You say you don’t like wind, hail, rain and floods? Guess what? Your home and business like it all a lot less. With spring storm season unofficially upon us and summertime storms, including hurricanes just around the bend, the related damage statistics beg us to react.
What are the best steps to take to protect your property? Following these smart tips will ensure you are being proactive about the most important assets you own.
Roof Fixes
At this point in time, we’ve passed the snow and ice season. But that doesn’t mean you or your home are out of the woods. If you don’t patch the damage caused to your roof from winter exposure, you will be asking for trouble come the spring storms. Check for existing damage. Are any shingles or tiles gone? Is your chimney missing its cap? Did it develop cracking? Is the surrounding flashing leaking? Make sure to do any necessary repairs.
Gutter Checks
Get your gutter cleaned from all leaves and rubbish. Then, do a drain-test by observing how it functions when the rain is coming down. Is the water draining downward and away from your home as it should? If not, do necessary repairs on rust or cracks. Test your air conditioner’s draining system as well.
Door and Window Sealing
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know this is an important aspect of home protection. Inspect your windows and doors. Are they caulked securely? What about the openings for home wiring and piping? Make sure all those house gaps are sealed properly. If you live in an area where hurricanes are known to develop, think about protecting your windows with storm shutters. Most insurance companies even offer a significant homeowner or commercial discount for this.
Tree Trimming
Spring returns the green beauty of nature to trees. As the majesty of fresh foliage reappears, get your trees assessed by a professional. It’s wise to remove any dead tree limbs because they can easily fall during a storm and cause extensive home or auto damages and losses. Make sure that branches are at least 10 feet away from your home or business structure and trim anything that does not meet this standard.
Sump Pump Inspection
The winter’s accumulation of snow and rain is what makes natural and manmade bodies of water rise. This can and does result in sewage backup issues. To avoid problems, inspect your sump pump to see if it is operating as it should. Think about installing a battery-operated support system that maintains operation in the event there is a storm-induced power outage. If electronic devices and important paperwork is located on the floor of your basement, consider moving them to a safer place where the risk of water damage from floods is much less.
Adapting Your Homeowners, Renters, Condo or Business Property Insurance
Though you will have general liability coverage on your policy, there’s a good chance that you will not be covered for water backups. Protect yourself from the headache and untold damage costs by adding an insurance rider that includes water backup protection.