Four important home insurance considerations to take into account

When you select a home insurance policy in Surprise, AZ, it’s essential that you take all the pertinent considerations into account. At Giles & Iten Insurance, we’re here to answer any questions you have about your insurance options.

Here are four important home insurance considerations to take into account. 

Coverage for liability expenses

Home insurance providers typically offer a variety of liability coverage options. It’s best to invest in added liability protection to ensure your assets will be adequately protected in the event of a lawsuit. 

Coverage for personal property

When you buy home insurance, it’s a good idea to have the value of your most expensive possessions appraised. This way, you can be sure that you have enough personal property coverage on your policy to cover the full value of the belongings in your home.

Homeowners with especially expensive items like high-end electronics and jewelry might need more personal property coverage than a standard policy offers. 

Coverage for outbuildings

Do you have outbuildings such as a shed or a guest cottage on your property? It would be best if you didn’t assume that your home insurance covers these outbuildings until you’ve read the fine print.

A standard home insurance policy might limit coverage to the main house alone. If you want your outbuildings to be covered, make sure you discuss this possibility with your home insurance provider. 

Home safety features

Home insurance providers typically perform home inspections before offering insurance coverage.

You might be told by an insurance provider you have to invest in some safety upgrades before you’ll be eligible for insurance coverage. For example, you might need to have repairs done on your plumbing system or have deadbolt locks installed on your doors to get home insurance coverage. 

Shopping around and getting quotes from insurance providers is important when buying home insurance in Surprise, AZ. Call us at Giles & Iten Insurance to get a quote on a policy. 

Seeking Medical Care Abroad: What You Need to Know

Getting sick while you’re traveling can be challenging. You may struggle to speak the local language or be unsure of where to go to receive medical care. At Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, our team is proud to provide you with the travel insurance that you need to rest assured that you’ll be taken care of if something goes wrong when you’re traveling. 

Get Travel Insurance

Holding a travel insurance policy is key to helping you get the care that you need when you get sick abroad. This can help to cover pricey treatments that may not be covered by your health insurance when you’re out of the country. 

Familiarize Yourself with Local Emergency Numbers

Whether you’re sick or not, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to get ahold of a healthcare professional in an emergency. In most areas, a number is equivalent to the 911 system in the U.S. 

Call the Embassy

If you’re traveling and are dealing with a medical condition that a trip to the pharmacy can’t help, it’s wise to reach out to your home country’s embassy for help. They’ll be able to connect you with a local hospital or doctor who can treat your condition. 

Giles & Iten Insurance: Proud to Serve Surprise, AZ

At Giles & Iten Insurance, we help you prepare for the unexpected when you travel. Reach out to us or stop by today to learn how we can help you stay safe whether you’re traveling stateside or abroad. 

Navigating the Road to Mexico: Essential Insurance Tips for Travelers

At Giles & Iten Insurance in Surprise, AZ, we know that our clients love to plan fun trips all over the world. Mexico is a trendy destination, and for good reason. While these types can be a lot of fun, there are a few more important tips that you need to remember. Fortunately, our team is here to provide you with the most crucial travel insurance-related pointers. Be sure to read on and learn more!

Consider Your Specific Trip

You will need to consider the specifics of your trip to choose a policy that works best for your needs. If you are flying into Mexico, you will want a policy that protects against cancelations and delays. You may also want to consider the potential benefits of coverage that offer the necessary protections against medical complications.

Protect Your Baggage

Losing baggage during a trip out of the country is a massive annoyance, and when these issues take place, a traveler is often left with precious little recourse. If luggage is stolen, damaged, or lost, the lack of a helpful policy could come back to haunt you. Take the time to speak with our professionals so that we can offer all of the proper guidance on baggage protection.

Make a Quick Decision

While you should never rush in these instances, it behooves a traveler to buy travel insurance as soon as their tickets have been booked. Several forms of coverage can only be purchased within a certain time frame. To find out more about time-sensitive benefits, schedule a helpful consultation with our team of experienced insurance agents.

If you have any further questions or concerns about a potential Mexico trip, please take a moment to speak with our experienced professionals. The good folks at Giles & Iten Insurance in Surprise, AZ are here to walk you through everything you need about travel insurance.

Is my Chevy Nova eligible for classic car insurance?

Classic car insurance is often misunderstood. Although it has many of the same benefits as traditional car insurance, there are specific differences. However, each insurance agency defines its own eligibility requirements for classic car insurance. Also, it should be noted that not all old cars are eligible for classic car insurance. Our Giles & Iten Insurance team is invested in helping Surprise, AZ drivers understand classic car insurance.

