Home and Contents Insurance is a form of insurance that covers your home and its contents. Your insurance policy will be voided if you don’t maintain it properly.
Home and Contents Insurance is a form of insurance that covers your home and its contents. Your insurance policy will be voided if you don’t maintain it properly. But for minor disputes about how much something is worth, most home and contents insurance claims go smoothly. However, another recurring issue is damage caused by inadequate building maintenance. The homeowner owes a duty of care to his or her neighbors, and insurers are wary of allegations that the homeowner might have (and should have) prevented.
You should conduct an annual maintenance MOT on your home to prevent such issues. A springtime inspection will be beneficial. It should be possible to identify issues early on by performing a few basic tests.
Rain, wind, snow, and frost are some of the most common daily stresses on your home’s structure. Because of this,Most homes grow a few issues during the autumn and winter months, so a springtime inspection will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
It’s not like you’ll be spending money that you’ll be able to recoup later from an insurance claim. Your insurance provider will deny any claims you make for expenses that were truly maintenance-related.
Here’s our 10-point springtime home inspection checklist:
Gutter cleaning is a must. Autumn is particularly difficult for gutters since too much debris will accumulate. That must be done away with. If water is allowed to overflow and enter the structure, blocked gutters and down spouts will quickly cause massive damage. But, please, take this work with caution. Working from a ladder is risky, so have your window cleaner do it instead!
Now take out your binoculars and examine the roof. Look for tiles that are scratched, loose, or have slipped. A leaking roof can cause significant harm. Damage to the ceiling, rot, and redecorating will rapidly deplete funds. Then there’s the question of protection. Someone could be seriously hurt if a tile falls off. It’s possible that your car could take a direct hit!
Examine the paintwork on your home’s exterior. Any paintwork that is cracked, peeling, or blistered requires immediate attention. To keep the wood from being damaged, touch it up. Summer can be particularly harsh on paintwork. Expansion and contraction cracks are created by high temperatures and large temperature changes, allowing the ensuing winter to do its worst.
Have your chimney cleaned if you’ve used an open fire a lot this winter. Soot accumulations can quickly catch fire, and soot absorbs moisture in the summer.
Take a walk around the house to make sure nothing is hiding the damp path. The most common perpetrator is piled-up garden waste. Grass cuttings aren’t your best friend in the house! If moisture penetrates the damp path, the interior walls may become damp, causing damage to the plasterwork decoration. Rot will set in over time.
You must ensure that the roots of shrubs and trees do not cause future harm when planting them. If roots get into your drains or foundations, you’re looking at a lot of money. Some of the worst offenders are willow and common trees. Are you aware that a Common tree should not be planted within 150 feet of your home? If a new house is constructed within this distance, the foundations must be specially reinforced!
While we’re on the subject of trees, you’re probably under the impression that your property insurance covers damage caused by falling trees. Yes, if the tree has been properly cared for. But what if the tree is rotten or has already been damaged? That is, without a doubt, a maintenance problem.You’re responsible! The insurer can deny any subsequent claim unless you can prove that you take good care of the trees. If you have a lot of trees, you might have a lot of issues.It is recommended that you obtain an annual report from a tree surgeon outlining any work that is required, and that you carry out the work and keep the paperwork! Such behavior shows that you have exercised due caution, and any associated argument will be considered as a result.
Are there any climbing plants on your property? Check to see if they haven’t harmed your brickwork or rendered. Ivy is the most egregious perpetrator. Even, don’t let climbing plants on your roof; it’s a disaster waiting to happen!
Now it’s time to enter your home. It’s been a long winter, so remember to have your central heating boiler serviced! Test the carbon monoxide emissions as well. When the engineer is on the premises, have him inspect the radiators.
Finally, it was time to ascend to the loft. Examine the wiring for signs of leaks and rodent disruption. Squirrels adore warm lofts and the insulation that surrounds wiring! The fire department despises squirrels! And it’s a grubby work. Remove any old bird or wasp nests and seal the holes while you’re there.
If you follow these measures, you’ll have a much easier time filing a structural insurance claim. Your house will adore you as well!
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