.

Usually, a battery comes with a predetermined life, such as three years or five years. Consider getting a replacement even if your old battery seems to be working well when it nears the end.

For questions on car insurance contact Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc serving Lynnwood, WA.

Is it Time for a Home Insurance Review?

If you’ve had your home insurance policy for a long time and haven’t made any changes to it, it may be time for a review. At Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc, we can help customers in the Lynnwood, WA area get the insurance coverage they need to protect their homes. We will take a careful look at the coverage you already have, and make sure it’s right for your current needs. If it isn’t, we can help you make adjustments to coverage options or levels in order to get adequate protection. Then you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your insurance is right and you have what you need to care for your home the proper way.

When you come to us for a home insurance review we’ll cover all the areas where you already have insurance, and also ask you about any changes that might have been made to the home or the property. If you’ve made significant changes, your current insurance policy may not reflect that. In order to be sure you have the best possible coverage, updating your policy may be necessary. You can have updates made to your insurance policy as often as you need to, in order to be sure you’re keeping your coverage up to date in a way that works for you. If you’re not sure whether changes are needed, your agent can help you make that decision, too.

When you’re ready for an insurance review, reach out to us at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc today, so we can protect your Lynnwood, WA area home. We’ll take a good look at the policy you have, ask questions and answer yours, and make sure you have proper coverage for the present and the future. We’re here to help you, and make sure your home has the kind of protection it really needs.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying an Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is something that you, as a car owner, should have. It protects you, your family, and the vehicle in case you got involved in a car accident, or if your car is stolen or damaged. However, if you are unfamiliar with the process of choosing and buying insurance, you might be at risk of making a mistake. Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. in Lynnwood, WA has prepared the list of mistakes you should avoid when searching for auto insurance:

Not Shopping Around

You may think that all insurance companies offer the same type of auto insurance. However, it is not true. Each insurance company is different in terms of their offers and discounts. Therefore, it is extremely important to shop around and to call at least a few companies to choose the one you can trust. 

Not Getting Enough Coverage

We understand that you want to save some money and do not want to spend a lot on your car insurance. It might be tempting to get a minimum level of coverage. However, you might regret your decision later if you have a really expensive accident or repair.  When buying insurance, make sure you have at least minimum coverage recommended by your insurance agent.

Not Knowing Your Policy

One of the most common mistakes people do is signing the papers before reading them carefully. It is extremely important to know and understand what exactly is covered and what is not before getting insurance. It will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on other more important areas of your life. 

Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. in Lynnwood, WA is a company with almost 40 years of experience that is here for you and is ready to help to find the best coverage for your vehicle. Contact us today to find out more about insurance options and policies we offer. 

Does Your Home Insurer Need To Know About Your Above-Ground Pool?

As a general rule, any time you are wondering if your home insurance provider needs to know about something or other, they need to know about it.

Now, if you follow the instructions on your above ground pool, if you set it up properly and situate it at least sixteen feet from the nearest building, you should be fine. It’s not that big an insurance liability as long as you practice a little common sense. If it collapses with nobody in it, and it is a safe distance from your home, you shouldn’t see any damages that the next warm day in Lynnwood, WA won’t fix.

The real concern is a liability. If you have a bunch of the neighbors’ kids in the pool and something happens, you could be looking at a lot of doctor bills to cover, and that’s when you’re going to be glad that you let your insurance provider know about your above-ground pool.

Generally speaking, your insurer is going to cover you for things like this as long as they don’t think that you were trying to keep a secret from them. If you host a house party and someone is injured, that’s not a big deal, unless you didn’t tell them you’d be having fifteen, twenty people over. The same goes for an above-ground pool. It’s not a major liability concern, but honesty is always the best policy in matters of insurance.

There’s no reason not to set up an above-ground pool at your Lynnwood, WA home, just make sure that you have the proper coverage. Give Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc a call. Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc. can get you set up with a policy that will keep you covered.

3 Reasons To Review Your Commercial Insurance In Spring

We don’t need to emphasize the importance of commercial to every business. Most business owners are aware of that. Rather, we will give you a few reasons to review your commercial insurance. The best time to review your commercial insurance is in spring. 

At Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc in Lynnwood, WA, we see a spike in business insurance claims during the spring season. We know how disheartening it can be for you to file a claim only to find out that the situation for which you are filing a claim is not even covered in your existing commercial insurance policy. 

This is why we encourage our clients to review their existing policy regularly, starting from this spring. Here are a few reasons why the review is a must.

Business expansion

It is every business owner’s dream for their business to expand. How does a business expand? It is by offering more products or services, by hiring more people, by purchasing more tools and equipment, and by extending your coverage areas.

When you undergo any of these expansions, your business may be under-insured if you don’t review your policy. For instance, if you run a construction company and you recently purchased heavy machinery, chances are good that your existing commercial insurance policy does not cover your latest acquisition. If the equipment gets damaged or burnt, you’ll be on your own. So, you should review your policy.

New location

Insurance laws vary from state to state. If you open a branch office in another state, it is necessary to review your policy to cover your offshore business properties. That’s one leg of the review. For the other leg, your policy has to be in line with the laws in the other state in terms of business insurance.

Better cost 

You need to review your insurance policy to get better deals. You may be entitled to certain discounts. Also, the cost of your existing policy may have gone down slightly. You may not be able to take advantage of the discounts or new deals without a review. 

For more information on commercial insurance, you can hit us up at Sound Choice Insurance Agency Inc in Lynnwood, WA.