Avoiding Five Mistakes That Even Experienced Home OwnersMake Have you ever inadvertently left a candlestick burning untended? Or left home without activating thehome security system? You most likely made a subconscious note to yourself to not do it again, butotherwise didn't think much about it. But next time, you might possibly not get so lucky. A simple "uh oh" could generate thousands ofdollars in harm to your property. Here are five ideas to avoid common homeowner missteps: Tip 1: Clean out the filtration system on your clothes dryer Why? Fire. Those wads of lint that get snagged in your dryer's filter can pose a serious fire hazard.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determines that clothes dryers cause more than15,000 house fires a year. Your approach: Be sure to totally empty the lint trap each time you use your clothes dryer. Also, makecertain your clothes dryer ducts are metal, because they're less prone to droop and permit lint toaccumulate. Tip 2: Remove tree limbs that dangle beside your residence Why? Roof or other property damage. A thunderstorm or wind storm might sweep through your areaand slam those limbs onto your roof, creating considerable destruction. Your approach: Talk with an arborist or tree surgeon about any trees in your yard that could present athreat. Tip 3: Don't place card board cartons from recent expensive purchases out on the curb with therubbish Why? Theft. By putting boxes in a noticeable location, you're putting out an alert to thieves that youhave expensive things in your house. Your approach: Cut boxes up and put them into the trash or recycling container. Tip 4: Make your residence look lived in when you're on a trip Why? Theft. An empty home is an easy target for criminals. Your approach. Have your mail and newspaper deliveries put on hold or have a reliable neighbor get

and secure them until your return. Not only do stacks of mail indicate that a home is vacant, butrobbers can sort through letters to rip off your identity. You also might want to arrange for anindividual to take care of your grass if you'll be gone for more than a couple of days, and think aboutinstalling central alarms, motion detectors, or timed lights that will light up the area surrounding yourproperty at night. Tip 5: Check appliance water hoses Why: Water damage. Hoses for washing machines and refrigerators decay and should be changedout before they spring a leak. The water supply line to the icemaker could also be a water leak waitingto happen. Your approach: Change out washing machine supply lines every five years. If you see the plastic linealong the back of the refrigerator getting discolored (yellow or brown), have a kitchen appliance repairspecialist take a look. In spite of your best efforts to adequately maintain and protect your home, disasters and misfortunesstill happen, which is why it's also very important to realize what your homeowners insurance does,and doesn't, pay for. As an example, no homeowners insurance will cover flood damages fromnatural disasters, so you may well want to purchase federal flood insurance if you reside in an areavulnerable to flooding. Additionally, check to see if yours is a guaranteed replacement cost policy,which would pay to reconstruct your residence if it's drastically damaged or destroyed. The insurancecoverage is rare, but some companies incorporate it in their standard homeowners policies. Need A CT Home Inspection? John Koch is an expert when it comes to Connecticut home inspection. To find out everything aboutConnecticut home inspection, visit his website at http://www.homeinspectorsconnecticut.com/. ct home inspectors