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Why It Is Important To Develop Safe Driving Habits

Posted on February 15, 2016December 21, 2016 by AgentInsure

It is so important to develop safe driving habits the moment you obtain your driver’s license, and even before. This will keep you and your family safer while you are out on the roads, and ensure that you are keeping the roads, in general, safer. Further, it can help to reduce the cost of your insurance by being accident-free.

Set a Good Example

You may have children and teens in your car from time to time. By developing safe driving habits, you are going to set a good example for them. They will know as they get older that it is important to buckle up and look both ways before turning.

Staying Safe

If you don’t develop safe driving habits, you can easily get into an accident. This could be a simple fender bender or something more serious. Many times, cars will change lanes without signaling or brake at the last moment, not giving the other cars on the road any indication as to what they are doing – and this can be extremely dangerous.

Practice makes perfect, and this means taking the time to practice and employ the safe driving habits every time you get behind the wheel.

The reality is, insurance premiums will go up when you don’t have a safe driving record. This means that you want to develop a safe driving habits so that you can avoid accidents with higher frequency – and save on your premiums at the same time.

At AFI Insurance, we want to do whatever is possible to help you find affordable insurance that fits your needs and your budget. Call us today and one of our agents will look forward to helping you every step of the way. This will ensure that you have the necessary coverage to be confident on the roads throughout Denver, Colorado.

Clear Out Trunk Space for These Tools

Posted on January 7, 2016January 7, 2016 by AgentInsure

If you are like many individuals in Denver, CO you probably have a nice collection of items in your trunk. Only problem is, most of these items you don’t really need. Some papers from the office, a few kids toys, and the set of golf clubs from when you drove down to Arizona for golf. Well, not only is all of this dropping down your fuel economy, but there are better uses for the trunk space. So, clear out your trunk and make way for a few of these tools.

Self-Jumper Battery

Nothing is worse than letting your car run to heat up, only to have the battery die out on you. Now you have a dead battery in the middle of a snow storm. Instead of abandoning the car or searching out someone to help you out, AFI Insurance recommends having a self-jumper battery. This is a portable charge with a pair of jumper cable pliers coming out of it. This gives you a jump readily available, you just need to charge it up ever 30 days or so.

Better Jack

Sure, your vehicle came with a jack, but it usually isn’t all that great, especially if you have a larger vehicle like an SUV or truck. Instead, invest in an improved jack. There are nice lever action jacks that go up easily, can hold more weight and can lift different areas of the vehicle.

Bag of Salt/Kitty Litter

The bag of road salt can come in handy if you’re ever stuck or if you are parked on an incline and just can’t gain traction to get out. Additionally, even if you don’t have a cat, kitty litter adds traction to a slick surface without melting it. Both are extremely helpful while driving in Denver.

Call AFI Insurance today for all all of your auto insurance needs, or to review your current policy.

Independent Agents, Keeping the Big Guys Honest

Posted on January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 by AgentInsure

Some things in life such as a home or vehicle, are important enough to warrant an insurance policy. These items typically represent your biggest investments, and it’s important to keep them protected. It would be far too expensive to have these items replaced on a whim so we have them insured against damage. Insurance is one of the most important aspects of home and automobile ownership, and independent insurance agents help to make it more affordable.

The True Value of Independent Insurance Agents

Many people prefer the personal approach of using an independent agent. These professionals have an in-depth knowledge of insurance laws, and they simplify the claim filing process. However, these agents also keep the larger companies competitive, by providing more affordable rates. Without independent agents, the larger companies could monopolize the industry, and charge absorbed fares. Everyone would still need the coverage, even if they couldn’t afford it. Just the price of insuring a vehicle would prevent some people from driving. Fortunately, there are also independent agents who can keep everyone protected from incident.

What do AFI Insurance Agents Do

Independent Insurance Agents provide a litany of services, after an accident. They also vary in the types of coverage they offer. In essence, every insurance policy is a financial tool, and some independent agents offer different types of policies. Some agents may offer auto and home while others offer only life insurance. The biggest advantage to using an independent agent his his or her knowledge of your state’s laws. These individuals can also outline a plan that best suits our needs and not the needs of a corporation.

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.

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Author: AgentInsure