Many people think DIY jobs are cost-effective, but you must think twice before involving yourself in home improvement projects. Things can work according to your expectations, or things could go terribly wrong.
If you mess up things while undertaking maintenance jobs around your home, it might be difficult to get compensation from your insurance provider.
There are different things you should know before carrying out renovation work at your property. Read on to learn insurance tips for DIY enthusiasts who love fixing their homes.
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Get a Permit
When tackling different projects in your home like building a shed, gazebo, workshop, or playhouse, make sure you obtain a permit from your local building department.
If you work on a renovation project without one, you could be setting yourself up for financial challenges. If the work is done without a permit and it fails to suit the local building codes, you can face penalties.
If you manage to complete the renovation work without a permit, the city inspector might get wind of the development, and they will pay you an unexpected visit. If the work does not meet the expected standards, you can be ordered to tear down the structure.
In that case, your homeowner’s insurance cannot foot the bill for redoing the work. Therefore, it’s best to get a permit prior to embarking on your project so as to prevent such issues.
Know the Coverage of Homeowners Insurance
Your home is a valuable property that must be protected from unforeseen incidents that can lead to damage or other eventualities like theft or fire outbreaks. Therefore, you must get a policy with the appropriate coverage.
Information found at Apollocover.com/personal-insurance/homeowners-insurance/ explains that you must select the policy you need to get a comprehensive range of coverage. With the right coverage, you can file an accidental damage claim if property loss arises from a non-deliberate and unexpected incident.
If your policy does not cover accidental damages that may arise from DIY mishaps, you will need to cover the repair costs out of pocket. Therefore, if you are planning to do some renovation work at your house, consult your insurance company to check if you are covered should anything go wrong. Your coverage can be extended depending on your needs.
Notify Your Insurance Company
If your home is destroyed by fire or other natural disasters like tornadoes or earthquakes, your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost of rebuilding it.
While home renovation projects can add value to your property, you should exercise caution since they can add costs to rebuilding the house if it is damaged. For instance, if your current insurance cost does not cover the new additions to your home, it means you will not get protection for anything outside your policy.
Therefore, it is always a good idea to notify your insurer before you undertake any work to upgrade your house. This means you may need to upgrade your policy to cover the new changes. Although it might cost you more money, the good thing is that you will get peace of mind if you know that your home is protected.
Check all Hidden Fixtures
When doing some maintenance work at your home, it is essential to check all hidden fixtures like pipes and wires behind the walls to avoid causing damage to them. When fitting shelves and other items, make sure you use appropriate fixtures.
If you do a shoddy job that leads to damage to other things in your home, your insurance provider will not cover you. If your actions contribute to the damage that occurs, you may not get any compensation.
Get Coverage for Vacant Properties
If your house is vacant, for more than 60 days, it means your homeowner’s insurance policy will exclude the damages experienced during this period. If vandals break in while the place is vacant, you will not get compensation.
Therefore, it is a good idea to purchase additional home insurance coverage like “vacant home insurance” that will cover instances of theft and vandalism. Always ask your insurance provider before starting any work on vacant property.
Upgrade Your Home to Get Homeowners Insurance Discount
If you are planning to upgrade your home, go ahead and install smart technology since it will raise the value of your home. For example, if you install smoke detectors, upgrade your roof, or install burglar alarms and bars to safeguard your home, your insurance provider is likely to offer you a discount. If your home is fully secured, it means you will not make several claims for theft or burglary.
DIY jobs are cost-effective, and they also teach you different things about home maintenance. If you love to fix various things in your home, then you should know the implications that doing so may have in relation to your homeowner’s insurance. Make sure you inform your insurance provider about any renovation work you want to do at your home.
