Some maintenance steps are more obvious than others, but here are some you may have missed.
Some home safety tips are pretty obvious. There’s no mystery that your insurance agent would want you to make sure your smoke detector is functioning. Yes, it’s a good idea to be sure your gutters are clear, particularly after the leave have fallen but before the snow begins.
However, there are certain home safety steps you can be taking that you may not realize.
Following certain home safety tips can make a tremendous difference in preventing or minimizing damage from: wind, flooding, fires, and even break-ins. Insurance agents regularly guide their clients through their claims and have seen firsthand the difference some of these tips can make.
Unfortunately, not everyone has followed this home safety advice. As a homeowner, a few small and easy steps can make all the difference and can save you time, money, and the need to make an insurance claim. Of course, the most obvious way to make sure a fire in your home is detected as early as possible is to make sure you have smoke detectors on every floor, each of which has new batteries at least twice per year.
The right home safety tips can reduce or even prevent damage from human-made or natural disasters.
Try the following to help keep your home safe:
• Check your roof – The National Association of Insurance Commissioners released a report in which the organization identified wind and hail as the most frequent cause of claims. A roof needs to be replaced every 20 to 30 years, depending on the type of roof. Investing in the best quality roof, installed by experienced professionals, will help you to get a much longer life out of it and prevent damage. Strong roofs can hold your entire home together in case of severe winds and can protect every floor of your house from water damage.
• Install an automatic water shut-off – Many homeowners don’t realize that there is a device that can be installed to shut the water off if anything goes wrong with your plumbing. Instead, they rely on a manual shut off. Of course, that means that the water will continue flowing until someone discovers there’s a problem and is able to shut it off. With a smart water system in place, the problem is automatically detected
• Walk your property – Many of us are so used to our homes that we’ve stopped paying attention to the small changes occurring, particularly if they’ve come on gradually. Walk onto your property the same way you would if you were a guest. Check all pathways for tripping hazards that could lead to liability claims. Check the base of the building for signs of cracks or other types of visible damage. Look over the condition of your siding and downspouts. Simply having a closer look can help you to avoid simple and preventable forms of damage.
Though it’s not possible to prepare for every possible type of damage, the right home safety tips can minimize problems, costs and claims.
