Author Archives: AgentInsure

Types of Insurance Coverage Available in Denver, CO

What kind of insurance coverage would you like? All insurance covers some type of risk. In Denver, CO, or in any other part of the country, you can buy insurance that protects you against practically anything that could go wrong. You can buy auto insurance that covers property damage to your car and liability for property damage to another person’s car. You can buy insurance in case you get sick and have to go to the hospital. You can buy insurance in case you get run over by a bus and your wife suddenly becomes a widow.

Insurance coverage is available for business owners, home owners and pet owners. If you are an accountant, doctor, or lawyer, you can buy a special kind of insurance that specifically covers those professions against liability claims.

During your lifetime you will probably have more insurance policies than you can count on one hand. Most people drive a car and need auto insurance. It is quite probable that over your lifetime you will own a number of different cars and have auto insurance through a number of different auto insurance companies.

If you buy a home and have a mortgage, you will need to buy a home insurance policy. If you decide to rent instead of own, you might be wise to buy an affordable renters insurance policy.

You might decide to buy a term life insurance policy to protect your spouse and young children against financial difficulties in case you meet with a premature death. You might buy a whole life policy if you want life insurance and also want to build up cash value for your retirement,

No matter what stage of life you may be in, you probably need some form of insurance. It makes sense to schedule an annual check-up with an independent agent to evaluate your current insurance coverage and see if you are properly insured for all of life’s risks.

Does homeowners insurance covers AC repair in CO?

Your home insurance in Colorado is designed to protect your structure and personal property in the event of a covered disaster. A standard policy protects against loss from fire, storms, theft and vandalism. However, homeowner’s insurance is not meant to cover repairs for appliance or system failures. These examples should help you understand your insurance policy.

Fire and storms

If your AC system was damaged due to a home fire, the repairs would likely be covered, subject to your deductible. If a storm damaged the outside portion of your AC unit, you would probably be covered. If storm damage to your roof creates a leak that damages your AC, this would also normally be covered.

You must remember that if damage is caused by flood waters, you need a separate flood insurance policy. If you live in a flood prone area, you should consider adding this protection.

Theft or vandalism

Your home insurance policy should also cover your HVAC system if it is damaged because of theft or vandalism. Copper theft and outside unit theft can be a concern in some areas. However, if your air conditioning simply fails, the repairs are not included in your homeowner’s insurance.

If you purchase a home and buy a home warranty policy, your AC system may be covered under that insurance. Home warranty policies cover different systems and appliances in your home. This coverage is designed to protect you from expensive failures during the warranty period. Policies normally require you to pay a set fee for repair or replacement of covered systems.

Colling Insurance Services is your independent insurance agency, we will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding what your insurance policies cover. Let us help you get the right home insurance to meet your needs. Call us to talk with an independent agent today.

Car insurance coverages available in Wheat Ridge, CO?

Obtaining car insurance in Wheat Ridge, CO can seem complicated because there are a variety of options available. The coverage that you need may vary based on several factors, but there are some basic plans that can help you identify the plan that is best for your goals.

Minimum Coverage

A basic policy provides the minimum state standards so that you can drive without facing legal consequences. The minimum standards protect against liability for property damage if you cause an accident and it pays for bodily injuries that you cause in an accident.

Generally, the minimum coverage will not offer protection for your personal vehicle. If you worry that another driver will not have the coverage to pay for damages to your vehicle in an accident, then you may want to purchase additional protection for under-insured drivers.

Comprehensive Plans

A comprehensive policy will pay for damages to your personal vehicle if something beyond your control occurs. For example, the plan may pay for damages to your vehicle after a hail storm or when a tree branch falls on the vehicle.

The plan does not usually provide protection against collisions, but you can add the coverage to your policy if you feel that it is required.

Additional Coverage

Additional coverage can take many forms, such as collision protection or protection against theft. It is the protection that you add to a basic or comprehensive plan to address specific concerns or to protect your vehicle from further damages.

There are several plans available to address your goals and concerns. Depending on the vehicle and your preferences, you can add or remove coverage from a policy so that it addresses your personal goals. Contact us to talk to an agent to learn more about policy options.

How to get insurance quotes from Colling Insurance Services

Perhaps one of the hardest things to motivate yourself to do is to get insurance. We all know we need it, but there’s just something about the idea of talking to an agent, crunching numbers, choosing a policy and signing on the dotted line that makes us all think that this is something that can wait until tomorrow. Perhaps that’s why insurance companies try so hard to make it easy for you to get a quote. Ours is one such company that offers easy insurance quotes, Colling Insurance Services of Lakewood, CO.

