How To Keep Your Home Safe During Your Summer Vacation

Anyone who has ever had a pipe burst inside a wall or ceiling knows that just a couple of hours is enough time for a leak to do lots of damage. Now multiply that by several days, and you could potentially have a new indoor pool: unfortunately it would be located in your basement. So if you can, turn off the water supply to your home as close to the meter as possible to avoid the potential for a lot of water damage and to avoid running up a huge water bill. It is also a good idea to leave a key with a trusted neighbor, friend or family member who can drop by every couple of days to do a quick walk-through just to make sure nothing has gone awry. Tell your home-minder what to do if a situation does arise, in case they can’t get ahold of you quickly.

It would be great if everybody was as appreciative of your hard work and valued your vacation time as much as you do, but sadly this isn’t the case. The constant stream of emails, phone calls, and mail that keep coming even when we try to get away are endless. And they are telltale signs to thieves that a home has been left empty, making for the perfect opportunity for break-and-enter larceny.

To limit the chances of a break-in, arrange for someone to pick up your mail every day or two, or request suspension of delivery for the time you will be away. Additionally, never leave a voice mail on your answering machine or digital answering service announcing that you will be away. And when creating an auto-reply message for your email, don’t provide the specific dates of your vacation time. Instead, arrange with a colleague to answer critical emails quickly and then try to deal with other emails personally, every few days if possible.

Having a home alarm system is one of the most effective steps toward preventing a break-in. Be sure to advertise your system with adhesive decals at every point of entry. Thieves rely on convenience and stealth to stay in the business and out of prison, and the chance of the police catching them in the act or being caught on camera is simply to risky for most. Still, a few are willing to try, and for this reason it is worth not only outfitting your home with modern surveillance equipment but also making sure you have access to that system when you go away.

There are now dozens of apps available that allow you to monitor your home from afar via your smartphone; even letting you alert the police or fire department in an emergency. Apps are available for both Android and Apple iOS operating systems, and some are free and will work with hardware you likely already have. Other apps require a small investment, typically between US$100 to 200, for hardware that communicates with your device, which is still a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with being able to check in on your home in real-time while you are away. Browse your app store to see what is available in your location and for your device.

In the rush to get to the airport or beat the traffic out of town, it is all too easy to skip a few small steps in securing and vacation-proofing your home; steps that could prevent major problems later. Make a list of all the little tasks that need to be done before you go, and remember to unplug all non-essential electronics that waste energy and can be a fire hazard. Don’t disconnect your phone or web connection if you will be using an alarm or home monitoring system, and don’t forget to check that all windows, doors and garage doors are locked. Ideally, you should also disconnect power to the remote garage door opener since resourceful thieves can often override them. Additionally, don’t forget about lawn maintenance: if you have outside space, tall grass and bushes are a clear sign nobody’s home.

Everyone knows the value of homeowner’s and renter’s insurance, and nobody would intentionally forego coverage since it can literally save the day if just about any disaster were to occur in our around your home. If you will be away for more than just a couple of weeks, it’s a good idea to double check the date that your policy expires. Best case scenario, you will discover that you still have a few months before the next payment is due, but if your policy premium is meant to be paid while you are gone, be sure to make any necessary payments to ensure your coverage stays current.

Allowing your home insurance to lapse could put any damage that occurs while you are away back on you, and will likely result in a higher policy premium the next time you renew. And of course, if you are in the market for a high quality home insurance plan, feel free to talk to a Kwiksure Adviser who will happily answer all your questions. Have a safe and relaxing vacation!