Give Your Homeowners Insurance a Holiday Checkup

The holidays change how you use your home. More people come through the door, the oven runs for hours, decorations go up, and many families leave town for a few days. Each of those touches a different part of your homeowners insurance policy.

A few minutes with your policy now can save you a lot of frustration down the road if you need to file a claim. At Anderson Traylor Edwards, we help homeowners in Hammond and the surrounding communities when claims are denied, delayed, or underpaid. Here's what to look at before the season gets busy.

Hosting Family & Friends

Thanksgiving is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. Kitchen fires are generally covered under the dwelling and personal property sections of a homeowners policy, but your deductible and coverage limits decide how much you'll actually recover.

Guests bring another kind of risk. If someone slips on your steps or gets hurt in your home, the personal liability and medical payments sections of your policy may come into play. Take a look at:

• Your personal liability limit and whether it's high enough for your household
• Your medical payments to others coverage, which can help with smaller injury bills
• Whether your policy covers dog bites, since some policies limit or exclude certain breeds

Decorations, Space Heaters, & Cold Snaps

Christmas trees, string lights, candles, and space heaters all raise the risk of a house fire. Fire damage is typically covered, but insurers will look closely at the cause and at how quickly the loss was reported.

Louisiana doesn't freeze often, but when it does, burst pipes tend to follow. Many policies cover water damage from a frozen pipe only if the homeowner took reasonable steps to keep the heat on or drain the system. Read that part of your policy now so you know what's expected before the next hard freeze.

Leaving Town for the Holidays

An empty house can hide a problem for days. A slow leak under a sink or a failed water heater can do serious damage before anyone notices, and policies often treat sudden leaks differently from gradual ones.

Before you travel:

• Shut off the main water supply if you'll be gone more than a day or two
• Leave the heat set at a safe temperature
• Ask a neighbor to check on the house and bring in packages
• Know how your policy handles theft and break-ins, including any limits on electronics and jewelry
  
  

New Gifts & Valuables

Jewelry, watches, firearms, collectibles, and high-end electronics are popular gifts, and many homeowners policies cap how much they'll pay for these items after a theft. Those caps are often lower than people expect.

If someone in your home is getting something valuable this year, ask your insurance agent about adding it to your policy as a scheduled item. Save receipts, appraisals, and photos of new purchases so you can show ownership and value if you ever need to file a claim.

Document Your Home Before the Rush

When you file a claim, your insurer may ask you to show what a room or item looked like before the damage. A quick walkthrough now gives you that record.

• Take dated photos or a video of each room, including closets and the garage
• Photograph the outside of the house, the roof, and any sheds or outdoor structures
• Keep a simple list of major belongings with approximate values
• Store copies of your policy and photos somewhere outside the house, like a cloud folder or your email

If You Need to File a Claim Over the Holidays

Insurance offices can slow down around the holidays, so staying organized helps keep your claim moving.

• When it's safe, photograph the damage before you clean up
• Report the claim promptly and write down your claim number
• Make reasonable temporary repairs, like tarping a roof or boarding a window, to prevent more damage, and keep the receipts
• Keep copies of every email, letter, and estimate
• If you find more damage during repairs, document it and tell your insurer, since you may be able to submit a supplemental claim

When a Claim Is Denied, Delayed, or Underpaid

Sometimes an insurer denies a claim, takes too long to respond, or offers less than it will cost to repair covered damage. If that happens, ask for the decision in writing, compare the insurer's estimate to your policy and your contractor's estimate, and keep gathering documentation.

These disputes can get complicated, especially when the insurer questions what caused the damage or how much repair is needed. Anderson Traylor Edwards helps homeowners in Hammond and the surrounding communities understand their policies and pursue the coverage they paid for.

If you're dealing with a denied, delayed, or underpaid homeowners claim, contact Anderson Traylor Edwards to schedule a free consultation.