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Your Party-Safety Checklist
A little prep can go a long way.
Our homes come alive in the fall as we welcome friends and family for football watch parties and holiday dinners. While planning the perfect menu and running through that #CleanTok checklist, don’t forget about one of the most critical parts of hosting: keeping your guests safe.
Before the doorbell rings, take a few simple steps to help prevent accidents.
Pinpointing Common Risks
A quick safety inspection — and running through an annual maintenance checklist — can help reduce injuries. Lori Bishop, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Plano, suggests walking through your property, from driveway to backyard, looking for potential hazards.
“Inspect all the walkways and stairs in common traffic areas, and repair any known hazards,” Bishop says.
- Look for these common culprits:
- Loose handrails
- Uneven walkways
- Poor or dim lighting in hallways or around entrances
- Bulky, unsecured rugs
- Cluttered walkways
- Extension cords
Host prep is also a good time to test often-forgotten yet critically important smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, and other safety alarms. Also, Bishop suggests wrapping up any lingering home renovations before hosting, so guests aren’t socializing in the middle of a haphazard construction site.
Pets and Parking
Don’t overlook the logistics of managing pets and parking when hosting a large gathering.
Even the most well-trained pup or calmest cat can act out when they become overwhelmed by an influx of activity — and people — in their space. Dog bites are one of the more common types of insurance claims when it comes to hosting. In fact, there were nearly 30,000 dog bite claims filed nationwide in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Reduce risk by keeping your pets away from the action during the gathering.
Keep an eye on parking too — especially if you live in a neighborhood where guests need to park along the street. Kindly remind visitors to avoid blocking driveways, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. That way, emergency access routes remain open. Bishop recommends getting permission from neighbors if your guests may need to park near their homes.
Understanding Liability and Coverage
Liability coverage is a common misunderstanding when it comes to property insurance.
“People think because they have liability, that covers anything and everything with no limitation,” Bishop says. “But it really depends on the circumstances and the language of their policy.”
Liability limits vary by policy, and coverage can extend up to $1 million. If coverage is needed beyond that, Bishop recommends umbrella insurance, which provides coverage beyond standard liability limits.
Prepping for a large event is an ideal time to reassess your property coverage — especially if it’s been more than a year since your last review.
Your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent can set up a 360 Review, which is a free comprehensive, systematic bird’s-eye view of your insurance policies. This annual policy review can catch any coverage gaps and assess your liability risk.
With a little preparation, you can host with confidence, focusing on full plates and fun conversation instead of potential hazards lurking around your home.
Feeling inspired? Throw a Texas-themed party with every detail in place, from the perfect playlist to prime pecan pie.
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