Putting People First

Posted on March 4, 2019January 12, 2021 by admin

Putting You First

We start by putting your needs first. You can always contact us and we will promptly resolve your issue. We are structured as an inverted pyramid, we put all our clients needs on top. We volunteer in our community to give back, and provide annual policy reviews to our clients to stay connected with you. The job of your agent is to know and understand your unique situation and needs. We provide a comprehensive needs based analysis of your risks and exposures, identify your unique situation, risk tolerance, and then finally provide a proposal to offset undesirable risk to one of our trusted insurance providers. We would love your feedback. Let us know how we are doing.

VIP Service

You are not a policy number. When you call us, we will identify your account by your name. You are the reason we are here. We are here to help protect you. We provide valuable insight into risk management strategies and the ever changing insurance product landscape. We strive to become your trusted insurance adviser. Let’s talk about your hopes, your dreams, and your future, and then let’s make a plan together to get you there.

24/7 Online Service

We live in a connected world. This is the 21st century. You want 24/7 claims and customer service. But you don’t have to choose between either local personal service, or a large call center. Now, you can have it all. We offer 24/7 online policy access and online carrier direct personal claims filing. For those times you don’t want to talk to somebody, you can login and view your policy, request coverage changes, download ID cards and get quotes online with our online client center.

Local Professional Agents

When you do want to talk to someone, we are here for you. You have a personal and professional dedicated account manager that gets to know you and your situation. We can easily advise you on changes in the insurance market place. We have both, personal local agents and online policy access to best meet your busy lifestyle. As your insurance agent we are here to help you asses your risk, minimize your exposure, and manage your insurance spending, both on premiums and retained risk. Meet one of our agents today!

Partner Testimonials

That is enough of tooting our own horn. Learn more about our trusted business partners have to say about us, and read some clients testimonials. Then, when you are ready, we look forward to working with you too.

Next Steps

Now that you know a little bit about us, it’s time to take the next step and tell us a little bit about you. Start your online needs based analysis today.

What to look for in an Insurance Agent

Posted on March 4, 2019January 12, 2021 by admin

When picking an insurance agent it is important to know who your agent represents. Some insurance agents are what are called “captive” agents. Captive agents work for the company they represent. Some examples of companies captive insurance agents work for are Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers. Captive agents are limited to only offering products to you that are offered by the company they work for, whether or not that product is the best solution for your unique situation.

An independent insurance agent works for you, not the insurance company. Independent agents are free to find a policy that best fits your needs no matter which insurance company is offering the coverage. Independent agents really do work for you, not the insurance company. They are free to offer multiple policy options side by side for you to review. When the insurance companies compete for your business, you win.

The agents at Alta Vista Insurance Agency are proud to be your local independent insurance agents. We are located in Vista California and strive to be a local independent resource for you, our clients. Our staff is your team, and we are here, ready, and able to provide responsive customer support to our neighbors throughout San Diego County. We primarily serve Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, and Poway. Please feel free to contact us for your insurance needs.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can service your California insurance needs. We look forward to hearing from you!

3 Tips to Avoid Expensive Auto Losses

Posted on July 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Do you have employees driving for your business?

Check out these tips to ensure you experience the fewest auto losses possible:

Develop a system for hiring
Provide Driver Training
Supervise Effectively

Looking for an outline of how to put these things in place? We gotcha covered.

By systematically managing your drivers with a program that works for you and your employees and practicing the same steps for each hire, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.

1. Develop a System for Hiring

Find ways of hiring qualified, positive, competent candidates.

Ideas include: anticipate job openings to reduce a rushed hiring process, consider applicants’ history of stable employment, check their MVR, and publish the opening in as many different places as possible.

This will help you acquire the largest pool of candidates, giving you your choice!

The Hartford Financial Services also suggests including a few tests in the hiring process.

Not sure how to regulate or plan these tests? Check out the free resource from Hartford, one of our preferred vendors.

