Tips to make your house more energy efficient

Making your Matthews, NC area home more energy efficient is an easy way to save on costs and help the environment. Here are a few tips from us at JC Demo Insurance Group to get you started: 

  1. Replace old windows and doors with newer, more energy-efficient models. This will help keep the warm air in during winter and cool air in during summer months. 
  2. Install ceiling fans or use space heaters to reduce reliance on central heating and cooling systems. This can help save money on energy bills and reduce emissions from your home’s heating and cooling systems. 
  3. Invest in energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines that meet Energy Star standards. These appliances use less water and electricity than older models, saving you money in the long run. 
  4. Change out light bulbs for LED bulbs or CFL bulbs – they are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. They also last longer, so you won’t need to replace them as often! 
  5. Use natural lighting as much as possible by installing light-colored curtains or blinds to allow sunlight into your home throughout the day, reducing artificial lighting needs during daylight hours.  
  6. Add insulation to your ceilings and walls, which reduces the need for heating or cooling. This is especially important in older homes that may lack proper insulation. 
  7. Change air filters regularly to reduce strain on your HVAC system and improve its efficiency. 

Making these small changes can have a significant impact on your wallet and the environment alike! For more energy-saving tips, call us at JC Demo Insurance Group today. We are proud to serve the Matthews, NC area.

Prepare Your Home for Summer’s Storms in North Carolina

As summer approaches in Matthews, NC, so do the storms and the damage they can cause. While we can’t control Mother Nature, there are steps you can take to ensure your home is prepared for both expected and unexpected weather events. From securing loose items to reviewing your homeowner’s insurance policy, here are a few tips to help protect your home from severe weather. 

Secure Loose Items Around Your Home 

Secure any loose items outside is one of the essential steps to prepare your home for summer storms. This includes anything that could become airborne and cause damage in strong winds – patio furniture, umbrellas, garden structures, and play equipment should all be secured or brought indoors during severe weather events. It is also essential to trim trees close to your home and ensure dead branches have been removed. 

Install Window Shutters or Impact-Resistant Glass 

If you live in an area with frequent severe storms, installing window shutters or impact-resistant glass windows on your house is a good idea. This will help protect against flying debris which can easily break regular glass windows when wind speeds increase during a storm. It’s best to consult with a professional contractor specializing in hurricane protection if you decide this route is best for your home.  

Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy 

When protecting your property from severe weather events, one of the best things you can do is review your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you don’t have one yet, now is the time to get one! Speak with JC Demo Insurance Group representatives specializing in home insurance in Matthews, NC, and surrounding areas. We review coverage options with you so that if something does happen during a storm event, you can rest assured knowing that you are fully protected under the right policy for your needs!  

Review or obtain a homeowners insurance policy from JC Demo Insurance Group today!

Is Clutter Affecting Your Home Insurance Coverage?

If you’ve been struggling to keep your Matthews, NC home organized and tidy, it could be more than just an inconvenience—it may also affect your home insurance coverage. There are some circumstances in which clutter can make a home ineligible for certain types of coverage, so it’s essential to understand the risks involved and put a plan in place to mitigate them. In this post, JC Demo Insurance Group explains.

The Hazards of Clutter 

Clutter can come in many forms—from stacks of old newspapers and magazines to piles of clothing or toys that never seem to stay put. No matter what form it takes, clutter can cause serious damage inside and outside of your home. For example, if a pile of books falls over onto an electrical outlet, it could cause a fire. It can also attract pests like mice or cockroaches, carrying disease into your living space. In addition, clutter can make it difficult for firefighters or other first responders to get around quickly should an emergency arise. 

Insurance Implications 

Understanding that clutter isn’t necessarily excluded from home insurance policies is essential. However, if too much clutter in your home poses a significant hazard, insurers may be reluctant to provide coverage in certain cases. This is because clutter increases the risk of fires and other disasters within your house’s walls. To have access to full coverage for their homes, homeowners must demonstrate that their property is safe from hazards such as excessive clutter. 

Keeping your Matthews, NC home free from excess clutter can save you money on future insurance costs. Do you still have questions? Contact JC Demo Insurance Group today!

Home Insurance for Your Historic Home

Founded during the 1800s, Matthews, NC offers many historic properties, but these require the coverage of a specific home insurance policy – an HO8 policy. The HO8 policy from JC Demo Insurance Group covers any architecturally significant home but most frequently gets purchased locally to cover older properties.

Which Homes Qualify for an HO8 Policy?

