Blog

How to prepare your home for summer

Posted on June 14, 2021June 11, 2021 by agentinsure

The summer season is here already, and your mind is probably on switching summer clothes with winter clothes, planning vacations, hosting barbecues, and lounging at the beach while soaking your skin under the sun. Good plans, but have you thought about your home? Accidents? Damages? Burglaries? Well, summer weather can be pretty extreme, especially in Cypress, TX. Is your home ready for the heat? To help you get your home in tip-top shape, InsureUS shares four tips for preparing your home.

Clean drains and gutters

Cleaning drains and gutters are the last things anyone would want to do before summer. But, ironically, it’s one of the most important tasks that should top your list as it involves clearing the debris and mud that can clog the drains. If ignored, the result is a leaking wall or roof. Gutter cleaning helps lower water damage risks.

Check your air conditioner

The spring season is often associated with favorable temperatures, and you may not need to use the AC. However, you may want to use this opportunity to tune up your air conditioner and ensure everything is working perfectly before the temperatures shoot up. Clean and replace the air filters for efficient functioning. When the air conditioner works well, a considerable amount of power is saved.

Inspect your yard

Your yard will be a valuable space, especially if you enjoy outdoor activities. So it’s probably time you revisited your landscaping ideas. Most of the winter trees may have been damaged during the storms, but they can be saved. Go through your to-do list before calling a landscaper or arborist to inspect your trees.

Update your home insurance

Don’t forget to check your home insurance. Remember you will be home for a very long time. So, make sure you have enough coverage to protect you against lawsuits and other accidents.

Looking to buy home insurance in Cypress, TX but not sure where to begin? Worry no more because you’re in the right place. InsureUS can help you find a policy that meets your style, needs, and budget. Call us today.

How can motorcyclists ride defensively on Cypress, TX roads?

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021 by agentinsure

Any avid biker would tell you that the best way to avoid accidents is by being disciplined and riding defensively. This is particularly true for new motorcyclists who require an extra dose of vigilance and care when heading out on the vast Cypress, TX roads. Safety begins from the initial preparation, such as wearing the right gear, checking your bike for mechanical problems, and simply following traffic rules. Experts at InsureUS recommend these tips for defensive riding in Texas.

Wear the Right Gear

Safety begins from the basics. Your protective gear is an extension of your bike’s safety gear. So always wear your helmet, gloves, boots, and a robust leather jacket and pants.

Stay Alert

Defensive riding is all about being extra keen about every move and maneuver you make. Just 2 secs of distraction are enough to get you into a terrible accident. Don’t ride a bike if you are unwell, intoxicated, tired, or stressed.

Observe Your Surroundings

Observation is what helps you know what is going on around you. The appropriate use of mirrors and being on the right side of the road allows you to see ahead and behind you and act appropriately. Make sure you also know the potential hazards you’re looking for.

Anticipate and Plan Ahead

Never assume that a motorist is seeing you, and never think every driver will do the right thing. Defensive riding means anticipating what might happen and planning accordingly.

Maximize Your Visibility

Bikers are not always easy to spot, which is why many motorcyclists in Cypress, TX are often advised to wear reflector jackets to Improve visibility. You can also go for a brightly colored bike or wear brightly colored clothes to maximize your visibility on the roads.

Don’t forget to buy motorcycle insurance. Our dedicated team of professionals at InsureUS can help you find a policy that matches your needs. Contact us today.

Do I Need Renters Insurance in Texas?

Posted on April 12, 2021March 4, 2021 by agentinsure

Perhaps, you are done with college, and it’s time to move out from your parents’ house. Renting comes with freedom and the excitement of experiencing various Texas locales without worrying about mortgages. But don’t make a mistake and think that renting doesn’t come with its responsibilities. Obviously, beyond paying rent, there are other financial responsibilities you have to contend with.

One of those is renters insurance. Many people overlook renters insurance because they hardly understand the risks of renting. Well, if you are one of those, you need to pay attention to InsureUs, Cypress, TX, on why you need renters insurance.

Why Texas renters should get renters insurance

It has probably cost your blood, sweat, and soul to purchase your personal properties like clothing, electronics, and furniture. Imagine waking up and realizing your personal stuff has evaporated through theft or fire? It’s hard to fathom. But did you know you could get renters insurance to protect your belongings against such unfortunate events?

Renters insurance comes in handy in the following areas.

Personal property coverage

Renters insurance covers your assets in case of damage or theft. However, be sure to understand the maximum coverage to expect from your renter’s insurance. Why? Your insurance may not cover your assets 100 percent.

Liability coverage

Did someone get injured in your apartment? Did you cause damage to neighbors’ properties? You don’t have to worry because renters insurance covers medical costs and damages where you are accused of negligence.

Additional living expenses

Perhaps, your home is damaged by fire. You need to live in a hotel where you will typically spend more than you would in your home. In such instances, renter’s insurance comes into play to cover additional living expenses like accommodation and meals.

Renters insurance in Cypress, TX

Don’t be left out in the cold when the unthinkable happens to your apartment. Instead, be wise and talk to InsureUS to get renters insurance to protect you and your belongings.

