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Sandvik Insurance Agency Blog

Buying a New Car

10/27/2014

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Things to keep in mind when buying a car
Buying a new car is an exciting time — but it can also be stressful. After all, you’re trying to get the best deal on price, while also deciding on the make, model and features you need.

Here at Sandvik Insurance Agency, we can’t really help you become a master negotiator when it comes to buying a car. But we can give you some things to consider when you’re looking around the lot — and when you’re trying to answer the age-old question of “new, or used?” Read on with an open mind, and you might just come to a different decision the next time you’re on the car lot.

New cars

Ah, that new-car smell. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s one of the things that people love about climbing into a brand-new car. And while they make air fresheners that supposedly give you that same smell for your used car, it just doesn’t seem the same, does it? Still, there are other benefits to buying new — and, of course, there are drawbacks as well.

PRO — maintenance: Some manufacturers offer free scheduled                         maintenance for a set period of time after you buy the car, and you likely             won’t need a new battery, tires, etc., for several years after your purchase.

PRO — peace of mind: Your new car may have a warranty for up to 10             years, and also is covered by “lemon laws” that could allow for replacement           or refund if the car has serious defects.

CON — cost: Depending on the make and model, buying a new car is                 almost always more expensive (at least in terms of the purchase price) than         a used car.

It’s also worth noting that if you purchase a new car in its first model year (meaning it’s a new model for the automaker), there won’t be many user reviews available, and data on reliability and repairs will be limited. In addition, sometimes newly introduced cars have some kinks that generally are ironed out by the second and third model years. These aren’t necessarily serious issues, and the warranty should cover them, but in some instances, you and your car could be headed to the shop more than you’d like.

Used cars

Don’t care about the new-car smell? Looking to save some money on your purchase? Well, a used car might be right for you. There are many advantages to buying used, but you’ll want to be a little more careful. After all, it’s hard to know exactly how well the previous owner treated the car. But you can limit your risk with a little bit of work.

PRO — cost: New cars depreciate quickly after they’re purchased. By buying       used, you’re letting someone else take that financial hit over the first few             years of the life of the car.

PRO/CON — reliability: Buying a used car is less of a gamble than it used         to be, particularly with the advent of “certified pre-owned” programs many           automakers now offer. However, used cars generally don’t carry the same             warranties as new cars, even though the original manufacturer’s warranty            is usually transferrable to a second owner.

CON — maintenance: While a used car theoretically shouldn’t need more           frequent maintenance than a new car, you’ll likely need to replace things like         tires, headlights, etc., earlier. And scheduled maintenance                                   probably isn't covered by the automaker.

PRO/CON — history: You’ll need to check the car’s title history to make             sure it hasn't been in a serious accident or salvaged. Ask the dealership to             provide this information, usually from Carfax.

Of course, whichever car you purchase, the important thing is that it’s a good fit for you. Bear in mind that certain makes and models can result in higher insurance costs for you, so feel free to check in with us before you buy.

Have fun shopping — and we’ll see you on the road!
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Preventing Water damage

9/4/2014

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Prevent water from going where it shouldn't
One of the most disheartening experiences is to find flooding or extreme water damage to your treasured home in Minnesota.

At Sandvik Insurance Agency, we know you want to protect what’s important. That’s why we’re offering these tips to help you prevent many of the most common causes of water damage.

Just a little time and some effort can prevent a lot of heartache and hassle.

  • Make sure your water pressure is not set too high. For just $6 or so, you can purchase a gauge that will help you test your pressure for the appropriate level, which should be set between 60 and 80 PSI.
  • Standard hoses on new appliances are not as durable as they used to be. So check your appliances. If they’re rubber, either replace them with longer lasting stainless steel braided hoses or replace them every three years.
  • Keep water from leaking into the walls or floor of your bathroom by replacing cracked tiles and re-grouting when it’s needed.
  • Examine the shingles on your roof. Worn, curled or missing shingles allow water in, so replace them as soon as noticed.
  • Consider buying a water alarm, which can help you find leaks, or automatic shut-off mechanisms, which can help avoid bursts.
  • A lot of water damage occurs when you and your family are away from home.  Make a practice to avoid running the washing machine or dishwasher while you’re out.
  • When you leave for vacations, turn off the water supply to appliances.
  • Keep up maintenance on all appliance hoses, because slow leaks from worn out hoses can cause major damage (and they are not covered under Homeowners insurance).