What is classic car insurance?

Classic car insurance is designed for cars between 20 and 45 years old. Like conventional car insurance, classic car insurance provides liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. However, classic car insurance provides other forms of specialized coverage as well. The car owner and the insurance company determine the value of a classic car. If anything happens to the car, the agreed-upon value of the vehicle that the owner is given. Typically, classic cars must be kept near the original condition with the original specs. However, the individual insurance company determines whether a vehicle meets the insurance company’s eligibility requirements. Also, classic cars aren’t driven full-time. They are typically driven as a second car. Some car models are more likely to be considered classic as well.

I have an old beat-up Chevy Nova. Am I eligible for classic car insurance?

A car’s age is just one of the determining factors when it comes to classic car insurance eligibility. If your vehicle is in poor condition, a classic car insurance company may likely find it ineligible for classic car insurance. Also, some car models receive the classic stamp more often than others. Also, if your older car is being driven as your primary form of transportation, it wouldn’t fall into the classic car category. If you have more questions about classic car insurance, call us. We’d be happy to explain how classic car insurance works. 

How Much RV Insurance is Adequate?

So you’ve purchased an RV. You’re probably very proud of your purchase because now you can travel anywhere and avoid paying lodging costs while keeping your dining costs to a minimum. Now that you’ve purchased your RV before you head out on your first trip, you need to consider what type of insurance you should get. How much RV insurance is adequate? Here is an overview that can help you make this determination so you’ll have ample coverage for your new "hotel on wheels." 

What’s the Value of Your RV?

The first step to purchasing the proper recreational vehicle insurance is to determine its value. To be as accurate as possible, it’s best to have your RV appraised by a professional. Once the value has been adequately determined, you can then share this paperwork with your insurance company to assist them with providing you with an accurate quote. 

Are You Making Payments on Your RV?

While comprehensive or collision coverage isn’t required, even if you’re making payments on your RV, if you’re traveling regularly using it, you should certainly consider more than just the minimum coverage. Since accidents, vandalism, weather, and other events can’t be predicted, it’s better to be safe than sorry when adding collision and comprehensive insurance to your policy. When you’re on the road, you want to relax and enjoy being on vacation, not constantly worrying about any damage your RV could incur. 

Like your car or truck, you need reliable insurance coverage for your RV before you head out on the road. Giles & Iten Insurance would happily have you as a customer if you’re looking for a new insurance agent. Serving the Surprise, AZ area, Giles & Iten has knowledgeable and helpful professional agents who are eager to answer all your questions and provide you with a quote.

How does umbrella insurance benefit retirees?

If you are retired, you likely want to spend your time pursuing your interests rather than worrying about money. Yet, despite having all the standard insurance coverage, you may leave yourself exposed without umbrella insurance. So, let’s take a minute to review how umbrella insurance is especially valuable for protecting seniors. Then, after reviewing this article, take a moment to contact Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, to discuss whether to include umbrella insurance in your insurance plan.

How Umbrella Insurance Helps Seniors

Those who reach retirement age know that accidents happen, and we buy insurance to protect against the unexpected. Since Arizona is an “at-fault state,” your auto insurance policy handles your liability for accidents where you have responsibility. Likewise, the liability portion of your home insurance covers injuries that occur in your home.

In most situations, your home and auto policy typically limits cover whatever liability you may have. However, by misfortune, your liability could exceed the standard policy limits, meaning you must pay the difference using your savings or by selling your assets, including your home. These situations can leave you vulnerable since most seniors are past their prime earning years.

Umbrella insurance protects against these situations because it provides coverage when you exceed your standard coverage limits. The good news is that these situations are uncommon. The result is that umbrella insurance is relatively inexpensive, yet it provides an extra layer of financial protection and the comfort of knowing you have protection against almost any misfortune.

Working With Giles & Iten Insurance

Knowing you and your family are protected is comforting in a world where anything can happen. So take a minute to call Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, to discuss the protection offered by umbrella insurance.

The difference between whole life and term life policies

Regarding life insurance, the two most popular types of policies at Giles & Iten Insurance are term life and whole life here in the Surprise, AZ area. While both provide financial protection for you and your family in the event of your death, there are some significant differences between them. 

Term life insurance is a type of policy that offers coverage for a predetermined length of time, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If you die during the term of the policy, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit. These policies are more cost-effective than whole-life policies because they don’t build up cash value over time.

In comparison, whole life insurance provides lifelong coverage – so long as premiums are paid on time – and builds up cash value over time. If you cancel the policy, you will receive a portion of the accumulated cash value as a return premium. Whole-life policies are more expensive than term-life policies because they offer lifelong coverage and accumulate cash value. 

