Colorado's Marshall Fire should prompt EVERYONE to review their insurance

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall fire roared through the Denver suburb of Louisville as well as neighboring communities. It destroyed an estimated 1000 homes and was the most costly fire in Colorado's history.

Even if you don't live here, you've probably seen the photos and videos. Here are some heartbreaking photos courtesy of Al-Jazeera, based in Doha, Qatar.

Credit: Denver Post

If this doesn’t make you want to review your homeowner’s and renter’s coverage, I don’t know what will.

 

Insurance is not fast food, so don’t treat it that way. NEVER just get a quote and bind your coverage online. Have a real live professional agent review every line of coverage on your current policies and make sure that, should disaster strike, you have no additional unpleasant surprises.

 

As a colleague likes to say, don’t let a bad day turn into a bad life.

 

Here are just a few topics you should discuss:

 

  • What will it cost to rebuild your house in the event of a total loss? Will your current policy pay to fully rebuild your home? Or do you need to enhance your coverage?
  • What is your deductible? Do you know if you have a split-deductible policy? Do you have a “percentage-deductible” policy? These are increasingly common – and often unavoidable – in several states.
  • What is your liability limit? How much will your policy pay in the event that someone is injured on your property or if, God forbid, you are accused of starting a fire? This number should exceed the value of your visible assets, i.e., the value of your home, your retirement funds, and other investments.
  • If a loss puts you out of your home for a time while the damage is repaired, how much will your policy pay for rent and other related expenses? (Please know that your mortgage won’t stop should this happen.)
  • If you own a condominium or townhome, do you know that your HOA’s insurance WILL NOT cover internal repair and reconstruction of your home? It also won't cover your belongings, or any expenses incurred if you are put out of your home due to a claim? And it won't cover your liability either.
  • If your HOA assesses individual homeowners due to a major loss, how much, if anything, will your policy pay?
  • How much will your policy pay, if anything, in the event of water and/or sewer backup? This is an optional coverage that must be added by endorsement.
  • Will your policy pay to rebuild your home to conform to current building ordinances in your locale?
  • NEVER take renter’s insurance lightly. It’s about a lot more than your stuff!
  • Whenever possible have your car and home insured with the same carrier. This not only saves you money almost every time, but it also makes it much easier to have an umbrella policy.
Credit: KDVR Fox31 in Denver


It’s tragic enough that so many people suffered such horrendous losses in Mayfield, Kentucky, and the surrounding areas. It’s far worse that a goodly number of those people found out in that awful moment that they were not properly covered. A lot of people are asking “why didn’t my agent tell me this?”

That is one question that you never want to ask. 


It's also one that your agent never wants to have to answer.

 

At EPS Insurance, we are going to tell you “that”.

Insurance poor is no fun. Claim poor is far worse.

 

Please call me and let’s get you protected properly.

 

I look forward to serving you.


(Update: sure enough there was a major problem with underinsurance.)


Doug Newman

720-675-8119

30+ carriers ... 44 states
Auto-home-commercial
Offering life in Colorado.

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