As an adult and as a parent, you know the basic steps of home safety, such as closing your windows at night, storing poisonous chemicals in a secure childproof location, and installing deadbolts on all outside doors. But when you think about home safety, there are many things that are easy to overlook. That’s why we offer these five home safety tips.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Whether you’re at home or away, you want to know that your belongings and your property are protected. Implement these ideas for extra protection.
- Garage Doors
This may seem very basic, but you would be surprised how many homeowners forget to close their garage door. An open garage door is an open invitation to burglars. Even when you’re home, don’t leave it open since it provides an easy a view into your home and belongings. - Avoiding Falls
Injuries from falling are one of the most common household hazards. In fact, one out of five falls results in a broken bone or a head injury. Wet floors, slippery stairs, and scattered toys all create the potential for falls so keep these areas clean and clutter-free. If you are a homeowner and someone falls and injures themselves in your home, you may be financially liable for their medical or other costs. In these cases, one of the key issues becomes whether the homeowner has an insurance policy that will cover the claim. - Stash Your Valuables
A hidden and fireproof safe can help keep your valuables secure during an emergency, a robbery, or a home invasion. While you’ll want to store precious jewelry or cash in the safe, you should also use it to store important documents like the deed to your home, wills, and anything else you’d want to survive a natural disaster. Theft of any kind can be devastating for homeowners. Your home contains not only items with monetary value, but also items with emotional significance for you and your family. - Fire Prevention
Every year, there are more than 350,000 home fires resulting in over 2,700 deaths in the United States. The damage goes beyond the devastating loss of life and includes everything from mild smoke damage to total devastation.
Whether it’s a small kitchen fire or a widespread home fire that engulfs the entire home, you want to make sure that you have enough home fire insurance coverage to repair or replace destroyed property. But the best way to be prepared is to focus on prevention.
These tips can help prevent the loss from a fire.
- Never leave a burning candle, iron, or similar electrical device unattended.
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking and do not leave the room when the stove is being used.
- Install smoke detectors and fire alarms on every floor and every room. Often fires start at night, when family members are asleep.
- Test detectors every month and change the batteries twice a year. A working smoke alarm will cut the chances of burns, injuries, and even death.
- Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen and near a fireplace. Most importantly, know how to use it.
Carbon Monoxide Monitors
Carbon monoxide is virtually impossible to detect by smell, sight, or sound, making it a difficult threat to notice. Even low exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can cause headaches and dizziness, while high levels can lead to vomiting, impaired vision, and even death. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the U.S. and kills 430 people each year. But it is totally preventable.
- Install a carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home that alert you if CO reaches dangerous levels
- Have a qualified professional check all fuel-burning appliances, furnaces, vents, and chimney systems at least once a year
- Never keep your car running in the garage, even if the doors are open
Why You Need Home Insurance
Unfortunately, accidents and natural disasters happen all over Arizona. Homeowner’s and renter’s property insurance protect your home and personal property against damage or loss. It can also give you coverage if someone gets hurt while on your property. In addition, home insurance policies provide property coverage for the cost to replace your house and its contents in the event of a disaster.
If the destruction is severe, and you cannot stay in your home after a fire, storm, or other covered risks, your homeowner’s property insurance may help pay for temporary living costs, such as hotel bills.
A home is usually the biggest purchase of a person’s life. But regretfully, 59 percent of homeowners have been found to be underinsured. If there is a disaster or lawsuit, these individuals would be in dire straights.
Just as importantly, is to keep the policy current. Too often people buy their policy and never look at it again. They never talk to an insurance agent after the sale, despite the fact that they make changes and improvements to their home which affects the value.
Our specialized team of professionals at Gebhardt Insurance Group will take the time to carefully review your needs and assure that you purchase enough coverage and the proper policy to protect your home, its contents, and your peace of mind.
If You Rent…
Renter’s insurance offers coverage similar to homeowner’s insurance. However, if you are a renter, you should not, and cannot, assume your landlord carries insurance on your personal belongings. Contacting Gebhardt Insurance Group to evaluate your individual situation before your experience a traumatic event on your property is essential.
Experience Counts
At Gebhardt Insurance, we know that you have many options for insurance providers. For over 14 years we have been independent insurance specialists. Instead of selling our own insurance coverage, we shop the nation’s top carriers to find you the absolute lowest homeowner’s insurance rates with the best coverage.
But we don’t stop there. At Gebhardt Insurance we regularly review your coverage and help you receive the best value for your insurance dollar, all while providing the best customer service in the business. Visit our website to see what our clients say about us.
Contact us now at 520-445-4929 to learn more or get a free quote online.