Fall Home Checklist

Name: Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers
Address: 11001 West 120th Ave, Suite 400, Broomfield, CO, 80021
Telephone: 720-600-7470

Whether you know it or not, you do need to make sure that you winterize your home on a yearly basis. Fall is the perfect time to do that. Here is a look at some of the things that you might want to do on our fall home checklist.

You are probably used to hearing the phrase “get your mind out of the gutter”. Forget that and get it IN the gutter instead. You need to inspect all of the downspouts and gutters on your home.
Button up your house. Make sure that all of the cracks and gaps around your doors and windows are sealed with caulk and weather stripping.
Take care of any roof issues. Get on the roof and inspect it for curled and/or damaged shingles, leaky vents and flashing that might be corroded.
Walk your drive and walkways. If you have any damaged steps, driveways or sidewalks, take the necessary steps to repair them.
Winterize and drain your outdoor irrigation systems and faucets.
Make sure that you have your heating system inspected by professionals.
If you have a fireplace, hire a chimney sweep to clean any creosote or soot buildup from your chimney.
Clean the pads and/or plates on your humidifier to ensure that it operates efficiently.
Take care of any gas problems before they start. If you have heat provided by gas, make sure to get it inspected by a professional. You also need to make sure that any manufacturer specified maintenance needs to be performed.
If you have a wood stove, get it inspected before using it.

For more information on our fall home checklist and to make sure that your homeowners policy is up to date, contact Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers in Broomfield, CO today. They are standing by to answer any and all of your questions regarding your insurance and winterizing your home.

How to Winterize Your Home

As winter approaches, it is time to start preparing for the colder blasts of weather. Is your home prepared? At Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers, we want our customers to be armed with the knowledge necessary to keep their homes well-protected throughout each season. This is especially the case during Colorado winters when the temperatures can drop to freezing levels. Use these tips from Aspen Gold Insurance to winterize your home:

Winterizing the Exterior of Your Home

As the weather cools down you will probably want to utilize your fireplace this season. Make sure to check the exterior brick and repair any mortar joints that need to be fixed. Look in the chimney for bird nests of other debris that need to be removed. While you are inspecting your chimney, you should also examine your roof. Make sure the flashing around the chimney is in good shape as this is often a source of water leaks. Have any damaged shingles replaced and clear the gutters of debris. Clear any debris such as leaves and branches from your yard and make sure to winterize your sprinkler system. Drain and disconnect water hoses too.

Winterize the Interior of Your Home

Keeping the inside of the house warm is a must during a Colorado winter. Make sure that the insulation in your attic is in good shape. If any ceiling joists are visible, then you will need additional insulation. Test both your smoke and radon detectors and keep a supply of extra batteries on hand. Keep cold air from seeping through your windows by caulking them. Check around your doors to see if the weather stripping needs to be replaced. Also, it is a good idea to get your furnace inspected and cleaned.

The agents at Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers hope that by carrying out these simple tips your home will be in good shape and ready to go this winter.

Commercial Insurance Checklist

When you’re looking for commercial insurance from Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers, there are a few aspects to consider. It helps to create a commercial insurance checklist to ensure you have all the insurance you need. You’ll feel more at ease knowing you’re covered, even if the law doesn’t require you to have commercial instance.

1. General Liability Insurance

Unfortunately, your business may be at fault for a fall or something that affects another business or party. Even though you may not have intentionally meant for the incident to occur, your business will still need to compensate anyways. If you don’t have commercial insurance to protect your business, you become personally responsible for the charges, in particular if your business isn’t a limited liability company. The expenses of a lawsuit could range from a few hundred to over $100,000. You obviously don’t want to have to pay that, and if neither the company or you have the money personally, you could lose your entire business and be forced to file bankruptcy. You want the policy to cover enough that the remaining expenses won’t exceed what you can afford.

2. Property Coverage Insurance

If your property gets destroyed, it could harm the aesthetic appeal of the outside of your business. It could harm the function of your company as well, which could potentially hurt your profit. Keep in mind, if anything affects your business in a way that it causes you to shut down even for a few days, you’re losing money. If you don’t have enough insurance to make the repairs, you may have to shut down totally. Property insurance is especially important for those who rent their properties. In fact, the owner may require you to have it.

3. Necessary Insurance

While property and liability are important insurance coverage to have, they’re not required by law. They may, however, be required by whoever you took a loan from or whoever is the owner of the property you rent. Make sure you inquire with these individuals before you develop a policy.

To learn more about our commercial insurance checklist and coverage you need to benefit your business, contact Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers in Broomfield, CO at 720-600-7470 today.

Why Your Entire Family Needs Life Insurance

When it comes to life insurance, many people find it difficult to have a conversation about it. Life insurance is a sensitive topic because it forces you to face the idea that you are a mortal being. No one really wants to consider the idea of their death, but it’s a necessary conversation. In fact, your entire family should have a conversation about why everyone needs life insurance.

