Buying a home ─ whether it's your first or one of several over the years ─ is not only a major responsibility but also a significant investment and milestone for many. Indeed, about 82 percent of Americans believe homeownership to be part of the American Dream, even valuing it above the ability to retire or having a successful career, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Home Affordability Survey.  It's little wonder why so many people feel this way, as homes are where lives are built and serve as sanctuaries from the cares of the world.

But with life being what it is ─ endlessly unpredictable ─ a variety of events can happen that put a home's sanctuary status in jeopardy.

Fires caused $11.3 billion in property damage in 2023

Fires pose an unpredictable yet surprisingly common threat to homeownership. In fact, according to statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, 344,600 residential building fires were reported to safety officials in 2023. These resulted in 10,400 injuries ─ typically involving homeowners ─ and nearly $11.3 billion in property damage. The leading cause of structure fires, making up nearly 50 percent of all home fires,  was cooking equipment. Tragically, thousands of people lose their lives from these events, with 2,890 civilian deaths reported in 2023.

Another safety risk is often taking place when no one is at home ─ or at least when criminals expect this is the case ─ 70 percent of all break-ins impact residential properties, according to government data. Somewhat surprisingly, most of these illegal entries occur in the late morning to mid-afternoon hours, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The FBI chalks this up to the fact that this is usually when family members are away from their domiciles, whether at work or school. Interestingly, however, a majority of burglaries reported to area officials occur when at least one person is in the house. Even more frightening, roughly 10 percent of robberies are committed by entrants carrying a firearm, according to the FBI.

How can you protect your home?

Of course, there are a variety of methods that can reduce the commonality of these occurrences, or at the very least, diminish their impact. In the case of fires, for instance, most homes come equipped with smoke detectors, alerting residents to potential fires that may be occurring throughout the home. Yet according to the NFPA, these alarms often go unequipped, perhaps due to individuals believing that they'll never be impacted by fire. But between 2018 and 2022, approximately 59 percent of all home fire deaths in the U.S. were in houses where they weren't installed or were inoperative.

Similarly, break-ins likely wouldn't occur as often as they do - or be as devastating - if more homeowners had security systems set up. However, because so few have them installed, only 12.4% of larceny/theft crimes were solved by police officials in 2022, according to the federal government.

New homeownership initiative with McCall Homes

What's the solution? Aside from homeowner’s insurance, increased vigilance and added awareness to these potential risks, a good place to start is with a home security system. Here at Marsh McLennan Agency, we've teamed up with McCall Homes so policyholders will make home security more of a priority.

"Clients who work with and buy from McCall understand the importance of quality and security," said Brett Arnold, personal lines sales executive at Marsh McLennan Agency. "Protecting their home is just as important. The right coverage for the expected quality for someone's most prized possession is a must."

Not only do surveillance systems bring added peace of mind, but they can also bring a variety of cost savings, including discounts on homeowner’s insurance and additional rebates with extra safety installations, such as for carbon monoxide. An odorless, colorless substance that can be deadly when inhaled in large quantities, carbon monoxide usually derives from leaks in heating equipment, such as furnaces, fireplaces or even dryers. The exhaust from running cars can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Surveillance cameras are highly effective

Home security systems don't only bring added safety and potential cost savings, but they're also genuinely preventative. Current security consultant and former burglar Luke Harris shares how effective security cameras are. “Spotting a security camera is likely to stop a burglar in their tracks, as they not only know that the property is well protected, but also that there is a chance that their face is being recorded and passed on to the police.” Harris’ statement illustrates how surveillance and home security systems can be a valuable investment and even a necessary part of responsible homeownership.

Insurance: a nonnegotiable part of homeownership

Ultimately, one of the best things you can do to protect your investment is to secure the right insurance policy for your home.

"Better-built homes protected by coverage that is the right fit is crucial," said Arnold. "Make sure your assets are covered correctly and make sure you understand what your coverages are."

For more information on how you can better protect your biggest investment - and the precious belongings that you hold dear, both living and material ─ ask your Marsh McLennan Agency representative about our home security campaign.