With the hustle and bustle of the holidays coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking of annual maintenance that needs to be completed to keep our homes running smoothly.

An area that is often overlooked until disaster strikes is the basement.

Many of our clients feel that since they did not build their home, there are very few options available to keep their basement free of water.

But, that’s simply not true!

Here are a few simple proactive steps to help prevent your basement from flooding and water damage:

• Keep your downspouts and gutters clean
  • Even if there aren’t trees near your home, check them annually – stuff gets launched in there – trust us!
• Repair any cracks in your foundation or basement walls
• Regularly inspect your sewer and clean out your septic tank
• Make sure your landscape does not cause water to pool around your home
• Make sure window wells are covered and properly installed
• If you have a sump pump, make sure it is in working order

If you are building a new home, make sure to take the extra steps in applying waterproofing and  to the exterior and interior walls, along with the floor of the basement- you will be glad you did!

Sometimes we “inherit” others’ problems and from there more issues can arise. Not to worry, you can still waterproof your basement! We can help recommend waterproofing companies that can help you abate this issue once and for all.

Take the time today to make the necessary improvements and scheduled maintenance checks to ensure your basement stays dry.

Protecting your properties is what we do best at Steely and Smith!

Reach out to us today, to see how we can help you protect your home, confirm you have the proper amount of coverage, and if damage should occur, we are here to help!

Note: This is general in nature and should not be construed as professional insurance advice. You should work with your insurance agent to determine what will work best for your situation.