New Bedford Home Insurance: What to Do After the Snow Storm
Southeastern Massachusetts has sure been getting our fair share of snow this season. To protect your home from damage caused by winter weather, your New Bedford insurance agent wants to provide you with some helpful tips that you can use to your advantage. Massachusetts homeowners insurance is designed to offer coverage for damage caused by storms, fires, and other “acts of God” that can result in costly repairs and renovations. With all of the crazy weather that we’ve been having lately, we wanted to make sure that your customers knew what to expect from their New Bedford home insurance and to extend the offer of a FREE home insurance quote to new homeowners.
Clean Up the Sidewalks, Driveways, and Walkways
After the snow falls, it’s time to clean up your property. As a Massachusetts homeowner, you have a responsibility to make sure that these surfaces are safe for people to walk on when they come to your home. Family, friends, neighbors, postal employees, delivery companies, utility meter readers, and even unwanted solicitors can potentially sue a homeowner in a slip-and-fall accident that occurs on their property if they can prove negligence.
Not taking the time to shovel your driveway, sidewalk, walkway, steps, porch, stoop or any other surface within a reasonable amount of time could be perceived as neglect. Ice removal is also essential, ensuring that the surfaces are not slippery. Sanding, salting, and using deicing chemicals are just some of the ways that you can protect yourself and others from slipping and falling on your property. Each city and state has its own regulations regarding the amount of time that a property owner has to clean and clear surfaces. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the laws where your home is located.
Check Your Home for Damage
Winter damage isn’t always very obvious. Your New Bedford insurance agent could tell you stories about all of the different types of winter home damage they have seen throughout their career. The best thing to do is to be thorough, going from room to room, floor to floor, and checking both inside and outside of your home. Inspect the windows to make sure that nothing was broken or cracked during the storm. High winds, ice storms, hail, and blowing branches can cause damage where you least suspect it. Make sure to cover up any broken windows until you can get someone out to make repairs.
If you have a water pipe that bursts during a freeze, shut off the water supply until repairs can be made. Continued leaks can lead to dangerous mold, mildew, and damage behind the walls and under the floors. Your New Bedford home insurance covers a lot of things, but if you don’t take care of your home, you might not be covered due to neglect. Check your chimney, HVAC system, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, roof and ceilings for any damage or indication of problems. Some of these issues can be extremely dangerous, so if you even suspect something might be wrong, contact an expert. If you have questions about Massachusetts homeowners insurance coverage, speak to an agent at Borden Insurance right away.
Look for Outdoor Damage
Another area where snow, ice, and winds can cause a lot of damage is outdoors. After you clear the snow and ice, take time to look at your home from the sidewalk. Take a peek at the roof to see if there are any tree branches lying on top or damage to the roofing materials. If there are power lines near your home, make sure that everything is still connected the way that it should be; if not, contact the utility company right away. Trees and branches will often fall due to winds or as a result of the sheer weight from accumulated snow and ice. You may need to remove excess snow and ice from trees, bushes, and even your roof to prevent further damage from occurring. Not sure how to go about it or have concerns about doing it yourself? See about hiring a professional.
Get a FREE home insurance quote from Borden Insurance if you are in the market for New Bedford home insurance coverage. Whether you are buying a brand new home, thinking about changing your existing policy, or just want to see what Borden Insurance has to offer, give us a call at 508-999-3636. A highly trained and experienced New Bedford insurance agent will be happy to answer any questions that you might have about our policies and services for Massachusetts homeowners insurance.