Moving into a new house without proper home insurance is a risky decision – whether it is located in Matthews, NC or anywhere else. You need insurance to protect your home and assets against unpredictable damages. However, before getting a certain policy, it is good to know what exactly your insurance covers. Here is the list of things typically covered by standard homeowners insurance: 

The Structure of The Building 

A standard insurance policy will pay for the repairs and rebuilding of the house if it was damaged by such cataclysms as hurricane, lightning, fire, hail, or anything else listed in the policy. Most policies also cover detached constructions, including a gazebo, garage, or a tool shed. However, it is important to know that insurance will not pay for the damages caused by floods and earthquakes, and it will not cover routine repairs of the building. 

Personal Belongings

All your belongings will be covered by insurance if they were stolen or damaged by fire, hurricane, or other natural disasters stated in the policy. In most cases, the coverage of personal belongings is between 50 and 70% of the insurance for the house’s structure. If you have extremely expensive and valuable things you want to insure, it is recommended to purchase a special property endorsement because standard home insurance does not cover valuable items for their full value. 

Liability Protection

Liability coverage means that in case of property damage or bodily injury caused by you or your family members to other people, you will be protected. Liability protection will also pay for any damage caused by your pets. If someone is injured in your house, their medical bills will also be covered by the insurance company. 

If you are shopping for insurance and you are not sure what exactly it covers, our independent agency JC Demo Insurance Group serving Matthews, NC is ready to answer your questions and help you to make an informed decision. Call JC Demo Insurance Group today to find what the options are available to you. 

Congratulations on finalizing your mortgage payment and welcome to the rank of homeowners in Matthews, NC. While paying off your mortgage comes with innumerable benefits, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty regarding home insurance. Your mortgage must have come with mandatory home insurance from the lender. However, with the mortgage gone, you have a choice to either keep your home insurance or get rid of it. If you ask us at JC Demo Insurance Group, the latter is always a bad idea. So, what happens after you pay off your mortgage?

Does it change? 

A big yes. When you pay off your mortgage, a lot of changes with regards to your insurance. You are likely to receive several documents; one from your lender stating that your loan is fully paid, canceled promissory note, your canceled deed of trust or mortgage, and a certificate of satisfaction. A promissory note is what you signed when you took out a mortgage, which required you to pay your lender based on the agreed timeframe and interest. The mortgage is the agreement that grants your lender the title of your home.

What about your home insurance?

By now, you know the importance of home insurance and that you need it now more than ever. You don’t want to start dealing with fire damages or burglaries in your home just when you have owned it. An important step here is to inform your insurance company that you are the sole owner of the property so that they can remove your lender’s name. Failure to take this step can cost you penalties. If you keep your home insurance, you might also need to update your payment options and have your bills sent straight to your home.

Now that the challenging parts are over, it’s time to review your home insurance policy and update it accordingly. Speak to any insurance agent at  JC Demo Insurance Group serving Matthews, NC, and they will help you get some value for your money. 

North Carolina is blessed with milder weather compared to other states in the US. Overall, the milder weather does contribute to lesser average home insurance premiums in the state of North Carolina. However, this average can be misleading because the actual premiums for home insurance will depend on several factors such as your exact location, age of the house, which provider you choose and more. A home inspection is typically required before you get home insurance rates finalized. In the inspection, they check several things such as foundation problems.

For most people, their home is the most expensive investment. Home insurance policies protect you financially in case of any damage caused by wind, storms, vandalism, fire and more. Keep in mind flood insurance and earthquake insurance are not included in home insurance policies and if your home is a high-risk region for floods or earthquakes, you must consider getting an additional policy to get coverage for them. Most mortgage lenders require you to have home insurance as they want to not protect the asset they are lending money on. Whether required by lenders or not,  it is highly recommended you get adequate home insurance as the benefits of home insurance outweigh the relative cost of premium payments. You don’t want to be in a situation where a single storm ends up costing you your entire life savings to repair the house.

JC Demo Insurance Group, a licensed and independent insurance agency serving Matthews, NC, has the resources to assist you with home insurance. Not only can they navigate you to the best home insurance policy for your needs, but they also guide you on common pitfalls to avoid and educate you on the policies so you can make an informed decision.  The contact details for JC Demo Insurance Group, serving Matthews, NC, are available on their website.

Your home is a valuable and important asset in your life. That’s why it’s so important to protect it with an appropriate home insurance policy. It’s important to do your homework before you purchase a home insurance policy and find a policy that best suits your needs and protects your assets. 

