These Homeowner Tips Brought to You By Colorado Insurance Agency ~ Doug Berg Agency
There are several popular improvements that can add value to your home. With the right improvements, you can enjoy increased comfort and practicality while you are living in the property, you can add to the appearance of your home, and you will find that the value has been boosted considerably if and when you decide to sell your property.
2. Adding an addition.This is another way to add an additional room to the size of your property, so if you have the space, then an extension could prove to be a great idea. You will enjoy a larger property and can increase the amount of room that you have downstairs as well as upstairs. This is another great way to make the most of your homeowner loan by adding value to your property.
3. New kitchen or bathroom.The kitchen and bathroom are rooms that are often scrutinized by potential buyers. They are also rooms in which you spend a great deal of time. Creating the right look and ambiance for both of these rooms can be easy these days, and with a choice of great kitchen and bathroom designs available, you can make these rooms look and feel perfect.
4. Replacement windows.Many people can be put off buying a property if the windows are in need of repair and are old. Not only do they look bad upon first impression, but they also affect the light, heat, and comfort levels in your home. Replacement windows, such as double glazing, can help to increase energy efficiency and can improve the lighting, ambiance, and appearance of your home.
5. Heating & cooling.Having the right heating and cooling system in place is another important factor in the comfort and salability of your home. For most buyers, central heating is a must these days, and by having central heating you can enjoy cozier winters, a warmer home, and a more sellable property.
6. Outdoor spaces.Home value is increased by projects that make your outdoor space more accessible and functional. Decks and patios can have a return on investment of more than 64 percent depending on the materials used, such as wood or composite decking. Stone and brick patios, as well as lower decks, are other possibilities that might be fantastic DIY projects if you're handy.
7. Interior changes.A little interior design may make a big difference. Simple and straightforward design modifications might help you arrange your house for sale for a reasonable price. Consider these simple yet worthwhile home repair tasks to boost the overall value of your home and attract buyers:
Changing out the light fittings.
Light covers and heat registers need to be replaced.
Replacing doorknobs and other hardware.
Custom window coverings, such as shades.
Update the floors
Bringing your paint colors up to date.
Baseboards, ceilings, and inside doors should all be repainted.
Home renovation projects can be tough to prioritize and budget for, and guaranteed to prevent any arguments, which is why it's crucial to pick the ones that will provide you the most value. Focus on remodels and upgrades that will increase rather than decrease the value of your home if you plan to sell it in the future. Stick to a budget and consult with a broker to choose where to begin while preparing your home for sale. And...don't forget to call us at 970-668-3225 if we need to increase your coverage!
These Healthy Energy Tips Brought to You by Colorado Insurance Agency ~ Doug Berg Agency
Getting an energy boost that can keep you going all day often means sacrificing good nutrition. Few foods give you the kick that a cup of coffee, a can of cola, or a sugary candy bar can. If you’re watching your weight, the challenge is finding foods that can not only give you a boost but are good for you as well.
The goal in planning your daily diet is to focus on meals that are low in fat, high in fiber, contain protein and have complex carbs. This ensures a slow breakdown of sugars and regular energy throughout the day.
Having a good breakfast is the first and most important step in building up your energy stores to get through a busy day. Even if you aren’t particularly hungry, you should eat within four hours of walking.
What you eat for breakfast should account for about 25 percent of the day’s calories, so go for low-fat, high-fiber cereal and mild or a complex carb such as a bagel with juice. Avoid foods with a high level of simple sugars; the sudden energy boost will be quickly canceled out by a crash in energy later in the day.
Staying hydrated can also help. Drinking at least six glasses of water a day can keep you from feeling sluggish and tired.
In addition to water, another source of energy that’s good for you is Hair of the Dog, which comes in carb-free and sugar-free versions. Hair of the Dog is an energy beverage that contains 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, milk thistle extract, and patented detoxifiers, which protect the liver from the damage caused by toxins such as medications, pollutants, and alcohol.
Snacks can also provide the body with the energy it needs. Just be sure to choose wholesome snacks rather than those loaded with sugar or fat. Go for fruit, a few baby carrots, some cheese or a handful of nuts, a glass of milk, a few whole-grain crackers, or even a low-fat granola bar. Snacks that fit in your purse or can be stored in a desk drawer for easy access will ensure you get the quick boost you need when your energy starts to flag.
If you still have the energy after reading this please call or email us and we will be happy to provide you with an insurance 'check-up'
Vacation Tips From Colorado Insurance Agency ~ Doug Berg Agency
As the summer vacation season is in full swing thoughts turn to fun in the sun, getting on an airplane or even camping. Remember your homeowners insurance will cover your personal property while on vacation. If you plan on traveling to a foreign country, call our office for an insurance review.
