How to Keep a Safe Home This Spring
Lisa Broadbent • April 4, 2024
It’s spring-cleaning time, and most of us are probably making a list of the essential maintenance tasks that we are eager to undertake in the next few weeks and months. What better time to think about a few things that you can do to make your home safer and more secure as you work to spruce it up?
No matter how safe your neighborhood, your home is not immune to damage risks. It’s also not immune to the potential for a thief to break in, and if they do, they could damage the property and steal your belongings. It’s at this time that your homeowners insurance can come in handy. Still, it’s best to minimize theft risks as best you can.
Safety Tips for Your Home’s Security
The spring is a great time to make home security improvements. As you make security changes, the less vulnerable your home will be. As a result, your risk to your home insurer could drop. Here’s what to do:
- Consider installing a home security system. Some systems are very comprehensive, and might include doorbell cameras, alarms, internet connectivity and automatic lines to the police. Other systems are simpler, but can provide great protection for the home. Some systems don’t even require experts to install; you can set them up on your own time.
- Inspect your home’s locks. If you find that locks are weak or have corrosion, then replace them. A broken lock is as good as an open door. Lock technology has advanced considerably in the last few years, and when upgrading locks, you might be able to install keypads, internet-controlled or smart-phone-enabled locks.
- Increase security around your windows, crawl spaces or basements. Change the locks as needed. Add screens, jammers and other items to limit someone’s ability to open these items.
- Place automatic lighting around the home. Use timers on certain interior lights, which can come on when no one is at home. This can give the impression to potential predators that someone is home even when they aren’t. Also use motion-sensor lighting outside the home. They can illuminate when something passes them, and alert you to a prowler outside.
- Keep the home’s exterior in good shape. Upkeep shows that someone lives there, cares about the property and takes security seriously. Thieves might be less likely to break in if they believe someone is home.
- Get to know your neighbors. If you live near people you trust, they can keep an eye on the property and alert you to potential dangers.
Of course, don’t forget to invest in a quality homeowners insurance policy. These policies can help owners repair damage and replace lost property following break-ins. Both dwelling coverage and possessions insurance can be instrumental in helping you when unfortunate break-ins occur.
Contact an agent at Broadbent Insurance (302) 731-0044 today to discuss your homeowners insurance options and allow us to make sure your home and property are safe.
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Taking precautions to prevent ice dams is an important part of preparing your home for winter weather. Knowing what an ice dam is , minimizing the conditions that allow one to form and removing an ice dam as soon as you spot one can help prevent serious damage to both the roof and the inside of your home. Take action before snow starts falling An ice dam may develop during the cold winter months if warm air from your home or attic melts snow on your roof. In freezing temperatures, the melted snow may refreeze once it reaches the colder edge of the roof. Keeping the temperature of your attic at 32°F or below can help prevent snow from melting and ice dams from developing. The following are some steps you can take to help prevent the snow melting-and-freezing cycle that often causes ice dams: Insulate your attic. Be sure your attic is properly insulated to help prevent warmth from escaping through ceilings. Whenever possible, an insulation value of R-40 is recommended. Prevent air leaks. Check and seal any openings where warm air or heat could escape into the attic, such as insulating or caulking around vent pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, attic hatches and/or light fixtures. Improve ventilation. Increase the number or size of attic, roof or soffit vents that allow cold air to circulate and flush warmer air out during the winter. Install a water-repellent membrane. When replacing the roof covering, install a water-repellent membrane underneath the shingles. This acts as an extra barrier that helps prevent water from seeping inside the building should an ice dam form. Tips to help prevent ice dams through the winter Ice dams can sometimes form despite your best efforts to keep your roof at the proper temperature. Be sure to monitor the weather and maintain your roof throughout the colder winter months for additional protection against ice dams, such as: Clear gutters and downspouts. Prevent water from accumulating and possibly freezing in your gutters by cleaning leaves, debris and snow accumulation from in and around gutters and downspouts. Making sure that your gutters are properly pitched can also help prevent the collection of water in low spots and help reduce the potential for ice buildup in gutters. Remove snow accumulation from your roof after every storm. Whenever possible, use a roof rake to clear snow about three to four feet from the edge of your roof soon after each storm. Snow accumulation along the edge of your roof increases the likelihood of an ice dam developing, which prevents water from draining off the roof. This water can then back up underneath roof shingles and make its way into your home. Remove ice dams as soon as you spot them. Check your roof often and know how to help identify and remove an ice dam. CAUTION: Avoid using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions. This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to the professionals. For questions or concerns about insurance to protect your home’s roof, please contact us at 302-731-0044 , or email lisa@broadbentins.com . Our agents and staff are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, with the exception of holidays.
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The Dress, The Date, The Hair, The Music, and what to do after… all things that are on your teen's mind before the infamous prom night. Driving is usually not an important component in a teen's mind, but for parents it can be a big worry. Many parents often overlook the need to have honest discussions with their teens about safe driving and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Statistics show that prom and graduation season—the months of April, May and June—are the most dangerous time for teens. One-third of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving teens each year occur during those months. Here's an honest and teen-friendly guide to sharing concerns with your teen for one of the most important nights of their adolescent career. Many parents often overlook the need to have honest discussions with their teens about safe driving and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Have a good time. Explain to your teen that you want them to have fun and enjoy themselves. Just don't drink. Years from now, they will laugh when looking back at prom, but not if they don't remember the night. Relate it to your prom. Explain to them what you did right or wrong and what the consequences were. Don't be afraid to tell them the truth if you made some bad judgment calls. This can only help them to feel that you are human and that you regret those decisions and don't want them to make the same. Remind them of their future. High school is a great time, but they have their whole future ahead of them. Don't ruin that by drinking or doing drugs on Prom night or any night. Immature vs. Mature. Your teen may think that drinking or doing drugs and driving is what the grown-up thing is to do. Explain to them that is the most immature and irresponsible decision they could make. Being mature is about making the right decision and keeping your future in sight. Drive safe! If they are driving, make sure that they understand the responsibility of driving on Prom night. Share these six tips with your teen: Wear seatbelts. Don't speed. Be a defensive driver. Not everyone on the road is going to be as safe as you, watch out for other unsafe drivers. Don't drink or do drugs. This impairs judgment for driving and could potentially end in a fatality. If you do make a mistake, or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, call your parents immediately. They will respect you for being mature enough to see the danger and making the right call. Don't ride with anyone who has been drinking or doing drugs. This takes your life out of your hands. Pay attention to the road while driving. Don't get distracted with cell phones, radio, or passengers. Driving is a very important responsibility and shouldn't be taken lightly. Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group and it's largely due to driver error. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one in four crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups. Don't let your teenager be a statistic. Talk with your teen and communicate the importance of safe driving on Prom night and every night. Your safety is number one to us. If you want to make sure you have the right insurance coverage for your teen driver, you can contact the insurance team at Lisa Broadbent Insurance at (302) 731-0044 today to get an evaluation and free quote. Stay safe wherever you choose to go on the road.
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