It’s safe to say at some point in your life you’re going to need a self storage unit. With a booming housing market in North Texas, most families homes are selling faster than they can find a new place to live. Requiring them to move into apartments or rental houses for a temporary amount of time. In most cases, you can’t fit everything from your home into an apartment so you end up renting slef storage space. There is a good chance when your renting the storage unit that the manager of the facility will ask if you have self storage insurance. What exactly is self storage insurance? It’s a policy that covers the valuables you are storing at their facility from damage should a disaster occur like a fire, tornado, flood or earthquake. But do I really need a self storage insurance policy?  In most cases, the answer to this question is NO. Your pre-existing homeowners, renters or business insurance should cover any damages caused to your valuables during storage. So if you are currently covered, then you’re safe. Most storage facilities will recommend self storage insurance to their customers as an upsell at their location. They are essentially playing on your fear to boost their bottom line. We must mention that most self storage rental facilities have policies requiring some form on insurance on your valuable prior to rental of a unit. So we recommend bringing in a copy of your existing policy at the time of renting the space. Still not sure if you’re covered? Our agents at Lifelong Insurance would be glad to review your policy with you to determine any gaps you may have. Give us a call today at 469-606-4590.

You have heard the term, but do you really know what it means, and do you need it?I’m talking about Umbrella Insurance. Umbrella Insurance provides additional Liability protection coverage above your auto, home, or other insurance liability limits should it be needed. This protects you in the event you are sued for amounts above the limits of your normal policy. For example, say you have Auto limits of 100,000 property damage and 300,000 per incident. You happen to be driving in an exclusive neighborhood and get into an accident with a brand new Porsche worth $130,000. This is above your normal limit of $100,000 which would leave you personally liable for the additional $30,000. This is the time when your umbrella insurance policy would kick in and cover the additional amount. In another example, you are having a get together at your house and the owner of the company you work for is in attendance. There is an incident that causes the owner to slip down the stairs breaking his back leaving him crippled and unable to work for 1 year while he goes to rehab. You are sued and held liable for his annual salary while he is unable to work. This is above and beyond the limits of your policy. Once again, this is where your umbrella insurance policy kicks in to cover the difference. Other scenarios include: Some of these examples might seem a bit far stretch but they happen, and they can happen to you. The good news is, an Umbrella insurance Policy is very affordable starting at just a few hundred dollars per year for millions in coverage. Give us a call today to see how affordable an Umbrella Insurance Policy is and protect your life savings.

The long awaited time for students and parents alike to take a breather and have some fun. Whether it be skiing through the brisk Colorado air or working on a tan by the Florida coast, spring break is the ultimate time to relax and rejuvenate. However, Spring Break comes with a drawback: home invasions. Break-ins often occur from 6 am to 6 pm, and include car thefts as well! Most often, senior citizens are targeted, however with the advanced use of social media, burglars are spreading out their range of targets. That’s right, posting a selfie of your spring break trip practically gives a burglar the key to your home. Advertising your absence leaves your valuables vulnerable to burglary. No worries, though, because we’ve got some tips to keep your house safe for your return. Make it look like someone is home. Whether you hire a house sitter or invest in some cheap light timers, making it appear as if your house is occupied is sure to deter any potential invader. Get your neighbor to hold your mail. A full mailbox is a sure sign you’ve been out and about for a while. Getting the post office or a neighbor to hold your mail for you will hide the fact that you are gone for spring break. Close and lock all doors, windows, and even your garage. While this may seem obvious, the most often occurrence of theft is an unlocked car or house. Forgetting to lock even one entrance makes it infinitely easier for a thief to get in. So stay safe and double check, and your preventative measure will surely pay off. Wait to Tweet about your travels until you’re back. Although your new glittery shot glass from the Caribbean spring break trip may tempt you to show all your friends, make sure to keep it offline until you are home. If a potential thief sees your snap, they’ve found their target. If you don’t advertise you’re gone, they won’t come for your goods.

