2025 Hanover Home Report
LOSS PREVENTION
About the report
Key findings
Actionable insights
As weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, and the costs to resolve property claims continue to climb, homeowners play a vital role in protecting their homes.
The Hanover commissioned The Harris Poll to survey more than 1,000 American homeowners to better understand the actions they are taking to protect their homes from weather, water damage and other common threats to home safety.
American homeowners (defined in the survey as those who own a home) were asked to respond to four questions related to the safety of their home, and steps they’ve taken to reduce the potential for a future insurance claim.
The findings from the report show that homeowners are increasingly aware of the options they have to best protect their homes from losses and future insurance claims.
However, the data illustrates the often-wide gap between awareness of the risk mitigation options available and their adoption by homeowners. Action is still lacking in key areas, specifically water damage prevention, which continues to be one of the biggest threats to homes.
Costs, and the need for additional guidance, are among the most common reasons for this inaction, according to the survey.
By raising the topic of home safety with their insurance agents, homeowners can better understand the importance of monitoring and maintaining specific areas of the home, and potentially access valuable information and resources as they pursue these risk mitigation efforts.
This includes addressing the vulnerabilities of roofs, gutters and potential water damage areas, which can ultimately reduce the chance of damage to their homes.
AWARENESS VS. ACTION
The first two questions of the survey focused on homeowner awareness of devices and materials that can help them reduce risk, and what safety measures they’ve taken recently. Focus areas included protecting against water damage, severe weather and fire.
ACTION
AWARENESS
THE RISKS
CLICK BELOW TO EXPLORE
Structural safety
ACTION
AWARENESS
THE RISKS
CLICK BELOW TO EXPLORE
Fire
How familiar are you with the following home devices or materials?
Water sensors
79%
Automatic water shutoff device 76%
Water damage unrelated to weather is one of the most common claims impacting homeowners, leading to nearly 40% of home insurance claims (when factoring out catastrophic weather events).
1 in 60 homeowners experience a water damage loss annually.
ACTION
AWARENESS
THE RISKS
CLICK BELOW TO EXPLORE
Water damage
These figures reflect a major increase from awareness data gathered from similar questions in previous Hanover Home Reports.
This helps illustrate that more and more homeowners are aware of options available for water damage mitigation, and their importance as well.
Which of the following steps have you taken to protect your current home?
Installed water sensors or made sure my home already had them
16%
Installed an automatic water shut off device or made sure my home already had one 13%
Automatic water shutoff devices are the most surefire way to avoid future water damage. However, the ease of installation and relative low expense of water sensors make them an appealing option for homeowners looking to take immediate action.
Nonetheless, despite the growing awareness, adoption of water sensors by homeowners has remained low.
Which of the following steps have you taken to protect your current home?
Checked water heater function 56%
Annual inspections of water heaters can help identify potential issues early, such as leaks or sediment buildup, which can lead to significant water damage if left unaddressed. They can improve the efficiency of the water heater as well.
How familiar are you with the following home devices or materials?
Fortified roofs
61%
Wind-rated garage 59%
Fortified roofs, designed to withstand high winds, debris and heavy rains, can help reduce the potential for a claim. This is important because damage related to roofs makes up an estimated 70-90% of residential losses in catastrophic weather events.
The value of a wind-rated garage stems from the fact that garage doors are one of the most vulnerable parts of a home in a hurricane or tornado.
Source: IBHS
Which of the following steps have you taken to protect your current home?
Checked roof
57%
Trimmed trees 60%
A roof is a home’s first line of defense against severe weather, and should be visually inspected for damage annually, and after major weather events. In the 2024 Hanover Home Maintenance Report, only 38% reported checking their roof for damage in the last 12 months.
This year’s significantly higher statistic, paired with consistent attention to trees, shows that homeowners are understanding how important roof health is to overall safety.
Approximately 20% of wind and hail claims not linked to catastrophic events involve trees. Regular tree trimming and gutter cleaning should be done each spring and fall, with extra trimming before expected storms if conditions allow.
When homeowners remain diligent about the state of their roofs — monitoring for broken or missing shingles, or moss growth — simple repairs and upkeep can head off major damage and claims down the road.
Which of the following steps have you taken to protect your current home?
Updated roof with fortified materials
17%
Installed a wind-rated garage or made sure my home already had one 10%
Fire is one of the most common home claims. With an average cost exceeding
$75,000 they are also by far the most costly.
Source: Homeowners Insurance Claims Statistics (2024) — Policygenius
How familiar are you with the following home devices or materials?
Smoke detector
99%
Fire alarm system 97%
Given the impact a fire can have, fire prevention measures are an essential component of home safety. Fortunately, many homeowners understand the importance of installing smoke alarms on every level of their homes.
Which of the following steps have you taken to protect your current home?
Installed smoke detectors or made sure my home already had them
67%
Cleaned dryer vent duct 62%
Serviced HVAC system/changed filters 57%
These tasks are the quickest and easiest steps a homeowner can take to prevent fires in their homes. Recommendations include cleaning dryer vents monthly, and testing smoke detectors every six months.
OBSTACLES TO ACTION
The remaining two questions in the survey focused on why homeowners who haven't taken all of the listed steps to avoid risks have left these risks unaddressed, and how their independent insurance agent can help them take the next steps.