Primary Breadwinners Must Have Life Insurance

If you are the primary breadwinner in your household, then it’s obvious why you need life insurance—to replace your income in the event of your death. If your family can’t rely on your income, then they may not be able to sustain themselves financially. By purchasing a substantial life insurance policy, you ensure they can make ends meet in your absence.

Spouses that Don’t Work Need Life Insurance Too

Typically, many families only consider purchasing life insurance for the breadwinner, but stay at home moms, and dads need life insurance as well. If the stay at home mom or dad becomes deathly ill, some life insurance policies will help cover the cost of medical bills. This feature is called the accelerated death benefit, and many chronically ill people who have life insurance find it helpful to cover the cost of medical expenses.

Children Should Have Life Insurance as Well

Although your children may not be in the forefront of your mind when it comes to purchasing life insurance, you should purchase coverage for them as well. Life insurance is cheaper when you purchase it young, which can save money years down the road. Additionally, life insurance policies for children are often convertible, allowing them to maintain the coverage you purchased for them after they’ve started their families.

At Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers, in Broomfield, CO, we offer life insurance products for your entire family. To find out more about the life insurance policies we offer, we recommend that you visit our website today.

3 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe on The Water

Boating with children presents several challenges when it comes to safety. Naturally curious yet innocent, children sometimes participate in behavior that may cause them harm. Basically, they have no fear. They will try anything once, which can be hazardous while on a boat. That’s why it’s vital for you to protect your kids while boating this summer. Following are three ways to keep your kids safe on the water.

Use Safety Equipment

Make each child wear a properly-fitted life vest at all times, even when the boat isn’t moving. Make sure there are plenty floating rescue devices on board in the event that someone were to fall overboard. Also, keep a working fire extinguisher on the boat at all times.

Always think outside the box when it comes to safety as well. Keep sunscreen on board that has an SPF value of 40 or greater. Apply it every couple of hours. Also, make sure that all food on board stays a safe temperature by using proper food storage.

Teach Boat Rules

Make and enforce boating rules. For example, have a no-running, no-jumping policy. You may also want to make other rules, such as no standing on the seats. If a child breaks a rule, make sure there are consequences.

Consult Insurance Policy

In the awful event that your child were to get injured on an outing, you want to be covered fully. While the state requires basic coverage, it might not be enough to protect your loved ones fully to keep them safe on the water. Consult your insurance policy to see how much coverage you really have. If you have any questions or feel like you need more coverage, talk to your insurance agent or Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers before putting your boat in the water.

Check out our information on Boat/Watercraft Insurance and even reach out for a free quote.

Ways To Make Packing Easier

Everyone hates packing. It is a fact of life. People also hate unpacking. Although, we all love moving to a new and better place. There is no way to magically pack everything up without lifting a finger, but there are some ways that you can make the entire process easier on yourself. The best way to do that is by planning ahead and taking the time to pack everything in an organized way. This will make unpacking and the moving process easier for everyone involved in the process. Use these tips to do just that. When you are ready to move into your new home, be sure to contact us at Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers for all of your insurance needs.

Color code all boxes. This may seem silly but you will be so thankful for it when you are unpacking. Color code all of your boxes based on the room they go in. When you move it, place those boxes in the corresponding room. Then everything you need for that room will be in there when it is time to unpack.

Label your boxes and take inventory. When you are packing, make sure you take the time to label your boxes and take an inventory. Then, you will know where everything is at all times and if you need to find something, you can go straight to the box that has the item you are looking for. This will save time when you are unpacking and make your life a lot less stressful.

Pack a first night box. After moving, you will want to unpack but you will need some basic items. Make sure you pack everything you need in a first night box so you can easily find it and rest nicely on your first night, without unpacking everything.

Dodge the Pavement

Driving can seem more like a chore than the joy it is when you only have the straight path of the highway or the cluttered roads of a city. To stave off that urge to scream at other drivers, get the keys to a vehicle that can take you to new places and dodge the pavement.

Cross Your Fingers and Start Your Motors

Nothing quite compares with the feeling of soaring fifty feet in the air on the back of a dirt bike, the ramps of mud and nearby trees looming below you. You’ll likely want to use a premade course to get the best experience, but it’s nothing like your weekday commute on the pavement.

Take over the Desert in a Dune Buggy

The tumultuous mounds of pale golden sand sit untouched in front of you under the baking heat of the sunlight streaking through a pure blue sky. You sit on top of an engine strapped to a wheeled cage and accelerate over the waves, sending the shimmering grains behind you as your wheels leave behind the only marks on the untouched desert. That’s what it’s like to spend a weekend at the wheel of a dune buggy.

