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Classic Car FAQs

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Finding the right insurance coverage will be an important part of your classic car hobby. Classic cars are not valued the same as regular cars, so insurance is an important consideration. At Smoller Insurance Agency, serving Boston, MA, we can help you make the best insurance choices. Keep reading to learn more about classic car coverage. 

Classic Car FAQs 

Can I Use A Regular Auto Policy?

You can use a regular auto policy for your classic vehicle, but this type of policy may not provide you with the proper amount of coverage. A classic vehicle carries a value that is far different from a regular vehicle. In order to get the amount of coverage that is appropriate, you will need classic car insurance. 

How Is Insurance Coverage Determined?

The only way to determine the coverage amount for a classic vehicle is to sit down with an insurance representative. This professional is trained to evaluate the true value of the vehicle. After this evaluation, an amount of coverage will be set. 

What Factors Will Be Considered?

There are many factors that affect the value of a classic vehicle. The age and model of the car will be the first consideration.  Any improvements that have been made to the car will also be considered. This is where you will want to share with the insurance agent the money you have invested in the vehicle. The last factor will be the value of the vehicle in local collector markets. This, again, is very different from the market value of regular cars. 

All of this information will be collected and a coverage amount will be determined for you. 

If you would like to learn more about classic car insurance, or any of our other insurance products, please contact us at Smoller Insurance Agency, serving Boston, MA and the surrounding areas. 

Recreational Insurance Overview

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Smoller Insurance Agency has a tradition of excellence. We proudly serve the Boston, MA community. We recognize the difficulty in searching for reliable insurance coverage. We strive to simplify the process for our clients so that they can live comfortable lives. We are committed to helping you find the necessary coverage to protect your assets.

Recreational Insurance Facts

Boston, MA provides year-round opportunities for residents to use their recreational vehicles. You can go boating during warm summers. Fall and Spring are popular seasons for many residents to go exploring in their RVs. The harsh winter conditions also provide the opportunity for you to pull out your snowmobile and enjoy some fun. Regardless of the type of recreational vehicle you have, there are still risks involved with operating these assets. If you lose control of your RV or snowmobile, you can cause substantial damage, injuring yourself and others. Recreational insurance provides protection while you’re using these assets. Collision coverage protects you if your recreational asset suffers damage in a collision. Maybe your RV collides with another driver, or you run into a pole while riding your snowmobile. Recreational insurance covers those potential repairs. Comprehensive coverage steps in if your asset is stolen or vandalized. You are also covered if your asset is damaged due to a natural disaster. Maybe you’re camping, and multiple dents impact your RV due to flying debris from a storm.

Liability coverage protects you if you cause property damage or injure someone with your recreational asset. You can also amend your policy to include emergency assistance. You’ll be protected if your recreational asset breaks down and you need urgent service.

Smoller Insurance Agency Will Help You Cover Your Asset

Contact us today to learn more information about recreational insurance.  

Introduction to Renter’s Insurance

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Introduction to Renter’s Insurance

When you rent a home in Boston, MA, whether an apartment, condo, or house, you need to obtain insurance for it. You might think that your landlord’s insurance covers everything, but Smoller Insurance Agency wants you to understand that it doesn’t cover your personal items or your liability.

You need renter’s insurance to cover your personal items and liability for accidents that happen within your living area. Your landlord’s insurance only covers the structure and his liability for accidents that happen in public areas of the building.

For example, if someone fell in your living room and broke their leg, your renter’s insurance would cover it. However, if someone fell down the front steps of the apartment building you live in, your landlord’s insurance policy covers the liability.

Your renter’s policy covers everything inside your apartment, condo, or house. If a storm breaks a window, your landlord’s policy pays for the window. However, your renter’s policy pays for the damage to your couch that got wet when the rain came in through the broken window.

Renter’s insurance is one of the eight types of home insurance. The HO-1 to HO-8 policies each have a different use. Renter’s applies to any type of leased living space, while you would have a different type of HO policy if you owned the condo as opposed to a house. A renter’s policy covers any type of rental.

Contact Smoller Insurance Agency serving Boston, MA, to obtain renter’s insurance to protect your valuables. It would otherwise cost you thousands of dollars to replace your clothing, computer, smartphone, stereo, TV, and other personal property.

A Look At The Key Benefits Of Motorcycle Insurance

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Smoller Insurance Agency assists Boston, MA residents. For over 40 years, we have helped our clients protect their hard-earned assets. We sit down with our clients so that we can assess their individual situations. This allows us to offer them flexible policies tailored to their individual needs. We are confident that we can help you find coverage that evolves as your needs change.

The Key Benefits Of Motorcycle Insurance

Motorcycles are cool assets. You have the freedom to travel around Boston, MA and experience nature at the same time. However, there are a lot of risks associated with operating a motorcycle. That’s why motorcycle insurance is an asset. Motorcycle insurance covers you in emergency situations. You are covered if the bike suffers damage colliding with an object. You can add guest passenger coverage to treat your passenger if they suffer an injury in the collision. Guest passenger coverage will take care of their medical bills.

