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Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, Inc

6305 Preston Road #1000
Plano, TX 75024

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Disaster Struck While House Sitting: What to do Now?

So you are house sitting and all of a sudden disaster struck. From a pipe bursting to someone broke into the house while you were at work, you need to act fast. If you don’t, the home owners might not receive proper compensation from their insurance agency. Paragon Independent Insurance Agency points out what you need to do in your Plano, TX home when house sitting and disaster strikes. 

Burst Pipe

You walk into the house and you hear the dreaded sound of moving water, so you head downstairs and find a pipe has burst. First, if you can, turn off the water. There’s a on/off pipe, valve or other connection in the basement. Try to turn this off if you can. After doing this (or if you can’t), contact an emergency plumbing service right away. The faster you act the less damage will occur inside of the house. Also, make sure to contact the home owners after (contact them after with all of these disasters). 

Break In

Perhaps people have been casing the house for weeks and knew the home owners are gone. Maybe they just struck at the right time. Whatever the case, if someone breaks into the house contact the police immediately. Make sure to tell them you are house sitting. The police may want to contact the home owner’s directly. They will have a better idea of what went missing. 

Smell Gas

Do you smell gas inside of the house? Leave right away and contact the fire department. A gas leak is especially dangerous and even a spark can cause an explosion. Have the fire department inspect the house. Also, make sure to tell the home owners. If it doesn’t require their immediate attention you can hold off until they return. No need to worry them while away. 

Top TIps for Improving Gas Mileage

When it comes to improving gas mileage, there are many tips to follow, with one of the best being to keep a full tank of gas as often as possible. It’s also imperative to understand that newer cars tend to get better gas mileage than their older model versions because of advancements in automotive technology. Here’s a couple of other tips to remember so you can put more money in your pocket and less in your gas tank. 

Invest in a newer car

As stated above, investing in a more modern car that boasts some of today’s best gas-saving features is an excellent way to start saving money on gas. Whether you want to invest in a hybrid, electric, or gas car, the latest cars are designed and manufactured to meet today’s emission and gas laws. 

Take off slow, and brake slow

When you take off abruptly or wallop the brakes, this will affect your gas mileage negatively. Taking off slow and making sure you brake softly will improve gas mileage, and even better is that it will minimize wear and tear on your car, especially the brake pads and tires. 

If you would like to learn more about improving the gas mileage of your vehicle, please contact a local insurance agency. Don’t forget that saving money on your gas mileage means you’ll have more money to invest in an affordable policy that can best meet your needs. To learn more and find a policy that best suits all of your auto insurance needs, contact Paragon Independent Insurance Agency. We are ready to answer any questions and inquiries you may have. 

 

Ways to Save on Home Insurance

Whether you call Plano, TX home or you live anywhere else, home insurance is a must. However, wouldn’t it be great if you could lower your home insurance premium? At Paragon Independent Insurance Agency, we are able to point out different ways for you to lower your premiums. this way, you can save more money than ever before. 

Increase Your Deductible

If you don’t like the amount of money you’re paying monthly, look at increasing your deductible. Looking at switching it from $500 to $1,000 can significantly reduce the overall price of insurance. You’ll need to discuss what all this means regarding when insurance kicks in with your provider, but having a higher deductible will almost always guarantee a lower premium payment. 

Subtract Your Land Value

This is a common issue and mistake many people do. After they buy their home they insure it for the price they paid. Makes sense, right? Well, when buying a home, the land value is included in the home. However, should a home need to be replaced, it isn’t necessary to replace the land. So, when finding the right homeowners policy it is best practice to insure just the cost of the home itself and not the home and land value. 

Bundle Services

Insurance providers offer discounts when you bundle different services. This means, if you obtain your home and auto insurance polices from the same company you’ll see a reduction in the amount of money you need to pay for both kinds of insurance. This is all money you save for obtaining the same kind of insurance. 

Disaster Proof Your Home

There are a few ways to reduce your insurance costs. From installing storm shutters to reinforcing the roof with better material, you’ll be surprised what a few upgrades can do to your insurance costs. 

Create Fire and Disaster Recovery Plans for your Business in Dallas

Nobody likes to think about possible fires or disaster situations for their business, but it is an important step in protecting what you have worked so hard to start up. With a well thought out fire and disaster recovery plan, you can get back on your feet quickly and restore what you have lost during this time. The Paragon Independent Insurance Agency is here to help you with some of these plans. Property insurance on your building is a must, as agents can sit down and work with you to make sure you have the very best coverage for your Dallas, TX business. 