Hartford Financial Services created this incredible resource which includes: Driver Employment Application, Driver Evaluation Form, Driving Test Evaluation Form, Road Test Evaluation Form (with tips!), a Vehicle Collision Form, Supervisor’s Vehicle Collision Form, AND Vehicle Condition Reports (truck, van, automobile). Click here for free access to a systematic way of hiring!

2. Provide Driver Training

Using a combination of a basic overview of any equipment employees will use, mentorship, supervision, consistent group meetings, and self-teaching, new employees’ training and road to excellence (no pun originally intended) will hasten.

3. Supervise Effectively

Create and outline goals. Make them measurable and attainable!

Motivate employees with clear, concise instruction

Measure work and any important data

Review goals regularly to adjust the plan or motivate change.

Evaluate every driver’s success and safety. Discuss any driving problems that arise with that employee.

Why do all this?

Avoiding auto losses on a fleet will save money, improve company morale, and increase productivity.

For more expert info, watch the Commercial Auto part of our video series on Contractors Insurance. Click below!

Get More Out of Your Commercial Auto Policy

Resources: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

3 Things Home Buyers Need to Know About Insurance

Posted on June 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Before purchasing a home there many variables to consider. One thing you want to be sure about is your protection for your assets. Here are a few things for first-time home buyers to consider when they reach the insurance inquiry stage in their real estate purchase.

1) Compare multiple insurance companies

Compare coverage, price and financial stability. You are not required to buy from a particular insurance company, however you want an insurance company that is stable and responsive when handling claims. Shop for value, not price. Customer service and ease of doing business are key when selecting an insurance company that is right for you.

Your mortgage lender can, and probably will, require you to have homeowners insurance.You aren’t required to buy from a particular insurance company. Instead, compare coverage, price and customer reviews. Be sure you get the right type and amount of coverage. Shop for value, not necessarily rock-bottom price. Since you’ll mainly deal with insurance companies during times of disaster, make sure the company you choose has great customer service reviews.

Home insurance is not as hotly price-competitive as auto insurance, but you can still save from hundreds to more than $1,000 a year in premiums by shopping around. About 9 percent of our survey respondents had switched insurers in the previous three years, mostly because they got a better price from their new carrier. And those who switched for a better price were just as satisfied with their later claim payments as those who stayed put. Residents of California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and other states whose insurance departments publish rate comparisons for standardized coverage can zero in on the lowest-priced insurers and then contact them for custom quotes. If your state doesn’t offer such guidance, contact an independent agent who sells insurance from multiple carriers.

2) Set up your payment out of Escrow, and use an Impound Account

If you’re like most homeowners, you’ll tack monthly insurance payments onto your mortgage check. The lender will pay your insurance premiums (usually your property taxes, too) out of your escrow account. Lenders prefer this option because it lets them know your insurance premiums are being paid, and their investment is well protected. Most likely, you’ll need to pay for one year of insurance at closing. Bring information about the insurance policy you have chosen and the money to cover the first year’s premium.

3) Look at Bundling and Saving

Consider buying your homeowners and auto coverage from the same company for as much as a 30 percent savings. Discounts are also available if you add more policies, like a motorcycle, watercraft, or personal umbrella. If you experience a significant loss, like a fire or storm, that is covered by your homeowner policy and have other policies that are affected, like an auto or motorcycle, the carrier may waive all deductibles after the home policy deductible is paid. Contact me and we can conduct a needs based analysis to identify your possible exposures and ways you can maximize your insurance protection while reducing your out of pocket expenses.

Purchasing a new home in California? Click here to get more information!

Learn More!

Property Claims and Your Real Estate Transaction

Posted on May 31, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

When your clients buy a home, are they purchasing the dreamy future they hope for, free from property claims?

Would you like to know early on (before you put in heaps of effort) how to avoid issues with your real estate transaction?

Wouldn’t you like to give your clients peace of mind?