Ultimately, which type of policy is best for you depends on your individual needs and lifestyle. Before making any decisions about purchasing either type of policy, speak with an experienced agent who can help assess your situation and make recommendations accordingly.

For more information or to speak to an agent about what type of policy is best for you, call us at Giles & Iten Insurance today. We are proud to serve the Surprise, AZ area and would be happy to help you find a policy that meets your needs and budget.

Top Three Risks For Teen Drivers

Putting your teen on the road to drive can be a nerve-racking experience. Here at Giles & Iten Insurance, we want to help parents in Suprise, AZ, and the surrounding areas learn better ways to prepare their teens for driving. Keep reading to learn more about the top three risks for teen drivers. 

Texting and Driving

Although you have probably heard this a million times, texting and driving is still one of the top risks for teens. Teens struggle to understand how distracting texting or using a phone while driving can be. It is essential that you keep a running dialogue going with your teen concerning this danger. 

Distracted Driving

Although texting is a considerable risk, it is not the only way your teen might get distracted while driving. Having other teens in the vehicle can also be a huge distraction. It is important that you enforce smart rules concerning who can be in the vehicle with your teen while they are still becoming confident drivers. 

Speeding 

Teens are almost hardwired to push limits, including the speed limit. It would be best to have hard and fast consequences for speeding violations. Getting a ticket may not be enough to deter your teen from speeding effectively. Make sure that consequences are fair and meaningful. 

Substance Use 

Although not as common as some of the risks mentioned above, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also be a huge risk for teen drivers. Be sure your teen understands the immediate and long-term consequences of these actions. 

If you would like to learn about auto insurance, please get in touch with us at Giles & Iten Insurance, serving Surprise, AZ, and the surrounding areas. 

Protect Your Bottom Line From Unexpected Setbacks With Commercial Insurance

No business is immune from the occasional setback. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a slip and fall on your premises, or a lawsuit from a disgruntled customer, commercial insurance in Surprise, AZ can help protect your business from the financial ruin of these unexpected events. 

What is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance is property and casualty insurance that helps protect businesses from financial losses resulting from accidents, natural disasters, theft, and lawsuits. 

Many types of commercial insurance policies are available, and the coverage they provide will vary depending on the insurer. Some common types of coverage include: 

  • Property damage: This covers repairs or replacement costs for damaged property belonging to the business, such as buildings, equipment, inventory, and furniture. 
  • Business interruption: This covers lost income and expenses incurred due to having to suspend operations due to an insured event. 
  • Liability: This covers costs associated with third-party injuries or property damage caused by the business’s negligence. 
  • Professional liability: This covers errors or omissions made by doctors, lawyers, and accountants. 

At Giles & Iten Insurance Agency, our experienced agents can help you find the right commercial insurance policy for your Surprise, AZ business to ensure it has the proper protection.

Why Do I Need Commercial Insurance? 

No matter how well you run your business, there’s always the potential for something to go wrong. And if you’re not correctly insured, you could be left footing the bill for damages or legal fees that could easily bankrupt your company. 

Commercial insurance can help give you peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way. And if something does happen, having commercial insurance can help ensure your business has the financial resources it needs to get back up and running quickly. 

Contact Giles & Iten Insurance today to get started!

Five Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

Ready for summer in Surprise, AZ? You might be, but your home needs a little help! In addition to finding a good insurance policy through Giles & Iten Insurance, you also need to take a few steps to weatherproof your home.

Here are a few ways to prepare your home for the summer heat.

1. Insulation

Adding an additional insulative layer can help you to lower your energy bills because the air conditioner won’t need to run as frequently. The good news is that you may not even need to do this for every area of your home, so you can also save on the upfront cost of insulation.

2. Air Filter

Your home’s air filter needs to be replaced before summer starts. Why? Collected debris can reduce the amount of air that can flow freely throughout your home, which could mean that the air conditioner needs to stay on longer than necessary.

3. Ceiling Fans

During warmer months, it’s best to rotate your ceiling fans counterclockwise. This will help direct the airflow downward and optimize the cool air distribution in each room when your AC is on.

4. Thermostat

Be sure to adjust your thermostat before temperatures rise to ensure your air conditioner is functioning correctly.

5. Cleaning

With all of the additional airflow introduced into your home during the summer, you will want to clean off excess dust around your home so that you aren’t sneezing whenever the fan is on.

Summer will be blazing hot in Surprise, AZ! After your home is ready for summertime, be sure to contact Giles & Iten Insurance for more information about homeowners insurance.