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7700 E Arapahoe Rd., Ste. 330
Centennial, CO 80112

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Do You Need Home Insurance for a Rental Property?

(And Other Frequently Asked Questions)

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Do you need home insurance for a rental property?
    • Yes, you need insurance coverage for rental properties, but you won’t find “home insurance” for a rental property. You’ll need “landlord insurance” or “rental property insurance”.
  • What does landlord home insurance actually cover?
    • Landlord Home insurance typically offers dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, liability, personal offense liability for wrongful eviction or privacy invasion coverage, and loss of rents (if renter has to move out for a covered loss)
  • How much coverage do I need?
    • This depends on factors like your home’s value, location, and personal assets.
  • Does it cover natural disasters?
    • Most policies cover things like fire, theft, and storms. But specific natural disasters like earthquakes and floods may require separate policies.
  • What’s the difference between “replacement cost” and “actual cash value”?
    • Replacement cost pays for the full cost of replacing damaged items with new ones, while actual cash value factors in depreciation.
  • How can I lower my premiums?
    • Install security systems.
    • Bundle your home and auto insurance.
    • Be mindful of the age and condition of your roof
    • Raise your deductible.
    • Maintain good credit.
    • Do not file “maintenance” claims
    • Review and update your policy.
  • Can you bundle home insurance with other policies?
    • Yes, you can bundle home and auto insurance.
    • You may also be able to bundle it with other policies as well, like motorcycle insurance.

“Do you need home insurance for a rental property?” I get asked this question a lot. Let’s talk about it, as well as a few other frequently asked questions!

When life throws you those unexpected curveballs, home insurance can be a real wallet-saver. But like most insurance policies, they can seem pretty complicated at first glance. If you’re like most insurance-shoppers, then you probably have more than a few questions about your homeowners’ policy. So, let’s talk about some of the most common policy questions!

Do You Need Home Insurance for a Rental Property?

Yes, you should absolutely get insurance coverage for your rental properties. But it’s not the same as standard homeowners’ insurance. In fact, you won’t find “home insurance” for a rental property. Instead, you’ll need to get “landlord insurance” or “rental property insurance”. This coverage typically includes property damage, liability protection, and even rental income loss coverage.

What Does Home Insurance Actually Cover?

Home insurance typically covers five main areas:

  • Dwelling Coverage: Repairs or rebuilding your home in case of damage.
  • Personal Property Coverage: Replacement of belongings like furniture and electronics.
  • Liability Coverage: Protection if someone gets hurt on your property.
  • Personal offense liability: Offers wrongful eviction or privacy invasion coverage
  • Loss of Rents Coverage: Covers you if renter has to move out for a covered loss and no longer pays rent

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

The ideal coverage amount varies depending on factors like your home’s value, location, and your personal assets. It’s generally a good idea to conduct a thorough assessment with your insurer to determine the right coverage amount for you.

What About Natural Disasters?

Standard home insurance usually covers damages caused by common perils like fire and storms. However, coverage for specific natural disasters like earthquakes or floods may require separate policies. Be sure to discuss your coverage needs with your insurer so you can be sure that you have enough coverage!

What’s the Difference Between Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value?

Replacement cost coverage pays for the full cost of replacing damaged items with new ones, while actual cash value factors in depreciation. Replacement cost coverage is generally more comprehensive but may come with a higher premium.

How Can I Lower My Premiums?

There are several ways to reduce your home insurance premiums:

  • Install security systems
  • Bundle your home and auto insurance
  • Raise your deductible
  • Maintain good credit
  • Do not file “maintenance” claims
  • Be mindful of the age and condition of your roof
  • Regularly review and update your policy

Can I Bundle My Home Insurance with Other Policies?

Absolutely, you can bundle home insurance with other policies! As previously mentioned, you can bundle your home and auto insurance to lower your monthly premium. While bundling typically involves combining your home and auto insurance, it can also extend to other types, like motorcycle insurance.

Want home insurance help? Or maybe you’re interested in bundling? I can help with both! Get in touch with me today, and I’ll help you get the most out of your home insurance coverage!

