Summer is here and vacation plans may have you planning on leaving your home in the very near future. Don’t forget to take a few preventative measures to ensure the safety of you and your home while you are away. You’ll find that being prepared and aware of potential risks makes for a better vacation and homecoming.
5 Vacation Safety Tips for your Home
- You cannot control your level of visibility entirely once you leave. If you post to social media, including Facebook and Pinterest, while on vacation you may be putting your home at risk. Sharing vacation photos are an obvious way of showing that you are away and may create an easier target for your home for thieves.
- Lock it up. From windows and doggie doors to gates and garage doors, the security of your home requires diligence on your part. Don’t let the rush of leaving for vacation make you forget to batten down the hatches throughout your home. Lock up your valuables and don’t leave important personal documents in your home office. Put them in a lock box or safe. Also give a copy of important documents to someone you trust.
- Ask for some help. A trusted neighbor or friend can notify you if something looks out of place or odd while you are away. Or you can employ a house sitter for greater peace of mind. You may even find one who will water your plants, too!
- Consider installing an alarm or timed lighting system prior to your vacation. Making it bright and noisy can deter possible intruders. You also might get a discount on your homeowners insurance.
- Make your home look inhabited. Keep blinds and lights in the same position as normal. If you’re going to be away for a long time, arrange for your grass to be cut and your plants to be watered.
- Understand your insurance policy coverage. According to Trident Insurance, an affiliate of my agency, Prudential Fox & Roach, standard homeowners policies provide coverage for personal possessions and damage to the home caused by the break-in. With replacement cost coverage, damaged property is replaced without deducting for depreciation.
- Truly vacation while away and plan a day to get organized when you get back. Placing your mail and delivery services on hold while you are away is critical, too. 4-5 newspapers on your porch signal to everyone that something is amiss. Plus, having planned an extra day to recover from your travel to go through mail and grocery shop may also allow you time for the first tip mentioned… post your awesome vacation photos to social media!
Below are a few contact numbers you might find handy:
Philadelphia Inquirer Subscriptions
USPS – Hold Mail online service
I hope you found these home vacation safety tips helpful and you thoroughly enjoy your vacation! Vacations are a great time to unplug (literally – turn off your mobile if you can!) and recharge your creativity levels.
Happy House (and vacation…!)
Angela