Three important things to remember when you purchase motorcycle insurance in Texas

Posted on March 8, 2021March 1, 2021 by agentinsure

As a motorcycle rider, you need to find a motorcycle insurance policy that will protect you financially when you’re out on the roads. At InsureUS, we provide insurance to motorcycle riders in Cypress, TX.

The following are three important things to remember when you purchase motorcycle insurance in Texas.

Minimum coverage won’t include collision coverage.

You have the option to purchase a few different types of motorcycle coverage. Types of coverage available include liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

It’s important to remember that minimum coverage generally only means liability coverage. This is the type of coverage required by law. Minimum liability coverage won’t cover the costs of repairing any damage to your own motorcycle if you’re at fault in an accident.

Texas has minimum coverage requirements you’ll need to meet.

Liability coverage must meet certain minimum coverage requirements in Texas. Motorcycle riders need to make sure their policy meets minimum coverage requirements in their state.

It is required that policies have at least $30,000 in coverage for the medical bills of every injured individual involved in an accident. $60,000 total liability coverage is required. Another required is at least $25,000 in property damage coverage.

A lower deductible amount could mean higher monthly

Before a motorcycle policy begins covering costs, the policyholder has to pay their deductible. A lower deductible is more affordable after a claim is filed. However, policies with lower deductibles tend to cost more in terms of premiums.

Are you currently on the market for a motorcycle insurance policy in Texas? We can help you meet your insurance needs at InsureUS. Contact us with any questions you have about meeting your motorcycle insurance coverage needs in Cypress, TX.

Do I need flood insurance in Texas?

Posted on February 28, 2021March 1, 2021 by agentinsure

If you own your own home in the Cypress, TX area, it continues to be important that you get proper insurance coverage for your home. A way that you can do this is with proper insurance. Depending on your situation, you may need to get flood insurance to protect your property. There are a few reasons why people should get this additional insurance protection in Texas.

Flood Insurance Protects Property

A key reason that people need to get a flood insurance plan when in Texas is that it can protect their property very well. If you are located near a waterway that has a tendency to flood, there is a risk that your home could be damaged if a bad storm occurs. Fortunately, this risk can be mitigated if you have proper coverage through a flood insurance plan.

Insurance is a Lender Requirement

It is also common for people to need to get flood insurance because it is a requirement set by their lender. If you are located in an area that is deemed to be a flood zone your mortgage lender will want you to get proper insurance coverage. This could mean that you are required to get flood insurance and will have to escrow the payments on a monthly basis.

If you are in the Cypress, TX area and are wondering about your flood insurance needs, calling InsureUS would be a great option. The team with InsureUS can help you better assess your insurance needs and options. With that guidance, you will be able to determine if you do need to get flood coverage. If you do need or want to have this additional protection, they can also help you build a plan that will ensure you are in compliance and properly covered.

Your car is watching you–and that might be good news.

Posted on January 29, 2021December 5, 2020 by Victor Varma

Your auto insurance rates could soon be set based on how you, personally, drive–not on your statistical risk.
General Motors Co. (GM) has launched an auto insurance program with its OnStar subsidiary to match data on driving patterns and usage to insurance costs. Tesla and Ford have also announced initiatives, according to Claims Journal.
Right now, insurance companies use criteria such as age, gender, neighborhood and/or credit scores to set insurance prices. Consumer advocates have found this unfair because a good driver could live in a neighborhood that is unsafe and have a lower credit score.
Statistically, a teenage boy is the world’s worst auto insurance risk and insurance rates reflect this. But with usage-based insurance pricing, even a teenage boy might be able to demonstrate he is a good risk.
The mechanism of future insurance pricing will come from telematics–devices that collect real-time information on driving patterns and use. According to JD Power, demand for insurance based on telematics has increased during the pandemic as customers, working from home, thought they could save money on insurance.
What that could mean for good drivers and drivers who don’t drive much is lower rates. Bad drivers would get higher rates. Depending on how the technology is deployed, drivers might get real-time feedback about how they are doing, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). That could be like having a permanent back-seat driver who is always right. But drivers do respond when they have incentives to drive better, according to iii.org.
A study by Willis Towers Watson showed that, in commercial fleets monitored by telematics, crash rates fell by 80 percent.
But will drivers have privacy concerns, or will they resent having their every driving move monitored? Another survey by Willis Towers Watson suggests not. Resistance to the idea of cars monitoring driving is low, about seven percent.
GM will use data from its on-board concierge service, OnStar. The service helps drivers in emergencies and with navigation, but it also collects data on driving patterns. It takes special note of hard braking and acceleration.
Tesla’s initiative hasn’t yet launched.
Ford Motor Company has teamed up with Allstate Corporation to allow customers to share driving data.
GM says its OnStar program has provided the company with more data from connected vehicles than any other carmaker, as quoted in Claims Journal.
The company’s insurance offer will start in Arizona and use braking, acceleration, and general usage data to help set insurance rates. The program is set to expand nationwide using more data, including tire pressure, lane keeping and automated braking. More use of connected car data could be used if regulatory hurdles can be overcome.

