Things To Remember When Leaving For A Holiday
Home security is an important consideration at all times of the year
, but can be particularly pressing during the summer months, when opportunist criminals take advantage of properties left open due to the warm weather. If you are heading off on a summer holiday and will be leaving your property vacant, keeping your home looking occupied could deter would-be thieves.To minimise your chance of falling victim to criminals, avoid openly discussing your holiday plans in advance of your trip, especially when outdoors, as you can never be sure who might be listening. With advanced warning of your departure, criminals could plan an effective break-in or be particularly adept at spotting when your property is empty. And certainly don't advertise the fact you'll be away by posting holiday countdown' messages on social networking sites like Facebook.
For this reason, it's essential to give the appearance that your home is still a hub of activity even when you're not in something that can be achieved with forward planning. While leaving lights on when you head out for an evening can be an effective short-term measure, it's less practical if you're leaving your home unoccupied for days or weeks at a time, not to mention the costs this would incur for your electricity bill.
Fortunately, there are other methods available, both hi-tech and lo-tech. Cancelling milk and newspapers will avoid leaving tell-tale signs of vacancy that would be a giveaway, even to less astute thieves. Mowing the lawn before you leave will mean it doesn't grow overlong and unkempt during your absence. While closing curtains may seem like a good idea to hide the empty interior of your home, it may seem a little suspicious for all the curtains to be closed during bright, sunny days at the height of summer.
If you trust a neighbour, friend or family member to check on your property daily, they can help give it more of an authentic 'lived-in' look, and even move the post away from the door, or you could consider investing in advanced electronic security devices to achieve just as effective a result. With automatic timers for everything from lights to curtains, you can give a realistic illusion that your rooms are still occupied. You might even consider letting a neighbour park their car on your driveway while you're away, again to give the impression that your property is occupied.
Keeping your home secure is not only effective for reducing your chance of a break-in, but by demonstrating that you took steps to secure your home and contents while you were away, you could also be in a better position to claim for losses on your insurance policy meaning these simple home insurance tips could make a substantial difference in the event that your property does fall victim to criminals this summer.
Things To Remember When Leaving For A Holiday
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