Buildings insurance is required if you have a mortgage, but contents insurance is also necessary if you want to safeguard your belongings, but it is not required by law. However, in the event that something goes wrong, it can be extremely helpful in shielding you from monetary losses in the event that anything in your house is stolen or damaged.

Last year, we filed tens of thousands of house insurance claims nationwide, with accidental loss or damage being the most frequent category, followed by escaped water. These are some of the most frequent home insurance claims, along with advice on how to avoid filing one. Many of these claims are avoidable.

According to research by comparison website Go.Compare, the most common reasons for home insurance claims are:

Claim type	Percentage of overall claims
Accidental loss/damage at home	28%
Escape of water	26%
Storm	13%
Theft from home (incl. outbuildings)	7%
Accidental loss/damage away from home	7%

Naturally, a wide variety of circumstances can be covered by these terms. Unexpected physical damage to an item, such as spills on carpets, do-it-yourself accidents, your cell phone breaking at home, and so forth, is included in the category of unintentional loss or damage at home.

Similarly, “escape of water” could mean that your washing machine is leaking or that a pipe has burst, allowing water to enter your house.

There are still some things you can do around your house to reduce the likelihood of needing to file a claim, even though they may cover a wide range of situations.

The five most frequent home insurance claims will be examined in this post, along with helpful advice on how to prevent them. Continue reading to provide yourself with the information you need to safeguard your home, your biggest investment.

1. Water damage
Water damage is one of the most common reasons people file home insurance claims. It can happen because of burst pipes, plumbing leaks, appliance problems or heavy rain. Standard home insurance usually covers some types of water damage, but if you’re dealing with sewer backups or flooding, you’ll likely need extra coverage.

Preventative measures:

• Regularly inspect and maintain your plumbing system.
• Install a sump pump and ensure it’s functioning properly.
• Use water leak detectors and automatic shut-off valves to catch leaks early.
• Ensure proper drainage around your home to prevent water from pooling near the foundation.
• Clean gutters and downspouts regularly to avoid blockages.
• Consider adding sewer backup and overland flooding coverage to your policy for extra protection.

2. Fire and smoke damage
Fire and smoke damage can quickly cause major losses to your home and belongings. Common sources of fires include electrical malfunctions, gas leaks, kitchen accidents and natural events like lightning.

Preventative measures:

• Install and regularly test smoke alarms on every level of your home.
• Keep fire extinguishers accessible in key areas like the kitchen and garage.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets and replace faulty wiring immediately.
• Store flammable materials safely and away from heat sources.
• Regularly inspect heating systems and have them serviced by professionals.
• Establish and regularly practice a fire escape plan to ensure everyone in your home knows how to respond in an emergency.

3. Theft and vandalism
Theft and vandalism don’t just cost money; they can leave homeowners feeling violated. Luckily, there are ways to keep criminals at bay by making your home a less appealing target.

Preventative measures:

• Install a comprehensive security system with alarms and cameras.
• Use sturdy locks on doors and windows and reinforce entry points.
• Keep your property well-lit and maintain clear sightlines to deter intruders.
• Avoid advertising expensive purchases or vacations on social media.
• Keep valuable items in a safe or deposit box.
• Join or start a neighbourhood watch program to keep an eye on each other’s properties.

4. Wind and hail damage
With storm activity on the rise, wind and hail damage are becoming more common. This kind of damage can hit your home’s roof, windows and siding, leading to hefty repair bills.

Preventative measures:

• Regularly inspect and maintain your roof, repairing or replacing damaged shingles as needed.
• Install storm shutters or impact-resistant windows.
• Secure outdoor furniture and other items that could become projectiles in high winds.
• Trim trees and branches near your home to prevent them from falling during storms.
• Ensure that your home’s siding is in good condition and can withstand harsh weather.

5. Sewer backup
Sewer backups are happening more often, especially now that basements are turning into living spaces. If you don’t tackle them quickly, they can cause major water damage and even lead to mould growth.

Preventative measures:

• Avoid pouring grease or disposing of non-flushable items down your drains.
• Install a backwater prevention valve to stop sewage from entering your home.
• Maintain your sewer lines with regular inspections and cleaning.
• Ensure that your landscaping doesn’t interfere with sewer lines.
• Be cautious of planting trees with invasive root systems near your home.
• Consider adding sewer backup coverage to your insurance policy for added security.

Regular inspections, timely repairs, and preventive measures are key to keeping your home and finances safe from unforeseen losses. Plus, it’s a good idea to review and update your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered for any surprises.

Home Insurance Best Practices

Maintain your home to protect it against the elements

The weather can wreak havoc on your property, but keeping on top of maintenance can be an easy way to protect your home from things like storm damage and escape of water.

Read Also: The Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance

Some key things you might want to check or maintain include:

• Checking for loose roof tiles
• Looking out for broken guttering
• Insulate external pipes and taps
• Maintain trees close to your home – trim them back and remove dead branches

This might sound like a lot to keep on top of, but most of the time a quick look will tell you if something needs fixing. Remember that a few minutes of hours of work now could save you a lot of time and money later down the line. It’s also important to bear in mind that if you don’t carry out maintenance on your property, your insurer may refuse to pay out at all, as you need to keep your home in a good state of repair.