At the JC Demo Insurance Group, we’re devoted to helping our clients find the best home insurance coverage in Matthews, NC. We recommend that clients know the following three things before they purchase a home insurance policy.

What your lender is requiring

Mortgage lenders require that a borrower have home insurance. This protects the lender’s investment in the property. You need to meet your lender’s requirements when you’re purchasing home insurance.

Discuss insurance requirements with your lender and make sure you understand them. You’re going to need to provide proof of insurance to your lender, so make sure you discuss this need with a representative from the insurance company. 

What discounts are available

Home insurance is a significant expense that is going to stick with you long term. Therefore, anything you can do to save money on it and lower your premiums is going to help you out big time financially.

Look into any discounts you can enjoy on your home insurance before committing to a policy. You could enjoy discounts for bundling numerous insurance policies with the same provider or making home safety upgrades, for example. 

What cash value is in comparison to replacement cost

Usually, home insurance policies are designed to be either cash value or replacement cost policies. A cash value policy will cover all repairs or replacement costs necessary on a home minus any depreciation the home has experienced up to the policy limits. On the other hand, replacement coverage does not take depreciation into consideration and therefore compensates the policyholder more.

Although cash value is less expensive than replacement cost home insurance, it generally will not compensate for claims with as much money as a replacement cost policy would. 

If you’d like to explore home insurance policies available in Matthews, NC from the JC Demo Insurance Group, we’re here to help. Contact us with your questions and inquiries to learn more. 

 

 

Your home is your castle and if your castle is like most castles, it is full of things. More than just furniture, appliances and decor. Years of accumulated memories fill closets and attics and trying to remember everything that you possess may really be mission impossible. That is where a home inventory comes in, it can be the difference between getting the most from your home insurance and having many of your possessions lost forever. The residents of Matthews, NC have the JC Demo Insurance Group to turn to when they have questions about the importance of a home inventory. 

A home inventory takes time to create. It is a record of every room in your home. In reality, it is not just the rooms but the closets, cupboards, drawers, attic and basement. It must be detailed and if you can include sales receipts especially for the big-ticket items that is the best option. For jewelry, getting an appraisal is the best way to get the true value of your items and of course, if they are especially expensive you will need to cover them with a rider. In addition to writing down all the items in each room, taking pictures is a good way to document everything. 

After you have gone to all the trouble of creating a home inventory, you need to keep it in a safe place. Away from the home is ideal but if you don’t have a safety deposit box, you should at the very least make sure that it is stored in a fire and waterproof box to protect it from whatever happens. 

To find out the importance of a home inventory, stop by the office of JC Demo Insurance Group in Matthews, NC and talk to one of their experienced agents. If your home is damaged, an inventory can make replacement of your possession much easier. 

 

 

Major home improvement projects can be a massive stressor for a number of different reasons. If you are looking to undergo an extensive project in the near future, don’t forget to take a closer look at your homeowner’s policy before any work gets started. JC Demo Insurance Group is here to provide all the information that homeowners in the Matthews, NC community and surrounding area may need regarding home insurance.

Make sure you’re covered before work starts!

• Damage to your home – any substantial home improvement project has the capacity to go wrong. Even when your contractor carries insurance, it may not be enough. Take the time to sit down with your agent and make sure that you have the protection you need.
• Injury to a contractor or worker – if someone is injured while doing work on your home, you can sometimes be held liable. If you are going to have workers in your home make sure that you have sufficient liability protection. 
• Future damage caused by shoddy work – what happens if six months down the road your new kitchen stops working properly? There are so many things that can go wrong with a bit project, especially a few months down the road. Don’t get stuck with an incomplete or subpar project, make sure you’re protected.

The time to check for adequate insurance coverage is before work starts. There’s nothing worse than sustaining damage to your home only to find out that your policy does not provide coverage. If you are in the greater Matthews, NC area, call or stop by JC Demo Insurance Group today to review your policy for completeness. We are proud to serve our community and look forward to working with you!

Our homes are often our largest investment, and it is important to keep them protected. When you first bought your home you probably sat down and reviewed all of your home insurance options to make your decision. Since that time, it’s likely that you’ve just renewed the same policy each year and not thought too much about it. The team at JC Demo Insurance Group recommends that you have your policy reviewed on an annual basis to make sure that your coverage is keeping pace with the value of your Matthews, NC area home. 

