Staycation or short left - Is your home secure enough for the holidays?
Whether you're planning a staycation or short left trip, you will need to keep your home safe and secure this holiday.
6 top tips for keeping your home safe and secure
1. Check on your existing security equipment:
- Burglar alarm systems, sensors, security lighting, panic buttons and even CCTV cameras, all need regular functionality checking. Whether you're home or not, it's safest to regularly ensure that all of your security equipment is in peak condition, should the need for assistance arise. You can check this with your security provider and even arrange an upgrade as needed.
- If connected to smart devices, ensure that alert notifications are in working order too.
2. Keep access points well secured:
- Although you may remain home, you're not likely to have eyes on all corners of your property at once. Being vigilant about access points all around your home enhances security for yourself and your family.
- Make sure that gates to your property are not left wide open (or unlocked), or windows and doors are not left open unattended. At night, it is best to lock up all doors (including property front and back doors, patio doors, balcony doors, side gates or windows, garage or shed doors etc.) and windows which could make your home vulnerable to intrusion. If needed, additional padlocks or gates may be useful for added protection.
3. Put valuables away:
- It's a good idea to be mindful about keeping valuable items, including electronics and tech gadgets, out of sight; even while at home.
- As you would normally do, store valuable items not in use in secure places in the home, such as a safe or cupboard. Discovery Insure clients also have access to an online vault where important documents can be stored.
4. Keep all of your keys in a safe place:
- Some people entrust a spare set of keys to their home with loved ones or individuals in their employment. Should these individuals fall victim to an intrusion within their own residence, your home may become a little more vulnerable.
- All keys should be kept safely out of reach, such as in a safe (which should also ideally be bolted down) or out of sight in a drawer or cupboard. Car keys should also be kept safely and not left lying around.
5. Quick-win home maintenance considerations:
- Keep your home well-lit at night (using timers for on and off functionality) - this can make a burglar more visible and expose their intentions to neighbours or security squads in the area. Lights with motion sensors can also be fairly useful deterrents.
- If you have a mailbox, ensure to clear it out (if on a staycation) or have a neighbour, friend or house-sitter keep it safely out of sight for you. A full mailbox is a subtle sign that nobody is home.
- Check the condition of your home - For much of the country, summertime is also our rainy season. Make sure that your gutters are not clogged up with debris, and that you have fixed leaky pipes or dripping tap faucets so as to prevent water damage - especially if you're heading off to a holiday destination. On that note, you'll also want to unplug any appliances so as to prevent any potential power surges which will damage them and thus mean that they might require repairs or replacement once you return home.
6. Lastly, be careful of how much of your holiday you "advertise"
- If you'll be travelling, be mindful of what you (and your children) share on social media - publically accessible information can give away where you live and that you're not at home for a period of time - leaving your property vulnerable. It can also give opportunists a hint as to where you're holidaying and as such also leave you a little more vulnerable as you kick your feet up, lose track of time and let your guard down.
Is your home still sufficiently covered?
An unforeseen event can occur at any time. So, it remains a good idea to ensure that you still take the same care at this time of year as you would at any other with measures to protect your home. That way your home insurance plan remains intact, and should it be needed, you'll still be able to submit any necessary claims.
Find a free moment to reassess your current plan and determine whether or not you're still sufficiently covered. Is there something new you may need to add to your plan? Chat to your broker or a consultant to update your plan if you need - call us on 0860 751 751 or visit our website for more details.
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