Five Ways To Protect Your Home Whilst Away
Individuals spend time away from home and take holidays throughout the year, often leaving their houses empty and uninhabited. Leaving our homes in this state can pose potential security threats, giving opportunist criminals and robbers the chance to break into our homes. Protecting your home and the possessions it contains whilst away is therefore highly important, but how can you do it?
Here are five ways in which you can protect your home while away:
1. Put Valuables Out of Sight
When leaving your house unattended for any length of time one of the most important things you should do is make sure that any valuables are stored out of sight. This means removing expensive items away from windows and other areas of high visibility. This is an important safety measure which should be conducted regardless of how long you are leaving the home for. You should also make sure that all windows and doors are shut firmly and locked as even the smallest opening could assist someone to gain unlawful access to your property.
2. Invest in Security Devices
Security devices, such as alarms and locks, can help to deter potential criminals and thieves from accessing your property. These devices will help any attempted break-ins be identified earlier, helping to protect your home and its contents. These devices can also help to lower your insurance premiums as they could help you become classed as a “low risk” applicant.
3. Leave a Light On
One of the most common ways in which people can help to protect their homes whilst away is by giving off the appearance that there is still someone at home. The easiest way to do this is by leaving a light on during the evening. If you away for longer than one evening then timers can be fitted to lamps in order to switch them on at specific times of day. Alternatively, you could always ask a friend or relative to visit your home whilst you are away in order to turn on lights and to remove your post from the doormat or post-box (another obvious sign that you are away).
4. Store Ladders Away Safely
This may seem like a strange suggestion but large items, such as ladders, can be used to break into houses. Storing these safely in garages or sheds is therefore an easy way to make sure your home is protected. Make sure that your shed or garage is secured with a heavy-duty padlock to prevent access from being gained.
5. Don’t Advertise Your Absence
The more vocal you are about your intended absence the more risk you are putting your home at. Never advertise the fact that you will be away from home on places such as social media sites as opportunist criminals could use this information to break-in.
In order to make sure you are fully protected from damages and losses whilst away you should make sure that your home insurance policy is up to date. Home insurance comes in two forms: home buildings insurance and home contents insurance. The former of these protects against damage to the physical building while the latter protects possessions held within in.