Common Home Insurance Claims (and How to Avoid Them)
Your home is your safe space. Your world away from the world. It’s where you rest, where you raise your family, where you bond with your friends. The last thing you want is for something to happen to it.
The good news is, though every house experiences general wear and tear, serious home damage is rare. In a given year, only about 5% of insured homes make a claim.
What are the most common causes for those claims? Can you avoid them? Let’s take a look…
The Most Common Home Claim
The most common claim made for home insurance is wind. This could mean high speed winds, or it could mean more dangerous situations like tornadoes or hurricanes.
Those who live in areas susceptible to hurricanes may already know that most insurance policies won’t cover flooding. But generally, they do cover roofing and siding getting ripped off.
It’s also worth mentioning that people living in the area of the US known as “tornado alley” may face additional restrictions on what is and isn’t covered.
One reason why wind is the most common claim is probably because there’s nothing you can really do to avoid it. High winds are out of your control.
The Most Expensive Claim
Though it’s not the most common cause of damage, fire damage typically results in the most expensive claims being filed. Even a small fire can cause serious repaired and replacement needed. In addition to the areas damaged by the fire, smoke cleaning and removal will also likely be needed.
And of course, there’s a serious risk of injury, both from burns and smoke inhalation.
The good news is, most house fires can be prevented by following proper safety precautions. This includes checking fire alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors, having your heating system regularly serviced, and inspecting electrical cords.
Different Types of Water Damage
Water damage is a common claim because there’s a lot of ways water can damage your home. A pipe could freeze and burst, filling your home with water from the inside. Snow and ice could gather on your roof, causing pressure and breaking through.
Most of this can be avoided.
Don’t shut off your water during the winter (and keep your heat going). Clean your gutters to help prevent ice dams and snow build-up.
And if your roof needs to be re-shingled, get it done during the warm months.
Damage Caused by People
It’s not always the elements that damage your home. Theft and vandalism account for a large number of claims each year. Whether it’s stolen proper, broken windows, or defaced siding, anyone can fall victim to people with bad intentions.
Luckily, these situations can largely be avoided with a proper security system and motion sensor lights. Even just the motion sensor lights can be enough to scare away would be vandals.
Make Sure Your Insurance Covers What You Need it To
And for a price you can afford.
Home insurance policies can vary drastically from provider to provider. What works best for one person might not be right for you. That’s why you need to shop around for home insurance before making a decision.
This can be a frustrating, time-consuming process. Wouldn’t it be better if you had someone with a deep understanding of insurance policies and providers to do all the leg work for you?
That’s what we’re here for.
At Link-Hellmuth, we work with the top providers in the state of Ohio to ensure you’re insured at the level you need to be. For quality, affordable homeowners insurance in Springfield, OH, contact Link-Hellmuth today.