Protect Your Family From Costly Festive Fails With These Holiday Tips
Having people over this holiday season? Before opening the door to guests, here are some perils to prepare for in advance.
The holidays are a fun yet hectic time of the year. It isn't just a busy time for us: Insurance companies are also hustling to review and process claims.
Why? Holiday gatherings bring their share of increased risks. The National Fire Protection Association reported a nearly 400% increase in house fires during Thanksgiving. Add in inclement weather, guests visiting, porch pirates and other risks, and you have a busy season for insurance companies.
As such, taking some time to peril-proof your home can make your holidays safer and memorable, without needing to call your insurance company. Here are some common hazards to look out for, along with what your home insurance covers.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
If an accident happens, what does my home insurance cover?
Before exploring the perils, let's begin with what a basic home insurance policy typically covers. If your home catches on fire due to an electrical or cooking issue, your home insurance usually covers the claim once you satisfy the deductible.
The same also applies to guests who incur injury on your premises. This is under the personal liability coverage and can protect you financially from any medical or legal bills incurred from the accident.
However, you'll want to investigate your policy to ensure you have enough liability coverage. The reason? Should a guest suffer an injury in your home and the court awards a judgment higher than what your policy pays out, you would be on the hook for the rest. If you're concerned about gaps in your policy, an umbrella insurance policy can help by providing additional liability coverage to cover those extra costs.
This time of year marks a smart time to reevaluate your insurance coverage and make sure you're not overpaying. Use this Bankrate tool to shop for and compare options quickly before we move on to perils:
Holiday light decoration safety tips
Lights are an integral part of the holidays. Whether you're setting out a few strands or going all out with them, ensure that your holiday lights have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal, as that indicates the product has undergone rigorous testing.
If you have lights from last year you plan to use, check the cords for signs of fraying or loose connections, since these could pose fire or electric shock risks. Also, check your circuits before installation to ensure they can handle the power demand; for modern 15-amp circuits, it's 1,440 watts worth of lights, depending on bulb type.
Furthermore, where you place your lights is of paramount importance. Tie up loose wires to prevent tripping hazards if you have children who want to play in the yard or home. And if you're using a ladder to decorate, implement the buddy system, as it ensures the ladder is in the correct position and stable before installation.
As for candles, place them on a heat-resistant surface that's at least a foot from any fire hazards. As welcoming as the glow of candlelight can be in a window, only do so if the window treatments or blinds are up and away at a safe distance. And monitor lit candles at all times, as kids and pets could easily knock them off.
Christmas trees: Location and care matter
For Christmas trees, you'll want to set them up in a low-traffic area. This prevents guests from tripping on decorations or gifts, which could result in an injury and prompt a call to your insurance company (or, well, ruin a present you worked hard to get).
Plan to have a real tree in your home this holiday season? This Old House recommends spraying it with a mold-resistant sealant to prevent mold spores from triggering allergic reactions.
If you have pets, namely cats, keep the first few lower branches of your tree undecorated unless you want them to treat your decorations like piñatas. Once knocked off the tree, these decorations create tripping hazards — or worse, if they're made out of glass. Dog owners should regularly inspect around your tree and pick up any items before they end up in your friend's tummy, necessitating a very high vet bill.
Create a holiday meal your insurance company can't feast on
Cooking is an integral part of the holiday season for many households. I spent frenzied evenings making Christmas cookies or warming up a pie as the family jostled around the table discussing matters of world importance.
It might sound overly cautious, but cooking can represent an elevated risk around the holidays. Fires from deep-fried turkeys gone wrong, as well as scalding and lacerations, top the list of common holiday injuries.
Here are a few tips to keep you and your guests safe:
- Keep small children out of the cooking zones unless carefully supervised
- Make sure flammable objects such as oven mitts, alcohol and dish towels are away from flammable areas
- Clean the floor and inspect it regularly for any tripping hazards
- Never leave your kitchen unattended while food cooks
- Keep fire extinguishers on hand
Beware of slips, falls and pirates (not the cool kind)
When the weather becomes cold, it can transform your sidewalk and driveway into an unexpected skating rink for your guests. Before guests arrive, shovel any remaining snow and treat frozen areas with traction aids, like cat litter or sand.
Speaking of the front of your home, it becomes quite busy during the holiday season. Along with guests, chances are your Amazon Prime driver or Walmart+ delivery person becomes a frequent visitor.
As they do, they attract another crowd: Porch pirates. Porch pirates thrive at this time of year, looking for easy crimes of opportunity. If your packages are stolen, your home insurance policy will cover these items. However, depending on your deductible, it might not make sense to pay $500 to replace an item worth $100.
Therefore, you'll want to secure your packages. How? You can schedule your packages to arrive at an Amazon drop-off location, use a porch lock box, or, if you're buying from Amazon, opt for the Key In-Garage Delivery, which authorizes an Amazon driver to leave your packages in your garage.
The bottom line on preparing for holiday perils
The holidays are right around the corner. As such, preparing your home now should involve being mindful of common perils to protect you and your guests.
What's more, this time of the year is the perfect time to ensure you have the right financial protection. That way, if the unthinkable happens, you have peace of mind knowing your assets are protected.
Related content
-
'Humbug!' Say Consumers, Despite Hot GDP: Stock Market Today"The stock market is not the economy," they say, but both things are up. Yet one survey says people are still feeling down in the middle of this complex season.
-
The SEC Is Concerned for Older Investors and Retirement Savers. Here's What You Should KnowThe SEC focusing on older investors, retirement and college savers, and private securities. Here's how those changes impact you.
-
Vesting, Catch-Ups and Roths: The 401(k) Knowledge QuizQuiz Test your understanding of key 401(k) concepts with our quick quiz.
-
How to Protect Yourself and Others From a Troubled Adult Child: A Lesson from Real LifeThis case of a violent adult son whose parents are in denial is an example of the extreme risks some parents face if they neglect essential safety precautions.
-
Here's How Much You Can Earn with a $100,000 Jumbo CDYou might be surprised at how fast a jumbo CD helps you reach your goals.
-
A Financial Planner Takes a Deep Dive Into How Charitable Trusts Benefit You and Your Favorite CharitiesThese dual-purpose tools let affluent families combine philanthropic goals with advanced tax planning to generate income, reduce estate taxes and preserve wealth.
-
How Financial Advisers Can Best Help Widowed and Divorced WomenApproaching conversations with empathy and compassion is key to helping them find clarity and confidence and take control of their financial futures.
-
Your Guide to Buying Art OnlineFrom virtual galleries to social media platforms, the internet offers plenty of places to shop for paintings, sculptures and other artwork without breaking the bank.
-
I'm 59 With $1.7 Million Saved and Just Lost My Job. Should I Retire at 59½, or Find New Work?We asked professional wealth planners for advice.
-
Metro by T-Mobile Is Giving Away This Samsung Galaxy A16: Which Plans Are Eligible?Metro by T-Mobile is offering free Samsung Galaxy A16 phones on eligible plans right now. Here’s how the deal works.
-
I Drive and Collect Classic Cars: Here’s How I Got in the Game Without Spending a FortuneAre classic cars a hobby or an investment strategy — or both? Either way, the vintage car scene is much cooler and more affordable than you think.
