Wet roads on a grey Monday morning signalled to Capetonians that winter has officially arrived. Around the country, families are preparing to go into "hibernation mode" – with cheery thoughts of long nights to be spent round the fire sipping mulled wine. While the change of season brings with it different comforts, it also marks a time to review the state of your insured assets. For in winter, there are certain precautions you'll need to take to make sure things are kept cosy, and without unwanted costs.
Good rains bad for homeowners
For parts of the country that experience winter rains, a potential problem at this time of year is abundant leaf growth, which can cause blockages in gutters and down-pipes. If you put in a claim for resulting damages, for example, water seeping into your ceiling and into your home, your insurer may not cover the claim as the onus lies on the owner to maintain the property in a good state of repair. Debbie Barrett of FNB Insurance Brokers puts it this way: "An insurer may repudiate a claim if you neglect your duty of proper maintenance and as a result suffer damage to the property and contents." She says that most household insurance policies stipulate that the consumer is obliged to keep their property well-maintained. As we gear up for heavy rains, now is a great time to conduct an inspection of all your gutters and drains, as well as the state of your roof, to ensure it meets an acceptable maintenance standard.
Tyre check
The first rains of the season are notorious for road accidents. Make sure your tyres can stand up to all the oil and residue that washes off the tar at this time of year – if you are in an accident of sorts, involving a third party, it will give you ease of mind that there was no negligence on your part in maintaining your vehicle in a roadworthy condition.
Getting heated
Winter means bringing out the heaters, so again remember to put safety first. Check all your plugs and electrics to make sure that they are operating perfectly, so that in the unfortunate event that a fire does start, insurance will cover claims for damage because you took the necessary precautions.
The bad rap that insurance companies get when they refuse to pay out claims is often unwarranted – the onus is on the customer to fully aware of what you are covered for and what you aren't when you sign your contract. The above information serves simply as a reminder of what needs to be done - we all know how busy life is and how easy it is to let things slide. We wish you a warm, cosy and safe winter!
