Things to Do in Dallas

As the weekend is finally here, it's time to think of fun things to do. Since we've already mentioned things to do in Austin, we found that we should broaden ourselves to other cities as well. This time we're talking about Dallas. It's a huge city, so there must be lots to do, right?

Some of our favorites include:

John F. Kennedy Memorial and Dealey Plaza: If you're even slightly interested in history, this a cool place to check out. The Memorial (also The Sixth Floor Museum) hosts items to remember his life and tell his story, while Dealey Plaza is the site of his assassination.

Dallas Arts District: This is the largest urban arts district in the whole country. There are many things to do here including shops, museums, and performances. Check out the FREE Dallas Museum of Art if you go. 

NorthPark and Galleria: While shopping isn't every person's favorite thing to do, these malls are interesting to experience. NorthPark hosts several different art collections and the Galleria has it's own ice skating rink. 

To check out more fun things to do in Dallas, click here!

Umbrella Insurance - What is it?

What is an umbrella policy? 
An umbrella policy extends all of your current liability coverage on your homeowners policy up to another $1, $2, or $5 million. In the event that you get sued, this ensures you extra coverage. 

If you're like most people, you probably think umbrella insurance is just for big corporations or high-income households - but you couldn't be more wrong. This type of insurance is a great idea, because you never know when an unexpected event will happen; for example, a neighbor getting hurt on your property. Many suits today settle for far more than the amount covered on most homeowner's policies. 

To help put this is perspective, let us tell you about a time one of our clients was very grateful to have their umbrella policy. They were having some friends over one winter night to sit in their hot tub. Unexpectedly, one of their guests fell from the top of the hot tub (10 ft up in the air) and landed on the icy ground. This caused their guest to become paralyzed. Thankfully, the owners of the house and hot tub had an umbrella policy to help pay for the medical bills and such for their dear friend. (Also, she is doing better and hopes to race again as she was a triathlete.) 

You never know when something bad or unexpected is going to occur in your life, so it is always better to be safe than sorry. As these policies are offered at such a low cost with such a great benefit, it only makes sense to look more into this coverage. If you are interested in getting a quote for an umbrella policy, contact our office today by phone (877) 892-4565, email ScottReed@Shop2Insure.com, or visit our website!

Children's Miracle Network

As someone who loves the Children's Miracle Network and all they stand for, I found that it was necessary to share the great things of this organization with you. Since 1983, Children Miracle Network hospitals have been raising money to help any and every child that walks in their doors. The donations that they receive go toward research, training, equipment and uncompensated care.

Growing up, my school and I would go visit the children to either play games or read to them. While they were going through difficult times, each child was happy with the way they were being taken care of. Every hospital is built and designed to be welcoming to children. At the end of the day, all these hospitals want to do it save kids' lives.

There are several Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Texas ranging from Austin and Dallas to Beaumont and El Paso. When you make a donation, the network sends it to the closest hospital to you to ensure that their needs are met.

To learn more about the Children's Miracle Network and what they do, go to their website.
If you're interested in donating, volunteering, or fundraising, click here!


-Lauren Ross
Marketing Manager

What is an Independent Agent?

Being an independent agency, like we are, includes many advantages to our clients. We work with 10+ different insurance companies that offer many different coverages and premiums. This means that when it is time for renewal and you are not happy with your rates, we can easily go out and shop you with our other companies. To get a better understanding of what this means, I have created a scenario below - one as an independent agency and one as a captive agent (ex: State Farm). 

Say your auto renewal has just come out with Company A for 15% higher than what you were paying before ($1,300 annually). Because of this, you reach out to your agent to see if there is anything they can do for you. 

Independent Agent: 

We see the significant increase in premium and go shop your rates with our multiple other companies. While we are looking for low premiums, we are also searching for identical coverage levels to be consistent. After shopping rates, we find the top 3 rates listed below. 

Company B: $1,113 annually

Company C: $1,009 annually

Company D: $625 biannually (or $1,250 annually) 

We provide these rates and you let us know which one you are interested in; most likely, Company C. After that, we issue your policy and you're good to go! 

