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Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Braving your First Winter as a Denver, Colorado Homeowner

Posted on December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 by AgentInsure

You made it! It has been your wish to get the family into your first home before the holidays. What a Christmas this will be!

Give yourself the best present this year. Rest assured by making certain your home insurance has coverages that include the issues that occur during extreme cold weather emergencies,

Cold Weather To Do List

Prepare a cold emergency kit. Planning is key in the cold since roads may be closed and you can not access necessary items. Make certain you have appropriate cold weather apparel for the entire family: gloves, hats, scarves, etc. Keep extra ice melt on hand as well if you need to clear an outdoor area to access your car. You also don’t want people to slip and fall in front of your home.

Make certain your furnace or boiler is operating correctly. Checking it now may help you avoid a costly repair during a cold emergency. Inspecting your chimney is also important as it should be cleaned once per year.

Repair or maintain stairs and outside areas now, before the snow is key to making certain the added weight of the snow doesn’t exacerbate an easy fix.

Stagnate water in pipes may freeze. If you are going away when there may be a cold freeze, remember to clear your pipes before leaving.

These brief reminders are just the tip of the iceberg – no pun intended. Please follow the link to learn more about how you can protect your home and loved ones this winter and beyond by acquiring an affordable and comprehensive home owner’s policy. AFI insurance agents are the experts when it comes to your locale and can help you enjoy your new responsibility worry-free.

Does Home Liability Insurance Really Protect Me?

Posted on December 11, 2015December 11, 2015 by AgentInsure

When you look at your homeowner’s insurance in Colorado, there is a certain form of coverage known as home liability insurance. It is known to protect you as the homeowner in the event that someone injures themselves on your property, or even gets bitten by the dog. Is it really going to protect you? With the right coverage, you can get help in a variety of areas.

Lawyer Costs

Friends, family members, contractors, or anyone can sue you if they are injured in your home. Lawyer costs can be covered with the liability insurance so that you can get the necessary legal help. Even if you are held financially responsible, the financial assistance can be present.

Medical Bills

Medical bills can add up to be a lot – and you won’t have to pay them if you have sufficient home liability insurance.

Lost Wages

The person who is injured may be injured to the level that they are unable to work. Their lost wages become your financial responsibility, though it is possible that the right coverage will take care of these expenses.

Pain & Suffering

Particularly when a case makes it to court, pain and suffering settlements can be established. These may be worth tens of thousands of dollars, depending upon how severe the accident was. Rather than this being your responsibility, the insurance company can take care of the expenses.

Death Benefits

While you never want a fatality to occur on your property, the possibility always exists. Death benefits can be provided by home liability insurance so that it does not become your financial responsibility.

At AFI Insurance, our agents are here to save you money and ensure that you have the necessary coverage in Englewood, Colorado. Call and speak to one of our agents today to begin receiving customized assistance.

Improving Your Winter Driving Skills

Posted on November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 by AgentInsure

Driving in Englewood, Colorado can be a lot of fun, even during the winter months. It’s a good idea to learn how to improve your winter driving skills so that you can avoid an accident. More than 140,000 injuries occur every single year according to the US Department of Transportation as a result of weather-related accidents. You can avoid being one of these statistics by being a safer driver.

You have to keep your wits about you at all times. You never know when you’re going to encounter an issue, whether it’s a driver that’s been drinking too much, an animal that wants to dart across the highway, or a patch of ice.

If you are more alert, you can often avoid a collision. Statistically, approximately 80 percent of collisions can be prevented simply by watching what’s going on while driving.

It’s also wise to look at the equipment on your car to help you with driving skills. One of the biggest mistakes that owners of four-wheel drive vehicles make is that they think that’s all they need. While it can provide assistance with traction and getting through the snow, it’s not going to help with cornering or braking.

Snow tires, however, are thinner and designed for snow and ice on the roads. You can get the help with cornering as well as traction.

You never know what’s going to happen, so it’s also a good idea to load your car with jumper cables, a flashlight and extra batteries, as well as winter gear so you can stay warm while working on your car outdoors.

One of our agents at AFI Insurance can help you to improve your winter driving skills, get quotes on affordable insurance in Colorado, and much more. Call and begin asking the questions that you have today.

Car Care Tips For Colder Fall Weather

Posted on October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 by AgentInsure

Denver, Colorado is known for cold weather. There are several car care tips that you can follow in order to prepare for all of the weather changes in the fall as well as preparing for the winter. The more you do now, the easier it will be to manage the weather changes as well as the road conditions as they happen.

Battery: Your battery needs to be replaced every few years because it doesn’t usually give any kind of warning sign of failing. You can also prepare for the colder weather by making sure that the connections are tight and clean.