Which Terrain?

Forests? Deserts? Mud? Mountains? Snow drifts? All of the terrain is an option when you’re on the back of an ATV. They may not go quite as fast as a buggy or fly as high as a dirt bike, but no ride is better at conquering the wilderness in whatever form it comes.

Keep Safe On and Off the Road

Whatever type of vehicle you happen to choose to dodge the pavement, you should call Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers and ask for a quote about protecting your source of adventure and freedom from the perils that you’ll face on the path less taken.

Feel Good This Year by Giving Back

It’s a new year, and it doesn’t necessarily have to mean an entirely new you. It can mean just you participating in a few activities that give back to your community. You’ll feel better about yourself, and you’ll be doing something to make someone else’s life a bit better.

1. Give Blood

In the U.S., 41,000 blood donations are required each day to keep up with the demand. Keep in mind that a car accident victim may need as many as 100 pints of blood. If you’re type O or AB, your blood is even more in demand because your blood type is compatible with all others. Plus, AB or O blood is always in short supply and needed.

2. Choose a Charity

If your mom died of cancer or your grandfather had heart disease and you feel passionate about the cause, donate to it. However, you don’t have to have any affiliation with the charity’s cause. You can choose a charity and make a contribution to the cause. Cancer research always needs more funding.

3. Meals on Wheels

Not everyone is able to cook or get out to purchase groceries, meaning they’re going without nutritious meals. And oftentimes, these people have nobody to check on them regularly. Sign up for a Meals on Wheels program, and you’ll be able to provide a meal to someone who isn’t able to make it for themselves. You even have the option to sit with the person and make them feel a little less lonely.

4. Choose a Charity to Volunteer

You don’t have to give money if you’re not able to or just don’t want to. Instead, you can give your time. You’d be surprised the number of organizations who need people.

Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers gives back to the community and would enjoy an opportunity to provide you with quality insurance. Contact them today at 720-600-7470.

Don’t Worry Be Happy and Other Tips to Avoid Road Rage

Road Rage is something that has become more prevalent in our society. As the motor takes on the personality of the motorist, rage spills out onto the road and the great American pastime of taking a peaceful drive is evaporating into a memory. Driving is often a necessary function in so many lives. How to get from point A to point B, how to get to work, school and play, as we advance as a nation getting around as quickly as possible is all important. Be sure to know some tips to avoid road rage.

The adrenaline rush that follows someone cutting you off or any near collision should be used to dance or sing a song of gratefulness as opposed to the obscene gesture, choice word or retaliatory measure that may originally present itself to your mind. Putting a well-placed placard with the simple word “Perspective” will work wonders. Driving is a necessity it is not an extension of yourself; it is a function that you employ to get to your employment. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Your quick thinking, reflexes, and overall superior driving acumen popped up right at the right time. Keep those fight or flight super-charged secretions in their respective receptacles.

You can’t always avoid calamity, no matter how hard you try when knowing the tips to avoid road rage. It is good to have peace of mind in knowing that you are well insured with the quality insurance products available at Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers. Serving the great state of Colorado, the staff at Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers recognize that the added extreme weather elements inherent in our state intensifies the adrenaline since a silly maneuver added to ice, snow, sleet or rain could cost a life. We will ensure that you don’t have to worry, your investment is protected.

Traveling Abroad: Key Driving Tips

Traveling abroad is filled with excitement and educational opportunities about other cultures in the world. However, you will still need to get around, and if public transportation options are out of the equation, will you be driving your car? Before you get behind the wheel in a foreign country, you need to know a few things about driving while abroad.

What Are the Licensing Requirements For Driving While Abroad?

Some countries may have requirements beyond a US driver’s license. Fortunately, you can make driving simpler by obtaining an International Driving Permit, which grants driving privileges in other countries. However, the countries may have specific age requirements, and you should check to ensure your insurance meets these requirements as well.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Driving Outside of the US?

Depending on your policy and riders, you may or may not have coverage for driving abroad. The coverage may also vary between countries. For example, having coverage in Canada does not necessarily mean you will coverage in Mexico. Be sure to check with your local insurance agent for what countries may be covered.

Will the Rental Car Be Backwards?

If you plan on renting a car abroad, make sure you know what type of car you will be driving. For example, you may need to learn how to drive a manual transmission before you depart. Also, the driver’s side of the vehicle may be on the opposite side as that of vehicles in the US. This is an important consideration, which means you will be driving on the opposite side of the road as well.

If you’re planning on leaving Westminster behind for a few days, weeks, or months, you need to get ready for driving abroad. Contact a reputable insurance agent at Aspen Gold Insurance Brokers, serving the Denver, Colorado area, to review to your auto insurance options and determine what type of coverage you may need for your international adventure.

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