Claims: In the event of a covered claim the insurance company will write the claim check payable to the named insured on the policy. If the policy is for an association/trust they will need to have a bank account in the name of that association/trust in order to cash the claim check.
Inspections: Almost all companies will have a 3rd party inspection company come out within 30 days of a policy being issued to inspect the property. They will make sure that the property is in good shape and calculate a replacement cost estimate to make sure the building coverage on the policy is enough to rebuild the building(s).
Contractors: Certificates of insurance should always be obtained from any company performing work on the property or in any unit to make sure they are properly insured.
Every owner of a condo unit should have an HO-6 Condo Unit-Owner insurance policy. This is to give you coverage for your personal property, personal liability, and loss of use coverage just to name a few.
As a property owner you should also consider adding an Umbrella policy for additional liability coverage.
To prevent frozen pipes, set your thermostat to a warm temperature. If you are leaving town, set it to no lower than 65 degrees.
Make sure that common outdoor areas are properly salted and sanded in the winter to prevent slipping & falling hazards.
Every unit owner should have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of their unit.
Make sure your washer/dryer has stainless steel hoses and you should consider a pan with a drain and/or automatic shut off.
Test your smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Make sure you are changing batteries annually on battery operated devices.
Watch for ice dams in the winter. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds up at the bottom of a roof, trapping snow and melting water behind it. This can allow water to infiltrate the roof. Get in touch with a contractor to fix the problem if you see this developing.
If you have wood burning fireplaces these need to be inspected each year before using. There are roughly 22,300 chimney fires each year in America; a good chimney cleaning can help keep your home from becoming a statistic.
Clean gutters and check roof each Fall & Spring. Remove or have an insured professional remove all debris that can trap snow and water during the winter from the gutters.
Outdoor grills must be 10 feet or more away from all structures the property.
When hiring anyone to do work on your property make sure you obtain a certificate of insurance proving that they have a liability insurance policy.
When determining the HOA budget consider adding 15-20% to each unit’s dues so that the association can build up a reserve account for emergencies and maintenance.
For the last few years, I have been buying properties in the Boston area, remodeling them and selling them as condo units. Chris and the Guarino Insurance Agency staff has helped me tremendously when it has come to insuring the properties that I buy. Their expertise in advising and setting up Builders’ Risk & Liability policies for me during construction, and then a Master Condo Insurance Policy once construction was completed, has been instrumental in making sure that I have been covered properly over the years. Since I found the service so helpful at the Guarino Insurance Agency, I decided to insure other things, such as my own home, and I have been just as satisfied with their personal insurance service as their business/commercial insurance service. Overall, I am happy to say that The Guarino Insurance Agency has met my needs and clearly exemplifies what an insurance agency should be doing to keep their customers satisfied.
- Dave M
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It was through a high-praising recommendation that I came to the Guarino Insurance Agency. I was thinking about getting a life insurance policy and was completely unsure of how to go about it. Chris assisted me and answered the (at least) 100 questions I had. Now a couple of years, a life insurance policy, condo/homeowners policy, auto policy, and about a million questions later, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I have recommended Chris and the Guarino Insurance Agency to many friends and family and will continue to do so!
- Lisa C
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There comes a time in every man’s life when you realize that you’ve got to take the plunge. So when I finally did buy that engagement ring, the first thing I did was call my fellow college alumnus, Chris Guarino, to find out how I could insure it. Chris educated me on the process and helped me get a policy quickly and effortlessly. It was a huge relief, seeing as I was flying across country with the ring. A couple of weeks ago, I was closing on a new home. Because of my first experience with the Guarino Agency, it was a no-brainer who I was going to call for help with my homeowners insurance. Again, Chris impressed me with how well-versed he is in regard to the insurance industry. He helped me get a solid policy at a great price. It is reassuring to have an intelligent guy that you know you can trust take care of your most important investment. All of my future insurance needs will go through the Guarino Agency, and I’ve recommended my friends and family give them a call as well.
- Matt M
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Andrew Guarino has been my homeowner’s and auto insurance agent for the past year. As a client, I have had nothing but a good experience in dealing with Andrew and I am very satisfied with his performance. He is very informative about various insurance policies and can easily be reached whenever I have a question. He is a people person and he makes sure that his clients get the services they deserve. He continuously checks in to make sure that everything is going well and to see if he could be of any further assistance. I will, and have, recommended Andrew to many of my friends and family.
- Elizabeth M
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I recently moved from Rhode Island to Massachusetts and in doing so, was required to change my car registration and insurance agency. I shopped around for a couple of weeks and filled out numerous applications with several agencies for quotes on rates to determine which insurance plan would best fit my needs. After receiving quotes from many top-tier insurance agencies, I decided that the quote and the policy plan offered by Andrew Guarino through DG Insurance Agency was the ideal option, offering the best coverage at the most affordable price.
This is where my relationship with Andrew Guarino, my Independent Insurance Agent, and DG Insurance Agency began. From the moment I decided to insure my car with DG Insurance Agency, Andrew Guarino was fully prepared and available to guide me through the process of transferring my out of state registration to Massachusetts. He drove to my home with the required paperwork to initiate the process, since I was unable to meet with him elsewhere due to scheduling conflicts. He continually kept me posted on the insurance policy transfer process. He placed calls to my banking institution on my behalf, obtaining the title documentation. Andrew prepared a packet for me containing all the necessary paperwork to bring to the Registry. At the Registry, a clerk told me that I would have to pay over $1500.00 in taxes on my truck to Massachusetts, despite the fact that I had already paid taxes to Rhode Island.
A quick call to DG Insurance Agency and the agency contacted the Registry Headquarters to reconcile the situation at hand. With the help of Andrew and DG Insurance Agency, I was able to register my truck within minutes. The tax discrepancy could have resulted in a costly and timely delay, if it had not been for the support of Andrew and the staff at DG Insurance Agency.
I highly recommend Andrew Guarino as an Independent Insurance Agent to my friends, family, coworkers or anyone seeking insurance policies. He has been extremely accommodating and his professional attitude and efforts have proved to me that he seeks to help his clients in any way that he can.
- Justin B
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Andrew, we appreciate everything you have done for us. We would like to have you be our carrier for our Flood insurance as well. Although the rate was pretty much the same, we feel you responded to our e-mails in a timely manner and you are easier to get in touch with, and we appreciate that.
