Rain check: over a third admit they might not prep homes for autumn and winter

With the colder months approaching, the experts at Go.Compare Home Insurance are encouraging people to ensure their properties are watertight and safe before further bad weather arrives.

In a recent survey, the comparison website found that as many as 36% of people might not do any home or garden prep in the lead-up to autumn and winter* - when cold and wet weather can often wreak havoc with our homes. 19% admitted they didn’t plan to prepare their home or garden in any way, and a further 17% were undecided.

Meanwhile, 64% of those surveyed said they had home maintenance plans in place as we head into storm season - with those in North West England most likely to get the work done (72%).*

When it comes to the most popular home maintenance tasks, trimming back trees and foliage took the number one spot (62%), and in second place, half of those surveyed plan to clean out their gutters. Putting away garden furniture and securing other items like wheelie bins and plant pots is the third most popular job (47%). A further 35% of people are planning to bleed their radiators, and a third (33%) are checking that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.

Nathan Blackler, spokesperson for Go.Compare Home Insurance commented, “The days are getting shorter and colder, so now is a great time to think about preparing your home for the colder months ahead. Take some time at the weekend to prepare your home and garden, and look for any issues or wear and tear that could become a bigger problem if left untreated. Not only can this prevent any unwelcome issues this winter, if your home does become damaged and you want to claim on your insurance, failing to properly maintain it could invalidate your policy.”

Those surveyed were also asked which tasks they were least likely to do. Repairing and maintaining paving slabs proved the least popular task, with 37% of people placing it at the bottom of their to-do lists. 35% said they were least likely to check and repair the roof on their property, while just under a third of those surveyed said checking there was adequate insulation in their attic wasn’t a priority. Another 30% revealed they were unlikely to clean the guttering, and one in four said they would likely neglect to maintain windows and doors.

Nathan advised, “Now is the time to trim back any trees which could cause damage in a storm and put away the sun loungers. Loose tiles on your roof or blocked gutters can cause real issues in heavy rain and lead to leaks or flooding in your home - so clean out your gutters and make sure that your roof is watertight. While some of these tasks are things you can safely attempt yourself, it’s a good idea to call in the experts for things such as roof repairs to make sure your home is properly maintained.

“It’s also important to note that your insurer might not pay out if maintenance hasn’t been carried out by a professional. Our research found that 55% of people planned to carry out any tasks themselves or with the help of friends/relatives possibly leaving them at risk of invaliding their policy if they need to make a claim. Bleeding your radiators and checking your smoke alarms are tasks which can easily be carried out without an expert but it’s best to leave certain tasks like roof repairs to the experts.”