As fun as trick-or-treaters could be, Halloween is often an open invitation to dark forces of vandalism and other similar troubles. The key to reducing this risk of property damage is to make your home "Halloween proof." The first and foremost step you should take while Halloween proofing your home is to review your homeowners insurance policy to understand what it covers.
Here are a few things you should know about making your home Halloween proof:
Why Do You Need to Halloween Proof Your Home?
Though everyone at your party wears a mask and practices social distancing, to what extent are you and your attendees covered by your insurance? Reviewing your plan before inviting guests is crucial to understanding your liabilities, such as slips and falls, animal bites, accidental fires, or vandalism.
If you plan to decorate your home for Halloween, you are letting everyone outside know your intentions to celebrate Halloween. Vandals view such widespread celebrations as people letting down their guard, so they use the night to steal vehicles or cause property damage.
The lesser pranks, such as covering a tree with toilet paper, typically aren't covered by insurance policies. Talk with your insurance specialist to get a clear picture of what your policy covers.
How Can You Halloween Proof Your Home?
The solution to making sure your home is Halloween proof is to take a series of proactive safety steps. Here are essential safety measures to limit your insurance liabilities and help prevent damage:
Turn on plenty of outdoor lighting for maximum visibility
Use battery-powered lights instead of candles
Assure all walkways are dry to avoid slipping
Remove vehicles from the walkway of approaching guests
Check the peephole before opening the door
Keep vehicles in a safe, visible place
Use signs to direct foot traffic
If you're going to use outdoor wiring, be sure to inspect it for worn wiring, which can cause sparks that lead to fires. If a fire is caused by negligence, it will not be covered by your
standard homeowner's insurance.
One of the most important steps you can take to prevent accidents on your property is to reduce risks of people bumping into obstructions or tripping over an uneven or slick surface. Kids can get excited as they rush toward a porch in a crowd. Appointing someone to monitor this activity will help keep things in order.
Know Your Coverage Options
Find out what type of fires are covered by your policy. If your house is set on fire by a spark that flew and inflamed a dry leaf, the damage most likely won't be covered. What if one of your guests accidentally burns part of your property? It all comes down to what is covered by your plan.
Reviewing your insurance plan will give you greater clarity on how to go about with your Halloween celebration. Inviting multiple visitors to your front door in itself implies increased risks and responsibilities. It's always best to be prepared for the worst possible scenarios.
If you want to make an elaborate presentation, be sure your policy protects your valuable decorative props. Using the same Halloween displays every year is an excellent way to conserve costs. So if you have a valuable attention-getting Halloween item, you may want to have it appraised by your
insurer and increase coverage, if required.
Practicing safe Halloween measures will help reduce the chances of costly fiascos caused by vandals exploiting the public tradition of costume parties and door-to-door trick-or-treating. If you Halloween proof your home, you'll reduce the risks of damage or other unexpected disruptions. To learn more about playing it safe this Halloween or for assistance with your coverage needs, contact the experts at
Fuller Insurance in Southern California today.
