What Are Some Common Halloween Home Insurance Claims?

On Halloween, 24% more house insurance claims are connected to criminal activity than on any other day of the year.

As Halloween approaches, prepare for a spike in insurance claims that may directly affect adjusters and insurance firms. Although Halloween is intended to be a day filled with fun and spooky entertainment, it may inflict more harm than good.

It is essential that you remind all of your policyholders to be particularly cautious this year, especially those who may be displaced by Halloween events. Learn how to decrease the risk by familiarizing yourself with these four main insurance claims that may haunt you and other policyholders in October.

Theft

The spike in larceny is a typical but terrible fear linked with Halloween. According to Policy Genius, 60% of crime-related claims during Halloween include thefts on the premises. On Halloween night, expensive Halloween decorations, bicycles, scooters, and other items have been reported stolen from homes or missing the following morning.

In addition to outdoor theft, burglars may attempt to break into your client's residence. This puts at risk, not just costly possessions but also policyholders and their families. Invasion of the home can be devastating to your policyholders, causing them a great deal of anxiety and concern.

To prevent or limit these occurrences, policyholders must adapt their property protection measures. If policyholders appear to be at home, active, and alert, burglars are less likely to break in or damage property.

Vandalism and Mischief

19% of house insurance claims on Halloween are connected to vandalism and mischief, leaving policyholders with property damage. Eggs, toilet paper, and pebbles thrown through windows are among the most frequent acts of vandalism committed on Halloween. Some individuals go beyond the standard hooligan mischief by vandalizing private vehicles, bicycles, and scooters.

In extreme situations, vandalism can even force your policyholders to relocate. If a policyholder is relocated due to Halloween, they must obtain temporary accommodation immediately while their homes are restored or made safe again. This form of vandalism is characterized by smashed windows, broken doors, and extensive home damage. On Halloween night, this type of vandalism, unfortunately, increases exponentially.

Inform policyholders that illuminating the interior and exterior of their property can lessen the likelihood of vandalism. It's encouraged that policyholders keep their lights on and doors secured. You have a greater chance of minimizing your workload, and the number of home insurance claims filed this year.

Jack-o' Lantern Catching Flames

During Halloween, policyholders frequently decorate their homes with jack-o'-lanterns. On October 31, 2020, 38 separate fires caused $450,000 in damages in places like Vancouver, according to a fireman chief who spoke with CTV News about the Halloween mayhem. With a little over hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage, you must advise policyholders to extinguish the flames in their pumpkins and remain on high alert for any fires they may observe.

Unfortunately, if the flame is not extinguished, it may become uncontrollable. Depending on weather and wind, criminal activity, and other factors, jack-o' lanterns have a dreadful history of starting fires that severely damage homes.

Encourage policyholders to extinguish all candles by the night's end or promote flameless candles as an alternative. The last thing anyone should deal with after a long night of trick-or-treaters is a flaming jack-o-lantern.