Heading on a vacation?  Here are things to think about.

Avoid having to file claims on your homeowners insurance by doing the right things before you leave town.

If you’re going on a vacation it is important not to announce to the world that you are leaving.   Don’t post it on Facebook.  People are tracking things and it is public.  Remember to cancel the paper, another give away that your gone is a pile of papers sitting in your yard.  Have someone come by periodically to check the house.  Leave lights on or put some on a timer to give the home that lived in look.  If you are gone an extended time, consider hiring someone to cut the lawn.

Here is a link to a video explaining posting on Facebook:  http://goo.gl/bNvbP

Make sure you have locked every window, door and think about unplugging your garage door opener.  Don’t leave “the hidden key” outside, burglars are wise to that.

Unplug and disconnect things that can cause damage, like the DVR you’re not going to be using, along with eating up energy costs it does build up and heat and that can cause a fire, so any appliance that has that potential, unplug.  Turn the water off to the clothes washer; those lines are known to break open under pressure.

Last but not least consider getting travel insurance, in today’s world you never know if a flight is cancelled or other issues can impact your trip. http://goo.gl/USmdM
We are also available to go through your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure you are getting all the discounts you deserve.

This season of wildfires has caused us to revisit the needs of homeowners to review their home replacement cost coverage.

The main reason for home insurance is to replace your home in the event of a fire or tornado. You need full replacement cost for your home if there is a fire and it destroys everything. You expect to be assured that you can rebuild to the same quality AND replace your possessions. But what you need to understand is that replacement costs are not the same to every insurance company. Several major companies sell “replacement cost” and then limit their total exposure on the dwelling coverage to 25% or 50% over what limits you select. Might this create a problem in the event of a total loss like we have seen recently in Colorado?

There are many reasons you might be tempted to be under insured. Several factors may contribute to this dilemma at the very start of your home purchase. The builder has a reduced cost of both materials and labor by building many homes at once. They are under no time constraints to get a new buyer in, making their labor decisions more financially efficient. The construction industry gets better prices on materials because they buy in bulk. While they may state a cost of $125 to $135 a square foot to rebuild, you might be shocked to find that when you ask a builder to rebuild on your schedule, on a single property, and in competition with others now out of their homes, the cost on that same home might be $155 to $175 a square foot.

Other players in your transaction to buy a house can exert pressure to lower your insurance costs. The mortgage company demands you purchase insurance, but they also want you to qualify, so a well meaning loan officer might steer a person to a less expensive product, but not be concerned about eventual replacement. We find that some insurance people, wanting to win the new client, will also understate the cost of construction to quote a lower yearly insurance rate. If they then ask you to rely upon a “replacement cost” endorsement that is not truly replacement cost, one might take issue with these sales tactics.

It is your home and your insurance, you need to verify and understand what replacement costs means for you and whether or not to insure to value. You are the one in the cross hairs if your insurance is not true replacement cost. Understand that replacement costs may not be the market value, or even the taxable valuation. That does not include upgrades you have done or how costs have inflated.

The best thing to do is sit with your insurance agent and understand the cost benefit ratios of insuring replacement costs.

At Colorado Insurance Professionals, Inc., we have companies that sell “True Replacement Guarantee”, an unlimited coverage! Call us today if you would like to look at your policy. 303-578-4294 and ask for Mary Beth.

What is People House? People House is a non- sectarian, non-profit, spiritual and personal growth center that has been helping people for 35 years in the community. Their goal is to help people through educational programs that provide personal and spiritual growth for individuals needing education, healing and growth in a variety of areas. They provide an affordable sliding scale of services for their clientele. Their professional counseling staff is available to assist people through holistic process to aid in the successful treatment of relationship, work and family issues. Each individual counts and is treated by high caliber professionals to assist in the process.

People House is focused in Aurora on two programs:

Affordable counseling for the uninsured fee structure ranges from 15 – 40 per session and is based on current income. People who find this useful are students, those working without health insurance, folks who are unemployed and anyone needing help and having a hard time finding someone to lend a hand.

The other focus is the Veterans Re-integration program. These are trained mentors and coaches who specialize in helping veterans with both long term and short term issues of reintegrating in the community, find suitable employment, dealing with past trauma and working with their families. Often these veterans are referred to the Affordable counseling program as well, and often the fees are covered on their behalf.

Who are you? Colorado Insurance Professionals, Inc. is dedicated to helping the community in a variety of aspects from Rotary Club to People House.

Why did you support People House? It is a 35 year organization that does positive things for those in need in the community. We believe that the service they offer is something the community wants and needs. We also have a real feeling to support veterans who have fought for us and now need our help.

When is this entire move taking place? The new facility is opening in May.

Where is the new location of People House? The new facility, opening in May, is located at 13693 E. Iliff Ave., Suite 112, in Aurora – just East of Heather Gardens Golf Club. It is built to our specifications with space for up to 6 practitioners, interns and veteran mentors.

Delicious Recipe of the Month:

Spanish Chicken and Potato Roast
This recipe is delicious and full of flavor. The spice in the chicken mixed with the lemon juice makes for a perfect combination. This is a super easy recipe to make when you don't want to slave over a hot stove and the clean up is even easier. Everyone is sure to love this dish, perfect for Spring!

Click Here for the Full Recipe by FoodNetwork.com
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Dumb Criminal Story of the Month:

Obiwan Kenobi Arrested for Hit and Run
A California man who legally changed his name to match that of the fictional "Star Wars" hero may have given in to the temptations of the dark side of the Force, as he was charged with a hit-and-run. And as Yoda warned the fictional Kenobi, "Told you I did. Reckless is he. Now, matters are worse."

Click Here to Read the Full Article by YahooNews.com