Blog | AFI Insurance

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.

What Makes Independent Agents Better Commercial Insurance Agents

Posted on June 16, 2015April 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

If you own a Denver, Colorado area business, you probably have some trusted vendors you work with. At some point, you compared prices, sought recommendations, and did your due diligence. That is pretty much how we work in finding you the best commercial insurance for your business.

Some insurance companies use captive agents. These agents can only represent the products of that single company. At AFI Insurance, we are an independent insurance agency. This means we have access to multiple insurance providers. This allows us to compare prices, products and reputations. Our agents know which companies excel in certain areas of loss prevention. They can then make appropriate recommendations for you. There are frequently times when we not only can find improved coverage, but we can also save our client’s money on their premiums.

If it has been longer than you can remember since you took a look at your commercial insurance policy, we invite you to contact us. Our professionals will go through your policy and confirm your coverage. If you decide you are fine with what you have, that’s fine. There’s no obligation. On the other hand, if you would like us to perform a search for alternatives, we will be happy to go to work for you. There is nothing to lose.

You can try us with an online quote for your homeowners and auto insurance. By answering some questions, you can be on your way to saving on your personal insurance. This is a good way we can demonstrate the value of having an independent insurance agency on your side. For a commercial insurance review or quotes, contact us at AFI Insurance.

We would appreciate being your vendor for Denver commercial insurance. Contact us and put us to work.

Can A Personal Injury Claim Be Made On Homeowner’s Insurance?

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

Wheat Ridge, Colorado is a growing area with more than 30,000 residents. There are a number of single family homes in the area and many people are homeowners. Winter months bring a lot of snow and this is when the most amount of recreation is available in the 80033 area.

It’s important to know if a personal injury claim can be made on homeowner’s insurance. If someone hurts themselves, it is your responsibility as the homeowner to cover any medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Your homeowners insurance policy may cover such issues. This means the personal injury claim will be forwarded to them to deal with and pay. Such would ensure you don’t pay out of pocket for what happens.

There are various ways for someone to hurt themselves at your home in the 80033 ZIP code. Some instances include:

– Slip on an icy sidewalk

– Fall off the roof

– Trip going downstairs

– Get into an accident after drinking at your home

– Tripping on uneven ground

– Slide on a wet floor

Whatever the situation may be, you want to be able to turn to the insurance company. To be able to do this, you need coverage that you can count on in Wheat Ridge.

Our independent agents are standing by to assist with these matters. You can ask questions about coverage options and ensure that you have a policy that you can rely on. This way, if someone does get injured at your home, you aren’t responsible for the expenses.

Call now and let our agents go to work to help you with a policy in Colorado. We can obtain quotes and get you an affordable policy that will protect you now and going forward so there’s nothing to worry about.

What Happens If There Are Problems With My Foundation In Denver?

Posted on May 19, 2015April 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

Denver, Colorado is considered the “Mile High” city and that is because of its altitude. There are some stunning landscapes with the mountains in the background. Throughout the metropolitan, there are many types of housing and people come from all over the globe to go skiing and enjoy the winter in the state.

When you are a homeowner, you have to know what to look out for. More importantly, you have to know where to turn when something goes wrong. A sinking foundation has been known to happen in Denver and there are reasons for this.

Some foundation problems are bigger than others. When your foundation starts to sink, it can take down your porch and other additions as well. If left untreated, it can continue to sink and cause cracks all the way up the walls and allow water to come in from the floor.

The moment you notice problems with your foundation, you will want to contact your homeowners insurance. This will ensure someone is sent out to review the problem. A solution can then be identified and if you have the coverage, the insurance company will pay a company to make the necessary repairs in Denver.

The main part to focus on is “if you have the coverage”. You need to make sure your homeowner’s insurance covers such a thing in Colorado so that if you encounter problems, it is the insurance company’s responsibility to make the repairs instead of yours.

The cost to repair can be extensive, especially if it has been going on for some time. The sooner you speak up, the sooner repairs can be made.

Call and talk to one of our independent agents today where we can help you find an insurance policy that protects your home in Denver against a sinking foundation and more.

Car Insurance In Wheat Ridge: Shopping For Policies

Posted on May 4, 2015April 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

Wheat Ridge is a growing city in Colorado with a population of more than 30,000 people. There is a big emphasis on community in the 80033 area, which is why it is able to attract the people it does. Various shopping centers and attractions are around the city and it is also home to the Carnation Festival every year.

When you are shopping for car insurance policies, it’s important to work with the best agents. We are individual agents, which allows us to work with multiple companies. You can rely on us to do the leg work for you so there is no need for you to do such. We can talk to you about what each company has to offer and what kind of coverage is best within your policy.

You want to make sure you look at going above the minimum required amount for the state of Colorado. The liability insurance that the state requires is going to cover you to some degree in the event of an accident, but perhaps not enough. If you exceed the liability insurance for property damage or personal injuries during an accident, you could be responsible for paying for the remainder out of pocket.

When our agents start to look for quotes, we look at:

– Liability coverage

– Comprehensive coverage

– Available discounts

– Overall cost of policies

Our goal is to help you find affordable car insurance in Wheat Ridge near Denver. You may be driving all over the 80033 ZIP code and beyond. You can never be too sure what will be encountered on the roads and therefore the policy needs to protect against virtually all of it.

Shopping for policies doesn’t have to be a time consuming task. Call and speak to one of our agents to get help with a policy in Colorado.

Can A Learner’s Permit Be Added To Car Insurance?

Posted on April 15, 2015April 2, 2015 by AgentInsure

Denver, Colorado offers a number of benefits to residents. While property values can be higher than elsewhere in the state, the homes have mountainous landscapes which can be breathtaking. There are also many museums and galleries to visit and a number of events held throughout the city all year long.

When you have a learners permit, it is important that you obtain car insurance. You will be on the roads and therefore need coverage in the event there is an accident. Since you are labelled as a student driver, it is a good idea to have your permit added to the existing policy of a parent or guardian.

If you are this parent or guardian, insurance agents can help to ensure the permit is added without increasing the cost of your policy in Denver too dramatically. Discounts and other options can be explored so you don’t have to pay a fortune.

It is not just enough to have the car that is being driven insured. The person with the learner’s permit has to be added and this is because they will be behind the wheel on occasion. If you have a permit, the insurance company is taking on more liability with you on the road and this is why policies generally go up.

A car insurance policy may be more affordable in Denver than you think. It’s possible to contact multiple companies to provide a cost for insurance. Coverage can vary as well and you will want to have as much coverage as possible so you’re protected.

Call one of our agents today so we can help you find affordable car insurance in Colorado. We can add a permit, get quotes, and generally help you build and buy a policy that works for you and your budget.

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