Every homeowner wants a place that stands out among the other homes in the neighborhood. A beautiful redwood deck, a new front porch complete with an antique glider, and a lovely willow tree gracing the back yard all add distinction without breaking the bounds of good taste.
For some, homeownership provides an opportunity to make their own rules regarding their living space, from installing that lap pool to getting a dog bigger than a guinea pig.
Unfortunately, many of those very same things that express the wonderful freedom of property ownership are major liabilities that place the homeowner at serious financial risk.
Here are five items that create concern and that can impact the level of liability coverage:
Additions to the property that potentially impinge on other private property. That sapling you plant on the day you moved into your new house ten years ago is now a tree whose branches hang dangerously over your neighbor’s garage. One bad storm, and you could be looking at repairing that garage and replacing the Lexus it housed , and don’t be fooled into thinking that just because that willow tree hardly hangs anywhere near property line that its roots haven’t found (and ruptured) the sewer line next door.
Property improvements whose use demands close supervision to prevent accidents and injuries. Every town insists that a swimming pool must be isolated by a fence with a locking gate, but a law never kept a determined child from finding a way to any amusement. Each year, children (and adventurous adults) are injured or worse using pools, playground equipment, deck swings, and every other object of amusement without permission and without supervision. Take every precaution to prevent trespass, reducing liability, but know that liability remains with you.
If there is a way to traverse your property to get from one point to another, people will use it; someone will slip and fall doing so. That same someone will demand compensation for injuries sustained as a result of the less-than-perfect condition of your walkway. Claims and counterclaims will fly back and forth, and when the dust settles, you will be found liable for at least a portion of the victim’s expenses, so be prepared.
Weather warrants great care. An icy sidewalk, a tree snapped under a load of snow and ice, a drift that hides a hole and hurts a leg; all create new degrees of liability. Know what weather in your area is most likely to create situations that may result in personal or property damages, and carry enough insurance to minimize your financial risk.
Pets are a problem. “Dog Bites Man” remains big news, and serious maulings by a handful of breeds has made for a mountain of liability claims at the high end of the scale. To limit your vulnerability, check with your insurance company and your community to learn which breeds are acceptable and what restrictions may apply regarding confinement and comfort for your pet.
An excellent rule to keep your liability under control is to consult your homeowner’s insurance agent about any changes you intend to make that will alter the present condition of your property, and let your insurance carrier be your guide.