Column: Hail season has arrived, is your home ready?

By: Blake Wimsey
Special to Guthrie News Page

Blake Wimsey operates Foundation Insurance in downtown Guthrie

With storm season officially upon us, here are some helpful tips to help get you (and your home) through the Spring.

• Have your roof checked

Our roofs are the first line of defense against bad weather. Find a reputable roofer to inspect your roof and make sure it’s in good shape. The last thing you’d want to do is cross your fingers that your old roof makes it through one more hail season. Insurance is meant to replace roofs that are caused by sudden and accidental damage, not as a warranty for deferred maintenance. Get your roof checked! You can learn more about the importance of getting your roof checked and find information about roof repairs and maintenance by reading this guide available at dennisandsonscontracting.com.

• Clean your gutters

Even a well-maintained roof can leak if gutters are not properly cleaned. That’s why fascia and soffits services are available in the UK, to protect your roofline and loft cavity from wind and rain. Nevertheless, leaves and debris from the Fall can build up over time, so be sure to check yearly. If you are unable to clear your own gutters, call a local professional for a quote. Leaving any guttering issues unresolved for a long period of time can increase the risk of water damage to your home and the destruction of furniture that you have inside of it. To keep on top of a clear guttering system, this Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Austin company, or one that is local to your area will be able to professionally remove any water and fix any other problems that could be affecting your gutters so that they remain efficient, especially in the winter season. Alternatively, you could look into something like these gutter guards in Atlanta that are able to keep your gutters debris-free all year round!

• Be sure your home isn’t in a flood zone

Call a local insurance agent to check if your home might be a in flood zone. Flood zones can be more random than you might think. A home that just happens to be close to a creek could be included in a flood zone. Flood insurance is not covered on a homeowner’s policy, it’s typically sold by local agents through the National Flood Insurance Program.

• Review your insurance policy with your agent

Not all roofs are covered equally. Does your policy have replacement cost or actual cash value? What is your deductible? Is decking covered? What about city ordinance? Did I lose you yet? These are all terms your insurance agent should be familiar with and willing to explain to you. If disaster does strike, you don’t want to just now be finding out what your homeowner’s policy covers. Be proactive! Home insurance in Oklahoma is expensive enough as it is, it’s important to understand what you’re paying for.