Author Archives: AgentInsure

How Much Will Getting A Tow Affect Your Insurance?,

If your car has ever broken down in Lakewood, CO and you’ve gotten a tow, you may be wondering if it affects your insurance. This is an understandable concern and one that we at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. take very seriously. In this article, we’ll take a look at how towing affects your premiums.

Getting A Few Tows Is Not A Problem

If you get one or two tows in a year, you’re not likely looking at increased insurance premiums. Most insurance companies are forgiving here and understand that things can happen from time to time. So don’t be afraid to claim an occasional tow on your insurance when necessary. That said, you need to make sure you don’t over do it.

Too Many Tows Can Affect Your Insurance

If you’ve ever heard of somebody’s insurance increasing because of tows, it is probably because they made too many claims. As mentioned above, one or two tows isn’t going to be a problem. An excessive number of tows (think five or six) will alert the insurance company that there is something wrong with your car. As a result, they will raise your premiums.

Illegal Actions Are The Biggest Problem Here

While getting your car towed too many times due to mechanical problems will eventually affect your insurance, tows because of illegal activity will increase it right away. What kind of illegal activities lead to tows?

Parking in a tow zone, failure to pay parking tickets, parking next to a fire hydrant, driving with expired paperwork, or driving while intoxicated all count as illegal activities. Claiming these tows on your insurance will immediately affect your insurance heavily.

As you can see, towing doesn’t automatically or immediately affect your insurance. However, those in Lakewood, CO need to understand that the situations that lead to a tow can be Howevr, those in Lakewood CO need to understand that the situations that lead to a tow can be problematic for their insurance. Please contact us at Colling Insurance Services Inc. to get a better understanding of how to avoid this problem.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Home?

Deciding to purchase a home can be very exciting but can also be stressful. Before you start searching for the perfect home, you need to make sure that now is the right time to make a purchase in Lakewood, CO. Use this checklist from Colling Insurance Services, Inc. to ensure that you are ready to buy a home right now. 

  • Take a look at your debts. You should list out all of your debts as well as how much you have to pay for them every month. Factor this into your budget to ensure that you have enough to cover everything. 
  • Make sure you have enough saved. You already know that you will need to save for a down payment on a home but you also need to account for closing costs. On average, this can cost up to 3% of the mortgage amount so you need to make sure you can cover that as well. 
  • Get preapproved. Before you start looking at homes, you should get preapproved to see exactly how much you can afford to buy. You do not want to start looking outside of your price range only to find you cannot afford that dream home you found. This can also help because many real estate agents will not even show you a home without showing your preapproval. Take this step so that when you do find the perfect house, you are ready to make the purchase.

Buying a home is a big decision so before you jump in, it is important to ensure you are ready. Once you do buy your home, you will need a great home insurance policy to protect your investment. Reach out to Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving Lakewood, CO to get some quotes that will work with your new budget. 

Top Driving Tips to Avoid Accidents

Driving in the Lakewood, CO area can be tricky at times, and it does not matter if you’re driving with passengers or alone, safe driving should always be on your mind.  In today’s world, there are more distractions when driving than ever before, so it’s critical to be aware of the top driving tips to avoid accidents. 

  • Keep your focus on driving at all times and do not be tempted into multi-tasking.  If you need to use your cell phone or other electronic devise, take a minute to pull over. 
  • Resist the temptation to speed because the faster you’re diving, the less reaction time you have and the increased chance of having a more severe accident.
  • Drive defensively by keeping your eye on what other drivers are doing and assume other drivers will do something unpredictable.  It helps you be prepared to avoid the situation.
  • Keep some space between you and the care in front of you.  A 2-second cushion if the weather is nice and at least 4-seconds if you’re in bad weather.
  • Plan ahead for heavy traffic and stops for gas, food, and calls, texts, or emails so you’re not rushing to your destination.  Take a few minutes to eat or manage business before getting back on the road.
  • Move items you need within easy reach and don’t attempt to retrieve items on the floor.
  • Avoid taking medication that may make you drowsy and pull over if you are extra tired.
  • Make sure everyone stays buckled up in a safety belt.
  • Be on the lookout for animals on the road.

Colling Insurance Services, Inc.

Colling Insurance Services, Inc. provides auto insurance to those in the Lakewood, CO area.  Our mission is to provide the auto insurance you need with honesty and integrity. 

