We love to have trees in our yards, but we often forget the hazards that can come with them. The winter season in New England can be unpredictable, which leads to homes being damaged by falling trees. Will your homeowners insurance cover fallen trees? What are the different causes of tree damage? Learn how these policies protect your home and what you can do to make your trees safer.
Am I Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance?
Trees that fall on a home can be expensive. It is important to be covered by homeowner’s insurance to help pay for any unexpected fallen tree incidents. Fallen trees can be unpredictable, but you don’t want to be unprepared if it happens.
- You are insured for fallen trees, whether you own the tree or not: In the scenario where a tree falls on your home, you would file a claim with your insurance.
- Certain homeowner’s insurance policies help pay for tree removal: Depending on your policy plan, it might be possible to receive some money to remove the fallen tree if it hits your house or other insured structure.
- Umbrella Insurance from TJ Woods Insurance: This is a helpful addition to your policy plan. Umbrella Insurance is an extra liability insurance for certain types of claims and lawsuits, and helps protect your future and assets.
- Fallen trees are considered Miscellaneous Property Damage: Miscellaneous Property Damage is one of the six most common types of insurance claims. This category covers many different situations and is covered by a variety of homeowner’s policy plans.
Preparing Your Home and Property for Fallen Trees
Knowing how to prevent your home and property from falling trees is an important preparation on top of your homeowner’s insurance. Winters in Massachusetts can be brutal and cause fallen trees due to powerful winds and snow, so being prepared is necessary.
Plant Trees Accordingly
If you are planting trees on your property, ensure that they are not too close to your house or other insured structure. If they are too close and the roots grow near the home, it can result in a fallen tree.
Trim Hanging Branches
Loose, old branches are prone to fall first, which can result in a fallen tree. Use clippers or a saw to remove small to medium branches that are hanging low near your home. Hire somebody to remove the larger branches.
Hire an Arborist
It can be beneficial to have an arborist inspect the trees in your yard at least once a year to make sure they will be safe in the winter months.
Pay Attention to Your Yard
Periodically look for signs of rot, insects, or exposed roots in your trees and near your home, as these can be indicators of the tree falling soon. Holes in the trunk and a lack of leaves near the branches are also key signs of possibly falling.
Being prepared for bad situations is part of being a responsible homeowner, but it is hard to do on your own. The TJ Woods Insurance Agency is here to help you every step of the way, especially when the unexpected happens. A fallen tree on your home is a terrible, tragic event, but we are here for you and will do everything we can to make the process a little bit easier for you and your family. Get a free quote and start preparing for fallen trees today.
