Halloween Mishaps: Don't Be Under Insured

Don't Let Halloween Accidents Increase Home Insurance

By Meha Ahmad, InsuranceAgents.com Staff Writer

Home insurance is usually the last thing on someone's mind when they're prepping for one of the spookiest night's of the year: Halloween.
(IMPORTANT: Getting home insurance quotes on added coverage could save you more than $1,000 in damages.  1 out of every 20 homes reports vandalism on Halloween)

Halloween is a time to turn out the lights, wear long flowing costumes and get spooked, right? Wrong. That is just a recipe for a home insurance disaster, and a quick way to ruin a perfectly fun holiday. The key to having fun on Halloween is having sufficient home insurance and preventing any possible dangers from occurring that may turn a festive night into a horror story you'll be cringing at for years to come.  Get insight from one of the local home agents in our insurance agent network.  You zipcode and a quick call could keep you from incurring thousands of dollars worth of damage to your property.  Use our agent finder to see profiles for home agents in your area.

Halloween poses a lot of risks and liability issues. Any number of unexpected accidents can occur, leaving property damaged or guests hurt. Decorations and candles for a Halloween party can seriously harm a guest if their costume catches alight. Cluttered pathways can result in little trick-or-treaters tripping and hurting themselves. And any property damage expenses or medical and legal expenses that result from those incidents are the responsibility of the homeowner, making added home insurance on Halloween night a real advantage.  Not sure if added coverage is affordable?  Compare home insurance rates for added liability coverage for free using our quick form.

5 Home Insurance Tips For Halloween

So how do you make your home safe and Halloween mishap-free, in order to keep home insurance costs down? Here are a few helpful tips.

1. Watch what you light - According to the U.S. Fire Administration, special occasions like Halloween result in nearly 16,000 home fires nationwide annually. Lit candles and Jack O Lanterns that can cause home fires and fire-related injuries are the most common home insurance claims made after Halloween festivities. To keep home insurance premiums low, be extra cautious about what you light.
2. Easy-to-navigate haunted houses - Homeowners who plan on turning their residence into a spooky haunted house definitely need to include additional home insurance on their policy. Don't make it too dark-if anyone trips because they can't see where they are going, your home insurance better have enough liability coverage to pay for their injuries.
3. Safety pumpkin carvers - Children can get hurt trying to carve a pumpkin with a sharp knife. Invest in safety pumpkin carvers designed for kids. Let your home insurance agent know that you have these pumpkin carvers if you are looking for additional Halloween home insurance for a low rate.
4. Keep your path lit and clear - Dozens of little trick-or-treaters will be arriving at your home for free candy. If the path to your front door is cluttered or not well-lit, they can get hurt-and you've got hurt children and an expensive liability case on your hands. On top of keeping the path clear and lit, you should also add liability coverage to your home insurance.
5. Protect your pets and others from them - Pets can get rowdy when they're surrounded by strangers. And they can get distracted by all the new décor in the house. Make sure they are included in your home insurance policy if you want damage from them to be covered. Also, keep them away from guests. (Tip: Read our guide on how pets affect your home insurance today).

Don't let your home and home insurance be added to the list of Halloween horror stories. There are too many risks and dangers posed, even on this most festive of holidays. Be sure to practice Halloween safety and remember to include additional home insurance to your policy. That will help you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Published: Friday 30th October 2009