 At Sandvik Insurance Agency, we hope these pointers will ensure your house stays nice and dry this year!  

Contact Us!

 At Sandvik Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 507-226-8481 or send us a note at contactus@sandvikagency.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
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Condominium Insurance

8/27/2014

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ANSWERING THE 5 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CONDO INSURANCE

Owning a condominium isn’t for everyone, but for those of you looking to downsize a bit, turn over landscaping chores, or retire to warmer climates, a condo can be a great alternative. With fewer responsibilities to worry about and a new set of rules to follow, however, life in a condo may take a bit of adjusting for some people – especially when it comes to purchasing insurance. To help explain some of the most frequently asked questions our policyholders have about condo insurance, Sandvik Insurance Agency put together this helpful guide:

How does condo insurance work?

Because condo owners are ultimately only responsible for the personal space they live in, condo insurance works much differently than homeowners. Whereas homeowners are responsible for insuring the inside and outside of a home (as well as the land it sits on), condo insurance typically only requires owners to insure the interior of their residence. Since owners of a unit do not own the entire condominium complex, the land your condo sits on, the condo’s building structure, and the building’s common areas are all shared by the collective group of condo owners. From an insurance standpoint, individual unit owners typically pay a monthly fee to their homeowners association (HOA) to assume responsibility and cover these common areas.

What are condo owners personally responsible for?

When it comes to determining what condo owners are responsible for insuring themselves, there are usually two different types of master policies:

Bare walls-in: Master policy covers all real property on the interior of the unit, except for the fixtures and appliances (i.e. granite countertops, bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures, and flooring).

All-in: Master policy covers all fixtures, installations, and additions within the interior of the unit. The unit owner is only responsible for personal items.

What will the homeowners association (HOA) cover?

Though condo owners are responsible for insuring their own unit, when something happens to the shared buildings and common areas, the condominium’s HOA takes responsibility. For example, if the building were to sustain damage during a natural disaster, the HOA will make the claim to the carrier and, in turn, they’ll be covered for the loss. However, if there’s a deductible for the claim, that deductible will be split evenly and charged to all unit owners. In other words, if there were a $10,000 deductible and 10 unit owners, each unit owner would be charged $1,000. To learn more about your HOA’s insurance agreement, contact the HOA manager.

What about liability coverage?

Determining who’s responsible for what is easily the most confusing thing about condo insurance. In the case of liability coverage, condo owners will be held responsible if a visitor is injured inside their unit, they accidentally injure someone away from their unit, or they damage someone else’s property. If someone is injured in one of their complex’s common areas (e.g., visitor slips in the pool area), the HOA insurance will typically be responsible.

How much coverage is necessary?

Once condo owners have figured out exactly what is covered under the master policy, it’s time to acquire individual coverage for their unit. One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking a home inventory. Going through your items of value (e.g., TV, computer, jewelry, furniture, appliances, etc.), take pictures and make sure you write down the item’s name, manufacturer, model/serial number, date purchased, and purchase price. By writing down as much information as possible, your insurance agent will have an easier time assessing how much coverage is needed, as well as assessing how much compensation you’d receive in case something were to happen.

Whether you only use your condo for vacation, or you live there year ’round, it’s very important that you’re familiar with your condominium’s insurance policies. Though this resource is intended to serve as a helpful guide, policies vary from association to association, and insurance carrier to insurance carrier. To learn more about properly protecting your condo, contact your local independent insurance agent today! 
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    826 S Broadway
    Rochester, MN 55904
    contactus@sandvikagency.com

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Sandvik Insurance Agency
826 S Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 226-8481
(855) 726-3845
contactus@sandvikagency.com

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Serving the Rochester MN area, including Byron MN, Chatfield MN, Dodge Center MN, Dover MN, Eyota MN, Hayfield MN, Kasson MN, Lewiston MN, Mantorville MN, Oronoco MN, Pine Island MN, Plainview MN, St Charles MN, Spring Valley MN, Stewartville MN, Wabasha MN, Zumbro Falls MN, Zumbrota MN, and surrounding areas.
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