When you want to keep your homeowner's insurance rates as low as possible, you think about doing regular maintenance so that people, both people who live in the house and people who come to visit, are less likely to get hurt on your property. To keep your home safe from theft, you lock up your valuables and buy security systems, stronger doors, locks, and windows. You even choose a cute kitten instead of a big dog to keep visitors from getting hurt.
But have you thought about how to keep your home insurance rates as low as possible throughout the year? Winter weather can do a lot of damage to your home, as well as to you, your family, and your guests. The best way to protect your home and everyone in and around it is to be proactive, which means making any repairs that need to be done before winter hits and taking precautions after winter hits.
Start at the top if you want to fix up your house before winter. Make sure your gutters are clean, and buy gutter guards to keep them that way. These cool little add-ons stop things like leaves and branches from getting stuck in your gutters. Then look at the path and steps leading to your house. Fix any cracks in the steps or walkway and any handrails that wobble. If your stairs don't have a handrail, you might want to think about putting one in. Also, take a look at how your house looks from the outside. If there are any cracks, fix those, too.
Look around the inside of your house now. Make sure you and your things stay warm by fixing your heating system if it needs it, adding more insulation, and fixing any cracks in your windows. Check the batteries in your fire alarms often, and learn how to turn off the water in case it freezes and breaks your pipes.
