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Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, Inc

6305 Preston Road #1000
Plano, TX 75024

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Will a Home Security System Lower My Home Insurance Premium?

A home insurance company wants to know that you’re doing everything you possibly can to take care of your property, which is why many will offer some type of discount according to the level of protection you have for your home. Each insurance carrier has their own ideas about how much of a discount each client should be given and why. However, if you live in Plano, TX, Paragon Independent Insurance Agency can give you the basics if you’re looking for a way to control how much you pay every month. 

Intruder Alarm Systems

When it comes to burglaries, some homes are statistically more likely to be broken into than others. And yet, it’s always a good idea for people to have some degree of security on their property system. Some people take their own precautions, like installing motion sensor lights in the darker corners of their backyard. A home insurance company will want to see that you’ve taken a strong interest in keeping your property safe, so it may make sense to spring for a wired alarm system connected to a private security company (who doesn’t have to compete with the police if something does go wrong). 

Disaster Sensors 

Smart smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, water sensors: there are plenty of devices a homeowner can purchase for a home in Plano, TX that will help them prevent serious damage in the case of a disaster. This technology can alert a homeowner immediately of danger on their smartphone or tablet, making it more likely help will arrive in time. If you want to learn how to make your home safer and potentially bring down your premium, call Paragon Independent Insurance Agency today. We’ll give you all the facts if you’re in the market for a security system.

Commercial Insurance: What it will and won’t cover

A commercial insurance plan is generally going to cover your Plano, TX business on three fronts: Property, liability and workers’ compensation.

Liability is the big one. A business, even a small business, is at special risk for litigation resulting from injuries and damages sustained on the business’s property, or sustained in relation to a business’s product or service. The cost of a lawsuit can sink a thriving business, so liability is going to be the backbone of your insurance plan.

Property insurance works like your homeowners policy: If your property suffers damage resulting from natural disaster, break-in, vandalism and etcetera, property insurance will cover it. Like your homeowners policy, it might not cover flooding, so you’ll want to read your plan over thoroughly to make sure that you know what is and isn’t covered on your basic property policy.

Workers’ compensation will keep your employees covered in the event of injury or circumstance leaving them unable to show up for work. It is not a legal requirement in Plano, TX, but can be a tie-breaker between two employers if you’re trying to recruit the best people for your company. Property and liability provide you with peace of mind, workers’ compensation provides your employees with peace of mind.

Anything you don’t see covered above, a basic commercial plan probably isn’t going to cover. This should be enough for most companies, but different industries have different insurance needs, so you may want to consider buying additional insurance to supplement your commercial plan and ensure complete coverage.

If you’re still shopping around for a great plan, or you want to see if someone can outdo your current provider, get in touch with Paragon Independent Insurance Agency and let’s see what we can do for you.

Does my small business need commercial insurance

As a small business owner in Plano, TX, you have many things to worry about. One of them doesn’t need to be whether or not your small business needs commercial insurance. As a small business owner, you may feel that you are alone with your concerns but in 2012,  98.2% of businesses in Texas were classified as small businesses by the Small Business administration, so you have lots of company. With the knowledgeable staff at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency waiting to help you, any questions you have can be quickly and easily answered.  

Before you know if you need commercial insurance you need to know a few of the things that it can protect you from. 

Worker’s Compensation

Texas law does not require business owners to carry worker’s compensation insurance however, many employers find that it makes finding and retaining employees easier if they know they are protected.  

Employment practices liability insurance

When you have employees there is the possibility that you end up being sued by a former employee for harassment or wrongful termination. Having insurance that can pay for legal expenses or any judgment against you can be a lifesaver. 

General liability

Things happen and if someone is hurt on your premises or by one of your products, this coverage provides liability protection. 

Building coverage

 In the event that your building location is damaged this coverage will help you to get the damage repaired. 

Business interruption

If the unthinkable happens and your business is so damaged that you can’t operate for a time, this coverage will get you through with income for yourself so that the bills can get paid. 

If any of this sounds good to you as a small business owner in Plano, TX, Paragon Independent Insurance Agency has the experience to help you make an informed decision.  Visit our website, give us a call or stop by for a no-obligation quote. 

Does Auto Insurance Cover Hopsitalization?

Being hospitalized after an automobile accident is a terrible thing, the pain, the suffering, and the costs that are associated with it are often crippling. That being said, insurance is in place to help soften the blow of this type of expense. For those that live in the Plano, TX area, the agents with Paragon Independent Insurance Agency can help you find a policy that works for you.