Introducing: Our Newest Avalue Team Member

Everyone, I’m excited to introduce you to someone:

Her name is Nicole Johnson, and she’s our newest account manager here at Avalue Insurance!  

Nicole is a proud Colorado native, a newly wedded wife, and an active community member. When she’s not wowing us here at the office, you can find Nicole spiking volleyballs on the court, coaching local high school teams, or gabbing with her hubby over some delicious boba tea.

Nicole has just over three and a half years of experience in the insurance industry, and she specializes primarily in personal lines insurance. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and her insurance expertise delights us on a daily basis. She’s an insurance-powerhouse, if ever I’ve seen one!

 

But Nicole isn’t just about policies and spreadsheets.

Just like all of us here at Avalue, she’s all about people. And it’s not just because she has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology! Nicole understands first-hand the value of community. Growing up as the fourth of six lively siblings, Nicole learned the value of togetherness at an early age. Best of all, she brings it with her to work every single day! Nicole has a natural knack for forging strong bonds with our clients and team members, making them feel right at home from the get-go.

“I really love the environment at Avalue,” says Nicole. “It’s super personable, and the things that matter most at Avalue are the things that matter most — if that makes sense!”

Yes, Nicole, it certainly does make sense! We’re excited to see that you share in our passion for helping people, and we’re honored to have you on our team!   

Welcome to Avalue Insurance, Nicole!

How to Find the Best Motorcycle Insurance for YOU

Don’t Spend Hours Trying to Find the “Best Motorcycle insurance” Out There. You’re Better Off Bundling!  

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • How do you find the best motorcycle insurance on the market? Stop searching, and start bundling! Here’s why:
    • Bundling often comes with discounts, saving you more money in the long run.Bundled policies offer one-stop access to payments, claims, and assistance, simplifying insurance management across the board.
    • Bundled policies often come with more customization options, making it easier to find a policy that meets all of your unique needs.  
Best Motorcycle insurance - Avalue Insurance

“I’m trying to find the best motorcycle insurance, but nothing has met my criteria so far. How do I find the best policy at the best price?”

You’ve probably spent hours (or maybe even days) searching for the best motorcycle insurance on the market, but to no avail. Everywhere you look, you find policies that are either too pricey or too skimpy on coverage. So, what’s the solution? How do you find the best motorcycle insurance at the best possible price? Before we answer this question, I’ve got one for you:

Have you ever thought about bundling?

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: “No way! Bundling looks good on the surface, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. The cost savings are minimal, the coverage is worse, and it just complicates things.” You’re skeptical, as any responsible insurance-shopper should be! But before you write it off completely, I wanted to give you a few educational nuggets to chew on.   

Let’s talk about how bundling could save you time, money, and hassle.

Bundling can save you thousands (yes, thousands) in the long run.

Bundling is like the BOGO deals of the insurance world. Rather than buying a single motorcycle insurance policy at full-price, you’re combining your home, auto, and motorcycle policies into one discounted package. So, you’re getting great motorcycle coverage at a discounted price!

But wouldn’t it be cheaper to just get one of those cheap motorcycle insurance policies for $75 a year?

Not necessarily. In fact, these cheap solo policies could actually cost you more money down the road!

Ever heard that old adage, “you get what you pay for”? This definitely applies in the insurance world. In most cases, cheap policies offer minimal coverage. Trust me: the last thing you want to do is skimp on motorcycle coverage! More than 100,000 motorcycle accidents happen in Colorado every single year. Could you imagine coming out of a motorcycle crash with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses?

Ouch! If you ask me, it’s better to play it safe!

Now, here’s some more food for thought: You have to have home and auto insurance, right? So, why purchase all of those policies separately when you can bundle your home, auto, and motorcycle insurance into one discounted package? That would be like buying your favorite dessert one snack at a time instead of buying the discounted box upfront! You know you’ll need it later, so why not save some money in the process?

Unpopular opinion: bundling is way more convenient.