With the nearing of summer, the drive for freedom runs through many, and despite the hot Texas heat, summer always holds promise to those both young and old. For the road-tripping types who crave speed and the wind against their face, the question arises as to which classic convertibles could be the chariot of style? Well, we at Lifelong Insurance Agency have some ideas. 10. International Scout: Although frequently overlooked as a “real” convertible, travelling in this Scout will take you to unlimited destinations. 9. 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Duetto Spider: No need to fear this spider, this convertible of Little Italy is not only a fun ride, but is sure to give you a taste of “La Dolce Vita.” 8. 1961 Jaguar: Elegant and fast, this classic cat almost comes with its own mechanic! 7. 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible: Although frequently called “land yachts”, this Lincoln Continental truly proves that size does matter. 6. 1965 Aston Martin: Made famous by James Bond, the Aston Martin is a must try convertible. 5. 1965 Ford Mustang: Easily the most popular of all classic convertibles, there’s no going wrong if you choose to cruise with the ‘Stang. 4. 1967 Corvette: The second-gen Corvette looks like rock and roll on wheels and is one of the most beautiful American cars to date. This is a sure lady-killer. 3. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT: Known for its beauty and value, the Ferrari is another Italian masterpiece worth driving. 2. 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost: Being the first Rolls Royce to top 100 miles an hour, you’ll certainly be rolling. 1. 1969 Ford Bronco: Not that I’m biased, but this is by far the best convertible you will ever get. Trust me, I’m a professional. Rain or shine, make sure that you’re covered this summer with the right insurance for your convertible.  Let us know your favorites!

During the hot sunny weather expected this week, many of us will quickly forget about last week’s record rainfalls. However, for many homeowners, a bright sunny day simply won’t fix their flood ravaged home. This week many homeowners are realizing for the first time that their homeowner’s policy simply doesn’t cover flood damage. For them, this is a devastating blow in an already terrible situation. You might consider yourself lucky if you don’t live in a flood zone and don’t need to worry about this. I thought this too when I bought my home three years ago. I was pleased to hear that I didn’t need flood insurance. Mother Nature would challenge that belief several times. What I didn’t realize then, is that my house is downhill from several other homes in the neighborhood and that water naturally flows downhill. Combine this fact with poor backyard drainage and a large overgrown tree and you have a recipe for flooding. Lots of water with nowhere to go. My saving grace was that I love these storms. I love to watch the lightening and the rain and hail. I’m a NOAA, and weather app junky. It was during one nasty storm that my love of these storms turned to fear. While watching one striking storm in the safety of a well sheltered patio, I notice water lapping up to the top of my foundation. The entire yard was covered in water, grass nowhere to be seen, water quickly approaching the back door within a half inch of beginning to flow into our hardwood floors. I took action by quickly taking out the shovel and spade and attempting to give the water an escape route. My progress appeared to be working only to be foiled by large tree roots running perpendicular to the house and right up to the foundation that completely blocked the water from flowing out into the front yard and into the street gutters. My neighbors must have thought I’d lost it. Hacking away with an axe at tree roots during a thunderstorm in my bright orange raincoat. Well I did manage to create a channel through one of the roots and the water did flow enough to save the day. I’d won that battle, but the war wasn’t over. Over the span of the next few years I ended up paying for that tree to get cut down, having the roots ground up into fine mulch. Then there was the cost of adding rain gutters, and finally adding French drains. At last I could enjoy storm watching once more. That is until last week when the water once again came lapping at my back door again. Maybe, it’s time for flood insurance after all to cover me next time. Ultimately it may be cheaper than the thousands I’ve spent trying to beat Mother Nature? It seems that it’s either that, or new retaining walls, fence, more drainage pipes, and more rain gutters.

Motorcycle Insurance Coverage: A Must Have It’s nearly summer, and with hotter weather on tap, and no rain in the forecast, our attention turns to motorbikes. Just remember that in Texas, motorcycle insurance coverage isn’t a luxury– it’s a necessity. What’s Required Texas requires ALL drivers to be able to provide financial proof of responsibility. Auto insurance carriers often provide motorcycle insurance coverage as either a stand-alone policy or an endorsement to a personal car insurance policy. Options vs. Obligations Texas requires motorcyclists to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, to pay for bodily injury and property damage expenses caused to other people involved in an accident. There are other ways to show financial responsibility beside having insurance, but you generally have to be financially able to pay for the accident yourself to do this. When insuring your bike, you are only required to carry full insurance coverage if you have a lineholder. In addition, uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIM) motorist protection is optional but highly recommended, as part of a motorcyclist’s insurance policy to cover costs for damage caused by another driver who either does not have coverage, or whose insurance is inadequate. What’s the Cost Prices aren’t as large an obstacle as bike customers might think. It’s essential that every biker have motorcycle insurance coverage with both uninsured motorist benefits and underinsured motorist benefits. This is the best way to shield yourself in the event a negligent driver with no insurance, or with low policy limits, cause serious injuries to a biker in an accident. Because so many motorists are underinsured or uninsured, the coverage is inexpensive and necessary. Count on devoting several hundred dollars per year on motorcycle insurance coverage, depending on your perceived level of risk, age, driving record, and the type of bike you ride. Many of our carriers offer discounts for taking a motorcycle safety course. Talk to us today, and protect yourself and your bike, with a solid insurance policy.More motorcycle insurance coverage information…

