Did you go trick or treating this Halloween? Or did you have children come knocking on your door? Perhaps you just saw the plentiful displays of Halloween merchandise in the shops and wondered how and when this American tradition took hold here in Australia!
But no matter what you were doing, chances are you didn't think too much about the connection between Halloween and your home insurance.
But the connection is there! Below I've included some extracts from news articles in the UK and USA regarding your home insurance over Halloween.
From webwire.com Sunday 1st November 2009
On one of the scariest nights of the year, homeowners insurance is often the last thing a person thinks about when they are opening their home to party guests and trick-or-treaters. According to a new InsuranceAgents.com article, “Get More Home Insurance For Halloween Mishaps,” Halloween poses a variety of risks and liability issues to the unexpecting homeowner.
“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,” the article states.
Homeowners face liability on a regular basis as it is, but hardly as much as on Halloween night. Decorations and lit candles for a spooky Halloween party can harm or burn guests, and cluttered pathways to the front door can trip up and hurt trick-or-treaters. Any injuries or property damage is the financial responsibility of the homeowner who, without sufficient homeowners liability insurance, will have to pay for the repairs or medical and legal expenses out-of-pocket.
However, there are a few tips each homeowner can practice to keep liability risk and financial loss down to a bare minimum.
First, a homeowner can seek additional homeowners insurance, even if it’s just for the night of Halloween. A higher liability risk calls for an increase in insurance.
Homeowners can also keep the path to their home lit and clear, and keep their general property well-lit. This will help others navigate the property more easily so they don’t trip or get hurt. A well-lit property will also help thwart vandals and burglars.
Additionally, homeowners can be extra careful about lighting candles and Jack O’Lanterns. Home fires are the among the top causes of insurance claims on Halloween.
It’s also a good idea to keep pets away from the festivities, as well as far from the front door, where they can get at little trick-or-treaters. A family pet may be well-tempered most of the time, but the chaos of Halloween—with all those strangers around the property—can cause them to get aggressive and possibly bite a guest.
Following these safety tips will not only help a homeowner reduce their liability risk, but it will also help them find additional homeowners insurance at a more affordable rate.
Halloween is a time for partygoers to have fun and let loose. So it’s important not to let something like insufficient insurance get the party down.
From guardian.co.uk Friday 30th October 2009
Halloween is meant to be a bit of harmless fun, but according to insurers 31 October is also the worst day of the year for malicious damage to your home.
House insurance claims are expected to rise by 270% on Halloween, according to Axa Insurance, while Saga claims 3.6 million homeowners will face damage to their properties as some revellers go too far with nasty pranks aiming to deliberately cause damage.
Claims submitted last year on Halloween included broken windows, theft, and damage caused to paintwork by broken eggs. Last year, 15% of 2,044 people questioned by Saga said their house had been egged or flour-bombed on Halloween.
Damage caused to your property by an unknown third party is covered under your home insurance policy, but you should still be vigilant, according to Nick Kidd, head of household insurance at Axa.
"Any sort of damage caused to another person's property is not only antisocial but also a criminal offence," Kidd said. "And while insurance can pick up the cost it can't deal with the emotional trauma."
It is not just Halloween that has insurers on standby: bonfire night (5 November) is also notorious for malicious damage claims, many the result of firecrackers being pushed through letterboxes.
Kidd said: "Although it is difficult to avoid someone putting something through the letterbox, people should take extra care to ensure windows and doors are locked, garden gates are secured and outbuildings, such as garages and sheds, are locked."
Axa said that following bonfire night last year the average claim for damage caused by a firework or firecracker pushed through a letterbox was £1,000.
Many people said they turned their lights off and pretended to be out to avoid answering the door to trick or treaters, but police and local councils say it is more effective to display a "No trick or treat" sign in the porch or front window. Many councils and local police stations have printable posters for homeowners to download on their websites.
Police advise homeowners not to open doors to trick or treaters if they feel intimidated by their presence, and to phone 999 should there be any disturbances or incidents outside or on their property.
Meanwhile, trick or treaters are advised to play safe by respecting "No trick or treat" signs, only ringing the door bells of people they know, not entering houses, and staying in well-lit areas.
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