Alta Vista Insurance provides our real estate partners with one thing that limits complications during and after the sale.

Click Here for Smoother Transactions

For uninformed home-buyers, future property

claims can tack on an unexpected and

unavoidable price tag.

Because a home’s future relates to its past, requesting a free CLUE© report from Alta Vista Insurance Agency will save you and your clients time, money, and worry. Sellers can authorize the release of a C.L.U.E. report as part of the negotiations for the home purchase.

What is it?

C.L.U.E., the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, is a loss history information exchange provided by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions Inc. Insurance companies access and use prior loss information in the underwriting process through it. Think of it as “the cloud of claims.”

Where is the information from?

Each month, participating insurers submit loss information to the C.L.U.E. information exchange, which is loaded to the C.L.U.E. database. When you or your insurance company receive a C.L.U.E. report, it includes all losses accessed by the search criteria that were reported to us within seven years of the date of the request. Home warranty claims are not included on a C.L.U.E. report.

How to read the CLUE© report

First, look for claims associated with the address your client is looking at. The report can sometimes show claims filed on another location owned or occupied by the seller. So if the owner has a palace in Pakistan and a town home in Carlsbad, check the address. The sandstorm is definitely unconnected to the Carlsbad address.
Beware of claims frequency rather than severity. Frequent claims indicate a potential ongoing problem your client could inherit. Water losses, mold, fires occurring in the home (not wildfire), and theft or burglary. These types of losses could indicate morale hazards or the home could be in a questionable area.

Need-to-Know

Buyers and sellers need to be aware of how changing guidelines can affect them when purchasing new insurance or when selling their home. Effective this year, many admitted insurance carriers will decline a risk if there has been a significant water loss (inside water damage, not weather-related) on the property within the last 3-5 years. This would include damage exceeding $2,500. Be aware that typically, losses follow the homeowner who filed the claim, impacting their cost of insurance or insurability when moving to a new location. However, some claims losses in the past cause new homeowners to inherit high insurance costs. Due to the rise in frequency and extensive costs resulting from water damage claims more and more companies are looking at water losses in new business and declining.

In these situations, your client’s insurance costs will go up, potentially making or breaking their willingness to move forward on the purchase.

The cost of the damage is important and can indicate the severity of the incident and the amount paid by the insurance company for the loss. Accidents happen. Just because a property has been impacted by a large claim or series of claims does not mean your client should avoid buying that house. Review the report together and request a disclosure from the sellers about how the claims were resolved. Were all repairs completed and was everything built back to code? Was the home replaced with like kind and quality?

Talk to your insurance agent about the loss(es) that were filed, how the insurance companies handled the claims and how this will impact insurance for the home moving forward.

Call us today as we have access to specialty markets and will find a solution to insurance issues like these.

A smoother real estate transaction is always possible when you partner with Alta Vista Insurance.

Click Here for Smooth Transactions

Going On Vacation? 10 Tips To Prepare & Protect Your Home

Posted on May 8, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

The season for a sunny vacation is on the way! If you plan on leaving your home unattended for more than 24 hours, consider these tips.

1) Turn off your water

This one only applies if you are not hiring a house sitter. We have heard many stories of our insureds coming home to two weeks of water build-up and months of rebuilding they need to start.

2) Stop newspaper delivery

A pile of yellowing newspapers on the doorstep is a movie cliché for a home that’s unoccupied. Stopping the newspaper when you leave town for a while is an easy detail to forget and one that will make you a sure target. If you’re still reading newsprint, make sure you stop service when you leave on vacation.

3) Keep eyes on your property

Even if you stop newspaper delivery and mail service, there are still some gotchas that can make it obvious that you’re not around. How about those fliers that peddlers leave on your doorknob, or those periodic yellow page book deliveries? Because you can’t plan for every contingency, have someone in the area check your house periodically. Whether it’s a neighbor or relative, nothing beats having a person check the premises every day or two while you’re gone. Hey, while they’re there, they can water the petunias.

