In a perfect world, you would sell your current home before moving on and purchasing or renting a different home. However, we don’t live in a perfect world. You may need to move to care for an ill family member or for a job change and your home may not have yet sold. Or you may have found the home of your dreams and purchased it and moved before your home sold. Either way, you may have an empty house that is for sale. When this happens, we at North Georgia Insurance Center, serving the greater Commerce, GA area, are often asked if there are any changes that you need to make to your home insurance policy. Here is what you need to know. 

If you are no longer residing in the home and no longer have belongings inside, you may be able to make changes to your home insurance policy. These changes include stating that you have no personal property inside and waiving your right to replacement housing in the event your home becomes unusable due to a catastrophic loss or event. All in all, this may help you to save some money on your insurance policy. However, it is important to note that you are not legally required to make changes to your policy and many people do not. If your home is priced right, it will likely sell quickly, leaving it alone for only a brief period of time. Most people don’t like to change their insurance for this shortened period of time. 

If you are looking for a new home insurance policy or considering making changes to an existing one, visit North Georgia Insurance Center, serving the greater Commerce, GA area. We can help you decide what changes, if any, need to be to your home insurance policy. Contact us today to get started. 

One of the questions that we at North Georgia Insurance Center are frequently asked is what can someone expect when filing a homeowners insurance claim in the greater Commerce, GA area. Here are a few of the things that you can expect if you should ever have to file a homeowners insurance claim. 

The Initial Phone Call

When you need to file a homeowners insurance claim, the first thing that you will need to do is phone your insurance company. During this initial phone call, you will be asked to provide basic information, such as your name, policy number and the type of damage that exists. The insurance agent will likely ask you how the damage occurred as well. 

An In-Person Inspection

After you have filed a claim, your case will be passed on to an adjuster. Typically, the adjuster will arrange for an in-person inspection of the damage done to your home. This typically takes a couple of days at least. During this time, the person the insurance company sends out will note what caused the damaged and what they value the costs to be to repair the damage. 

Negotiating the Settlement

Once your claim is accepted, you can begin negotiating a settlement. It is best to have a few quotes from contractors on hand to help you negotiate a fair settlement. However, be sure to deduct your deductible from the quoted price. In some cases, the insurance inspector values the repair work low and in other cases, they value it fairly. Having quotes on hand helps you to show that they valued the repairs too low if that is the case. Once the settlement amount is negotiated, you will be sent a check to begin the repair process. 

Having the right insurance limits in place is key in case you ever have to file a homeowners insurance claim. If you are not sure if your insurance rates are ideal for you, or if are looking for a new policy that increases your limits, contact North Georgia Insurance Center, serving the greater Commerce, GA area today. 

Increasing your home’s security is an excellent way to improve your peace of mind and to take a swipe at your home insurance costs. You don’t have to fork over thousands to a security agency either if you take advantage of these DIY home security tools. If these tips don’t fulfill your need for home security, the North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA can help you find more ideas to protect your family and your property.

Doors, Windows, and Locks

Few things can beat a physical barrier for preventing criminals from accessing your home. If your locks are easily defeated, then even the most robust system of alarms and cameras won’t stop the thieves from finding something to steal. Check the integrity of the frames, replace damaged components, and upgrade to thicker and sturdier materials. Add a dead bolt to each door and add a lock to any window without one.

Alarms

An audible alarm that triggers when a door, window, or another opening is breached draws attention to your home, which is the last thing a criminal wants. Although, it may be harder or more expensive to configure your entry alarms to contact law enforcement automatically.

Lighting and Landscaping

While burglars can strike in the broad light of day, visibility always plays a significant role in how they decide to strike. Motion-sensing flood lights will spook many would-be criminals, and removing tall brush near doors and windows eliminates the opportunity for them to work on breaking your locks in the shadows.

Security Cameras

For DIY home security, the most promising technology available is the modern surveillance camera. A few cameras can keep eyes on the perimeter of most home lots for $200 to $1,000 depending on the quality of the camera selected. Upper-end models connect wirelessly, have night-vision to stay viable around the clock, record audio and video in high-quality formats, and can be remotely viewed through computer applications.

Reach out to us for any questions on home insurance. Visit our North Georgia Insurance Center in Commerce, GA or give us a call to learn how to start your home insurance policy today.

Mold growth can be sneaky, especially when you live where there is a higher humidity level, as the Commerce, GA area. For mold to grow, it only requires a little food and water, and it will flourish.  It’s not a surprise to find mold growing in the basement or behind baseboards or drywall after a flood, but there are some unexpected and hard to detect areas it can grow.  Check these unusual places for mold in your home.

• Refrigerator drip pans are one place easy to forget because it’s out of sight.  Food and moisture collect in the drip pan and creates a perfect environment for mold.
• The gasket around front-loading washing machine doors creates another perfect mold-growing environment. There is lint to eat, and the gasket often stays wet.
• Window sashes and seals, where dust and dirt collect and add some condensation and mold will grow.
• The brick crevices of the chimney collect dirt, debris, and water where mold can flourish. 
• Places where dishes are stacked, such as grouted tile.  The grout and cracks will stay wet, especially if dishes are washed daily, and create a nice mold-growing environment.  This may not be visible until it’s grown out of control.
• Air conditioners trap pollen and dust, good food for mold, and moisture from the air and mold can grow in the AC drain pans and ducts.
• The rubber seal around your dishwasher is another mold-growing culprit to watch.

North Georgia Insurance Center

The North Georgia Insurance Center provides home insurance to the Commerce, GA area.  Our agents are fair and held to the highest ethical practices.  We approach your home insurance needs as if they were our own. Contact a North Georgia Insurance Center agent to review your homeowner insurance needs.