In the past, getting a quote form an insurance company usually involved going into an insurance office and listening to a lengthy sales pitch from an agent. These days, you can get quotes by phone or online, and the process is less about high-pressure sales and more about letting you find the coverage you want and need. Some companies even pride themselves on how fast they can get you a quote and get your policy set up, claiming to be able to do it in 15 minutes, or even half of that time.

In Lakewood, the absolute easiest place to get insurance quotes is from Colling Insurance Services. Our website, not only gives you an easy way to get a quote on many different types of personal and commercial insurance, you can actually compare quotes on auto and home insurance. If you like to be more "old school", you can always call for a quote at 303-987-3331. Even if you’re not necessarily looking for a quote, you can feel free to call or visit our website if you have any questions about insurance.

Is it required to have insurance coverage for vacant land or farms?

Although you are not normally required to have insurance coverage on vacant land, there are some good reasons to still buy it. As the owner of property that has no structures on it, you may be held liable if someone goes on your land and gets injured.

It may sound ridiculous, but if someone ignores your no trespassing sign, climbs over your fence, and falls in a hole, they can potentially sue you for the broken leg they suffered. That is not to say they will win in court, but you will still have to defend yourself. Attorney fees can add up.

Suppose you own 200 wooded acres in Colorado and allow some of your friends to go hunting on your property. Your friends will probably thank you for extending such a generous invitation and maybe even buy you a case of beer as a token of their appreciation. Usually there will be no problem and your buddies will come home with some great stories about their experience.

That is what usually happens when you invite people to hunt, fish, hike, or camp on your undeveloped property. However, there are rare occasions where someone gets hurt by falling off an ATV or getting hit on the head by a falling limb. While you would think your friends would not sue you, sometimes they do.

No one wants to spend more than they absolutely have to spend to maintain an empty lot or acres of wide-open land in the country. You already have to pay taxes on vacant land, even though you may never set foot on the property for 10 years. If your property is within city limits, you will usually have to mow the grass and maintain the vacant lot to comply with local codes.

Whether you buy acres and acres of property as an investment, or you just buy a home site where you eventually intend to build a house, it is usually a good idea to have insurance on that undeveloped property.

What coverages are available with a business insurance policy?

Business insurance comes in many different types, and the exact mix that you need depends on where you do business, the value of the equipment you do business with, and many other factors. Before you pick up business liability insurance and call it good, look at other types of commercial insurance coverage in Colorado to see if you need additional protection.

Commercial liability coverage is a good place to start with your insurance needs. This type of insurance handles claims due to employees getting injured during business hours, property damage, or damage caused by products you sell. Professional liability coverage helps with companies who offer services to others, such as accountants. It protects you from getting sued if an error or another issue comes up throughout the course of the service.

Business interruption insurance provides you with payments during a period where you are unable to continue normal activities because commercial property is damaged. The insurance company not only covers the cash flow you would get during this time, you also get overhead expenses paid for.

If you use your vehicle for commercial purposes, a personal auto insurance policy isn’t going to cut it. Commercial auto insurance is necessary when you use your car for your company, or if you have your own fleet of vehicles. In addition, if employees have their cars on your property, you may want a policy that covers liability for damage to vehicles at the workplace.

Worker’s compensation comes into play when you have employees. This commercial insurance covers payments for employees who get injured on the work site, and prevents the employees from bringing suit against your company when injuries happen.

I live in my RV full-time. What type of insurance do I need to be fully covered?

The decision to live full-time in your RV in Colorado can mean that you need to purchase a different insurance policy than the options that are available for the short-term vacation or summer plans. You may need additional coverage that is more similar to a home insurance plan than an auto policy because your risks may increase.

Full-Time Liability

Liability can be split into separate categories when it comes to living in a recreational vehicle like a mobile home. Full-time liability protection is designed to address the possible accidents that may take place when you have visitors. For example, tripping and falling may be covered in the plan.

This type of liability is similar to the protection you would obtain in a policy for a house. It addresses accidents that are not necessarily taking place on the road.

Plans for Personal Belongings

Most insurers will offer policies that protect personal belongings, whether you live full-time in your recreational vehicle or not. If you start living full-time in the RV, then you may need to add to your current protection for personal belongings.