Make sure you’ve got good home security

Unfortunately, theft is the fourth most common reason that people claim on their home insurance, so it’s important to make sure you’ve got adequate home security.

It’s worth noting that while making sure you have good home security is a good idea generally, if you aren’t using the security measures you told your insurer you had when you took out your home insurance, your policy might not actually be valid.

Things you might want to consider are making sure your locks are sturdy and by an approved manufacturer, keeping all doors and windows locked when you’re out, installing a burglar alarm, getting a safe for high value items, keeping belongings securely locked indoors or in outbuildings.

Beware seasonal risk

The changing of the seasons will present different risks to your home.

In the summer months, claims for theft of outdoor items spike, so make sure you lock things away securely. Another type of claim that increases dramatically when temperatures rise are ones related to garden fires. If you do plan to light a fire in your garden, make sure you take appropriate safety precautions, including:

• Placing fires away from buildings, bushes and fences
• Never leaving fires unattended
• Making sure BBQs are level and are fully functioning
• Keeping a bucket of water or sand to hand in case of emergencies
• Making sure fires are completely out before leaving them

In the winter, cold temperatures, storms, snow and other inclement weather can wreak havoc on your home. Making sure that you maintain your home as winter approaches, can save you a lot of time, stress and money. Have a look at the above section for more tips.

Take care when doing DIY or getting work done

DIY gone awry is one of the main reasons people submit claims for accidental damage, whether that’s because they’ve accidentally drilled through a water pipe, or knocked over a tin of paint when decorating.

While some things will be easy enough to fix, anything to do with water or electrics should be left to the professionals, and you shouldn’t try to put them right yourself.

Bear in mind that unless your home insurance policy has accidental damage cover included as standard, you might not be covered for your DIY mishap at all. Something else to note is that a number of insurance policies won’t cover you if you get someone in to do the work for you and something goes wrong. More often than not, the professional you’ve hired to do the work will have their own insurance that will cover them if anything goes wrong when they are fixing the problem, but it’s worth checking this before you proceed.

Home insurance renewal premiums have a habit of increasing every year, even if you haven’t made a claim. Compare home insurance quotes from more than 50 UK providers.

Tips to Help Clients Prevent Homeowners Insurance Claims

Nearly half of homeowners acknowledge that their houses require some TLC, according to a new poll conducted by vipHomeLink on behalf of Kelton. on those homeowners, one-fourth acknowledge that they just forget to undertake household chores, while another twenty-four percent are unsure on how to maintain their home.

This offers homeowners a chance to learn proactive ways to safeguard their biggest investment and lower their chance of having to make an insurance claim.

Some of the most common claims that insurance brokers deal with, such as hailstorms, fire, and falling trees, might have been avoided. Insurance carriers and agents value those homeowners who take the necessary steps to prevent and protect their homes, so it is important to engage with homeowner clients on a regular basis—made easier with modern technology solutions—and arm them with more awareness and a handy list of preventative tips:

1) Trim the trees. A tree next to the home can be aesthetically pleasing, but it can also do serious damage. While getting it removed altogether can be considered, trimming any branches that are touching the home or near power lines is a must. Getting rid of dead branches helps a tree grow stronger and healthier.

2) Bring in the reinforcements. Farmers Insurance shows that there has been an average increase of 12% in claims related to hail damage since 2013. Having shutters on windows is important to protect them, especially for those who live in an area prone to hailstorms. Have homeowners make sure storm shutters are securely fastened and in good shape.

3) Get smart with technology. A small leak in the pipes can go from a drip to a disaster before you know it. Thankfully with today’s technology, there are devices to help stop water damage before it starts. For just a few hundred dollars, devices allow homeowners to not only monitor the usage of water within the house, but also automatically shut off a home’s water supply when the device detects a change in water pressure caused by a leak.

4) Let the water flow. During frigid months, homeowners can be reminded to let faucets served by exposed pipes to trickle. While it may increase the water bill slightly, the running water can help prevent pipes from freezing and ultimately bursting.

5) Install and upkeep fire alarms. Sensitive alarms, such as those triggered by cooking, can result in homeowners removing the batteries from their smoke alarms or dismantling them altogether. This can have deadly consequences in the event of a home fire, so regularly remind homeowners to install at least one alarm on every level of the home, near all sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Testing them once a month is a great way to engage with homeowners and prevent home fire claims.

Smoke alarms are the first step every homeowner should take in their home, but it is a method of detection—not prevention.

6) Consider sprinklers. The stats do not lie when it comes to just how important a sprinkler system is. According to the National Fire Protection Association’s Sprinkler Initiative, sprinklers lower the home fire death rate by 81% and reduce the average property loss rate by 71%. Less damage to the home means lower and fewer claims.

By following these easy procedures, homeowners may significantly lower their risk of damage and steer clear of expensive claims. Today’s insurance agents have a fantastic opportunity to boost client engagement—with non-billing and non-claim interactions—by utilizing new technological applications created especially to enhance engagement with policyholders. This includes educating clients about prevention, home safety, and raising awareness of their homes.

In addition to increasing engagement and lowering long-term home claims, sharing home safety content with policyholders on social media platforms benefits both the insurance agent and their clients.