Protecting your family and your home is not only about setting up security measures. There are many factors that can affect you, such as weather, accidents, and more. While home insurance covers damages from serious incidents, there are much more common circumstances where you can file a claim.
Here are some of the most common insurance claims for your home:
Direct Damage from Severe Weather Conditions
Most home insurance claims involve damages from wind and hail. This is especially true if you live in the northeast. Even if you have prepared your home from windstorms and hailstorms, these weather conditions are unpredictable at best. Strong wind and hail can knock trees that will cause partial or full destruction. Worse, tornadoes and hurricanes are impossible to predict. It is common to see total destruction in their path, which will put your financial situation in danger.
Typically, homeowner’s insurance covers minor damages from hail and wind. However, you may want to inquire about separate policies or coverage if you live along the Tornado Alley or along the Atlantic Ocean. You can only do so much in fortifying your home, but no one is protected from the strength of nature.
Issues From Water Damages
Plumbing problems and failures are common occurrences in most homes. It is especially complicated during cold seasons. Drops in temperature can cause water pipes to freeze. This results in severe leaking and even burst the pipes. These incidents can cause further damages to your home, especially if they go unnoticed for quite a while.
There are some steps that you can minimize the likelihood of such things happening. Lining your pipes with insulation is a common solution. You may also consider having a professional inspect your home, especially your pipes before winter months. Most home insurance cover plumbing failures, rainwater, and water damage. However, it may not cover costs from damages due to neglect. That is why it is always important to have your home water system checked and updated.
Robbery and Theft
No matter how safe your community is, theft and robbery are still possible. These incidents are usually costly from the items taken to the damages made on your house. Not to mention the emotional turmoil that your family will go through for the following weeks or months.
It is essential to invest in a home security system, whether it’s basic protection or a full-suite smart security package – make sure to check out some alarm systems UK packages if you’re in that region. This will provide you peace of mind when you are not at home or when your family is sleeping at night. Additionally, keeping an eye out not only for your home but for activities in your neighborhood will allow you to prepare for any red flags.
Many home insurance policies will cover theft and robbery. However, you need to make sure that the coverage is always updated, especially when you have new appliances, gadgets, or any other big-ticket items at home. This will ensure that you are paid the correct amount during the worst-case scenario.
Insurance Protection After Fires
Fires and similar incidents are one of the most expensive incidents that you can experience. They are not very common, and because of this, you can easily get blindsided when it happens. You will need funds for structural repair on top of replacing the contents of your home. Furthermore, you will need money so you can stay somewhere temporarily while your home is being rebuilt.
Regular inspections usually minimize cases of fire. You may want to consult an expert, especially when you have old electrical systems at home. Updating your breaker or even installing advanced features such as circuitries with ammeter shunts will keep potential disasters later on.
Most home insurance policies cover damage to your home up to the agreed limit for fire damage. However, take note that fires caused by arson are not usually covered in most policies. Additionally, if your home is vacant for more than 30 consecutive days when the fire started, it is not covered in your standard insurance. You can purchase vacant homeowners insurance for that.
Final Thoughts
These are just a handful of the most common insurance claim that you can make. Fortunately, many home insurance cover these incidents to a certain degree. You may have to consider further coverage if you see the likelihood of such disasters in the future.