Protect Your Family: Practical Risk Management in Your Home

For many families, their home is their most valuable asset. Often in the hustle and bustle of life, work and kids activities, we overlook the simple and inexpensive ways to protect ourselves. Here are a few practical, inexpensive recommendations that we suggest to my clients that won’t cost you a fortune, but will help protect your family and home.

1. Put fire extinguishers on every floor of your house – It is not about fighting the fire, but giving yourself a better chance to get out.
2. Install a central station alarm including burglar, hard wired smoke detectors w/ battery back-up, carbon monoxide detectors, a basic water sensor in your basement and a low-temperature sensor.
3. Take digital photos of each room in your home and take inventory of your belongings. It is your responsibility to substantiate your claim to the insurance carrier.
4. Have a licensed Arborist check your property and the nearby trees on your neighbor’s property.
5. Hire licensed and insured contractors by written contract holding you harmless (Risk Transfer). Obtain certificates of insurance for ANY contractor coming to your home to ensure coverage is in force and adequate.
6. Clear gutters of debris several times per year – this could prevent ice dams. Also, overflowing gutters can cause water to pool along your foundation and causing water to back up in your basement.
7. Have your chimney swept and cleaned annually.
8. Have your furnace inspected annually.
9. Ensure your family home network is encrypted and your data is securely backed up (including your home inventory).
10. Lock your doors and car. No matter how great your neighborhood is, think about all of the “guests” who pass through weekly. Most theft will be deterred by preventing easy access.
11. Remove ladders from your property in plain sight. These can be used to gain access to second floors in your home.
12. Perform background checks on all domestic workers.

We wish you and your family a safe year with happiness and good health!

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Written by Eric P. Ferraris, CIC, CRM, CLTC, Chief Operating Officer of Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group, a family owned and operated property & casualty independent insurance agency in business since 1932. Eric is focused on delivering tailored insurance and risk management programs backed by superior service. He works with business owners and high net worth families to reduce their exposure to loss. Connect with him on LinkedIn or the firm on Facebook. Call Eric for a review of your insurance needs @ 800-899-0093 or email him to start a conversation at [email protected].