Considering Dropping Home Insurance? Think Again

For many, the cost of home insurance is enough to make them reconsider holding a policy at all. Though we are not all required to hold home insurance, dropping coverage is a terrible idea. For those in the Lakewood, CO area, the agents with Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help you find a policy that covers your home but that does not break the bank.

For those that have paid for their home in full, there is no legal requirement to hold home insurance. Rather, home insurance is only required if you have a lien, loan, or mortgage out against the value of your home. Even then it is not required by law but rather required by the lender in an effort to protect investments and make sure that no money is lost if the home is destroyed.

So why would you keep home insurance if you are not required to by law? The answer is far simpler than you might imagine. Though not everyone is required by law to carry home insurance, having a policy is going to help protect you from any event that you cannot control. We never know when wiring is going to cause a fire, if a tree is going to fall on our home, or if a wind storm is going to pull your roof all the way off your home. It is for that reason, the element of uncertainty, the keeping a home insurance policy is a good idea no matter what.

It is always a good idea to hold at the very least a basic policy to help you recover if there is a disaster. For those that live in the Lakewood, CO area, the agents with Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help you find the right policy that is going to protect your home no matter what.

Understanding Premium Costs for Home Insurance in Lakewood

Most Lakewood, CO residents likely don’t get excited when they pay their home insurance premiums, and it’s easy to see why. Without a direct benefit, it may just seem like you’re giving your money away. Understanding more about your purchase can not only calm your blood pressure down when you get the bill but also help you appreciate what the money is going towards. 

Values and Fees 

Colling Insurance Services Inc. has seen the value of home insurance when it comes to taking care of the residents in Lakewood, both regarding finances and regarding mental health. Without home insurance, people are often forced to pay for hotels or put repairs off until the last second. Eventually, the weather or your circumstances will take a nasty turn for the worse, and pretend that it won’t only come back to haunt you. Your policy is based on what’s important to you, and the time to consider what you want to protect is before anything awful happens to it. Your premium is affected by your lifestyle, your possessions and the value of your home. 

Case by Case 

Homes that are filled with your Aunt’s old furniture don’t necessarily need to have full coverage. If you’re prepared to replace that furniture should something go wrong, you can keep your premium costs lower. But it might not be so easy to replace your television or your desktop. There are so many questions like this consider, though. Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help the residents of Lakewood, CO navigate these topics and more. If you’re wondering the best route to take when it comes to your home insurance, call us today for a quote or to find out more about our services. 

 

Your Auto Insurance Might be Lacking, Here’s How to Check

Auto insurance is something that is absolutely necessary not only to protect you but to protect other drivers as well. It is important to make sure that your auto insurance policy has you covered fully before you ever set out to drive. For those in the Lakewood, CO area, the agents with Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help you to find the right coverage each and every time.

The first thing to keep in mind is that if you need to have the right coverage for the car that you are driving, if you have a loan out on the car for instance, you need a full coverage policy. Similarly, the area in which you live might dictate the need for more insurance. If you live in an area where there are a lot of car break ins, where you have to park on the street, or where there is damage done to cars often, you might need more coverage.

Also, you need to keep in mind who is going to be driving that you are going to insure on your policy. Young males require a larger insurance coverage and those under the age of 25 also are going to require more insurance. It is important to also remember that adding things to your car like upgraded stereos, televisions and more can all increase the amount of insurance coverage you need to be fully covered. You may also need to adjust coverage from time to time and a great agent can help you do that easily.

With the right agent you can get the perfect coverage for you every time. For those in the Lakewood, CO area, the agents with Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help you find the policy that fits your needs.  

Looking Under the Hood: Maintenance Tips for Your Truck

When it comes to keeping your truck on the road for as long as possible, it is paramount that you perform regular maintenance on it. The better you take care of your truck, the longer it will last, meaning the less money and stress you will have to invest toward buying a new truck. Fortunately, there are three simple tips you can follow to help make sure your truck lasts for as long as possible. 

Tip #1: Get the oil changed on schedule

The owner’s manual in the glove box of your truck will have a recommended oil change schedule in it. You need to follow this schedule to the best of your ability. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, you can always call the dealership where you bought the truck and ask for one. Or if you prefer, you can go online and order one and have it sent straight to your home. 

Tip #2: Check the coolant levels

If your truck gets too hot, it can cause the engine to blow up. This is not something you want to happen because it can cost thousands of dollars to replace the engine. Fortunately, you can avoid this by making sure the oil is changed according to schedule and by checking your coolant levels on a regular basis. If the coolant levels are low, make sure you fill them back to their recommended amounts. 

