Residents of Matthews, North Carolina very often look forward to the fall season, just as residents of other cities around the United States often do. I mean, who can hate fall? The leaves are beautiful, the whether is cool – but not too cold – and there are some great seasonal holidays to look forward to such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. And yet, for all of the comfort and all of the fun that the seasonal changes bring, there are just as many things that the seasonal changes can bring that are a nuisance (or perhaps worse). Cold and dry weather can hurt your home, as can clogged gutters. Here are some handy tips and tricks to keep your home running as smoothly as possible.

One of the first tips that people will often tell you to deal with is to check your doors and windows. This is one of the key areas where the cold whether is most able to creep inside, and when it happens, this is typically due to poor sealant or poor quality of the make of the doors and/or windows. If you have poor insulation from the outside weather, not only can this cause you to spend more money on your heating or air conditioning (depending on the kind of weather you are facing), this can also cause your woodwork and furniture to suffer due to the dryer weather. The wood absorbs the moisture in the air, and without proper insurance covering this, replacing and/or fixing these things may have you paying entirely out of pocket.

It is not too late for Matthews, NC residents to be extra prepared for the fall weather – in addition to all of the practical home improvements, you can seek out the proper insurance plan as well. JC Demo Insurance Group is happy to help you find the insurance plan that is right for you.

When you choose a home insurance policy, remember that your policy will probably be sticking with you for years to come. This means that any mistakes you make in choosing your policy could cost you some long lasting headaches. 

Before committing to a policy, make sure you avoid the following five common mistakes people make when purchasing home insurance:

1. Focusing too much on prices- As with any other product, you get what you pay for with home insurance. You need to pay attention to how much you’re paying and what you’re getting for what you’re paying. However, you also need to pay attention to how financially secure the insurance provider you’re choosing is so you can be sure of receiving reimbursement for your claims when you’re eligible for it. 
2. Ignoring policy exclusions- Policy exclusion on home insurance typically include things like earthquake damage, mold damage, and infestation damage. Pay attention to these exclusions and shop around to find a policy that doesn’t exclude coverage for damages that your home could potentially be at risk of. 
3. Opting for an unaffordably high deductible- High deductibles typically go along with low monthly premiums, so many policyholders choose a policy with a high deductible to save money in the meantime in hopes that they’ll never need to file a claim. Of course, this could leave them in a very difficult situation if damage does occur and a claim needs to be filed. 
4. Neglecting to shop around for discounts- You may be able to enjoy discounts by getting numerous insurance policies through one provider or by belonging to certain professional associations.

Looking for more advice on choosing the best home insurance policy available? Contact JC Demo Insurance Group with your questions and inquiries. 

Every day we come across items that we’re unsure if we should throw away or put in the trash. If your pizza box still has cheese on it, does that mean you can’t recycle it? What about your old clothes with holes in them, can those be recycled? People dedicated to this issue have made a lot of advancements, so here are some tips to start recycling in Matthews, NC. 

You’ve Come a Long Way

Recycling has come a long way in the past few decades, and it seems that practically everything can be recycled now. Programs in different areas vary, but if you’re really motivated you could probably find a way to recycle most household items. Your books, old ratty clothes, and used containers can all be remade into useful new items for someone else, saving our environment and giving you a greener home. 

Bringing Out Your Creativity

Ever have a friend who always seems to have some sort of project or craft idea going on? You can do it too! Turn your old household items into stuff you actually need around the house. It’s particularly fun if you do these ideas with your children to teach them green habits for the future too. Old milk containers make excellent watering cans or make your own candles by melting down old crayons your kids aren’t using anymore. There are practically an endless amount of ideas out there!

JC Demo Insurance Group knows that in Matthews, NC, people need to keep their homes both clean and safe. Recycling certainly helps with the first part, and we’re ready to help you with the latter part. Give us a call if you need a quote for a new homeowners policy today. 

For those who have purchased a home in Matthews, North Carolina, it is critical to have homeowner’s insurance. Beyond it being a requirement by law, the more insurance you have in general, the better protected you are from the unexpected. While some people opt not to have insurance for certain things in their lives, your home is something that you don’t have nearly as much control over, and if something catastrophic and unexpected happens to it, the cost of repairs can bankrupt you. Below are some details about why you need home insurance in this suburb of Charlotte.

HURRICANES

North Carolina is prone to hurricanes every year as they roll off the coast of Africa and form over the Atlantic Ocean, regularly crashing into Florida, the Carolinas and the rest of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Many of these hurricanes don’t hit with full strength, meaning only a limited amount of damage is done to people’s homes that are in their pathway of destruction. If your home happens to be one of these homes, however, it can be incredibly costly. Also, there’s the chance a major hurricane does hit the state squarely, causing mass destruction. This is when homeowner’s insurance for hurricanes and flooding is an absolute must.

