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WASHINGTON, DC, November 13, 2007 – Ice, snow and wind can have devastating effects on a home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, wind, hail, water damage and freezing account for 40-60% of homeowners’ insurance losses each year, with an average claim severity of $4,562.

“There are simple steps homeowners should take now to prepare for winter and avoid costly damages,” advises Undrea Wright, Owner/Operator of Inspect-It 1st of the Metropolitan Washington, DC, region. “The most common problems include freezing pipes, roof and awning collapses, snow melt leakage, and damage from trees and limbs.”

The Insurance Information Institute recommends an assessment by a property professional to help identify any areas of concern.

“People typically think of a home inspection when they are either buying or selling,” states Wright. “We can also help homeowners protect their home investment ongoing through annual maintenance inspections. You go to the doctor for a check-up, get tune-ups for your car, but what are you doing to maintain your home? The old adage applies: ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”

Following are additional measures homeowners should take to prepare their homes:

1. Check the heating system.
2. Change or clean furnace filters regularly.
3. Add an additional layer of insulation to the attic, basement, and crawl spaces.
4. Caulk around windows and doors.
5. Install storm windows and doors.
6. Check and clean gutters.
7. Replace any roof shingles that are missing or damaged.
8. Have chimney inspected by a chimney service, and cleaned if necessary.
9. Trim tree branches away from the house and have dead trees and branches removed.
10. Drain and shut off outdoor water faucets.
11. Insulate any water pipes that are exposed to freezing cold.
12. Every home should have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Inspect-It 1st of the Metropolitan Washington, DC, region is located at 1629 K Street NW, and serves the entire metropolitan tri-state region. For expert insights on home issues, please call (202) 508-8241, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.uwrightinspects.com. To learn more about the Insurance Information Institute, please visit www.iii.org.

Inspect-It 1st® is a rapidly growing franchise system of property inspectors and a subsidiary of Merrymeeting, Inc. (MMI), a Cleveland-based investment firm specializing in the acquisition and development of franchise brands. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. MMI currently operates five franchise systems with more than 1,400 franchised locations worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.inspectit1st.com or www.merrymtg.com.