The holidays are usually a joyous time of year. Families gather; for special meals, sing songs, and many play games or watch movies. All in all, it’s typically a great time; however, this travel and togetherness can also result in an increased risk of accidents or injuries, and you wouldn’t want your holiday spoiled by something like that. Now is an excellent time to review your homeowner’s insurance coverage to prepare.
Fire
Unfortunately, holiday fires resulting from dry Christmas trees, cooking, or improper use of a fireplace are widespread occurrences. The dwelling coverage on your home will protect you in the event of damage to the structure of your house. Personal property coverage protection shields you against these losses in a fire. To ensure you are fully covered, you’ll want to review your policy and look for provisions that protect structural damage beyond the value of your home, updates for any renovations or major purchases, and policy limits equal to or above the value of your belongings. Get in touch with your insurer to ensure your policy covers fire damage.
Electrical Mishaps
Fires caused by outdoor electrical displays are also common during the holidays. Dwelling coverage protects your landscaping from damage, lights, and other ornaments against fire. Ensure you only use lights and cords designed for outdoor use and have a sufficient electrical load-carrying capacity for all the decorations. Before putting up any displays, inspect ornaments, lights, plugs, and cords for any signs of wear or damage.
Injuries on Your Property
Slips, fall, or food poisoning requiring medical attention should be covered by your home or renter’s insurance policy’s liability protection clause. Most policies have a lower limit of $100,000, but requesting a higher coverage level would be wise. Check your policy to ensure you have the right coverage for your home. Remember, injuries you or other members of your household sustain are excluded from policy coverage, as are “accidents” involving willful intent or malicious conduct.
Accidents Involving Alcohol
Accidents involving alcohol are complicated and can vary from state to state. In most locales, some laws permit injured parties to sue hosts who served alcohol before their accident if negligence is found. Most home or renter’s liability policies provide coverage in the $100k-$300k range, but this only applies if liquor is not sold in the home. Before hosting an event, reviewing your state’s social host liability laws is a good idea. Consider hosting at a venue or hiring a professional bartender. Offer non-alcoholic drink options, and stop serving liquor at some point towards the end of the evening.
Theft Inside or Outside Your Home
The good news is that stolen belongings fall under your property coverage. Even items taken outside your home are qualified as “personal property held off premises” and should be covered. If you take the time to secure your home with deadbolt locks, security cameras, or a burglar alarm system, you may qualify for a premium discount from your insurance carrier. Other good ideas include: Keeping your vehicle locked, keeping valuables out of sight, securing any vulnerable entry points such as doors, windows, or locks, and verifying the personal belongings protection limits on your policy. If you recently purchased or received a costly gift, you should update your policy and consider adding a personal property endorsement or floater.
Winter Weather Damage
The typical homeowner’s dwelling coverage will pay for damage caused by frozen pipes, hail, wind, snow, or ice. Nevertheless, your policy may have specific exclusions, such as wind or hail damage. In an ironic twist, these exclusions are more likely to be expected in areas with frequent weather events. Tips for preventing any winter weather damage include: proper insulation of your home to prevent heat loss, insulating your pipes when they run through unheated spaces, cutting down any dead trees or loose branches near your home, and removing anything outside that isn’t fastened to the ground.
Incidents Involving Domestic or Wild Animals
The bad news is that most homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by domestic pets or rodents. However, you would be covered if a raccoon chewed through your wiring and caused a small electrical fire. If a visitor to your home is injured by one of your pets, your liability protection will provide coverage. Safety tips involving animals:
- Keep pets from valuables.
- Store holiday decorations in a rodent-free space.
- Make sure your pet is trained around other people.
- Keep all trash covered.
Sewage Backup
All those extra people in the home can strain your plumbing, kitchen, and toilets. Never dispose of grease, paper, or plastics by flushing them or putting them down the drain. Unfortunately, these types of incidents aren’t covered by standard insurance policies. You can purchase extra protection with a sewer backup endorsement, which you should consider if you plan on having a whole house for the holidays.
Of course, we want everyone to have a safe and festive holiday season, but remember to stay safe. If something requires you to file homeowners claim, please utilize our services to get the best results when dealing with your insurance agency.
