Tips to prepare your house for a storm

As the summer storm season approaches here in the Denver, CO area, it’s important to take proactive steps to ensure your home is prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Here are five tips from us at AFI Insurance that can help you get ready to face a storm:

  • Inspect Your Roof and Gutters: Make sure your roof is in good condition, and check the gutters for any blockages or debris that could cause problems during the storm.
  • Trim Trees and Remove Debris: Before the storm arrives, trim any trees near your home that could become uprooted and remove any debris around your property that could become dangerous in high winds. 
  • Take Inventory of Valuables: Make a list of all valuable items in your home so you know what needs to be covered or moved into sheltered areas before the storm hits. 
  • Prepare an Emergency Kit: Create an emergency kit filled with water, food, medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and other essentials so you’re prepared if the power goes out or access to stores becomes limited after the storm passes through. 
  • Secure Outdoor Furniture: Make sure all outdoor furniture is securely fastened down and bring anything inside that has the potential to become airborne during strong winds or heavy rains. 

By taking these precautionary steps now, you can help protect yourself and your home this summer storm season!

For more tips or to explore a homeowners policy, call us at AFI Insurance today. We proudly serve the Denver, CO area and would be happy to help you find a policy that meets your needs and budget.

Does home insurance cover my work-from-home office?

Many companies now encourage their employees to work remotely from home. But what about your home office space and all your work equipment? Is it covered by your Denver, CO home insurance policy? AFI Insurance discusses what you need to know when protecting your work-from-home office. 

What is Covered? 

In most cases, your home insurance policy will cover the property in your home office, such as computers, furniture, and supplies. However, there are some limitations on what is and isn’t covered. For example, suppose you have expensive electronics like a professional camera or high-end audio equipment that you only use for business purposes. In that case, your regular policy may not cover these items. In this case, you may need to purchase additional coverage to ensure they are protected. 

Business liability insurance coverage is critical if you are interacting with customers regularly. It can provide protection if someone slips and falls in your home office or if something happens to damage another person’s property while you are working from home. 

Will My Rates Increase? 

The cost of covering the contents of your work-from-home office may cause a slight increase in your premium rates depending on how much coverage you need. However, it’s important to remember that having the right level of protection can save you money in the long run if something unexpected happens while you’re working from home.

If you work from home in Denver, CO, it’s essential to ensure that you and all your belongings are adequately protected. Do you still have questions? Contact AFI Insurance today – we’re here to help.

Are You a Homeowner? Protect it with Insurance

Do you live in or around the Denver, CO area? If so, are you a homeowner or thinking about becoming one? The professionals at AFI Insurance can get you started on the road to homeowner protection.

Homeowners insurance is an essential expense when owning a home, even though it may be unnecessary. There are extra costs added to the purchase price of a home. When you have a loan, the interest could be significant; there may be private mortgage insurance and property taxes. These things add up, and if you want to save money, you may wonder if homeowner’s insurance is necessary.

This coverage is not a legal requirement in any state. You will not be fined if you decide to do without it. However, you will find that homeowners insurance is required when carrying a mortgage on the property. You will not find a lender who will approve a mortgage without it. Insurance not only protects your home, but it protects the lender’s interest in the home. They require that you carry insurance that covers the full replacement cost of the house or the unpaid principal balance on the mortgage.

There are other protections your lender could require. Certain specifics include lightning, fire, the weight of snow on the roof, frozen pipes, etc. They require that you have met their requirements before loan processing.

Another added benefit of homeowners insurance is that it protects you from lawsuits. The personal liability portion of the policy will help cover you if a visitor falls and gets hurt on your property or if your dog decides to bite a guest. This protection is needed even if your home is paid for.

Don’t risk your financial security. In case of a lawsuit, you could lose your home needlessly. Homeowners’ insurance will prevent that.

For a no-obligation quote, contact AFI Insurance today. You will be glad you did.

Three decisions you need to make when you purchase home insurance

As a homeowner, you need to carry home insurance coverage to protect the financial investments that you make in your home. There are numerous decisions that you’ll have to make when you select a home insurance policy. 

At AFI Insurance, we can come to your assistance when you’re on the market for a home insurance policy in Denver, CO. The following are three decisions we can assist you with when choosing a home insurance policy. 

The company you’ll buy home insurance from

You need to evaluate the insurance coverage offerings of your area’s different home insurance providers. You can get quotes from numerous insurance providers to choose a home insurance policy that offers good value and customer service. Be sure to research a home insurance provider that you’ll be happy with over the long term. 

The deductible on your home insurance policy

The deductible amount is one of the most essential details of your policy. A higher deductible amount typically means lower premiums. However, a higher deductible amount may also be more difficult to afford if you have to file a claim.