While owners of newly built homes typically choose HO3 policies, owners of homes designated for historical preservation purchase HO8 policies. Others qualify for this beneficial policy, though.

  • If you own a home built 50 years ago or more, your home may qualify for a historical policy. Some underwriters allow these policies for homes built as recently as 40 years ago.
  • Suppose you own an architecturally significant home, such as one designed by a world-famous architect or built in a unique style or with imported materials. In that case, your home may qualify for an HO8 policy.

What Makes an HO8 Policy Different?

A historical home policy offers replacement cost value for a historic or architecturally significant home. That means that if something happens to destroy the house you own, your policy would fully cover rebuilding it. 

So, if you import carved wood doors from Italy, and fire damages them, your HO8 policy covers replacing them – not with any old doors, but with new carved wood doors from Italy by the same artisan. An HO3 policy wouldn’t typically cover the replacement of the exact materials originally used.

Contact JC Demo Insurance Group

Contact JC Demo Insurance Group to learn more about protecting your historical home in Matthews, NC with an HO8 policy. Let us help you protect your investment.

Four Tips When Shopping For Home Insurance

Home is a whole investment. You’ve probably spent all your savings on building or buying your home. That said, there is a lot to consider about the safety of your home. One of the ways to protect your home is by buying home insurance.

However, when buying home insurance, you need to consider factors besides the price. At JC Demo Insurance Group, we want to give the best tips to have in mind when purchasing home insurance.

Know what the policy covers and the exclusions

The first thing you need to do is read your policy carefully to understand the coverages and the exclusions. Standard home insurance protects against fire, vandalism, and roof leaks but excludes damage from maintenance issues like pest infestations and mold. Floods and earth movements are also not included, and you may require separate coverage.

Decide the coverage you need

Knowing what the policy covers and its exclusions help you decide how much coverage you need to protect your home thoroughly. To guide you on what coverage you need may be the location of your home and the contents inside your house.

Add liability protection

Most people focus on the house and belongings and may overlook liability coverage. Liability insurance covers common accidents that may happen to a third party in your compound. For example, bad falls or dog bites may attract high medical expenses and even lawsuits if you get sued, which gives you enough reasons to purchase liability coverage.

Consider the replacement cost value.

When getting your home insurance, ensure the policy covers you fully in case a catastrophe damages your home completely. Your policy should be adequate to rebuild your house from scratch.

Home insurance in Matthews, NC

The tips above will help you get the proper coverage for your home. Ready to purchase home insurance in Matthews, NC? Please get in touch with JC Demo Insurance Group for a quote.

How To Choose the Best Home Insurance Policy for Your Needs

Your home is likely your most valuable asset, so it’s important to protect it adequately. Home insurance can help cover the cost of repairs or replacements if your home is damaged by fire, theft, or other covered events. But with so many different policies available, how do you choose the best one for your needs? 

1. Determine What Type of Coverage You Need

The first step in choosing the best home insurance policy is to assess your coverage needs. Consider what type of events you want to be covered against and how much coverage you’ll need. It would help to consider whether you need replacement cost coverage or cash value coverage.

2. Compare Policy Costs

Once you know what coverage you need, you can start shopping around for the best policy. Be sure to compare the costs of different policies before making a decision. Remember that the cheapest policy may not always be the best option. It is better to pay more for a policy that provides the coverage you need than to pay less for a policy that doesn’t offer adequate protection.

3. Read the Policy Details Carefully

Before you purchase a home insurance policy, be sure to read the fine print. Pay attention to things like the deductible, policy limits, and exclusionary clauses. These details can significantly impact your coverage, so it’s essential to understand them before you buy.

4. Consider the Reputation of the Insurer

When shopping for home insurance, it’s also important to consider the insurer’s reputation. Make sure you’re working with a financially stable company with a good track record in paying claims. This will help ensure you get the best possible value for your money.

Get Home Insurance in Matthews, NC

As you can see, there are a few things to remember when shopping for home insurance. By following these tips, you can be sure that you’re choosing the best policy for your needs. JC Demo Insurance Group is a great option if you’re looking for an excellent home insurance policy. We offer various coverage options, and our policies are affordable. Contact us today to get started.

Protect your home with proper tree maintenance

Matthews, NC area homeowners turn to the professional and helpful team at JC Demo Insurance Group for all of their insurance needs. If you are in the area and need an insurance partner to help you protect your lifestyle, give us a call today!

Benefits of proper tree maintenance

A lot of storm damage occurs in our area due to high wind. Wind and water can cause a lot of damage, especially for folks who have a lot of trees on their property or near their house.

