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So you’re buying a home. Congratulations! Buying a house – whether it’s your first time or your tenth – is a big accomplishment. But, as you likely know, it’s also a lot of work. The home buying process can take quite a while, and you’re likely aware of the many steps and requirements your lender and escrow officer will require. One big part of buying a new home is getting a homeowners insurance policy.

Homeowners insurance is a policy that provides financial protection against disaster like floods, wind storms, earthquakes, poor maintenance, etc. Depending on your insurance carrier and your policy, there may be exceptions to what is covered in your homeowners insurance policy.

Homeowners Insurance – Required by Your Lender

If you’re taking out a mortgage to buy your home, your lender will require – well, a lot from you! You probably already have an idea of the paperwork involved in securing your loan, but your lender will also require that you have a homeowners insurance policy in place before you close your loan.

Don’t worry; buying a homeowners insurance policy isn’t difficult – especially at AMS. We’ll work with you to determine your needs and meet the requirements of your lender. Often, you’ll pay your homeowners insurance premium at the close of escrow, along with a number of other settlement fees. However, this may vary depending on your transaction.

While your lender may give you a homeowners insurance premium quote when you receive your Good Faith Estimate, you are free to shop around to find a policy that suits your needs and budget, along with the requirements of your lender.

Buying a home is an exciting time! And if you’re like many Americans, it’s the biggest investment you’ll ever make. While homeowners insurance may be a “requirement” of closing your mortgage, it’s also a great investment tool because it helps protect a really valuable asset – your new home! Give us a call today and we’ll help you find the right homeowners coverage for you.

Originally posted 2013-08-27 09:55:46.

Most of us are guilty of using a cell phone while driving at some time or another, and some much more often than others. But every year, more than one million accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones. Texting while driving rightfully is banned in 41 states due to the potential for distraction leading to an accident. And a dozen states have banned using cell phones altogether while most others have some sort of laws limiting the use of cell phones by drivers. Hands-free only cell phone usage by drives is a popular one.

More Than A Quarter of All Accidents Involve Cell Phone Use

Although most states ban texting while driving, a new study shows that talking while driving is more dangerous. Texting while driving accounts for far less accidents than simply talking on a cell phone while driving, according to the National Safety Council.  About 26 percent of all accidents involve at least one driver using a cell phone. But only 5 percent of accidents occur when a driver is texting. While still a significant percentage that represents thousands of accidents and likely deaths, the toll from texting is much less than that of talking on a cell phone.

Rising Accident Rates Involving Cell Phones

About 1.3 million accidents in the United States during 2013 involved using a cell phones while driving, according to the National Safety Council. That amount is about 1 percent more than during 2012 and is part of a trend of more accidents involving drivers using cell phones. And with cellular plans becoming more affordable and service more reliable, more people are using cell phones. So the percentages likely will continue to rise until states either crack down more on cell phone usage by drivers or more motorists learn better ways to manage their cell phone usage while driving. Have you ever been distracted when using a cell phone while driving and almost cause an accident?

Originally posted 2014-03-28 17:27:01.

After the tough economic environment of the past several years, if your business is still thriving this holiday season – that’s something to be grateful for indeed! So when you’re counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, give your business a little love and make sure you have the best business insurance in Las Vegas to protect it.

Are you wondering what business insurance can do for you? We’ll give you four reasons why a Las Vegas business insurance policy is the right thing for your company.

Business Insurance in Las Vegas: A Must for Your Holiday List

Business interruption: If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the volatility of recent years, is that you can’t predict the future in business. A number of events can hinder your ability to conduct business – like natural disasters that affect your community. Business insurance in Las Vegas will help protect you against the financial repercussions that come when you can’t conduct business as usual.

Home business equipment: If you own a company and work from home, you likely have a lot invested in office equipment and other supplies. What you may not know is that typically, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover this business equipment. That said, your business insurance can.

Company vehicle property insurance: If you own company cars, you likely already have insurance covering them. But what that policy may not cover is the business equipment or supplies that could be destroyed in the event of a vehicle accident. This insurance also covers that equipment if it’s lost or stolen from the vehicle.

Key person insurance: Is there one employee or partner that is integral to your ability to conduct business? If so, you may consider key person business insurance. This coverage will help you recover your company in the event that a vital employee dies or becomes disabled by providing funds to allow you to continue operating.

Got specific questions on our business insurance policies and options? Give us a call today.

Originally posted 2013-11-04 15:25:22.

If you’ve ever cringed when you’ve opened your auto insurance bill, you’re probably not alone. Depending on your family’s cars and drivers, those policies can get pricey. But if you haven’t taken advantage of discount options, you may be paying more than you have to. We’ve listed a few of the most common discounts below; give us a call to find out even more!

Bundling discounts: Perhaps one of the best discounts you can get is pretty simple, because you likely need at least a couple personal insurance policies. By adding homeowners or renters insurance (to just name two) to your auto policy, you can save a good chunk on that premium.

Defensive/Safe Driver discounts: Has it been years since you’ve had an accident or a ticket? Or have you recently taken a defensive driving course? If so, you may qualify for a special discount awarded to the best drivers. Score!

Safety Equipment discount: By purchasing a car with safety and security features like airbags or a security system, you can save some bucks every month. Even some after-market products can help you get a discount.

Good Student discount: Are you a college student and paying big bucks for insurance because of your age? Good news; being an excellent student can actually help you shave some money off your auto policy. That’s something worth getting an A+ for!

Military discount: Are you currently serving our country? If so, thank you! And be sure to mention this to your agent to see if they offer a discount for military members.

Multiple Car discounts: Got a whole family to insure? Good news; you can save some money doing it. Lucky for you, most companies offer discounts when covering multiple cars. Finally, something that’s cheaper with a bigger family!

Payment Method discount: Some companies will give you a discount for setting up automatic payments or paying the policy in full. Talk to your agent to see if this applies to you.

There’s a few to get you thinking. What’s the best discount you’ve gotten on auto insurance?

 

Originally posted 2012-09-19 03:45:03.

When the summer monsoon season moves into Arizona, it many times can find its way over into the Las Vegas Valley, which in fact is a basin. The distinction is meaningless to most people, but a valley has numerous outlets for water runoff. A basin does not. The only place water has to go when it falls anywhere in the greater Las Vegas area ultimately is the Colorado River. That means flash flooding is a serious concern for many people and especially those who do not have the right kinds of insurance coverage.

External Flooding Not Covered by Homeowners Policies

Homeowners insurance will protect against a lot of perils, but external flooding isn’t one of them. If it comes through the door or windows, there better be flood insurance to cover it. A homeowners insurance policy generally just has insurance protection for internal flooding, as might happen when a water heater ruptures and no one is around to shut off the water supply. Because internal flooding mostly is under the control of homeowners, insurers can better assess risks and underwrite coverage. But when the flooding is external, the cause is Mother Nature most of the time, and no one controls Mother Nature.

Mud Slides Also Need Protection

As many homeowners near Mt. Charleston learned last year, mud slides and landslides can be very destructive and excluded without an additional insurance endorsement on a homeowners policy. With the many steep hills and mountains in the area and the potential for wildfires as well as flash flooding, mudslides and landslides can be a real danger to local homes and require additional coverage. Standard homeowners insurance for the most part covers everything from the walls on in for a home and some external structures. When it comes to Mother Nature, a lot of her perils need special protection.

Does your homeowners insurance protect against external flooding and land movement?

Originally posted 2014-06-24 01:02:47.