Insurance Checklist to Assure Coverage for Fall 2021
Is it common during autumn to prepare your home for the potentially harsh weather that winter brings. Fall is a critical season for maintenance and identifying problems before they arise. In this article, we will help you establish an insurance checklist to ensure you have coverage this Fall.
To get started, consider that insurance coverage needs to change over the seasons and insureds should adapt their policies according to the different weather conditions of each month of the year. This is especially needed during the transition from Summer to Fall because this change of seasons brings new potential risks related to the dropping of temperatures, kids going back to school, and the approaching holiday season.
The first step in your Fall insurance checklist is to identify your insurance needs and assure you have the right coverage in place for the risks that will come up during this season.
Insurance Coverage for Car Accidents
Research shows that most wildlife collisions take place between October and December, especially when drivers are on the road at dawn or dusk. Additionally, wet roads in the Fall cause more single-vehicle accidents. In these situations, you need to make sure you have collision coverage to assure your insurance will pay to repair your vehicle. It is important to review your auto insurance to make sure you will be covered for the next six months of freezing weather.
General Liability Insurance for Home Coverage
By having general liability insurance in place, you can cover the most common water damage issues your property may run into this season. The two primary causes of harm to properties during Fall and Winter are snow and ice. These two weather ailments can lead to considerable disfigurements, such as roof damage due to a large accumulation of snow and frozen pipes that burst.
By conducting an inspection, you can evaluate your home’s conditions and ensure the property is well insulated to prevent costly damage.
Seasonal Inspections for Commercial Buildings
A business inspection can help you save money by identifying potential shortcomings and areas to improve, reducing future risks.
A suggested best practice within your property is to start looking over the structure for any weaknesses, for example, snow load, to replace or repair the roof, heating systems, wiring, and electrical systems. Liability for any of these risks leads to expensive insurance claims since they relate directly to health and safety. During an inspection, anything that is unsafe will be brought to your attention immediately so it can be repaired.
Property Theft Coverage
The risk of property theft increases by 25% during the last quarter of the year. Insureds should consider installing smart technology such as motion sensors, cameras, and security systems that can be controlled remotely to reduce the risk of a break-in.
Several aspects of homeowners insurance help you recover from theft or a break-in: dwelling coverage, private property coverage, and other structures coverage.
Finish Strong & Prepare for Next Year
Using our insurance checklist this Fall can help protect your home and property from potentially expensive damage and emergency repairs during the colder months to come. As a second step, you can read our Prior Acts Coverage article to learn more about this type of coverage.
In conclusion, the best way to ensure protection is with insurance coverage. For businesses, it is important to make sure not only the organization has coverage but also those they work with. The easiest way to do this is with Certificate of Insurance (COI) tracking software.
Learn more about how SmartCompliance will help ensure protection for your organization every season of the year!