Your home policy should change along with the value of your home

Home values are constantly shifting, and your home policy should change along with it. It’s easy to forget that insurance policies have upward limits, especially when you have been fortunate enough to not have to file a claim. But as your home value increases over the years, it may surpass the level of current insurance. It is highly recommended that homeowners review their policies on an annual basis in order to make sure that their policy is adequate to meet their needs. If you haven’t taken a look at your home insurance coverage since you bought your home, now is the perfect time to review it! No one wants to find out the hard way that does to the increase in their home’s value that their policy is no longer provides sufficient protection for their family home.

Is it time for you to review your home insurance policy? If you are in the greater Matthews, NC area, call or stop by the JC Demo Insurance Group today, and we will help you make sure that your current policy meets your home protection needs.

Home insurance may be new for those who are buying their first home. There are a few things that you should know when you are looking for a policy. Talk to a professional, like the ones at JC Demo Insurance Group in Matthews, NC so that you can ask questions that they will be able to answer.

Basic Insurance Coverage

• Internal and external damage may be covered if it states in your policy that you will be covered for costs associated with damages to your home due to storms, vandalism, lightning, and fire. If your home had flood or earthquake damage, you would need to get a special policy, known as a rider, to cover the cost of the repairs.

• Your clothing, furniture, and appliances can be replaced, repaired, or reimbursed for the cost depending on your plan’s details.

• Liability would be a big issue if someone trips and falls on your property, and they were injured due to your negligence. You would have to spend thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for the individual’s medical costs. If you have to go to court, you could also pay court and lawyer fees. This could be avoided with liability insurance attached to your homeowner’s policy.

Replacement Coverage

• Actual cash value is when your damaged items are refunded minus depreciation costs. If your furniture is destroyed in a fire, then the actual cash value would be the value of the furniture at today’s prices, not at the price you paid for it.

• Replacement cost is the value of your damaged property at its cost but without the depreciation.

When you’re ready, you can stop by the offices of JC Demo Insurance Group in Matthews, NC to start your insurance policy today. You can also get great information about life insurance, auto insurance, and commercial insurance.

When shopping for home insurance in Matthews, NC, you should get multiple quotes first. There are certain things to consider so you can find the best policy.

What the Policy Covers and Doesn’t: Home insurance offers a broad type of coverage, but there are some things that won’t be covered. Anticipating possible incidents can help eliminate surprises and give you an idea of where to set your coverage limits. It can also give you an idea of what other insurance plans you need, like flood insurance.

Coverage for Your Personal Items: Home insurance will provide coverage for your belongings, but there will be a limit on certain items. If you know the value of your stuff, you can make sure your policy provides enough coverage and see if you need to get any additional coverage.

Rebuilding: You want to be able to rebuild your house after a disaster, so your policy will need to provide protection that is equal to or greater than the rebuilding cost of your home and not just the purchase price. The rebuilding cost needs to take into account the cost of materials, as well as any construction costs. Replacement cost coverage will cover items without subtracting for depreciation.

Discounts: There may be discounts if you are doing things like adding extra security to your home, or if you are paying your policy online. An agent at JC Demo Insurance Group can explain any discounts that would be available to you.

Your Deductible: Coverage will require you to pay for a deductible before your policy will kick in. A deductible will affect your premium, so you should weigh the pros and costs of a lower or higher deducible when looking at your policy.

Contact JC Demo Insurance Group, serving Matthews, NC, to get a quote on home insurance. 

It is forecasted to be an extra chilly winter for North Carolina, and the spring cannot come soon enough for some. Before the buds start blooming and the world turns bright green again be sure to check out your home owner’s insurance policy to make sure you are covered from whatever the wind blows your way. At JC Demo Insurance Group we want to know that all of our clients are protected to matter the weather or the situation so here are a few spring home tips. We serve people in and around Matthews, NC.  

Things to Consider Around the House This Spring

• When the weather warms and you start your spring cleaning, go beyond de-cluttering. Check for mold damage after winter storms, get rid of standing debris around the frame of the house to prevent water damage, do a full check up. It is best to find any damage early, and it is much more cost effective to prevent an issue than to pay for remediation. If you set aside spring as home check-up time at the same time as your spring cleaning then you will stay on top of any issues. 
• What are the predictions for the weather for the rest of the year? We recommend you always keep full coverage home insurance as well as a flood policy. But if you don’t happen to have all the protection possible, check the weather forecast for the remainder of the year. It may be prudential to upgrade your policy if the scientist predicts a rough season. 
• This tip should be done each time the seasons change, four times a year. The first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter is the time to change and check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A few moments each season can save your life and home. 

Contact us at JC Demo Insurance Group to discuss your home insurance options, and whether you are fully covered. We serve Matthews, NC and the surrounding areas.