Lautenbach Fall 2019 Newsletter

Matt

April 16, 2020

Fall 2019 Newsletter

The leaves are changing, it's cooling down outside, and football is back underway! Welcome to the Fall edition of the Lautenbach Insurance Agency Newsletter. Please read on for important updates regarding our agency and relevant insurance industry information.

$100 Social Media Drawing

Follow us on Facebook and send us a message to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card! We would love to have the opportunity to interact with you on social media. We will select a winner of the $100 prize and notify them on November 27th.

Welcome to Our Newest Employee

Please join us in welcoming Jenna Ritter. She is a senior at Colorado Christian University, and she joins our office as an intern. Jenna is currently studying business and will graduate in May with her bachelor's degree. We are very happy to have her join our team. Feel free to stop in and introduce yourself!

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Fall is a wonderful time in Colorado — if your home is ready for it.

Yes, this is the time of year to fix small problems before they become big, and big ones before they become catastrophic. Here are 10 tips to help:

Look up. Examine your roof closely. Remove moss, clear debris from your gutters and downspouts, and repair any damage.
Look down. Check for signs of animals and insects around your home and garage, including in the basement and crawlspace. Bring in a professional to get rid of unwanted guests.
Keep things warm. Heat escapes through leaks around windows and doors, so seal up any drafty areas. Outside, put covers over faucets before temperatures drop.
Keep things dry. Drain outdoor hoses, faucets and irrigation systems. Look in the basement and crawlspace for wet spots. And, make sure your water heater or boiler isn’t leaking.
Clear the air (or vents and filters, at least). When’s the last time you checked your dryer vent? You should take a look at attic vents and exhaust ducts, as well. And, change that furnace filter!
Take a walk. Cracks in your driveway or walkways will only get bigger, so get them fixed soon. If your deck has signs of wear, make repairs now.
Get a tune-up. You or a professional should clean and tune your furnace, boiler and/or water heater, as well as your oven and range.
Don’t play with fire. Before building your first fireplace fire of the season, check for soot or creosote build-up.
Don’t play with fire extinguishers, either. But, check them to ensure they still have pressure. Don’t have fire extinguishers? Put them on your shopping list, ideally one for each floor.
Don’t forget those smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Replace batteries when needed, and test regularly that alarms are working.

Keeping your home insurance policy in tip-top condition is smart, too. Remember to check in with us at least once a year to update your policy so you’re covered for your new remodel, additions or personal possessions.

Colorado Fall Activities

Fall in Colorado is about as beautiful as it gets! Here is a list of fun activities that can help you take full advantage of the beautiful scenery and weather.

Ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad: There are few if any better ways to enjoy the fall colors than taking a scenic ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. The aspens look incredible during the fall season, and they are abundant along the route.
Go to a Football Game: Fall and football go hand in hand here in Colorado. Whether you're at Mile High in the sea of orange and blue; cheering on the Rams, Buffs, or Falcons; or supporting your local high school, make sure not to miss out on the action.
Go to a Festival: There are all different kinds of festivals in the fall in Colorado. There are harvest festivals, Oktoberfests, a Chile Festival in Pueblo, and so many more. Take your pick and get out to one.
Go golfing and skiing... in the same day: With the majority of ski areas opening some time in November or even late October, the fall is a great time to hit the slopes. On your way home, if it's sunny (usually is) stop at your favorite golf course and get a round in. If the Rockies are in the playoffs (not this year folks) you can even pull off the coveted triple 9 challenge. Ski nine runs, play nine holes of golf, and watch nine innings of baseball. Only in Colorado!
Go to a pumpkin patch or corn maze: In fairness, these are not strictly a Colorado experience, but they are a fun fall activity nonetheless.
Visit one of our notorious haunted houses: There are many options to choose from along the front range. We recommend checking out the one our neighbors put on. The Reinke Brothers do a wonderful job, and they have been a staple in the neighborhood for years. Stop in to grab your Halloween costume and make your way through the haunted house.

This is hardly a comprehensive list of Colorado fall activities, but hopefully it's a good starting point. Get out there and enjoy all the things our beautiful state has to offer!