For the most part, your auto insurance is going to pay for part of your bills and expenditures that are associated with an accident. For the most part, however, your auto insurance is only going to cover you up to a certain monetary value then your health insurance takes over. A great example in cases where you have to enter the hospital. Your auto policy will pay a sum of money toward your car then when that money runs out, your health insurance steps in to help continue your care and get you back in good shape. This is going to help make it possible to make sure you are covered by some sort of insurance and that you are not required to cover the entire cost of your recovery and medical care.

In most cases, your auto insurance is going to have a set number or liability that it will pay, say $10,000 for instance, and anything beyond that is going to be run through your health insurance to determine what your portion of the bill is after that. This is just to help keep costs low and to make sure that an auto insurance company is not going to have to pay for all your medical bills even though you have a health insurance policy. For those in the Plano, TX area, the agents with Paragon Independent Insurance Agency can help.  

Why Do I Need Home Insurance If I No Longer Have a Mortgage?

When you had a mortgage on your home, protecting it with home insurance probably seemed like a good idea…it may have even been required by your lender.  Now that you have paid it off, it may be tempting to let that coverage go.  But consider what you would do if something happened that damaged or destroyed your home.  Home insurance policies protect you financially in many ways.  Leaving yourself vulnerable without coverage can mean financial ruin should a disaster occur.  The team at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency work with homeowners in the Plano, TX area.  They understand your concerns and will work to get you quality coverage for the best price. 

Home insurance protects the home, structures on the property and personal possessions.  If someone is injured on the property, the liability policy provides protection.  Most policies cover a wide range of events such as fire, weather, and theft.  Your agent can help you understand what is covered and what isn’t.  For instance, water damage from faulty plumbing might be covered while water damage from a flood won’t be. 

Home policies cover personal items such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and jewelry.  It will also cover plants on the property with a few exceptions.  If you have highly valuable collections such as firearms, jewelry or artwork, you need to talk with your agent to ensure that you are covered.  Also, if after a disaster, the house is uninhabitable, the policy will pay for your additional expenses (hotel, restaurants) until repairs are made.  The team at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency know the issues that homeowners in the Plano, TX area face.  Don’t risk the investment you’ve made in your home, visit their website then call or come in today!

Time to Upgrade Auto Insurance

Many people benefit from getting an auto insurance review, which is an easy way to make sure their insurance is adequate. It is important to inform your agent at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency, serving Plano, TX and the surrounding area, if certain things occur, so that the proper adjustments may be made to your auto insurance policy.

Auto Insurance Review Checklist

Here is a quick checklist of some things that warrant a review and may require auto insurance adjustments:

  • Moving to a new place.
  • Changing how a vehicle is parked (in a garage vs. outdoor, in the driveway, or on the street).
  • Changes in authorized drivers, such as a teenager in the family starting to drive.
  • Custom work is done on the vehicle that increases the value.
  • A trailer hitch is added to the bumper to pull a trailer (get trailer insurance coverage also).
  • Getting a new paint job.
  • Adding expensive chrome wheels.
  • Installing a car stereo and speakers.
  • Adding a car alarm and/or an anti-theft device.
  • Using a vehicle for a new purpose, such as a carpool, ride-sharing, or delivery services.
  • Driving more than the mileage driven the year before.
  • Changing commute time and distance, due to a change in employment.
  • Letting another person use the car for more than occasional casual use.
  • Change of the lien holder for the auto loan.
  • Getting married.
  • Selling the vehicle.
  • The vehicle is taken out of service temporarily or permanently. For example, going on a military tour overseas and leaving a vehicle behind in storage.

Summary

This checklist includes some of the most common things that happen, which usually create the need for auto insurance adjustments. It is wise to have an annual auto insurance review by talking with your agent. Additionally, make adjustments on a regular basis for the value of the vehicle and how it is being driven, parked, and used.

Contact your agent at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Plano, TX by email or by using the convenient online form to get a quote for auto insurance.

Common home insurance riders you may want to add

Home insurance riders, also known as endorsements, are additional insurance that you add above and beyond the limits and exclusions of your basic home policy. They come at an additional cost so you only want to add ones that make sense in your particular situation. You can discuss these and many other home insurance issues with the agents at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Plano, TX. With their more than 50 combined years of experience, they have the knowledge that you need to make an informed decision.

Jewelry

One of the most common riders is for coverage of your jewelry. Typically home insurance may cover as little as $1000 worth of jewelry total. If you have an engagement diamond or a high-end watch, this basic coverage is just not going to cut it. It helps if you have an appraisal of your more valuable items when you go to purchase the additional endorsement.

