Home insurance is essential to protect your valuable assets from damages and losses, but did you know that your insurance coverage could be at risk if you engage in certain activities? Here are 11 things that you should avoid if you want to keep your home insurance coverage intact:.

Avoid DIY Electrical Work

DIY electrical work can be dangerous as you risk electrocution and fire hazards.

Not only that, but if something goes wrong and makes a claim, you might find that your insurance provider won’t cover any damages caused by the electrical work that you performed.

Avoid Failing to Keep Your Home Secure

Insurance companies want to see that you take security seriously. Failing to lock your windows and doors, or installing low-grade locks and alarms, could compromise your insurance coverage.

Avoiding Neglecting Maintenance

The home insurance policy could be compromised if the homeowner fails to maintain their property.

Maintenance tasks such as fixing the roof, repairing the plumbing, and cleaning the gutters are essential to prevent damage from occurring in the first place. Homeowners who fail to uphold this duty may find that their insurer cancels their policy.

Avoiding Owning Certain Dog Breeds

Some insurance companies limit their coverage for certain dog breeds that are deemed high-risk. Breeds such as Pitbulls or Rottweilers or breeds that have a history of aggression, make up the list of dogs that insurance companies won’t cover.

Avoiding Failing to Disclose Important Information

When applying for home insurance, be truthful with the insurer about any potential hazards that your home might have such as a pool or trampoline.

Failing to disclose such hazards might be used as an excuse for insurers to avoid paying out any claims that might occur as a result of those hazards.

Avoiding Renting Out Your Property

If you are a homeowner who primarily uses their home for personal use, renting out your property, even occasionally, might invalidate your insurance coverage. Check with your insurer before renting out your property to avoid any confusion.

Avoiding Failing to Repair or Replace Machinery

Broken machinery such as washing machines, dishwashers, or other appliances can cause significant damage to your property if not repaired or replaced promptly.

Failing to repair or replace broken machinery in your home may result in a claim being denied if that machinery causes any damage to your property.

Avoiding Increasing Your Risk Profile

Renovating your property or installing a pool or hot tub can result in an increase in your risk profile. Moreover, you have the responsibility to let your insurer know of such activities to be sure that these new activities are covered by your policy.

Avoiding Ignoring Local Building Codes

Building codes change over time and can vary from one city or state to another. Ignoring these codes when renovating or adding an extension to your home could be considered a failure to maintain your property.

Moreover, make sure your contract specifies compliance with all necessary building codes when employing any contractor.

Avoiding Using Your Home for a Business

If you use your home for a business, including in-home daycare, your home will be regarded as a higher-risk. This will require buying additional coverage from insurance companies, as well as taking other safety measures to help you obtain coverage.

Avoiding Failing to Take Care of Trees and Shrubs

Homeowners have a responsibility to take care of their trees and shrubs.

Negligence can result in the trees falling down and causing serious damage to homes, and that damage may not be covered if homeowners fail to maintain their trees and shrubs properly.

Conclusion

Keeping your home insurance coverage requires maintaining your property, being truthful and transparent with your insurer, and avoiding activities and circumstances that could affect your coverage.

With this information, you can better protect your home and belongings from potential damages and hazards.