First Community Financial Group, Inc. Blog |
Solar panels can be economically and environmentally sound, and they’re more accessible than ever. According to one research firm, U.S. homes and businesses installed a new system every four minutes in 2013. But, is solar power right for you here in {city, state or region}? To help you address the question, here are five things to think about before making the switch:
Renewable power – it can help protect your from rising energy costs and even power outages, not to mention the good it does for the environment. Just be sure to consider your options and all the costs involved before making the leap. Content provided by Safeco Insurance. by The Foremost Creative Team What do outdoor adventures look like for you? Whether it's an ATV, UTV, dirt bike, dune buggy, golf cart or other off-road vehicle (ORV), you'll want to make sure you have the right type of insurance coverage to protect your toys. It's important to ask your independent insurance agent the right questions about what type of coverage you're seeking and customize it to fit your lifestyle. To help you get started, we put together the following list of questions after speaking with Kevin Henry, the Director of Product Management at Foremost® Insurance. 1. What typical coverages are available for ATV/UTVs?" Ask your agent or broker about standard coverages that are available, as well as optional ones you might consider," says Henry. "Standard coverages include Collision, Other Than Collision, Liability and Medical Payments. They help provide coverage for damage to your ATV itself or damage or injury that you may cause while riding your ATV." 2. Is my safety apparel covered?" Whether it's helmets, goggles or other clothing that helps minimize injuries from an accident, most companies will offer safety apparel coverage for when these things get damaged," says Henry. "We want riders to be as safe as possible while enjoying the outdoors, so we encourage wearing safety gear." 3. Is there optional equipment coverage available?" Most people have customized or added options to their ATVs," Henry explains. "Optional Equipment coverage helps cover things like towable trailers, racks and winch kits for your ATV." 4. Am I able to insure my ATV/UTV year-round?" Year-round coverage is definitely something you may want to consider," answers Henry. "Some policies have a lay-up period for colder weather when you may not be able to ride. But when an unusually warm day comes around and you want to take your ATV out, you might be stuck without coverage. A year-round policy lets you take it out whenever Mother Nature's providing good weather and, with some companies, you can do this for the same price as seasonal coverage." 5. What kinds of discounts are available?" Everybody wants to save money," Henry shares. "Ask what's available for you. Some companies, like Foremost, offer discounts for things like multi-units, multi-policies, maintaining continuous coverage when you renew and for having prior off-road vehicle insurance." Your safety is number one to us. Stay safe wherever you choose to go on your off-road vehicle. Looking for ATV insurance? Get a quote today by calling 888-244-8092 to speak with a licensed agent or find a Foremost Insurance agent near you. First Community Financial Group is a Foremost agency! Call us for a free quote. (936) 327-4364 by Marrio Roberts Jr., Foremost Blog
Moles don't come above ground often. But when they do, they make their presence known. Unfortunately, the renovations they make aren't always the most desirable. Moles dig up dirt to create tunnels and to find insects. This can damage your grass and any plants you may have nearby. If you start to see mounds of dirt scattered around your lawn, there's a good chance you have a mole infestation. If you want to know how to get rid of moles in your yard, you may find some helpful tips in this article.
If you're looking for A Better Insurance Experience®, you can get a quote with Foremost® today! Or contact First Community Financial Group, a Foremost independent agent! Every summer, our team gets calls from customers after a fun weekend on the water takes a turn for the worse. Often, these accidents could have been prevented with just a few simple precautions. Here are a few tips we like – courtesy of our partners at Safeco. Don’t let an accident wreck your fun! Life Preservers Aren’t Just for Kids. It’s not enough to just have life jackets on board — wear them! In an accident, people rarely have time to reach for a life jacket. This rule applies to adults, not just children: More people in their 30s die in boating accidents than any other age group. Life vests have come a long way in style. Today, you can even get vests for your water-loving dog! Watercraft Insurance Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear. Watch the Back of the Boat. Carbon monoxide kills in minutes. So tell your passengers where your exhaust pipes are located and turn off your engine when people are in the water, and don't let passengers "ski" or “teak-surf” by holding on to the back of the boat. Both Washington and Oregon made teak-surfing illegal in the last few years, after several tragic deaths. Carbon monoxide detectors are standard on most new boats; older boats install devices for less than $100. Alcohol and Boating Don't Mix. More than 50 percent of drowning’s result from boating incidents involving alcohol. You don’t drink and drive, so don’t boat and drive. Boats Need TLC Too. When you're out on the water, make sure your gas tanks are vented and bilges are free of vapors, oil, waste and grease. Carry a charged fire extinguisher. Have your boat's operating systems checked yearly by a certified marine technician. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons also offer free vessel safety checks. Experience Counts! The U.S. Coast Guard says that operator errors account for 70 percent of all boating accidents. Make sure anyone who drives your boat is properly trained. You can also earn boat insurance discounts from Safeco and other insurers if you complete a safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons. Sites for Information: Coast Guard: www.uscgboating.org Coast Guard Auxiliary: nws.cgaux.org/ Safeco tips: www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips/your-boat Call First Community Financial Group at 936-327-4364 or e-mail info@firstcfg.com for more info. The cost to rebuild your home is its replacement value. This can be very different from the estimated market value or actual purchase price. In most cases, it costs more to rebuild the home you own than to buy a new one. Based in Livingston, Texas, First Community Financial Group understands the home insurance needs of our customers. We’ll work with you to estimate the replacement cost for your home and to adjust your policy limits from time to time as needed. It is critical that you provide us with accurate, updated information about your home and contents. If your dwelling limit accurately reflects your home’s true replacement cost, some companies will pay more than the limit if a covered loss is greater than the limit on your policy. Once a review of your home and possessions indicates you are properly insured, it’s a good idea to reexamine your coverages and limits from time to time, especially whenever you make additions or improvements. First Community Financial Group can help you re-evaluate your insurance needs, just give us a call at 936-327-4364 to speak with one of our agents. Texas - Be Sure You Have Enough Homeowners Insurance Here are some steps you can take to reduce the danger of being seriously underinsured: 1. Call First Community Financial Group. If you have questions or concerns about the limits in your policy, ask us to show you how those amounts were calculated. This will also give you an opportunity to make us aware of any overlooked information. 2. Read your policy. Certain property, such as jewelry, and certain perils, such as earthquake or flood, is better insured separately. Knowing what is covered and for how much will help you insure properly. If there is anything in your policy you don’t understand, contact First Community Financial Group at 936-327-4364 and ask for an explanation. 3. Review. At each annual renewal of your policy, you receive a new Policy Declarations page showing limits of coverage and optional coverages. Review this information. If you do any significant remodeling or add a family room, extra bedroom or bathroom, etc., tell us about these changes so your coverage limits can be adjusted to cover the improvement. 4. Consider carefully whether your policy provides all the protection you need. Does it provide coverage for extra costs resulting from building code changes? Does it automatically increase coverage limits annually to keep pace with inflation? Does it provide additional funds if the cost of rebuilding your home exceeds the policy limits? Make sure you know:
Consider whether you should have more coverage for personal property (contents) than your policy provides. Personal property coverage is usually 70% of the coverage limit for the structure. Your limit may be lower than 70%. Supplemental protection is available for a small additional premium. Inventory your home. Prepare an inventory of personal property items, update it periodically, and keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safe deposit box at your bank. It will save you hours of time trying to list everything damaged or destroyed if you need to make a claim. It will also help ensure you don’t forget some items. First Community Financial Group can advise you on ways to simplify the job of preparing a personal property inventory such as videotaping each room with descriptive information on the sound track. Personal LiabilityBesides making sure you have enough protection to cover possible damage to your own home and contents, you should also evaluate your exposure to liability risks. These result from damage to the property of another, or injury to a person, not a member of your household, for which you can be responsible. In recent years it’s become common for homeowners to be sued for injuries or damages to others, even when there is no evidence of negligence by the homeowner. The reality today is if you have any appreciable assets, you are exposed to the risk of being sued. Even if you ultimately prevail in court, your legal fees and the months or years of worry and uncertainty can be a terrible burden on you and your family. The Personal Liability coverage provided by your Homeowners Policy usually provides a limit of $100,000 or $300,000. We recommend increasing this protection with a personal umbrella policy. Not only will it increase your personal liability, but also your auto liability. Limits are available from $1 million to $10 million and beyond. The cost of this coverage is usually very reasonable. Keep in mind that Texas can require certain minimum levels of coverage. The right coverage for you is unique – talk to First Community Financial Group today to find out how to get the best price and value on home insurance for you. Watercraft Insurance Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear. Every summer, our team gets calls from customers after a fun weekend on the water takes a turn for the worse. Often, these accidents could have been prevented with just a few simple precautions. Here are a few tips we like – courtesy of our partners at Safeco. Don’t let an accident wreck your fun! Life Preservers Aren’t Just for Kids. It’s not enough to just have life jackets on board — wear them! In an accident, people rarely have time to reach for a life jacket. This rule applies to adults, not just children: More people in their 30s die in boating accidents than any other age group. Life vests have come a long way in style. Today, you can even get vests for your water-loving dog! Watercraft Insurance Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear. Watch the Back of the Boat. Carbon monoxide kills in minutes. So tell your passengers where your exhaust pipes are located and turn off your engine when people are in the water, and don't let passengers "ski" or “teak-surf” by holding on to the back of the boat. Both Washington and Oregon made teak-surfing illegal in the last few years, after several tragic deaths. Carbon monoxide detectors are standard on most new boats; older boats install devices for less than $100. Alcohol and Boating Don't Mix. More than 50 percent of drowning’s result from boating incidents involving alcohol. You don’t drink and drive, so don’t boat and drive. Boats Need TLC Too. When you're out on the water, make sure your gas tanks are vented and bilges are free of vapors, oil, waste and grease. Carry a charged fire extinguisher. Have your boat's operating systems checked yearly by a certified marine technician. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons also offer free vessel safety checks. Experience Counts! The U.S. Coast Guard says that operator errors account for 70 percent of all boating accidents. Make sure anyone who drives your boat is properly trained. You can also earn boat insurance discounts from Safeco and other insurers if you complete a safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons. Sites for Information: Coast Guard: www.uscgboating.org Coast Guard Auxiliary: nws.cgaux.org/ Safeco tips: www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips/your-boat Call one of our agents at 936-327-4364 or e-mail info@firstcfg.com for more info. Please use the contact link at the top of the page! Watercraft Insurance
Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear. High school is full of defining moments for Texas teens and two of the highlights for most are prom and graduation. However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At First Community Financial Group, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe. First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules: Absolutely no alcohol Always use seat belts No cell phone use (including texting) while driving Special circumstances Of course, special events such as prom and graduation often present special circumstances. There may be dinner with dates before the dance, and parties before or after either event. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before each event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out for the night. Here are some ideas: Make sure you know the itinerary of the evening, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone. Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the evening. Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult. Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case. Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one during the evening. If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation. A car service or limousine will provide a responsible, experienced adult driver. You also will be able to limit changes to the itinerary and contact the driver. Prom and graduation in Texas are special times in a teen’s life. And just a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come. If you’re a beauty industry professional, you might feel challenged when you start your search for the right commercial liability insurance benefits. Many in the industry automatically assume that they wouldn’t have a reason for a customer to file a lawsuit. But the fact is that this risk exists in all aspects of all businesses at all times. Here are a few things to know about purchasing business liability insurance as a hairdresser or beautician.
Professional Liability Insurance for the Beauty Industry Professional liability insurance isn’t just for doctors or lawyers. It helps those in the beauty industry protect themselves in any situation where a customer sues due poor treatment or service. For instance, imagine a situation where a hairdresser leaves a chemical on a customer’s hair for too long. This can cause significant and long-lasting damage. It’s the day before the woman’s wedding, and she sues for emotional distress. Your professional liability insurance would pay for attorney’s fees and court costs to defend against the lawsuit. Additionally, if you have to settle with the impacted individual, your liability insurance can provide the settlement money. This example shows the importance of carrying professional liability coverage. General Liability Insurance for the Beauty Industry It’s imperative for beauty professionals to carry a high amount of general liability insurance. This coverage helps in the event of an incident that causes a client to sue you for property damage, slander or bodily injury. Consider, for example, a customer who burns themselves on a hot curling iron while at your salon. Or perhaps there’s a situation where you’re helping a bride get ready for her big day, and a hair straightener malfunctions, causing a fire that damages the venue. General liability insurance protects you against lawsuits and claims in these instances. Deciding How Much Coverage You Need When purchasing insurance for your salon, determining how much coverage you actually need is essential. The professional liability and general liability policies should be sufficient in most cases, but extra coverage may be beneficial. Talking with an agent can help you choose the coverage to fit your particular needs best. Do you own a hair salon, beauty parlor or makeup studio? Contact us today at First Community Financial Group 936-327-4364 to discuss your business insurance needs and options. If you love the water, few things are better than boating season. Summer just wouldn’t be summer without spending those long, hot days on Lake Livingston, cooling off with a lazy dip in the water, dropping a line in hopes of catching a “big one,” or having an action-packed day of waterskiing and tubing. Boating is not without its share of pre-summer preparation. If you’re not on the ball early, it’s easy to find yourself midway through July still on dry land. At First Community Financial Group, we want to ensure you’re first in line at the boat launch at the first sign of the season change, so here are a few tips for being ahead of the game.
We at First Community Financial Group wish you a fun-filled and safe boating season on all of the beautiful waters of the State of Texas! Call us today to get a boat quote or check your coverage. We'd love to help! |
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