Sometimes, mistakes happen. Liability coverage protects you if you are held responsible for hurting someone or causing damage. Liability coverage is especially important if you ride your motorcycle through highly populated urban areas. You can amend your policy to add extra coverage. Emergency roadside assistance covers you if your motorcycle runs out of fuel or suffers a mechanical breakdown. You can also add storage coverage, which protects your motorcycle during the months when you aren’t using it. If you have a high-end motorcycle, you may need to amend your policy to add extra coverage. Luxury motorcycles are huge investments, so adding an extra layer of coverage is beneficial.

Smoller Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about motorcycle insurance.

Wreckage and Boat Insurance

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Are you in the market for boat insurance? Speak to Smoller Insurance Agency serving the area of Boston, MA to find out more about the boat insurance options available to you.

Boat insurance is there to protect your watercraft assets when homeowners insurance is no longer sufficient or suitable for protecting these types of investments. One of the risks of being a boat owner is having an accident, resulting in property damage and injury.  Accidents can happen on the road while transporting your boat, while moored or while you are on the water with friends. If you are on the water, then sinking and wreckage are possible in the case of a severe accident.

Boat or watercraft insurance covers two main areas, and these are loss and liability. You can insure your boat and its fixtures against accidental physical loss in one of three ways.

  • Actual cash value – the cost of replacing or repairing your boat less depreciation
  • Market Value – what it would sell for on the open market
  • Replacement cash value – the cost of replacing or repairing your boat.

Liability insurance provides financial protection if you are liable for the injury of a third party or their property. This may include when your boat is wrecked,  causing environmental damage from fuel and oil leaks. Being legally liable for property damage and injury is expensive. Make sure you are covered.

These two aspects of your insurance work together to cover you if your boat is accidentally wrecked. When reviewing or taking out a policy, it is worthwhile to check the terms for if your boat is wrecked or has to be salvaged, and it may require special equipment and cleaning efforts.

Boat insurance is there to mitigate any loss you may suffer from an accident, so don’t get caught in the wet! Take action and speak to Smoller Insurance Agency serving Boston, MA, today!

3 Advantages of Flood Insurance

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When floods strike, you can be sure that there will be loss and damage to property. Fortunately, you can avoid out-of-pocket repairs by investing in flood insurance from Smoller Insurance Agency of Boston, MA.

Regrettably, most homeowners don’t have flood insurance. Some think that home insurance protects them against floods only to discover the opposite when filing a claim. Others fail to buy flood insurance, hoping that the federal government will declare floods in their area a national disaster.

Are you thinking about flood insurance? You are on the right track. Here are the benefits you will accrue when you purchase this coverage.

Protects your dwelling

When you purchase flood insurance from NFIP, you get dwelling coverage of up to $250,000. Of course, if you opt for a private insurer, you can get a higher coverage limit. Flood insurance covers the following on your building:

  • Electrical and plumbing system
  • Air conditioning system
  • The building, including the foundation
  • Permanently fixed carpets

Since water damage can be expensive, financing flood damage from your pocket can drain your savings. Thankfully, with flood insurance, repair bills after flood damage are your insurer’s headache.

Protects your assets/contents

NFIP offers contents coverage of up to $100,000 and is supposed to cover the below:

  • Personal stuff, including furniture, electronics, and clothing
  • Carpeting that isn’t permanently fitted
  • Portable air conditioners, microwaves, and so on

Because it has taken you years to accumulate your assets, it would be devastating to lose them through floods. However, this can’t be the case when you have flood insurance.

For peace of mind

Who doesn’t like a peace of mind? Unfortunately, you can’t sit pretty in your home when you know that any bout of floods will set you back hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in repairs. 

Luckily, flood insurance can take care of your worries.

Buy flood insurance today!

Would you like to protect your Boston, MA home with flood insurance? Would you please talk to Smoller Insurance Agency for an affordable quote?

How does condo insurance differ from home insurance?

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Condo living is a great way to break into the housing market. It offers many of the same benefits as traditional home ownership and some additional perks as well. Insuring your condo is very similar to insuring a single-family home with a few unique twists. At Smoller Insurance Agency in Boston, MA, we have the experience you expect from an independent insurance agency. We will help you to make sure your condo has the correct amount of insurance. 

With a condo, you share walls and other parts of the building with your neighbors. These common areas are not something that you personally are responsible for insuring. Your condo has a condo or homeowners association that holds a Master Condo Policy. This policy insures the common areas in your building and in the complex. How far into your unit is covered depends on the type of policy your association has. It is up to you as a unit owner to know what coverage the association has and what you need to have. 

When it comes to home insurance, you are responsible for your entire home. As a condo owner, you may be covered by the Master Policy for all the fixtures in your home, but not for any upgrades you have made from the original basic unit. 

