No one expects their home to become damaged. However, break-ins, extreme weather, and house fires are all fairly common and have the potential to cause serious damage to your home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, around 1 in every 15 American homeowners claim on their homeowner's insurance each year. This statistic is a clear reminder that all homeowners should take steps to protect their homes and minimize potential risks. With this in mind, here are the top three causes of property damage and how to avoid them.
Extreme weather causes a huge volume of home insurance claims. In fact, winter storms cost home insurance companies an estimated $2 billion in 2018 according to Impact Forecasting. Events like thunderstorms, high winds, and flooding can all cause extensive damage to the exterior and interior of your property. The extent and frequency that your home is exposed to extreme weather will depend largely on your location. For instance, homes in the Southern states are at high-risk of wind-related damage. Here are some useful tips to help protect your home from the damaging effects of extreme weather:
● Clear any debris from your garden that could cause damage to your property if picked up by high winds. This includes items like fallen tree branches and loose fence panels.
● Check your roof at least once a year and replace any loose shingles.
● Keep pipes in your home warm by wrapping them in insulating material. This will help prevent them from becoming frozen and bursting during cold weather.
● Install storm shutters on your windows if you live in an area prone to severe storms.
● If your home sustains damage following extreme weather, contact an insurance restoration company immediately to help minimize any long-term effects on your property.
Unfortunately, break-ins are fairly common. FBI statistics show that a burglary occurs every 22.6 seconds in the U.S. which equates to 3,757 burglaries every day! A break-in can result in serious damage to your home and property loss costing thousands of dollars. Fortunately, you can easily protect your home from break-ins by installing a quality home alarm system. Alarms act as an effective deterrent that will reduce your chances of being targeted by criminals. You can further enhance your home security by adding security cameras to your property, installing efficient outdoor lighting, and ensuring that your windows and doors are secure.
A house fire can quickly cause extensive damage to your property and fire damage is often one of the most expensive home insurance claims. For that reason, you must follow safety advice to minimize the likelihood of a fire occurring in your property. Firstly, make sure that your home has quality smoke detectors fitted. Test the alarm on your detectors regularly (ideally once a month) to check that they are functioning correctly. Many home fires start in the kitchen, so make sure that the area is kept clean and free from clutter and ensure that any flammable items are stored away safely. You should also never leave cooking food unattended. Remember that even just a few minutes is long enough for a fire to start and cause serious damage to your property.
Fire has to be my biggest fear. We can take all of the safety precautions we want, but we're in an OLD house and electrical fires could start in the walls.
ReplyDelete