Preparing your home for ice and snow

According to long-range forecasts, New Jersey and surrounding states will be experiencing less ice and snow than average, but don’t use that as an excuse to blow off maintenance.

To get ready for winter, follow these tips for preparing your home for ice and snow.

Purchase supplies before the rush

If you head to your local hardware store in advanced, you will find many things you need in stock for dealing with ice and snow. Shop early, and you won’t find yourself facing a row of empty shelves the night before a blizzard. De-icing salt and sand tend to be the items that sell out quickly, so be certain to have those stored at your home.

Fire up the snow blower

Find out now if your snow blower is in working order or if you need to have it serviced or replaced. Otherwise, you could find yourself doing a lot more shoveling than necessary.

Think about safety

Because you want your family to be safe and do not want to be held liable should someone get hurt on your property, now is the time to start taking precautions. In addition to clearing and salting your sidewalk, look into purchasing special grippers for stairs, items that make your banister easier to hold onto and lighting that will not be impacted by snow.

Be ready for power outages

Should a major storm hit, homes could lose power for several days at a time. If you already have an emergency kit, take time to make sure all items inside are still good. If you do not have one yet, spend a few hours putting together a supply of food, water, blankets, lighting and first-aid items.

Think about entertainment

Power outage or not, if you end up stuck inside during a storm, you are going to want things to keep the family occupied. Since you cannot always rely on electronics, have some board and card games ready to go. If there are younger kids in the house, crafting kits can fight boredom and keep everyone in a good mood.

Of course, no matter how well you prepare, you cannot account for everything. To protect yourself and your home, make certain your homeowner’s insurance offers the coverage you need.