Is Your Home Haunted … Or Just Hiding Serious Repairs?
With Halloween creeping closer, every bump in the night feels a little more chilling. According to our Homeowners Preparedness Report, 78% of homeowners experienced unexpected repairs just last year.
With the spooky season in full swing, we took a closer look at the things that scare homeowners. Our new study surveyed over 2,000 U.S. homeowners to find out how often eerie house settling noises or weird smells in the home turn out to be something more sinister—like a burst pipe or mold infestation.
Your home may not be haunted, but these spooky occurrences are all too real. Here’s how to protect yourself from ‘scary surprises’ commonly found around the house.
Key takeaways
- Spooky signs often indicate real problems. In fact, 70% of homeowners reported hearing eerie sounds or noticing strange smells that turned out to be signs of maintenance issues.
- Homeowners fear unexpected and costly damage. 49% of homeowners are most frightened by the possibility of discovering unexpected property damage that leads to expensive repairs.
- The Halloween season amplifies homeowner concerns. The fear of home damage intensifies around Halloween, with 36% of homeowners worried about liability from accidents and 40% feeling more anxious about theft.
- Prevention is key to avoiding costly repairs. Regular inspections, preventative maintenance, and comprehensive home insurance can help homeowners address problems before they escalate, ensuring peace of mind throughout the year.
The real scare? What unsettling sounds and odors could mean for your home
When it comes to owning a home, plenty of spooky scenarios can send a chill down a homeowner’s spine—and they don’t involve ghosts or goblins.
According to our recent study, 70% of homeowners have encountered unsettling sounds or mysterious odors in their homes that turned out to be indicators of underlying maintenance issues.
Of the homeowners who experienced issues, 44% reported facing serious problems that required professional intervention, such as foul sewage odors emanating from pipes or clanking noises from the HVAC system. In contrast, 26% experienced minor issues that were relatively easy to resolve, like odd smells from clogged drains or the normal creaks and groans of aging floors.
Here are some examples of "creepy" house happenings and what they could mean:
- Clanking pipes could signal air trapped in the plumbing or failing pipes.
- Unexplained drafts or cold spots might indicate gaps in insulation or leaky windows/doors.
- Scratching sounds in walls could point to rodents or pests invading the home.
- Flickering lights could suggest electrical issues, faulty wiring, or power surges.
- Musty or rotten odors might indicate mold, mildew, or a sewage leak.
- Mysterious water stains on ceilings or walls could be signs of a hidden leak or roof damage.
- Rattling HVAC systems might signal loose components or an impending system failure.
If you notice ghoulish odors or creepy cracks in the walls, it’s best to address them sooner rather than later. Even better? Make sure you’re covered before accidents happen with the right home insurance plan.
Home horror stories: Top issues haunting homeowners
As homeowners know all too well, the unexpected can strike at any time. When asked what scenario would give them the biggest fright, nearly half (49%) of our survey respondents cited the fear of discovering unexpected property damage that leads to expensive repairs.
And it's no wonder: Many homeowners have experienced similar issues, often due to problems that could have been avoided with early detection from regular maintenance and upkeep.
For example, 45% of respondents reported encountering water damage that seemed to appear out of nowhere. This is a common issue, often caused by hidden leaks that can go unnoticed for extended periods. One-third (33%) of homeowners also reported experiencing mysterious drafts that turned out to be signs of poor insulation or leaks.
Other spooky issues that homeowners have faced include creaking floors (26%), weird smells (28%), and flickering lights or strange electrical problems (20%). These problems, while often less immediately apparent, can also lead to significant damage and costly repairs if left unchecked.
Liability fears haunt 36% of homeowners: The importance of coverage during Halloween
Liability issues, such as accidents on their property, weighed heavily on 36% of respondents, and 22% were more concerned about property damage like vandalism during this spooky time of year.
Our survey also revealed that many homeowners have heightened property damage concerns during the Halloween season. Nearly half (40%) of homeowners reported feeling more worried about theft, while 37% expressed concern over potential home break-ins.
When asked whether they’d rather deal with a ghost haunting their attic or a burst pipe in their ceiling, an overwhelming 63% of homeowners chose the supernatural scare over the plumbing disaster.
This data underscores the real-life stress homeowners feel about maintaining their homes and highlights the importance of preparedness and regular maintenance to help prevent fear-inducing scenarios.
While not everyone shares these fears, many homeowners are clearly concerned about these unexpected incidents. This is where the right home insurance policy becomes critical.
Whether it’s protecting against personal liability, covering theft, or protecting against home maintenance issues, comprehensive coverage can help homeowners rest assured during Halloween and beyond.
Creaks and cracks? Help prevent issues from becoming nightmares
Don’t ignore the spooky signs in your home. Creaking floorboards, flickering lights, and cracks in the walls can all be signs of a larger issue.
Here are a few ways you can help protect your home from scary surprises:
- Schedule regular inspections: A professional can help identify potential problems that might be tricky to access, such as behind walls, inside critical systems such as HVAC systems and other harder to reach areas.
- Invest in preventative maintenance: Keeping up with a seasonal maintenance checklist can help prevent costly repairs.
- Consider home security essentials: Installing home security essentials like automated lighting, doorbells and security cameras, window and door sensors, smart locks, and security systems could help deter crime.
- Review your home insurance coverage: Know what’s covered before disaster strikes. Homeowners insurance (aka an HO-3 Policy) typically covers your home, belongings, personal property, other structures, and liability.
While homeowners insurance offers broad protection, there are exceptions. It’s important to know what home insurance covers before a claim happens. For example, natural disasters often require additional insurance endorsements, and some states even mandate these endorsements in high-risk areas. Other exclusions could include maintenance costs, identity theft protection, and water damage from backups or sump pump failures.
Have questions about your homeowners insurance? Hippo is here to assist. Get in touch for a free consultation, or download our Hippo Home app for personalized maintenance checklists and 24/7 expert support. Available for free from the App Store and Google Play.
Methodology
This survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey Audience on behalf of Hippo Insurance Services on September 11, 2024. The results are based on 2,027 completed surveys. To qualify, respondents were screened to be U.S. homeowners who are over 18 years of age. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-2% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
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