Research the most common insurance claims in your area. This will give you an idea on which perils are most likely to occur, and then purchase an insurance covering such perils. Taking an insurance that covers all threats may be impractical.

Make sure your home and the surrounding landscape is safe, since insurance claims decreases if the insurer finds that the area is unkept, landscaping is not done right or is left unfinished. Deal with protruding nails, potholes, piles of wood – anything that may cause an accident, before it’s too late.

Also keep your home safe from burglars by not leaving tools, ladders or keys outside the home.

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With the disastrous hurricanes and forest fires that struck several states in the US these past five years, victims of the calamities were shocked to find themselves shortchanged by their insurance companies. These companies have been reported to be using tactics to reduce, avoid or delay payment to homeowners. This way, the insurance company is able to keep the money longer and invest it to make profits.

Complaints filed against insurance companies soared after disaster victims failed to get the coverage promised in their policies. Insurers were refusing to pay market prices for reconstruction and replacement of home items, policy coverage are being changed without clear explanation.

Read this article for the full story on homeowners insurance fraud.

Off hand, molds don’t pose a threat to homeowners, and is overlooked most of the time, until the damage has become significant to be ignored. However, damages caused by molds, rust and other fungi are generally not covered by your basic homeowners insurance, since it is a maintenance issue. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure the cleanliness of his home. Check with your insurance provider if mold damage is covered, and the specific circumstances associated with the damage, since molds caused by flooding and that caused by negligence will have different assessments.

It would be good if mold damage is covered, but prevention and maintenance of a mold-free home is still the best option. Molds thrive in moist areas, and moisture usually persists in poorly-ventilated and dark parts of the house. Molds also grow faster on piled wood, boxes or paper, making the attic, garage and store rooms its best habitat. Inspect your home for molds, clean up and prevent further growth by using the tips found on the following links:

US EPA Mold Resources
Mold and Homeowners Insurance
Home Improvement
Mold Inspector
Household Mold Removal

(Image from www.tilex.com)