With winter fast approaching, now is the time to start preparing your house for the winter where the elements like snow, sleet, and wind can do major damage. Continue reading to learn how to prepare your house for the colder weather in next to no time.

1. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

Drafts emitting from windows can cause your energy bill to spike exponentially and leave you feeling far chillier than normal. Quickly and affordably fix the problem by applying v-seal weather stripping along the sides of the window that allow them to still open, but keeps the cold away.

2. Remove Tree Branches

Homes that have trees with limbs hanging near your home are more likely to suffer roof damage during a windstorm and may be susceptible to leaks from water cascading off low hanging branches. 

3. Clean the Gutters

Debris build up in your gutters can lead to costly ice dams that contribute to your home’s foundation is weakened. Once the fall leaves have fallen, either hire someone to do the job or use a ladder to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris that accumulates in the gutters.

4. Check the Roof

Winter is not the time to have a leaky roof and doing an inspection will help spot issues. Luckily for those that don’t like heights, you should be able to inspect your roof safely from the ground with binoculars. 

5. Fireplace Inspection

It is recommended that your fireplace be professionally inspected every year so be sure to call your favorite fireplace inspector early to avoid missing out on their services. 

When it comes to insuring your home, look no further than the friendly and professional team at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. in Ft. Worth, TX. Give us a call today to learn about our insurance products. 

The Ft. Worth, TX area is a popular community for anyone to reside in. There are a lot of great places for you to visit when you are in the area and good professional opportunities. This can make Fort Worth a good place to own a home. If you are going to purchase real estate in this area of Texas, it is important that you get home insurance. There are several situations when this coverage is needed for you. 

When You Have a Loan

The majority of people that end up buying a home in the Fort Worth area will need to take out a mortgage. If you do take out a mortgage to finance your purchase, you need to make sure that you understand the insurance rules. Most of the time, you will need to have home insurance and even escrow your payments with the lender along with your monthly loan payment.

When You Live in an Association

There are many communities today that offer amenities to property owners. Along with these amenities, there are home associations set up to manage and run the community. These associations will almost always have a rule book that states that you will need to have home insurance at all times. This will help to protect you and others in the community.

There are a lot of situations when someone in the Ft. Worth, TX area will need to have home insurance. If you are going to get this insurance, you should call the team at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. The team at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. can help you understand all of your options. They will then help you to build a policy that offers protection and ensures your needs are met. 

Having a home can be challenging, especially when it comes to protecting it from unforeseen dangers. Of course, there are many things a homeowner can do to minimize risks to the home, but ultimately dangers associated with many threats, such as the weather, make having adequate home insurance in place necessary to protect that investment.

Storm Damages

Most home insurance policies cover all types of storm damages including damage from debris and other potential side effects directly related to the storm. However, flood damage isn’t covered by home insurance and the homeowner will need to purchase a separate home insurance policy to have that protection in place. The best way to ensure the home is completely protected by home insurance is to work with an insurance agent. They can help educate the homeowner about what the policy covers and make any recommendations to help ensure the coverage fits the current needs.

Get Help Finding Home Insurance

Anyone in Ft. Worth, TX who is interested in purchasing home insurance they can rely on should consult with Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. to find out more about the different types of home insurance available in their area. The agents can work closely with potential clients to assess their needs and then offer common sense insurance products to give them the protection they need year-round. They can also help their clients submit documentation to insurance providers and assist with paperwork related to insurance claims.

Anyone in the Ft. Worth, TX area who is in the market for reliable home insurance should call or stop by Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. today to find out more or to schedule a consultation with an agent. 

At Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc in Ft. Worth, TX, people still ask us whether home insurance is worth it. Are you one of those who think that home insurance is not necessary? While we can give you a direct answer, we will rather discuss some of the benefits of home insurance and allow you to decide whether it is a wise investment or not.

It is required for loans

A lot of banks and private money lenders now ask for proof of your home insurance. That means if you apply for a loan and decide to use your home as collateral, most lenders will request proof of home insurance. That’s one way of protecting their money.

