Tips to make your condo more energy efficient

Making your El Centro, CA area condo energy efficient can be an effective way to help lower your monthly utility bills and increase the sustainability of your home. Here are some ideas from us at Armorcrest Insurance Services you can use to make your condo more energy efficient:

1. Switch out outdated appliances for more efficient models – Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, and dryers account for up to 20% of your annual energy use. Investing in newer, Energy Star-rated models will help you save money in the long run. 

2. Install smart thermostats – Smart thermostats are designed to keep track of when you’re at home and when you’re away, so they can automatically adjust the temperature when needed. This leads to significant energy savings over time. 

3. Change all lightbulbs to LED bulbs – LED bulbs are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer! It’s a simple swap that can yield significant savings over time. 

4. Insulate windows and doors – Sealing off any drafts around your windows and doors is vital for keeping air from escaping outside and wasting energy. 

5. Unplug unnecessary electronics – Electronics such as microwaves, TVs, computers, chargers, etc., all draw phantom power even when turned off but still plugged into an outlet. Unplugging these devices when not in use can add up over time! 

By following these steps, you can help make your condo more energy efficient while saving money in the process! For more tips, give us at Armorcrest Insurance Services a call today. We proudly serve the El Centro, CA area and would happily help you find a policy that suits your needs.

My boat is old. Is boat insurance worth it?

California law doesn’t require watercraft/boat owners to carry insurance. However, this doesn’t mean that insurance won’t be required for some other reason. Our El Centro, CA team at Armorcrest Insurance Services is committed to helping boat owners understand the benefits of insurance and situations where boat insurance may be required. 

What is Boat Insurance?

Boat insurance provides liability protection and coverage to help repair or replace your boat if it’s damaged. Watercraft liability coverage, like auto liability, provides coverage for repairing or replacing someone else’s boat if you damage it. Watercraft liability coverage also provides coverage for personal injuries you may cause to others due to an accident or situation where you’re found at fault. Watercraft insurance generally covers boating accidents and situations on both land and water. Although boat insurance isn’t required in California, you may still be required to carry it if you are financing your boat.

My boat is old. Is boat insurance worth it?

Although your boat may be old, investing in it to dock at some marinas, storing it, or using the marina facilities may still be a good idea. Typically, some form of liability coverage is required. Liability coverage covers any property damage or injuries you may cause to others or the marina. Although the monetary value of your boat may not be substantial, watercraft liability insurance can provide financial and legal protection if you’re deemed at fault for an accident. If you have more questions about boat insurance, call us. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions.

Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Options

If you recently purchased a motorcycle and are excited to hit the highway, there is one thing you need to do first, and that is to ensure that you have an appropriate amount of motorcycle insurance in place. The agents at Armorcrest Insurance Services serving the El Centro, CA area know and understand the importance of motorcycle insurance.

Motorcycle Requirements in California

Like most of the 50 states, California requires all riders and drivers to be financially responsible if they cause an accident. Most motorcycle owners accomplish this by obtaining motorcycle liability insurance. This type of policy will assist you in paying for any damage you cause or injuries better sustained by another driver that you become involved in an accident with, and it is determined to be your fault.

There are several other types of motorcycle insurance available. Read on for more information.

Types of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Options

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance

Comprehensive insurance will assist you in paying for any damage to your bike if it is the victim of a natural disaster, fire, or vandalism. This type of coverage will also assist you in replacing your motorcycle if it is stolen.

Collision insurance is essential to have in place if you collide with another vehicle or an inanimate object. This is because it will help you pay for any damage caused by a collision.

A lender might require both collision and comprehensive insurance if you borrowed the money to pay for your motorcycle.  

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorcycle Insurance

If you are involved in an accident that is the fault of another driver and that person does not have any insurance or not enough insurance to cover the damages they caused to your bike or injuries you have suffered, this type of insurance will help you recover financially from the crash.

Contact Armorcrest Insurance Services

To create the best motorcycle insurance policy for you and your situation, contact the motorcycle agents at Armorcrest Insurance Services, serving El Centro, CA, today!

Is Boat Insurance Legally Required to Operate in the Water?

Owning a boat is exciting and fun for many people. However, having a watercraft requires some planning and responsibility on the owner’s part. Individuals living in and around the El Centro, CA area can count on ArmorCrest Insurance Services to help them get the required insurance products necessary to operate their boat in the water.

Boat Insurance Options

Boat insurance is only a legal requirement in Arkansas and in Utah. Individuals owning about may take the boat out on the water without coverage. If they don’t live in these two states, boat insurance is a wonderful product to purchase anyway because it protects the owner and prevents losses while being very affordable.

Boat insurance works very much like auto insurance. It protects the operator from liability and protects them if there is a collision in the water. The insurance may also cover injuries and damage to others’ personal property. Depending on the circumstances, some boat insurance may cover a vessel in dry storage. However, most boat storage facilities carry their own insurance, which protects owners against complete loss if there is to be a fire or other similar event.

