Thunderstorms are not frequent occurrences during winter, but they become much more prevalent and widespread during the spring and summer. This is especially true as weather fronts move through the country as part of changing seasons, and sometimes, these fronts will cause severe storms.
A storm can cause significant property damage even when it is not officially categorized as a severe storm. That’s why you should make sure your home is prepared for the worst, even if the risk of significant damage is low. While your homeowners insurance might help you cover the costs of storm damage, it is not meant to be your sole line of defense.
Instead, you should implement proper home safety precautions that will help your home better withstand the ramifications of a storm. The good thing about doing so is that it might even help you save money on your homeowners insurance.
Protecting Your Home From Storm Damage
There is only so much you can do to prevent a storm from damaging your home. After all, your property is designed to take a pounding while it protects you from the weather outside. However, the more you do to make the property more secure, the better it will be able to withstand whatever the weather brings with it.
Keep a few things in mind when doing so:
- Make sure your roof, foundations, windows and doors are properly sealed and don’t have existing damage. The more tightly your home is locked down, the better it will be able to insulate you during bad weather.
- Clean out your gutters and drainage lines regularly. Make sure they don’t have damage that could cause water to pool around the home, rather than run away from it.
- Cut back trees and dead foliage that overhang the property. Therefore, there will be a low risk of one of them falling onto your home if they break in high winds.
- If you need a lightning rod to protect the home from your lightning, then install one in a proper place on the home.
- When a storm threatens, move outside fixtures and furnishings under a cover or inside the home. That way, they won’t get damaged or blown away in the storm.
Usually, your plan will offer replacement cost dwelling coverage, which will pay up to the value necessary to rebuild the home to the way it was before the damage. However, deductibles will apply to your claim, and at times your plan might exclude certain damage, including damage caused by flooding. Still, your agent is happy to work with you to ensure that your policy contains the proper coverage limits and deductibles to minimize your personal financial strain following damage.
Also Read: What are Home Insurance Endorsements?
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