Following up on my blog of the other day about energy savings while you are on holiday there is an obvious concern about security.
Little Known Fact
If you read the not so fine print on your home owners insurance policy you may see that you are not covered for most risks if you have left your home for more than 3 {fill in the appropriate number} days without a human inspection. This means that a family member, friend or employee must physically inspect your home for damage within every few days to ensure that your policy remains in force.
Again Carson & Dunlop have some other good ideas.
Put Your Front Lights on a Timer
This next tip may seem counter-productive for those focused on energy consumption and efficiency, but it is a good idea to put your front lights on a timer if you are going to be away for several days. This is another measure to protect your home from being the target of criminals. If your home stays dark for a prolonged period, it can alert people to your absence. Having your front lights set to turn on for a few hours each evening will provide the illusion that your home is occupied – without wasting too much electricity.
Mail & Newspapers
Two phone calls to the Post Office and the newspaper companies will cut off your deliveries while you are away. It’s an obvious thing to do but we often forget to do it.
Be Smart About Your Social Sharing
Nothing tells the world “I’m on vacation for a week!” like Tweeting “I’m on vacation for a week! #Aruba #OMGThisBeach #YoureAllJealous”.
Social media is a large part of many people’s lives, which has positives and negatives. It’s a great tool to connect and share, but there is such a thing as too much information – especially when it comes to your safety. You may want to Tweet a countdown to your trip, Instagram the sights, and let everyone on Facebook know how awesome the beach is, but if you aren’t careful, you could be sending a very different message.
To combat your information getting into the wrong hands, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each platform’s privacy settings and ensure that you are only sharing what you want with whom you want.
Use the Buddy System
While we do believe that planning and preparation are key components in maintaining your home, there are some things that are simply out of your control. Major storms and power outages can have an impact on your property, and being on the beach means you likely won’t be able to address the damage right away.
We encourage homeowners to enlist the help of a friend, family member, or neighbour to check in on their home while they’re away. Should your area experience any extreme weather, it’s valuable to have someone who can either confirm that your home’s systems are functioning normally or assist you in dealing with any issues that have arisen.
