Commentary
The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours and blooming trees and flowers are signs that warmer weather is on the way.
That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little maintenance as summer heats up.
“Now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims said.
Here are tips O’Rourke recommends to save some money down the road.
2. Trim branches and remove dangerous trees.
Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round, so it’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage.
“Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” O’Rourke said.
Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist to determine their health and have diseased trees removed before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy but can be a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety.