Page 6 - Five Point - Denver 2019

The Colorado Front Range’s Unique Home and Auto Insurance Needs
The idyllic mountains and four-season climate draw many to the Colorado lifestyle.
But the gorgeous scenery and wide-ranging weather patterns also present numerous risks, all of which combine to make home and auto insurance
in Colorado’s Front Range expensive and complicated.
“This is not a market where you should go on the
internet, check some boxes and purchase a policy in 10 minutes,” says Todd Bischoff,
a State Farm home and auto agent for the past 32 years. “It’s essential that you get the coverage right, or you could be leaving yourself open to huge liabilities.”
Bischoff works with both
home and auto buyers, and — more often than not — either Realtors or existing clients refer homebuyers to his agency.
But what is it exactly that makes buying insurance in the area exceptionally complicated?
The Denver metro has at least three unique factors that make home and auto insurance
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coverage more complex than in other areas of the country:
1. Summer Hailstorms
Are Harsher — and More
Frequent
Bischoff says hail is so common and destructive lately, that in the past few summers, State Farm has had anywhere from eight to 12 drive-through facilities operating in the Front Range for car damage.
“Hail can cause extensive damage to a home, too,”
he says. “It can ruin a roof, windows, yard furnishings and decks — all of which should be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.”
2. Strong Winds Can Rip
Off Roofs
Winds in the Front Range can be near tornado speed, frequently stripping off a home’s roof.
“As traumatic as this is,” Bischoff says, “the cost of replacing that roof can be
high because the new roof has to meet new building codes for wind velocity with thicker shingles. The replacement can be significantly higher than the original roof, and you need insurance for that.”
3. Building Codes Make
Rebuilds Expensive
According to Bischoff, new building codes in the Front Range are adding costs to
such an extent that if you
lose a home to, say, a fire, the rebuilding costs are significantly higher, and your insurance must cover the difference.
Jamey Mendenhall, Todd Bischoff and Debbie Hawpe of the Todd Bischoff Insurance Agency.
For example, Bischoff says, “In some areas, new homes must have a solar energy component. You have to have special ordinance coverage for these new codes.”
In Colorado, You Need an Insurance Agent (Not an Insurance Website)
Bischoff, whose agency is in Lafayette, says his biggest advantage is his personalized service: “If someone calls, we pick up the phone. We’ll meet in person. If you’re in crisis, you don’t want to deal with phone trees. You want face-to-face contact.”
Todd Bischoff, the owner of the Todd Bischoff Agency, has received the Five Star Professional award for nine years for his professional excellence and customer service. His agency serves all of Colorado.
Todd Bischoff can be reached at 303-665-4600.