Don’t post on social media until you return.
Let a trusted neighbor know you will be away and have them keep an eye on your home. It is a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
Be aware of any travel and health alerts at your destination
Write out a schedule and give it to a family member for safety purposes.
Make copies of all of your credit cards, important identification information, including your medical insurance cards, and your traveler's checks.
Look for deals. You can find websites all over the internet that can help you score deals on hotels, amusement park tickets, airline travel and so on. Make sure you look for bargains after you set the budget.
Put inside and outside lights on timers.
Advise your alarm company and local police if you will be gone for an extended period.
Stop the paper and garbage service.
Don’t take expensive jewelry with you. Jewelry can get lost or be a target for thieves.
Never put your home address on your luggage tags. Write your phone number instead.
If you are traveling to a foreign country remember to study up on laws and customs. You will have a much better time if you understand the culture.
Make sure all electrical appliances are turned off.
Before you leave for vacation, you may decide to close your curtains to prevent people from peering inside your home to see whether you're there. However, closed curtains also stop those who aim to help the police, your neighbors or friends from seeing inside your house
All of us at Colorado Insurance Agency ~ Doug Berg Agency hope you are able to get away, and if not, have fun anyway!
Here’s what influences the cost of your condo insurance:
The value of your personal property matters the most.
Cost also depends on what your building’s master policy covers.
Lower deductibles result in higher premiums.
You’re eligible for discounts when you combine insurance policies.
Q:Question I’m putting together my budget for buying a new condo. I’m not sure how much to set aside for insurance. How do I figure this out?
Farmers Insurance® agent Mona Verma, PhD, of Folsom, California discusses the factors that determine what you pay for condo insurance.
A:Answer The amount of insurance you choose for your personal property is the biggest factor when it comes to cost. You might have a media room loaded with high-end electronics or a cabinet full of imported china. Or maybe you’ve just set up housekeeping and have only the basics for now. The amount of coverage you may want depends on what you have to protect.
The next thing insurance companies consider is the building’s master insurance policy. Some master policies cover things like installed appliances and internal walls, and some don’t. Your agent can review the master policy to see exactly what’s covered, so you can decide what to cover with your own policy.
With any condo policy, the amount of your deductible affects your premiums. Farmers® policies have deductibles ranging from $250 to $1,000. You choose the amount based on your budget and how you want to be covered. Don’t forget that combining your condo insurance with other Farmers policies can get you an attractive discount.
The wildfires that ravaged 245,000 acres in four Northern California counties are fully contained, but we still don’t know the full extent of the damage. Inspectors have tallied more than 42 lost lives and 8,000 destroyed buildings. However, those numbers will likely rise in the coming months, now that the areas can be more safely assessed.
As warming temperatures turn swaths of vegetation into kindling, devastating conflagrations like the Tubbs, Atlas, and Nuns Fires—the most dire markers of California’s deadliest fire season on record—will likely become more common. In 2015, a record 10 million acres burned from wildfires throughout the United States, and this year more than 8 million acres have burned. Those who live in wildfire-prone regions throughout North America now fear “the big one” more than ever.
So what can homeowners do to prepare for the next wildfire season? Many inflammatory factors—the climate’s changing state, corporate negligence, and forest management policies that go back decades—seem out of our control. Still, experts who study wildfires say there’s a lot we can do as individuals to protect our homes from burning.
After all, one’s home is often “more ignitable than the vegetation surrounding it.” This is according to Michelle Steinberg, director of the National Fire Prevention Agency’s (NFPA) Wildfire Division, who describes a common sight after wildfires in urban areas: smoking holes in the ground where houses once stood, surrounded by green trees. Steinberg explains that wildfire doesn’t simply march across a landscape incinerating everything in its path; it needs fuel sources to burn through. When it crosses the wilderness-urban divide and becomes what scientists describe as an “urban conflagration,” manmade structures replace trees and grasses as kindling. Recent urban conflagrations like the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma are particularly devastating because houses are so inherently flammable.
Thus, the goal of wildfire preparation measures is not to fireproof your home and property, but rather to limit its ability to act as a fuel source. “You’re not gonna eliminate all fire,” Steinberg cautions. “You’ll have some embers blowing in, maybe some grass catching on fire. What you want to do is eliminate its ability to do real harm.” Here are five strategies to guide your efforts, starting with the house itself and working outward.
Jack Cohen explains how wildfires can cause a home to burn.