Sarah Thomas Crosses the English Channel Four Times

Sarah Thomas, Daughter in Law of our own Randy Willis, recently became the first person ever to continuously swim across the English Channel four times. The swim took her 54 hours, and due to strong currents, the 80 mile distance quickly turned into an approximately 130 mile swim. It was an incredible, record-shattering effort that is unlikely to be topped any time soon, unless Sarah decides to go for five of course. A year ago, Sarah was undergoing breast cancer treatments. She set the goal to cross five times and no treatment could slow her down. During the swim, all that she had for sustenance was a protein drink thrown to her in a bottle tied to a rope every 30 minutes. She had to deal with cold water, strong currents, jellyfish, nausea, and so many other obstacles that could have deterred her, but she persevered and completed the momentous swim. Congratulations Sarah, Lautenbach Insurance is proud of you!

Life Insurance: More Than Just Protection

Life insurance can help ease financial pressures for family members in the event of an unexpected death. But it can do so much more besides that, with features and options that can protect you while you’re living. That’s why life insurance is a valuable planning tool, as part of an overall financial strategy or stand-alone protection. With it, you can protect tomorrow while embracing today. Please Contact us to Discuss Your Life Insurance Needs.

Sharon's Monthly Recipe

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake

Oven temp – 350
Pan size - 9X12

CREAM
1/3 cup of butter
½ cup of peanut butter (I use chunky)
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup of brown sugar

ADD
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

ADD
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Pecans (optional if not using chunky peanut butter)

Spread peanut butter mixture into 9X12 pan. Then sprinkle a bag of chocolate chips over the top and place in 350 degree oven.
Bake for 5 minutes. Then remove from then oven and swirl melted chocolate into peanut butter mixture with a butter knife.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes more.
ENJOY!

Tips to Avoid Frozen Pipes

Don't Let the Cold Get to Your Pipes
We are hoping for some beautiful fall weather, but with temperatures starting to dip, it's important to get to some of cold weather maintainence tasks. It’s hard to think of a worse start to your day than turning on the faucet and … nothing. Maybe there’s a trickle of water, but it’s clear you have a frozen pipe. So, what now? Here are some smart tips to help you prevent or address what could easily become a very messy and expensive situation:

See to your outdoor water lines: Before cold weather arrives, drain water sprinkler and swimming pool supply lines, and remove, drain and store outdoor hoses. If possible, close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs, and open the outside hose bibs for draining. Keep them open so any remaining water can expand without breaking the pipe. If you can't shut off the water from the inside, pick up some foam faucet covers.
Keep your home warm: Maintain an interior temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even when you’re sleeping or not at home. Seal any drafts and leave interior doors open to help keep an even temperature from room to room.
Tend to those pipes: Leave the cabinet doors open in the kitchen and bathroom so your pipes aren’t shut off from the warm air. You can also insulate your pipes with sleeves, heat tape or heat cable. Insulation is especially important in unheated areas, such as your attic, basement, garage or crawl space, and for pipes running along exterior walls. During severe cold spells, you may want to leave all faucets, both hot and cold, running at a slight trickle.
Call in a professional: Frozen water in your pipes can cause them to burst, meaning you’ll have a mess on your hands once that water unthaws. So, act quickly to shut off your main water supply, and call in a licensed plumber to see to the situation.

Finally, be sure to touch base with us at Lautenbach Insurance Agency to check whether you’re covered for the damage a frozen pipe may cause. We’re happy to answer all of your policy questions this winter, and beyond.

Electric Scooter Questions Answered

With the onset of the new electric scooter trends, many metropolitan areas, Denver included, have been left with more questions than answers regarding the popular new mode of transportation. The laws have changed rapidly since they were introduced. Cities have been scrambling to adapt to the changes and to put safety ordinances in place. Insurance companies have also been forced to make decisions regarding liability in the case of an accident. We have discussed the issue with some of our carriers. The answers we got back varied from company to company. Some were covered under the auto insurance and some were covered under the home insurance. It is important to know that you are covered before you make the decision to use a scooter. We would happy to help you find out whether or not you are covered. Based on what we have heard from our carriers, Safeco covers liability on the home or renters policy, Auto Owners on the auto policy, and Travelers currently does not offer liability coverage for scooters at all. With all of that said, we still recommend that you give us a call and confirm that you have coverage.

Commercial Insurance Section

Most of the information in our newsletters has been generally tailored to personal insurance. We wanted to make an effort to provide content for our commercial customers as well. We have put together a section in this month's edition that will be more helpful to you. Whether it's OSHA updates or important news that can affect your business, this section will cater to your needs.

The Importance of Cyber Insurance