How to protect your home from bushfires, flood and storms

Bushfire and storm season has arrived in much of the country. So what can you do to protect your home?

Fires

One idea is to remove dry vegetation and flammable items from around the property, to create a buffer zone.

Another idea is to add ember guards to your roof, eaves and windows, to prevent embers from setting your home alight.

You can also install bushfire-rated shutters, which are designed to protect windows from heat and flames.

For future bushfire seasons, you can retrofit your home with non-combustible materials, such as metal, brick and concrete, and switch to fire-resistant plants in your garden.

Floods

There are a range of measures you can take to guard against the floods that often occur at this time of the year.

For example, you can install a sump pump, so you're able to remove any water that may enter your basement.

You can also prepare to place sandbags (as an interim solution) and flood boards (as a long-term solution) at places where water could enter your home, such as doors and windows.

In future, you can elevate electrical outlets, wiring and appliances, so they remain above any potential flood. Furthermore, you can add water-resistant materials, such as tile and sealed concrete, to your home.

Storms

Storm events are another regular summer occurrence that you might want to protect yourself against.

One measure you can take right now is to secure outdoor structures that might become dangerous projectiles in strong winds.

Also, you can add shutters to your windows, to protect them from flying debris.

As a future project, you can install impact-resistant doors and windows, as well as replace your current roof with a cyclone-rated version.

How to finance these improvements

While some of these ideas are free or low-cost, others require a significant investment.

If you don’t have the cash at hand, I can help you finance the work, in one of two ways:

• Get you a new loan.
• Refinance your existing loan so you can ‘cash out’ some of the equity in your home.

Please get in touch to discuss your options.

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