Tip #3: Check the spark plugs

If your truck feels like it is losing power, it could be that the spark plugs need to be changed. If you change the spark plugs and it doesn’t help, the plugs may have coils on them that need to be replaced. 

To learn about properly insuring your truck, call Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving the Lakewood, CO area. 

What is the USA Federal Requirement for Home Insurance?

Home insurance is something that every homeowner needs to have, even if they have paid off their home entirely. For those in the Lakewood, CO area, the agents with Colling Insurance Services can help you find out just what coverage you need.

There is no real federal agency that monitors insurance on homes, but there is a requirement that if you owe money on your home, regarding a loan or a mortgage, you are required to hold home insurance to help protect the interest of the lender. In most cases, this requirement is not regulated by any laws but rather by the individual lender and their stipulations.

It is important that with any home insurance policy it is tailored to your home and the specific value of your home. The biggest issue is making sure that your policy covers your home adequately and that it covers your home fully as well. The main issue when it comes to your home is making sure that you have enough coverage for both your actual home and for the contents of your home as well. Having home insurance is wonderful but if you do not have the right amount it can become virtually useless.

Your agents can help you decide what coverage, what policy and what type of insurance you need to be fully covered and to be sure that your home meets the requirement s of your lender. Since homes are so different, there is no way to make a regulated amount that should be paid, or that should be covered. Rather, lenders simply require that you have the appropriate coverage before they allow you to take out a loan on your home. The agents with Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help those in the Lakewood, CO area find the right policy for you.  

3 Reasons to Purchase Home Insurance Today

Purchasing a home insurance policy is a large undertaking and something that certainly should not be taken lightly. For those who may be in the process of purchasing a home, taking some time to research home insurance companies today can save you tons of time and trouble later. That said, the following is a closer look at three reasons residents of Lakewood, CO should purchase home insurance today. 

Mandatory

As aforementioned, purchasing a home insurance policy is essentially mandatory in most states. Rather than waiting until your mortgage company demands to see proof of insurance before purchasing a policy, purchase the policy beforehand and save yourself some much-need time. 

Theft/Burglary Protection

In addition to that, purchasing a policy also protects your home against theft and burglary related damages. For instance, if a burglar breaks into your home, causes damage to the door or other areas of your home in the process, as well as breaks and/or steals some of your belongings, you can potentially be paid for everything that was damaged from the time the burglar step onto your premises. 

Peace of Mind

Lastly, one of the top benefits of purchasing a high-quality home insurance policy is the peace of mind that comes along with knowing your home is protected. With the ability to protect your home against natural disasters, burglaries, thefts, and much more, purchasing a home insurance policy is the best way to protect your home for the long haul. 

Let Colling Insurance Services Inc. assist you! A premier company in Lakewood, CO, Colling Insurance Services Inc. has everything you need to protect your home from today forward. Contact us today and find out how to start your policy and save! 

Colling Insurance Services.: Auto Insurance

Most Ameircan’s own a car. We need it to take our kids to preschool, run errands, and go to work. Cars can cause stress. They’re expensive, they break down, and they can’t always be relied on when you need them most. Automobiles cause anxiety, but automobile insurance doesn’t have to. If you live near Lakewood, CO, visit Colling Insurance Services, Inc. for a fair, affordable quote. 

Automobile insurance is critical if we find ourselves in accident, whether or not we’re to blame. We need policies to payout damages we couldn’t otherwise afford. But, why else do we need insurance? Sure, some situations are obvious. You want to make sure you’re car is protected from the crazy drivers on the interstate. You want to be able to fix your bumper when that distracted driver smashes into your bumper. You also need insurance for less expected disasters, like hail storms, tornadoes, floods, and fires. 

So, if you didn’t know already, now hopefully it’s clear that auto insurance is important. This leads us to another question: why should I work with Colling Insurance Services? When you’re in the market for car insurance, you can’t trust any company. Colling is a reliable, trustworthy provider. Serving the Denver and Lakewood, CO area, Colling prides itself on its customer service, attention to detail, and their adherence to their clients’ budget concerns. Call Colling today and see for yourself. Our staff will work with you from day one to find the appropriate coverage for you, your family, and your vehicle. Don’t hestitate. Call Colling Insurance Services and see why more and more people choose them over the competition.