At Navigate Risk Advisors, we love summer! Whether it is spending time with family by the pool, hosting friends for a backyard cookout, taking the boat out for the weekend, or simply enjoying longer days outdoors, summer is a season many of us look forward to all year.
Unfortunately, it is also a season when insurance claims tend to increase.
Many homeowners make improvements to their property or purchase recreational equipment without realizing how those changes can affect their insurance coverage. A quick conversation with your insurance advisor before summer is in full swing can help prevent unpleasant surprises later.
Did You Add a Pool This Year?
Swimming pools are one of the most common additions that can impact your homeowners insurance.
From an insurance perspective, pools are considered an “attractive nuisance,” meaning they can attract children and create a higher risk of injury. Depending on your insurance carrier, you may be required to have:
• A fence with a self latching gate
• Specific safety barriers or alarms
• Certain liability limits
• Additional underwriting approval
If you recently installed an above ground or in ground pool and have not notified your insurance company, now is the time to do so.
Trampolines Can Affect Your Coverage
A trampoline may seem like a great way to keep the kids active during the summer, but many insurance companies view them as a significant liability exposure.
Some carriers prohibit trampolines altogether, while others require safety enclosures and special underwriting review. In some cases, failing to disclose a trampoline could create issues during the claims process.
Before purchasing one, it is worth checking with your insurance advisor first.
Is Your Boat Properly Insured?
One of the most common misconceptions we hear is that homeowners insurance automatically covers boats.
While homeowners policies may provide limited coverage for smaller watercraft, larger boats, personal watercraft, and higher value vessels often require separate protection.
A dedicated boat policy can help protect you from:
• Physical damage to the vessel
• Liability claims involving passengers
• Fuel spill liability
• Medical payments
• Uninsured or underinsured boater incidents
As boating enthusiasts ourselves, we understand the unique risks that come with life on the water and can help you find coverage that fits your boating lifestyle.
Summer Entertaining Creates Additional Liability
Graduation parties, family reunions, cookouts, and neighborhood gatherings bring more people onto your property than any other time of year.
While no one expects an accident, injuries can happen. A guest could trip on an uneven walkway, fall from a deck, or suffer an injury while using recreational equipment.
That is why we encourage homeowners to review both their homeowners liability limits and their personal umbrella coverage before hosting larger gatherings.
The Coverage Most Homeowners Forget
If there is one policy we believe more families should consider, it is a personal umbrella policy.
Umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of liability protection above your home, auto, boat, and other underlying policies. In today’s environment, lawsuits can easily exceed standard liability limits.
For many households, a million dollars of additional protection costs less than a family dinner out each month.
A Summer Coverage Checkup
Summer is a great time to review your insurance program, especially if you have:
• Added a pool
• Purchased a boat or jet ski
• Installed a trampoline
• Renovated your home
• Increased the value of personal property
• Started hosting more gatherings
At Navigate Risk Advisors, our goal is not simply to sell insurance. We believe in helping families understand their risks and make informed decisions about protecting what matters most.
Before your next pool party, boating adventure, or backyard gathering, take a few minutes to review your coverage. A simple conversation today could help prevent a costly surprise tomorrow.