You need to choose a deductible amount that is low enough to be affordable but won’t result in excessively high monthly premium costs. 

The amount of coverage you’ll carry

Another critical detail of your policy is the coverage maximums. You should carry enough coverage to protect both your assets when it comes to liability coverage and your property value when it comes to property damage coverage. 

Do you have questions about meeting your home insurance needs in Denver, CO? Get in touch with us at AFI Insurance to explore your options and find the right coverage for your unique situation.  

What is the value in having a home insurance plan in Denver?

The Denver, CO area real estate market has been robust over the past decade. As you are looking to protect your home in this part of the state, you will want to know that you have the right insurance. There are various reasons why a home insurance plan will come with a lot of value and help cover your property. 

Ensure Residence is Covered

One of the reasons that you will want to have a home insurance plan is to know that your residence is protected. Ensuring that your home is in good condition and a safe place to live is always essential. Getting a home insurance plan will give you the support you need to make repairs or replacements if a fire or bad weather damages your home. Further, it can protect against vandalism and theft. 

Stay in Compliance with Requirements

You should also get a home insurance plan to ensure you can comply with any requirements. Anyone that owns a home and takes out a mortgage will have insurance requirements set by their lender. In many cases, you will also have to escrow your monthly payments as it ensures you remain covered. Also, if you reside in a home association, you will be required to carry coverage to stay in good standing. 

As you are looking to insure your home in the Denver, CO area, you will want to call the team with AFI Insurance. There are a lot of choices to make when looking for insurance, and AFI Insurance will help. This can provide you with the support necessary to build a plan that covers your home and keeps you in good standing with requirements. 

5 Misconceptions About Home Insurance

Most people have a lot of misconceptions about home insurance. Most people are so confused about it that they either don’t get any coverage or buy policies that offer little protection. This post will clear up five of the most common myths about home insurance.

1. Home Insurance Protects You From any Disasters

This is one of the most common misconceptions about home insurance. People think that as long as they have insurance, their home is completely protected from disasters. The truth is, home insurance only protects you from specific disasters. For example, most policies will cover damage from fires, storms, and burglaries. But they generally don’t cover damage from floods or earthquakes. So, if you live in an area that’s prone to these kinds of disasters, you’ll need to purchase separate insurance policies to protect your home.

2. Home Insurance Is Expensive

Another common misconception about home insurance is that it’s expensive. Again, this isn’t necessarily true. The cost of your policy will depend on several factors, including the value of your home, the amount of coverage you need, and the deductible you’re willing to pay. You can shop around and compare rates from different insurers to find the best deal.

3. Home Insurance Only Covers the Structure of Your Home

This is another common misconception. People often think that home insurance only covers the structure of their home. But most policies also cover your personal belongings, up to a certain amount. This means that if your home is damaged or destroyed, you’ll be compensated for the value of your belongings, not just the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home.

4. Filing a Claim Will Make Your Rates Go Up

This is a common fear among people who have home insurance. They think that if they file a claim, their rates will go up, and they’ll pay more for coverage than before. But this isn’t always the case. In most cases, your rates will only go up if you file multiple claims in a short period.

5. Home Insurance Is a Waste of Money

Finally, some people think that home insurance is a waste of money. They figure that they will never have a disaster, so they don’t need coverage. But this is a risky gamble. You never know when something might happen, and you could lose everything if you don’t have insurance.

Get Home Insurance in Denver, CO

Hopefully, this post has cleared up some misconceptions about home insurance. If you’re still unsure about what type of coverage you need, or if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. At AFI Insurance, we’re always happy to help our customers find the right coverage for their needs.

Stay Protected With Home Insurance

When you own a home, getting home insurance is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and your future. Home insurance offers you several different types of coverage all in one policy. All of these coverage types are important to have as a homeowner. If you don’t have the home insurance that you need to protect yourself, call us at AFI Insurance in Denver, CO to talk with an agent. 

Coverage for Your House

The house itself generally represents your biggest investment. That’s why it’s so important to protect it financially. With home insurance, you get comprehensive coverage for the entire house. Your policy covers specific types of occurrences that can happen, such as accidents and disasters, and will pay for the house to be repaired or even rebuilt if the need arises. This protects you from having to come up with all of that money yourself. Major repairs after a covered incident can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair- or even more. Protect yourself from these costs by having home insurance. 

Protection for Your Possessions

Next to your home, your belongings may represent your second-biggest investment. When you add up the cost of everything that is in a home, the cost can be much higher than you’d think. Home insurance protects you against the loss of your possessions by covering them with a blanket of protection. If a covered incident happened and your items were damaged or even ruined or destroyed, your insurance policy can help you to replace those items without you having to pay for all of them yourself. 

