Home Insurance Articles

Preparing Your Home For Summer Weather Can Lower The Cost Of Homeowner's Insurance

2010-03-17

As much of the nation is still buried in snow, it's hard to imagine that soon we'll have to face the dangers of summer. Summer mostly brings good things - swimming, barbequing, and other outdoor activities like hiking and baseball. Unfortunately, summer can also bring some less-than-desirable weather conditions. Tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, mudslides and flash floods also come along with the warmer weather. Damage caused by these types of weather conditions can be costly, and it's vital to have a good homeowner's insurance policy in place. However, those policies often cost more than we would like to spend. There are some things you can do to prepare for the summer storms and lower your home insurance coverage costs at the same time.

Prevention is the key to maintaining a low cost home insurance premium. Your rates will go up with every claim that you file, so preventing the necessity for a claim will save you money in the long term. Something like installing a sump pump in your basement to deal with potential flooding may seem costly at first, but pales in comparison to the cost of repairing damage after the fact. Unlike winter storms, summer storms often arise quickly and hit with little warning. It's important to start your preparation early. Once the snow melts, take a look around for any leaking pipes, wind damage and loose wiring. You can perform this inspection yourself, or better yet, have a licensed contractor perform the inspection and identify any problem areas. Performing any minor repairs can prevent the need for major repairs later.

You can also insure your money is being well spent by doing an annual review of your homeowner's insurance policy. Make sure you're up-to-date on any changes to the policy, and that you're aware of any potential gaps in your coverage. Be sure you have enough insurance and that you know about any unusual deductibles you may have to meet. Some things to look out for: many homeowners' insurance policies do not include flood protection, and you may have to purchase a separate policy. It's more common for policies to include provisions to cover wind damage, but this is also not a given. If you have a swimming pool, make sure your homeowner's insurance provides liability coverage in the event of an injury in your pool. It's also worth looking into whether or not your policy will pay for temporary housing in the event your home becomes unlivable for a period of time.

With a little bit of prep work, you can enjoy the best of summer with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you're prepared for the worst.