Reach Out Today

ArmorCrest Insurance Services is proud to offer high-quality insurance protection for El Centro, CA, individuals. Our team of experts is ready to provide expert support and customer service to ensure each individual gets insurance products that offer protection to suit their lifestyle. 

Call or stop by the office today to speak to one of her knowledgeable and friendly agents. We can sit down and associate current and future needs and recommend insurance policy options that meet those needs. Be sure to get the affordable and flexible protection boat insurance offers. We are ready to help you today. 

 

What riders can you add to condo insurance?

Buying condo insurance from Armorcrest Insurance Services to protect your El Centro, CA condo doesn’t mean purchasing a cookie-cutter policy. You can customize your condo policy to protect it and its contents with the coverage you need. You do this by adding riders to the main policy.

Rider Options for Condo Policies

Like other types of home insurance coverage, condo insurance lets you add riders to your policy, meaning a clause that covers specific situations or property. Condo insurance offers six common riders:

  • Identity theft rider: If your identity gets coopted by a criminal, this rider pays for the legal fees and experts to rectify the damage and restore your identity solely to yourself.
  • Earthquake/Hurricane coverage: If you live on any of the three coasts of the US, you may need one of these coverage riders or both. The US Gulf and the East coast get hit with annual hurricanes, and the West coast undergoes major annual earthquakes. Although Pacific hurricanes prove rare, they occur. This coverage protects you from personal property loss from these high-risk.
  • Scheduled property rider: Sometimes called a jewelry rider, this coverage affords you replacement costs for expensive jewelry and other items, such as an engagement ring.
  • Replacement cost rider: Also add a replacement cost rider if you need to recoup the cost to purchase new items if you lost them to theft, fire, etc. Condo insurance policies usually start with actual cash value, but since that pays you a depreciated value, people often want to add this rider. With it, you’d get the cost to purchase new items.
  • Pet damage rider: Many people have pets, but this insurance protects you if you run a home business involving pet sitting or walking animals. If these animals damage your condo, insurance covers the cost of repairing it.
  • At-home business rider: Rather than purchasing business insurance separately, many business owners with a condo choose to add the rider for home-based businesses. You qualify if your business generates more than $2,000 of annual income. The rider covers business equipment, including cell phones, tablets, computers, etc.

You can customize the coverage further by setting policy maximums and deductibles.

Contact Armorcrest Insurance Services

Contact Armorcrest Insurance Services for more information on condo insurance for your El Centro, CA condo. Let us help you customize a condo policy that fully covers your personal property.

Commercial Insurance Inventory Basics

Commercial property insurance includes contents coverage for your business inventory. But how do you effectively create and manage a content inventory? Armorcrest Insurance Services offers our El Centro, CA customers a quick guide to help you get started. 

Document

  • Start with a walkthrough. Make a note of everything you find. Inventory apps make this easier. Some are free, but the best come with a cost. 
  • There are three primary categories for business content. Categorize your inventory.
    • Inventory (what you sell to customers) 
    • Equipment (what you use to create your products)
    • Business Contents (terminals, furniture, and office equipment)
  • Take photos, record videos, and save receipts whenever you acquire new items. 
  • Once your inventory is created, maintain it by adding items to the list as they come in. 

Determine Value

When estimating the replacement value for items that fluctuate throughout the year, base it on your highest inventory month, never your lowest. Consider any renovations or improvements you’ve made to a building you rent. Ensure they are listed in your inventory. 

Understand the difference between replacement cost coverage (which pays out the value to replace with new items) and actual cash value coverage (which pays out the cost at current value, including depreciation). Actual cash value will have lower premiums, but you’ll need to make up the difference in the event of a loss. 

Redundancy 

Make sure you keep a backup off-site. If you use a digital app, many of them allow you to store backups in the cloud. 

Repeat

Review and update your content inventory seasonally. The more accurate it is, the better protected you’ll be during a loss. 

Armorcrest Insurance Services wants our El Centro, CA to be prepared. If you have questions about commercial insurance, call today to get answers from our knowledgeable and friendly staff. 

How Renters’ Insurance Works

Do you rent your home? If so, it’s vital that you have a renters’ insurance policy. These policies offer several types of coverage that are all in one policy. All these coverage types are important for renters, and it’s never a good idea to go without them. In most cases, you are required to have it by your landlord. If you don’t have this coverage yet, getting it as soon as possible is important. Call us at Armorcrest Insurance Services in El Centro, CA to get started with a policy.

Coverage for Your Possessions

When you are a renter, your possessions encompass much of your investment. The many items you have in your rental are important, and they would be expensive to replace. So, what would happen if a serious incident happened that destroyed or ruined many of them? If you didn’t have this insurance, you would have to pay to replace them. But with renters’ insurance, you can have everything replaced with the help of the policy. It’s essential to keep this coverage for as long as you rent your home. 

