Your home is your greatest investment; after all, it’s where you spend the most time and depend on being as comfortable as possible. However, keeping your home in good shape for optimal comfort is a tough job; a lot can go wrong, even when you’re trying to do everything right. As you carry out your spring maintenance this year, add home insurance to your checklist to ensure your home will always be in good condition, even in situations beyond your control.
Annual spring maintenance should include interior, exterior and outdoor inspection. With appropriate home insurance in place, any serious issues can be claimed, assessed and repaired.
Interior Inspection:
- Perform a thorough cleaning indoors. Dust, vacuum and mop surfaces and launder or deep-clean draperies and upholstery.
- Schedule a professional tune-up for heating and cooling systems to ensure they are functioning properly and efficiently. Consult a plumbing professional if you suspect leaks in your pipes or issues with faucets, bathroom plumbing, etc.
- Thoroughly examine your attic and basement for any infestations, cracks and leaks in the foundation.
Exterior Inspection:
- Using binoculars, carefully examine your roof for shifts in the shingles, cracks or missing shingles altogether.
- If your home has a masonry chimney, examine it as you examine your roof. Look for displaced bricks and vegetation growth, which indicate water permeation.
- Inspect your home’s exterior walls and foundations for cracks in the masonry.
- Check eavestroughs and downspouts for water staining.
- Examine windows to ensure caulking and weatherstripping have remained intact throughout the winter.
Outdoor Inspection:
- Clear debris from your lawn and consult a professional on weed prevention and how to encourage your lawn to come back lush and green.
- Check the functionality of your lawn care equipment and schedule repairs as needed.
- Check your deck or patio for splintering or loose boards and clear any accumulated debris from between the boards.
- Clean off outdoor furniture that has sat in storage and examine it for mildew or rust.
- Carefully examine your barbecue. Inspect all burner jets, gas hoses and connections and check for leaking propane. Clean charcoal grills of grease residue and any lingering ash.
Stay covered with Hudson’ s Bay Insurance.