The holiday season is in full swing, and the days are getting shorter. This can only mean one thing: Winter is coming, so you need to be prepared!

If your home isn't ready for freezing temperatures, it could lead to a disaster. In fact, severe winter weather is the third-largest cause of insured catastrophic losses, according to the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group.

"Homeowners should be prepared for anything, so it's not only a good idea to prepare your home, but also to review your homeowners policy with your insurance agent," said David Hodge, vice president of insurance at AAA Western and Central New York. "That way, if something does happen, you'll know you're covered."

A little work now will get your home winter ready.

• Trim your trees. Snow and wind can make any weak trees or branches break and cause damage to your house, to your car or even to you. You can ask a landscaper to trim your trees and examine them for loose branches or prevent this from happening.
• Add insulation. This can be added to basements, attics and crawl spaces. If heat is escaping through your attic, the snow or ice on your roof can melt, then re-freeze and potentially collapse your roof. Your attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than the air outside. It's also essential for your basement to be insulated because this keeps your pipes from freezing.
• Clean your gutters. Removing the leaves and debris will allow the melting snow and ice to flow freely and can prevent ice damming (when water can't drain through the gutters and goes into your home instead). You can also install gutter guards, which prevent debris from getting into your gutter and allow the water to flow properly away from your house and into the ground.
• Seal cracks. Any cracks in your outside walls and foundation should be sealed now to keep in the heat and make sure they don't expand even more with the cold. Tricky areas like skylights can be sealed with caulking to prevent the dripping snow from getting inside your home.
• Repair steps. Steps leading in or out of your house may seem OK now, but when the area is covered with snow and ice, they'll become much trickier - especially if issues already exist. Take this time to repair handrails as well. You'll need them when it's icy outdoors.

Would you be covered?

An insurance policy review with a licensed agent is a benefit of your AAA membership. Stop by one of our local offices or call 1-888-671-7044