Consider assets when buying auto insurance

Posted on January 22, 2021December 5, 2020 by Victor Varma

We’re inundated with car insurance ads at every turn, each pledging better rates or more personal service. But aside from knowing what your premium is, do you know what your coverage is and whether you have enough?
Your policy will cover liability, bodily injury liability (BIL), property damage, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision and comprehensive.
Many states require a minimum amount of coverage, but you probably want to consider insuring for more. Medical bills can add up to many thousands in a hurry, and you don’t want to be on the hook.
Liability packages often have three numbers, like 100/300/100. This refers to the amount of coverage for bodily injury per person (100k), per accident (300k), and property damage (100k). Individuals with higher net worths may want to boost the first two.
The Wall Street Journal says a good rule of thumb is to get coverage for an amount equal to the total value of your assets (house, car, savings, and investments). Those could be seized to cover repairs or medical expenses otherwise.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also vitally important. This pays for damage to your car and passenger injuries caused by an at-fault driver who doesn’t have liability insurance, or a hit-and-run driver. Consumer Reports suggests buying the same limits as on your liability insurance.
Remember also to sign up for the highest deductible you can afford, which will reduce your premiums.

Do You Need RV Insurance All Year Round?

Posted on January 18, 2021January 15, 2021 by agentinsure

Living in the Cypress, TX area has its perks and benefits, and one of those is the opportunity to explore the local area and travel the country from a centralized location. But if you’re using the area as a home base and spending a lot of time on adventures, you may want to make sure you have the right type and level of RV insurance. At InsureUS, we can help you go over your policy and see if there are changes that need to be made. Then you can feel good about the policy you have and you’ll be able to focus on the fun of traveling and seeing the sights.

Protecting your RV is valuable and important, so it’s ready to go whenever you are. A lot of people only travel in the summertime, when their children are out of school and they can take some time away from work or other obligations. If that’s how you use your RV, you might be wondering whether you need to keep it insured all year round. It’s not being driven, so why cover it? There are other problems that can occur, though, such as theft or vandalism. You want to be covered for those things, even if you’re not worried about something that could happen out on the road.

Having your RV insurance in effect all year round is the better and safer choice, so you don’t have to worry about your RV during the months you’re not using it. By reaching out to us today at InsureUs, we can help you cover your Cypress, TX RV with a policy that’s going to give you quality coverage. Then you can enjoy your RV, your peace of mind, and all the adventures you’ll have as you travel.

PPP loans and taxed expenses

Posted on January 15, 2021December 5, 2020 by Victor Varma

The IRS issued guidance in November clarifying the tax treatment of PPP loans that have not been forgiven by the end of the year the loan was received:

Businesses are not taxed on the proceeds of a forgiven PPP loan, so the expenses are not deductible.
This means that the taxpayer sees neither harm nor benefit, since the taxpayer has paid nothing out of pocket.
Here is how this looks on your tax return, according to bench.com:
A C-corporation receives $100,000 in a PPP loan, uses the money entirely on payroll and qualifies for loan forgiveness.
The $100,000 won’t be listed as taxable income on the tax return.
BUT, the tax deduction the business would normally get (about $21,000) won’t be allowable. So, surprise — you have an extra $21,000 tax liability (assuming 21 percent corporate tax). You did receive a net $79,000 from the program, which you have already spent, but which you might not have had otherwise.
Businesses are encouraged to file for forgiveness as soon as possible. If a business believes a PPP loan will be forgiven in the future, expenses related to the loan are not deductible, whether the business has filed for forgiveness or not.
If a PPP loan is expected to be forgiven but it is not, the business WILL be able to deduct expenses.
According to the CARES Act, a forgiven loan amount won’t be included in taxable income.

New Year’s Resolutions: How to put change ahead of comfort

Posted on January 8, 2021December 5, 2020 by Victor Varma

The urge for self-improvement is strong at the start of a new year. It’s a time for looking back to see what kind of person we have been, and a time for looking forward and visualizing ourselves as the person we want to be.
Here we come to a big question: Is the urge for change more powerful than the drive to revert to what is comfortable to you? At first, change seems manageable, but as time goes on, we may tire like a runner in a long race. Then, as difficulties of our daily lives surround us, returning to our comfort zones could seem more important than making changes.
Keep these points in mind when making resolutions:

When one resolution involves an important life-style change, don’t make any others. If you want to quit smoking, lose weight, and learn a foreign language, you won’t be able to do all three things at once.
Study the obstacles to your resolution and determine ways to deal with them. If you want to lose weight, for example, decide to skip the ice cream and have a low-calorie popsicle instead. Tell friends you are not eating rich desserts, so they won’t tempt you.
Think about professional help. Medical assistance could be valuable in stopping an addictive habit.
Maintain your focus and monitor your progress. Keep a notebook and record how often the behavior you want to change occurs, who you were with and how you felt. You’ll see a pattern that could be avoided in the future.
If you break a resolution, don’t give up on the effort. See it as an opportunity for self-understanding. Treat yourself kindly.
New Year’s resolutions are supposed to make you feel good about yourself. If not keeping them makes you think badly about yourself, they aren’t worth the effort. Work at it but lighten up and feel good.