Month: January 2016

How to Screen Potential House Sitters in Texas

Posted on by AgentInsure

House sitting requires a certain amount of trust, and it can be difficult to find that trust in Texas. We have every type of person living here, and some among us are not quite as reputable as others. Forgetting the financial implications for a moment, there’s a lot of emotional attachment that can fit into the smallest corners and rooms of your home. What insurance company is going to reimburse you for the time you spent making a watercolor portrait of your daughter? You can’t prevent every accident of course, they occur to even the most responsible of us all. What you can do is follow these tips to reduce your risk of trouble. 

Find the Right Incentive

All of us respond to incentives, so don’t be afraid to be generous when you need someone to house sit for you. Hold a phone interviews before meeting in person and thoroughly check every references. Even if you’re having your best friend sit for you, at least offer some sort of treat (drinks, a movie, etc.) as a thank you. It encourages goodwill for both of you, and can make for an easier experience. 

Look for Smarter Ways 

Will you be gone for a while? Your insurance will likely become null and void after 30 days of emptiness. Are you on vacation or it an emergency situation? Will there be pets, pools or highly prized plants involved with your absence? Trustedhousesitters.com and reputable house sitting sites may not have the same name as Airbnb, but their mission is to cut out the legwork on your part. They also encourage housing swaps across cities for vacationers so people save money on hotels and pet sitters: a win-win situation. And Integra Insurance Services is always there to help if you do need home insurance or additional coverage for your house sitting needs! 

 

Texas Volunteering Tips

Posted on by AgentInsure

As a resident of Texas, you’ll find no shortage of volunteer opportunities. There are countless organizations in need of your help right now. Start out by researching area causes that are most important to you and determine which ways you can best help.

Find Texas Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t wait to be asked to volunteer. There are plenty of charitable organizations looking for an extra set of hands that will welcome you aboard. Through online volunteer match search engines, you can receive a listing of available openings within your area. You can also reach out to well-known local groups such as animal shelters, food banks, homeless shelters, veteran’s services, soup kitchens, and blood banks.

Find the Right Fit for You

Treat a volunteer opportunity seriously by researching the organization thoroughly before making a solid commitment to the group. Find out about the organization’s community mission and what benefits are offered to their volunteers. The benefit can be as simple as the joy of giving back to your community. The organization may offer training in an area that helps enhance your professional skill set.

Be Realistic

Although you may want to help out as much as possible, don’t overextend yourself. Look at your current schedule and see how the time commitments required by the charity match up with your availability. A good motivator to volunteer is to make the time you spend giving back as fun as possible. Reach out to friends and family members to gauge any interest in the cause. Also, stay positive once you start volunteering and maintain your sense of humor.

As you volunteer throughout the Lufkin, Texas area, don’t forget to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage to stay protected. By using an independent insurance agency like Integra Insurance Services, you’ll be able to quickly research available insurance plans and rates.