You might assume that if your college student goes away to school and doesn’t have a car, that you can drop them from your car insurance policy and start saving some money. After all college is expensive enough without paying for extras. However, what if they come back for Holiday breaks and want the car to visit friends? Or, what if they are away at university or college and their friends ask them to be a “designated driver” one night? If your student doesn’t take a car or truck to school, we encourage that you keep car insurance for college students under your policy for a variety of reasons: If they take a vehicle to school, you should have car insurance for college students since it is usually much more expensive for young drivers and students to have their own policy. Be sure to notify us about the new garaging address. Not only do insurance companies prefer that, but it may also save you cash, especially if your student attends college in a less populated area of the state. Full-time college students can usually remain covered on their parents’ auto policy if their primary address is the parents’ house, even if they attend college and university out of state. Make sure that the policy meets the minimum auto liability requirements for that state. Important Note: They’ll need their own auto policy if your student owns the vehicle and holds the title. Remember, you can save on insurance by letting us know, or your insurance agent, if you have a student that will be living more that 100 miles away from home without a car. Even if they are going to have a car, let us know. We’ll gladly evaluate your situation and make sure all coverage is current and adequate.  Call 469-606-4590 to reduce your rates.

Lighten Up! The RV Checklist of what Not to Pack Looking for the best RV checklist? They are abundant online, with lists available for everything from pre and post travel lists, to lists with or without pets. But this is the anti-list, this is the list of items you shouldn’t carry at all. These are the items that only contribute by taking up space, adding unnecessary weight, and simply have no real compelling reason to lug them around. Plan It, and Keep it Simple Planning meals ahead of time is the best way to avoid over packing on foodstuff. Remember, you can always buy more if you run out. Remember, you are camping! Cook pancakes instead of waffles, and think of meals that you can cook in a couple large pots and pans. Bring a place setting for every member of the family, and a handful of silverware. Water you carrying that for?  Keep a small level of liquids in those tanks (to prevent materials from sticking, for instance), as a rule less is definitely more. Unless the trip calls for a secluded, dry camping getaway in Death Valley, you can probably skimp on the fresh water tank by connecting to the campground’s water source. Storage Enhancers Use of extra carrying units such as a roof-mounted storage pod, an auxiliary trailer, or a receiver/hitch-mounted bin for extra items will only feed your over packing desires, worsen aerodynamics and/or gas economy, and make loading/off-loading that much more of a chore. Towing the line What is the point of towing a vehicle behind the motorhome that gets worse fuel mileage than the RV? Switching from that bulky Sport Utility Vehicle to a mid-size will save you countless money at the gas pump and reduce on the RV’s overtime towing duties. Wooden it be better to buy it? As someone who has been gauged more than a few times by that convenient, albeit overpriced stack of bundled firewood for sale at the campground office, the lure to transport my own supply is a constant mental tug of war. My friends, it isn’t worth it. Not only does a pile of fresh-cut lumber mess up storage compartments with grungy, wet splinters, it is too heavy for only a $4 savings. Tools & Tape Bring a basic tool kit and some duct tape. If it is a serious problem get help, if it’s minor ask for help to one of your stall buddies. Heavy Issues Remember, if there’s a lightweight substitute, favor that in its place. Opt for paperbacks over hard cover books, and paper plates instead of the usual dinnerware. Substitute cans instead of bottles, plastic instead of glass. Take items out of their cumbersome packaging and store them in zip-lock bags. You get the idea. Catching Up on Work Leave that “work” stuff back at the office? Turn email notifications off on your cell phone too, no sneak peaks at work emails from cell phones. The Other Lists Now that you know what to avoid bringing, you can check these lists out some of these lists. Drive safely and don’t forget to bring your proof of insurance for the RV with you. http://www.campertrails.com/travel-checklist-7-pet.html http://blog.goodsam.com/rv-travel-checklists http://blog.sunrvresorts.com/?p=83

