Nobody should drive like a maniac because they have auto insurance. Why? Insurance doesn’t prevent dangerous accidents; it offsets their related financial losses.

Likewise, no one should live in an unsafe house because they have homeowner’s insurance. Why? Insurance doesn’t prevent things like fires and water damage, it offsets their related financial losses.

So even with good insurance, it makes sense for homeowners to take steps to protect their homes because things like fires are dangerous, and claims can be a hassle. Some steps may lead to insurance discounts and others will just be a layer of valuable protection for your family and property.

Click here for “A Guide to Building A More Resilient Home” from Pure Insurance (one of my high-value carriers). It contains real-life examples of large claims and good suggestions on how they could have been prevented. Some ideas are easier to implement with new construction, but many others are steps you can take to protect your existing home now. Or you can save it as a reference so you can do a “safety audit” when buying a different new or existing home. I hope you’ll give it a read.