Planning for Everything

Murphy’s law suggests if it can happen, it will. That doesn’t mean your building is going to catch on fire or it is going to flood. However, if you don’t plan for the situation, should it happen you might be left with nothing. Starting a second company from scratch, no matter how large or how small, is difficult, financially draining and both you and your employees might be out of work for long periods of time. All of these areas are elements you need to play for. 

Planning for the Business and Your Employees

What would happen if the business had to close for days (or longer) to clean up in the event of a disaster? Will you and your employees be able to survive without any kind of financial income? With the help of Paragon Independent Insurance Agency in Dallas, TX, you can plan for this, have a financial payment plan set up so everyone is able to at least receive some of their usual pay in addition to coverage for the potential disaster itself. 

Planning ahead ensures both your company and your employees are always protected, no matter what might happen in Dallas. 

I Saw A Car Accident, What Can I Do?

The moment you see a car accident, you are a witness. These can happen all the time in Dallas and you want to be sure to take the best possible action. A lot can be done and below are a few of the steps you should take.

Secure Your Car

Once you decide to help at a car accident, secure your car away from it. Pull off to the side of the road and out of the way, in the event there is a fire, broken glass, or anything else.

Call for Help

Call 9-1-1 as soon as you can. Don’t assume others have called, otherwise it could take longer for help to arrive. Tell the operator where the accident is and what has happened.

Check on Passengers

Check on the drivers and passengers of the accident. Let them know help has been called as it can help to keep them calm. Help those who can move so they can get out of the car. Never move someone who cannot move themselves.

Secure Their Vehicles

Try to secure the vehicles by placing them in park and turning off the ignitions. This can help to prevent further problems. If you can, move them onto the side of the road as well.

Wait for the Police

You should always wait for the police when you can to be able to give them a witness statement. Be as factual as possible. They may ask for your contact information as well, which can be used by the insurance company as well as a lawyer hired by one of the victims.

Call now and speak to an agent at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency to help you find auto insurance you can rely on. We’re here to answer any questions you may have about coverage in TX.

 

Why You Should Work With Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are found throughout Texas. If you want quality coverage at an affordable price, the best thing for you to do is work with an agent that is independent of the different insurance companies that are out there.

This is one thing that many people don’t realize. Independent insurance agents do not work for a specific insurance company. Instead, they work for an agency. They work with all of the different companies and therefore can tell you which ones have the best levels of coverage for your needs and for your budget.

Insurance agents want to get to know who you are. They’re very close knit with the community and are going to advocate for your best needs. They know which companies have the best discounts and which companies to stay away from based upon various aspects of your situation that could otherwise cost you money.

Independent insurance agents can ultimately do with the Internet cannot. They can explain coverage, provide definitions for insurance terms, and guide you through the complicated process of buying insurance. It doesn’t matter whether you need coverage for your home, car, or anything else. Agents can show you how to combine policies, too, in order to save even more money.

The goal should always be to get good coverage at a good price. You may get one or the other shopping online, but ultimately, you don’t know about the insurance trends or about the different forms of coverage. Independent insurance agents do, and they can help you.

Call now and one of our friendly agents at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency can work with you on all of your insurance needs in Plano. We can get quotes from top insurance companies in Texas and answer any questions you may have about coverage.

 

 

What to Know About Insurance and Gifting a Car

The holidays are a wonderful time to give the gift of a car. However, it may not be as simple as you think it is. There’s more entailed than just driving the car into the person’s driveway and handing them the keys. You’re presenting them with a responsibility, and it entails a great deal on both parties’ parts. 

Financial Obligations

Although you’re paying for the car, the financial obligation goes beyond that. There are insurance premiums that must be paid. The policy must meet the state’s minimum requirements. You must decide if you’re going to pay for the premiums as part of the present or if the other person is financially responsible. Make sure you keep in mind if the person is capable of making the premiums. 

Just like insurance premium requirements, each state has its own laws in regards to taxes associated with receiving a gift of a vehicle. That means, the giftee may have to pay taxes.

The person may have other expenses as well such as a fee to park the automobile in his or her residence. And then there are the inevitable maintenance fees. You need to take this all into consideration before being generous. 

Paperwork

In Plano, TX, a person must register a vehicle. That means you’ll need first to put it in your name and transfer it if you want it to be a surprise. There are fees associated with registering and transferring. 

