The Importance of Home Maintenance for Insurance Coverage

Home insurance is an advisable and often required investment for homeowners. These policies can be critical in financially protecting you, your family and your property. Consider ways you can optimize the cost-effectiveness of your premiums and potentially limit the likelihood of needing to file a claim. One key strategy for achieving these goals is to conduct appropriate home maintenance and consider how it may relate to your insurance.

How Is Home Maintenance Related to Insurance?

In general, home insurance companies expect policyholders to take reasonable steps to maintain their residences, and failing to do so could result in claims being denied. Even if a claim is approved, it may affect your rates when seeking renewal, leading to higher premiums.

Additionally, neglecting to maintain your home adequately may also increase the likelihood of incidents and damage occurring in the first place. Home maintenance should be considered a critical step in maintaining and optimizing your insurance coverage.

Key Maintenance Tips to Avoid Insurance Claims

As you consider ways to avoid claims or limit losses in general, there are several home maintenance strategies you may wish to implement, such as the following:

• Address water damage risks—Many situations, including leaky pipes, cracks in your roof and sewer backups, can cause water damage. Inspect your roof, walls and plumbing systems to reduce the chance of water damage and potentially expensive claims.
• Reduce the chances of a fire—Ensure you have functioning smoke detectors on every floor and in your kitchen. Check alarms regularly and replace batteries every year. Other fire hazards may include electrical malfunctions in appliances and lint buildup in your dryer, so inspect these potential risks as well.
• Consider outside threats—Sometimes damage to your home may come from the outdoors. Consider replacing or upgrading locking mechanisms on your doors and windows, such as by installing deadbolts. Additionally, take stock of trees around your property and trim any potentially problematic branches that might break and fall on your home.

We’re Here to Help

As a committed member of the Lake Forest community since the 1920s, Price Insurance is well-equipped with the knowledge and experience to assist you in assessing and addressing your home insurance needs. Contact us today to learn more.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.