For many people owning your own home is a dream and when you achieve it you want to make sure you protect it as your most valuable asset. Homeownership is something many people strive for and save for years to be able to accomplish. Trusting the value and upkeep shouldn’t be left to chance. Protecting your home requires careful thought and planning and should start with a homeowner’s insurance policy.
When it comes to protecting your investment, homeowners insurance should be a number one on your to-do list. For most mortgage companies it is a requirement to have an adequate policy covering the home. Having the right homeowners’ insurance can mean all the difference when it comes to fixing or possibly even replacing your home in the case of a fire or other disasters. Damage to your home or its contents can cause great emotional and financial stress. Protecting it should be a top priority.
A standard policy covers the structure of the home as well as the contents of the home from damage as a result of fire, storms, flood, theft, and even Earthquakes. Dwelling protection covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your dwelling if it is damaged or destroyed. Personal property protection covers the contents of your home from furniture, jewelry, clothes, and other items found inside the home.
The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.
The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.
The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.
The type of reimbursement you get depends on different factors, replacement costs, or actual cash value. As the name states, replacement cost is the amount of money needed to replace the property with a comparable or new product. Actual cash value is another option but not generally recommended. It will consider the depreciation of the item and or the value of the property and not the cost to actually replace the item.
Liability coverage is a type of coverage offered by policies that shouldn’t be overlooked. It protects you if someone is injured on your property or you are found at fault for their property damage. It also covers you in incidents away from the home not related to automobile crashes. It can also cover any legal expenses related to claims filed against you.
During the spring/summer months it is recommended to check your house for any drainage issues and fix those problems. Clean out gutters of all dirt and debris. Inspect shrubs and trees for any plants that may be dead or causing issues to the structure of the house or power lines. Have your roof inspected to make sure it is free of leaks and damage. Roof replacement is often a necessary task in older homes to prevent leaks. Be sure to have your HVAC units serviced and repaired to save on heating and cooling costs. Before using your fireplace each year, get your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.
Guess what, it is recommended every month to use a degreaser to clean it off to remove grime and grease that builds up. As a safety precaution, you should check your fire extinguishers to make sure they are in working order.
Now that you have your monthly checklist complete, quarterly you should be testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in working order. Replace their batteries to make sure they remain in working order. This simple task can save lives. Get your whole family involved and give your house a deep clean by moving furniture and vacuuming and mopping under and behind it. Vacuum your refrigerator coils to improve your refrigerator’s performance. Inspect and clean all dryer and exhaust vents and remove excess lint. The lint that builds up in these vents can also be a fire hazard.
During the spring/summer months it is recommended to check your house for any drainage issues and fix those problems. Clean out gutters of all dirt and debris. Inspect shrubs and trees for any plants that may be dead or causing issues to the structure of the house or power lines. Have your roof inspected to make sure it is free of leaks and damage. Roof replacement is often a necessary task in older homes to prevent leaks. Be sure to have your HVAC units serviced and repaired to save on heating and cooling costs. Before using your fireplace each year, get your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.
While cleaning regularly and maintaining the upkeep of your home can help protect your investment you can also protect the value by creating curb appeal that is inviting and easy to take care of. Repainting the exterior of your home is a task that can make the appearance of your home pop and help sustain or increase the value. Over time this can be necessary from the exposure to the elements. Interior painting can give your home a fresh new look for a relatively low investment.
