The purpose of homeowners insurance is to provide financial security in the event of a loss. When disaster or a theft occur, it gives you peace of mind knowing that you have coverage. But in these uncertain economic times, people try to save a few dollars by making their own home improvements. Unfortunately, sometimes saving a few bucks can be a costly mistake and threaten your coverage. At JC Demo Insurance Group, our professionals are committed to helping members of the Matthews, NC community remain properly insured. Please consider these common things that might put you at risk of having a claim denied.

Wood Stoves

Wood burning stoves are and excellent and efficient way to save on energy costs. A few logs and you can heat a home and even prepare a few meals without turning on the oven. While you may have the available space to install one, they need to be done properly. Specific fire code regulations must be followed. To ensure that your insurance policy will cover any loss due to fire, a wood stove must be inspected and approved. You’ll then need to update your homeowners policy to include it.

Activating A Fireplaces

It’s not uncommon for people to buy a home with an inactive fireplace. Just having one in place opens the possibility of warm cozy nights by the fire. But when you purchase a home with a fireplace that doesn’t work, your insurance won’t reflect the risk of open flame. Like wood stoves, it will need to be inspected before used and the homeowners policy updated. Failing to do so could leave you vulnerable to a claim denial. Insurance companies assess the risk of any property when calculating a premium. Incorporating open flame into a home constitutes a change.

It’s imperative to update your policy any time you make a significant home upgrade. At JC Demo Insurance Group, we are available to help members of the Matthews, NC community revise and renew homeowners policies that provide continuous security.