Spring Cleaning Tips: The Best Home Insurance in Massachusetts

Just thinking about cleaning your home from top to bottom can be overwhelming. Experts say that the best way to tackle spring cleaning is to have a plan in advance. Don’t expect yourself to get it all done in a single weekend, but spread the work out over a 30-day period for best results. Decluttering is often the most time-consuming task, but if you take care of the organization first, it can make deep cleaning everything else a breeze. Your Massachusetts homeowners insurance coverage is designed to protect you from “acts of God” and incidents that are beyond your control, such as extreme weather and seasonal storms.  If you renovate, remodel or upgrade your home in any way, make sure to noirfy your Massachsuetts homeowners agent.  It is a good idea to review what you own, especially on high valued items and check with your agent on special limits within your MA homeowners insurance policy. This is the best way to stay on top of home insurance in Massachusetts and ensure that you are properly covered in the event that a claim has to be filed.

Step One: Organization and Purging

Experts recommend that you create a couple of boxes to help you sort everything in your home. One box should be for things that will be donated or sold. Another box will be for things that can be thrown away. The final box will include the things that you want to keep or store. As you organize your belongings, take time to create a digital or paper list of everything you own.  This can be helpful in case of a fire or total loss when you need to replace items in your home.  Photos can be very helpful in expediting the claim process.  An accounting of all items, including televisions, electronics, computers, collectibles, jewelry, and other things of value, may be provided to your Massachusetts homeowners insurance provider and kept in your file there. Keep another copy for yourself in a fire-proof safe or in virtual cloud storage. Once everything is sorted in a particular room, take care of the donation, trash, and storage so you can check that room off your list. Go through the rest of the house, organizing and purging as you go.

Step Two: Basic Dusting and Sweeping

The next step should be to use a broom or specialized tool to dust and sweep every part of the room from the ceiling to the floor. Bookshelves, cabinets, furniture, ceiling fans, closets, windows, doors, and anything else that catches dust should also be cleaned. Vacuum the floors and air out the room. Clean blinds, windows, and wash draperies, according to your unique situation, or have them cleaned professionally if required. Take this time to stow any seasonal items that you won’t be using for a while, such as holiday decorations, cold weather gear and tools, coats and jackets, and recreational products. Clear out all drawers, cabinets, cupboards, closets, shelves, and storage bins. This is the time to make sure no area of your home is untouched.

Step Three: Deep Clean Appliances & Fixtures

The next step is to go through each room and clean all appliances and electronics, including the tops, bottoms, sides, plugs, and any accessories. Pull out the refrigerator and clean out from underneath, behind, and carefully clean the coils. Not only will this make your home a lot cleaner, but it can also help your appliances to run more efficiently and effectively. Your New Bedford insurance agent wants to suggest that you also check all plugs to make sure that nothing is frayed, burned, or hot to the touch. Fire prevention is key to keeping your home safe from a residential fire. Report any upgrades made or damage discovered to your MA homeowners insurance policy.

Step Four: Wash Down Walls and Make Repairs

Make sure that you purchase a gentle cleanser that is designed to be used on the type of walls and paint that you have in your home. Washing down the walls can help the paint to stay brighter and nicer for more extended periods of time. Touch-up paint, extra cleaning of outlets, or repainting an entire room that is out-of-date or needs sprucing up should be added to the end of your list to be completed after cleaning is done. Make any minor repairs that you are able to or create a to-do list for a handyman to complete. Whenever you hire a contractor to make repairs or installations in your home, check to see that they are licensed, certified, and insured to do the type of work that you require.

Get a FREE Massachusetts Homeowners Insurance Quote

If you are in the market for quality home insurance in Massachusetts at a price you can afford, contact Borden Insurance. As an independent insurance provider, we have proudly served the SouthCoast communities since 1909. Call today for a FREE quote on a MA homeowners insurance policy or to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable New Bedford insurance agent.