- Pipes first. Insulate runs in crawlspaces and outside walls; disconnect hoses; know where the main shutoff is before the 2 a.m. burst. Traveling? Keep heat ≥55° and have someone check — vacancy clauses are real.
- Ice dam defense. Clean gutters after the last leaves, air-seal the attic floor, keep insulation right — ice dams are attic-heat problems wearing an icicle costume.
- Roof reality check. Loose or curling shingles now are interior water claims by March. A pre-winter roof look is free; a spring ceiling repair isn't.
- Sump & backup. Test the sump, add a battery backup, and confirm the water backup endorsement is on your policy — the January thaw doesn't warn first.
- Wood stove discipline. Chimney swept, clearances honored, ashes in metal cans outside. Also: your insurer should know about the stove — an undisclosed one complicates the exact claim it tends to cause.
- Generator & alarms. Exercise the generator, swap detector batteries, and check CO alarms — winter runs everything that makes CO.
- The driveway file. Slip-and-falls are liability claims: salt, light the walk, fix the wobbly rail. Cheap insurance for your actual insurance.
While you're at it: photograph each room for your home inventory. Ten minutes now is a painless contents claim later.