Halloween is the scariest time of the year, and not just for those adorable trick-or-treaters. In fact, there are more home insurance claims on Halloween than on any other day of the year. As a homeowner, you need to know what kinds of claims are common on this holiday so you know what to avoid. Let’s take a closer look.
Fires from candles
It just doesn’t feel like Halloween unless you have a jack o’ lantern glowing with the flames from a candle. But those candles can wreak havoc on your home. It doesn’t take much for a candle to get knocked over, which can set everything around it ablaze. If you are going to use real candles as part of your decor, then keep an eye on them. And don’t forget to blow them out when the night is over. Better yet, use battery-operated candles instead. They look just the real thing and eliminate the hazards of a real flame.
Fires from decorations
Lighting is the key to making your Halloween display look extra spooky. Many homeowners like to create elaborate displays outdoors for people to enjoy on Halloween. One very popular type of decoration is inflatables. These are plugged into an extension cord to inflate them and light them up. Unfortunately, extension cords can be a major source of accidental fires. If you’re using an extension cord outside for your Halloween decorations, then make sure you are using those that are made to be outside. If you use an interior extension cord, it can overheat and cause a fire.
Vandalism
It’s not too surprising that home insurance claims for vandalism spike on Halloween. It is, after all, a holiday that celebrates mischief. Some of the more common vandalism claims on Halloween are caused by eggs thrown at houses, rocks thrown through windows, or toilet paper tossed into trees. Unfortunately, even more extreme vandalism can occur on Halloween that could displace you from your home. You can help to avoid this situation by keeping your home secure on Halloween. This includes keeping lights on both inside and outside and locking your doors and windows. If you’re not home, use a timer to turn the lights on and off.
Theft
Along with vandalism, theft is another common home insurance claim during the Halloween season. A large percentage of these thefts occur at home. Thieves will steal things such as decorations, bikes, scooters, and even cars. Criminals may also attempt to break into your home to steal your belongings. As mentioned above, the best way to prevent this type of claim is to make it look like you are home and active – even if you aren’t.
Injury
Finally, you don’t want your home to be the scene of an accident. Unfortunately, that can happen all too often on Halloween. To protect yourself and your guests, take the necessary steps to keep your home free from things that might cause an accident. Provide plenty of light so that those wearing costumes can clearly see. Keep walkways free from debris. And keep dogs and other pets away from guests. Even if your dog has a calm disposition, it can act out because of all the activity of the season.
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