When it comes to personal content and liability coverage, homes and condos within the unit are basically the same. In a condo, if someone is injured outside of your unit, that is the condo association’s problem. 

With a condo, you will also have the option of purchasing loss assessment coverage. If the condo association determines that the roof needs to be replaced, all owners will owe part of the cost. This insurance will protect you from having to pay this assessment out of pocket. 

Contact Smoller Insurance Agency in Boston, MA to discuss your condo insurance needs. 

Auto Insurance Tips

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When it comes to shopping for car insurance in Boston, MA, there are a few tips that may help you purchase the best coverage available. Before buying auto insurance, do some research and shop around to find the best policy to fit your vehicle and driving needs. Those with questions should reach out to Smoller Insurance Agency to discuss auto insurance policies and coverage needs.

Compare Insurance Policies

Before purchasing an auto insurance policy, it is best to shop around and learn about your options. Ask your agent about different policies and coverage options available and costs. Additionally, call other insurance companies to compare prices for similar policies.  

Consider Deductibles

If you want lower insurance premiums, consider purchasing a policy with a higher deductible. These policies have lower premiums but require more out of your pocket should you get in an accident or have to file a claim. 

Determine State Laws

Before buying auto insurance, be informed about state laws dictating the required coverage amount. Those wanting minimal coverage must at least get the state-required minimum. Check with your local DMV or insurance agent for specifics on auto insurance laws. 

Drop Coverage 

Consider dropping coverage on older cars you are no longer driving or minimally drive. Drop the collision and comprehensive coverage to the minimum on older cars because replacing or repairing is generally not as expensive as if they were new. 

Look for Discounts

Ask your insurance agent what forms of discounts are available that can be applied to your auto insurance policy. Standard discounts include good student, low mileage, multi-car, multi-policy, and good driver. 

When needing car insurance in Boston, MA, shop around and compare all of your options. Then give the Smoller Insurance Agency a call to discuss how they can help you with your insurance needs. 

How commercial insurance protects small businesses

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Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. The Small Business Administration estimates that 99.9% of businesses in the US are small businesses. A small business has less than 1500 employees. Many small businesses are much smaller and 89% have fewer than 20 employees. Owning a small business comes with lots of risks and having the right commercial insurance can protect your business from some of the risks you face. At Smoller Insurance Agency in Boston, MA, we are family-owned and operated. We believe in giving our customers the level of service they expect and deserve. 

Protects your building and equipment

Bad things happen. A fire, broken pipe, or theft can devastate your business. Commercial property insurance not only covers the physical building but also all your equipment inside. This makes it helpful for renters as well as owners of the building. If you lose your machinery, office equipment, inventory, raw materials, and records, commercial property insurance can help you to get back in business quicker or at all. 

Protects your assets

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to being sued. Protecting your assets is important. Commercial liability insurance offers that protection. It offers coverage that will pay a judgment against you as well legal expenses associated with that judgment. 

Protects your vehicles

If your business owns any vehicles, they need to be covered by commercial auto insurance in Massachusetts. The requirements are 20/40/5. 

Workers compensation

Most states require employers to cover their employees with workers’ compensation insurance. Massachusetts requires all employers no matter how many employees you have or how many hours they work to cover them with workers’ compensation insurance. 

At Smoller Insurance Agency in Boston, MA, our team is committed to providing the highest level of service and making sure that we are there for our customers when they need us.

Does home insurance cover weather damage

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Anyone who lives in New England knows that the weather can be very unpredictable. A common saying is that if you don’t like the weather you are having, wait a few minutes, it will change. Hot summers and cold winters are par for the course. Fall and spring are no picnic either. Having home insurance that can protect your investment is vital. In Boston, MA, Smoller Insurance Agency offers the personalized service that only a family-owned and operated independent insurance agency can offer.

Simply stated, many types of weather damage are covered by home insurance. In Massachusetts, the risk from hurricanes is rather small. On average one or two hurricanes make landfall on the east coast every year and of those, only about 3% reach Massachusetts. However, when they do reach this part of the country they can cause devastating damage. In 2019, hurricane Dorian brushed Cape Cod with tropical storm strength winds. If you worry about hurricanes, make sure that coverage is included with your home insurance.

Violent summer storms are probably a bigger concern to most residents since they happen with regular frequency. They come with lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and strong winds. They can take down trees and do major damage to your roof and other parts of your home.

Keep in mind, that flooding caused by severe storms and hurricanes or any other weather is not covered by home insurance. You need to have specific flood insurance to be protected.

Winter storms can cause a lot of damage. Your home insurance protects your home from most damage including damage from frozen water or snow in gutters etc. as long as the damage is not caused by lack of maintenance, you should be able to count on it.

Smoller Insurance Agency is here to answer any questions you may have about weather coverage and your home. Always read your policy for specific details.