Stay On Top Of Minor Home Repairs
Do you have some loose or missing shingles on your roof or gutters that are pulling away from the house causing rain to pool at your foundation? Are there any annoying leaks in your kitchen or bathroom or a bit of mold on your bathroom ceiling because of the steam of long hot showers? If so,get busy with a little preventive maintenance because insurance covers unexpected events… not ones you let happen!
Fix Known Issues
As a homeowner, it’s important to protect your property from further damage when there is a known issue. When a claim is filed, there are many factors reviewed during the investigation, including if the insured followed policy conditions. One example is when shingles are damaged on a roof and aren’t repaired causing interior damage, there could be coverage impacts.
So if you notice small fixes or repairs that need to be done and it’s something your insurance company could reasonably expect that you would have noticed, you ought to go ahead and take care of the issue before it snowballs and becomes a bigger problem.
Four Common Events and Hazards
Listed below, please find a list of four common events and hazards that can lead to homeowners insurance claims and some good ways to help prevent them.
1- Fire Damage
Remember an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Protect your home from common fire risks by keeping the following tips in mind:
- Install smoke detectors on every floor and outside of each bedroom
- Inspect your alarms regularly and change batteries one per year
- Avoid an electrical fire by keeping electrical items and their cords away from flammable materials
- Never leave heat sources like unattended(ovens, stoves or space heaters)
- Remove lint from dryers and air filters
- Perform regular home preventative maintenance on your heating system and keep chimneys swept
2- Wind and Hail Damage
There’s no way to totally wind and hail proof your home, but here are a few home maintenance tips that can help make damage less likely and costly:
- Inspect/trim trees on or near your property for weak limbs or trunks
- Maintain your roof regularly by replacing shingles when needed
- Move outdoor objects that could blow around inside during storms
- Secure all doors and windows
- Review your homeowners policy if you live in an area that is often affected by hurricanes or tornadoes to know what it covers. This helps you determine whether you’d benefit from adding more coverage
3- Water Damage
A few maintenance tips to prevent or minimize water damage to your home:
- Maintain gutters by keeping them clean
- Repair any dripping or cracked pipes
- Check seals and caulking around showers and tubs, resealing as necessary
- Never pour sticky, greasy or thick substances down sink drains
- Keep the temperature above 55 degrees in the winter, even when you’re away from home to keep things from freezing
- Add or upgrade insulation in areas like the basement or attic that get the coldest
- Occasionally, run warm water through faucets
- Invest in an early leak detection system, smart water sensor that can warn you of leaky appliances
4- Home Burglary and Theft
Security tips that can help lower the chance that burglars will target your home:
- Regularly check that the knobs and locks on your doors and windows work
- Add deadbolts to all outside doors
- Lock your doors and windows at night, or when you’re away from home
- Install motion-sensing lights outside and turn them on at night
- While you’re away, make it look like someone is home by asking a trusted neighbor or friend to check mail and put out the trash. Even let them park in the driveway while doing your chores.
- Don’t hide a spare key outside: Leave it with a neighbor or friend instead.
- Know the value of and keep an inventory of your things just in case they’re taken during a burglary
- Install a security system with an alarm that will scare burglars away and notify you and the police if someone enters your property
Peace of Mind
By being proactive and aware, these home maintenance can help prevent costly insurance claims and protect your home from the unexpected. Knowing you have maintained your home to the best of your ability is great for personal peace of mind and keeps your insurance claims to a minimum!