Liability Coverage

Several coverage types are included in your policy if you have renters’ insurance. One of these is liability coverage. This protects you in case someone else gets injured in your home. It may also cover your liability related to your pets in case of an injury. This coverage can be extremely valuable because of the high cost of medical bills today. 

Get Your Renters’ Insurance

You are vulnerable to many expensive risks if you don’t have renters’ insurance. Call us now at Armorcrest Insurance Services in El Centro, CA for more information about renter’s insurance.

     

Is it time to increase your motorcycle policy’s medical expense coverage?

Armorcrest Insurance Services proudly serves the greater El Centro, CA community. We are here to help you with your insurance needs, whatever they may be. Give us a call, or stop by our office today.

We look forward to working with you!

Benefits of increasing medical expense coverage on a motorcycle policy

Motorcycle insurance’s two main components are liability protection and medical expenses coverage. There are good reasons to increase these policy limits, especially if you have a basic policy. Medical expense protection can cover you, your passenger, and any other injured party.

While every policy is different, finding one that meets your needs is essential. When you have robust medical expense coverage, you can avoid having personal financial responsibility. It is worth looking into your current coverage and the options available to increase that coverage. 

Motorcycle accidents often cause injuries that require medical attention. This can mean that a significant amount of damage can occur, in addition to things like property damage and loss. Basic policies often provide the bare minimum protection regarding medical expenses. When you have increased coverage, you and your passengers are better protected. Don’t wait to find out that you don’t have the protection that you need. 

Call our office today.

If you live in El Centro, CA or the surrounding area, let the Armorcrest Insurance Services team help you with your insurance needs. We are here to answer your questions and provide the information you need to make the right insurance decision. Give us a call or stop by today!

Types of Boat Insurance Policy Options in El Centro, CA?

An incredible moment of fun in the water is both breathtaking and fascinating. An outing, fishing, or just waterskiing is a great way to relax. In El Centro, CA, purchasing boat insurance is critical as one feels safe from unexpected eventualities that may lead to losing your investment or life. One may not be in a position to repair their boats after an accident occurs, and insurance comes in handy. Boat insurance will see you get paid for financial loss accrued to a boat accident.

A boat out of commission needs to be covered, too. Although the risk is different from when the boat is afloat, risks such as theft, fire, vandalism, and lightning, among others, can happen. Most Marinas and local authorities will require one to have at least a third-party liability coverage to access their mooring services. Armorcrest Insurance Services offers the ultimate protection you require for your vessel in El Centro, CA. Visit or call Armorcrest today, and our agents will provide a solution for your boat insurance needs.

The following are types of boat insurance available in California:

  • Equipment coverage– Navigation equipment and other high-value gadgets are unique valuables that need protection, and policies exist to cover them against unforeseen damage or loss.
  • Consequential Loss– Damage resulting from wear and tear depreciation, as opposed to an accident, is covered here.
  • Under-insured and Uninsured boat covers– This policy protects you or anyone using your boat against any property loss or bodily injury caused by other uninsured or underinsured boaters.
  • Medical liability coverage– In an accident resulting in bodily injury, you and your crew are covered on this policy.
  • Disablement liability– Some costs, such as the cost of undertaking certain boat repairs and towing costs in the event your vessel is disabled, are provided for in this policy.

 Enjoying perfect peace of mind can be the best relief for a boat owner. The best choice for a competitive boat policy that offers both comprehensive and third-party liability should be on your most wanted list. Call or visit our office at Armorcrest Insurance Services for all your watercraft insurance needs in El Centro, CA, and helpful information that will leave you rich and enjoying your perfect peace of mind.

 

Are There Any Drawbacks To Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is a type of policy that can provide extra protection for you and your family if you’re sued. It can also offer coverage if you are involved in an accident that causes severe injury or damage to someone else’s property.

While umbrella insurance is an excellent option for many people, there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of before purchasing a policy. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the disadvantages of umbrella insurance so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for you.

1. Does Not Cover Damages to Your Property

One of the most significant drawbacks of umbrella insurance is that it does not cover damages to your property. If you are involved in an accident that damages your home or car, you will not be able to file a claim with your umbrella policy.

2. Does Not Cover Certain Types of accidents

Another drawback of umbrella insurance is that it does not cover certain types of accidents. For example, if you are involved in an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol, your umbrella policy will not cover the damages.

3. It Can Be Expensive

Another downside of umbrella insurance is that it can be expensive. The cost of your policy will depend on several factors, including the amount of coverage you need and the deductible you’re willing to pay. Armorcrest Insurance Services in El Centro, CA, can help you determine whether or not umbrella insurance is right for you.

Conclusion

Umbrella insurance is an excellent option for many people, but it is not suitable for everyone. Before purchasing a policy, be sure to weigh the pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not umbrella insurance is right for you. Armorcrest Insurance Services in El Centro, CA can help you find the right policy for your needs.