Protecting your home—one of your biggest investments—starts with regular maintenance and insurance coverage that safeguards against loss. Stay ahead with seasonal property projects and proactive meetings with your insurance agent using these essential tips.
Insurance
Review your insurance policies at least four times each year to ensure adequate coverage and adjust for any changes. When you make a large purchase, remodel your home, or add new items, contact your insurance agent to update your policy as needed.
Experts also recommend walking through each room and recording a video of everything inside. Capturing art, furniture, clothing, and electronics, in a video archive will help start the process of documenting your possessions in case of loss.
Monthly Maintenance
Mark your calendar to check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and keep replacement batteries on hand. Schedule regular fire extinguisher inspections to keep your family safe.
Regularly check HVAC vents, oven vents, and your furnace to prevent dust and debris buildup. Keep replacement filters for each appliance readily available.
Seasonal Projects
Various maintenance projects should be completed based on the season due to Colorado’s shifting weather patterns. Throughout the year, Coloradans can experience snow, rain, hail, and hot sunny days, making it crucial to protect your home from a wide range of conditions. Temperatures can vary from the nineties and higher in the Front Range and Plains to twenty or thirty below in alpine areas. Proper seasonal preparations can help safeguard your property against these extremes.
Spring
As temperatures rise and days grow longer, it’s an ideal time to reseal fences and decks before the rainy months bring more precipitation. If painting is needed, spring is the best time to schedule these projects.
Inspect and service your air conditioning system before the summer heat arrives. Clear dry or dead brush around your home, garage, and other buildings as this assists with fire mitigation.
Summer
Since you’ll be using your air conditioning for the next few months, it’s a good idea to check and clean the filter monthly.
Keep mosquitoes and other warm-weather bugs away by setting out insect repellent on your decks and patios. Eliminate standing water after rainstorms to prevent mosquito breeding.
Fall
Rake fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris to allow the lawn to receive adequate sunlight and airflow. Clean gutters to prevent blockages that could lead to dangerous ice dams in winter.
Book your sprinkler system winterization early to avoid delays once freezing temperatures set in. Once the first freeze is imminent, it will be more difficult to schedule.
Before the first snowfall, inspect your roof and test heat tape, replacing it if necessary. Prepare snow removal tools, including shovels and snowblowers, and stock up on snowmelt to keep sidewalks, patios, and driveways clear. Check insulation around pipes, especially in rooms that tend to be cooler such as the basement, to prevent freezing.
Winter
Inspect windows and doors for drafts, ensuring a tight seal. Caulk around windows as needed and install new door stoppers to keep your home insulated.
Check your garage, attic, crawl space, and basement for potential rodent entry points during cold weather. Set traps and seal access points to keep animals out and prevent damage.
Consult the Experts
When it comes to protecting your property, lean into advice from the professionals. Schedule an appointment with your insurance agent or reach out to your local fire department for advice and safety tips.