Expenses for Emergencies

There are times when your home may end up in the shop due to an accident, a problem with the engine or other issues. Emergency expense coverage is designed to address the possible living expenses and related costs that may arise during these situations. If you live in the vehicle full-time, then you may need additional protection for those emergencies.

The type of plan that you need to address your concerns when you live full-time in a recreational vehicle can depend on your concerns. Contact us to speak to an agent to learn more about the options that are available.

I only use my motorcycle for part of the year. Do I still have to pay for full coverage?

When you are riding a motorcycle in Colorado, the weather conditions may not always be appropriate for your bike. Using your motorcycle for part of the year may mean that it does not always make sense to maintain full coverage for your insurance policy.

Minimum Standards

Even though it may not make sense to maintain full coverage, the state does have a minimum standard that you are required to maintain. The state requires some coverage for liability and injuries, so you need to make sure that your insurance complies with state laws, even if you decide that you do not want to carry coverage for additional concerns.

The minimum standards are only the foundation, so you can build on that policy to address specific concerns and problems as well.

Maintaining Full Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is not necessary for every individual, but it can be useful if you have a high-cost motorcycle or if you want to address very specific concerns. Many insurers will provide protection against theft, damage from storms and unexpected damage from situations that are not related to your driving.

Polices that provide full coverage address more than just the driving, so it may be useful if you want to protect your bike from unexpected situations like theft. Otherwise, you can opt to maintain the minimum coverage and purchase additional protection for specific concerns if you do not want to cover every situation that is addressed in a comprehensive plan.

The coverage that you must maintain is not always a comprehensive plan. In some cases, you can reduce your coverage so that it addresses your specific concerns. Contact us to talk to an agent for more details about your coverage options.

What are the different limits offered on an umbrella insurance policy?

When you are considering an umbrella insurance policy for your car, it is important to understand the limits and options that may be available. Your auto insurance and the vehicle that you own may play a role in the coverage that you need.

Limits on Your Auto Policy

Umbrella coverage may be useful, but the amount that you need can depend on your current auto insurance. For example, if you have taken your policy to the maximum limit that your insurer will allow, then you may not need a large umbrella policy. On the other hand, if you have limited coverage and worry that you may be sued if an accident occurs, then you may want to consider an umbrella policy that covers the amount that you may expect to pay in a lawsuit.

Expected Payments

You can get an umbrella policy for a variety of different amounts. For example, if you have an expensive car, then you may need a large policy to address potential legal issues if an accident occurs. An expensive car increases the risk that other drivers will assume that you can pay a larger amount. In that case, you may need more than $500,000 to $1,000,000 in protection because of potential lawsuits.

The situations that you can expect may vary, so the amount that you need depends on your assets and liabilities. The greater number of assets that you own, the more protection you need on your insurance policy.

Auto insurance is not always enough to address liability, especially if you have significant assets or own an expensive vehicle. Umbrella policies are designed to address those situations and the limits may vary based on your situation. Contact us to talk to an agent for more details.

Is there any change in the insurance policy if the property becomes unoccupied?

If you have a property that becomes unoccupied, you should get in touch with the company handling your coverage. While all companies have different sets of rules, unoccupied properties normally require a different type of coverage.

Unoccupied Property Insurance

If you are only going to be away from your home for a few weeks, you should not experience any changes to your policy. Most companies use a 60 to 90 day rule for determining if a residence is unoccupied. However, if you move out and are selling your home, you need to change your plan right away.

Unfortunately, unoccupied properties are more subject to theft, vandalism or unauthorized use. In addition, a water pipe could become broken and the damage not noticed for several days. All of these factors add to an increase in the coverage costs.

If you are selling your residence, you still need the coverage until the home officially changes hands. If your home was damaged, you would lose the equity you have built. You are also responsible if someone is injured on the premises, this makes continuing your protection important.

While the rates for an unoccupied home are normally higher, you may be able to receive discounts on your plan. You can consider raising your deductible. However, you should ask if the cost would be lower if you had a reliable person care for your residence on a weekly basis. Properties with frequent activity are less likely to be damaged by vandalism or unauthorized entry.

As your independent insurance agency, we can help you take care of your coverage needs easily. If you need to make changes, get in touch with us and we will handle the details for you. You can also use our site to get quotes online to compare different policy costs.