While having homeowners insurance may not be required by law, it would be ill-advised to occupy a home without a policy in place. Additionally, many lenders ask that you secure a homeowners policy before paying anything on your mortgage to ensure that your home is adequately protected in the event that it is damaged, destroyed, or stolen from.
That being said, it’s a good idea to carry a homeowners insurance policy regardless of whether you’re taking out a loan as we’re sure you want to avoid paying the full amount for potential claims out of pocket.
Of the various claims that are covered under a homeowners policy, below are the 3 most common:
- Wind and hail.Since natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms are covered, it may be no surprise that wind and hail damages are the most common homeowners insurance claims according to the Insurance Information Institute. This varies, of course, depending on where you live; those who live in Tornado Alley can expect to have a higher chance of filing a wind and hail claim than someone living in Philadelphia, PA.
- Water damage and freezingis the second most common homeowners insurance claim. With so many homeowners in the United States living in areas with freezing temperatures half the year, a fair amount of damages can happen due to freezing pipes bursting. However, it’s important to remember that flooding isnotcovered under a homeowners insurance policy. So, if your home is in an area that is prone to flooding, you’ll want to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to ensure that you and your personal items are covered.
- All other property damage.This category is a bit vague, so we’ll provide a few examples. If a drunk driver were to take a joyride through your yard and destroy your mailbox, your homeowners policy would cover you. If a group of kids decided to egg your house on mischief night and a particularly strong egg broke your window, your homeowners policy would cover you. This is a very general category that summarizes anything that did not result from natural disasters or theft.
How can I avoid these claims?
Unless you can control the weather, wind and hail homeowners insurance claims are difficult to avoid. However, you can prevent freezing pipes by doing the following:
- Let cold water drip to keep the pipes warm enough to keep from freezing over
- Make sure the thermostat is set no lower than 55 degrees
- Open cabinet doors to ensure that the warm air reaches the plumbing
- Add extra insulation in areas that may be letting cold air in
You can attempt to avoid property damage by employing security measures meant to deter vandals from wreaking havoc on your property. Homes with floodlights, motion activated alarms, and security cameras are much less likely to be vandalized or otherwise damaged as the perpetrators do not want to be caught.
Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to discuss your homeowners insurance needs.
Risk Averse Insurance is an insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.
