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 Family Legacy: Why December is the Time to Name a Trust as Your Life Insurance Beneficiary
Protect your payout. Discover the benefits of naming a Trust as the beneficiary of your life insurance to control distributions and minimize probate delays.
Customizing Cold Protection: Essential Auto Insurance Endorsements for Winter Driving
Standard coverage isn’t enough for winter. Learn about Gap, OEM, and specialized endorsements to fully protect your vehicle and costly winter accessories.
Defrosting Disaster: The Costly Liability of Ice, Water, and Frozen Sidewalks in December
Frozen sidewalks, overflowing sumps: A December guide to home insurance liability and water damage coverage, and how to avoid costly claims.
Tinsel and Tropes: A Cozy Look at Why Classic Christmas Movie Moments Endure
From Zuzu’s petals to the leg lamp: Dive into the nostalgic tropes and timeless comfort of our favorite classic Christmas films.
The Silent Season: Securing Inventory and Operations During Christmas and Year-End Closures
Closing the shop for the holidays? Key business insurance checks for protecting vacant property and high-value inventory from theft and winter damage.
The Most Sustainable Gift: Life Insurance and the Value of Income Continuation Planning
Life insurance ensures the Christmas cheer continues. Practical tips on using income continuation math to calculate the right term policy size for your family.
From Home to Holiday: Securing Your Christmas Road Trip Auto Coverage Checklist
Heading over the river and through the woods? Your Christmas road trip needs an auto insurance checkup, focusing on roadside assistance and UIM coverage.
The Fire Under the Fir: Insuring Against Christmas Tree Calamity and Holiday Fire Risk
Don’t let a dried-out tree ruin Christmas. Essential home insurance tips for fire safety, electrical risk, and candle liability during the holiday season.
Cozying Up: Embracing the Danish Art of Hygge for a Stress-Free December
Banish the December chaos! A simple guide to adopting Hygge—the Danish concept of cozy contentment—for a truly joyful holiday season.
Tinsel, Traffic, and Transactions: Insuring Your Business Against December’s Holiday Rush Risks
Don’t let the holiday rush expose your business. A guide to essential commercial insurance coverages for increased sales, foot traffic, and cyber threats in December.