Insurance agents, claim adjusters and home insurance professionals always give a first-hand look at all the things that go wrong in a home. They check everything from catastrophic events like dryer fires, burglaries, major storms, floods and plumbing leaks. It is only when they see such similar claims across their desks that they reconsider their habits and think of taking some better decisions before lending homeowner insurance policies. There are certain techniques through which the insurance professionals can reduce the chances of a mishap in their own homes so that they can avoid the likelihood of a claim. The riskier is the state of your home, the more will be the homeowner insurance premium rates and therefore you should always follow certain home improvement tips through which you can reduce the possibility of a claim and thereby the insurance premiums too. Here are some steps that you should take into account.
- Try to avert water damage: We all are aware of the fact that water damage is one of the most common and costly problems that affect homes and also causes billions of dollars in losses to the homeowners. This is a report by the Insurance Information Institute and such losses always carry a stigma and if your home suffers from a serious water issue, you can be sure that this will shoot up the homeowner insurance premium rates. Fortunately, with the advancement of technology, it is possible to get a warning before the leak occurs. There are water detectors that sound alarms when it comes in contact with water and this can be highly useful to warn yourself. Install such devices to grab lower insurance premium rates.
- Remove dryer lint: Did you know that Tim Bowen, who is the director of MetLife Auto and Home insurance claims, pays special attention to his clothes dryer. There are many people who make the mistake of forgetting to clean the dryer vents that funnel the warm air outside after removing material from the lint filter. Use a brush mounted at the end of a metal pole as lint that is left inside the dryer can catch on fire. Even if it doesn’t catch fire, the lint can make your dryer inefficient and will also consume more energy.
- Unplug all your home appliances: A good way in which you can avoid a claim for an electrical fire is by unplugging the appliances before you step out of your home. You should always appoint someone who will check if you’ve done the same after you’ve left your home. This will help you avoid electrical fires and will consequentially reduce the possibility of filing a claim.
- Check visually after a natural disaster: After your home sustains a serious storm, an insurance agent visually checks his home to check if there is any kind of exterior damage. When it is already safe to go outside, you need to take a good look at the exteriors. Are the rain gutters in place and running properly? Is the roof intact? Was a fence ever damaged? Are there any fallen trees? This can help you ensure that there’s nothing wrong in your home and that you might avoid filing a claim.
When you leave your house for weekends, you should make sure that your house looks well—occupied so that it doesn’t tempt the thieves and burglars. Remove all hiding places for the burglars and separate all secluded places. Record all major expenses on your home and take steps to save your dollars on your home insurance policy. Don’t forget to make timely payments as defaults will hurt your credit score.