Category Archives: Home Insurance

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! 

An Electric Transformer Explodes on the Utility Pole Near Your House – What happens next?

When an electric transformer overheats it can explode. This is a terrifying thing when it happens because it sounds like a bomb went off. The power of these explosions can break the windows of the nearby homes and even sometimes the glass of the vehicles parked close by.

This event can also send excessive electrical energy to the nearby homes that may destroy electronic equipment plus any other things plugged into an electrical outlet and cause an electrical fire in the home. Sometimes a fire runs down the wire from the power pole to the house and this causes a fire.

Because of the electrical equipment malfunction, your house is set on fire.
Who is responsible? Sometimes there is shared liability for the damages. Perhaps the transformer exploded due to a manufacturing defect and the manufacturer is responsible. Perhaps the electrical power company is responsible. Liability might be partially shared by both companies.

On the other hand, the severe weather we sometimes have in Lakewood, CO, especially during winter, may be what caused the transformer to explode. Even something as strange as Space Weather can cause this. It is possible for a Coronal Mass Ejection, which is a powerful blast of energy that comes from the Sun, to cause damage to electrical transformers on Earth. While these events are rare there is serious concern about them. 

The specific circumstances of such an accident are always different. This is why, after you call 911 to report the emergency, the next call should be to your agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. so that they can give you advice about what to do if this happened.

It is always a good idea, at least once per year, to consult with your agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

Why Having Home Insurance Can Save You During the Holidays

The holidays carry a lot amazing moments in Lakewood. CO and residents take the good with the bad. Most of the time, they’re filled with family, friends, and cheer, but sometimes things go awry. Here are some common scenarios to keep in mind, and how home insurance can help. 

Kitchen Fires 

Fried turkey is certainly a crowd pleaser, but it’s not necessarily easy to make. There’s a reason why those who aren’t quite sure of what they’re doing with the fryer are more likely to cause a fire this year than not. Colling Insurance Services, Inc. can help you find a policy that protects against fire due to kitchen mishaps. 

Aggressive Animals

When guests come over to the house, they may end up being more stressed out than we realize. Bites and damage are more common around this time of year as dogs and cats adjust to new smells, people, and routines. Home insurance may be able to provide some type of relief if you are sued or possibly even cover the financial costs.

A Guest Slips

Whether it’s a toy that was left out in the unwrapping frenzy or an icy puddle on the front steps, you’re typically held liable for a guest’s fall. Whether it’s family or friends, it’s worth having coverage to help.

Car Thefts

When you shop, it’s normal to put some gifts in the trunk for safe keeping (and hiding) until you can get them in the house. Should they be stolen, home insurance may be the only way out of having to buy them all over again.

Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serves the people of Lakewood, CO, and can help you stay safe over the holidays. Call us for more information today!

 

Fall Home Checklist, Getting Ready for Winter

As winter approaches it becomes necessary to get figure out just what your home needs to be prepared. There are tons of different things you can do to protect your home and get it ready for winter. For those in the Lakewood, CO area, Colling Insurance Services Inc. can help you answer all your insurance questions when getting ready for winter.

The first thing that any homeowner should do is to winterize their home. This means sealing off rarely used doors and windows to help reduce energy bills and to keep out the cold. You can also cover plants, garden areas, and even seal driveways and sidewalks to help prevent cracking and breakage due to the expansion of water. 

Though physical preparation of your home is necessary, you may also need to look at your insurance policies and update, change, or entirely replace them. Winter is one of the busiest times when it comes to homeowner’s policy claims because of wintery weather and having the right policy in place can make a huge difference.

If you are unsure about what coverage you already have or what coverage you need, talking with an insurance agent can really help to dispel any fears and answer your questions. A skilled agent can help you determine what amount of coverage you need, what types of policies you may need, and can help you change or get new policies entirely so that you are covered when winter arrives.

Fall is a wonderful time to take a look at your policies and reevaluate the coverage that you have to make sure you are fully covered in the event of winter weather.

For all your insurance needs in the Lakewood, CO area, contact Colling Insurance Services Inc. today.  

3 Reasons You Should Never Be Without Home Insurance

For homeowners from all walks of life, acquiring home insurance should be of the utmost importance. Nevertheless, given the propensity to receive misinformation it is quite possible to be living under the assumption that this type of insurance is unimportant. With that said, the following is an overview of 3 reasons you should never, ever be without home insurance. 

Protect Your Belongings

Given the unpredictability of accidents, you should have a policy in place to protect your belongings at all times. Mother Nature, careless children, and other potentially damaging factors typically do not give advanced notice. Be mindful. 

It Might be required

Depending on how you acquired your home, it may be mandatory to always maintain home insurance. For instance, your bank may have mentioned the necessity of maintaining home insurance within the terms of your agreements. 

Robberies and More 

Lastly, although many never want to think about the possibility of being robbed or burglarized, this is the risk that every homeowner needs to be prepared for. Given that burglars are typically not the tidiest people, many of your belongings will likely be ruined in addition to the ones they may have gotten already with. By purchasing a home insurance policy, you are helping to ensure that your home and belongings are protected from all of these associated damages. 

Overall, if you are a homeowner without home insurance, you might want to reconsider. Moreover, if you reside in Lakewood, CO and are seeking a high-quality home insurance policy, Colling Insurance is the way to go. Simply call, stop by, or email us today and to speak to one of our independent representative to find out how you can start your home insurance policy today and hopefully save some money in the process! 

Why Home Insurance Is Necessary

When it comes to your home, you work diligently to protect it. Whether you have a leak, a broken window, or a problem with your electrical system, you make sure that it’s fixed as soon as possible. With all the hard work you put into keeping your home in good condition, wouldn’t it be nice to know someone else could cover the big problems your home could face?

Understanding Home Insurance

Like many types of insurance, home insurance helps you protect your home from loss. In the face of qualified losses, Colling Insurance Services Inc. will help you cover the costs of getting your home back to the way it was before the loss. The following are a few things your home insurance could cover:

  • Accidents
  • In-home flooding
  • Weather-related damage
  • Homeowner’s negligence

You get a many different protections by setting up one policy with Colling Insurance Services Inc.

Is Home Insurance Necessary?

Whether you have a mortgage on your home or not, home insurance is necessary. Although it isn’t required by law, home insurance protects you financially. Can you imagine losing your home to severe weather, yet still having to pay for the home as if it still existed? It’s possible without home insurance. However, with home insurance, you don’t have to worry about this because your home insurance provider can help you rebuild.

How to Protect Your Home

The first step required to ensure that your home has the proper protections is to speak with one of our qualified agents. When you talk to one of our agents, it’s important to have information about your home handy, so that you can get a great quote for you home. After that, the process is simple. Our expert home insurance agents will walk you through the process of getting the coverage you need for your home.

3 Tips Every Colorado House Sitter Needs to Know

Staying at someone’s house while they are on vacation—either for free or payment—is a great way to step out of your routine and help a friend. But are you doing everything you can to make sure the process is smooth? Read on to find out three tips that every Colorado house sitter needs to know.

#1: Get Details Ahead of Time

Getting details of what your house sitting stay will include is essential to having a positive experience. Talk to the homeowner and determine what their expectations are of you for while they are gone. Are you supposed to pick up mail, water the plants, feed the dog, or even put the trash cans out on pickup day? Where are extra items kept in the house, such as clean linens and paper products? Are you allowed to have guests or would they prefer that you don’t? What’s the WiFi password? These are all important things to clear ahead of time.

#2: Know What to Do in Case of an Emergency

It is also important that you know what to do in case of an emergency. Ask your host for all pertinent information, such as where the breaker box and utility shutoff valves are located. If you are taking care of pets during your stay, get the number of the owner’s preferred veterinarian. You may also ask for the contact information of a neighbor in case there’s an unexpected incident.