FIRE

As much of North Carolina is wooded, and Matthews is in a relatively suburban and green part of the Charlotte area, fires can be an issue. Without homeowner’s insurance, if your home catches on fire due to natural causes or something catching fire inside your house due to human or mechanical error, you’ll be left homeless when the smoke clears. No one can predict when a fire will happen, but homeowner’s insurance will ensure you are protected.

PROTECTION AGAINST THEFT

While Matthews is a very safe suburb, there is still the chance of your home being broken into since there are a lot of people in the area around Matthews in general. Home owner’s insurance will also protect your belongings on this front, though it will be cheaper with an alarm system installed.

For an insurance company that serves the Matthews, North Carolina area try JC Demo Insurance Group for all your homeowner insurance needs.

So your neighbors or someone else you know asked you to house sit. It could be fun, or it might just be a job for you to do. It depends on the home owner’s and how much time you can spend inside of the Matthews, NC home. Regardless of this though, you need to know what to monitor while house sitting. 

Water

JC Demo Insurance Group points out the most important area you can monitor while house sitting is the water situation. If the home owners turned the heat way down while away, make sure it is set at around 50 or higher. This way you can avoid any possible pipe freezing and bursting. If for whatever reason the power goes out in the winter, turn on a few faucets so there is just a slow, yet steady, drip. This prevents water in the pipes from sitting, helping reduce the chance of freezing. 

Mail

Bring in the mail and papers daily. This is one of the most important tasks you have and something you need to stay on top of. Doing this helps prevent identity theft while also giving the appearance of someone living inside of the house. 

Lights

When you visit leave lights on, even if you leave. If it is snowing out make sure to pull into the driveway, which leaves tire marks. All of this helps give the impression of someone living in the house. 

Snow in the sidewalk

You need to shovel the driveway and sidewalks around the house when it snows. Not only does this show the house is being lived in but it also helps prevent the home owners from landing a ticket. Home owners can receive a ticket from the city if the sidewalks are not shoveled a day or two after heavy snowfall. 

Once you see a wreck, you likely want to help. There are a few ways you can do this, and ensure you aren’t doing any damage in the process. Below, there are five ways you can make a difference at an accident so you can be of help to the victims and the police.

Secure Your Car

Before you get out and help others, you need to secure your car on the side of the road, at least 100 feet away from the accident. This ensures that your own car is out of harm’s way.

Call 911

Call 911 as soon as you have secure in your car. You will need to tell the operator everything that you can see so that they know what is going on. You also want to be as specific as possible with your location.

Check on Everyone

Do your best to check on everyone within the cars are involved in the accident. If they can get out on their own, help them to do so. Never try and move someone who is injured.

Turn Off the Cars

Be sure that the cars involved in the accident have their ignition turned off – or do it for them.

Leave a Thorough Statement

When police arrive, you are going to be asked for a statement. Be as thorough as possible, providing them with everything they need to know. If you witnessed the actual accident, provide as many details as you can remember. You should also plan on leaving your contact information for follow-up.

Call now and speak to an agent at JC Demo Insurance Group. We’re here to help you with all of life’s emergencies. We can walk you through what to do at a wreck in Charlotte or help you find the most affordable auto insurance throughout North Carolina.

 

Halloween is a festive holiday full of treats. Unfortunately, however, a few people plan tricks for October 31. This Halloween, keep your home safe and secure with these three tips.

Keep Your Home Safe and Secure

You don’t need to place someone on watch to keep your home safe. You should, however, be a little more vigilant than normal. There’s no reason to lose sleep over what might happen, but it’s smart to prepare for potential risks. Specifically, you may want to:

• leave your home’s outdoor lights on all night
• activate your home’s security system when you go to bed
• report any suspicious activity you see to the authorities

Keep Your Home Insured

Additionally, you may want to check your home insurance policy’s personal property coverage before Halloween. Personal property coverage is the portion of your home insurance policy that covers your belongings. In addition to your clothes and books, it may also cover outdoor furniture, a grill, or a basketball hoop if you have any of these things outside. As with all insurance coverage, whether these are included in your home insurance’s personal property coverage will depend on its terms and conditions.

If you’d like help reviewing your home insurance’s personal property coverage, send us a message. You can reach us through our website and our independent insurance agents can quickly help you review your coverage. If you don’t have enough protection, we at JC Demo Insurance Group can help you find better protection. We’re an independent insurance agency, so our agents can look at your policy and compare it to any other policy available to homeowners in Matthews, NC. Contact us today, and we’ll make sure you’re protected.