No matter where you live, natural disaster can occur without warning. Your Lakewood, Colorado homeowner’s insurance should cover most disaster damage to your home. However, there may be some events that are not covered by your policy. You should also ensure that you have enough insurance to meet your current needs.

Normal coverage

Damage to your property due to storms, tornados, wildfires and hurricanes is normally covered. The important issue to keep in mind is the amount of coverage your policy provides. If your home has been increasing in value, or you have made improvements, you may need to increase the dollar amount of your coverage. If you are a renter, you need your own renter’s policy. While the owner’s insurance covers their property, it will not cover your possessions.

Floods

Water damage to your home will be covered for roofing leaks, broken windows and most plumbing problems. You should check your policy to determine if damage from breaks in sewer or main lines outside your home is covered.

Water damage that is cause by a flood is not. Flood coverage must be purchased separately. You need to determine if you are in an area considered a flood zone. Keep in mind that these zones can change; you should check the information yearly.

Earthquakes

If your home is damaged from an earthquake, the event is not normally covered under a basic policy. If you live in an area that could be affected by earth movement, consider purchasing a separate policy or add an endorsement to your current insurance.

We are your independent agent for the Lakewood, Colorado area. Contact us today; we can go over your homeowner’s insurance with you to make sure you are fully covered for any natural disaster. We will also make sure that the amount of coverage you have meets your current value needs.

If you live in Lakewood, Colorado, it’s a safe assumption that you actually use that gas fireplace that came with your home. Chilly nights and snowy days can be great times to have a fire going in the background. It helps to keep the room warmer, but it also provides a great, cozy feel to the house. While you’re using that fireplace, though, you need to think about the safety measures you’ve got in place. Without the ability to be safe and careful, you could be risking your home. Fortunately, gas fireplace safety is not terribly complicated.

First, make sure you don’t use the fireplace when no one’s around. In other words, it should be attended, and people should be in the room. It’s one thing to leave the room to get a drink of water, but another thing entirely to go out for a few hours and leave the fireplace running. You should also be aware of any strange smells coming from your fireplace. While gas is odorless, many companies add a chemical to it that you can smell. If you suspect a leak of any kind, turn off your fireplace, leave the house, and call the gas company.

If you’re not sure how much that gas fireplace will cost you on your home insurance, come in and talk with us about the policy you have or want. It’s possible that you won’t be paying very much extra, depending on the age of the fireplace, how it was installed, and other factors. We can provide you with quotes from several different companies, but we’ll also be able to help you with safety tips if your fireplace isn’t up to the current code. The best thing to do is to have your gas fireplace checked thoroughly when you move in, and to periodically have it checked over its lifetime, just to have peace of mind.

The Rocky Mountain State is no stranger to snow storms. Although Colorado residents all probably have a good idea of how and when to stock up on food and blankets before a big winter storm is scheduled to hit, it’s less certain how we should respond when the storm results in damage beyond weight gain and a high heating bill. If you’re not sure what actions to take to protect your Lakewood home or vehicle, consider the following helpful tips.

1. Record the Damage

Thanks to modern technology, essentially everyone can make a substantial record of any home or car damage right after it happens. These records can act as evidence for your insurance company in the event that you will need to file a claim to receive compensation for the damage. Make sure to take multiple pictures of your home and car– remembering to account for the roof, engine and other less obvious areas as well.

2. Immediately Contact Your Insurance Provider

There are probably a million other things you’d rather do instead of sorting out the logistics with your insurance provider, but it’s important that you get this out of the way as soon as possible. The sooner you file your claim, the more likely you are to be approved and the quicker you’ll receive your compensation.

3. Take Precautions for Next Time

When you file a claim, your insurance rate will go up, but you can still cut costs by taking precautions for next time. For example, you can prepare your Colorado home by repairing roof leaks, installing new insulation and cutting away tree branches that could potentially fall on your home during a storm. You can protect your vehicle by having a covered port or garage installed or simply investing in a full body cover.

Our Lakewood independent insurance agents are here to help you acquire the best price for your coverage needs, so feel free to contact us for a personalized quote and professional advice today.