Most people are worried that bundling will just create more hassle and headaches down the road because they are “locked into a package deal”. But ironically enough, bundling can actually save you a ton of hassle down the road! Instead of juggling multiple insurance providers and policies, you can manage your home, auto, and motorcycle policies all in one place. That means you’ll have a more streamlined process for making payments, managing claims, and getting assistance.

Bundling is more customizable than you think!

When you’re shopping for the best motorcycle insurance for you, the last thing you want is cookie-cutter-coverage. And contrary to popular belief, bundling doesn’t necessarily force you into a one-size-fits-all package. When you bundle, you can work with your insurance provider to get a package that meets all of your needs while helping you save money in the process. It’s a win-win!

Want to speak with a motorcycle insurance pro about bundling your policies? Let’s chat!

Now that you’re all ears about bundling, let’s talk about Avalue Insurance. We’re not just another insurance provider; we’re your partners in protection. As a team of independent insurance agents in Colorado, we’re all about personalized policies that work best for people — not “the general public”, but real-life people. You won’t find any one-size-fits-all policies here!

And best of all: we bundle. If you’re tired of scraping Google for the best motorcycle insurance policy out there, let us talk to you about bundling. You may just surprise yourself!

Get in touch with us today, and let us help you find and bundle the best motorcycle insurance for you! We offer free quotes on motorcycle insurance, so what have you got to lose (other than missing out on some serious savings)?

Who is Avalue Insurance?

First things first: we’re more than just policies.

Most people already know that Avalue Insurance is a team of independent insurance agents in Denver, Colorado. We’re on a mission to “humanize” insurance; our agents make insurance-shopping simpler, quicker, and a lot less stressful!

But before we’re insurance agents, we’re people. We’re residents of central Colorado — just like you — and we take our roles as “Colorado community members” very seriously. That’s why Avalue Insurance isn’t just another insurance agency in Centennial. We’re not just about numbers, claims, and policies.

We’re about people.

Avalue Insurance is committed to community betterment.

We all want to make the world a better place. But since that can be a pretty big job to take on all at once, we’ve decided to start somewhere a little closer to home: our local cities and neighborhoods. That’s why we’ve partnered with a variety of local causes and fundraising opportunities.  Feeding hungry families, fueling fundraisers, mentoring students, offering career guidance, building homes for those in need — we do it all.

Why? Because we can’t get enough of it!

At Avalue, we don’t just talk about caring – we show it. When we see a need, we’ll fill it. When there’s a problem, we’ll fix it. When someone needs a helping hand, we’ll give them two. Because we care about our Colorado community, and we’re passionate about protecting people’s peace-of-mind. So, whether it’s policies or charities, we’re here to help.   ‘

How you can help us make a difference.

Avalue Insurance is always looking for new ways to get involved. We just finished raising over $4,200 for Cross Purpose, and we’re already on the hunt for our next opportunity to give-back. But we can’t do it alone. We could use your support! Follow our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest Avalue news, and be the first to hear about our future fundraisers! You can show your support by making donations or just giving us some digital high-fives. Either way, we appreciate your support!

My 2023 RagBrai Experience (and Victory)

Well, guys, we did it!

The 2023 RagBrai in Iowa was a thrilling adventure that challenged me in ways I never imagined. It was a dream come true to tick this off my bucket list, but what made it even more special was the opportunity to ride for CrossPurpose and raise funds for their career development programs. With the help of my generous supporters, we raised over $4,106, making a real difference in the lives of Denver, Coloradans striving to break free from poverty.

The road to victory was a bumpy one.

The 7-day bike ride covered a total of 500 miles, with an elevation gain of over 16,549 feet. It was no easy feat, but I was grateful to be on an eBike, which made the journey a bit more manageable. However, as I soon found out, the ride was not without its challenges.

The record number of bikers on the roads made the ride crowded and a little unsafe, witnessing many accidents along the way. Early in the ride, lines for food, water, and porta-potties were long, but as the days went by, the crowds thinned, making the last few days more enjoyable.

On Friday, while camping in Coralville, we encountered extreme weather conditions with 100-mile-an-hour winds and tornado warnings. It was a frightening experience, but we quickly sought shelter in a cement underground parking garage of a medical center. Despite the chaos, the organizers and Iowa residents were well-prepared, ensuring everyone’s safety. The storm may have been challenging, but it also brought our group closer, supporting each other through the unexpected ordeal.