Tires: There may be a lot of snow and ice on the ground. If your tires don’t have the right tire pressure and tread depth, it can be problematic. You may want to switch to special winter tires to be prepared.

Brakes: Have your brakes checked, including rotors and drums.

HVAC: Have an HVAC inspection conducted so that you know the heating system works properly.

Wiper Blades: Your windshield wipers are responsible for clearing ice, sleet, snow, rain, and more out of your viewing area. In the fall, you want to replace your wiper blade so that they are capable of wiping away everything so that you have a clear view.

It can be advantageous to talk to your local mechanic about a personalized schedule for your vehicle. This way, you will be able to ensure you’re bringing your car in for service whenever it is required.

At AFI Insurance, our agents are prepared to help you find a policy that works for the fall and the rest of the year. Call now and let us get you quotes to compare rates and learn about the options for coverage that can provide you with peace of mind when you drive around Denver, and beyond.

Prep Your Denver Home For The Fall

Posted on September 30, 2015October 1, 2015 by AgentInsure

There are some important things that you need to do in your home for the fall. Denver can be quite cold during the fall and winter months. If you are not careful, snow and ice can damage your house. The good news is that there is a prep list that you can follow.

Inside

Many things can be done inside. You have to decide whether you are going to do them on your own or enlist the help of a professional. Sometimes, it can be advantageous to spend the money so that a professional company does everything properly.

Clean the chimney
Have the heater inspected
Install weather stripping around doors and windows
Reverse fans
Replace batteries in smoke detectors

Some of these things won’t take long at all. You simply want to make sure that you are doing all that you can in order to protect your home – especially as you begin hanging holiday lights, doing a lot of baking in your home, and more.

Outside

Some of the projects outside may involve some special tools, and giving up a few of your weekends. The benefit is that you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home is properly prepped for the fall months.

Clean out the gutters
Have the roof inspected
Fill and seal cracks in your driveway

Remember that there is going to be snow and ice during the winter months, and so during the fall, you can prepare your home for everything that Colorado weather is going to deliver. It will take a few weeks to complete everything, but it will be worth it in the end.

Call us at AFI Insurance today to learn about how our independent insurance agents can help you find a homeowner’s policy that is not only effective, but also affordable.

3 Tips for Holding a Garage Sale

Posted on September 26, 2015December 19, 2016 by AgentInsure

Holding a garage sale is an easy way to net some extra money. How much you earn from a weekend garage sale will depend on how good you are at holding garage sales, though. Here are three tips from us at AFI Insurance on maximizing your profits from a garage sale.

Marketing at Garage Sales

Anytime you sell anything, even at a garage sale, your success will depend largely on your marketing efforts. If you want to have a successful weekend selling unwanted items, you’ll need to market both your garage sale and the wares you’re selling. A solid marketing strategy will include:

pricing things right so that they sell quickly
creating an eye-catching display by placing some items near the road
listing your sale online on local classifieds sites

Documenting Your Possessions Afterwards

As an independent insurance agency that serves Denver, CO, we at AFI Insurance would be remiss if we didn’t mention updating your home inventory list. We encourage everyone in Denver to maintain an accurate list of the personal belongings that they keep in their home. After a garage sale is a great time to either update or create such a list, as you just unloaded a lot of items and have less stuff to include on your list.

If you’d like to learn more about why we recommend keeping a home inventory list or want help creating one, contact us. We’ve helped many homeowners in the Denver area, and we’d love to help you as well. You can get in touch with one of our agents by filling out the appropriate form on our website, and someone at our agency will get in touch with you shortly.

Safely Enjoy Hiking with Your Dog This Summer

Posted on August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 by AgentInsure

Summer is a beautiful time of year to go hiking in Colorado. If you bring your dog with you on an adventure into the mountains, there are certain precautions you should take. Not only do you need to make sure that your pooch will be safe on the hike, but you also should make sure you’ll be properly insured while on the trail. At AFI Insurance, we have a few tips for the former, and our independent insurance agents can help with the latter.

Keep Fido Safe on the Trail

Starting out, your pooch may seem invincible. As he goes sprinting along the trail, there may be no end to his enthusiasm in sight. Soon, though, a rigorous hike will wear on your dog, and there are dangers along the way. To ensure that he has a good time, take the following steps:

bring plenty of water for both you and your dog
administer a flea and tick medication before leaving
take breaks whenever your dog begins to pant and become hot

Make Sure You’re Insured

Even a nice dog may cause an injury to someone else on the trail, so you should insure yourself against this risk no matter how nice your dog is. Liability insurance for dog-related claims is available through some homeowners insurance policies.

