Does Your Classic Car Insurance Match Your Use & Needs?

/in , , /by

Classic Car Insurance Salt Lake City, UTMany of us collect classic cars and for good reason – they’re valuable assets and they’re fun! Regardless of what you collect or why you collect it, we all share a passion for these vehicles of the past.

For those of us who are classic car enthusiasts we need an insurance policy that matches our use and ensures that the value on our vehicles is appropriate.

Insuring your classic car is not the same as insuring your every-day driver. Insurance policies are typically less expensive and are written on an agreed value. Your classic car insurance policy can be custom tailored just to your specific vehicle, stage of restoration or usage.

Here are some examples of how you can tailor your classic car insurance policy:

Example 1: If you don’t really drive it but want to protect it in the event of an unforeseen claim, you can get a policy like that.

Example 2: If you use your classic car as an off-road vehicle and don’t want to protect the vehicle from damages from branches or other collisions, there is a policy for that.

Example 3: For those individuals who love to take their classic car on a road trip, there is coverage to protect you if you break down & it can offer a replacement vehicle, food, shelter and more.

Example 4: Need unique parts for your classic car due to a loss? There’s a policy that offers stock original replacement parts.

Each person is unique as the vehicle they collect and that is why it is imperative to talk to an insurance agent to find just the right policy for your classic or antique automobile.

Additional consideration should be made if you have a personal umbrella policy with another carrier. That carrier will typically require you to carry sufficient limits on your classic car to match the coverages on your everyday driver. This ensures you don’t create a gap in coverage, even if you rarely drive it.

Archibald Insurance can shop through several of our top-rated classic car insurance companies. Each insurance company specializes in specific policies such as insurance for regular use users, street rod enthusiasts, classics undergoing restoration or classics that need spare parts coverage. We’ll search to find the best coverage for your needs. Get a quote today.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover and Is My Roommate Included?

/in , , , /by

Renters Insurance in Salt Lake City, UTAs a local insurance agency, we are here to help with all your insurance questions. When it comes to renters insurance, many people assume that since they are renting an apartment, home or condo, they are fully covered by their landlord if anything unfortunate occurs.

Your landlord’s insurance policy should cover any damage to the property itself but, it will not protect against any of your personal property or liability you cause. If you were to experience water damage, for instance, if your neighbor’s pipe burst above you and damaged your personal property, you would NOT be covered.

Renters Insurance protects:

  • Personal Property: items clothing, furniture, electronics, bicycles or jewelry from theft or fire, smoke, or water damage. If you have expensive individual items you may need additional insurance coverage.
  • Liability Coverage: if someone is injured in your home helps cover legal fees and medical bills if you’re held liable.

Is my roommate covered with my policy?

If you are not related to your roommate (parent, sibling or spouse), most likely your roommate is NOT covered. However, each insurance company is different so please ask one of our licensed agents to confirm.

Luckily, renters insurance is an inexpensive way to make sure that your personal effects are covered in the event that damage occurs in your rental unit. Contact our agency and speak to one of our licensed agents. You may even be able to bundle your renters insurance with another line of insurance, like your auto insurance, for a discount. Get a quote today.

What To Do If You Get Into a Car Accident

/in , , , , , /by

What to do if you're in a car accident in Salt Lake CityBeing in an accident can be a very frightening event. Being prepared to know how to handle the situation when it occurs will help you deal with the shock of it, as well as ensure you are covered for the loss when it does happen. While accidents will happen to almost every driver, whether their car is parked and unattended, or while they’re driving, knowing these important steps will help you deal with the unfortunate situation.

Safely park your vehicle: If you happen to be driving when the accident occurs, safely pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. If possible, carefully write down the license plate and description of the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident. If you are reporting a hit and run, this information will aid police in locating the driver. In the event of a hit and run it most likely happens when your vehicle is unattended. If you return to your vehicle to find damage, look for clues to help you prove your case, i.e. Security cameras.

Assess any Injuries: If someone is injured, take care of their immediate needs and quickly call 911. It is typical to be jittery after such an event so catch your breath too.

Call police: Once you’re safely parked, you should call the police to file a report, especially if another party is involved. It’s important to always have documentation of how the accident happened. Some people want to settle the claim without going through insurance, but this comes with risks. The other driver may not live up to their word and without contacting the police, it turns into a he said, she said scenario.

Exchange Information: Exchanging insurance ID cards is always recommended. Be sure to have their name and phone number too. It’s simple to take a picture with your phone. Be sure to include the car’s license plate number, year, make and model too.

Take pictures/Gather any witness information: If you have a witness who wants to share their side of the story, jot down their phone number and name. Your insurance company will want to talk with any witness to the accident. Taking pictures also gives your insurance company more details on the damage of your vehicle.

Call your insurance company: Sometimes even though vehicles collide, the damages may be limited, so you’ll want to take a close look and determine if you want to pursue a claim or get an estimate first before calling your insurance company. If someone was injured or if you have major damage, it’s always best to call your insurance company immediately. Your insurance company can assist you with your claim so if you have taken pictures and provided all the information above, your claim can be settled quicker.

While we hope you never have to experience a car accident, being prepared will help you tackle the unfortunate situation.

Archibald Insurance Agency in Salt Lake City, UT is a different kind of insurance agency. We represent over 20 top-rated insurance companies to offer you comparative insurance quotes which means more coverage options, better pricing and flexibility.  Agency owner, Marc Archibald and his friendly and knowledgeable staff can quote your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance & much more! With many payment options you’re sure to find the right company at the right price for your specific insurance needs! Both homeowners and auto insurance rates change, people change, situations change. Our goal is to be your preferred insurance agency for a lifetime.

