24 Dec 10 Tips For Protecting Your Home While On Holiday
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to planning a holiday. Things like booking flights, hotels & car hire; packing suitcases and checking passports; ensuring everyone gets to the airport on time. But there’s something else to think about that’s just as important: keeping your home safe while you’re away. The fact is, empty homes are an easy target for opportunistic thieves. And the last thing anyone wants is to come home from holiday to find they’ve been burgled. So before you head off on holiday, try these 10 tips for protecting your home while you’re away.
1. Create a lived-in look
One of the key ways to protect your home while you’re away is to make it look as though someone is still there even when you’re not. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Set a timer switch to turn various lights on and off while you’re away, to avoid leaving your house in darkness at night.
- Install outdoor security lighting that turns on when it detects motion to save energy and turn off during the day.
- Leave a few oversized boots and shoes at the front door to make it look as though you’re home.
- Partially open curtains and blinds so it doesn’t look like your home is empty during the day.
- Turn down the ringer on your home phone, as an unanswered ringing phone is a sure sign that nobody’s home.
- Keep any expensive belongings or gadgets well out of sight of windows, away from prying eyes.
- Ask a trusted friend or family member to check in every so often.
2. Don’t spread the news
These days, most of us are not shy about advertising our plans on social media. But be careful who you tell about your upcoming holiday plans. By announcing your plans and how long you’re away for, you’re letting everyone, including any would-be thieves, know how long your home will be empty. Rather post details on private groups or only share with close family and friends. And avoid updating your mobile or home phone voicemail message with details of when you’re away – remember, it’s not just your friends who may call you.
3. Stash your valuables
As well as keeping your valuables out of sight from any would-be intruders, try hiding expensive jewellery or other items of high value in various places around your house rather than just in your sock drawer! Breaking in to get car keys is another common occurrence when homes are vacant during the holidays, so avoid leaving your car keys in an obvious place – at the front door or hanging on a key hook. For added peace of mind, check your contents insurance policy to ensure any valuable items are covered while you’re away on holiday.
4. Tidy the garden
If you’re planning to be away during the summer months when the grass and weeds tend to grow much faster, it won’t be long before your house looks like it’s vacant, with overgrown lawns and untidy flowerbeds. So before you go, mow the lawns, tidy the borders, and pack away any tools or outdoor furniture safely in the shed or garage. Avoid leaving empty garbage bins on the road after collection – ask a neighbour to bring these in for you. Leaving a car in the drive could make it look like someone is home, but check that all car doors are locked, windows are closed, and that any items in the car are removed or packed into the boot out of sight.
5. Cancel your deliveries
Remember to cancel your regular deliveries – like the daily newspaper, your weekly food box, or your fortnightly garden bin collection. And avoid doing any online shopping for delivery while you’re away, unless you can ask a neighbour or a friend to move these inside once they’re delivered. There’s no bigger giveaway that nobody is home than a pile of unclaimed boxes and a stack of newspapers at the front door. Check your house insurance policy for cover for accidental damage or loss to your home, particularly if you’re going to be away for a longer period of time, as your cover may not apply for extended vacancies. Talk to a Max Insurances Adviser if you have questions about the right insurance cover for your needs.
6. Install a home security system
Installing a home burglar alarm system is a great way to protect your home while you’re not there, by deterring any would-be intruders. Not only does it add an extra layer of protection to your home, it could even help reduce your house insurance premiums so you save money too. Find out if your house insurance qualifies for a reduced premium when you install a home security or monitoring system. You can also talk to our Personal Lending team at Max Loans about a home improvement loan to help cover the cost of installing a home monitoring system.
7. Lock up when you go
It may seem an obvious one, but it’s worth a reminder: spend the last few minutes before you leave for your holiday checking that all windows and doors are locked and secure. Even if it’s the smallest window at the top of your home, it’s not worth risking a possible break-in. Open windows or unlocked doors could also negate your insurance claim if you do come home to a break-in.
8. Get to know your neighbours
Having a neighbour or nearby friend stop by every few days to clear the mail and check in on your home is another good way to avoid any surprises on your return home. And it’s always good to have someone nearby that you can call on when you need to.
9. Check your house insurance cover
Every insurance provider has its own set of requirements that relate to how long a home can be unoccupied. For example, your house insurance may not cover theft or vandalism after 60 consecutive unoccupied days if you don’t inform your house insurance provider beforehand. Be sure to get in touch with your insurance company or Insurance Adviser to find out what’s required in your situation.
10. Final check before you go
Here’s a short list of the last minute things to check before you head off on your holiday:
- Windows shut and locked
- All devices switched off and unplugged
- Router turned off unless you’re using an alarm or camera that requires WIFI access
- Internal doors closed to limit views through the windows
- Empty garbage and recycling bins brought in from the street
- Check the fridge is closed
- Turn on alarm and lock the doors
- Have a happy holiday!
Keeping you and your home safe
Now that you’re armed with these 10 tips to protect your home while you’re on holiday, you can relax knowing that when you arrive back home, things will be as you left them. For more advice or answers to your questions about NZ insurance, house insurance or contents insurance, get in touch with the team of Insurance Advisers at Max Insurances.
Request a Call Get a QuoteFind this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.