At AFI Insurance, we have independent insurance agents who are licensed in Colorado. If you live in Denver, CO, they can help you find a homeowners insurance policy that includes coverage for your dog’s breed. With a proper insurance policy, you can charge up the trail after Fido without worrying about what harm he might cause. He probably won’t hurt anyone, but, if he does, we’ll make sure you’re properly insured.

Teen Driving and Texting: Tips for Staying Safe

Posted on August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 by AgentInsure

Denver, Colorado is not immune to the fatal statistics that are accompanied with teen driving and texting. Thousands of teens each year are injured or killed in a car accident in Colorado due to driving and texting at the same time. Fortunately, there are many tips that can be followed to help ensure your teen makes the right choice when it comes to sending a text behind the wheel. Here’s a quick look at these tips and some advice for keeping your teen safe when driving.

Enforce a No Texting, No Driving Rule

If you don’t enforce a rule, then there’s nothing for your child to abide by. A no texting, no driving rule should be implemented for every driver in your family, and if anyone breaks it, their vehicle or phone should be taken away for a certain period of time. You can of course adjust the punishment more accordingly if these punishments don’t work well. Just remember, you are the number one example in your child’s life, so make sure you set a good one.

Have Your Child Attend a Driving Course

If your teen driver has yet to complete a driving course, you should find one and see how you can enroll your child. All driving courses these days devote a portion of their teachings to texting and driving. Not only will your child learn about the laws regarding texting and driving, but he’ll also see the possible consequences of not abiding by these laws.

To learn more about texting and driving and keeping your teen safe, visit the AFI Insurance website today.

Never Drive Drowsy: Follow These Tips

Posted on July 27, 2015July 27, 2015 by AgentInsure

Driving around in Denver, CO can be dangerous enough. It’s a metropolitan city with a significant amount of traffic on the roads. You never want to drive drowsy, as it can lead to several thousand crashes every year. Approximately 60% of licensed adult drivers have driven while they are drowsy, and 37% have fallen asleep at the wheel.

If you don’t want to become one of the statistics, there are some important tips that should be followed.

Get enough sleep the night before you are traveling; anywhere between 7-9 hours is desirable.

When you do get behind the wheel, ask yourself if you are awake enough. If you are constantly fighting the urge to fall asleep, you may want to have someone else drive you, or call a taxi to get you to where you need to go.

Any time that you are going on a long distance trip, whether it is across Colorado or across the country, you should take another licensed driver with you. This allows you to split the driving responsibilities and have someone to talk to.

You should also get the habit of taking a break every two hours or 100 miles, allowing you the time to stretch, and become more alert.

If you are driving along and feel like you are getting too drowsy, it’s best to stop at a rest area and take a 20 minute nap or check yourself into a hotel for the night.

You never know when something could happen on the roads. Even if you are a safe driver, you cannot be safe if you are drowsy and don’t have your full reaction time in place.

Call us at AFI Insurance today to learn about how to obtain affordable auto insurance in Denver, CO.

Cost or Value? Choosing Basic Vs. Special Form Commercial Insurance

Posted on July 1, 2015April 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

Visiting Denver, Colorado during the spring and summer months means you will likely visit the Denver Botanic Gardens. Looking at the wonderful array of colorful flowers and taking in the sweet smells of nectar are rejuvenating for most people. Unfortunately, these flowers lose their beauty after severe weather and may not be able to bear the next tumultuous storm that comes. In that regard, these flowers demonstrate what happens to businesses that aren’t prepared with the appropriate commercial insurance. Many businesses consider only the costs but does saving money help your property weather the second storm that comes?

Basic Form vs Special Form Insurance
Basic form insurance only covers specific perils identified on the insurance form. Although it is the most cost efficient commercial insurance coverage, even though you survived the first storm, it may not protect you in the next storm. On the other hand, special form coverage is the most inclusive type of coverage. Instead, of listing items that are covered, the policy lists events that are not covered, allowing your business to be fully protected in case of the following:
• Heavy snow and ice
• Pipes freezing
• Falling objects
• Hailstorms
If ever your business suffers as a result of severe weather, wouldn’t it be nice to be covered with a policy full of inclusions instead of exclusions?

What Policy is best for Your Business?
The best policy for your business is the one that provides you with the coverage you need. As a resident of Colorado, you understand the potential losses your business is exposed to on a daily basis, so why not ensure ample coverage?

When you are ready to get the best value for your commercial insurance, give our offices a call to discuss your options. Our reliable insurance agents will answer all of your questions concerning commercial insurance and provide you with quotes.

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Author: AgentInsure