This is just one reason why proper tree maintenance is so important. During windy storms or those with lightning, the trees near your house can potentially cause a lot of damage. 

When you remove all dead trees from your property, you are taking an important step in keeping your home protected. Dead limbs can quickly come dislodged during a significant storm. When this happens, they can become projectiles that can cause some severe damage. And, because of high winds, these branches can also cause damage to your neighbor’s home.

To avoid such damage to your home or those of your neighbors’, it’s important to take care of your trees. Keeping all branches trimmed and away from the house can help you minimize the chance of damage during the next storm.

If you want other tips on how regular home maintenance can help protect your house, give us a call and find out more. 

We are here to help you protect your home!

The JC Demo Insurance Group team is proud to serve our friends and neighbors in the greater Matthews, NC area. If you need some help with your insurance needs, give us a call or stop by today!

Check your homeowner’s policy before you begin your renovation project

Matthews, NC area residents can rely on JC Demo Insurance Group. If you are planning a major project in your home in the near future, make sure that your current homeowner’s policy provides the protection you need for the increased risk. 

Be sure you have the right insurance in place prior to starting your project

Owning a home can bring both great joy and a lot of responsibility. If you are planning to undergo a major project, be sure to give your homeowner’s policy a review before you get started. Having contractors work in your home increases your liability and you will want to make sure that you have adequate protection in place before the project begins.

In addition to double-checking your contractor’s insurance, you will want to check your own policy too. Make sure that you have the liability coverage you need in case something goes wrong during the project and someone is injured. Another consideration to make is the increased value of your home once the project is complete.

When you sit down with your agent to review your policy, you may also want to discuss how the project is going to affect your home’s overall value. Many times, a kitchen remodel or similar project can have a significant impact on the value of your home. You will want to make sure that your homeowner’s policy keeps up with this new value.

Give us a call today!

We want all of our friends and neighbors in the greater Matthews, NC area to have the insurance protection they need. You can rely on JC Demo Insurance Group! If you want to find out more about protecting your home, give us a call today. We look forward to working with you!

Who should get home insurance in North Carolina?

Buying a home can be a great way to invest in yourself and your future while also ensuring you have a consistent place to live. When looking to buy a home, the Matthews, NC area can be a great place to purchase. As you are looking to buy a home, you also need to choose a quality insurance plan for it. There are various situations when someone should get a home insurance plan in this state.

When Looking to Protect Important Asset

A primary situation when someone will look to get home insurance will come when they are looking to protect their most important asset. Your home is a major investment and a place you will live. With home coverage, you will have financial support if the home is damaged and needs repair. You can also get protection for your personal assets.

When Required to Carry Coverage

It is also common for people in the state of North Carolina to be required to carry home insurance. Those that buy a home are likely to take out financing to facilitate the purchase. In these situations, people are likely to be required to carry insurance until they have fully paid off their loan. Also, if the home is part of a larger association, the community guidelines will have standards set for both property and liability coverage. 

In the Matthews, NC area, having a proper home insurance plan should be a priority. When you are evaluating your options, you can begin your search by speaking with the JC Demo Insurance Group. There continue to be a lot of choices to make when looking for home coverage and JC Demo Insurance Group will help you build a plan that protects your home and meets your needs for coverage. 

Good reasons to review your home insurance policy

Home insurance is something that needs to be updated on a regular basis as things in your life and in your home change. There are many good reasons to review your home insurance policy. The best way to make sure that you have the coverage you actually need is to make sure you keep an eye on your policy and your coverage. At JC Demo Insurance Group in Matthews, NC, we have been serving the needs of residents for the last 20 years. 

When your policy renews

Most home insurance policies are renewed yearly. When it is time for the renewal, you will get a declaration page as the first page of your policy. It will give you all the pertinent information about your coverage. Don’t just do the renewal without giving it a good look over. Things change over time and what may have been adequate coverage when you purchased your policy may no longer meet your needs. 

You’ve made major improvements

If you have made major improvements to your home, you should inform your insurance agents so they can make sure that your coverage keeps pace with the value of your home. Some improvements can save you money on your insurance, if you have replaced your roof or if you have added a home security system. These are things you also need to inform your agent about. 

You have made additions to your home

If you have added a dog, a pool, or a trampoline, you may need to review the amount of liability coverage that you have. All of these things pose an additional risk and having more liability coverage is a good idea.

Reviewing your home insurance is something that all homeowners need to do on a regular basis. At JC Demo Insurance Group in Matthews, NC, we are here to help with any changes you need to make to your home insurance.