Vacations and getaways are supposed to be an opportunity to make lasting memories and grow closer as a family. Sometimes though, in the excitement of planning a trip, it can be all too easy to forget about how vulnerable your house is when you’re away. Here are five great tips that will help you secure your house and allow you to have a relaxing vacation without any worry about inadequate home protection.
Take Inventory of Your Most Valuable Items
In the tragic event that your home is invaded, while you’re away, you’ll need a list of the most valuable items in your household to start to get back to normal. That is why it is crucial to go through and make an inventory of your possessions and their estimated values. There are many ways that you can do this, but one of the most effective is to log your belongings in our mobile app. Using this method creates a digital record that can be updated with ease and isn’t at risk of being misplaced.
Check With Your Agent To Make Sure You Are Covered
The next important step you’ll want to take coincides perfectly with the home inventory that you just created. You’ll want to get in contact with your insurance agent and review your homeowner’s policy to make sure that you have adequate coverage for the items and the values listed in your inventory. Over time, it’s very easy to acquire new possessions without even realizing it, thus gradually increasing the value of the items that you own. When you look at the total value of all of these items, you might be surprised to see just how high it is.
Double Check to Make Sure Everything is Locked Up
Another preparatory action you can take before heading out on vacation is a double-check of all your locks and doors to ensure everything is adequately secured. If your home has a lot of doors and windows, it can be easy to miss something, so an essential part of the vacation routine is to double-check every possible point of entry and make sure it is secured.
Save Your Vacation Posts for After You Get Back
It can be extremely tempting to share all of the fantastic vacation experiences you’re having on your various social media accounts. A potential issue with this is you’re not just sharing these posts with friends, you’re also sending out direct alerts to anyone and everyone that you are not at home, and your house is vulnerable. Your best bet for sharing your favorite vacation moments on social media is to wait until after you’ve returned. Then you can make your posts when your home is not so vulnerable to break-ins.
Ask a Relative to Check-In On Occasion
Another great way to give you peace of mind while you’re on vacation is to have a trusted relative check in on your house occasionally. This is an excellent idea if you’re expecting a delivery, as a package sitting on the front porch for days is a direct indicator that you are not at home. Having a neighbor or a trusted friend hold your package for you, or collect your mail, can go a long way in protecting your home against intruders.
The Takeaway
These five steps are the fundamentals for protecting your home, but for even more ways to protect your home while you’re on vacation, you can check out this handy guide for additional ideas in certain scenarios. For most vacations though, following these five steps will deliver the protection you need to sufficiently secure all of your valuables, and return to your home in precisely the way you left it.