Hippo Summer Home Safety Guide: Help Protect Your Investment & Prevent Unexpected Costs with Essential Maintenance

As homeowners, we often enjoy summer activities like hosting parties, grilling, and manicuring our lawns, making our houses feel like home. However, amidst the excitement of these enjoyable summer pursuits, it's crucial to recognize the importance of regular home maintenance. Paying attention to these responsibilities helps avoid unexpected repairs and costs.

Hippo explored how homeowners tackle their household to-do lists and some of the lesser-known tasks that may be overlooked as summer kicks off.

Here are some of the most intriguing takeaways from Hippo's 2023 Summer Home Safety Survey (“Survey”):

Top Summer Activities

Our Survey shows that responding homeowners prioritize summer activities such as grilling, vacationing, and hosting parties. While these activities contribute to our overall enjoyment of homeownership, it is equally important to dedicate time to essential home maintenance tasks. 

The top three summer pastimes for responding U.S. homeowners include:

• Grilling out (78%)
• Taking a summer vacation (60%)
• Hosting a party or entertaining at home (42%)

Preparing for Extreme Weather

With high temperatures already impacting much of the country this summer, storms are likely on the horizon (and minds) for many homeowners. In fact, according to our Survey, 20% of homeowners report having more anxiety than they did last summer about extreme weather in their area, while 58% say their anxiety is similar to last year.

Yet only 20% of homeowners reported they plan to create or update an escape plan and emergency kit this summer. The top three things homeowner respondents plan to do to prepare for extreme weather include:

• Check and replace batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (54%)
• Secure loose objects in the yard (42%)
• Regularly clear out debris from gutters, roof, and outdoor space (41%)

Increases in Utility and Repair Costs

Being a homeowner has gotten more expensive in the past year for many. According to our Survey, homeowners reported increasing costs across various home expenses, with high utility costs (41%) and repair expenses (27%) topping the list. By prioritizing home maintenance and implementing preventive measures, we can have more control of these expenses and help protect our investment.

Homeowners are Bumping up Savings to Cover Costs

Summer heat can wreak havoc on critical home appliances like HVAC systems and refrigerators. As inflation remains high, homeowners are preparing their finances - with 74% of homeowner respondents saying they have enough savings to cover the replacement cost of a broken-down critical appliance in their home. However, according to our Survey, about a quarter of homeowners lack the financial means to cover unexpected issues.

Homeowners opt for DIY over Hiring a Pro

Our Survey revealed that most homeowners say they will self-perform (74%) home maintenance projects this summer over using a local professional (26%). And the primary objective is to save money by avoiding unexpected repairs and costs (59%), followed by improving home value (48%) and improving their standard of living (45%). 

Start by focusing on the DIY projects that many homeowners report taking on and you feel you can take on comfortably, and take note of the projects you should not attempt on your own without the help of a professional. 

Take a Stab at a DIY Project

• Check for signs of pests and spray to keep them away (57% of homeowner respondents say they will do this). Regularly spraying around the exterior of your home helps prevent infestations and protects your property from potential damage caused by insects or rodents.
• If you feel confident in using a ladder, inspect and remove debris from the roof and gutters (38% of homeowner respondents say they will do this). A quick walk-around every 3 months to remove debris from the roof and gutters helps reduce the risk of water damage, leaks, and structural issues.
• Replace weather strips on windows and doors (only 23% of homeowner respondents say they will do this). Removing and replacing worn out weather strips each season helps improve insulation and may even help better manage your utility bills by keeping the cold air in and the hot air out during the summer.

Consider Hiring a Pro

• HVAC system maintenance. Annual servicing of your HVAC unit helps keep filters clear from debris and improves the appliance's durability.
• Plumbing maintenance or installation. Check for signs of water damage on walls and ceilings, and if detected, move quickly to bring in a plumber to identify and fix any possible leaks.
• Electrical updates or outages. Flickering lights could indicate an electrical problem requiring professional help to protect your home from overheating in the event of a power surge. 

Maintaining a home involves more than just enjoying fun summer activities. It requires a proactive approach to help protect your investment, prevent unexpected costs, and ensure the safety and comfort of our families. Homeowners can enjoy a well-maintained, secure, and cost-effective living environment by dedicating time and effort to these tasks. 

Visit hippo.com or download the Hippo app on iOS and Android Play to learn how we can support you and meet your home protection needs.

Methodology

Hippo’s 2023 Summer Home Safety Survey was conducted by Researchscape International on behalf of Hippo Insurance Services. Fielded between June 16-17, 2023, the results are based on 1,025 survey respondents who are all homeowners in the United States. Results were weighted to be representative of the overall population of U.S. homeowners according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, May 3, 2023 by age, ethnicity, region, and other demographics.