Top Tips to keep your home safe when you’re away

Summer holidays season is upon us. Chances are you’ll be taking a few days or weeks away. Whether you’re holidaying at home or abroad, it’s really important that you make sure your home is secure and protected when you’re not around. Before you pack your bags, here’s a few tips to keep your home safe and prevent accidents when you’re away.

Doors and windows

Check that all doors and windows work properly (opening and closing) and that there is no damage to them. Before you go make sure you lock them all. And don’t forget about the garage, the shed and the side gate. It can be easily to leave out those we don’t usually do and leave an opportunity for a burglar.

House Alarm

If you’ve a house alarm, check all the batterys. A dead battery in a window sensor can cause your alarm to go off unexpectedly. No matter how good your alarm is, it won’t be beneficial if the batteries run out. If you have a spare key in a hidey-hole, bring it in. Better still, ask a neighbour to hold it for you in case of emergency. Make sure you update the list of authorized keyholders with your alarm company.

Key to neighbours

It’s always a good idea to have a spare key with your neighbours. It’s something that really should be for more than just your holidays. But when you’re away  it’s even more important so that they can generally keep an eye on the place. Ask them to remove post, put the bins out if you need and open/close gates. Use timer plugs and sensor lights so your property looks less empty at night.

Don’t post on social media

It’s exciting, you’ve taken some fantastic family picture and visited new places but think twice before you post it on social media. You could be broadcasting to the world that your house is unoccupied. It could be easy to tell where you live from previous posts. In particular, don’t share the dates you will be away. Potential intruders scan popular social media sites

Make sure your home insurance is up to date

You can put as many useful deterrents in place as you want, but if someone breaks into your home, you need to make sure that you have not only the correct level of home insurance cover for anything they might take but also that it is valid. Check that you’re sufficiently covered against theft and any types of damage that could occur in your absence and that you can adhere to any terms and conditions.

If you need any help or assistance with your home insurance just get in touch.