Home, Sweet, Home
Homeowners: You just invested in a place to rest your head and create endless memories with your family. While you spend the next couple of decades paying off your home loan, there are preventative measures you can take against pesky neighbors and Mother Nature. Maybe you enjoy surprises—but not the ones that create the need to file an insurance claim on your home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 1 in 15 insured homes has a claim each year. Here are the most common causes of claims made, and preventative measures against them.
| Cause | Prevention |
| 1. Fire damage | 1. Avoid all fire hazards. Keep watch on burning candles, remove clutter around your stovetop, avoid using appliances with frayed cords. Be careful with fires and be sure to dispose of ashes outdoors in a metal, lidded can. |
| 2. Thieves | 2. A security system is your best bet to prevent break-ins and save you cash on home insurance. Also, simply make sure your home is locked—both doors and windows. Keep your small, valuable assets in a safe. |
| 3. Exterior Wind/Hail Damage | 3. Keep your foliage trimmed to help prevent breakage of limbs on a windy day. During a storm, double-check your yard to make sure all loose items such as outdoor furniture and toys are stored in a garage/shed to prevent flying objects damaging your home. |
| 4. Other weather-related damage | 4. Keep your gutters clean. Do not pour grease down your sink to prevent clogged pipes leading to floods in your home. Investigate leaks as soon as you notice them. |
| 5. Vandalism/Mischief | 5. Some things are out of your control—eggings, others’ pets digging up your garden, spray paint, whatever the case, keeping a video surveillance of outside your home can scare off neighbors. |
By: KayLynn
Do you have questions about your insurance? Find an insurance agent near you with our Agent Finder
Search All Blogs
Read More Blogs
The Agile Approach: Why Short, Focused Plans Are Overtaking the Mammoth Business Blueprint
Ditch the doorstop plan! Discover why concise, adaptable strategies are the new gold standard for business success.
Embracing Tomorrow: The Practical Power of Planning for Life’s Only Certainty
Face the future with confidence: Understand how planning for life’s only certainty with life insurance can provide lasting security.
Steering Your Savings: Taking Control of Your Car Insurance Rates
You’re in the driver’s seat! Learn how your credit, driving habits, vehicle choice, and smart shopping can lower your car insurance costs.
Underfoot Upgrade: Transforming Your Garage Floor from Forgotten to Fantastic
Don’t ignore your garage floor! Discover easy and impactful ways to upgrade this often-neglected area of your home.
Unwrapping the Wiener: A Deep Dive into the History and Lore of the Hot Dog
Beyond the bun: Discover the surprising history, varieties, and enduring appeal of America’s favorite tubular treat.
The Untapped Power of Collaboration: Why Asking for Help Fuels Business Success
Stop going it alone! Discover how leveraging the expertise of others can relieve pressure and drive your business forward.
Navigating the Grandparenting Journey: Understanding Today’s Families
Grandparenting today: Learn key shifts in family dynamics to build stronger connections with your children and grandchildren.
Mapping Our Paths: The Fascinating Reasons Behind Our Road Networks
The story behind the asphalt: Explore the geographical, historical, and planning influences that shaped our modern road systems.
Neighborly Navigations: Resolving Disputes in Non-HOA Communities
No HOA, no problem? Learn how to navigate neighborly disputes effectively in communities without formal management.
Vintage Years of Vision: Four Times Hollywood Hit Cinematic Gold
Like fine wines, certain years in film history stand out for their exceptional quality and the enduring impact of the movies they produced. This article explores four such landmark years, presented chronologically, that many cinephiles consider to be among the greatest in cinematic history.