When you survey your property, you might only take a passing glance at your driveway. But, your driveway is part of your home that is very important to your home’s value.
You park your car and use your driveway as a thoroughfare for the rest of your home. Driveways can also be great assets to your home. Proper maintenance means you can improve your home’s value.
However, a driveway can also be a dangerous yet valuable asset to your property. Driveways can pose safety hazards if they are not properly maintained.
It is always a good thing to understand how proper driveway maintenance is a benefit to your property.
Proper Maintenance Protects Your Property
Most homeowners understand that home maintenance leads to financial benefits down the road. The same goes for a driveway.
By paving, sealing, or re-laying your driveway, you can improve the value to your home. Regular maintenance means that the driveway is in better shape for the next person.
Luckily, your home insurance will likely cover damages to your driveway from perils. A covered peril might be severe weather, fires and vandalism. Most home insurance policies cover all of your property, not just your house. You should, however, make sure that your driveway is not excluded from coverage by the policy.
However, insurance may not cover damages brought on by negligence or lack of maintenance. That’s why proper maintenance is so important for your driveway.
Proper Maintenance Protects Your Car
No one wants to park a car on a poorly maintained driveway. Pavement on a deteriorating driveway might break. Holes and ruts may open, and foundations may shift. This poses a risk to your car. Problems with a driveway can damage the car.
Again, your car insurance may or may not cover the damages caused by the incident. If your insurance finds that you neglected your driveway and that neglect led to vehicle damage, the policy may not cover you.
By carefully maintaining the driveway, you can reduce your risks to your vehicle.
Practice Maintenance
It is imperative that you maintain your driveway. Look at your driveway’s makeup, and see what you need to do to keep it in good shape. Clear obstructions from dirt and gravel driveways. Always smooth surfaces after rain or floods.
Check to see that adverse weather, whether heat or cold, doesn’t cause pavement to crack. Make sure that you work to clear away any roots or shrubs that may obstruct or damage the pavement. Winter is a big risk to driveways. Make sure that you have driveways scraped after periods of snow or ice accumulation.
Your home insurance will likely protect you when something damages your driveway. However, it is your responsibility to reduce risks your driveways face. Visit Henrich Insurance’s website to learn more. If you have questions about how your home insurance affects your driveway, call us at (713) 349-0400.