Decorating your house for the holidays is part of the fun of the season. Many people — including those who live in your rental home — go all out with lights, wreaths, garland, displays, and of course, the Christmas tree. These are often beautiful displays of color, family heirlooms, and more. But they can also be dangerous. So, what are the risks of these festive firs? Here are a few to keep in mind and how your rental home insurance may come into play if an accident happens:
TREE FIRES
As you would imagine, tree fires are a concern. But did you know there are an average of over 200 tree fires per year in the U.S. (according to the National Fire Protection Agency) and that they result in millions of dollars in property damage? In fact, around 1 out of every 33 Christmas tree fires results in death. Although not that common, these concerns warrant taking the right measures to avoid them. Having the right rental home homeowners coverage is important, but what about Holiday collections or other high-value articles that might be displayed this season? Talk with an agent about ensuring you have all the right coverages.
WATER DAMAGE
Live trees are beautiful, but they also need care – including water. Tree bases filled with water can often leak, causing damage to floors, furniture, rugs, and more. Not to mention, a slip and fall could occur when “rocking around the Christmas tree.” Your rental home insurance coverage and contents protection are likely to cover most of the damage, but a fall of a friend or family member could result in a large hospital bill or even a lawsuit. Make sure you have an umbrella policy in place for additional liability coverage.
TRANSPORTING THE TREE
We’ve all seen movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, where traveling with a tree can end in disaster. But in real life, accidents happen as well. Tree limbs can scratch and dent your vehicle, fly off and cause other damage, or even be the cause or contributor to an accident. Do you have the right auto coverage if the worst occurs? Make sure to talk with an agent and be prepared.
Don’t let one of these Holiday headaches ruin your season. Contact us at 865.453.1414 to discuss the coverages you need to protect your rental home and your primary residence.