Antiques and Collectibles

This includes everything from your baseball card collection to coins and first editions.  You will need to know the value of your collection in order to be sure that your coverage is adequate for what you have. Again an appraisal is important when coming up with the true value of the items you want to insure.

Earthquake

Home insurance policies almost always exclude earthquake coverage. You can, however, purchase the coverage as a rider and it will cover your home, garage and other buildings on your property and your personal property that may be lost or damaged.

Identity Theft

While nothing can prevent identity theft from happening, once it has happened trying to get it resolved can be an expensive and frustrating thing to go through. Check with your policy issuer to see what sort of coverage they can provide.

Making sure that you have all the riders that you need on your home insurance requires the knowledge that the agents at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Plano, TX have. Give their office a call to schedule your appointment today.

Commercial Insurance for Growing Businesses

Small businesses like yours are what enhance the community. You increase revenue to the neighborhood, create employment, and offer new opportunities. You struggle to keep your business on solid ground. Make sure that you have the right kind of insurance to protect your growing businesses.

Auto Insurance

If you have the type of business that has a few cars or a fleet of trucks, you’re going to need to have commercial auto insurance. Commercial auto insurance can protect you against reckless drivers who damage your vehicles or merchandise. As you begin to grow your business, you’ll want to increase your coverage limits.

Liability Insurance

There are three types of liability insurance for certain businesses.

  • General liability insurance can protect you against costs as a result of an accident. If someone is injured in your store, you may have to pay medical expenses and defend yourself in court. You could pay legal fees and settlement costs. With liability, this cost will be less with the right coverage.

  • Product liability is mainly for businesses who manufacture, distribute, or sell products. Liability protects you if a product you sell is defective and causes purchaser harm.

  • Professional liability is for professions that require you to provide service individuals or other businesses, such as a doctor or masseur.

Commercial Property Insurance

Similar to home insurance, commercial property insurance protects your property from vandalism, fires, hailstorms, windstorms, and other disasters listed in your policy. Having this policy can help you rebuild faster. If you did not have enough coverage and a disaster strikes, you may not be able to restore your business.

Go to the Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Plano, TX to discuss a commercial insurance policy that is right for your growing business.

Insuring your home business

There are benefits to having a home business, but it can get complicated when it comes to getting insurance for the business you run out of your home. The Paragon Independent Insurance Agency of Plano, TX can help you sort through the issues and find a policy that will work for your situation. The type of business would be very important as far as liability and other issues. A writing business with almost no overhead would need very little insurance. A small winery on the other hand, with a few employees, could get complicated fast.

There are three major ways you can ensure your business in your home. You can get increased business property limits with your regular homeowners’ policy. This is good for small operations where you do not have customers in your home and if you do not have a lot of stock or property.

An in-home business insurance policy is a middle ground of sorts, that increases coverage for more property or stock that may be stored in your home. This is good for when you have a few customers in your homes, such as a hair salon or tax preparation.

For even larger operations there is a separate business insurance policy for homeowners. This would increase your liability coverage, and keep in mind that some homeowner policies do not cover liability for business use. This option is good if the business supports the household.

Visit the Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Plano, TX today to find out more about insurance for your home-based business. Every case is different, and we can find a policy that will best fit your individual needs. You would need to have homeowners insurance to make an addition to the policy for business coverage. You can get them at the same time.

Why Auto Insurance is Essential

As a driver in Plano, TX, here at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency hope you know how important it is to have auto insurance. If for no other reason than the fact that it is required by law, we want you to have it if you are an owner and operator of a vehicle. Not only is auto insurance something that is required by law, it is also essential in many ways. Below are just a few that we think are worth mentioning. 

  • It will keep you out of trouble with the law. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Since it is illegal to drive without auto insurance in Texas, you can get in a lot of trouble if you do not have it. You want to make sure you have the proper coverage at all times. 
  • It can help you with financial difficulties after an accident. Accidents are unavoidable at times and while we hope you never get into one, if you do, auto insurance is there to help you pick up the pieces. It will help with the financial portion so you can get back on the road in no time. 
  • It gives you peace of mind. Because of the other two reasons above, it should come as no shock that it will also give you some peace of mind while you are driving on the roads.

If you do not already have auto insurance in Plano, TX, be sure to reach out to us here at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency so we can be sure to get you the proper amount of overage by law as well as any other auto coverage you would like. We want to make sure that you are well taken care of and that you have all of the benefits of auto insurance so we will even give you a free quote. 

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