When an object is used every day, its condition tends to decline. This is what is referred to as wear and tear. In a home, wear and tear refers to the property's deterioration after it has been used as intended. The deterioration should not be due to carelessness, accidents, misuse, or abuse of the property's contents either by you, your guests, visitors, or your household members. 

Having home insurance can save you a lot of trouble with regards to your property. For instance, it can cover the repairing or replacement for items damaged by theft, fire, or floods. Additionally, homeowners insurance is essential in covering the costs that you may incur if a visitor is injured in your residence or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property.

Why is Wear and Tear not covered by Home Insurance?

Homeowners insurance covers the cost of repairing any sudden and accidental damage. Wear and tear cannot be classified as sudden or accidental. It results from using the property for a long time without enough maintenance.

This means that insurance policies are not intended to cover things that are broken, worn out, failing because you have not maintained them properly, or have degraded naturally with time. Insurance companies have replaced wear and tear with a ‘new for old’ policy.

This policy is also known as ‘replacement as new’ coverage. When your items are stolen, lost, or destroyed, the new for the old policy is available to cover the full expenses of replacing them. Additionally, the insurance provider may also cover all the costs involved in repairing damaged items to get them to their original state.

Policies in Practice

For homeowners with large buildings, wear and tear can significantly impact their insurance claim. The impact is especially severe if the wear and tear results from negligence and lack of proper maintenances. For instance, you can present a claim when water from a leaking roof has caused some damage.

Nevertheless, if it is discovered that the roof leaked because you had not replaced some missing tiles, then the insurance provider will probably challenge or reduce your claim. Therefore, before you purchase any policy, ensure that you fully grasp its terms and conditions.

Preventing Wear and Tear

Since this phenomenon is not included in any homeowners insurance, it is your responsibility to keep it at bay as much as possible. Wear and tear is meant to happen on your property’s contents as they get used every other day. However, these are some steps that you can take to ensure that the wear and tear effect is minimal or cleared completely:

1.       Repainting

Besides improving the aesthetics of your home, applying a new coat of paint is a protective measure. In today’s market, you will find different paints created for outdoors to guard your property against cold, water, heat, wind, and other elements.

2.       Tree and bush trimming

If left to grow too big heights, the trees and bushes could scrap your home's exterior parts, such as the roof and walls. Trimming is a perfect way of ensuring there is some distance between your home’s exterior and the trees or branches around it.

3.       Work on minor roof damage

Regular inspections on your roof can save you a lot of trouble in the future. During the winter, for instance, roofs are prone to damage. The water that leaks into your home could damage the house's interior and foundation. Cracked, missing, or loose roof shingles should be repaired or replaced the soonest possible to ensure that your home is safe.