Its that time of year again.  The weather is warming up, the grass is turning green and weeds are starting to pop up in your lawn.  Before learning how to protect your home from fires and your car from accidents as a local insurance agent, I specialized in protecting lawns from turning brown and growing weeds.  In light of that, I thought I would offer a few tips top get your lawn in great shape this year:

1. Don’t cut your grass shorter than 2.5 inches
•  This helps maintain moisture during the hot and dry months of summer
2. Fertilize your lawn every 6 – 8 weeks
• In addition to sun and water, grass needs nutrients to thrive
3. Don’t use ‘Round-Up’ in your grass!
• Round up is a broad-spectrum herbicide and can kill everything, including your grass
• This is great around your driveway and rocks where you don’t want any plants growing
4. Instead use ‘Weed-B-Gone’ or another similar product that targets ‘broadleaf weeds’
• For best results, spray directly on the leaves so they can ‘soak it up’ rather than down at the roots
• Some stubborn weeds may require sprayings a few days apart
5. In a dry climate like Colorado, NEVER power-rake or dethatch your lawn
• Thatch provides a protective barrier to retain moisture during the hot summer months
6. Instead Aerate your lawn at least once per year (spring AND fall if you have time)
• Water for at least an hour the night before doing your aeration
• This thickens your root system by cutting the roots, so two can grow where only one existed before
7. Never water your lawn at night or you’ll end up with a mold problem in your grass
• Instead water early in the morning so it can dry off as the day heats up
8. Instead of watering daily, only water every 2-3 days for longer periods of time
• A good long watering trains your roots to grow ‘downward’ which protects them in the summer
9. During the HOT summer months – spread ‘Revive’ on the lawn
• This helps water reach the root system and prevents your grass from turning brown
10. Sharpen your lawnmower blade at least once a year (or more if time permits)
• A dull lawnmower blade ‘tears’ the grass rather than cutting it and is a leading cause of diseases in your lawn.

Flood Insurance

Almost every year around this time, we also start to hear from clients requesting information about ‘flood insurance,’ ‘flood damage,’ and ‘flood claims.’  Flooding is one of the leading causes of damage to homes and other residences in Colorado.  To make matters worse, Floods are not covered by your standard homeowners insurance, condo insurance, or renters insurance policy.  To be protected against flood damage, you need to obtain a secondary type of insurance policy called a ‘flood policy.’  This type of insurance policy covers damage to your residence or property that is caused by flooding.  What many people don’t realize is how cheap flood insurance can be.  Since most people in Denver and the surrounding cities like Arvada, Broomfield, Thornton, Golden, etc. don’t live in flood zones, their flood insurance can be as cheap as a couple hundred dollars per year.

If you have any questions about flood insurance or flood damage, please be sure to give us a call at 303-463-9800!

“CCTV at petrol stations will automatically stop uninsured cars being filled with fuel.”  Government officials are presenting this plan in the hopes that it significantly reduces the number of uninsured motorists, currently at over 1.4 million.  While this number may sound outrageous to the rest of us who pay a pretty penny for our car insurance, the number of uninsured motorists in the UK is only about 1 in 25.  According to the article, that is one of the worst figures in western Europe.  Compare that with the number of uninsured drivers in the state of Colorado, which is closer to 1 in 6, or about 400% greater.

In recent years, an average of 160 people are killed and 23,000 are injured in the UK from drivers who fail to carry insurance.  According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Institute, uninsured motorists are involved in more than 20% of fatal crashes in the United States.  In Colorado that would account for over 100 fatalities per year, due to uninsured motorists.

The current system in the UK is designed to prevent people from driving off without paying for their gas, by first logging their license plate numbers.  This would now be cross-referenced with their vehicle insurance database to ensure that drivers have an active insurance policy.  Any driver found to be without insurance at the time of fill-up, would be denied the ability to purchase gasoline.

How do you think such a program would be accepted in Colorado?  Would you be willing to have your license plate tagged when filling up for gas in Arvada or Westminster?  What would you do if you were denied a gas purchase at your local station in Golden?  I suspect Denver drivers would be very upset if this happened to them.  What do you think?

