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September 7, 2018 By QC Freequote

Full Coverage vs. Liability

Full Coverage vs. Liability

Are you in the market for auto insurance but can’t decide between full coverage or liability only? Or, maybe you’re still trying to decide what the difference is between the two. Fear not, below I have lightly explained some of the simplest ways full coverage and liability insurance differ.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is required by law when owning a vehicle and will only cover damages you’ve caused to somebody else. For example, if you get into an accident and you are found at fault and legally liable, you are expected to cover any bodily injury and property damage you have caused. If you are properly insured your insurance carrier should cover the damages incurred. However, another thing to keep in mind is your liability limits. The liability limits you choose is the maximum amount your insurance carrier is liable to pay if you are found at fault in a covered accident.

As an example, If you choose to carry the state minimum liability limits, 20/40/15 in the state of Iowa, your insurance is only responsible to cover property damage up to $15,000. If you were to total a car with these liability limits and the property damages you’ve incurred are $50,000, you are now responsible to pay for the remaining $35,000 of property damages. The same rule applies when dealing with bodily injury coverages. An important thing to note about liability coverage is that it does not cover damages to your own vehicle.

Full Coverage

Having full coverage on your car is an optional coverage if you own your vehicle. If you are leasing or purchasing a new car with a loan, full coverage is then required from the dealership or your loss payee.

When choosing full coverage you have the option to pick your deductible, most common being the $500 deductible for both comp & collision. Having a $500 deductible means that before your insurance will pay out for any damage done to your vehicle, you are required to pay the stated $500 deductible first. Full coverage is the only coverage that will pay for damages done to your vehicle if you were to get into an accident or have a comprehensive claim such as, hail or theft. While full coverage is the costliest of coverages it is an option that should be considered when determining which coverages are best for you.

When picking your auto insurance coverages make sure you are with an agent/insurance company that will help you better understand the options you have available to you. Understand what you are getting and what is being covered.

Disclaimer: information provided in this article is meant to give a rough explanation between full coverage and liability only. Every accident is different with numerous circumstances. How an insurance company will cover an accident varies.

August 28, 2018 By QC Freequote

Choosing the Best Contractor

Are you in the market for a contractor? Trying to choose the right one can be overwhelming. Progressive made it simpler by supplying you with questions to ask to ensure you hire the right contractor for you!

— Check out Progressive’s article below on questions to ask when choosing a contractor or visit their website for yourself!

Getting answers up front is always a good idea when considering contract work. Ask the contractors directly if they foresee any challenges about the house or structural system before you agree to work together. https://t.co/PaWCjJtCyj

— Progressive (@progressive) July 25, 2018

10 questions to ask when choosing a contractor

Ensure the right fit by interviewing general contractors about these topics that go beyond the basic

Homeowners starting their first remodeling project have to make their way through what can be an overwhelming amount of information and decision making. One of the first and most important decisions is selecting an architect or designer to design the project and a general contractor to build it. Homeowners often interview potential contractors but are at a loss for what to ask aside from the obvious questions about licenses, bonds and insurance. Here are a few more questions to help you with your selection.

Contemporary Exterior Contemporary Exterior

1. How is your company structured?

General contracting businesses can be organized in a number of ways. Understanding who owns the company and who is assigned to tasks will give you an idea of the company’s capacity to handle paperwork, manage your project and provide you with the service you expect.

2. Who from your company will be at my house each day?

This could be a company owner for a few hours or the whole day, or a lead carpenter or superintendent full time, or a lead carpenter plus a project manager for several hours a week. Understanding staffing will help you get a handle on how job security will be handled and how much attention your project will get from staff at the jobsite and in upper management. It’ll also help you understand the skill level of those involved.

3. How do you handle scheduling?

This is an open-ended question that can cover everything from how the contractor schedules staff and subcontractors to how a schedule is communicated to you. Many contractors use a task-based schedule with a start and end date to schedule not only your project, but the project that is scheduled after yours. Having a copy of this will help set expectations about sequencing and help you understand when material decisions will need to be made.

4. Who will communicate with me once the project starts?

In some companies the same person who makes the initial visit and estimates your project is also the person who performs the work. In others there may be separate salespeople, estimators, project managers, superintendents and a crew of carpenters who perform the work onsite. Understanding how information about your project is handed off from one employee to another or kept track of by a single employee or owner is important. Know how the company works so you can compare it to others and select the one whose system best aligns with your needs.

5. Is my project the kind you like to do?

This is a great question that very few people ask. The answer will tell you if your project is larger or smaller than typical for the company and if it has processes in place to manage your project well. Management of kitchen and bath projects is different than management of other projects. Some companies specialize just in kitchens and baths, and some are set up for projects of all sizes. Knowing you will get full attention from the contractor for your project — whatever the size — is essential.

6. Deal-breaker questions

Will you let me do part of the work? Can you leave the bath unfinished? Will you let me supply all of the materials?

If you want any of these or other things that don’t leave the contractor in control of the materials and able to complete the project in its entirety, make sure you discuss it up front. Many contractors will take on projects only for which they do all the work from start to finish, but some are more flexible. Go down this path very carefully so you are clear about what the contractor is and is not finishing.

7. What do you subcontract?

Things vary by state, but usually a licensed subcontractor does work that is limited to one or two trades, while general contractors can have their own staffs and subcontract out to other companies for some work. Knowing what work the contractor will do with his or her own forces and with subcontractors will give you a sense of how the contractor runs the business and the skills the employees will bring to your project. Check with your state licensing board for specifics about contractor licenses in your area.

8. How many projects do you have going at one time?

Generally, the more employees a company has, the more projects it will be able to run concurrently. Asking this question will open up a conversation about the number of employees the company has and how multiple ongoing projects are handled. A follow-up question is, Will the person assigned to manage your project be managing other projects at the same time?

9. What can I expect at the end of the project in the way of paperwork and lien releases?

The final paperwork generally does include lien releases, final permit sign-offs and some information about warranties. It can also have as-built drawings showing mechanical locations, photos of the interior of the home before insulation is installed, manuals for installed equipment and a complete list of subcontractors on the project. Ask about this in advance so you know what you will receive and if you’ll need to track something down or document something yourself.

10. Do you have any concerns about what we have planned, or think something might be a problem once we get started?

This question will give you immediate feedback about the feasibility of what you want to do, and if there are any parts of the project that are obvious unknowns with price tags that cannot be easily estimated. Contractors might home in on questions about your existing house and structural system or have some useful feedback about design. Either way, it will yield useful information about what to expect as you move forward.

August 14, 2018 By QC Freequote

Auto Mechanics

Need help finding an auto mechanic? Whether it’s for routine maintenance or collision repair, sooner or later you’re going to want to have an auto mechanic you can trust! Check out Progressive’s latest article on tips to consider when shopping around for a reliable auto shop.

Prices can vary from shop to shop. When calling multiple garages beforehand to compare prices, here are some other questions you can ask. #VehicleMaintenance https://t.co/J1j0k9L3zS

— Progressive (@progressive) August 9, 2018

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