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Maintaning your home
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Posted On :
Jul-09-2009
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Article Word Count :
513
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To get a mortgage you will normally at least need buildings insurance to protect you from financial losses if the house itself is destroyed or damaged, but you would need full home insurance including contents insurance to cover your belongings as well.
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To get a mortgage you will normally at least need buildings insurance to protect you from financial losses if the house itself is destroyed or damaged, but you would need full home insurance including contents insurance to cover your belongings as well. Even if you do have full home insurance however, you may not be aware that if your home is not properly maintained then your insurance policy could be invalidated. This could mean you are left with the bill for any repairs, or in the worst case scenario, rebuilding your house if the problems were due to a lack of basic maintenance.
There are some simple steps you can take to look after your home to prevent problems from happening in the first place. These will help you to comply with the terms of your home insurance policy, and to avoid the hassle of any damage to your property and having to then make a claim.
To prevent water causing dampness by seeping into walls, check that gutters are not clogged by leaves and debris. The damp course should be checked to make sure it is not blocked, as this can also lead to dampness which can be messy and expensive to repair.
Check the roof regularly for missing or damaged tiles. Missing or damaged roof tiles could not only cause leaks, but could also fall or blow off the roof onto people and cars below. Check your chimney for blockages to avoid chimney fires and to prevent dampness which can occur if materials build up trapping moisture against your walls.
Check over the exterior paintwork on your house. This protects your walls and wooden window frames from the elements, and it is much quicker and cheaper to repair if you catch it early before any water can get in and cause damage.
Be aware that any trees near your house can cause a lot of damage, for example if the roots penetrate your foundations. Also check trees for damaged or rotten branches that could blow down in high winds and cause injury or damage your home. If an unhealthy or already damaged tree comes down in a storm, and your insurer considers that you should have had the tree cut down or otherwise treated, your buildings insurance policy may not cover you for the cost of any repairs. Remember you are responsible for ensuring any trees on your property are well maintained, and talk to neighbours if any trees in their gardens are close to your house and could cause damage.
Within the house, fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and repair any worn or damaged electrical cables. Do not overload plugs and sockets. These are all cheap ways to maintain your home that could save you a lot of time, trouble and money in the long run.
Finally, remember to inform your insurance company if you make any major home improvements, otherwise if these are damaged you may not be covered for rebuilding or repairs for the improved aspects of your home.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Maintaning your home _1662.aspx
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Author Resource :
Visit Kwik Fit Insurance where you can call up competitive home insurance quotes in no time.
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Keywords :
home insurance,
Category :
Finance
:
Insurance
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