Stay Protected With Home Insurance

It’s important to always keep your home protected with home insurance. If you don’t have the insurance coverage you need, call us now at AFI Insurance in Denver, CO.

Colorado Home Insurance Guide: Updating the Backyard? Update Your Policy

When you are updating your backyard, the thrill of the excitement of it all could make it very easy to forget that you need to take care of some administrative details. Along with permits and contractors, you need to make sure that your Colorado home insurance policy has been updated.

At AFI Insurance, we want Denver, CO homeowners to be covered for every liability when they are renovating. Learn more here about what you need to do with your home insurance when you are renovating.

Tell Your Insurance Company

You don’t have to tell your insurance company for every new shrub or tulip that comes home, but they do need to know of any large-scale renovation or update.

It is important to tell your insurance company when you are updating your backyard for a number of reasons. They will want to know how it is being done if you are hiring people to do it, and what the expected value of the renovation will be.

You may need to increase your liability coverage or discuss the changes that are happening.

If you have a renovation without discussing it with your insurance company, you run the risk of voiding your home insurance policy. Unexpected events happen. If you haven’t updated them, and a problem happens, you could have a claim denied, or lose your policy altogether.

Factors to Consider for Backyard Renovations

When you are looking at updating your backyard, there are a number of factors that your insurance company will take into consideration. The size and the scale of the renovations will be taken into consideration. 

Information like the type of construction, finishings, and square footage will factor into your conversations with your insurance company. The type of renovation will as well. If you are adding high-risk items such as a pool or hot tub, you increase your everyday risk of liabilities and will have to change your coverage there as well.

You may not see many changes in your policy, but you should talk to your insurance company or get a quote when you are updating your backyard.

Get a Quote

When you are updating your backyard, update your insurance company. Or, shop around for quotes with an updated backyard. At AFI Insurance, we help Denver, CO residents protect themselves from risks when they are renovating. Call us for a quote today.

How to create and store a home inventory

Owning a home is a dream and it can also be a nightmare if you don’t have the right home insurance. You need an independent insurance agent who will take the time to get to know you and your insurance needs. They should also discuss what types of home insurance will protect you best and also what amount. It’s too late to find out when you need to make a claim that you have no inventory or have stored yours in an unsafe place. At AFI Insurance in Denver, CO, we have 25 years of experience helping homeowners get the right coverage. 

When you file a claim with your home insurance company, if you are claiming lost content, you will have to have proof of the content you had before the damage happened. One way to do this is with an inventory. When you do an inventory of your home, you account for all of your personal property. 

One way to do this is to go to each room and write down all the items in the room. That includes furniture, decor, and all the things that are tucked into drawers and closets. You also need to take some pictures of the room to keep with the inventory. If you have sales slips or receipts, these are also important proof of what you had. Write as much detail as you can and include brand names, model numbers, and serial numbers if it makes sense. Do this for every room in your home, including the basement, attic, and garage.

Once your inventory is complete, you need to store it in a safe place. It is better not to store it in the home but make sure it is in a waterproof fire-resistant box or bag. 

Contact AFI Insurance in Denver, CO, when you are ready to review your home insurance and want an experienced independent insurance agent. 

Benefits of Reviewing Home Insurance At Least Once A Year

Times are constantly changing, and homeowners get exposed to different kinds of risks they did not expect. This necessitates the need for one to adjust their policy to accommodate the different needs. While some homeowners may not see the need to review their home insurance after each year, it is a recommended practice. Below, AFI Insurance of Denver, CO takes you through the importance of reviewing your home insurance.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Often, you will find insurance companies offering a discount on home insurance policies for several reasons. Maybe you have upgraded your home security features, or you have decided on bundling your policies. There are many reasons you could be eligible for a discount. With a review, you will be updated on what discounts are available on your current policy, saving you money,

Adjust to Life Changes

Sudden life changes can affect your policy, requiring you to review it. For instance, a change in income, home renovations, or a change in family size may require you to review your policy to suit your current needs. In addition, these changes will require you to update your information and help in filing a proper claim when the need arises.

Allows you to Take Advantage of any Policy Changes

Policy changes will affect your coverage. For instance, an improvement in legal requirements can cause insurers to offer a better policy. By reviewing your insurance every year, you get to know about such upgrades and enjoy them. It is also possible for errors to affect your coverage. That is why you need to review your policy to prevent financial loss.

Reviewing your policies annually does not necessarily mean you have to change them that often. However, it helps you stay aware of current changes. Residents of Denver, CO, looking to update their home insurance coverage can reach out to AFI Insurance today. Our agents will gladly help you choose the right policy to protect your home.