1. Proof your roof
Embers from nearby wildfires often land on roofs, where they can ignite a blaze that quickly envelops the whole home. "A flammable roof will make the difference of your house being destroyed and not being destroyed, regardless of what else you do," says fire scientist Jack Cohen. The best possible protection in this case? A roof constructed from nonflammable materials like asphalt shingles, metal, slate, or tile. While wood shingles are the most common flammable roof covering material, homeowners who don’t want the hassle of reroofing can treat their wooden roofs with fire retardant, or install a rooftop sprinkler system. However, experts warn that such solutions may be inadequate—so you might want to consider changing materials altogether. “A nonflammable roof is easy to achieve,” says Steinberg. “If you get a typical asphalt shingle roof with a good installation, you really don’t have to worry too much.”
Also note that leaves and pine needles that collect in gutters make for a dangerous ember landing bed. Make sure to clean your roof’s gutters regularly.
2. Keep embers out
Houses are inevitably filled with flammable materials (carpets, shades, furniture) so if embers have the potential to blow inside, virtually no home is safe. Thus, a second axiom to guide your fire-protection measures: Keep embers out. Cover any exterior vent openings with ⅛-inch hardware cloth. If you have a doggy door, make sure it seals properly, and leave it closed during fire season. Embers often penetrate through rooftop openings, so replace missing shingles or tiles, and caulk any cracks.
Windows are another wildfire weak point. Radiant heat can melt plastic skylights and cause glass windows to crack or even burst, allowing embers into the house. Double-paned and tempered glass do a better job of withstanding high temperatures.
3. Secure the perimeter
Once you’ve focused on protecting your roof and keeping embers at bay, you should start to consider the five feet surrounding your house. After all, something catching fire alongside a home can be as disastrous as a mattress burning within it. “From the fire’s point of view, if it’s attached to or touching the house, it’s part of the house,” Steinberg says. Firewood stacks and propane tanks are an obvious danger—the NFPA advises moving them at least 30 feet away from the house. If you have any materials from building projects lying against the house, move those away, too.
Those tips may seem obvious, but homeowners often miss less conspicuous combustibles. “Anything organic is a fuel source,” Steinberg says. Mulch is a common culprit, as embers can easily set fire to the organic fertilizers that often line house-adjacent planting beds. The NFPA recommends replacing any organic mulch within five feet of your house with gravel or stone mulch products. Plants containing oils and resins, like juniper and pine, are also particularly dangerous. In general, make sure to regularly water and maintain any plant life near the house.
The NFPA recommends separating wood fences from the house with a masonry or metal barrier. After all, if wooden features attached to a home ignite, they will carry fire to the main structure. If you have a wooden deck, make sure to clear it of debris, and to regularly clean out any dead vegetation underneath.
4. Create a “defensible space”
The “home ignition zone” encompasses the house itself and everything up to 100 to 200 feet around it. Radiant heat from a severe wildfire can ignite a house from up to 100 feet away, and if there’s enough combustible material in the way, the flames themselves can quickly travel that distance. So if you happen to live in a wildfire-prone area, safeguarding just your home and the five feet surrounding it leaves significant risk on the table.
The area between 30 and 100 feet of a home is a property’s front-line defense against a wildfire. The principle guiding your preparation in this zone should be to create a “defensible space” that can prevent flames from approaching your home, and give firefighters a safe place to combat the blaze. Cal Fire and NFPA have great resources that outline the creation of a defensible space. For instance, once you remove fuel sources from the area immediately surrounding the house, the area between 30 and 100 feet out should be maintained as a “reduced fuel zone.” In this zone, plants should be spaced out, low-hanging tree branches should be pruned, and all vegetation should be watered regularly.
Steinberg notes that some homeowners go overboard when creating a defensible space by clearing the area surrounding their home of all vegetation. It seems counterintuitive, but well-spaced plant life can actually block wind-blown embers from reaching your home. A defensible space completely devoid of vegetation creates a “bowling alley” for embers, warns the California Chapparal Institute.
5. Work together
Even the most well-prepared home is in serious jeopardy in the event that neighboring houses ignite. If you live in a densely populated area, your home is ultimately only as fire-proof as your neighborhood’s weakest links. “Some people are closer than 100 feet to the next neighbor, and you don’t necessarily have control over that,” Steinberg says. “In that case, the stuff in my yard or in my house is gonna affect whether or not your house ignites.”
Community-organized fire preparation can thus be as important as what you do on your own property. The U.S. Forest Service has a program that helps build “fire-adapted communities," and more than 1,400 sites nationwide have implemented community-level wildfire action plans under NFPA’s Firewise recognition program. Check these resources to find out how you can get involved in making your community a safer place.