From: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cctv-at-petrol-stations-will-automatically-stop-758518

More often people call to inquire whether they have insurance coverage for certain items, like a wedding ring, a baseball card collection, or an limited edition painting .  While the answer is usually YES, it is our job to also inform the client that there are usually coverage limits for each of the above items.  Nearly all homeowner, condo, and renter’s insurance policies have separate limits for individual items that tend to be expensive such as electronics, jewelery, artwork, or collections.  Since these limits very from company to company and from policy to policy, it is important to discuss with your insurance agent the need for any such types of coverage. 

If you have any of the following items valued over $1,000 and aren’t certain you have the proper protection, please give us a call to review your coverage:

• Wedding Rings
• Watches
• Other Jewelery
• Paintings
• Other Artwork
• Collections: Cards, Comics, Memorabilia
• Guns
• Computers
• Audio and Video Systems

If you have any of the above it might be wise to add a special amendment to your policy known as a ‘floater’ to increase the limits of coverage.  This will help insure you are made ‘whole’ in the event of a loss.

Even if you don’t have any of the above, it is a wise idea to create an inventory of everything you own.  Should you ever get robbed or have a fire, this makes it much easier for the insurance company to help you replace things.  The “Insurance Information Institute” provides a couple quick and easy tools for you to do this.  The first is at www.knowyourstuff.org.  If you prefer to do it using a cell phone, you can download the inventory app using your iphone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iii-inventory/id475840890. 

If you have any questions or don’t know where to start, please give us a call or stop by the office.  We look forward to continue serving you.

I first met Kelly over six years ago through a networking group.  One of the first things I learned about Kelly was his passion for his sons, twin boys, both born with Down Syndrome.  We built a fast friendship and within a few months he decided to join our organization as an insurance agent.  Over the years that I have gotten to know Kelly, in addition to being a very good and caring agent, he has been very active in the support community for Down Syndrome. 

Recently, Kelly and his wife Michelle learned that their boys were not only affected by Down Syndrome but also by a form of Autism.  Through an old friend they became involved in a relatively new organization called “The Down Syndrome-Autism Connection,” which supports families who are affected by both Down Syndrome and Autism.  To help support this organization we applied to Safeco Insurance for a grant through their “Agent Giving Program.”  Safeco was kind enough to donate over $8,000 to the program, which will be used in the coming year for various family support services. 

What does this have to do with insurance?  Not much.  Just thought it was a story worth sharing.  Merry Christmas to everyone!!! 

Did you know that washing machines and dishwashers are some of the main causes of property damage (flooding) in a typical home?  The problem with dishwashers is most people don’t think to check the seals around the edge of the door.  The problem with washing machines is that the hoses are usually located behind the washing machine.  Over time, the rubber in hoses  and seals starts to dry out and crack.  This is especially true in an extremely dry climate like Denver and across Colorado.  These cracks lead to blow-outs, which can happen at any time.  What happens if that hose blows out while you’re gone for the weekend?  You may return home to a flooded nightmare.  Your carpet ruined, your hardwood floors destroyed, and anything you kept in the basement is now a soggy mess.  Now you have to file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy, you have to stay in a hotel for a week, and are out your deductible.

Rather than let this happen to you, make sure to properly maintain your dishwasher and washing machine.  Have the hoses and seals checked regularly and be sure to replace them at the first sign of drying, cracking, or bulges.  You may even consider installing an alarm system or automatic shut-off system behind your washing machine.  A few dollars in maintenance today may save you thousands of dollars in a claim and even more in insurance expenses down the road. 

If you have any questions about your homeowners insurance, please give us a call!  We are a locally owned and operated independent insurance agency in Arvada, Colorado.  We would love the opportunity to review your policy to make sure you’ve got the right protection in the event of a flood.

