A List Of January Home Maintenance Tasks

January Home Maintenance Tasks

January is the start of a new year and what better way to kick off the New Year by getting organized! So today we are sharing a list of home maintenance tasks that will help 2015 run smoothly.

• Create A Home Inventory – Now that the holidays are over, you are probably trying to find a place for all of those new gifts you received. So what better time to document what you own in case you were to suffer a serious insurance loss, like a fire or flooding. Grab your new cell phone or camera and make a short video of each room in your home, focusing on big ticket items. In most cases, it’s difficult for our clients to remember every little possession they lost after the shock of a large claim. You’ll be glad you took the time to make those videos especially if you never use them.
• Clean Out Your Dryer Vent – A large number of home fires begin in the clothes dryer. Lint from your clothes builds up in the vent and hose of the dryer which can spark a fire.  Unhook the hose and remove the vent to do a thorough vacuuming of the area. You should continue to do this on a regular basis to prevent a dangerous build up of lint.
• Organize Your Warranties – Do you have a stack of warranties, product documents, and receipts spilling out of your desk drawer?  Do you even own some of those items anymore? Lucky for you, many owners manuals can be found online now and these digital copies will save you valuable drawer storage. Also, consider scanning and keeping digital files of your receipts and warranties for easy storage and retrieval.
• Check Your Circuit Breakers – How often do you actually look in your breaker box? The answer is probably only when the power goes out. So now it’s time to open up that grey box and make sure the labels are correct and readable. Don’t forget to stash a spare flashlight and working batteries somewhere in your home in case of a power outage.
• Locate Your Tax Documents – It won’t be long before you’re filing your 2014 taxes. It’s always easier to start gathering up all of your documents well in advance of the submission date. Need a copy of your insurance policies or premiums? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!
• Review Your Deductibles – When was the last time you checked what your deductible was?  If you are not familiar with what a deductible is, it can be thought of as what you would pay out of your pocket in the event of an insurance claim.  It’s a good idea to keep this amount in your savings account so it’s available if you need it. Feel free to give us a call to review all of your insurance policies in detail.

Wishing you a safe and healthily New Year from your friends at Excalibur Insurance!