How Las Vegas Landscaping Design Could Affect Homeowners Insurance Rates
Las Vegas landscaping is an important part of keeping a home in good working order. Whether it’s maintaining trees, designing a pond or fountain or lighting the grounds, landscaping and maintenance are an exercise in practical use and accident-free upkeep. These are important factors in the service and rates an insurance provider is willing to offer. For an insurance company, it’s all about risk.
Standard Homeowners Insurance
Most homeowners insurance packages offer protection against such events as:
• Wind, lightning and fires
• Theft or break-ins
• Falling trees
• Explosions
• Crashed vehicles
• Cave-ins from snow, ice or sleet
While these may cover the majority of incidents, a well-maintained and planned yard plays a significant part in insurance rates.
Las Vegas Landscaping and Trees
It’s not a question that trees are a valuable part of a yard. They create shade and a more agreeable atmosphere by dropping the temperature, and they add beauty to a home. But trees also come with hazards. While most homeowners insurance will cover damage to a home or a percentage for outbuildings if a tree falls on them, insurance providers likely won’t pay for damages if the tree was known to be unstable or have preexisting rot.
Trees can also interfere with buried plumbing. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced and licensed landscaping company involved in planning a yard to avoid hidden hazards or remove and replace unstable trees and avoid multiple claims filed with the insurance provider, resulting in higher rates.
Water Features in Las Vegas Landscaping
Water features in NV landscaping, such as ponds and fountains, also help make a yard a relaxing retreat with the sound of running water and a cooling effect. They can also create a great lighting effect at nighttime. However, water features also fall into the category known as attractive nuisances. In effect, these have qualities that attract attention, which also increases their likelihood of being a hazard.
A pond or fountain’s design might include fish or surrounding foliage, making them inviting and also potentially hazardous places to explore, especially for children. Relying on the skills of a licensed landscaping company can help mitigate the risks by ensuring a water feature has sufficient barriers and protections and is in compliance with Las Vegas landscaping and building codes.
While homeowners insurance does typically include adequate liability insurance provisions, water features may nevertheless require additional umbrella liability coverage at a higher premium, depending on the case. Sound advice from a licensed Nevada landscape company will also help understand the aspects to consider.
Landscape Lighting
Conversely, landscape lighting not only adds to a yard’s nighttime atmosphere, but it also increases its usability at night by making it a navigable environment. The coincidental benefit is that insurance companies recognize exterior lighting’s potential to minimize the risk of theft or break-ins and may consequently offer a discount on insurance premiums. Landscape lighting could turn out to be a win-win by making a yard more livable as well as more secure.
The rates for homeowners insurance will ultimately depend on the provider, but in any case, the question always comes down to the risk involved for the homeowners insurance companies. A yard deemed more hazardous and likely to incur accidents or a yard that’s poorly planned or maintained will result in higher rates. And while a yard’s design may fit into the coverage provided in standard homeowners insurance, frequent claims due to repeated incidents will increase rates.
At the same time, landscape design in Las Vegas with added safety features like clear walkways, fewer stairways or landscape lighting will also lower insurance rates. You may want to consult with a licensed and experienced Las Vegas landscaping technician to understand implications and minimize the risks.