As the cooler weather approaches, fall home maintenance becomes an important task for every homeowner. While cleaning gutters, sealing windows, and preparing the lawn for winter are often at the top of many peoples’ lists, many people overlook one critical step. Reviewing their insurance coverage.
Seasonal changes bring unique risks like storms, frozen pipes, and roof damage, and the best way to protect your home is through a mix of maintenance and insurance planning. By adding insurance checks to your fall home maintenance checklist, you’ll not only prevent costly repairs but also ensure peace of mind when unexpected events occur. With the help of Traveler’s Insurance, let’s review five key insurance-related steps to take this season.
1. Review Your Homeowner’s Policy for Seasonal Risks
Fall weather can be unpredictable. One week it’s mild, the next it’s icy or stormy. That’s why it’s smart to go over your homeowner’s insurance policy now. Look for coverage related to:
- Water damage from heavy rain or early snow
- Ice damming and frozen pipe bursts
- Wind damage to siding, fencing, or roofing
Policies vary widely, and waiting until a problem happens often leads to stress and out-of-pocket costs. During your fall home maintenance routine, take 15–20 minutes to read your policy or speak with your agent.
2. Inspect and Confirm Roof Coverage
Your roof is one of the most important lines of defense during fall and winter storms. Part of responsible fall home maintenance is doing a quick roof inspection to look for missing shingles, loose flashing, or areas where water might seep in.
After inspecting, check your insurance coverage. Many policies will pay for storm-related roof damage but exclude normal wear and tear. If your roof is aging, now may be the time to consider repairs or upgrades to prevent insurance claim denials later.
3. Check Liability Coverage for Slips and Falls
Fall brings wet leaves, frost, and icy walkways, all of which increase the chance of slip-and-fall accidents on your property. If a visitor, delivery driver, or even a neighbor is injured, you could be held responsible.
Review your liability coverage limits and consider the need for additional protection, like an umbrella policy. Pairing proper insurance with preventive fall home maintenance tasks such as clearing leaves, salting walkways, and fixing cracked steps, keeps both your home and your finances safe.
4. Protect Outdoor Structures and Seasonal Items
Many homeowners store or cover outdoor items like patio furniture, grills, and tools during fall. Detached garages, sheds, and fences also face harsher conditions as temperatures drop. Before winter sets in, check your policy to ensure these structures and items are covered.
Some standard homeowner’s policies have limits on coverage for detached property. If you’ve recently added a deck, gazebo, or shed, this is a good time to update your coverage. A proactive review alongside your fall home maintenance checklist ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
5. Update and Document Your Home Inventory
One of the most practical yet overlooked insurance tasks is keeping an updated home inventory. Use fall as your reminder to document valuable belongings with photos or videos. Store this inventory in a secure digital file or cloud storage.
This step takes less than an hour, but can make the claims process much smoother if you ever need to file. Adding this task to your fall home maintenance routine ensures you’re prepared for the unexpected.
Fall is a season of preparation. While most homeowners think about raking leaves or servicing their furnace, it’s equally important to make sure insurance policies align with seasonal risks. By combining practical upkeep with these five insurance checks, your fall home maintenance plan becomes more comprehensive.
Completing these steps now means you’ll enter winter confident that your home, belongings, and family are protected from whatever the weather brings. And if the unexpected does happen, you can trust The Feltner Group to be there with the protection and guidance your homestead deserves.