4) Make your home look lived in

An occupied home looks lived in. Lights go on and off, and cars come and go. When you’re away, everything stops. To help create the illusion that the residence is still occupied, invest in timers that turn on the interior lights for a few hours every evening. If you can get a neighbor to take out your garbage and put the cans back after the garbage pickup, it’s another way to send the message that everything is proceeding normally at your house.

5) Keep landscape trimmed

If you’re a diligent homeowner who mows his lawn every week, and things start to look overgrown and neglected, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that you’re not around. If you plan on being away for an extended period of time, hire someone to take care of the landscaping chores in your absence.

6) Hire a house sitter

The best way to make sure your house is safe while you’re gone is to have someone you trust still living in it. You may be lucky enough to have a tidy and conscientious relative who’ll move in temporarily and water the plants, feed the pets and pick up the newspapers. If not, there are services you can use for house-sitting and pet-sitting while you’re away. This can be a pricey option, but it’s a solution that touches all the bases.

7) Don’t project your moves

Show some caution when you talk about your trip. Your blog isn’t the best place to announce that you’ll be away from home for a month. Being aware of who’s around when you discuss your trip in restaurants and even at work isn’t a great idea either. Make sure your children are discrete , too. No one is saying that you should be suspicious of everyone you meet, but even a chance remark has the potential to lead to unintended and unfortunate consequences. The less information you put out there, the less likely it is to reach the wrong ears and eyes.

8) Pull the plug on electronics

Disconnecting the power to some of your electronics, like your desktop computer, coffee pot and television can save you money while you’re gone and eliminate the worry that you’ve accidentally left them on by mistake. Turning off your garage door is also an effective way to keep thieves from opening it with a universal remote. Oh, and don’t leave a portable GPS in your car when you use long-term parking at the airport. It’ll alert thieves that you’re not home and give them a convenient map to your house.

9) Hold your mail

When you’re leaving for more than a couple of days, call your local post office to stop mail delivery until you get back. They can hold mail from three to 30 days. In many locations, you can even submit a stop mail request online. Just enter your address and stop and start dates. This is a free feature courtesy of your friendly United States Postal Service. #murica

10) Install added security features

Installing a home security system or even just exterior lights that run on timers is a good way to ramp up security around the old homestead and make your house safer whether you’re around or not. One of the nice things about these features is that they’re working when you’re awake, asleep, on vacation or hosting an outdoor barbecue. They fade into the background as far as you’re concerned, but still make your property less attractive to opportunistic thieves.

Do You Want To Save Time or Money? Pick Both!

Posted on April 17, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

We live in a new world where everything is online. We can go to WebMD and self diagnose ourselves before we go to the doctor and get her professional opinion. How often are we convinced that we have some unthinkable disease thanks to our own research, only to find out it’s not as bad as we thought? Or when shopping for a new car, we read every online review study the stats before we finally go test drive the car. And we know more about the car than the salesman!

The same is true when shopping for a health insurance plan. The truth is, you know what is most important to you. Low monthly premium, low max out of pocket, brand name prescription drug coverage, generally everyone has a specific issue that is most important to them when shopping. When we are shopping we may log in to several sites, see the rates, compare to several other sites, try to get free ObamaCare online, (Which doesn’t exist for most of us) Finally we call an agent. And we may either know what we want, or at least know what questions we want answered. Sometimes though, just like when you were sure you had West Nile Virus, and it turned out to be the common cold or when you thought we wanted that sports car until youdrove it. You may be pleasantly surprised when you finally do speak to a knowledgeable insurance professional about our insurance. The truth is, there are hundreds of plans in multiple competitive markets. There are ways to get coverage even after open enrollment periods have closed. And the price, although high, is more affordable than a hospital stay without insurance. So save yourself some time, and call us to discuss your health insurance needs, wants, and budget. We offer on exchange plans as well as off exchange plans. Individual and Family based plans, as well as Small Business Group Plans. We look forward to saving you time and money.

