How to Check Your Property for Damage After a Storm
When a big storm hits in New England, you hunker down inside, relying on your home to protect you and your family. Once that storm passes, though, it’s time to repay the favor — identifying damage and protecting your home from further issues.
The National Storm Damage Center has several resources and tips for homeowners. Here are four major things the agency – and we here at Point Insurance – recommend you check after a storm:
- Your roof: If you see holes, split seams, or missing shingles on your roof, or if you notice leaking inside or out, it’s a good idea to have a qualified inspector assess the situation.
- Your exterior: Siding, brick, and stucco are all vulnerable to storm damage. You’ll want to look for cracking, chipping, or dings and dents in siding and for holes in stucco. Look closely and at different times of the day. Some homeowners don’t notice the damage until it’s too late to file a claim, and additional lighting can reveal damage you didn’t see before.
- Driveways and walkways: Cracking and splitting can create safety hazards and reduce the lifespan of the concrete.
- Trees: According to the National Storm Damage Center, fallen trees and limbs cause more than $1 billion in damage annually. Check roofs, vehicles, fences, and machinery for fallen limbs that may have caused damage or could pose a risk. Clean up what you safely can and rely on a reputable tree removal service to handle the rest. Depending on the circumstances, your homeowner’s insurance policy may help with tree removal and damage repair costs – if you experience a covered loss, that is.
A few more helpful tips:
- Keep trees well maintained and trimmed. Also, notify neighbors if you see any overhanging branches on any of theirs.
- Know your insurance. Take a look at your policy to know what’s covered, your limits and deductibles, etc. This will prevent any surprises during the claims process.
- Take pictures. Photographs can help you show the cause and extent of any storm damage that occurs.
Of course, if you’ve suffered through a major storm, don’t hesitate to call us at Point Insurance for help with an insurance claim or with finding a professional property inspector.
