If you own a home, there’s no question that your property is your pride and joy. Owning your home is a huge accomplishment. It might even be the biggest investment you make in your entire life. Even when you don’t think about finances, your home is where many of your favorite memories have formed and where all your precious belongings are stored.
You have to put a lot of work into purchasing it and making the property your own, and you should also do everything you can to protect it.
Let’s explore five ways to keep your home and all its contents safe throughout the year.
Image by Александр Власов
1) Install Gutters
Gutters are far more important than many people realize. Properly functioning gutters can stop water from infiltrating your home’s foundation, causing damage. Without gutters, your home has the potential to become unstable.
Even if you do not think gutters are the most appealing thing, there are ways to incorporate seamless gutters into your home without ruining curb appeal. Once you have your gutters in place, be sure to clear them of debris regularly so that they can do their job.
2) Maintain Trees
Falling trees can cause a ton of damage; however, this issue is largely preventable. It would be best if you regularly walked through your yard to ensure that no large branches are hanging over your home that could potentially cause damage.
It’s also a good idea to check your property’s trees to ensure that they are all alive and have not fallen victim to termites. If you find any damaged trees, you should try to remove them as quickly as possible so that they do not get blown into your house during the next storm.
3) Ensure Doors and Windows are Properly Sealed
There are many reasons why completely sealing doors and windows is essential, but these are the most important:
-Proper sealing can help you to save money on your electricity bill. Keeping the hot air out in the summer and during the winter will help your family be comfortable all year long.
-Good seals protect your home from excessive wind damage, tornadoes, or even flooding. A small crack in a window can turn into a huge problem if it’s subjected to powerful winds.
4) Utilize a Security System
You do not need to purchase the most expensive security system to protect your house. Simply displaying that you have a security system can actually ward off many would-be thieves even if the system is not operational.
However, you will probably want to find a happy medium that will give you an acceptable level of function and peace of mind. Small and affordable cameras help you know what is going on at your home, even if there is no emergency. You’ll have 24/7 surveillance, just in case anyone trespasses.
5) Purchase Home Insurance
In the unfortunate event that your home suffers from property damage, you will want to mitigate the financial setback with insurance.
When vetting insurance policy options, you need to be diligent about tracking what is covered and not covered. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, you want to ensure that you have coverage for all the havoc that these intense storms bring.
Conclusion
There is nothing you can do to guarantee that your home will not suffer property damage. However, implementing these five preventative measures will significantly reduce your home’s risk.
It is always better to spend a little money, time, and energy on preparation and prevention instead of way more effort cleaning up after something goes wrong. Your home is one of the most important things you own, so dedicating resources to damage prevention will always be worth it.