Why not choose both?

Click Here To Save Time AND Money

How Clean Is Your Pool?

Posted on April 17, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

No, I’m not talking about your swimming pool.

I’m talking about your insurance pool. Insurance has become increasingly complicated. Many people do not understand why there are different rates on insurance. How can one insurance company offer substantially lower rates with better coverage than another? The answer can be found in how insurance pricing works. Insurance basically works by pooling risk. The pool you want to get in is the one where there have been the fewest claims, therefore allowing the company to offer lower prices, better coverage, and make a profit. On the surface it makes sense. But in practice it becomes somewhat difficult to accomplish. Do you call seven or eight companies that collectively spend billions of dollars on advertising? No great shock, the rates they offer are all about the same, they are competing for the same customers. The ones that respond to tireless advertising. But there are other pools, that are a little more private and particular about who they let in. It sounds like discrimination, and it is, but the insurance companies call it underwriting – so it’s legal. Many people ask why the insurance company wants so much information to offer a quote? Can’t the insurance company just look at my house and figure out how likely it is that I may file a claim? The answer is no! Surprisingly to many people, claims severity and frequency are more often a factor of the owner than the property. If you have a history of filing claims, you are more likely to file more claims in the future. If you have not, or do not file a claim, that too is also likely to continue. The same is true to credit scores and payments. People with better credit tend to pay their bills on time and file fewer claims than people with poor credit. Often times it is because when something needs repair, they repair it or replace it before it breaks and leaks and causes property damage. Likewise, they are more likely to have the trees trimmed, and therefore avoid having them fall on the house. Also by showing they are responsible and have good credit, it is likely that they are responsible in other areas and aspects of their lives. They probably remember to turn off the stove, lock the front door, have the chimney cleaned, and other risk avoidance behaviors that go hand in hand with being responsible. In other words, they keep their pool clean! Both the pool in the back yard, and the insurance company pool they put their risk in. And everybody enjoys a clean pool. If you are responsible, and you think you might like to save money on your home or auto insurance. I invite you to dip your toe in our pool, and see if you like the water better. We are an independent California Insurance agency, offering personal lines auto and home insurance to our clients. We specialize in finding the right fit for our customer, and making a good match to protect your assets from risk at an affordable price.

Buying a home in SoCal? Is your insurance agency dragging its feet?

Posted on April 17, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

When you buy a home, so many services are needed: home inspection, pest control, escrow, and on and on. Sometimes home owner’s insurance gets pushed to the back of your mind, but it’s necessary in order to mortgage a home. Here in Southern California, home owner’s insurance has become especially tricky; the San Diego wildfires of 2008 have prompted some insurance companies to dramatically increased the premium and even consider some areas uninsurable. Some of the bigger agencies such as State Farm and Allstate are not issuing new policies in certain zip codes. And when you’re on a tight deadline, any delay in getting insurance can be extra costly. But some qualified, well-rated, albeit smaller insurance companies are willing to work in these areas. Alta Vista Insurance Agency has built relationships with mortgage companies, escrow services, and real estate brokers here in our community to help home buyers achieve a successful close of escrow. If you’ve discovered that your insurance provider won’t produce a certificate of insurance in a timely manner, call us–we will get it done. When the timeline is tight and you’re looking to close, we do what it takes to get you what you need. Learn more »

Contents Insurance

Posted on April 17, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Many homeowners wonder if their homeowners insurance covers contents. Our answer is yes! As a part of your homeowners insurance, your policy provides protection for all of your personal property and contents. Your Kemper policy also has replacement cost on your contents, which is very important. This insures all of your belongings for full replacement value than the depreciated value of the items. If you have any target items such as jewelry, artwork, antiques, etc. these particular items should be added as scheduled personal property. We can always add coverage to the policy. Contact us if you have any questions!