#3: Treat the Place Like You Live There

Another tip for house sitters is to treat the place like you live there. Simply put, if you wouldn’t do it in your own home or wouldn’t want someone else doing it while you were gone, refrain.

Are you the one going out of town? Having proper homeowner’s insurance coverage is important—especially while you are on vacation. Protect your property against unexpected events by getting a no-obligation policy review. Contact our team at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. for more information.

 

Stay Safe When Carving Pumpkins with Friends

Carving pumpkins and lighting jack-o-lanterns is a longstanding Halloween tradition. On the night of October 31, orange globes illuminate yards, walkways and homes. Every year, though, there are accidents associated with jack-o-lanterns. At Colling Insurance Services, we want to remind everyone who will be carving a pumpkin this year to do so safely, and we’ve compiled a few tips to help keep you, your family, and your friends from having a mishap.

Jack-O-Lantern Safety

Carving a pumpkin shouldn’t be any more dangerous than cutting up a squash for dinner. After all, pumpkins are just big squashes. Often however, people aren’t as cautious when they’re carving a pumpkin as when they’re chopping on the kitchen counter. Remember to pay attention to what you’re doing when carving a pumpkin, and to:

  • never use a knife while intoxicated
  • supervise children when they’re carving
  • avoid placing finished jack-o-lanterns where people will walk
  • illuminate jack-o-lanterns with lights rather than candles

The latter two suggestions won’t keep anyone from cutting themselves, but they can help reduce the risk of tripping or starting a fire.

Home Insurance Coverages

Before making the first cut into a pumpkin, you may want to review your home insurance coverages. Your homeowners insurance’s liability coverage may cover accidents related to pumpkin carving, and its fire protection might cover fires started by candles in jack-o-lanterns. Whether its coverages will provide protection in these types of scenarios will depend on your policy’s terms and conditions, and the incident.

For help determining what types of accidents your homeowners insurance covers, contact us. Our agents are licensed to help residents of Colorado with their insurance needs, so they can help you with your homeowners insurance if you live in Lakewood, CO. To get in touch with them, send us a message online.

 

 

Sinking Porch: Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Repairs or Replacement?

Sinking Porch: Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Repairs or Replacement?

Colorado has something to offer everyone, whether you’re a skier who could spend all day and evening at Vail or someone who would rather spend your day and evening shopping till you drop at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Unfortunately, with all that snow comes some flooding and wet soil during the spring months. This can damage the foundation of your house and actually cause your foundation and porch to start to sink.

When you purchase homeowners insurance, most people do not read the fine print nor do they ask if their policy covers sinking foundation or a sinking porch. The answer to those questions is generally no, but there are a few exceptions.

Why Does My Homeowners Policy Only Cover Certain Causes for a Sinking Porch or Foundation?

Even though your foundation and porch are part of your house, if they start to sink, they are usually not covered under your homeowner’s policy because of the reasons why they sink, including:

  • Flooding
  • Drought
  • Wet soil
  • Dry soil

In addition, homeowners insurance does not cover the following:

  • Shrinking or expanding foundations
  • Cracked walls
  • Cracked ceilings or floors
  • Driveways, walkways, or fences that become damaged

When Will Homeowners Insurance Cover a Sinking Foundation or Porch?

  • Burst pipes
  • Underground mines that cause damage to your foundation
  • Underground drains and state or city owned sewage lines that cause damage to your home

Although, Colorado is not a state that is prone to earthquakes, you can purchase a separate rider that will cover the cost of foundation and porch repairs and replacement. Of course, the damage has to have been caused by an earthquake for the insurance to pay for it.

On the other hand, Colorado is prone to flooding, therefore a separate policy for flooding is highly recommended and will cover the cost of any repairs or replacement to your sinking foundation or porch caused by the flooding.

The law requires that everyone have homeowners insurance if you have a mortgage auto insurance coverage. However, you can easily work with your Colling Insurance Services agent to work out additional coverage that will provide even more protection when disaster strikes!