Insurance

The car requires insurance, which means you may need to put it in your name. You have to take into consideration your driving history. 

Buying a car seems like a wonderful holiday present, but there is more involved. Make sure you know the person’s situation, and you know your state’s laws, especially involving insurance. 

Contact Paragon Independent Insurance Agency at 972-473-4813 today to get quote if you’re planning on giving a four-wheeled gift.
 

 

Don’t Let an Accident Cast a Shadow on Your Halloween Party

Halloween has become a major holiday that’s known for candy and costumes. At Paragon Independent Insurance Agency, we expect there to be many Halloween parties in Plano, TX on October 31. If you’re planning to host one at your home, we have a few tips for keeping accident-free.

Reducing the Risk of Accidents

You won’t be able to prevent every accident, but keeping safety in mind can help reduce the chances of there being an accident during your party. Here are a few specific suggestions:

  • keep the areas where people will be walking well lit
  • don’t leave knives where children can get them (especially if you’re carving pumpkins)
  • enjoy any adult beverages at your party responsibly

Keeping your party safe doesn’t have to detract from fun activities. As long as you exercise a little caution, everyone at your party should be able to have a good time and stay safe.

Protecting Against Unforeseen Accidents

As mentioned, however, you can’t prevent every accident. Even with the safest precautions, something may happen at your party.

To protect yourself if there is an accident at your party, check your liability coverage. Most homeowners have liability coverage through their home insurance. Policies and coverages vary, but your home insurance’s liability coverage may provide financial protection if there is a covered accident on your property during a party.

If you don’t know whether you have liability coverage, contact us at Paragon Independent Insurance Agency. Our independent insurance agents can help you find liability coverage if you don’t have it, and they can help you assess your policy’s protection if you already have it. To get in touch with them, send us a message through our website.

 

Don’t Fall for These Life Insurance Myths in Plano, TX

There are various life insurance myths that need to be busted. Life insurance can be a very useful resource, particularly in the event that you pass before you are financially prepared. It gives your family a chance to regain momentum and have the money that is needed to do so.

One of the top myths is that you may be too young for life insurance. There is no perfect age to purchase life insurance. The reality is that life insurance may be more affordable for you when you are in your 30s or 40s. This is because you are generally in better health when you are younger.

Another myth is that term life insurance is the best option. While term is good in some instances, it is not always the best. You will want to compare it to universal and whole life insurance and see if one of the other options is better, particularly because of the associated cash value.

Another myth is that it is always cheapest to purchase life insurance online. While there many resources available online, it can be effective to work with an independent insurance agent in order to learn about all of the different options and receive quotes for comparison purposes.

You can also be in poor health and still get a policy. You don’t have to rely solely on an employer-provided policy. It’s possible to have more than one policy for yourself in order to provide protection.

At Paragon Independent Insurance Agency, we look forward to helping you find insurance you can count on. Call and speak to an agent today to discuss life insurance possibilities in Plano, Texas. This will allow us to work with you on an individual level to break through the myths and determine what coverage is best for you.

 

 

Shop Around for Insurance After Your Wedding and You Might Save

After getting married, there are lots of things to do. One item that should be on your to-do list if you’ve recently tied the knot is shopping around for new insurance policies. Once you’re married, you may be able to find insurance discounts that you previously didn’t qualify for.

You May Qualify for Multi-Policy Discounts

After getting married, you may qualify for several different discounts. One of the main ones to look at is multi-policy discounts.

Many insurers offer to reduce their premiums to customers who have more than one policy with them. Once you’re wed, you and your spouse share an account. You’ll likely have multiple policies with the same insurer — even if you each have only one insurance policy with them.

The amount you might save with a multi-policy discount could be a few dollars, or it might be a lot of money. It’ll depend on your insurance premiums and how large a discount an insurer offers. Most multi-policy discounts are percentage based, so the higher your premiums are and the larger the percent off is, the more you’ll save.

Insurance Agents Quickly Compare Discounts

Shopping around for the best multi-policy discount available in Plano, TX doesn’t have to take long. At Paragon Independent Insurance Agency, our agents can quickly compare several different insurers policies to which company’s multi-policy discount is the best. As our name says, we’re an independent insurance agency, therefore our agents can look at any insurance policy offered in Texas.

To reach one of our independent insurance agents, simply contact us through our website or call our office. One of our agents will quickly get back to you and help you find an insurer that has a large multi-policy discount you can take advantage of.

 

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