Wow, what a winter! I am certainly glad Spring will be here soon.
After a winter like we just experienced there are many spring cleaning tips I can give you to help you reduce homeowner’s insurance claims and ultimately save you money. Here are some tips:
- Change those batteries in all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Many people routinely do this when they move their clocks forward or back. Smoke detectors save lives so make sure you protect your family by making sure those batteries are fresh.
- Roof & Gutters – Many of us experienced ice damming in our gutters this past winter. The weight of the ice of snow could have damaged your roof or gutters. Inspect your roof to check for any damage. Run a garden hose in the gutters to make sure they are working properly. If not, have your gutters repaired. Check any outside drains too. Make sure they are not clogged.
- Trees and Shrubs – Many of my trees, shrubs and hedges were bent over this winter by the weight of ice and snow. Make sure these trees and shrubs are not rubbing up against your house, garage or shed. Trim the trees and shrubs if necessary.
- Sidewalks and Driveways – Check your sidewalks and driveways for cracks and have them sealed. These cracks can cause water to collect in areas like your basement and cause damage. Also check the pointing on your house to make sure water cannot enter the house and cause damage.
- Landscaping – Make sure the landscaping you did in previous years around the house to help water runoff is still effective. You may need to do a little more work this Spring.
- Decks and porches – Check your decks and porches for loose nails, loose railings and broken or rotted boards or steps. Replace if necessary to avoid injuries.
- Dryer Vents – Check the outside outlet of the dryer vent to make sure it is not clogged. You should also remove the dryer duct from you dryer and make sure it is clean and not clogged. You may want to consider replacing the duct if you have not done so in a few years. This will help prevent dryer fires.
- Grills – Boy am I ready to grill again. This year’s snow made it impossible to grill outside. Check the gas connections to make sure you have no leaks. Clean the grill of any dirt or grease. You may need to replace some parts of the grill and lava rocks to reduce grease fires.
Proactive maintenance on your house will help prevent insurance claims. Since most insurance companies provide Credits on your homeowner’s policy if you did not make a claim in the past three years, you can save money by avoiding claims. You also can save money by not having to come up with your deductible. Our goal is to not only save you money on your policies, but to provide advice to help