Captive Agent: 

They see that your renewal has increased, but as they only offer one company that is the only rate they can offer you. Oftentimes, clients believe that what their captive agent offers them is the only option. Although, there are many different insurance companies out there that can offer the same amount of coverage if not more. 

After providing examples of both types of agents, it is obvious to see that independent agencies truly want what's best for their clients: low premiums and good coverage. If you're interested in receiving quotes from us, give us a call at (877) 892-4565 or send us an email to ScottReed@Shop2Insure.com.

You can also click here for a home quote and here for an auto quote!  

FREE Things to Do in Austin This Summer

When summer rolls around, it's only natural to want to go do fun things with our family and friends. However, it isn't always feasible to afford. To help with this ongoing issue, we decided to look up the top FREE things to do in Austin. Yes, I said FREE!

Some of our favorites included in the article are:

Congress Bats: There are about 1,500,000 bats living under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Get there early and see the bats come out the bridge. It is truly an amazing sight!

Hope Outdoor Gallery: Take pictures by the ever-changing graffiti and even create some of your own art! Bring your own spray paint or buy some by a vendor at the Gallery.

Mount Bonnell: Hike up this beautiful mountain that will lead you to one of the best views in Austin. You can even bring a picnic to enjoy along with the view. 

To check out the rest of the top free things to in Austin, click here!

What You Need to Know About Auto Insurance

Oftentimes when we speak to clients regarding their auto policies, we find that they are not aware of all that is covered on their Texas Auto Policy or what coverages mean. While having auto insurance is required by state law, it is important to understand what all the numbers and abbreviations mean when buying insurance. Below, we have outlined the different types of coverages that are required and/or optional with a brief description. 

Liability Coverage: This helps protect you and your assets in the event that you cause an injury to others or damage the property of others with your vehicle. Bodily Injury Liability covers you if it is found that you are responsible for an accident in which someone is hurt or killed. Property Damage Liability covers the damage your vehicle caused to someone else's property. 
As this is a required coverage, the state minimum for liability coverage is 30/60/25. This means that $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury with $25,000 for property damage. 

Uninsured Motorists/Underinsured Motorists Coverage: This covers you, other drivers on the policy, and passengers in your car if you are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist or if the other driver did not have enough insurance to cover your bills, up to you policy's dollar limits. 
*If you do not want this coverage, you must reject it in writing as it is recommended by the state*

Medical Payments Coverage: This covers the cost of doctors, hospitals, and funeral expenses for you and/or your passengers that result from an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
*This is not a required coverage*

Personal Injury Protection Coverage: This coverage is the same as medical payments coverage (above), but it also covers 80% of lost income and the cost of hiring a caregiver for an injured person. Something to keep in mind with this coverage is that it only pays up to the dollar amount chosen. Insurance companies must offer you $2,500 in coverage, but you can certainly buy more. 
*If you do not want PIP coverage, you must reject it in writing*

Collision (Damage to Your Car) Deductible: This pays for the damage to your own auto as the result of colliding with another vehicle or object. Your car is covered no matter who caused the accident. 

Comprehensive (Physical Damage Other than Collision) Deductible: This pays for damage to your auto caused by something other than a collision. This includes theft and vandalism, and disasters such as fire, flood, and hail. 

*With the Collision and Comprehensive Deductibles, it isn't necessary to have them. However, we always recommend having this coverage with newer vehicles. 

Below are some optional coverages that are nice to have. 
Towing and Labor Coverage: This pays the towing charges when your car cannot be driven. It also pays for labor charges, such as someone changing your tire at the place where your car is broken down.  
Rental Reimbursement Coverage: This pays a set daily amount for a rental car if your car is stolen o ris being repaired due to damage covered by your policy. 

As you can see, there are many different coverages that insurance companies offer. Give us a call at (877) 892-4565  or send us an email to ScottReed@Shop2Insure.com and we can go over your policy to see if there is any kind of coverage that you are missing out on! 

For an auto quote from us, click here!