One aspect of an insurance agent’s role is to understand a home’s vulnerabilities and offer the appropriate coverage. It’s their knowledge of these same vulnerabilities that can also make them a trusted source for guidance on how to proactively protect against them.
Cost
Cost proved to be the most cited factor as to why homeowners haven’t taken more action when it comes to protecting their homes.
Remember: Not every risk prevention measure is a major undertaking. Water sensors, for example, cost around $50 and don’t require professional installation.
Homeowners, when consulting with their insurance agents, should learn how the insurer they work with provides not just coverage to protect their homes, but a focus on prioritizing proactive risk prevention. This can include a cost savings when the homeowner works with a vendor partner, or a policy discount when important work is completed.
Which of the following are reasons why your home doesn’t have all of those safety features installed and/or you haven’t performed all of the preventative maintenance tasks listed in the prior question to protect your home?
Which of the following are reasons why your home doesn’t have all of those safety features installed and/or you haven’t performed all of the preventative maintenance tasks listed in the prior question to protect your home?
Key Takeaway: For homeowners who are still uncertain about what to do next, talking to their insurance agent can be a helpful next step.
Insurance agents are involved with home insurance claims every day. They have a deep knowledge where homes are often vulnerable and have seen the difference risk mitigation efforts can make. Agents can be a trusted source for guidance when it comes to keeping homes safe, and helping homeowners avoid claims.
Understanding
There has been growing awareness among homeowners of the important risk prevention measures they should be taking to protect their homes. But there remains a significant percentage who report lacking the information to act.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP
Storms across the country are getting more costly, and more unpredictable. Water damage remains a persistent — and persistently unaddressed — threat to homes. These are just some of the reasons it is so crucial for homeowners to take action when it comes to protecting their properties. For anyone that doesn’t know where to start, remember that insurance agents can provide valuable guidance, including next steps and local vendor information, to ensure that the right protection and maintenance plans are in place. Taking action now can help prevent disruptive damage later.
Dan Halsey
President of Personal Lines,
The Hanover Insurance Group
Cost of devices/material/ getting work done
39%
Which of the following steps would be most helpful for your homeowners insurance agent to take to encourage you to perform preventive maintenance tasks?
Offer a discount on my insurance premium after completing these tasks/installing these devices or materials
63%
Offer options for discounted pricing on devices/materials or vendors that can provide these services
53%
Didn't know I needed to
26%
Never heard of these tasks/devices
23%
Not familiar with how these steps protect my home
22%
Don't believe they will actually help prevent losses
11%
Which of the following steps would be most helpful for your homeowners insurance agent to take to encourage you to perform preventive maintenance tasks?
Share more information about these and how they help protect my home
41%
Provide vendor info
49%
Help me prioritize
43%
Which of the following steps would be most helpful for your homeowners insurance agent to take to encourage you to perform preventive maintenance tasks?
Lack of time
19%
Not a priority for me
19%
Too many options for devices/materials
14%
Which of the following are reasons why your home doesn’t have all of those safety features installed and/or you haven’t performed all of the preventative maintenance tasks listed in the prior question to protect your home?
Key Takeaway: Each step taken towards strengthening home safety is a valubable one. Consulting with an expert, such as a local insurance agent, can be a good place to start.
Homeowners don’t have to guess what to do next. In addition to their general home safety knowledge, insurance agents are often connected with a community of reliable local service vendors who can help homeowners take the next steps.
Action
With so many potential risks to protect against, and so many options to choose from, many homeowners report not knowing where to start, who to turn to, or how to prioritize the work.
The value of the independent agent
An insurance agent does so much more than recommend coverage. Through their deep understanding of the risks homes in their communities face, they can be a source of valuable knowledge and resources to help homeowners as they start to focus on home maintenance efforts.
The difference the right insurer can make
The best insurance carriers go beyond offering just coverage. Some help to bring attention to the importance of home safety through educational content, offer partnerships with vendors that offer discounted services, and work in partnership with homeowners and agents to avoid losses.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com.
Survey Method
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Hanover from March 25 - 27, 2025 among 1,111 adults ages 18 and older who own a house. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.
Press contacts:
Kyle Tildsley
ktildsley@hanover.com
508-855-3287
Emily P. Trevallion
etrevallion@hanover.com
508-855-3263
All products are underwritten by The Hanover Insurance Company or one of its insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates (“The Hanover”). Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to the company underwriting guidelines and the issued policy. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. For more information about The Hanover visit our website at www.hanover.com.
1 in 35 homeowners has filed an insurance claim related to wind or hail damage.
The increasing severity of weather events, and the rising costs of claims related to these events, has increased focus on the structural safety of homes, garages and other buildings on a homeowner’s property.
Source: Wind Damage Statistics 2025
Among those who haven’t taken all of the listed steps to avoid risks.
Among those who haven’t taken all of the listed steps to avoid risks.
Among those that have a homeowners insurance agent.
SUMMARY
When it comes to home safety, awareness among homeowners has increased, but there's more to be done. Homeowners can start with simple tasks like installing water sensors, visually inspecting roofs and trees, and working with an independent agent to make sure their homes are properly protected.