I was checking my morning email and someone sent me a link to the following:  WOOT SALE

I’ve purchased from them many times before and they’ve always been great.  Thid deal is only good for a day or until sold out, so make sure to jump on it quickly!  If you have any questions about the product, check out this video:

 
Fire Extinguisher – \”Nitro Strike\”

If you already own a fire extinguisher, you may be eligible for additional discounts on your homeowner’s insurance!  If you haven’t had someone review your home, auto, business, or life insurance recently, give us a call!  While our business is located in the Denver metro area, we are glad to help clients across the state of Colorado.  As an independent agency, we have access to more companies and more products than most insurance agents.  We provide the local service you have come to expect, with the options of companies like: Travelers, Hartford, Safeco, Allied, Auto Owners, Progressive, Kemper, and many others.

• Unhook all hoses from faucets outside your home
• Have your sprinkler system blown out and insulate any exterior pipes
• If you have pipes on exterior walls, behind cabinets, keep your cabinet doors open on extremely cold nights
• Have your furnace inspected and replace your furnace filter
• Cover your AC unit
• Have your chimney inspected to ensure it is free of debris
• Clean your gutters and downspouts
• Check your roof for missing shingles
• Drain the gasoline from your lawnmower

While this may not be a comprehensive list of winter preparation tips, it is a good starting point.  By doing these things now, you can prevent potential insurance claims in the future.  If you have any questions or need a referral to a good handyman who can help, please feel free to call our office:  Barrett Bartels Insurance Agency: 303-463-9800.  We are located in Arvada, but are glad to provide insurance services across the state of Colorado. 

Client: “So, um, does my homeowner’s insurance cover flooding?”

Agency:  “That’s a great question, and the answer depends on what happened and what type of coverage you have!  What brings about the question?”

Client: “Well, we were gone for the weekend and one of our pipes froze and flooded the basement.  The walls are full of water and the carpet is ruined.  Please tell me you can help!” 

Agency:  “Great news, it looks like we can help.  Lets get someone out there right away to start damage mitigation.”

Its happened again!  Over the weekend, temperatures in Denver dropped below the freezing mark.  On average this happens every year around October 7th, and this year was no different.  Every year when this happens, we start to get a rush of phone calls similar to the one above. 

Once everything is factored into the insurance claim, a simple frozen pipe, can cause damage in excess of $10,000.  I personally experienced this last November when a pipe in our kitchen froze and burst.  Our kitchen backs up to the outside of the house.  On one particularly cold November night, the water inside the pipe froze and split the pipe right down the middle.  The next morning when it warmed up enough for the ice to melt, water poured out of the pipe behind the wall.  This lasted the entire day until we returned home from work.  Here’s a list of what all was damaged:

1. Kitchen cabinets  under the sink were ruined and had to be replaced

2. Kitchen hardwood floors were destroyed and had to be replaced

3. Ceiling in basement fell down and had to be replaced

4. Basement walls were filled with water and had to be replaced

5. Basement carpeting and padding were ruined and had to be replaced

6. Several personal items were ruined and had to be replaced

7.  Oh yeah, the broken pipe had to be replaced

Luckily we had a good homeowner’s insurance policy.  The insurance company was quick to send an Arvada plumbing company out to repair the pipe and a disaster mitigation company from Denver to start to work on the rest of the house.  By the end of the week our house was completely repaired and you could never tell we had a claim in the first place. 

I must admit that initially I was very frustrated that I had to come up with a $1,000 deductible.  When I received the final bill for the claim, which totalled over $10,000, I decided I was instead ‘thankful’ that I only had to come up with $1,000. 

One last question many people have asked:  Did my homeowner’s insurance rates go up?  Yes, sadly they increased about 15% due to the claim.  The good news is that I saved $9,000 by having the right insurance policy and I’m only going to have to pay an extra $10/mo for a few years. 

Next week, we’ll take a minute to discuss what we can do to prevent this from happening to YOU!  If you have any questions or concerns in the mean-time, please feel free to call our local denver insurance agency at: 303-463-9800!

Delete Cookies?!

What fun is blogging about insurance without a little humor every now and then.  Here’s a funny little comic a friend emailed me.