New Bedford Home Insurance: Springtime Maintenance Checklist
As the snow and ice melt completely away and the weather turns a bit warm, it’s time to venture out and take a good look at your home. MA homeowners insurance can cover a lot of repairs and costs for damage that your home sustains throughout the year. However, the best way to prevent costly damage and time-intensive maintenance is to get out as soon as possible and do an inspection. Better yet, hire a professional to come out and inspect your roof, siding, and other essential areas of your home to spot small issues that could become big problems with the first seasonal rain. Major systems, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, should also be checked at least once a year. Speak with your New Bedford insurance agent for a complete list of obligations for homeowners to ensure that you fulfill your requirements for New Bedford home insurance.
Start with a Walk-Around Inspection
Before contacting a bunch of professionals, it is a good idea to perform your own walk-around inspection of the home. This is true in the spring, fall, and following any type of significant weather experience, just to ensure nothing has cracked, shifted, or fallen. Look at everything – windows, doors, and other entry points and walls, siding, brickwork, and stucco. You don’t need to climb up on the roof but can check with binoculars and basic knowledge of the tiles, shingles, and other materials and how they should look. Cracked or missing shingles, broken tiles, and popped-up nails can be signs of other issues that might require immediate attention before water begins to make its way indoors.
Chimneys and vent pipes, and other elements on the roof and along the sides of the house should be checked and repaired as necessary. Especially check the exhaust vent hose for you clothes dryer and clean or replace. These hoses can collect lint debirs and have been know to catch fire from the heat of the dryer. Exterior walls, foundations, windows, and doors are all essential to keep the home temperature-controlled and prevent insects or wildlife from getting indoors. Take note of any things that need to be cleaned during a spring cleaning event or that you will hire out to a professional team to address. Taking care of your home and making sure all repairs are done is what is required by insurance companies. It is especially necessary for older homes such as we have in New Bedford, MA. If you neglect basic repairs and preventive maintenance, some claims might not be fully paid if they are directly due to the homeowner not taking care of the home and repairing or replacing aging fixtures or structures. Speak with your New Bedford insurance agent about other things you can do to protect and care for your home.
Maintain the Home Indoors & Outdoors
Many spring cleaning efforts begin with a good cleaning of the windows and doors, removing all of the built-up dust, dirt, and debris from the winter months. Spring is also an excellent time to clean interior flooring, including hardwood, tile, and carpeting, as well as give the upholstery a good clean. Air out your home with the screens open to get some fresh air indoors during this time. Draperies and other window treatments should also be cleaned to remove any settled dust and allergens from your home. Consider washing cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms while checking for any mold or mildew that might be a sign of leaks and other issues that need to be addressed.
Consider professional inspections of your roof and attic, HVAC system to prepare for air-conditioning use in the summer, and the home’s ventilation system, to ensure that everything is working as it should. If you have outdoor irrigation for lawns and gardens, this is the time to get everything on and working again to give your yard a good start on the season. Pest control services can perform inspections and provide preventive treatments for seasonal insects and rodents. Let your New Bedford insurance agent know about any upgrades, services, or changes that you make to your home so they can be noted in your MA homeowners insurance policy. The more you can communicate with your agent about your home and the insured items inside and on the property, the easier it will be to make necessary claims in the future and get compensated based on their value.
Get a FREE Quote: Insurance Companies in New Bedford, MA
If you are interested in getting a FREE quote for MA homeowners insurance or would like to update your current policy, contact Borden Insurance Agency by calling 508-999-3636. We can answer any questions you might have about New Bedford home insurance or provide you with a quote for anything from new home insurance to extra coverage for additions, pools, or increased liability. Call today and speak with one of our friendly New Bedford insurance agents about your needs!