Some home insurance coverage protects you against a lawsuit

If your guest slips and falls in your yard, you’ll be held liable. He could file a lawsuit against you. Your tenant could also sue you in the same situation. That means, if she falls in your house which she rented, she could also file a lawsuit against you for negligence.

Also, if the dog of your tenant bites someone, you may be held liable as well. You can imagine how much it will cost you to hire an attorney for legal defense. And if the plaintiff wins, you could see yourself paying several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In fact, a couple of lawsuits could cost you more than your home. The good news is, your home insurance will take care of this if you are lucky enough to have insured your home.

Home insurance protects your home against natural disasters

Hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes have become a regular occurrence in the United States. So, it is a wise decision to protect your home against natural disasters. If your home gets damaged by a hurricane, there’s a home insurance coverage that will compensate you and also refund you for additional expense incurred if you have to live elsewhere until your apartment is fixed.

For other reasons why you should purchase home insurance, contact us at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc in Ft. Worth, TX. You may also visit our website to check out our home insurance products.

Winter is full of friends, family, and festivities, but the extra cooking, decorating, and celebrating that occurs during the season can lead to more risks in the home. With the right tips, you can avoid having to file an insurance claim in Ft. Worth, TX.

• Decorate Carefully: Reduce the risk of fire by using non-flammable and flame retardant decorations. If you are using a fresh Christmas tree, keep the water levels in check, and if you are using an artificial tree, decorate with UL listed lights. Keep the tree away from any heat sources.
• Be Careful with Candles: December is the peak time for fires that are started by candles. Keep candles away from anything that can burn and be sure that candles are out of reach from children and animals. Be sure to extinguish candles before going to sleep and leaving the room.
• Prevent Theft: There are usually more break-ins during the holiday season. Lock doors and windows and keep blinds closed to prevent thieves from looking at new presents. If you get new valuables for the holidays, update your insurance policy with your agent at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies, Inc.
• Protect Pipes: Poor insulation, drops in temperature, and keeping the thermostat too low can cause frozen pipes, so be sure to insulate pipes to prevent them from bursting.
• Host Responsible Parties: If you are serving alcohol at a holiday party, be sure you are covered from liability. Offer that guests stay the night or have a designated driver and ensure no one is driving after drinking.
• Test Smoke Detectors: Since the winter holidays create more fire hazards, make sure you are checking your fire safety prevention system.
• Be Careful in the Kitchen: With more cooking this time of year, fires are increased. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking.

Contact Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies, Inc. serving Ft. Worth, TX, to get a quote on home insurance in Colorado and Texas. 

Do you need information about home insurance and how to make your house safer? Feel free to contact Main Street Independent Insurance, serving the Ft. Worth, TX area, for further guidance and details.

Before selecting the type of homeowner’s insurance policy you need, there are a few things you must consider to be adequately insured. One of the most important things to keep in mind is the contents of the home. Most people know that the structure is protected, but did you know that you can add contents to the policy? Knowing that you can add contents to the coverage, what exactly does the policy cover?

Covering Contents

When it comes to covering contents, you must ask the insurance agent what the policy will cover. Items such as art, furs, and jewelry usually are covered, but other items such as clothing and small trinkets are not. Before purchasing your contents coverage, you need to document all of your possessions that are going to be covered. Keep receipts and photographs of these items to expedite the claims process and avoid issues. Contents coverage has limits and exclusions. If you own expensive items, they may not be covered for their actual value, but rather for a set amount. There is additional coverage available on some policies as a rider. The rider requires that you have a receipt or an appraisal on file for the item in order for the coverage to be valid.

Getting The Right Contents Coverage

Before you decide on your insurance coverage, especially when it comes to providing contents coverage, you should consult a reputable, knowledgeable insurance company like Main Street Independent Insurance. We take pride in serving residents in and around the Ft. Worth, TX area. We can answer any questions you may have about home insurance and help guide you while shopping for the right amount of coverage. 

If you live in or around the Ft. Worth, TX area and want to protect your home and its contents, then call or stop by the Main Street Independent Insurance office for more information. We can also help residents in Colorado with insurance policies.