Turns out, the road to victory was also a beautiful one!

Throughout the journey, the beauty of Iowa’s rolling hills, endless rows of corn and soybeans, and the warm hospitality of its people captivated my heart. Farmers sitting in lawn chairs along the roads waved and cheered us on every 15 minutes, creating an incredible sense of community and camaraderie.

The towns we passed through were true gems, offering us refreshments, fun water activities to cool off, and endless support from locals. Every stop was a celebration, with food trucks, music bands, and cheering crowds, turning the bike ride into a memorable party.

The long-standing vendors along the route added to the excitement. I couldn’t resist indulging in some mouthwatering pork chops from the pink Mr. Pork Chop bus and savoring slushy lemonades to beat the summer heat. The Amish community’s homemade pies and ice cream were simply delightful, adding to the joy of the ride.

For me, this RagBrai will always be a memorable one.

And it’s not just because my body is *still* screaming at me from all that cycling. But the journey was a thrilling one, and I’ll never forget all the love and support I received. Because at the end of the day, that’s what kept me going!

As we bid farewell to Iowa, we carry with us the memories of an unforgettable journey filled with determination, camaraderie, and the joy of making a positive impact on our community through CrossPurpose. Collectively, we raised $26,080 for CrossPurpose. And thanks to you guys, I was the #1 fundraiser for CrossPurpose, raising a whopping $4,106! To all the kind-hearted supporters, donators, and fellow riders, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this experience possible. Together, we have created lasting change and empowered countless lives.

Until the next thrilling adventure, biker off – goodbye Iowa!

Join the Journey to End Poverty in Denver, Colorado

My heart shattered when I first saw it.

Over 300,000 people live in extreme poverty in Denver, Colorado” — a six-figure-stat that I never wanted to see. Mothers, fathers, siblings, children, neighbors, friends, and friends-of-friends — all 300,000 of them wake up each day in the vice grip of poverty. Many suffer in solitude, and with no one to support them, the path to escape must seem impossible. My heart burned for them, and I knew I wanted to join the fight to end poverty in Denver, Colorado.

That’s why I partnered with CrossPurpose.  

CrossPurpose is a non-profit organization that offers career guidance resources to our neighbors in need. This transformative career development program is a powerful weapon in the war against poverty, and it goes beyond your standard employment program. CrossPurpose equips Coloradans to enter meaningful careers, and it helps them build social and spiritual capital. This program promises to create lasting generational change in our beloved city.

As soon as I heard about CrossPurpose, I knew I had to get involved.

For years, I’ve enjoyed being an active community member in Colorado, and I love getting involved wherever I am needed. So, when I found CrossPurpose, I knew I had to contribute. Since partnering with CrossPurpose, I’ve spent much of my time as a mentor, walking alongside aspiring leaders in CrossPurpose’s career development program. I’ve had the priviledge of working with the awe-inspiring men and women of Denver, Colorado, cheering them on as they rise above their circumstances and reach their career goals. Witnessing their resilience has inspired me greatly, and I’ve made it my mission to support them a little more each day.

That’s where I need YOUR help.

In solidarity with their journey, I am pushing my own limits by training for CrossPurpose’s 500-mile bike ride in Iowa, known as the RagBrai. The bike ride is scheduled to take place July 23rd through July 29th. As I prepare for and petal my way through the RagBrai, I’ll be raising funds for CrossPurpose’s poverty-ending programs. My mission is to raise at least $5,000, and with your help, we can reach that goal together!

So, friends, I invite you to join me on this transformative journey! Petal by petal, dollar by dollar — we’ll creep closer towards a poverty-free city!

Here’s how you can help:

Join me in making a difference today by contributing to this cause! You can make a donation of any amount right here.  

$5,000 — that’s all we’ll need to make a difference in the lives of the 300,000. Show your support by making a donation today!

And to stay up to date with all of my upcoming Cross Purpose events, follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn!

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