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Your home serves as a place of refuge where you can retreat at the end of a long day and feel safe. Keeping your house maintained can prevent most major catastrophes, but some disasters aren’t always preventable. Knowing about these common household disasters provides you with the opportunity to prepare to minimize their effects on your physical, mental, and financial security.
Fires
Practicing fire safety around the house involves making sure extinguishers are available in each room and the smoke alarms are functioning with fresh batteries. Catching a house fire in its early stages can save your life and preserve your property. You’ll also want to ensure you have homeowners insurance to help you recover financially in the event of a fire breaking out.
Plumbing Leaks
Even a minor crack in a pipe can cause hundreds of gallons of water to leak out within a short time. Plumbing leaks that go undetected for a while can leave your home with underlying structural damage that requires expensive repairs. Homeowners insurance has varying levels of coverage for this type of disaster. Typically, insurance policies cover unexpected water leaks, such as from a pipe inside a wall where you might not be able to see the damage.
Meanwhile, coverage might not apply if an obvious problem was neglected for a long time, such as a leaky washing machine. Maintaining household appliances and keeping detailed records can ensure your insurance covers water-related damage.
High Wind Damage
Major storms often leave significant wind damage in their wake. Depending on your home insurance policy, you might be able to get compensation to repair a damaged roof and other structural elements. Working with your insurance company to quickly get your house repaired prevents you from dealing with more damage during the next oncoming storm.
Flooding
In California, many houses exist within flood zones where major problems occur during storms. Alternatively, you might live in an area that rarely has problems but a big storm causes water to enter your house. In most cases, a typical homeowners insurance policy won’t cover flood damage. But you can purchase additional coverage designed specifically for flooding. Choosing to add this type of insurance to your existing policy gives you fuller coverage that allows you to feel less stressed during upcoming storms.
Major Burglaries
Theft is a major problem for homeowners. Installing a home security system with the latest video and alert technology can prevent losing everything in a burglary. But it’s still possible for thieves to get away with expensive valuables. Property insurance offers coverage that helps you recover after a major burglary. To get the most from your policy, keep records of your belongings along with photos that can confirm their value. If a burglary occurs, reach out to your insurance company as soon as you’ve completed a police report to begin the process of filing the claim.
Make sure to check with your insurance agent so you know exactly what’s covered in the event of a household disaster in your home. If you need reliable, affordable homeowners insurance, call on the experienced, trustworthy professionals at Altra Insurance Services. We can also provide you with renters, commercial, and auto insurance. National City homeowners can learn more about our high-quality personal service by calling us today.