5 Things to Keep in Mind for Spring Cleaning Your Home

/in , , /by

Spring cleaning your home in Salt Lake City, UTCleaning a home deeply should be done once a year and spring is a great time to dig in and actually do it! Instead of focusing on a long list of things to accomplish, we’d thought we’d share five things to keep in mind when it comes to spring cleaning your home.

Keep it, Store It or Donate It

This is an easy reminder when it comes to cleaning out your house and it can apply to any room. For clothing items, ask yourself if you have worn it in the last year. If the answer is no, look to donate it. You can help others in need this way and that always feels great. Seek out charities that support your community.

Break It Up In Sections

Just the thought of spring cleaning can be exhausting for some people. Instead, focus on breaking up your cleaning by sections or rooms. For example, put all your cleaning attention into your kitchen for the first day. Wipe down your cabinets, organize the inside of your cupboards or drawers, or give your refrigerator a nice scrub. This feels much more doable versus looking at your long list of cleaning for your entire house and asking yourself, “Where do I start?!”

Create a List & Check It Twice

For many people, creating a to-do list feels productive and how good does it feel once you can officially check if off? Follow our suggestion by breaking up your cleaning into sections and making a list of what you want to accomplish in each room.

Make it Fun

Get your family or other household members involved, assign them specific tasks, turn on some good music then celebrate with a night out together. Don’t feel like you have to clean all day long to feel like you’ve been productive. Marking several items off your list can simply do the trick!

Looking for a Basic Spring Cleaning Checklist? Start here.

Top Areas to Clean in Each Room

  • Dust all furniture, picture frames, television, or hanging décor on walls.
  • Dust ledges or other areas you cannot see at eye (ceiling fans, top of cabinets)
  • Clean windows or mirrors
  • Dust or wipe down baseboards, blinds, window sills, vents.
  • Sweep & mop floors
  • Vacuum carpet and rugs
  • Change smoke detector batteries
  • Wash curtains
  • Vacuum furniture cushions
  • Disinfect items like your TV remote, door knobs, computer mouse or kitchen drawer handles.
  • Organize each room & donate/discard what you won’t use.
  • Disinfect your bathroom items like tub, shower and toilet. Wash shower curtains.

Your home is a valuable asset so keeping it clean will not only keep it in tip-top shape, but will clear the home of allergens, bacteria and mold that can build up over time. With a little elbow grease, you’ll be done in no time.

Archibald Insurance Agency in Salt Lake City, UT is a different kind of insurance agency. We represent over 20 top-rated insurance companies to offer you comparative insurance quotes which means more coverage options, better pricing and flexibility. Agency owner, Marc Archibald and his friendly and knowledgeable staff can quote your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance & much more! With many payment options you’re sure to find the right company at the right price for your specific insurance needs! Both homeowners and auto insurance rates change, people change, situations change. Our goal is to be your preferred insurance agency for a lifetime.

A Checklist to Complete If You’re Leaving Your Home for an Extended Period of Time

/in , , , , /by

How to prep your Salt Lake City, UT home when you leave for vacationWhether you are a snow bird who flocks to warm weather in the winter or you’re taking a vacation, you should always protect your home while you’re away. The last thing you want to hear while vacationing is that a pipe burst or your home was burglarized. Follow these simple steps to ensure your home is safe while you’re away.

Protect from Theft

  • Alert the post office to hold your mail until you return. If you are staying at your vacation home for a long period of time, perhaps forward your mail to that mailing address.
  • Stage your home as if you are still there. Use an automatic timer to turn on and off your lights. You can set them up in different rooms to make it look like you’re moving around the house. To keep it efficient, use LED bulbs in your lamps you intend to leave running throughout the night.
  • Set an alarm. There are countless great, affordable video surveillance options that sends you a text when there is motion detected at your home, both inside and out. You can then pull it up and watch a live video stream allowing you to record the activity as well as call police. Additionally, if you see a package is delivered you could ask a neighbor to pick it up off the doorstep until you return.
  • Place small valuables in a hidden place or safe. If you own jewelry, guns or cash, or have social security cards, memory cards or other valuable items, put them into a safe. Safes are typically extremely heavy and unable to be moved by one person even if not bolted to the floor.
  • Hire someone or notify your neighbor to do the simple things. For example, if you are gone for the weekend and the trash gets picked up on Fridays, ask your neighbor to pull your waste bin in for you.

Protect Your Home From Damage

  • Always turn off your water. You would hate to have a pipe burst or refrigerator leak while you’re away. If you live in a cold weather environment, drain all your pipes of water. Laundry supply lines are bigger, so be sure to turn those off at the junction box if you decide not to turn off all water.
  • Set your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat on will stop pipes from freezing in your ceiling or walls. It doesn’t take much, say 60 degrees or so.
  • Clean out your gutters. If you’re planning to be away for a while, cleaning your gutters can ensure any heavy rains won’t overflow the gutters and flood your home or damage the roof.

Going away for a while can be exciting. You shouldn’t have to worry about your home while you’re away so completing some simple tasks beforehand can ease your concern.

Archibald Insurance Agency in Salt Lake City, UT is a different kind of insurance agency. We represent over 20 top-rated insurance companies to offer you comparative insurance quotes which means more coverage options, better pricing and flexibility.  Agency owner, Marc Archibald and his friendly and knowledgeable staff can quote your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance & much more! With many payment options you’re sure to find the right company at the right price for your specific insurance needs! Both homeowners and auto insurance rates change, people change, situations change. Our goal is to be your preferred insurance agency for a lifetime.