Is Your Home Holiday-Ready?

Thanksgiving is almost here, and we know you’re probably busy gather last supplies for your grandmother’s famous side-dishes, choosing the perfect bird for the center of the table, and making up spare beds for out-of-town guests who are coming in for the big day. In the midst of your preparations though, you may have overlooked one (very important) detail.

Your homeowner’s insurance.

What? If that caught you off guard, you probably don’t understand just how many risks the holiday season, and Thanksgiving Day itself, can pose to you and your home. If you think through what the day entails though, it becomes clear that you’d be wise to do a little extra preparation of your insurance policy before Turkey Day arrives. Possible issues that can come up from Thanksgiving include:

• Kitchen fires. From burning the bird to knocking over one of those decorative centerpiece candles, fires are a common occurrence on major holidays due to the excess cooking and time spent in close quarters around hot items (grills, ovens, stoves, candles, etc.) while they are in use. A small fire can be a big problem if it burns out your appliances, burns a portion of your walls and/or ceiling, causes smoke damage to your home, or a variety of other fire-related side effects.
• Water damage. It seems unlikely, but overflowing toilets, malfunctioning dishwashers or washing machines, leaky showers or sinks, or even excessive spills can cause damage to your home. Floors (especially carpeting or wood flooring) are the most susceptible to this. These problems are also much more likely when you have guests in the home (since more water is being used!) which is typical around big days like Thanksgiving.
• Theft. If you aren’t going to be home for Thanksgiving, you might think you’re in the clear! After all, you won’t even be in your kitchen on the big day, and your home will be empty, so no guests will need to be worried about. However, leaving your home empty around holidays puts you at risk for break-in and theft.

The best way to protect yourself from all of these Thanksgiving issues and more is by double-checking your homeowners insurance policy and making sure it’s up to date and ready for whatever life throws your way. Your insurance advisor is the best person to help you determine if your current coverage can meet your needs, or if you should consider increasing your protection. Don’t have an advisor? Carroll Marshall Insurance is happy to help. Give us a call for an appointment or stop by our local Winter Haven office. We offer top-quality service for clients here in Central Florida, and we work with leading insurance providers in the industry.

Enjoy peace of mind this Thanksgiving season. Let us help!