Lighten Up! The RV Checklist of what Not to Pack Whether you are renting a vacation home in San Francisco or one near South Padre Island, you will want to avoid any vacation rental nightmares. It’s vacation time, and the whole extended family is renting a vacation home near the beach. Three people might be cooking dinner, and each of the three thinks the other two are watching the frying pan on the stove. In minutes, flames are shooting up out of the pan, scorching the walls and producing a good amount of smoke. Thankfully the fire is caught and put out before the whole vacation rentl burns down, but the damage is more than obvious. Clean up and repair work will be costly, and the house’s proprietor will not find this at all humorous. Everyone knows that an insurance company will have to get involved– but whose? Offering vacation rental homes is increasingly popular and easier than ever thanks to services like Air BNB. There are however risks for both the owner and the renter. These include: While Homeowners insurance policies are not exactly the same, nearly all provide Personal Liability Coverage. Most policies will cover fire, explosion or smoke damage to premises rented to or occupied by individuals insured, but not other types of damage. The vacation rental’s home owner may have legal responsibility for a condition in the house that injures a renter or visitor. If so, the owner’s liability insurance should cover related costs and medical expenses. It is wise to have an umbrella policy as this type of policy may cover gaps that a primary policy may not cover. Traveling with Expensive Toys and Bling Your homeowners or renters’ insurance probably has “off premises” coverage. This means that your personal belongings will be covered when you are outdoors- for example, possessions stolen from your car parked outside somewhere or from your vacation house rental. If you tend to travel with high-priced items, such as jewelry, extravagant sports gear or musical devices, you may wish to consider adding a floater insurance to your homeowners or rental policy. This addition to your policy will cover the cost of particular higher-value items, whether you are at your home or outdoors on a vacation. A floater may also take into account “mysterious disappearance,” which basically means that you might be covered in an event where you honestly misplace your belongings or lose that engagement ring in the sand. (Those guys trolling the beach with metal detectors live for those lost treasures.) Actual Cash Value, or Replacement Cost Your belongings will be protected by either an “actual cash value” or “replacement cost” basis. An actual cash value will cover the decreased value that is the depreciated value of the particular item and not what you paid for it initially or what it might cost to replace. On the other hand, replacement cost coverage will cover the cost of replacing the particular item with no depreciation subtracted. Regardless of type of coverage you have, you will still have to pay your deductible first, which will be out of your own pocket, before insurance kicks in. It’s best to bring all variables to our attention, or your agent, and discuss strategies on how you can narrow any insurance gaps that may exist in rental situations. Then all that will be left to do is pack the truck, head to the beach, and enjoy the vacation. Don’t forget the beach ball, and have a great 4th of July weekend!

Lifelong Insurance Agency specializes in collecting and insuring classic cars, so we know how special they are. We assembled a list of the top 10 classic car features we wish would come back. What classic car features do you miss? Car Fins They really need to come back! Imagine a new Toyota Prius with these for 2017. Rear Facing Third Seat With these, you could see that car about to rear end you and warn Dad. Chrome Bumpers Remember polishing these up on Sundays and the feel of solid metal? No more plastic bumpers! Wood Grain Side Panelling Cars just seemed more luxurious with wood side panelling. Vent Windows Who needs A/C when you have vent windows. Hubcaps Who doesn’t miss these, and the sound of them coming off on those sharp turns. Hood Ornaments Wood panelling was nothing compared to a classic hood ornament. Hand Crank Windows Crank up the music, crank down the windows and annoy the cranky neighbors. Full Sized Spares Full-sized spares are one feature we’d really like back. After all who wants to change a tire two times. LAST BUT NOT LEAST… ASHTRAYS Great, not only for smokers, but also for the kid’s gum and food disposal. Share with Lifelong Insurance, your classic car insurer, what your favorite classic features are!